Thisrupt
  • Home
  • Current Affairs
  • Society
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Thisrupt Special
    • Thisrupt History
    • Thisruptor
  • VDO
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Current Affairs
  • Society
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Thisrupt Special
    • Thisrupt History
    • Thisruptor
  • VDO
No Result
View All Result
Thisrupt
No Result
View All Result

Why Anon Nampa is Thailand’s most dangerous man

Voranai VanijakabyVoranai Vanijaka
November 26, 2020
in Current Affairs
Why Anon Nampa is Thailand’s most dangerous man

“Ratsadon requests the king’s return of national wealth.”

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on LINEShare on WhatsAppShare on Reddit

The massive portrait of His Majesty King Rama 10 stood in front of Siam Commercial Bank’s headquarters. To the portrait’s right, a human rights lawyer and Ratsadon’s leading activist Anon Nampa stood on a truck in a yellow duck costume. Thousands of people gathered, spilling out onto the other side of the street. 

Cries of “ooh” and “ahh” went up now and then. Not because Anon was cursing hell, fire, and brimstone from the truck. Instead, he was educating minds, provoking thoughts, and inspiring changes. 

That’s why he’s Thailand’s most dangerous man. It’s no wonder General Prayut Chan-o-cha is bringing back Article 112, the lese majeste law. 

Last night, 25 November, Anon explained to the crowd the technical differences between personal wealth and crown wealth. Not in lawyer’s talk, but in layman’s terms, with touches of sarcasm here and there for entertainment effect. Usually, one wouldn’t take the words of a man in a yellow duck costume seriously, but the crowd paid full attention. 

Personal wealth, that which belongs to the king, to do with as His Majesty sees fit. Crown wealth, that which belongs to the monarchy, to be inherited by subsequent monarchs. 

Previously, the Finance Ministry managed crown wealth. The ministry is headed by a government minister, appointed to the position by the prime minister, who’s elected by the parliament, which is elected by the people. Hence, crown wealth belongs to the nation. At least that’s the democratic theory. 

Hence, the theme of last night’s protest: “Ratsadon requests the king’s return of national wealth.” 

Anon spoke of how the junta-inspired 2017 constitution blurred the line between personal wealth and crown wealth. He pointed out how the 23.38 percent ownership in SCB, one of Thailand’s largest banks, has been transferred from the crown to the king due to the new laws. He told of how the same happened to the Crown Property Bureau. He cited issues with inheritances and stressed that he believes the king, in his wisdom, would make the right decisions.

However, Anon proposed constitutional amendments because believing in His Majesty’s wisdom is one thing. Writing the laws that guarantee transparency between personal wealth and crown wealth is another. 

But of course, Anon’s argument is based on Khana Ratsadon. Following the 1932 Revolution, Khana Ratsadon wrote a constitution separating the king’s wealth from the crown, as is normal practice in constitutional monarchies. 

But there are counter-arguments. Royalists believe in a system that precedes constitutional monarchy. They believe Khana Ratasadon wrote a constitution that stole the wealth belonging to the king. His Majesty has simply taken back what is rightfully the wealth of Thai kings, as dictated by traditions in centuries past. 

Also, Royalists argue that personalizing crown wealth is to clean up corruption. Furthermore, the king plans to turn properties such as the former Dusit Zoo and Nang Lerng Horse Racing track into a hospital and a public park. Therefore, Royalists see the 2017 constitution as a good thing, correcting past wrongs. 

Hence, Thailand’s political conflict in a nutshell. The two sides speak two different languages – one speaks democracy and the other speaks monarchy. 

Anyone can stand on the stage and yell out slogans and soundbites. But last night, Anon fulfilled all the criteria of “good content.” He educated, entertained, and inspired, all the while wearing a yellow duck costume.   

The Prayut Regime may have tanks and the full weight of the law. Article 112 may return. But Anon has something far more dangerous to the regime. He has ideas, and these ideas are threatening to change Thailand. 

Hence, to the regime, he’s the kingdom’s most dangerous man.  

Voranai Vanijaka

Voranai Vanijaka

Voranai Vanijaka is a political and social commentator. He’s the recipient of the 2010 Ayumongkol Sonakul Award for his Sunday column, previously in the Bangkok Post Newspaper. He teaches Political Communication and Global Media Industries at Thammasart University and Public Speaking at Webster University. He’s been published in Australia’s Griffith Review, appeared on BBC and ABC, and is a speaker at various forums around the region. He founded Thisrupt.

Related Posts

In Chiang Mai, it's worrying to see a large number of motorbikes at night without backlights. Thankfully most have functional brake lights, but many have no lights at all, which cause road accidents. Chiang Mai Safe City is a public safety organization concerned with reducing the number of Thai people dying on the roads. When I got my first Thai license, I was happily doing the theory exam, and I got two questions wrong where the answer had broken tail lights. I found out it was legal to drive tanks on Thai streets, but not vehicles without taillights. We all drive on some of the most dangerous roads in the world, with Thailand's road fatalities perennially in the top ten of the United Nation's lists. Even after concerted efforts to reduce the road toll through road safety initiatives, the average daily death toll is more than 60. Statistics from the UN and local traffic reporting sources regularly highlight three factors: 1. Around 75% of all fatalities are people on motorbikes. 2. Around 30% of all accidents involve driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. After 10pm these percentages rise dramatically. We don't need reduced testing. We need more testing and harsher penalties. 3. Only 50% of motorbike riders wear helmets. These figures are alarming, but we are not seeing any significant reductions in recent times except for earlier this year when Thailand was in lockdown and had 10pm to 6am curfews in place. Also, there were no alcohol sales for a week. Many developed countries have responsible alcohol laws, which prohibit sales of alcohol to visibly intoxicated customers. However, in Thailand, the service of alcohol is self-regulated with drink top-ups by table friends. No one knows how much they are consuming before trying to drive or ride home. The Thai Government has had limited success with law enforcement and road safety awareness campaigns. Social media and news outlets regularly show mangled vehicles and lifeless bodies, but we seem desensitized to real effects. We comment RIP, or we use the "sad" emoji, and we get on with scrolling our feeds for the next cute cat picture or celebrity lifestyle picture. Chiang Mai Safe City is a safety initiative proposing a local approach, Thai people helping Thai people. Safety is something everyone can play a part in. Our roads. Our responsibility. We can all tell others if their light is broken, right? Right now, we all need to check our vehicle and motorbike lights. This takes around 30 seconds or less if a friend helps. It's a simple 20 baht five-minute fix at any mechanic. When riding, look around, and someone doesn't have a backlight or brake light, you can simply tell that person, and hopefully, they will listen. We need to reduce Thailand's road fatality statistics. Roads are for everyone to use. Let's make them safer.
Current Affairs

Dear drivers and riders, use your backlights and save lives

December 30, 2020
2020: Khana Ratsadon VS the Chakri Dynasty Part 2
Current Affairs

2020: Khana Ratsadon VS the Chakri Dynasty Part 2

December 29, 2020
2020: the year of COVID-19, crop tops, and three little misspelled words
Current Affairs

2020: the year of COVID-19, crop tops, and three little misspelled words

December 28, 2020
Next Post
Thisrupt Talk Episode 21: why Thailand is stuck in a cycle of military coups

Thisrupt Talk: Why Thailand is stuck in a cycle of military coups?

How Palang Pracharat represents the failure of the elites

How Palang Pracharat represents the failure of the elites

How Thailand’s protests unfold like reality TV

How Thailand’s protests unfold like reality TV

Follow Thisrupt

  • 37.2k Fans
  • 18.1k Followers
  • 1.2k Followers
  • 1.3k Subscribers

Highlights

Why many Thais rejoice at the storming of Capitol Hill

Why Thai police should not enforce the sharia law

Why Winston Churchill should provide free COVID-19 testing for everyone

3 things you should know about Thisrupt in 2021.

Dear drivers and riders, use your backlights and save lives

2020: Khana Ratsadon VS the Chakri Dynasty Part 2

Trending

The psychology of why we crawl
VDO

The psychology of why we crawl

byadmin
January 18, 2021
0

In this episode, we discuss the tradition of why we crawl before Gods, kings, and emperors. Support...

Why Thailand struggles in an identity crisis?

Why Thailand struggles in an identity crisis?

January 14, 2021
Is Thaksin Shinawatra a champion of human rights?

Is Thaksin Shinawatra a champion of human rights?

January 13, 2021
Why many Thais rejoice at the storming of Capitol Hill

Why many Thais rejoice at the storming of Capitol Hill

January 12, 2021
Why Thai police should not enforce the sharia law

Why Thai police should not enforce the sharia law

January 10, 2021
Facebook Twitter Youtube Instagram

@Thisruptdotco

Tweets by @Thisruptdotco

Multimedia content platform creating provocative stories to inspire people to stand up and speak out for rights, liberty and equality.


#CheckThePower

Newsletter

© 2020 Thisrupt | Contact

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Current Affairs
  • Society
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Thisrupt Special
    • Thisrupt History
    • Thisruptor
  • VDO

© 2020 Thisrupt | Contact