Comments

  1. Duncan McCargo says:

    Agreed, I really hope to see a paperback out in due course.

    An eBook is already available for $20.99:

    https://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501712227/fighting-for-virtue/#bookTabs=1

    Meanwhile you can get a 30 per cent discount using the codes on this flyer:

    https://thaipolitics.leeds.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/87/2020/06/McCargo-Flyer.pdf

    Cornell also usually has annual spring sales during which all books are heavily discounted.

  2. BTam says:

    Mahavamsa is not part of the Tipitaka. Quote “Buddhist monks of Mahavihara, maintained this historical record of the Sri Lankan history starting from 3rd century B.C., some what similar to a modern day diary. These records were combined and compiled into a single document in the 5th century CE by Buddhist monk Mahathera Mahanama.”. https://mahavamsa.org/mahavamsa/.
    Anything that is not consistent with the Buddha’s Teaching in the Tipitaka can not be considered a reference of his Teaching. And it is clear that no where in the Teaching that suggests that non Buddhist is half human, and that killing for whatever reason, protecting the Dhamma included, can be justified in any way. Unwholesome kamma leads to unwholesome result, period.
    It would be expected that a learned Buddhist scholar is too well informed of the very straightforward principle above to even think of using this part of the Mahavamsa to justify the actions of the army against Rohiynga people.

  3. Mark says:

    Difficult times for tourism. There must be no market for virtual tourism, where a guide takes a group on a tour of sights using some live streaming.

  4. Paul F Wedel says:

    This looks like an interesting and important contribution to the discussion of Thailand’s political and justice systems. Unfortunately, the price tag of more than 1,500 baht puts it beyond the reach of most teachers and young people in Thailand. Such high prices may be a trend for hard-cover academic books, but a much less expensive paperback or e-book version would be welcome.

  5. John Lowrie says:

    This is an excellent insightful observation on the contradictions that abound in contemporary Cambodia and why the country has an uneasy peace. Since the end of the Khmer Rouge conflict and obvious real internal enemies, the government keeps wracking up new ones. Very few of these groups are blood-thirsty but they do have aspirations that do not accord with the ruling party and close allies who have enjoyed and amassed great wealth. Far too much has been sacrificed in the process, as described here – traditional lands, livelihoods, culture and even lives. This is most manifest for the 200,000 indigenous ethnic minorities who ought to be feted as much as Angkor Wat and Apsara Dance but instead they’re treated with contempt. Together with the sustained attack on all forms of opposition, the ruling party is also wracking up more enemies than friends in the international community. China for now is a great friend but to whom and for whom? Cambodia’s most popular seaside destination, Sihanoukville, has been given over to Chinese interests and their top Khmer associates. That alone has alienated millions of Cambodians for whom it was their only annual or occasional treat. Surely something will give sooner or later just as they did in the Philiipines and Indonesia not that long ago?

  6. Dr Jarvis says:

    This article whitewashes the reality a tad. The Spirit of Chinese capitalism is running amok here. Its not so much BRI as land grabbing money laundering drug dealing prostituton by ill educated criminal Chinese. Many shoot -outs occur on Koh Pich Diamond Island Phnom Penh. Real development aid would be welcome

  7. Don Persons says:

    The premise of the article is that ASEAN has a commitment to Democratic legalization and that it can be challenged yet another in a long string of human enslavements in the region. It then goes on to say that there are few mechanisms in place in ASEAN for doing anything at all that would interfere in a rogue member nation’s internal affairs. Rather it would be more genuine to say that ASEAN is essentially an economic and social cooperation in mass human enslavement. It colludes with the dark forces that run roughshod over the weak voices that dare protest, what the authors timidly call soft approach. Whatever power ASEAN has is used to squash dissent. Does that about sum it up?

  8. The author prefers to remain anonymous, which is fine, considering the sensitivity. The ethnic nationalities’ sentiments are understandable, although in the long run there must be a convergence. This is what the decades of civil war and dictatorship have done to ethnic groups – the retreat into tribal attitudes. This is not a condescending view. As a liberal Bamar opposing the dictatorship I can empathize with all minorities including the Rohingya. You see this with Gen Z too. Myanmar has to embark on a broad process of healing as well, and this will not come from the state at present.

  9. As a Cantonese-speaking Catholic-Franciscan friar living in Hong Kong, I read with humility the article and the comments, while reflecting on the justice and peace ministry that is increasingly difficult to embark on in the territory.

  10. Nemo Nemo says:

    A four year hiatus. Let us see what happens. Can we seek explanations not descriptions. Current situation in Burma/Myanmar is alarming from a civil society point of view. It seems the Tatmadaw has simply exerted it’s latent domination of the country after ‘dabbling’ with democracy.
    Civil society doesn’t stand a chance when the most pervasive and powerful institution in the country is the military. I am fearing the worst, as recent history has shown.
    Do the military even have a discernible plan. This military Burmese mind-set does not do things by half: changing the name of the capital, changing the name of the country (as I understand it, to a more formal version) but most spectacularly building a gigantic new capital, that apparently eclipses London or New York for land mass. A quirky, ostentatious city that seems more to function as the seat of government (rather like Brasilia or Canberra) but sterile and largely uninhabited.
    I suppose the fundamental issue is power. Naked and sometimes brutal power. China is officially a communist country but a communist/authoritarian state gives them unopposed, absolute power over the running of society. This seems the only raison d’etre. Democracy is the exception to the norm in Modern Burmese history. Why should the political system of democracy prevail in a society?
    Singapore is a one party state but at least its first premier, Lee Kuan Yew, was honest when he said, I am paraphrasing, I will give you prosperity but not freedom. The Tatmadaw’s vision “we want disciplined democracy”.
    How long will the pots and pans bang before the guns make the louder, deadlier sound?

  11. KC says:

    where can I find info on whether any foreign country, particularly China or UK, made any attempt to stop the May 13 riot?

  12. I’ve been wanting to give comments on this website but keep delaying.

    Terrific photos, Nancy….!

    Thank you for capturing the most devastated moments in MonSingSel.

    Gold trade is not regulated. Miners can sell gold to any regional buyers without having to declare or show the chain of custody of their gold.

    Some regional buyers would sell the fine gold originated from these illegal sites to a Chinese or Singaporean buyers and then PT Antam imported that gold (with PT Antam stamp on it).

    A massive amount of mercury have been used for decades in Indonesia, including in MonSingSel. We found some children with congenital diseases in Mandor and the neighboring villages but the family hide them.

    Miners, the local communities and the central government still in denial that we have Minamata diseases. Now that Indonesia has its own source of mercury, there is no reason to seriously cut or improve this illegal mining practices. The generals love their endless pocket money.

  13. Frankie F. Leung says:

    Enjoy some freedom of speech once you are outside Singapore. We don’t mind what you tell us to do or not to do.

  14. Zoe says:

    As an English teacher in Indonesia who has taught on various pre-departure courses including for LPDP, this article raises a lot of interesting points. While I think that studying abroad is obviously a great experience for the individual and at the very least will enhance their career prospects, I am not sure that these programs result in much meaningful systemic change in Indonesia. So, if an awardee aspires to an academic career after their return they will have to enter and grapple with the still strongly bureaucratic university culture in Indonesia. This can be extremely demoralising because there is a mismatch between the level of education attained and the real opportunities to put that knowledge and experience into practice. I think the authors’ points about needing more of a structure in the home country is very important. There needs to be some kind of agency that assists returnees to either identify appropriate roles in existing institutions or companies or failing that, to access the resources and support they need to initiate their own projects or enterprises. A kind of start-up hub for returnees.

  15. Mark Major says:

    A difficult topic, this. I was astounded and happy with your sympathy toward Israel. For the most part, a good essay. The conclusion, nevertheless, I found a bit odd following what came before – which seemed directed at the movement toward normalisation – perhaps a thing to be asked for!

  16. Allan Beesey says:

    Interesting analysis. I do not follow the situation closely but this piece seems to avoid the complications that Jokowi faces with militant, radical Islam. As I see it Indonesia is in the firing line of radical Islam, far more than any other country in Asia. Could the author admit how difficult the situation is for Jokowi and make clear suggestions of how his approach could be different. Just positing that doing too much (limiting the space to espouse radical Islam ideas) might make things worse leaves me wondering what is the way to go. Democratic institutions and ideas do not seem to go down well with radical groups as these.

  17. Ian Beale says:

    Does Keyes look at how Isan people look at the FACT of a successfully functioning, Lao-dominant State just across their Thai-imposed border ??

  18. Phoe Kyaw says:

    I want to ask is what is the real name for that statue, I mean the name you gave or who gave is “A statue in Naypitaw” but it not the name in my opinion because it not the name for me it just says where we found. So I want to know which one is the real name for that.

  19. Chris Beale says:

    There was a time – eg. May ’92 – when the Thai Navy kept as much out of politics as possible. Now it has become as detested as the rest.

  20. Leanne says:

    Unfortunately, $1m will not go far. Education, hygiene and just being “kind”.