Much ado about the meaning of ‘Thaksin Group’

It’s no secret that the name Thaksin has in Thai a Sanskrit root stemming from the word dakshin, which means south.

The hashtag #ThaksinIsTheSouth became the No 1 tweeted topic in Thailand on Thursday and became a popular topic for Thai Tweeples to make fun of.

 

This occurred after Rangsit University president Arthit Ourairat posted on Facebook that he was not referring to a particular person when he wrote "Thaksin Group" in reference to an analysis on who was behind the bombing and arson attacks in the South last week. 

 

Arthit wrote: "We cannot analyse or criticise directly in this country. We must dance around the subject. [Having a] conscience does make cowards of us all. I re-read the valuable analysis that a respected person had sent me [which was posted on Facebook]. No one's name was mention and no one was accused. 

 

"People must have misunderstood. There was Thaksin Group. It meant the Southern group [of people], just like the Isan [Northeast] Group, the Udon [Northern] Group, the Burapha [Eastern] Group, the Payap [northwestern] Group. Why does [having a] conscience make cowards of us all?."

 

 

On Wednesday, former Pheu Thai MP and lawyer Khattiya Sawatdiphol filed a Computer Crime lawsuit against Arthit on behalf of her client, former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

 

Twitter users responded to Arthit's post. 

 

@Loog_zo wrote: "It's the wit of a person in the university president's class. The fools are unlikely to get it."

 

@kitschmepls wrote: "A: I'm hungry but don't know what to eat. B: Do you care for Thaksin food? I like veggies. C: No, I don't like Thaksin [Southern] curries. They are too spicy. I prefer Udon [Northern] food."

 

@Fauvismm: 'Suthep Thaug [Thaugsuban] is also in the Thaksin Group. #ThaksinIsTheSouth"

 

Others were more serious. @ellathauz wrote: "Thaksin is the South. Oh, I've just seen this. So ridiculous. Group after group were blamed. The real [people behind the bombings] must be laughing. We can't find courage or responsibility in anyone."

 

@Lord_Notto: "South insurgents are South insurgents. The group from the South is the group from the South. Why would anyone call the group Thaksin insurgents?"

 

@ccjames7: "If Thaksin means the South, then what is the Thaksin Group? How many groups are there in total? What are they called?" 

 

On Facebook, there was less interest in the controversy. Facebook users cared more about the sad plight of Omran Daqneesh, the five-year-old Syrian boy pulled from rubble after an air strike in Aleppo. 

 

Nate Suratwadee wrote: "The still photo [of Omran] left me stunned … [the incident] made me cry. Just indescribable. There are many child victims [of the civil war]. Many have become refugees. I saw a post with the hashtag #RobbedChildhood. That's so true."

 

Pao Jitasen wrote: "I wish I could hold this boy very tight." 

 

Mlk Yotha wrote: "Who'd get the benefit from this cruel situation? NO ONE. These innocent kids deserve brighter eyes, a cheerful laugh. They were supposed to get a better future, belong to a better place and have better lives." 

 

Nirawit Kaewnok wrote: "Started my day by watching this video while getting ready for study. I can't make my feelings to die down ... I was thinking, What if that was my sis[ter] or my cousin ... I just want to share with the world how I feel because I don't think we can look away anymore. I just feel so helpless. Seeing fellow human beings, especially children, being slaughtered is too sad mood. #prayfortheworld" 

 

Ekarach Sriboonma wrote: "Stop war, stop losses."