Asian Correspondent Asia News

As Republican noted in a comment at New Mandala, Thai Rath have taken a noticeable anti-CNS position since the dissolution case. Below is some photos with an explanation of some photos from June. There is also another theme. Their criticism of government policies on the South

June 5, 2007

Title: Ladder to Power

I don’t know who the guy laughing is, but the puppet is Democrat Party Leader Abhisit. He is being lifted up to the chair which has written on it “Prime Minister after the coup” which of course is being lifted up soldiers. I gather the bodies he will be climbing over to get to the chair are Thai Rak Thai executives who have been banned from politics for 5 years – see the picture of Thaksin on the ground.

COMMENT: Obviously, the implication is that the military are controlling Abhisit and are readying him for the premiership. I think this is unfair and there is no way Gen. Sonthi will join up with the Democrat Party, it will be a former TRT faction.

But whether it was intentional or not, the military has given Abhisit probably his best chance to become PM.

8 June 2007

Title: Political Circus

The person with the whip with the hat, which reads “CNS”, is Gen. Sonthi. The three persons who are jumping through the hoop are “political parties”, “MPs”, and “politicians”. The hoop reads “Executive Order No 15″, which is banning politicans form political activities and other things. The circle they are jumping into reads “Continuation of power of CNS”. The person in the background on the back of the tortoise is Gen. Surayud, the PM. The sign is difficult to make out, but based on other signs it will read “Sorry….”.

COMMENT: Every single cartoon with Surayud has him on the back of tortoise saying sorry.

Yes, I did notice the swastika.

9 June 2007

Title: Latest Victim of Divisiveness

The hand with the knife reads “dictator”. The book reads “Law and Justice”

COMMENT: No doubt what Thai Rath thinks about the dissolution case.

13 June 2007

Title: Treasure Hunt…For Power [play on words as the middle word

The solider on the left with the gun is Gen. Sonthi again and hat reads "CNS".The person in the background on the back of the tortoise is Gen. Surayud, the PM. The sign reads "Sorry, for harming Thaksin...". (UPDATE: Thanks to Aurix in a comment the sign reads "Sorry. Harming Thaksin is our job.") The treasure box with the chains has a sign which reads "Assets of Thaksin and family". The various heads are those of the Asset Examinations Committee, who are investigating Thaksin's assets.

COMMENT:

15 June 2007

Title: The fate of teachers who we love

Obviously a classroom scene in the southern border border provinces. Some of the phrases read "Reconciliation with the southern bandits" [which is the official government policy] “Sorry southern bandits” [a play on Surayud's apology], “Negotiating with southern bandits”, “Hurting Thaksin is more urgent than the southern problem”.

COMMENT: I don’t think the cartoonist is a fan of the government’s policy.

18 June 2007

Title: Today… my foot hurts… another 7 dead bodies

On the left-hand side is a Spirit House, it is difficult to make out what the person’s body says, but I believe it is TRT. Again, the tortoise has both Surayud and Gen. Sonthi. Surayud’s sign reads “Sorry, [if] Thaksin comes back, he we will die for sure?” (UPDATE: He changed to we. Thanks to Aurix again.)

COMMENT: I gather the title refers to the tortoise’s leg hurting because the government and CNS are moving too slowly in regards to the South and this has lead to another 7 dead bodies – referring to 7 dead soldiers.

21 June 2007

Title: Love can’t be forced.

In the background on the left, are the anti-CNS protesters witht he signs reading “Against Dictator(s)” and “CNS Get Out”. Again, Gen. Sonthi with the “CNS” hat holding politicians. The middle one is Democrat Party Leader Abhisit, the other two I am not sure, but I would guess on the right is Somsak, former TRT leader and now associated with political group close to the CNS. Notice, he seems to be hugging Gen. Sonthi’s leg. Again, Surayud on a tortoise saying “Sorry”.

Finally, it is not in date order, but this one made me laugh.

14 June 2007

Title: Who’s Law…. Forced Upon the People

The words on the protesters at the bottom read “Movement for democracy, driving out the dictators, people who love Thaksin”. Again, you have Surayud on his tortoise again with a sign “Law, Karma laws, by the CNS”. The person who is been hung in the background has a TRT logo on his shirt.

Most importantly, you need to know is the guy on the right is Gen. Saprang eating his way through AOT, TOT, is King Power. He is currently eating his way through “Suvarnbumi Airport”

COMMENT: Thai Rath isn’t a Gen. Saprang fan as they depict him in a bad light in a few cartoons.