Comments

  1. David Binns says:

    Many thanks for the kind feedback. DB

  2. Madison Gray says:

    Very interesting points, I love the way you connected Khmer cosmology and environmental justice. I would have to agree with Jonathan. The pantheon of Cambodian spirits is quite extensive and I am sure beyond the scope of this article, but I think when addressing the neak ta it’s important to discuss the difference between neak ta sruk (spirits of the cultivated land) and the neak ta prei (spirits of the forest). I believe the description of neak ta spirits in this article most likely describe the sruk, whereas Jonathan above described the neak ta prei. Neak ta translates to “old ones” and they exist in both landscapes. The sruk are inclined to protect humans if they reciprocate, whereas the prei are inclined to protect the forest, and likely see humans as malevolent threats. David Chandler (1999) and Lisa Aresen have written great articles about this (https://www.researchgate.net/publication/271020578_Displacement_Diminishment_and_Ongoing_Presence_The_State_of_Local_Cosmologies_in_Northwest_Cambodia_in_the_Aftermath_of_War). I also wouldn’t necessarily say Lok ta is synonymous with neak ta, in my fieldwork, Lok ta often translated to “grandfather” or referred to ascetic forest monks-turned spirits.
    The convergence of environmental dilemmas in Cambodia is extremely jarring and well-articulated here. The heartbreaking part about deforestation and biodiversity loss is that many small-scale loggers in villages are just pillaging forests in an effort to get food on the table. It’s easy for us to judge and urge Cambodian loggers to consider the environmental repercussions of their actions, but when one Rosewood tree is worth thousands of dollars and you are drowning in debt, exploited by Microfinance institutions- where else do you turn?

  3. john hogbin says:

    A thoughtful article. A few friends and I visit Indonesia regularly (pre-Covid), and are usually impressed with efforts being made there to encourage eco-tourism in areas like North Sumatra, Way Kambas in South Sumatra, and Seblat in Bengkulu. Funds raised go in part to the preservation of wildlife.
    I had heard horror stories of Indonesian zoos, but eventually visited one, in Bukittinggi. It was much better in an animal welfare sense than I had expected. Think Australian zoos in the 1950s.
    I agree with Julian’s conclusions and recommendations for a more balanced approach by Australians.

  4. Michael Craven says:

    Dear Ajarn,

    Has anyone checked the records at the University of Lausanne? Maybe it’s not too late to find some information on Marylene. At least confirm that she actually attended/graduated, or find some relatives of classmates/friends?

  5. Maria Teresa Villanueva says:

    It is Maryknoll College and not Merryknoll College. Before it was turned over to lay management during the late ’70s to early ’80s, the college was run by the Maryknoll Sisters from New York.

  6. Thu says:
  7. Truth Hurts says:

    There is no point arguing, the whole world thinks Malaysia is extremely corrupt, Islamist, inhumane, people living on trees and etc. Malays have an identity problem in the world today and although they might feel superior in a small part of the planet but the reality is, they are inferior. Malaysia is heading towards doom, a chemical concoction gone wrong. Ringgit goes down, Credit rating goes down and all chaos breaks loose.

  8. M C Major says:

    “Are you Thai?” should have no effect on a critical thinker. It should merely show a questioner is somewhat stupid. Thai can easily complain about their country. They complain about education and about having no money. This in no way makes them important. They are just beset with problems yet provide great customer service whatever is happening in more broad domains – for instance, with respect to a level of the state. We ought to maintain personal relations, and trust, and be a great fellow. And we should never give so as to cause our enthralment to the ill intended even if they are apparently a high power.

  9. Mark Christopher M says:

    By “cutting,” I mean symbolism whereby, for instance, Prayut appears as a child called Sudden without the connection being explicitly announced. With what is the duck associate – not the King..? I believe that Thailand is the realm of fools that make fun of those with power – reminding them of their deep and spiritual unimportance – and they need to be meek –

  10. Mark Christopher Major says:

    The Red Shirts were communicatively unethical. They exhibited messages on rights etc in English while expressing coarseness and ugliness in Thai. They were also unable to counter the narrative that they were but serving Thaksin’s interests, not promoting public good of farmers or of Thailand. International media saw the attempts to manipulate the public media field, and balked when it came to assisting; to do so would have made any media appear foolish – under the thumb of Thaksin. Honesty and integrity – and freedom – would such things appear extremely necessary.

  11. Mark Christopher M. says:

    I think money matters and that Chula is primarily a university providing affordable tuition and, I am assuming, scholarships to the talent in Thailand. I have no care if Chula wishes to “divest” itself of cultural practices deemed unnecessary on campus – so long as culture in the wider communities is still investigated in great, quality research.

  12. Robbi says:

    Thats a unic perspecrive and i agree with that, and there is a interesting word, which is a minority religious group, and i agree with the statement who said that indonesia supposed to be seen a non violent groups as a just criticsm not a threat.

  13. gladys Lourvanij says:

    It is to be hoped that the protesters have the perseverance to continuewith their demands for reform of the government and the monarchy!

    World wide attention has finallybeen drawn to the abuse of power and the tragic inequaliites inthe governance of the Thai people! NOt to mention the disgraceful behaviour of the King !!

  14. Peter Altman Cohen says:

    The larger American, Canadian, European and Australian film companies arfe not enthusiastic about Asian flim. Zhang Yimou and Chen Kaige have their own companies. Cable investment in American films and large European groups like Canal and Kino Lorber are also indifferent to Asian flims because they doubt any return on their investment. Given the Monty Python-like antics of a certain Malaysian pursuing 15 minutes of fame ended up being 50,000 minutes of stupidity. Japan, and to a lesser degree Korea and China, remains the Asian gold standard for Asian film.

  15. Maiao maiao says:

    Nah, he has a Japan citizenship.

  16. not to bad but use some words that kids understand because i dont understand and my teacher got mad at me

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  18. Atavia says:

    Who was she and why was she victimized

  19. Jonathan Padwe says:

    Great post and great observations, too. Thanks for this! I would be hesitant to place Khmer Buddhist Neak Ta and the spirits of “forest dwelling people of Mondulkiri” in the same category, given the significant divergence in religion and cosmology between Khmer settlers there and Bunong residents. In many versions of highlander belief, forest spirits are essentially considered to be dangerous entities in need of appeasement and, while sources of wonder, hardly considered benevolent. I have seen several instances where highlanders remarked, after a land sale, that the new owner was now saddled with having to deal with the malignance of a certain spirit. They were happy to see that spirit go, and if the new owner cut the forest and dislodged that spirit for good, all the better.

  20. Nic Dunlop says:

    ‘At the time of the 2010 massacre of unarmed protestors, there was considerable reluctance by the international media (as well as skewed domestic media coverage) to talk about the legitimacy of the red shirt claims, or to expose the atrocities committed on the streets in Bangkok.’ Can you give examples of this reluctance and the reasons for it?