absolutelyBangkok archive · Politics
Originally published Sept. 7, 2008
I’m all but a Samak-skeptic, but in today’s weekly “Talk Samak Style” program on NBT the premier raised a topic I’ve blogged on several times over the past days: Samak compared the People’s Alliance for Democracy to a cult.
Samak compared the PAD to the Branch Davidian cult in Waco Texas and a cult in Japan whose members were deceived to commit suicides — using its ASTV to launch its propaganda to deceive the people, reported The Nation.
He’s not too off the mark, even though any educated PAD adherer fighting for purely secular issues will laugh off the comparison. The PAD consists of a great many commendable thinkers and independent persons. But has already crossed an important threshold.
Sectarian peer pressure, repetitive indoctrination and the PAD’s claim of chosenness combined with the backbone of the movement over at Government House, the Buddhist Santi Asoke sect and the Dharma Army, have given the PAD a para-religious dimension.
Over at Govt House we’ve heard calls for a “martyrdom for democracy” and you have to admire the protesters for their perseverance. Over a hundred days under the sun, never minding the rain and all too familiar speeches. That’s hardly possible without the absolute dependence on leaders (just to mention the human shields) and a certain belief in miracles.
A variety of black and white magic rituals and black magic spells are commonly used by Thai politicians and wizards — just to mention black offerings to Phra Rahu, the mythical god of darkness Anyone aware of rituals practiced over at Govt House?
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