Thailand's military more powerful after last month's red shirt chaos in Bangkok
By Jon Fernquest
Worldwide
the democratic trend has been towards gradual professionalization of the military and a move
towards non-involvement in politics (depoliticization).Power that was once held by high-ranking military officers moves to the electorate.
After the coup of the early 1990s Thailand was also following this trend.
Thaksin repoliticized the Thai military with his appointment of family members to high positions (See chapter 4 of The Thaksinization of Thailand by Duncan McCargo and Ukrist Pathamandan).
Political conflicts since the 2006 coup has led to even greater involvement of the Thai military in Thai politics.
Just as no one knows exactly when Thai society will heal and become whole again, no one knows what role the Thai military is destined to play in Thai politics in the near future.
Today's article journalist and military expert Wassana Nanuam looks at the recent rise of the Thai military. It begins after the vocabulary below.
chaos - a messy and
confused situation
professionalization - to change some activity or whole organization so that it operates in a professional way
depoliticization - removing politics from activity or job
repoliticized - when some activity becomes political again (after having become nonj-political)
electorate - the people in a country or local area who vote for politicians to represent them and work for them in government
high-ranking - having a high position in an organization like the police or military
destined - what will happen in the future
professionalization - to change some activity or whole organization so that it operates in a professional way
depoliticization - removing politics from activity or job
repoliticized - when some activity becomes political again (after having become nonj-political)
electorate - the people in a country or local area who vote for politicians to represent them and work for them in government
high-ranking - having a high position in an organization like the police or military
destined - what will happen in the future
Politics
Army's power at peak since crackdown
Questions over deaths may hurt CRES, govt19/06/2010
Wassana Nanuam
The army is at the peak of its power after playing a key role in security operations to crack down on anti-government protesters last month.
The army and the government have emerged triumphant after the dispersal of the red shirts and their close ties will likely boost the Democrat Party-led coalition's chances of remaining in power longer.
peak
- the time when something is at its highest or greatest level
ช่วงเวลาที่พบมากที่สุด
peak - highest level
at the peak of its power - at the highest level of its power
crackdown - strong action that someone in authority takes to stop a particular activity like a protest or crime การใช้กำลังเข้าปราบปรามของเจ้าหน้าที่, การใช้กำลังสลายผู้ประท้วง, การปราบจลาจล, การปราบปรามขั้นเด็ดขาด
key - important คนสำคัญ
role - the purpose or influence of someone or something in a particular situation, what a person typically does in an organisation or activity บทบาท
key role - was important in a situation
security - the activity of making safe or protecting from harm
emerged - appeared, came out, came into being ปรากฏออกมา, ปรากฏให้เห็น, โผล่ออกมา
triumphant - has achieved victory, has won
ties - relations; connections ความสัมพันธ์
close ties - are good friends or work together
boost - to increase; to strengthen เพิ่ม; ทำให้มีกำลังมากขึ้น
coalition - a government formed from more than one party
peak - highest level
at the peak of its power - at the highest level of its power
crackdown - strong action that someone in authority takes to stop a particular activity like a protest or crime การใช้กำลังเข้าปราบปรามของเจ้าหน้าที่, การใช้กำลังสลายผู้ประท้วง, การปราบจลาจล, การปราบปรามขั้นเด็ดขาด
key - important คนสำคัญ
role - the purpose or influence of someone or something in a particular situation, what a person typically does in an organisation or activity บทบาท
key role - was important in a situation
security - the activity of making safe or protecting from harm
emerged - appeared, came out, came into being ปรากฏออกมา, ปรากฏให้เห็น, โผล่ออกมา
triumphant - has achieved victory, has won
ties - relations; connections ความสัมพันธ์
close ties - are good friends or work together
boost - to increase; to strengthen เพิ่ม; ทำให้มีกำลังมากขึ้น
coalition - a government formed from more than one party
However, allegations have surfaced that security operations to disperse the red shirts went awry, resulting in the deaths and injuries of protesters.
Up to 90 people were killed and almost 2,000 were injured in the political mayhem that gripped the country during the red shirt protest between March 12 and May 19.
allegations
- accusations, claims of wrongdoing or illegal activity but not yet
proven ข้อกล่าวหา
disperse - (of a crowd of people) to separate and leave in different directions สลายฝูงชน
mayhem - a situation in which there is little or no order or control ความโกลาหล
protest - a strong complaint or disagreement ประท้วง
disperse - (of a crowd of people) to separate and leave in different directions สลายฝูงชน
mayhem - a situation in which there is little or no order or control ความโกลาหล
protest - a strong complaint or disagreement ประท้วง
But Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva seems reluctant to apologise for the deaths and injuries of the protesters.
Some even see the premier's road map to national reconciliation as a means to deflect attention from those killed and injured.
The government and the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) have claimed the violence against the red shirts came from within - that members had turned on each other, and armed militants mingling among the protesters were responsible for the killings and injuries.
reluctant
- not willing to do something and therefore slow ลังเลใจ, ไม่เต็มใจ
apologise - to say you are sorry for doing something wrong or for cause a problem ขอโทษ
national - a citizen of a particular country ประชาชน
reconciliation - the process of two friends who have fought becoming friends again การทำให้ปรองดองกันอีก, การคืนดี, ประสานสัมพันธ์
a means to Y - one method or way to do or accomplish goal Y
deflect - make something go in the other direction
deflect attention - make people look at or pay attention to something other thing or event
violence - physical force with the deliberate intention of causing damage to property or injury or death to people ความรุนแรง
turned on each other - attacked each other
armed - carrying a weapon ติดอาวุธ
militants - people who use violent or forceful methods to achieve something ผู้ใช้ความรุนแรงในการโจมตี
mingling - mixing together ผสม
apologise - to say you are sorry for doing something wrong or for cause a problem ขอโทษ
national - a citizen of a particular country ประชาชน
reconciliation - the process of two friends who have fought becoming friends again การทำให้ปรองดองกันอีก, การคืนดี, ประสานสัมพันธ์
a means to Y - one method or way to do or accomplish goal Y
deflect - make something go in the other direction
deflect attention - make people look at or pay attention to something other thing or event
violence - physical force with the deliberate intention of causing damage to property or injury or death to people ความรุนแรง
turned on each other - attacked each other
armed - carrying a weapon ติดอาวุธ
militants - people who use violent or forceful methods to achieve something ผู้ใช้ความรุนแรงในการโจมตี
mingling - mixing together ผสม
Doubts will remain concerning the deadly shootings of six people at Wat Pathum Wanaram as long as the government and the CRES cannot offer a clear explanation of the incident.
Army chief Anupong Paojinda, in his capacity as head of the CRES's security operations, has repeatedly said that soldiers were not operating anywhere near the temple and did not fire upon people on temple grounds.
doubt - belief that
something is not true (or that some project will not succeed)
X as long as Y - X will be the case (true) as long as Y is the case
clear - easy to understand
incident - an unpleasant event
capacity - a particular position or job
fire - shoot a gun at a person or people
grounds - the area surrounding a building บริเวณ,เขต,สถานที่
X as long as Y - X will be the case (true) as long as Y is the case
clear - easy to understand
incident - an unpleasant event
capacity - a particular position or job
fire - shoot a gun at a person or people
grounds - the area surrounding a building บริเวณ,เขต,สถานที่
But the government and the CRES have faced a tough task trying to disprove still photos and video clips released by the opposition Puea Thai Party that show a group of men in uniform standing on the nearby BTS skytrain tracks on May 19.
The army commander has simply stuck to his mantra that "soldiers never hurt fellow Thai people", without explaining the photos and clips.
tough
- difficult to do or to deal with ยาก, ยากลำบาก
task - something that you have to do, often something that is difficult or unpleasant หน้าที่, ภารกิจ
video clips - short pieces of video, often viewed on Youtube video sharing site
released - made available to the public
the opposition - a political party that is not part of the government or a group which is against the government ฝ่ายค้าน ผู้ต่อต้าน
men in uniform - soldiers
commander - a police offer of high rank ผู้บังคับบัญชา
fellow - used for talking about people who are similar to you or are in the same situation เพื่อนร่วมชะตากรรม
stuck to - not change, continue doing what you have done before (here: continue saying what you have said before)
mantra - a word or phrase repeated over and over again, often as a prayer
task - something that you have to do, often something that is difficult or unpleasant หน้าที่, ภารกิจ
video clips - short pieces of video, often viewed on Youtube video sharing site
released - made available to the public
the opposition - a political party that is not part of the government or a group which is against the government ฝ่ายค้าน ผู้ต่อต้าน
men in uniform - soldiers
commander - a police offer of high rank ผู้บังคับบัญชา
fellow - used for talking about people who are similar to you or are in the same situation เพื่อนร่วมชะตากรรม
stuck to - not change, continue doing what you have done before (here: continue saying what you have said before)
mantra - a word or phrase repeated over and over again, often as a prayer
The CRES counts its security operations as a remarkable achievement, saying the number of deaths during the dispersal was much lower than its initial prediction of 400 to 500.
The government is now focused on hunting down and weeding out the remaining leaders of the red shirt movement in the provinces and pressing terrorism charges against them.
remarkable
- unusual or special and therefore surprising and worth mentioning
ไม่ธรรมดา
achievement - something very good and difficult that you have succeeded in doing การบรรลุผลสำเร็จ
initial - early, first, happening at the beginning of a process ในเบื้องต้น
prediction - what experts think will happen in the future
movement - a group of people who share the same aim and work together to achieve it การเคลื่อนไหวเพื่อวัตถุประสงค์ทางการเมือง
hunting down - searching and looking for a person who is hiding and trying to avoid capture
weeding out - removing the bad ones from a bunch or group
terrorism - the use of violence to achieve political aims การใช้ความรุนแรงเพื่อข้อเรียกร้องทางการเมือง
charges - bring a criminal case against a person
pressing terrorism charges -
achievement - something very good and difficult that you have succeeded in doing การบรรลุผลสำเร็จ
initial - early, first, happening at the beginning of a process ในเบื้องต้น
prediction - what experts think will happen in the future
movement - a group of people who share the same aim and work together to achieve it การเคลื่อนไหวเพื่อวัตถุประสงค์ทางการเมือง
hunting down - searching and looking for a person who is hiding and trying to avoid capture
weeding out - removing the bad ones from a bunch or group
terrorism - the use of violence to achieve political aims การใช้ความรุนแรงเพื่อข้อเรียกร้องทางการเมือง
charges - bring a criminal case against a person
pressing terrorism charges -
Many observers regard the appointment of a committee led by former attorney-general Kanit na Nakorn to investigate the killings during the crackdown on the red shirts as an attempt to gather evidence to support the government's position that armed terrorists were behind the deaths.
Critics do not believe the committee would be capable of finding and bringing to justice members of the security forces should the evidence in the end point to them.
observers - experts
who are following how a situation is developing (and trying to predict
what happens next)
regard - to consider or have an opinion about something or someone เห็นว่า,ถือว่า
appointment - when someone is officially chosen for a job การแต่งตั้ง
evidence - facts statements or objects that help to prove whether or not someone has committed a crime หลักฐาน
evidence - information that is used in court to try to prove something หลักฐานประกอบการไต่สวนคดี หรือพิจารณาคดี
support - help สนับสนุน
capable - able to do something; very good at a job มีความสามารถ
justice - when people are treated fairly and equally (See Wikipedia) ความยุติธรรม
regard - to consider or have an opinion about something or someone เห็นว่า,ถือว่า
appointment - when someone is officially chosen for a job การแต่งตั้ง
evidence - facts statements or objects that help to prove whether or not someone has committed a crime หลักฐาน
evidence - information that is used in court to try to prove something หลักฐานประกอบการไต่สวนคดี หรือพิจารณาคดี
support - help สนับสนุน
capable - able to do something; very good at a job มีความสามารถ
justice - when people are treated fairly and equally (See Wikipedia) ความยุติธรรม
The army under Gen Anupong and his deputy Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha appears more formidable after it used live rounds to disperse the red shirt protesters.
With emergency rule still in effect, the army continues to wield enormous power in dealing with red shirt leaders in the provinces.
deputy
- a person who is given the power to do something instead
of another person, or the person whose rank is immediately below that
of the leader of an organisation รอง, ตัวแทน,ผู้รักษาการแทน
formidable - very strong and difficult to overcome and defeat
live rounds - real bullets that can kill (not just rubber bullets to injure)
emergency - an unexpected situation involving danger in which immediate action is necessary เหตุฉุกเฉิน
emergency rule - a situation when there are special laws and rules to reduce political conflict
wield - use (something that is powerful or dangerous; wield power, wield a knife) ใช้ประโยชน์
enormous - extremely large มหาศาล
wield power - to have and be able to use power or influence ใช้อำนาจ
formidable - very strong and difficult to overcome and defeat
live rounds - real bullets that can kill (not just rubber bullets to injure)
emergency - an unexpected situation involving danger in which immediate action is necessary เหตุฉุกเฉิน
emergency rule - a situation when there are special laws and rules to reduce political conflict
wield - use (something that is powerful or dangerous; wield power, wield a knife) ใช้ประโยชน์
enormous - extremely large มหาศาล
wield power - to have and be able to use power or influence ใช้อำนาจ
After the May 19 crackdown, Gen Anupong had ordered military units across the country to arrest key members of the red shirt movement and close community radio stations, particularly in northern and northeastern provinces which are their strongholds.
Leaders of local red shirt chapters have had to report to army regional commanders.
community
- the people living in one particular area ชุมชน
strongholds - places that a group or army controls
local - in or related to the area that you live, or to the particular area that you are talking about ท้องถิ่น
red shirt chapters - local organized groups of redshirts
strongholds - places that a group or army controls
local - in or related to the area that you live, or to the particular area that you are talking about ท้องถิ่น
red shirt chapters - local organized groups of redshirts
A source with the 2nd Army said the military must take a hard line with the red shirts in the provinces to deter them from making any further moves.
They may not dare to go to Bangkok to protest again. They now know they will face live rounds and perhaps death.
They will go underground and launch illegal activities, including sabotage, in their areas," said the source.
source
- someone who gives information แหล่งข่าว
line - position; a way of dealing with or thinking about something or someone
take a hard line -
deter - to make someone decide not to do something ขัดขวาง, ยับยั้ง, ป้องกัน
launch - to start something เปิดโครงการ, เริ่มต้น, เริ่มทำ
illegal - against the law ผิดกฎหมาย
sabotage - causing damage to an enemy or opponent การบ่อนทำลาย, การโจมตี
line - position; a way of dealing with or thinking about something or someone
take a hard line -
deter - to make someone decide not to do something ขัดขวาง, ยับยั้ง, ป้องกัน
launch - to start something เปิดโครงการ, เริ่มต้น, เริ่มทำ
illegal - against the law ผิดกฎหมาย
sabotage - causing damage to an enemy or opponent การบ่อนทำลาย, การโจมตี
But the military are also prepared and willing to deal with the underground movement
The security situation now is very fluid with intelligence reports pointing to possible acts of sabotage in many areas
movement, social movement - when
a group of people get together and work for some sort of social change
underground movement - a secret social movement, hidden from public view
fluid - a liquid
fluid situation - a situation that is changing all the time, anything could happen
intelligence - information collected about the secret plans of an enemy, criminal organisations, competitors, etc. ข่าวกรอง ข้อมูลลับ
acts - actions การกระทำ
sabotage - damage done to property by an enemy or opponent
underground movement - a secret social movement, hidden from public view
fluid - a liquid
fluid situation - a situation that is changing all the time, anything could happen
intelligence - information collected about the secret plans of an enemy, criminal organisations, competitors, etc. ข่าวกรอง ข้อมูลลับ
acts - actions การกระทำ
sabotage - damage done to property by an enemy or opponent
(Source: Army's power at peak since crackdown, Questions over deaths may hurt CRES, govt, 19/06/2010, Wassana Nanuam, link)
