Bhum Jai Thai, money and Buddhism

PPT is getting some interesting reports from parts of the southern-most provinces of the northeastern region regarding Bhum Jai Thai Party spending.

In an earlier posts regarding the governments “strengthening” projects for the country, the emphasis has been on nationalism and the monarchy. As we showed in a recent post, these can be combined as in the program that demands and requires the massed singing of the national anthem that ends on the king’s birthday.

While PPT labeled this nationalist nonsense, we are aware of how the trilogy of nation, religion and monarchy has been used by rightest forces in the past to justify political repression that has deteriorated into political murder.

Hence, the reports we have from the northeast adding the third pillar – religion – may also seem trivial nonsense, but they are also cause for concern. PPT hears that Newin Chidchob’s Bhum Jai Thai are splashing funds around villages, providing funds for villagers take their children to the local temple at least one day a week. The money provides food for the monks and those who show up. As usual, there is considerable pressure on village heads and kamnan to ensure a good turnout.

There are various ways to interpret this. One way is to see it as a reinforcement of the nationalist trilogy. That’s a reason for concern if, as in the past, extreme rightists take control of these programs.

Another take – more likely in our view – would be to see it as a part of the Bhum Jai Thai’s preparations for an election. After all, the Democrat Party gets no support in the region and any visits by its leaders arouse suspicion and resentment.

What is clear is that the Bhum Jai Thai Party, as part of the coalition government, seems to have access to plenty of funds, and the suspicion is that the military is continuing to pour money into the party in order to gain a foothold in the northeast. The budget allocations to the military carry considerable political import.

The Democrat Party and their backers know they can’t win and election without some gains in the northeast. Hence, funds are being carefully directed to building support from village leaderships and hua kanaen, trying to wean them away from the Puea Thai Party. The government parties and their backers seem to still believe that money makes all the difference in Thailand’s politics.

It remains to be seen if this mix of nationalism, religion, monarchy and money will be meaningful for disgruntled voters.

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