A good article. I differ in a lot of interpretation. I think, insofar as the king is not seen or experienced but in media, we cannot critique such an individual. We could critically reflect on a decision, if we can understand its circumstances, yet ought a person to be aware of one’s knowledge – that it is seldom certain…?
I think equality is a political and appropriate goal. It might be somewhat difficult some place. Freedom of expression rules – and is good if the expressed is called for..
The writing piece: might seem to be great..
> To mitigate this doubt, the government should look to scientific evidence and effective communication, rather than coercive power and religious doctrine.
If Indonesians believe in scientific evidence, then there wouldn’t be as many anti-vaxxers as they are currently today (with the exception of some anti-vaxx with legitimate concern of side effects, but they can be ironically be persuaded by pointing out that Sinovac vaccine is of conventional technology made from inactivated virus that is safer compared to the western ones)
The need for land reclamation need to be justified. Avoiding them or doing it more responsibly is very essential. Some of our stories related to land reclamation issue can be found in http://www.ecoepic.org
The greatest tragedy of Philippine politics is the Filipino’s regional bias, ignorance, values and electorate’s illiteracy. Marcos was so popular in Ilocos region because he is an Ilocano and Duterte in Mindano being a Mindanaoan. Marcos convinced many that he was good by shutting the media and Duterte made himself popular through his trolls. As I said earlier, illiteracy and values are also the culprits. Many of the Filipinos doesn’t seem to be able to know what is morally wrong eventually putting themselves in a curse by voting a demagogue.
New Mandala accepts submissions on all topics related to Southeast Asia, including Indonesian literature. Please feel welcome to make a submission on any subject you feel should be addressed more fully. https://www.newmandala.org/contributing-to-nm/
Indonesian literature and authors have a bigger role in Indonesian history so why not you write about it?! You probably never heard the names of Pramoedya Ananta Toer, Rendra or Wiji Thukul… sad.
It is undeniable that in Asia, until this date, respect for human rights is worrying. No need to hide our face. It is mainly the leaders of China, which has reached the rank of second economic power in the world, just after the United States of America, but to the detriment of respect for the universal values of humanity (forced labor imposed on Uyghur people in the province of Xinjiang), civil liberties for the people of Hong Kong, are the main culprits for this delay in the violation of rights in Asia compared to Europe. It was always this same China which supported the Khmer Rouge regime, responsible for the death of 3 million people between 1975 and 1979. And more recently the dictatorships in Myanmar and Cambodia survive thanks to the unconditional support of Beijing which had succeeded in sow discord among the 10 members of the ASEAN group. The right of non interference which has prevailed in this group so far only favors dictatorships in a number of countries such as Myanmar and Cambodia, where human rights are violated and political opponents killed or jailed, ASEAN should only accept countries where leaders are freely chosen by their people.
Long Botta
MP for Battambang, Cambodia
A most welcome contribution to literature summed up admirably by one observation: “the most remarkable feature of ASEAN’s human rights system is the extent to which it is undermined by ASEAN’s wider approach to regional governance”. It reminds me of when the name of my former NGO was questioned. Was it the Cambodian Institute of Human Rights or the Institute of Cambodian Human Rights? Certainly the real point is the universality of human rights should not be sacrificed. There is little room for local contexts and notions of Asian values if principles and standards are to apply to all people regardless of where they live.
Thx very much for your efforts to revive and preserve our soul through your worked and keep it for our next generation to understand about the soul of Khmer society. Wishing you all the best having excellent health and successful in your great jobs. Bests regards
Have you met Gordon Paterson, an agricultural missionary from Australia, who has worked and lived among the Krueng people for nearly 30 years? You would gain much from talking with Gordon.
Some very interesting points here highlighting how much we have messed up the balance of nature and cultures. It is also wonderful to know from these narratives how indigenous lifestyles are in fact sustainable lifestyles.
“Myanmar’s conflict with EAOs is a result of decades of divide-and-conquer tactics by the English colonisers” – No it isn’t! The pre-colonial Burma empire dominated & mistreated the ethnic minorities in the same way as the Myanmar government. The British period is regarded as a golden age by the minorities, a brief respite from Burman abuse. Burman invasion, exploitation, and human rights abuses in ethnic homelands is the cause of the civil war and the reason it never ends.
Great piece, Siewying! Inspiring. Like many of us I suspect, I am trying to balance my pessimism about the military’s brutal crackdown and the protesters’ ability to continue fighting for their cause with the genuinely positive signs we’ve seen in the form of coalition building between various ethnic minority/majority groups after decades of division.
This is an important contribution to encouraging ASEAN to intermediate after the coup in Myanmar. Like many, I really feel it is a “moment of truth” for the Association, but unlike in the Cambodian dispute, ASEAN, this time can be on the right side of history. We are entering into a moment, as in Cambodia, of competing legitimacies: a duly elected government of the NLD now temporarily incarnated in the Committee Representing the Pyidaungstu Hluttaw (CRPH) and a military junta which has imposed itself by force.
As in the Cambodian conflict the members states of ASEAN could choose to recognize one side a sort of government in exile (CPRH) and not the brutal military regime in Naypidaw. This would be consistent with the ASEAN Charter where the promotion of democracy is underlined as a key principle (7th out of 14).
For this to occur pressure from civil society in SEA must be kept up when this is possible. The coup in Myanmar has sullied the reputation of ASEAN as a whole. Ways must be found to get this message across.
Thank you Rob for this timely, well written and interesting article.
I live in Luang Prabang since almost 4 years and you managed to describe very well the suspended mood in which we are all somehow captured since the beginning of the pandemia. By considering the flow of Lao immigrants who lost their jobs in the neighbouring countries, you also presented a new perspective on the economic crisis of the city which perhaps represents a more general trend and not only of this country. By reading your article anyway I have been left with the desire to read more as Luang Prabang looks to me bigger then its UNESCO area. The closed shops, bars and restaurants of the peninsula and its almost “ghostly atmosphere” do not mirror the social life of other food plazas that opened recently or that can be found around town. Here local small restaurant owners and workers have found new economic opportunities to cope with very difficult times. These spaces are actually quite lively and entertaining, with music, kids games and beer Lao. I do not want to underplay the current crisis, but despite the fact that a great percentage of Luang Prabang GDP is produced by its tourism industry, we cannot forget that its incomes are distributed quite unequally along the supply chain. The territorial economic benefits that you mention have been historically captured by a few, mainly international, actors rather than truly propagate to the local workforce or villages. Moreover, the economic crisis of a number of small family run guest houses began before the pandemia as their proliferation did not correspond to an increase of the number of tourists in the city. This initiated a harsh struggle for commissions and for tourists that involved local tour operators and business owners that did not leave much profits to share locally. On the contrary the return on certain investments have been negative since a few years. The current situation made this more evident and not just bigger. The trickle-down effect of the liberalisation of the local tourist markets has been minimal even though it produced huge wealth.
All in all, I would love to read other articles about other relevant economic activities that are shaping the city and its province, such as infrastructure development, mining, construction works or the wood industry. I also do not have actual data and numbers to suggest a direct comparison between them and tourism, and yet I sense that they may prove to be quite relevant too, especially during these suspended days.
Thanks a lot for opening up a conversation!
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Heaven Doesn’t Divide—Why This Gulf?
A good article. I differ in a lot of interpretation. I think, insofar as the king is not seen or experienced but in media, we cannot critique such an individual. We could critically reflect on a decision, if we can understand its circumstances, yet ought a person to be aware of one’s knowledge – that it is seldom certain…?
Heaven Doesn’t Divide—Why This Gulf?
Very good article about these brave protesters.
Heaven Doesn’t Divide—Why This Gulf?
I think equality is a political and appropriate goal. It might be somewhat difficult some place. Freedom of expression rules – and is good if the expressed is called for..
The writing piece: might seem to be great..
What is behind vaccine hesitancy in Indonesia?
> To mitigate this doubt, the government should look to scientific evidence and effective communication, rather than coercive power and religious doctrine.
If Indonesians believe in scientific evidence, then there wouldn’t be as many anti-vaxxers as they are currently today (with the exception of some anti-vaxx with legitimate concern of side effects, but they can be ironically be persuaded by pointing out that Sinovac vaccine is of conventional technology made from inactivated virus that is safer compared to the western ones)
Creating land in the sea: the quest for greater state autonomy in Malaysia
The need for land reclamation need to be justified. Avoiding them or doing it more responsibly is very essential. Some of our stories related to land reclamation issue can be found in http://www.ecoepic.org
Duterte’s selective human rights record
The greatest tragedy of Philippine politics is the Filipino’s regional bias, ignorance, values and electorate’s illiteracy. Marcos was so popular in Ilocos region because he is an Ilocano and Duterte in Mindano being a Mindanaoan. Marcos convinced many that he was good by shutting the media and Duterte made himself popular through his trolls. As I said earlier, illiteracy and values are also the culprits. Many of the Filipinos doesn’t seem to be able to know what is morally wrong eventually putting themselves in a curse by voting a demagogue.
Art and artists in society in Indonesia: future tense
New Mandala accepts submissions on all topics related to Southeast Asia, including Indonesian literature. Please feel welcome to make a submission on any subject you feel should be addressed more fully. https://www.newmandala.org/contributing-to-nm/
Art and artists in society in Indonesia: future tense
Indonesian literature and authors have a bigger role in Indonesian history so why not you write about it?! You probably never heard the names of Pramoedya Ananta Toer, Rendra or Wiji Thukul… sad.
Human rights ritualism in Southeast Asian regionalism
It is undeniable that in Asia, until this date, respect for human rights is worrying. No need to hide our face. It is mainly the leaders of China, which has reached the rank of second economic power in the world, just after the United States of America, but to the detriment of respect for the universal values of humanity (forced labor imposed on Uyghur people in the province of Xinjiang), civil liberties for the people of Hong Kong, are the main culprits for this delay in the violation of rights in Asia compared to Europe. It was always this same China which supported the Khmer Rouge regime, responsible for the death of 3 million people between 1975 and 1979. And more recently the dictatorships in Myanmar and Cambodia survive thanks to the unconditional support of Beijing which had succeeded in sow discord among the 10 members of the ASEAN group. The right of non interference which has prevailed in this group so far only favors dictatorships in a number of countries such as Myanmar and Cambodia, where human rights are violated and political opponents killed or jailed, ASEAN should only accept countries where leaders are freely chosen by their people.
Long Botta
MP for Battambang, Cambodia
Human rights ritualism in Southeast Asian regionalism
A most welcome contribution to literature summed up admirably by one observation: “the most remarkable feature of ASEAN’s human rights system is the extent to which it is undermined by ASEAN’s wider approach to regional governance”. It reminds me of when the name of my former NGO was questioned. Was it the Cambodian Institute of Human Rights or the Institute of Cambodian Human Rights? Certainly the real point is the universality of human rights should not be sacrificed. There is little room for local contexts and notions of Asian values if principles and standards are to apply to all people regardless of where they live.
The desertion of Cambodia’s spirits
Thx very much for your efforts to revive and preserve our soul through your worked and keep it for our next generation to understand about the soul of Khmer society. Wishing you all the best having excellent health and successful in your great jobs. Bests regards
‘Lost tribe’ in Cambodia
Have you met Gordon Paterson, an agricultural missionary from Australia, who has worked and lived among the Krueng people for nearly 30 years? You would gain much from talking with Gordon.
COVID-19, food insecurity and the resilience of indigenous women in Indonesia
Some very interesting points here highlighting how much we have messed up the balance of nature and cultures. It is also wonderful to know from these narratives how indigenous lifestyles are in fact sustainable lifestyles.
5. Filipino Images of the Nation
What is/are the objectives of the author why he wrote this article?
China won’t end Myanmar’s conflict with the United Wa State Army
“Myanmar’s conflict with EAOs is a result of decades of divide-and-conquer tactics by the English colonisers” – No it isn’t! The pre-colonial Burma empire dominated & mistreated the ethnic minorities in the same way as the Myanmar government. The British period is regarded as a golden age by the minorities, a brief respite from Burman abuse. Burman invasion, exploitation, and human rights abuses in ethnic homelands is the cause of the civil war and the reason it never ends.
What kind of solidarity for what kind of Myanmar?
Great piece, Siewying! Inspiring. Like many of us I suspect, I am trying to balance my pessimism about the military’s brutal crackdown and the protesters’ ability to continue fighting for their cause with the genuinely positive signs we’ve seen in the form of coalition building between various ethnic minority/majority groups after decades of division.
The people’s call for R2P: to be or not to be?
Indeed. Maybe we need to consider the Right to Assist as well as the Responsibility to Protect.
https://www.nonviolent-conflict.org/resource/preventing-mass-atrocities-responsibility-rtoa-special-report/
ASEAN on Myanmar’s coup: revisiting Cold War diplomacy on Cambodia
This is an important contribution to encouraging ASEAN to intermediate after the coup in Myanmar. Like many, I really feel it is a “moment of truth” for the Association, but unlike in the Cambodian dispute, ASEAN, this time can be on the right side of history. We are entering into a moment, as in Cambodia, of competing legitimacies: a duly elected government of the NLD now temporarily incarnated in the Committee Representing the Pyidaungstu Hluttaw (CRPH) and a military junta which has imposed itself by force.
As in the Cambodian conflict the members states of ASEAN could choose to recognize one side a sort of government in exile (CPRH) and not the brutal military regime in Naypidaw. This would be consistent with the ASEAN Charter where the promotion of democracy is underlined as a key principle (7th out of 14).
For this to occur pressure from civil society in SEA must be kept up when this is possible. The coup in Myanmar has sullied the reputation of ASEAN as a whole. Ways must be found to get this message across.
Soup not coup, but what boils in the coup’s soup?
Brilliant analysis. Buddhism lends itself to dark violent and racist uses too.
Smiling to fight: Waiting out the pandemic in Laos
Thank you Rob for this timely, well written and interesting article.
I live in Luang Prabang since almost 4 years and you managed to describe very well the suspended mood in which we are all somehow captured since the beginning of the pandemia. By considering the flow of Lao immigrants who lost their jobs in the neighbouring countries, you also presented a new perspective on the economic crisis of the city which perhaps represents a more general trend and not only of this country. By reading your article anyway I have been left with the desire to read more as Luang Prabang looks to me bigger then its UNESCO area. The closed shops, bars and restaurants of the peninsula and its almost “ghostly atmosphere” do not mirror the social life of other food plazas that opened recently or that can be found around town. Here local small restaurant owners and workers have found new economic opportunities to cope with very difficult times. These spaces are actually quite lively and entertaining, with music, kids games and beer Lao. I do not want to underplay the current crisis, but despite the fact that a great percentage of Luang Prabang GDP is produced by its tourism industry, we cannot forget that its incomes are distributed quite unequally along the supply chain. The territorial economic benefits that you mention have been historically captured by a few, mainly international, actors rather than truly propagate to the local workforce or villages. Moreover, the economic crisis of a number of small family run guest houses began before the pandemia as their proliferation did not correspond to an increase of the number of tourists in the city. This initiated a harsh struggle for commissions and for tourists that involved local tour operators and business owners that did not leave much profits to share locally. On the contrary the return on certain investments have been negative since a few years. The current situation made this more evident and not just bigger. The trickle-down effect of the liberalisation of the local tourist markets has been minimal even though it produced huge wealth.
All in all, I would love to read other articles about other relevant economic activities that are shaping the city and its province, such as infrastructure development, mining, construction works or the wood industry. I also do not have actual data and numbers to suggest a direct comparison between them and tourism, and yet I sense that they may prove to be quite relevant too, especially during these suspended days.
Thanks a lot for opening up a conversation!