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This is not fair on her.
She is a woman with good heart, always goes out helping people.
Though she is a kind of person who always speaks her mind, I don’t see anything harmful coming out of it.

I wanted to tell her that “Democracy” is not the problem here in Thailand, otherwise those great nation like Japan, US, and several European countries wouldn’t be great to begin with. However, “Dictatorship is Disguise” is the term she should be using.

Thanks! 11:59 pm and 04:38 am. Well said.

I am reminded of what Gandhi allegedly replied when asked what he thought of European civilization. He said, “I think it would be a good idea.” I would give the same answer to anyone asking me what I thought about Thai democracy. I don’t think it is fair to criticize democracy in Thailand when what passes for democracy here is only a pale shadow of the real thing, especially now.

This is her reply to Amsterdam (who, apparently, published a story based on BP’s blog)…

bp: snipped the rest as other commenters have excerpted it too now

To be fair I’m not sure that such unguarded remarks couldn’t be made anywhere in the world in a privileged upper middle class household, perhaps less so in the West than a few years ago.In this instance I happen to know we are discussing two public spirited, kind and decent people.Before becoming too outraged, we should perhaps consider whether we too have our share of hypocrisy.

Annonymous 4:53, the fact that an interview with a national newspaper counts as an unguarded moment tells you everything you need to know about the relaxed sense of entitlement of a certain section of Thai society. And their kid-glove treatment by the press.

Kh. Vorakorn has written to the Bangkok Post in response to BP’s piece, apparently believing it to have been written by Robert Amsterdam (!) who had merely copied it to his site. Either honestly or rather unwisely, depending on your point of view, she has made her opinions rather more obvious. I attach the text of a reply I have sent to the Bangkok Posts “PostBag”. Whether it gets published or not seems to be a lottery.

It is noteworthy that Kh. Vorakorn should address her letter “To Thaksin’s lobbyist Robert Amsterdam” and proceed to take him to task for an article that he did not write. It was in fact written by the respected Thai blogger, Bangkok Pundit, an independent writer who published it on his own website and who is neither Thaksin’s employee nor his lackey. Mr Amsterdam merely copied the article and While he obviously does not disagree with the view expressed, he is no more responsible for it than is the Bangkok Post for the views regularly expressed here by, for instance, Kh. Suranand vejjajiva or indeed any other independent writer.

Despite her recourse to these diversionary tactics, Kh. Vorakorn, who describes herself as “very authoritarian” (A trait she clearly shares with a certain former Prime Minister!) deserves credit for having the courage to raise a point of view that, as she says “many others share”. That view would appear to be that she and they, in particular the Bangkok priveleged classes, have grave reservations about the value to them of democracy at all and certainly do not want it if it means that Thaksin’s supporters amongst the rural masses should ever have control of government again. I seem to remember that her husband expressed a similar view a few months ago. The important thing is that we should know where they stand and that not everybody who takes cover under the shield of the “Democrat” Party actually subscribes to democratic values.

her expession has relefcted the facts and proof that the Thai rulling elites are pro- ditactoship. or else what is the problem of democracry?

and they only needs obedient masses that follow what they say and wants in order to feed their desires and greed.
any opinions will be considered as “chaos”

it is the facts that these high clas people who had studied abroad in the west with all exposure to the vibrant civil ad democracy in the west. but they seems only able to get the education paper, but not realising the human civil behaviour and rule of law.

to be able behave like human being is not in their agenda.
sadden sadden!

SH

Anonymous 04:53 pm – You’d have to explain more how you define kind and decent. Education (not sure in case of the wife), status, or money? I recall the wife herself was referring to Thaksin playing with Thai word ‘Hia’ using her public identity (not sure if it was Facebook or Twitter – am not one of her ‘friends’ of course but you may have that privilege as you stated you happen to know them). Whether Thaksin is good or evil, I would refrain from using the term with anyone, much less in public.

Regardless, her choice of word is more worrisome to me now that I’ve heard her view on democracy. Her idea of ‘democracy’ is important given her husband could become the next PM if Apisit is disqualified by the court. I shudder when I imagine what kind of Thailand’s first lady she would be. Will I be thrown in jail just because I think differently? Or even because I can think for myself for that matter? Surely, if you can just get rid of those poor, uneducated peasants with their annoying protests Thailand will magically become a developed country? To me she is the epitome of Amataya.

Anonymous – You’d have to explain more how you define kind and decent. Education (not sure in case of the wife), status, or money? I recall the wife herself was referring to Thaksin playing with Thai word ‘Hia’ using her public identity (not sure if it was Facebook or Twitter – am not one of her ‘friends’ of course but you may have that privilege as you stated you happen to know them). Whether Thaksin is good or evil, I would refrain from using the term with anyone, much less in public.

Regardless, her choice of word is more worrisome to me now that I’ve heard her view on democracy. Her idea of ‘democracy’ is important given her husband could become the next PM if Apisit is disqualified by the court. I shudder when I imagine what kind of Thailand’s first lady she would be. Will I be thrown in jail just because I think differently? Or even because I can think for myself for that matter? Surely, if you can just get rid of those poor, uneducated peasants with their annoying protests Thailand will magically become a developed country! To me she is the epitome of Amataya.

Vorakorn Chatikavanij, the “good wife” of the “Democrat” Party’s Finance Minister Korn has now replied to the various criticism of her anti-democratic views expressed in the Matichon interview with the following letter to the Bangkok Post (“addressed” to Robert Amsterdam for some reason):
=================================
To Thaksin’s lobbyist Robert Amsterdam

* Published: 19/11/2010 at 12:00 AM – BANGKOK POST

Mr Amsterdam, in reference to the article ”Is democracy a problem?”, posted on your website and Twitter, I wish to respond as follows.

First of all, I assume you know what freedom of speech is. What I said in the interview (with Matichon newspaper, Nov 12) is an opinion that many others share. I am a housewife who sees the flaws in my country’s democratic system. Notwithstanding that, I am a law-abiding citizen who complies with her democratic duty of voting at every election, local or national.

Anyone who calls himself a democrat would also acknowledge my democratic right to criticise democracy in my own peaceful way. In fact, if democracy can’t be criticised, then surely it wouldn’t be democracy at all.

Now, let me share my perspective: You, Mr Amsterdam, are now serving a former leader whose political party was disbanded for election fraud and who himself was convicted of corruption whilst in office. Like me, he chose to criticise society; but unlike me, he chose the route of violence by supporting an uprising that led to many deaths and the burning of private and public properties. All the while he says he ”loves democracy”. I understand that your paid duty is to whitewash your employer, but I am confident that the whole world sees him for who he really is.

Signed: VORAKORN CHATIKAVANIJ

“my democratic right to criticise democracy in my own peaceful way”
Ok, So she said.
And it’s also our right(all thai people) to criticise you.
Dictator dog

Thailand need real democracy now!
The kind that listen to the need of the majority
We don’t need some elite to tell us what to do, just because he or she have higher social status

Apparently Finance Minister Korn’s wife, Vorakorn Chatikavanij, is dedicated to helping “under-privileged children in Thailand’s North and Northeast as per this very illuminating and unintentionally informative article from the Bangkok Post:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/auto/autoscoop/21760/

here’s the headline and 1st paragraph to wet the appetite of interested Bangkok Pundit readers….
================
CULINARY FUND-RAISER
A charity gala dinner and auction to raise money for underprivileged schools in Northern Thailand

(Published: 9/08/2009 at 12:00 AM – BANGKOK POST)

Eating their way to good merit were a full house of Bangkok’s creme de la creme for the inaugural “2009 Bangkok Chef Charity Gala Dinner” held recently in the Royal Ballroom of Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok. The fund-raising dinner, which was graced by HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, proved to be a roaring success with a total of 3.8 million baht raised from ticket sales and auctions of home cookouts by participating celebrity chefs.

(and a later section with a photo of FInance Minister Korn and his wife, Vorakorn…)

The highlight of the evening was the stellar bidding of 1 million baht for the finale auction for four chefs to cook a gourmet meal for 10 persons at the winner’s venue of choice. The bidder was none other than Daranee Yoovidhya of Red Bull fame.

(then the photo of Panthit Mahapaoraya, finance minister Korn and his wife, Vorakorn Chatikavanij)

Taksin did a great job, and the elite class who fear to lose their advantage panic and start a coup.
The world has change, the people don’t want to bow down like dog anymore.
we’re not your slave!

When this is all over and thailand is on the right track again,
Those elite will pay for their crimes, every single one of them.

She is right. She says what all of us behold.
Each place is not the same. Thailand is not USA, UK or Japan after all.

I totally agree with what she says.
If there is no problem about Democracy here in Thailand, why are we facing situation like this? Does Dictatorship work well here? I don’t think so, otherwise, the Red Shirt wouldn’t be able to ruin our country as much as they did recently.

“To be fair I’m not sure that such unguarded remarks couldn’t be made anywhere in the world in a privileged upper middle class household, perhaps less so in the West than a few years ago” says Anonymous.

This wasn’t a secret, illegal tape-recording. She said it in an interview to a magazine. She made her views publicly available for both praise and criticism. That’s what freedom of speech is about and she appears from her letter to the Bangkok Post to have absolutely no conception of this.

“To be fair I’m not sure that such unguarded remarks couldn’t be made anywhere in the world in a privileged upper middle class household, perhaps less so in the West than a few years ago” says Anonymous.

This wasn’t a secret, illegal tape-recording. She said it in an interview to a magazine. She made her views publicly available for both praise and criticism. That’s what freedom of speech is about and she appears from her letter to the Bangkok Post to have absolutely no conception of this.

Yes, her husband Finance Minister Korn has expressed his distaste for the idea of democratic structures many times…he firmly believes a highly educated elite is in the best position to decide what is best for everything and everyone and it the rest of society’s role to follow……the Bangkok Thai-Chinese elite has wet dreams about the “China Model”…..lots of money-making and business but only a tiny authoritarian group in charge……no need to ask the uneducated rural folks and poor for their opinions, they’re too stupid and too busy and too tired to know anything in any case……on top of that they have dark skin and muscular hands signifying their destiny and role……..

She won’t say so if she were a commoner living in Myanmar.
And she won’t say so if Thaksin’s men were holding a majority in the cabinet now.

Real pathetic!

Oftentimes, an informal or light-hearted interview is the place to look for underlying attitudes to reveal themselves.

I have no doubt whatever that this ‘democracy is the problem’ sentiment is prevalent among those who believe themselves born to rule, and am unsurprised that it should surface.

When the guard of the conscious mind is down, the unconscious mind is prone to blurting out what it really contains, and this ‘democracy is the problem’ attitude is undoubtedly shared by all who thinks that country folk are too stupid and uneducated to merit a vote. Somewhat perversely perhaps, it seems to me that the real stupidity and lack of education lies among those who fail to see that the wheel has turned and cannot be made to turn backwards for very long and not at all without consequences.

As Omar Khayyam wrote in the Rubaiyat:

“The Moving Finger writes: and, having writ,
Moves on: nor all thy Piety nor Wit
Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line,
Nor all thy Tears wash out a Word of it.”

The moving finger in Thailand has already writ, and the more the elites try to put off the day, the more painful the come-uppance will be, come that day. I have no doubt that plans are already being prepared in Redshirt country for a considerable and permanent purge when their voting power has been exercised the next time. Apocalyptic? Perhaps.

The elites in Thailand would do well to focus their minds on the last line of the above verse, because I am increasingly of the view these days that the various anti-democracy nonsenses habitually perpetrated by the Thai ruling classes will result in many tears before bedtime.

I do hope so.

She is simply an enemy of democracy like her husband and like the whole Thai government and the well-off elite it represents. She basically believes that she and her elite class have a natural right to decide the fate of the country and its people it does not matter what thee majority of the people want or not. Basically, she apparently believes that there are some people who have a higher value and more rights than others. Her thinking and the thinking of the Thai government and the elite in general shows resemblance to fascists theories of some kind of superior people that have the right and even the duty to be rulers and to defend their rule by all means, even if it means the death of more than 90 people and 2000 people being injured as 6 months ago.