Since Tuesday, Thai netizens have joined the world in closely following and analysing the US presidential election as well as the aftermath. Many also compared American and Thai politics.
Ananya Moonpen wrote: “From the Facebook timeline today, I feel as if it’s Thailand’s election. My ambitious hope is that when Thailand’s election really happens in 1-2 years, the people will be as alert and discuss about it as much as they did now.”
On Wednesday, Napas Zeze Na Pombejra wrote: “I think America now understands how it feels to live with the devastating result of a democratic election. Grassroots (non-college educated) America has spoken – and they want Trump. They want the same person who’s been hugely supported by the neo-Nazis and the KKK. They want the same person who wants to build the Great Wall of Mexico to keep out immigrants. They want him, not because he’s a man, or racist, or sexist, or filthy rich, but simply because he’s not Hillary Clinton. Well, now they’ve got him and the whole country (and the world) is stunned and confused.
“But everything’s okay, because no matter who lost last night, at least democracy won. And now it’s time for US reconciliation. Bring it on, folks…”
Pongkwan Sawasdipakdi posted: “This is getting scarier. First assumption: Hillary’s supporters talked but didn’t vote. Can this be a common global phenomenon of the younger generation? We observed this in the UK.
“Second assumption: Facebook’s algorithm led you to believe that there were sufficient Hillary supporters because Facebook usually shows like-minded people. This hinders the ability to predict an accurate result.”
Pueng Natha wrote: “From Brexit to Donald Trump, model democratic countries have turned to the path of ‘Me, Myself’ and rejected the values of being decent in helping refugees… The Trump and Clinton campaigns took part in mudslinging politics. The pervasive protests against the election result were not previously expected from free America. Look at Philippine President [Rodrigo] Duterte who says ‘only death’ for drug dealers. Kim Jong-un continues to test nuclear weapons…. Meanwhile, in Thailand, people nationwide shed tears over the passing of the ‘Development King’, the man who will forever stay in their hearts.”
Nitipat Bhandhumachinda wrote: “A lot of people condemned Trump as sexist, but a lot of people also made fun of Trump’s wife and daughter. That’s sexual discrimination, too.”
Kay Watchiranont posted: “From the US election result, it seems the majority Americans might have been fed up with one of the parties so they voted for the other. What a shame that in another country, [its people] rarely have elections as a chance to completely shift political power and instead they usually use an out-of-the-system power as a way out; so they lose the chance to learn democratically.”
Many online users clicked a laughing face as Prachatai shared news of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha saying he congratulated the winner of the US election and accepted the result no matter who won the election as it was the American voters’ choice.
Rachada Dhanadirek wrote: “I don’t care whether Hillary will be elected president, but I do care and feel so proud of Lt Ladda Tammy Duckworth, a Thai-descent politician from the Democrat Party who won the election and is now a senator from Illinois. I don’t praise her just because of her Thai blood, but I can see how well she will take care of Thai and Asian people in the US. She is a good and admirable example of determination. She lost her organs [legs] from work but she has never been discouraged.”
Thakrit Rungreungthanja posted: “Dear Democratic [country], you started protesting even sooner than us. We waited until [the political parties] abused their power and tried to pass an amnesty bill. You didn’t wait for anything. Please save my face!”
Noppatjak Aim Attanon on Wednesday jokingly posted: “If you want to escape your country to a place where there is no election result, come to Thailand – the best place for you.” He later wrote that people can look and learn from the US election – the positive and negative sides.
On Twitter, comments and debates went on tirelessly. Hashtags #Trump and #DonaldTrump rose to the top.
@ghybushu: The reason why we didn’t have an election was because previously we were divided. If after an election, one of the sides was unhappy, there would be protests again.
@irichmillion: Not everything Trump said during the election campaign will be possible. Some things were just bragging, just as [Thai politician] Chalerm [Yoobamrung] used to say, not everything he said during his election campaign would be actually done.”
@l30rn2l31: You have made use of the words freedom and peace. You offended socialism and nationalism because you feared they would destroy your capitalism, America. Why have you now chosen an ultra-nationalist as your leader?”
@PravitR: I think we know how the anti-Trump protests will end. Both Hillary Clinton and Obama have accepted the results. In Thailand, politicians formed mobs to ensure that no elections can proceed.
@youdunnowho: Dear Children of Democracy, freedom of speech is linked to the right to protest. If you don’t have the space for protest, free speech is damaged. But burning is not free speech and protest – that’s going too far.