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[TIME] What Indonesia Can Teach Thailand and Egypt About Democracy

We laugh because democracy only work if you are a dog of America like Nippon.

Since when Swiss, Finland or even Sweden became US lapdog? US influence doesn't reach them when they embrace democracy for first time in modern era

It was UK who embrace parliament monarch system than thirteen colonies get their freedom

You need to read more historical textbook before giving your statements
 
Thailand has had 18 military coups since they abolished the absolute monarchy in 1932, one every 4.5 years on average. This time around (the last Thai coup was in 2006) there are a lot more Tavor TAR-21 carbines deployed.

The Royal Thai Army is slowly replacing some of their aging stockpile of M16 rifles and M4 carbines with Tavors. They have ordered a total of 106,203 carbines with 58,000 currently in service, which probably makes this coup the largest military deployment of Tavor rifles outside of Israeli conflicts.
 
Let's think objectively. At least the Thai government allowed protesters to voice their opinion. The recent military coup was only initiated after a constitutional court decided the current regime of Yingluck shinawatra no longer held the mandate. The military did not act by itself, it utilized the constitutional court, the supreme law of the land, as pretext for its action.
Democracy does not mean you can block the traffic ,surround the gov at will if you are not satisfied .

Such kind of democracy damage the public interest obviously.

Such kind protesting in Thailand is not democracy , they are forcing Gov to concede .

It is just a coup without gun and military.
 
Thai protesters adopt 'Hunger Games' three-fingered salute amid military coup
As citizens demonstrate against Paryuth Chan-ocha's declaration of martial law, they utilize a piece of American pop culture to get their point across.

aptopix-thailand-politics.jpg

A protester flashes three fingers representing liberty, brotherhood and equality — similar to the revoluntaries’ salute in ‘The Hunger Games’ — during an anti-coup demonstration at a Bangkok, Thailand, shopping center Sunday.

Thailand's protesters are demonstrating that life can imitate art.

Anti-military coup protesters are mimicking the "Hunger Games" three-fingered salute after the country's army chief Paryuth Chan-ocha declared martial law in late May, Reason reports.

"Thais are avid consumers of pop culture, including the 'Hunger Games' movies, so it's not surprising that they have chosen to use the salute favored by cinematic heroine Katniss Everdeen," a Quartz staff reporter wrote.

thailand-politics.jpg

thailand-politics.jpg

Hundreds of demonstrators shouting ‘Freedom!’ and ‘Democracy!’ gathered Sunday near a shopping mall in downtown Bangkok to denounce the country's May 22 coup.


During a protest Sunday at a Bangkok shopping mall, several people used the salute for a nonviolent demonstration. One woman continued saluting out of a window of an undercover cop car as she was taken into custody, Thai newspaper Prachatai reported.

Similar to the film's use of the salute, protesters reportedly said it stood for "liberty, brotherhood and equality," which was also France's national motto during the French Revolution.

thailand-politics.jpg

Thai protesters flash the sign of 'brotherhood, liberty and freedom' — evoking both ‘The Hunger Games’ and the French Revolution — Sunday during an anti-military rally inside Thammasat University in Bangkok.

In addition to declaring martial law, Chan-ocha's takeover also included detaining current political leaders, shutting down international television broadcasts and imposing a national curfew. If that weren't enough, he was also declared "Prime Minister."

The protester's adopted salute has been seen throughout the world as their demonstrations have made their way through social media.


games3f-4-web.jpg

Characters in ‘The Hunger Games: Catching Fire’ demonstrate the anti-establishment salute that Thai protesters have adopted against the recent military coup.

In the aftermath of the coup, several American performers began bowing out of appearances in Thailand, like Taylor Swift, who canceled a sold-out June 9 concert in the country.

"(The concert was canceled) due to recent events in Thailand," the concert promoter announced on their website May 27 adding that it was "a difficult decision for all parties."

"I'm sending my love to the fans in Thailand," Swift tweeted. "I'm so sad about the concert being canceled."

Thai protesters adopt 'Hunger Games' three-fingered salute amid military coup - NY Daily News
 
Thai protesters adopt 'Hunger Games' three-fingered salute amid military coup
As citizens demonstrate against Paryuth Chan-ocha's declaration of martial law, they utilize a piece of American pop culture to get their point across.

aptopix-thailand-politics.jpg

A protester flashes three fingers representing liberty, brotherhood and equality — similar to the revoluntaries’ salute in ‘The Hunger Games’ — during an anti-coup demonstration at a Bangkok, Thailand, shopping center Sunday.

Thailand's protesters are demonstrating that life can imitate art.

Anti-military coup protesters are mimicking the "Hunger Games" three-fingered salute after the country's army chief Paryuth Chan-ocha declared martial law in late May, Reason reports.

"Thais are avid consumers of pop culture, including the 'Hunger Games' movies, so it's not surprising that they have chosen to use the salute favored by cinematic heroine Katniss Everdeen," a Quartz staff reporter wrote.

thailand-politics.jpg

thailand-politics.jpg

Hundreds of demonstrators shouting ‘Freedom!’ and ‘Democracy!’ gathered Sunday near a shopping mall in downtown Bangkok to denounce the country's May 22 coup.


During a protest Sunday at a Bangkok shopping mall, several people used the salute for a nonviolent demonstration. One woman continued saluting out of a window of an undercover cop car as she was taken into custody, Thai newspaper Prachatai reported.

Similar to the film's use of the salute, protesters reportedly said it stood for "liberty, brotherhood and equality," which was also France's national motto during the French Revolution.

thailand-politics.jpg

Thai protesters flash the sign of 'brotherhood, liberty and freedom' — evoking both ‘The Hunger Games’ and the French Revolution — Sunday during an anti-military rally inside Thammasat University in Bangkok.

In addition to declaring martial law, Chan-ocha's takeover also included detaining current political leaders, shutting down international television broadcasts and imposing a national curfew. If that weren't enough, he was also declared "Prime Minister."

The protester's adopted salute has been seen throughout the world as their demonstrations have made their way through social media.


games3f-4-web.jpg

Characters in ‘The Hunger Games: Catching Fire’ demonstrate the anti-establishment salute that Thai protesters have adopted against the recent military coup.

In the aftermath of the coup, several American performers began bowing out of appearances in Thailand, like Taylor Swift, who canceled a sold-out June 9 concert in the country.

"(The concert was canceled) due to recent events in Thailand," the concert promoter announced on their website May 27 adding that it was "a difficult decision for all parties."

"I'm sending my love to the fans in Thailand," Swift tweeted. "I'm so sad about the concert being canceled."

Thai protesters adopt 'Hunger Games' three-fingered salute amid military coup - NY Daily News


Ha ha ! Amazing !
 
That was because Thailand has a "weak" king instead of a strong "king/president/chairman"
 
With Democracy, a Stronger Diplomacy for Indonesia
By Vita A.D. Busyra on 08:40 am Jun 13, 2014
tolak_soeharto_sm_004.jpg

Indonesia has made huge strides in international diplomacy and relevance since the time of the former strongman Suharto. (JG Photo/Safir Makki)

Jakarta. Indonesia’s confidence and competence in playing a leading role on the international stage will continue to grow in line with its assertive stance about its political stability and human rights protections relative to its neighbors in the Southeast Asian region, foreign policy experts said on Thursday.

The country was an active player in international diplomacy during the New Order era of the late Suharto, but lacked legitimacy because of its poor record on human rights, former foreign minister Hassan Wirajuda said at a discussion in Jakarta.

Sixteen years after the strongman’s downfall, and with democratic reforms still being implemented, the country has won much-needed diplomatic currency thanks to its improved rights record and fast-growing economy.

“I can’t say that the reforms we enjoy today are [the result of] a revolution, but they were more of a corrective effort by the country for the injustices that we committed in the past to advance democracy,” Hassan said. “Before, there was no democracy. So now we’re strengthening our rule of law, our law enforcement, including eradicating the practices of corruption, collusion and nepotism, honoring our human rights [obligations], introducing regional autonomy, and finding ways to overcome various crises.”

In line with that progress, he said, Indonesia’s foreign policy has also improved during the reform era, particularly under President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Hassan, who served as foreign minister from 2001 to 2009, including in Yudhoyono’s first administration from 2004 to 2009, said the president had shown that Indonesia could be a peace and unity to other countries by offering solutions to those countries in conflict such as in the Middle East and, closer to home, Myanmar, where ethnic Rohingya Muslims continue to be persecuted.

Jakarta’s top diplomats have in recent years become increasingly engaged in regional and wider international issues, while Indonesia’s participation at international forums have been marked by a more assertive stance.

Indonesia’s rise contrasts with its neighbors in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, many of which cannot claim to enjoy a true democracy.

Thailand last month experienced its 12th military coup in 80 years. Some civil liberties have suffered under the ruling parties in Singapore and Malaysia.

The Philippines enjoys a thriving democracy, but remains one of the deadliest places in the world for journalists, compared to Indonesia’s nearly unfettered press freedom.

Myanmar has begun introducing democratic reforms, but the military remains in charge of the government; in Cambodia, the government of Hun Sen has been widely accused of abuses of civil and human rights; and Vietnam is still nominally communist, while Laos is socialist.

However, Hassan warned that Indonesia still had several domestic issues that it needed to properly address if it wanted to increase its international clout, primarily its handling of low-level separatist insurgencies in Papua and Maluku, two of the least-developed regions in the country.

“There are human rights violations,” he admitted. “The people of Papua and Maluku continue to demand independence and sovereignty. But even though they’re free to voice their wishes, their demand to set up independent states cannot be accepted.”

Resolving both conflicts peacefully would boost Indonesia’s international standing significantly, experts say, citing the prominence afforded to the Yudhoyono administration after it managed to end a nearly three-decade armed insurgency in Aceh province in 2005.

Arif Susanto, an international relations lecturer at the London School of Public Relations, which hosted Thursday’s discussion, said he hoped the younger generation of Indonesians would play an increasing role in promoting political and foreign affairs issues and human rights concerns, including through social media.

With the advent and spread of this platform, he said, once-abstract issues like foreign affairs were now open to wide public discourse.

More and more, he said, it is the public, not the government, that has the say in determining policies.

With Democracy, a Stronger Diplomacy for Indonesia | The Jakarta Globe
 
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