Buying Red Shirt Souvenirs
By Richard Barrow 
Monday 3rd May, 2010 | 410 words | Category: Bangkok | 8 feedbacks »
Sales of Red Shirt Merchandise doesn't seemed to have been affected much by the leaders recent decision to ask their members to go "multi-colour". Vendors just switched their stock from shirts to accessories and other souvenirs. And it is not just the Red Shirt protesters buying. When I was there I spotted quite a few "Demonstration Tourists" who were picking up souvenirs from the protest site. And not all of them were Thai as there were plenty of Westerners and Asians too.
When I went to take pictures at the Yellow Shirt rallies, I remember buying a few souvenirs like anyone else. That doesn't mean I went around wearing a yellow scarf in the same way it doesn't mean I am wearing red now. I feel it is very important for me to remain as neutral as I can when taking pictures and reporting on what I see.
However, there have been a fair number of foreigners at the rally site wearing red. As far as I am concerned, the jury is still out on this one, but I just think it is not a good idea to meddle in the politics of your guest nation. We all have opinions and it is good to discuss them. But, at the end of the day, the definition of "democracy" in Thailand is always going to be different to what we know in the West.
Sitting in the crowd is one thing, but there has also been a number of foreigners going up onto the stage. There are even some working backstage in the media area. Let's hope that they don't get a visit from the Immigration Police during the night. But having said that, they are probably safe as long as they stay in the Red Lands. Apparently you don't even need a passport there.
The pictures on this page show some of the varied souvenirs that you can now buy at the Night Bazaar in the Red Lands. You can still buy red shirts but there is a greater variety now. You can even buy these flip-flops with a picture of PM Abhisit on them. Other merchandise include pictures of pop stars and movie actors wearing red, VCDs of the Red leaders singing and giving speeches, and a long list of other things including clocks, rice cookers, kettles, mugs, books, key rings, badges and a lot more.
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8 comments
Although I think it wise to be visibly neutral, I'm not entirely sure that accepting the current mess as an alternative form of democracy work. In 2 weeks I will be teaching Thai children about history and democracy. I'm not entirely sure how much they will really take in, but perhaps better to have a non-democratic system that works than a democracy that doesn't. Discuss!
As for visitors getting involved: When one is the guest of a family other than one's own, it is not considered polite to get involved in family arguments in any culture.
Foreigners getting involved in what is purely a Thai argument may do well to remember this-and be aware they may already have been photographed and even identified by the authorities.
The next visa- or visa exemption stamp- could be a problem!
Then, Khun Don, how about freedom of speech? It does not apply to farangs?
I arrive again Friday (May 7) and it would seem there may well be calmer water ahead in regards this recent political struggle.
It is a personal belief that runs in my family. My father was beaten and subsequently hospitalized for writing and then publishing a series of books about the events that took place in my home town in 1989 when the Communist regime was toppled.
At the end of the day, freedom of speech is not on whose side you are, but having the liberty to express your personal views (in a peaceful manner and without breaking laws, of course).
I pay taxes in Thailand and, as such, should have as much right to have an opinion on Thai politics as any Thai does. And voice it if I want to. Then again, I'm not one of those farangs who "toes the party line" because they're so afraid to speak their mind in case they don't get their visa renewed.
After 7 years in Thailand, I'm done with it. This mess will just get worse and it's made me realize the massive benefits of living in a true democracy and not a banana republic that discriminates against everyone that's not Thai. I'm leaving Thailand at the beginning of next year as I can't imagine living in this place on into retirement. I don't want to be a second class citizen for the rest of my life and, whatever some farangs like to say to fool themselves, in Thailand that will always be the case.
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