- by Tammy, Thai Intel’s humanity journalist
When Anand Panyarachun, a staunch royalist and an iconic part of the Thai establishment, said the problem with Thai royalism is the ultra-royalist and that the result of a strict use of lese majeste is damage to Thai royalism-one thing is certain, nearly anyone who is anyone in Thailand heard those words loud and clear.
The concept of “Reverse Psychology” is not new.
- Reverse psychology, is something often use to describe situation with children, where the parents takes an action to correct a child’s behavior, only to find that the action itself, re-enforces the child’s un-desirable behavior. Similarly, many scholars have argued, that Thailand’s use of lese majeste, have resulted in the opposite behavior-meaning, lese majeste have caused Thai royalism to lose respect, and thus more lese majeste activity.
The following is from the Wiki on Reverse Psychology:
- Reverse psychology is a technique involving the advocacy of a belief or behavior that is opposite to the one desired, with the expectation that this approach will encourage the subject of the persuasion to do what actually is desired: the opposite of what is suggested. This technique relies on the psychological phenomenon of reactance, in which a person has a negative emotional response in reaction to being persuaded, and thus chooses the option which is being advocated against. Reverse psychology is often used on children due to their high tendency to respond ‘with reactance, a desire to restore threatened freedom of action…some parents feel that the best strategy is sometimes “reverse psychology”: telling children to stay in the house when you really want them to choose to go outside and play’.[1] Questions have however been raised about such an approach when it is more than merely instrumental, in the sense that ‘reverse psychology implies a clever manipulation of the child’[2] and nothing more. With respect to ‘”emotional intelligence“…[&] successful fathering’, the advice has been given: ‘don’t try to use reverse psychology….such strategies are confusing, manipulative, dishonest, and they rarely work’.[3] In addition, consistently allowing a child to do the opposite of what he/she is being advised, undermines the authority of the parent.
Chalerm, a minister under Yingluck, just proposed what the Bangkok Post calls: “A war on insult to the Thai royalty.” In that vision of Chalerm, Chalerm propose a unit to go after royal insults on the internet, with a unit headed by him, operating under Yingluck.
- The question that begs to be answered, is that is Yingluck over sensitive to the ultra-royalist, ignorant or does she just simply playing politics, and just do not care about Thai royalism.
- On the over sensitive to the ultra-royalist question, Yingluck clearly indicated this when she fired her Facebook team for posting the picture of the 8th King of the Chakri Dynasty, instead of the picture of the current king-as related to the current Thai king 84th birthday celebration. Yingluck said, quote: “This is a major issue.” Obviously, the only people who have made the innocent mistake, into a major offense, are the ultra-royalist.
- On the ignorant issue, clearly, Yingluck is not ignorant to the fact that just about every country and unit outside of Thailand, is highly critical of lese majeste usage in Thailand. Then she also must know that lese majeste is used in Thailand for political purpose, as her brother Taksin, was kicked out of power by the 2006 coup, because of accusations that Taksin is anti-monarchist. Then Yingluck must also know, that her supporters, are mostly democratic leaning Thais, with a strong sense of liberty and justice.
So the conclusion at this point-is that perhaps, Yingluck is over sensitive to the feelings of the ultra-royalist, but at the same time, she also understands the issues involved.
- Thus the question is, why the Chalerm move?
Clearly, Yingluck is concern that her government will be kicked out of power by the ultra-royalist. Arguably, those that supports democracy, liberty and justice in Thailand-have no power or intention to push her out of power. But the risk, to her position, is clearly the ultra-royalist, particularly, if the Yellow Shirts, Slims and Democrat Party-join forces.
But as Anund Panyarachun says, the ultra-royalist are hurting Thai royalism-so it seems, in the end, Yingluck, does not really care about Thai royalism, but only her position as Thailand’s prime minister.
- The following is from the Bangkok Post:
Chalerm wants war on lese majeste
Published: 7/12/2011 at 03:46 PM
• Online news:
Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung has offered to lead a camapaign for the suppression of websites deemed to broadcast lese majeste content.
He said on Wednesday he had submitted a proposal through the cabinet secretary-general to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra for the setting up of a committee responsible for the suppression of lese majeste websites.
Mr Chalerm said he had also offered to chair the committee.
The deputy prime minister said he would coordinate with tghe Interior and Information and Communication Technology ministries and take drastic action against whoever insults the monarchy, regardless of his or her political colour code.
The committee he proposes would aim to close down all lese majeste websites, he said.
Mr Chalerm said that as a member of the Pheu Thai Party he would definitely not allow any websites to commit lese majeste, even though they might be run by the red-shirts.
Related articles
- Political Analysis: Is it time liberty & justice loving people to stop supporting Yingluck? (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
- Humor: Latest lese majete jokes (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
- Globalization: USA troubled by lese majeste court rulings in Thailand (Up-Dated with Associated Press) (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
- Thais war on royal slurs heats up (iol.co.za)
- Political Analysis: “Lese Majeste & Buddhism” link to the Thai concept of “The Dictatorship of the Good People” (thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com)
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