AP:
The princess of Thailand said Thursday that she does not believe protests in her home country are being staged to benefit the monarchy.
Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn talked about the importance of public service Thursday at the Choate Rosemary Hall prep school in Wallingford. She later headed to the University of Pennsylvania for a U.S.-Thailand education discussion.
Her visit came amid the worst political violence in Thailand in more than a decade. Thousands of protesters have camped at the main government office complex to demand electoral changes and an end to corruption in Thai politics.
In violent clashes on Tuesday, 423 protesters and 20 police were injured, Thai medical authorities said. One woman was killed, and a man died in what appeared to be a related incident.
It was the worst political violence since 1992, when the army killed dozens of pro-democracy demonstrators seeking the ouster of a military-backed government.
The princess was asked at a press conference following her talk whether she agreed with protesters who say they are acting on behalf of the monarchy.
"I don't think so," she replied. "They do things for themselves."
Asked why the king has not spoken out, she said, "I don't know because I haven't asked him."
Protest leaders have called for the prosecution of people who insult the monarchy. One leader wants to abandon Thailand's popularly elected Parliament for one in which a majority of members would be appointed.
Some academics have said the plan would enhance the power of the country's military and monarchy at the expense of the poor.
"There are a lot of political problems," the princess said. "I told my friends, colleagues just to do what is their duty."
BP: Hmm.... Do things for themselves? I have checked The Manager frontpage and can't seem to find any mention of the article.
btw, when I ask the meaning of this, it is a rhetorical question. Be careful about drawing inferences or talking about it in relation to donations, or even suggesting divisions.
btw, silly piece of trivia the school she spoke at is where JFK went to school.
Many King's Scholars go to that school to finish their last year of high school before going to the elite universities of the US.
- a frequent reader
I am sure you won't be able to find any such news in Matichon, and neither made known to PAD mob by its leaders ! coz it is very vital for them to present themselves as 'fighting for King'. they have no any shame to use King that way. but what really troubles me is - NOBODY of Thais seems raises this matter and tries to expose this their fallacy and shameless LIE !
Anon1
"... or even suggesting divisions."
Interesting example of "saying something while not saying anything" BP.
Of course it would be completely inappropriate, and indeed perhaps illegal to suggest that any unilateral comments or donations implied divisions of any kind. After all, a house divided cannot rule and it definitely isn't that.
Definitely.
Rich
What a pleasant surprise! Not a King's scholar myself, but happy to see one of the saner royals pay a visit to my alma mater!
...protesters who say they are acting on behalf of the monarchy.
"I don't think so," she replied. "They do things for themselves."
Well, if this is not clear enough, it would have to take a direct order to behead seven generation to top this.
The younger generation of Sophonpanichs and Chirathiwats also regularly enroll there.
An interesting follow up:
http://thaienews.blogspot.com/2008/10/blog-post_4145.html
- One Reader
Before we go further with any comments, shall we find out the reliability of the source.
The source, Hartford Courant (http://www.courant.com/news/local/statewire/hc-09192950.apds.m0355.bc-ct--thaioct09,0,6157926.story), refer to Associated Press but the article is not existing in AP web.
No details about the trip at HRH Personal Affair (http://www.sirindhorn.net/HRH-activities.html).
No political issues in the local web (http://www.myrecordjournal.com/site/tab1.cfm?newsid=20158997&BRD=2755&PAG=461&dept_id=592709&rfi=6) and the venue (http://www.choate.edu/news/detail.asp?pageaction=ViewSinglePublic&LinkID=2837&ModuleID=111).
Apparently all of the articles spreading around Internet share only one source, Hartford Courant, without any other sources for verification.
Shall we take the issue seriously?
There's always a barrier to convey a message correctly via different languages. I just believe in this case the barrier is the use of the preposition.
The princess was asked if she agrees with the PAD claiming they are acing ON BEHALF of the monarchy.
So, she replied "I (the princess) don't think so", meaning the princess doesn't thinks the PAD is acting of the monarchy's behalf.
I also think "They do things for themselves" are supposed to be meant, or said, "They do things BY themselves.
This is just my personal opinion.
Another source of this article:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/connecticut/articles/2008/10/09/thailand_princess_speaks_at_connecticut_school/