Professional Development: Peace Corps / Political Situation in Thailand

Presenters: Representatives from the US Embassy in Thailand

Jackie Vavra– MSI , Think Tank, School of Educational training. She has been at post for two years. Her work primarily covers the South of the Thailand - worked as educational administrator for SIT school of international training.

Jessica Smith – Background in Education – Race to the top (with president Obama)– Department of Education. Works as a major international contractor.

This lecture, and later discussion, on the Political Situation in Thailand was an eye-opening talk that allowed me to understand the relationship between Thai politics and Thai social values. The lecture took place in a large conference hall located in at the Chinatthani Hotel in Chinat, Thailand. The two speakers, Jackie Vavra and Jessica smith, currently work at the US Embassy in Thailand and had a great deal to share regarding the history of Thai politics and their implications on the current political and cultural climate in Thailand.

Particularly interesting to me were topics of local movement and local activism as forms of protest to government corruption. Many Peace Corps Volunteers have seen firsthand the faces of anti-government organizations rioting in the rural villages of Thailand [red shirts, white masks]– trying to “correct” the system by rallying to field laborers of the working class. However, I do not believe many of us understood the gravity of their efforts or the reasons behind such efforts.

The speakers had opened the lecture by explaining that Thailand has had a pattern of ups downs, the backlash of which we will most certainly witness during our service here in Thailand. After the end of the absolute monarchy in 1932, the military became a prominent player in governing Thailand. However the people of Thailand created an insurgence in the 1970’s and demanded more say in the Governments affairs. Throughout the 1990’s the military struggled to regain its rein over the Thai people until 1997 when the People’s Constitution, a period of great democracy, took place. However, the theme of toxic and corrupt political leaders repeated throughout the 2000’s – which caused the people to rise up in protest.

In 2008, the Democratic Party was put into power where members were not elected. And with it came uproar of the Red shirts (grassroots political movement) a local movement with local activists who wanted to separate themselves from the Democratic Government in Bangkok. Why you may ask? One reason is that the Thai government through alleged means of corruption had been purchasing stockpiles of rice from rural farmers and selling it at a higher price. The rice exports in Thailand had started to slow due to inflated pricing, and the farmers went crazy. Pressure mounted in the government and many farmers began supporting the Red Shirts.

This lecture taught me about the tangled web that is the Thai governing system. Thailand has both a democracy and a monarchy (the King). Everyone supports the monarchy meaning that everyone supports the Royal family. But the Monarchy does not have a political role. However, political party uses the monarchy for rules.

Observing the atmosphere in the conference room was incredibly interesting because it spoke volumes about Thai culture and value. There are many questions that are off limits – but these questions are the ones that everyone wants answered the most. However, we cannot address them. I observed one woman who attempted to phrase a heated question about the future of the monarchy in the most sensitive terms, but her question was quickly deflected.

The Thai government has had a long history of corrupt leaders and chaotic agendas. However, it is important to realize acculturating adequately into Thai society requires us almost to turn our heads from what we fear most and pretend like it doesn’t exist. Those who fight for a justice and change are either ignored or treated as traitors to their nation. This may be the key difference between politics in a country with an old and rich history versus the politics in a country with a fresh and short history. The pressure of my western ideology is constantly creating rifts in my acculturation process. However I am starting to realize though I don’t have to agree with certain cultural aspects in Thailand, I do have to work with and not against the opposing perspectives I see as problematic.

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