Ralph – my apologies : the above should read – “eg. Handley’s account of events leading up to the May ’92 massacre, AFTER the 1991 coup led by General Suchinda.”
Ralph – simply to begin with, there are TWO major weaknesses in Handley’s account of Bumiphol during the Suchinda period, eg. Handley’s account of events leading up to the 1991 coup led by General Suchinda :
Handley seems to think Bumiphol should have EARLIER come out clearly against the Suchinda clique, when
1) the coup had proved popular, and
2) the clique initially appeared as a clean-up operation against Chavalit’s notoriously “unusually rich Buffet Cabinet”.
I simply don’t see how the supposedly politically neutral Head of State could have moved earlier, until knowing beyond a shadow of doubt that he was backed up by Suchinda-opposing, i.e. Prem-backed, sections of the military.
The Head of State’s PRIMARY duty was to preserve the stability and unity of the nation.
Chambers seems to say this better than Handley.
Not being an expert there are too many questions, Andrew’s book will be welcome but the question for me is are there irrigated areas in Issarn that support hybrids? Is there much Hom Marli in Issarn? Surely Thailands rice bowl is the central region, and the south, but are there exports from the north and northeast – are they increasing? is their potential for increase? is there a need to increase in these areas? Water is a problem in Issarn, it seems that political constraints may make sure it stays that way, after all it does not seem to have changed much over the past 40 years!
It wasn’t meant it be dismissive at all. Simply that the militarily is still in its perpetual active recruitment stage and so are the ” peace deal” armed groups.
There are reportedly already more than 50 battalions just for the “Pipes”.
It is very disappointing to see people falling over each other squeezing Thein Sein’s hands for ” reforms” which should mean reduction of the military and their horrendous bully tactics, while the opposite is true.
The reason Burma is currently financially poor is indeed due to the military conflicts taking away manpower and land from productive efforts while having to pay the Chinese and Russians for hardware. Americans may now become next beneficiary.
There is no chance of real peace because of the chauvinism and ruthlessness of the Burmese military which is the strongest in the history now. With new investments coming in with more money and more paranoir, it may even double the size in the next 5 years.
Peace is not about selling things out and splitting the spoilts like what they are doing now. Peace is possible only with devolution of power, opposite to the current situation. If that happens, there will be true commercial ventures for the demobilized troops.
Suriyon Raiwa: Thanks for the feedback. Will be certainly be on the lookout for this controversial side. Just trying to piece together all the pieces of the rice sector including debates and controversies. Don’t seem to be many general overview review pieces devoted to this all important sector 🙂
“High-Minded Bigots: How Burma’s pro-democracy movement betrayed its own ideals and rehabilitated the military”, Francis Wade’s provocative Foreign Policy magazine piece on recent political shifts in Burma.
We would be good to remember, though, that plagiarism like this is endemic to schools, and particularly English-language institutions and courses in non-English-speaking countries.
I’ve been teaching now for about three years throughout Asia and have hit this nearly every place. While I did get it whilst teaching in the US as well, what’s been different is the attitude. For instance, most recently, when I stressed to my advisee, a Chula grad student, the dangers of plagiarizing when I caught him with a cut-and-pasted abstract from another author, he treated it like a problem of improper grammar and not anything more serious. Elsewhere, I’ve got the shrug and “Everyone does it,” or the shrug and “I’m really busy this week, so I bought this paper online.”
It’s not just a Thai thing. The problem is endemic to schools which de-value writing, critical thinking and original scholarship and instead treat grades, courses, and certificates as things which you purchase or are awarded to you based on your status, rather than things which you work towards.
Chris: any chance you can specify how Handley, writing on the monarchy, is wrong on the military and on what Chambers gets right. I have read both and am not at all sure of the basis for comparison.
Arthurson: They might still be scratching their heads wondering which international laws applying to prisoners of conscience and political prisoners they’re supposed to be referencing. They might also be trying to ascertain what proportion of the 55 prisoners were accused/convicted of rioting and thuggery. AI doesn’t support prisoners who espouse violence.
Incidentally the electricity has to be thought out deliberately. It may not be necessary to get the New York level electricity for every citizens immediately whatever is the usual parameters of measuring the progress. And the price. Meaning environmental damage going along with that particular desire or greed! And the drug money is itself big problem now. Idea is to get off it not hooked on it.
For insemination of ideas and debate and discussion though currently practically one would be as Elliot Presse-Freeman once suggested, community Radio Stations and local papers. Small circulation, free writing ( free idea,not free papers) local papers many of which do need local business sponsership if one can manage to keep it at arms length.
Given that the fighting is still ongoing in the Kachin and Shan State, yes demobilizing troops is “futuristic”, but then so is this entire discussion. I don’t see much evidence Thein Sein is taking your advice. Besides, the type of development you want at some point is going to have to take in to account this issue. Burma’s economy simply cannot support the level of militarization the country currently has. Burma isn’t the US, and even the US can’t keep up its “guns and butter” approach indefinitely, despite what GOP and a lot of Democratic lawmakers might think. And it is not just the regime’s troops, but all the insurgent and pro-government militias as well. When I was in the Shan States in the 1990s I was constantly struck by how ubiquitous soldiers, whether Burmese Army, ceasefire groups or pro-government militias, were. The only time I think I have ever seen anything comparable was during Chinese New Year at Doi Mae Salong back in the early 1990s and I think that was because it was Chinese New Year and everybody was drinking and gambling. I never saw soldiers in the same numbers in Rangoon. The point is, in the border regions where the development you talk about is the most necessary, there are going to be a lot of folks whose trade is blowing stuff up suddenly unemployed. Did I mention the drug trafficking and other smuggling in those areas? Futuristic? Sure, but don’t be dismissive of it because it is in the future. The future may very well be here sooner than you think.
Depends how strong the national bourgeoisie is in relation to the military-crony comprador bourgeoisie who hold sway at this juncture. A bit like the new found confidence by civil society groups in making their voices heard in the newly permissive climate outside of parliament, the one ‘legitimate arena’ where you are allowed to play politics.
I for one entertain no illusions as to my own ability to bend their ears, either those who are calling the shots or those who may be potential contenders, second force, third force whatever.
While we are getting all excited to the point of getting swept off our feet, a cautionary tale of the Celtic Tiger in this brave New World Order (with all its advantages of an educated English speaking workforce and whose footsteps we can’t even hope to follow with any confidence, albeit with our vast natural resources and a massive army of cheap labour) wouldn’t be entirely out of order.
Ohn, the reality is that, under any circumstances, both “technocrats” and their visions are always very limited. They are in love with ideas that have little relation to the real world. The question is how to overcome their serious limitations. One of my hopes is that the resistance of what the Marxists call “national capitalists” to the sweeping visions of the technocrats can be part of the answer. Not sure if you and Moe Aung are in Myanmar or not. But the time to start public discussions of these matters is now.
Couldn’t agree more, Sammy. Visionary is the operative word here, but what are the chances of that? Can’t help being not so sanguine about this lot. Their track record says single-minded self seeking, although admittedly they’ve changed more than their attire.
Hopefully the reform process will take on a life of its own, impossible for them to renege on the ‘democratisation’, so that at least it becomes a slippery slope to something significantly better for all the myriad peoples of Burma. People both outside and in must continue with some gentle but firm guidance i.e. push and shove together.
Ironic that a plagiarist should be so prominent in the National Innovation Institute. Perhaps if they intend to retain Supachai they should call it the National Copying Institute.
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University rankings from Chula’s perspective
No Integrity Anywhere?
Widens the message…
University rankings from Chula’s perspective
How about National Imitation Agency?
Thailand’s benevolent army
Ralph – my apologies : the above should read – “eg. Handley’s account of events leading up to the May ’92 massacre, AFTER the 1991 coup led by General Suchinda.”
Thailand’s benevolent army
Ralph – simply to begin with, there are TWO major weaknesses in Handley’s account of Bumiphol during the Suchinda period, eg. Handley’s account of events leading up to the 1991 coup led by General Suchinda :
Handley seems to think Bumiphol should have EARLIER come out clearly against the Suchinda clique, when
1) the coup had proved popular, and
2) the clique initially appeared as a clean-up operation against Chavalit’s notoriously “unusually rich Buffet Cabinet”.
I simply don’t see how the supposedly politically neutral Head of State could have moved earlier, until knowing beyond a shadow of doubt that he was backed up by Suchinda-opposing, i.e. Prem-backed, sections of the military.
The Head of State’s PRIMARY duty was to preserve the stability and unity of the nation.
Chambers seems to say this better than Handley.
University rankings from Chula’s perspective
And obviously to continue “An Ajarn’s” point, if student see that successful careers can be achieved by cheating then that’s what they might do.
Peasants and the state
Not being an expert there are too many questions, Andrew’s book will be welcome but the question for me is are there irrigated areas in Issarn that support hybrids? Is there much Hom Marli in Issarn? Surely Thailands rice bowl is the central region, and the south, but are there exports from the north and northeast – are they increasing? is their potential for increase? is there a need to increase in these areas? Water is a problem in Issarn, it seems that political constraints may make sure it stays that way, after all it does not seem to have changed much over the past 40 years!
Myanmar’s new political-economic contours
aiontay @19,
It wasn’t meant it be dismissive at all. Simply that the militarily is still in its perpetual active recruitment stage and so are the ” peace deal” armed groups.
There are reportedly already more than 50 battalions just for the “Pipes”.
It is very disappointing to see people falling over each other squeezing Thein Sein’s hands for ” reforms” which should mean reduction of the military and their horrendous bully tactics, while the opposite is true.
The reason Burma is currently financially poor is indeed due to the military conflicts taking away manpower and land from productive efforts while having to pay the Chinese and Russians for hardware. Americans may now become next beneficiary.
There is no chance of real peace because of the chauvinism and ruthlessness of the Burmese military which is the strongest in the history now. With new investments coming in with more money and more paranoir, it may even double the size in the next 5 years.
Peace is not about selling things out and splitting the spoilts like what they are doing now. Peace is possible only with devolution of power, opposite to the current situation. If that happens, there will be true commercial ventures for the demobilized troops.
Peasants and the state
Suriyon Raiwa: Thanks for the feedback. Will be certainly be on the lookout for this controversial side. Just trying to piece together all the pieces of the rice sector including debates and controversies. Don’t seem to be many general overview review pieces devoted to this all important sector 🙂
Myanmar’s new political-economic contours
“High-Minded Bigots: How Burma’s pro-democracy movement betrayed its own ideals and rehabilitated the military”, Francis Wade’s provocative Foreign Policy magazine piece on recent political shifts in Burma.
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2012/07/05/high_minded_bigots?page=0,0
University rankings from Chula’s perspective
We would be good to remember, though, that plagiarism like this is endemic to schools, and particularly English-language institutions and courses in non-English-speaking countries.
I’ve been teaching now for about three years throughout Asia and have hit this nearly every place. While I did get it whilst teaching in the US as well, what’s been different is the attitude. For instance, most recently, when I stressed to my advisee, a Chula grad student, the dangers of plagiarizing when I caught him with a cut-and-pasted abstract from another author, he treated it like a problem of improper grammar and not anything more serious. Elsewhere, I’ve got the shrug and “Everyone does it,” or the shrug and “I’m really busy this week, so I bought this paper online.”
It’s not just a Thai thing. The problem is endemic to schools which de-value writing, critical thinking and original scholarship and instead treat grades, courses, and certificates as things which you purchase or are awarded to you based on your status, rather than things which you work towards.
Thailand’s benevolent army
Chris: any chance you can specify how Handley, writing on the monarchy, is wrong on the military and on what Chambers gets right. I have read both and am not at all sure of the basis for comparison.
Prisoner writes to Amnesty International
Arthurson: They might still be scratching their heads wondering which international laws applying to prisoners of conscience and political prisoners they’re supposed to be referencing. They might also be trying to ascertain what proportion of the 55 prisoners were accused/convicted of rioting and thuggery. AI doesn’t support prisoners who espouse violence.
University rankings from Chula’s perspective
I see that Charoenkhwan Sabye Sabye and Thomas Hoy have both received ‘thumbs down’ votes for their comments.
I guess that means that the thumbs down folk agree with ranking over quality and plagiarism over honesty.
If that be the case, then you’ll be pleased to know then that such sterling attitudes are everywhere.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Police-widen-exam-cheat-probe-to-govt-officials-30185580.html
Myanmar’s new political-economic contours
Sammy @15,
Good thought, impractical.
Incidentally the electricity has to be thought out deliberately. It may not be necessary to get the New York level electricity for every citizens immediately whatever is the usual parameters of measuring the progress. And the price. Meaning environmental damage going along with that particular desire or greed! And the drug money is itself big problem now. Idea is to get off it not hooked on it.
For insemination of ideas and debate and discussion though currently practically one would be as Elliot Presse-Freeman once suggested, community Radio Stations and local papers. Small circulation, free writing ( free idea,not free papers) local papers many of which do need local business sponsership if one can manage to keep it at arms length.
Myanmar’s new political-economic contours
Given that the fighting is still ongoing in the Kachin and Shan State, yes demobilizing troops is “futuristic”, but then so is this entire discussion. I don’t see much evidence Thein Sein is taking your advice. Besides, the type of development you want at some point is going to have to take in to account this issue. Burma’s economy simply cannot support the level of militarization the country currently has. Burma isn’t the US, and even the US can’t keep up its “guns and butter” approach indefinitely, despite what GOP and a lot of Democratic lawmakers might think. And it is not just the regime’s troops, but all the insurgent and pro-government militias as well. When I was in the Shan States in the 1990s I was constantly struck by how ubiquitous soldiers, whether Burmese Army, ceasefire groups or pro-government militias, were. The only time I think I have ever seen anything comparable was during Chinese New Year at Doi Mae Salong back in the early 1990s and I think that was because it was Chinese New Year and everybody was drinking and gambling. I never saw soldiers in the same numbers in Rangoon. The point is, in the border regions where the development you talk about is the most necessary, there are going to be a lot of folks whose trade is blowing stuff up suddenly unemployed. Did I mention the drug trafficking and other smuggling in those areas? Futuristic? Sure, but don’t be dismissive of it because it is in the future. The future may very well be here sooner than you think.
Myanmar’s new political-economic contours
Depends how strong the national bourgeoisie is in relation to the military-crony comprador bourgeoisie who hold sway at this juncture. A bit like the new found confidence by civil society groups in making their voices heard in the newly permissive climate outside of parliament, the one ‘legitimate arena’ where you are allowed to play politics.
I for one entertain no illusions as to my own ability to bend their ears, either those who are calling the shots or those who may be potential contenders, second force, third force whatever.
While we are getting all excited to the point of getting swept off our feet, a cautionary tale of the Celtic Tiger in this brave New World Order (with all its advantages of an educated English speaking workforce and whose footsteps we can’t even hope to follow with any confidence, albeit with our vast natural resources and a massive army of cheap labour) wouldn’t be entirely out of order.
University rankings from Chula’s perspective
National New Bureau of Thailand piece on Thailand’s Number One Face Scientist/Ph.D.:
http://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news.php?id=255507040008
Myanmar’s new political-economic contours
Ohn, the reality is that, under any circumstances, both “technocrats” and their visions are always very limited. They are in love with ideas that have little relation to the real world. The question is how to overcome their serious limitations. One of my hopes is that the resistance of what the Marxists call “national capitalists” to the sweeping visions of the technocrats can be part of the answer. Not sure if you and Moe Aung are in Myanmar or not. But the time to start public discussions of these matters is now.
Myanmar’s new political-economic contours
Couldn’t agree more, Sammy. Visionary is the operative word here, but what are the chances of that? Can’t help being not so sanguine about this lot. Their track record says single-minded self seeking, although admittedly they’ve changed more than their attire.
Hopefully the reform process will take on a life of its own, impossible for them to renege on the ‘democratisation’, so that at least it becomes a slippery slope to something significantly better for all the myriad peoples of Burma. People both outside and in must continue with some gentle but firm guidance i.e. push and shove together.
University rankings from Chula’s perspective
Ironic that a plagiarist should be so prominent in the National Innovation Institute. Perhaps if they intend to retain Supachai they should call it the National Copying Institute.