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G21 ASIA: SPECIAL REPORT - THE YELLOW FLOWER COUP 2: Alumnus KIM CARTER continues his report from on the ground about the joyful and bloodless coup that changed the face of Thailand.
Koh Samui, THAILAND
Thailand Coup: September 16, 2006
Today in Thailand, October 29, 2006
Since the coup of September 2006 in Thailand some things are changing. Things like basic laws are changing rapidly under a non-elected military government reportedly backed by the Thai King. In many Western countries such rapid changes to important law would cause a great upheaval and protest.
However, in Thailand society in general displays great acceptance of law, authority, government, King and military. In most cases, the Thai people generally do what they are told. Perhaps they recall what can and has happened in the past when people opposed the government and/or the military here.
As a result of the "pro democracy" student riots in 1973, when 250,000 students and workers stood up against the military government in protests. While the official figures may have been 75 people shot dead on the spot and 112 more being seriously injured, unofficial figures are far higher than that.
Granted, this was a "pro democracy" rally that had been organized by the Communist Party of Thailand and sadly many members of that party were bearing arms during the rally. Military sources still insist that they were shot at first. Nonetheless, Thai people know full well and have experienced first hand the results of protests turned violent.
One thing that has become apparent and controversial after the coup is that now more than ever before there appears to be a great apprehension amongst Thais about "foreigners" taking over the country.
Perhaps this was born of the previous Prime Minister, who was notorious for moving state owned enterprises into the private sector and allowing some foreign ownership of same.
Perhaps it is born of simple nationalism, jingoism and/or xenophobia. Whatever its origins, one can sense a strong feeling amongst some parts of the Thai population now that "foreigners might take over". In some cases the thought is "foreigners caused all the problems". How there can be any relationship between the failure of democracy in Thailand and the presence of foreign business people and tourists is not clear. But the thought and the spoken word is out there on the Thai street.
Why this is an issue now, after so many years of foreign involvement in Thailand, remains a mystery to this writer and many other people in-country, both foreign and Thai. Some might speculate that it is a knee-jerk reaction to the current political instability and a fear of foreign interests trying to take advantage of such instability.
One apparent result of this change in attitude is an almost daily shuffling-around of immigration laws involving tourist visas, visas for foreign business people, alien business law and a host of other laws. There does appear to be a certain 'anti foreigner" feeling growing out there in the rice paddies, condominiums and temples.
The immigration department recently started what appears to be a daily update and changing of visa laws affecting all long term foreign residents in Thailand.
Some of these changes have resulted in a good proportion of the expatriate community here seriously considering other locations or repatriation to their home countries.
Tourism is already suffering the effects of strict restrictions being imposed on tourists entering the country for periods of more than 6 months in any given year. While the Tourism Authority of Thailand is spending substantial money overseas in travel shows promoting Thailand as the "Tourism Hub of South East Asia", the immigration department is busy making sure nobody can stay in Thailand for very long.
For example, if you live and work in Hong Kong and you like Thailand for weekend visits or long weekends you are now restricted in how many times you can actually enter the Kingdom in a given year. Goodbye "Tourism Hub".
Regarding foreigners who work here and have made Thailand their home, as of 26 October 2006 no Thai Consulate or Embassy in the region will issue multiple entry visas for foreigners holding valid work permits and company papers. Without meeting several complex and strict requirements the foreigner must now return to his or her home country at least once per year to get a multi entry business visa; even then nothing is assured or guaranteed.
If a foreigner resident and working on Thailand does not want to do this then they only qualify for a 3 month entry visa from a regional Consul or Embassy after which you must return to that or another country every three months to get a visa to return to Thailand.
Authorities are now pressing for upholding and enforcement of an ancient and draconian law that states that any business or company employing foreigners must show 4 Thai staff per foreign staff. This enforcement alone may well shut down hundreds, if not thousands of small business' in Thailand who employ a foreigner or foreigners.
Recent changes to laws do not stop at immigration or labor laws. Almost any written law seems open to immediate review and alteration without any consultation with either the public or the people such changes effect.
Indeed it now seems a daily occurrence that some law or another is reviewed and then with almost no consideration of its effect, brought quickly into play.
This is now resulting in bungles such as the Johnny Walker International Open Tennis Tournament being rescheduled to occur outside of Thailand due to the recent total ban on alcohol advertising.
This law is now under reconsideration and no doubt will be changed yet again very soon to preserve the presence of the tournament here in Thailand, apparently worth millions of dollars in revenue.
Then it was the drinking age. One day it was 18. The next day it was raised to 22 years old. A week later amended to 20 years old. Now under review and most likely to be reset to 18 years old again. It would in fact be difficult to enforce a 25 year old legal drinking age when very many shop operators are not 25 years old themselves yet.
Laws relating to the possession of land seem to be getting altered on a frequent basis as well. Foreign business laws relating to nominee shareholders in foreign businesses are under review. In the south of Thailand the Muslim community is now pushing to implement Sharia law in southern Thailand, an idea that, not so long ago, even if vaguely suggested, would likely have brought police and/or military backlashes in the south.
It seems at times that every government department, every public servant, every village chief, every senior police or military official and every local community leader is pushing to have one law or another changed.
Surely, immediately after a coup is not a time to begin making changes so quickly to so many laws. The result is a growing feeling of uncertainty amongst the foreign expatriate population and also quite a few Thai people. Another visible effect is the cancellation or suspension of much needed foreign investment in the country by small, medium and large international businesses and corporations who have, of course, noticed such uncertainty and no longer (at this time) see Thailand as a valid and stable location for investment.
With expressions of disdain and disapproval being the response from all the international community, with the exception of China - who in effect praised the coup, Thailand is now, for most intents and purposes, on the back burner of the world's stove until things in the pot cool down rather a lot.