Just took a look at HRW Brad Adams’ piece on Hun Sen linked to in this posting.
In that Adams calls Hun Sen “a former Khmer Rouge commander” but, rather strangely, fails to mention that Hun Sen (who I’m not defending) fell out with the Pol Pot element of the Khmer Rouge and had to flee to Vietnam. He then came back with the Vietnamese and fought against Pol Pot’s Khmer Rouge, who were by that time, backed by the US, UK and most fervently by the Thai Army. The irony of Adams quoting US State Dept officials regarding Cambodia shouldn’t be lost on anyone interested in SE Asian politics.
Hun Sen might be a monster but compared to the death toll enacted on the entire region by the US he’s still in the lower division of murder.
Some estimates place the number of Cambodian civilians killed by US bombing prior to the rise of the Khmer Rouge as over 500K. Some less than a 100k . The figures are, of course, impossible to verify but would almost certainly be 10s of 1000s of innocent men, women and children slaughtered by an illegal US bombing campaign. Now while Hun Sen should certainly be held to account for his brutality when will the US govt that Brad Adams is so happy to quote be brought to account for their grave warcrimes in Cambodia? Does Brad Adams consider these crimes as something even worth discussing as he has his friendly chit chats with his buddies in the US govt? Probably not.
Those who profess to care for one of the most vulnerable among Myanmar Citizenry, “the laborers” must first cover their shameless slip of supporting the useless careless yesterday policy.
After all it is the rabid support from contributors here at New Mandala like Kyi May Kaung (PhD), Ohn and very Ko Moe Aung that has now presented these Citizenry with the ongoing quagmire in every respect.
Never mind that the wisdom of Ko Thant Myint-U advocacy of revitalizing the heritage entail a larger picture of opportunities.
Opportunities that will lead to conversations and solving of parallel problems of decrepit infrastructure.
Electricity, Water, Sewage and Roads problems that must be addressed and rectify in order to even begin with the revitalization process.
As I recall an average salary was US $ 1/day with very few opportunity of employment.
Is it wise or even logical to use this as a base to address the Citizenry’s plight?
The future of a Citizenry Plight will always be the resulting availability of Education, Healthcare and Economic well being.
Ko Thant Myint-U advocacy entail the dire improvement of all 3.
“In Thailand, it’s like this: if you look after yourself, that’s fine, you’re left alone.”
Yes, Thai government have left them alone in peace because during cold war communist surrounded Thailand, Thailand used them as a bumper – guard Thailand from communist.
In the same time Thai government used Chinese – Malay communist as a bumper to balance the power of the Muslim insurgents in three southern provinces between Thai and Malaysia border. Chinese-Malay communist surrendered to Thai government 25 years ago under
р╕Ьр╕╣р╣Йр╕гр╣Ир╕зр╕бр╕Юр╕▒р╕Тр╕Щр╕▓р╕Кр╕▓р╕Хр╕┤р╣Др╕Чр╕в program, the insurgents in the south have been stronger since then.
Thank you, but i am writing as well.
As to the accusations of being “impartial” – i have always made the same offer to my accusers:
If i have been misrepresenting facts, been not objective in my observations, or have been selective in my presentation of facts leading to a lopsided representation – then point out where i have done so, and i will correct it. If you can prove that i made a mistake anywhere – i will correct it. If you have important information that i do not have, give it to me, and i will use it.
I am not perfect, but i have been diligent in verifying and corroborating information, and i speak with all sides (as you can see in my upcoming article which i have just sent to Nich and Andrew). So, can you prove that i have been anything less than factual and objective and where i have done so?
As to sympathies – i have always been open with my sympathies, and why i have those. But i do not let my sympathies interfere with factual and objective reporting – because that is what counts. It is simply impossible not to develop sympathies and antipathies when one works such a subject matter that closely – and without being close to such a topic one will never get the level of information necessary to write anything other than a superficial and entirely superfluous little thingy not worth paying much attention to.
You have different opinions – fine. Than try to do what i have done these past years, gather facts, be on the street no matter what – to observe things first hand, build your network of informants on all sides, and then present your findings. Lets see then how my work and your work compares then.
Mr Damage #12. Setting aside your impenetrable third para that would not be at all out of place in “Pseuds Corner” your own rant seems to qualify more as an antidisestablishmentarianism one than my own comment that stated an undisputed fact. Meanwhile, the government that the red shirts helped to put in power seems to be pulling out all the stops to appear more pro-establishment than the Democrats and their fiendish amartiya and military allies.
It is now hard to say whether Pheua Thai or the Democrats and their feudalistic allies are more committed to the systematic suppression of freedom of expression ostensibly in support of the establishment but, more importantly, in their own personal interests. Suddenly the evil amartiya who were previously demonised in demagogic phone-ins have become close friends. The establishment has been traditionally terrified of the prospect of an articulate peasantry that will be harder to manipulate but so, it seems, is Pheua Thai which only offers gimmicks in place of desperately needed educational reform.
The establishment has always turned a blind eye to the corruption of politicians and other government officials in return for their support of the status quo, even though corruption gnaws away at Thailand’s competitiveness, holds back progress and denies ordinary Thais the opportunities for development their deserve. Corruption flourished under the Thaksin regime and got even worse under Abhisit, Newin and the military. Unfortunately there are no signs that the Pheua Thai government will be regarded as any less corrupt than the previous Thaksin or Abhisit regimes.
Essentially we are dealing with a bi-polar situation involving two extreme right wing parties that are both staunchly pro-establishment, although one of them occasionally throws a few populist crumbs to its supporters to keep them keen.
Thank you Tom for the link, and the best bit is most definitely the conclusion: Dr Thant Myint-U said it was crucial that local communities benefited from preservation efforts.
The last thing that many people in this room would want to do is to displace local communities as a result of new attempts to preserve these buildings.
He said heritage conservation efforts needed to not only protect local communities but “offer tangible benefits … in terms of creating jobs and improving lives”.
Andrew Spooner: According to the piece you did for the Independent on Mae Salong – “The other advantage of the location is the views – on a clear day, a giant sweep of rolling green marches all the way to the Mekong River” – that is some view! 25kms over to highway 1 then another 30km over to Chiang Saen … – I won’t bother reading what you wrote for CNN and congratulate myself on never having used any Footprint guides.
> “It was too bad that his attitude that only he knew anything about it and his intolerance of any other viewpoint and his disagreement with the owner about that intolerance caused to him withdraw. At least now, Nick has learned to moderate that fanaticism, though he does have a few moments at times.”
Tell me about it … :rolleyes:
I also think Nicholas Farrelly’s response to post #5 was over the top.
There’s nothing journalistically partial about reporting a “protest” movement’s own self-confessed, self-publicised political platform in shorthand form using their own form or words of that of a respected organisation such as the AHRC.
Here is an article about Golden Dawn in Greece who are constantly referred to as “neo-Nazi” by news organisations.
Plenty of brave journalists representing international news organisations have been able to accurately inform the public of Golden Dawn’s politics – why can’t they do that in Thailand?
In the Reuters’ article I link to in my piece here http://bit.ly/JE5d5W about the recent PAD protests Reuters spend two paragraphs and 68words of the piece laying out the PAD’s politics yet fail, completely, to mention the PAD’s self-confessed programme of wanting to destroy democracy or that noted voices such as they AHRC describe them as fascist.
“Are you suggesting that international news organisations and journalists working in Thailand don’t actually already know what democracy is?”
Andrew you appear to be chasing your own tail again…..
The realities of the PAD’s agenda are pretty well known…. And the media don’t seem to be particularly shy of echoing that….. You want them to use the word ‘fascist’ or ‘fascism’ every time the Yellow bellies are mentioned?….. Well although the PAD are pretty fascistic, news organisations are not student common rooms peopled by angry student activists or clones of Rik from the Young Ones…. They have responsibilities and guidelines however loathsome the political players are that they report on….
Do you think that every time the UDD are mentioned one should say ‘Supporters of Thaksin Shinawatra,internationally condemned for serial human rights abuses when in power’?….. I mean it would all get a bit long winded wouldn’t it?
So AI utilise campaigns for workers’ rights when you using it as leverage to raise funds (that then get used to make US$800k golden handshakes that they try to cover up) but not in their own backyard. Nice.
The second relates to AI IS’s lack of charitable status and that it is, in fact, a limited company –
“The Charity Commission has said it has no jurisdiction over Amnesty International making a valedictory payment of ┬г530,000 to its former secretary general – now a Charity Commission board member – because the part of Amnesty that made the payment is not a charity. A spokeswoman said that as Amnesty International Ltd, which employed Irene Khan, is not a charity, the regulator has no interest.”
“Are you seriously suggesting that all media organisations put this in as a compulsory caveat every time the PAD are mentioned?”
No, I’m suggesting that in some way that the international media accurately portray the PAD’s politics. They don’t.
If they don’t want to use the PAD’s own words as a reference point they could also reference the esteemed Asian Human Rights Commission who said
“Some commentators and opponents of the alliance [PAD] have described its agenda as fascist. This is not an exaggeration.”
I also find your idea that if the international media include some mention of the PAD’s fascism that “news organisations would then have to have a philosophically defined of what ‘democracy’ is” a bit strange.
Are you suggesting that international news organisations and journalists working in Thailand don’t actually already know what democracy is?
“The PAD openly espouse a political programme that seeks to “destroy democracy”.”
Are you seriously suggesting that all media organisations put this in as a compulsory caveat every time the PAD are mentioned?…. Why?…. Have you ever actually worked in a news organisation?…. Do you know just what a naive and ridiculous suggestion this is?….. Whilst I agree roughly with your definition of the aims of the PAD, news organisations would then have to have a philosophically defined of what ‘democracy’ is and indeed whether there is actually a ‘democracy’ in place for the PAD to destroy….
This not the way grown ups report the news. It’s infantile student nonsense and it is also deeply patronising towards the general public….. London Borough of la la land…….
The story of the KMT in N. Thailand is one which has always fascinated me.
I’ve spent a fair bit of time in Mae Salong, the former KMT HQ, and have got to know a few of the people up there and particularly a former KMT Colonel, Somboon, who now runs one of Mae Salong’s most popular guesthouses.
Somboon’s father was Jang Pong Gow, who went on to become a one star KMT General and was one of General Duan’s most trusted fighters. Jang Pong Gow died, I believe, fighting Thai communists at Phu Chi Fah, up in the hills near the Laos border.
Back in late 2008 I wrote/photographed two stories about Somboon and Mae Salong one of which appeared in CNN Traveller magazine and another which appeared in UK national paper, The Independent.
The Independent one is a bit more travel orientated, the CNN one has a bit more of a feature feel although the two pieces do overlap in places.
Nich #6. I think you are being a bit over sensitive. I agree with your comments on the quality and uniqueness of Nick’s photojournalism but I simply stated the obvious in saying that it is clear where his sympathies lie. Do you dispute that?
Amnesty International International Secretariat (AI IS), who Zawacki works for, is a private company.
I called them and asked them – you can do the same – and then checked their listing on Companies House and the other company information available online that I pasted in above.
AI IS was set up as a private company to commercially protect the copyright of the AI branding and to allow it to make profit to fund the work of Zawacki et al (and presumably to finance US$800k golden handshakes).
AI IS also have the power to push around local national entities of AI as they get to deem who or who isn’t part of AI. Hence Zawacki/Guest riding into town and bullying AI Malaysia.
So AI UK, as you correctly point out IS a charity. But Zawacki doesn;t work for them. He works for AI IS.
I’ve lived in Thailand since 2001 but still found the BP mistake (and the fact that someone alerted NM to it) very funny…or were you saying that living here for many years degenerates one’s mind so that one’s humor is low enough to find the mistake funny? Either way, my mind’s confused by the manner in which you made your point about finding the mistake funny. Either I was already a moron before I moved here, or living here so long has made me a moron, or whatever, but for frack’s sake, considering all of the self-concious fawning and bending over backwards throughout the Kingdom to avoid anything discernible as an LM offence, THAT MISTAKE WAS BLOODY FUNNY.
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Surprise? A CPP victory
Just took a look at HRW Brad Adams’ piece on Hun Sen linked to in this posting.
In that Adams calls Hun Sen “a former Khmer Rouge commander” but, rather strangely, fails to mention that Hun Sen (who I’m not defending) fell out with the Pol Pot element of the Khmer Rouge and had to flee to Vietnam. He then came back with the Vietnamese and fought against Pol Pot’s Khmer Rouge, who were by that time, backed by the US, UK and most fervently by the Thai Army. The irony of Adams quoting US State Dept officials regarding Cambodia shouldn’t be lost on anyone interested in SE Asian politics.
Hun Sen might be a monster but compared to the death toll enacted on the entire region by the US he’s still in the lower division of murder.
Some estimates place the number of Cambodian civilians killed by US bombing prior to the rise of the Khmer Rouge as over 500K. Some less than a 100k . The figures are, of course, impossible to verify but would almost certainly be 10s of 1000s of innocent men, women and children slaughtered by an illegal US bombing campaign. Now while Hun Sen should certainly be held to account for his brutality when will the US govt that Brad Adams is so happy to quote be brought to account for their grave warcrimes in Cambodia? Does Brad Adams consider these crimes as something even worth discussing as he has his friendly chit chats with his buddies in the US govt? Probably not.
Thant Myint-U on Yangon
Those who profess to care for one of the most vulnerable among Myanmar Citizenry, “the laborers” must first cover their shameless slip of supporting the useless careless yesterday policy.
After all it is the rabid support from contributors here at New Mandala like Kyi May Kaung (PhD), Ohn and very Ko Moe Aung that has now presented these Citizenry with the ongoing quagmire in every respect.
Never mind that the wisdom of Ko Thant Myint-U advocacy of revitalizing the heritage entail a larger picture of opportunities.
Opportunities that will lead to conversations and solving of parallel problems of decrepit infrastructure.
Electricity, Water, Sewage and Roads problems that must be addressed and rectify in order to even begin with the revitalization process.
As I recall an average salary was US $ 1/day with very few opportunity of employment.
Is it wise or even logical to use this as a base to address the Citizenry’s plight?
The future of a Citizenry Plight will always be the resulting availability of Education, Healthcare and Economic well being.
Ko Thant Myint-U advocacy entail the dire improvement of all 3.
Kuomintang in northern Thailand
Thai government like to do easy job – sweep all the problems under a carpet.
Luckily Kuomintang in northern Thailand live peacefully!
Kuomintang in northern Thailand
“In Thailand, it’s like this: if you look after yourself, that’s fine, you’re left alone.”
Yes, Thai government have left them alone in peace because during cold war communist surrounded Thailand, Thailand used them as a bumper – guard Thailand from communist.
In the same time Thai government used Chinese – Malay communist as a bumper to balance the power of the Muslim insurgents in three southern provinces between Thai and Malaysia border. Chinese-Malay communist surrendered to Thai government 25 years ago under
р╕Ьр╕╣р╣Йр╕гр╣Ир╕зр╕бр╕Юр╕▒р╕Тр╕Щр╕▓р╕Кр╕▓р╕Хр╕┤р╣Др╕Чр╕в program, the insurgents in the south have been stronger since then.
Nick Nostitz interviewed by Matichon
“Marteau”:
“…of Nick’s photojournalism…”
Thank you, but i am writing as well.
As to the accusations of being “impartial” – i have always made the same offer to my accusers:
If i have been misrepresenting facts, been not objective in my observations, or have been selective in my presentation of facts leading to a lopsided representation – then point out where i have done so, and i will correct it. If you can prove that i made a mistake anywhere – i will correct it. If you have important information that i do not have, give it to me, and i will use it.
I am not perfect, but i have been diligent in verifying and corroborating information, and i speak with all sides (as you can see in my upcoming article which i have just sent to Nich and Andrew). So, can you prove that i have been anything less than factual and objective and where i have done so?
As to sympathies – i have always been open with my sympathies, and why i have those. But i do not let my sympathies interfere with factual and objective reporting – because that is what counts. It is simply impossible not to develop sympathies and antipathies when one works such a subject matter that closely – and without being close to such a topic one will never get the level of information necessary to write anything other than a superficial and entirely superfluous little thingy not worth paying much attention to.
You have different opinions – fine. Than try to do what i have done these past years, gather facts, be on the street no matter what – to observe things first hand, build your network of informants on all sides, and then present your findings. Lets see then how my work and your work compares then.
Nick Nostitz interviewed by Matichon
Mr Damage #12. Setting aside your impenetrable third para that would not be at all out of place in “Pseuds Corner” your own rant seems to qualify more as an antidisestablishmentarianism one than my own comment that stated an undisputed fact. Meanwhile, the government that the red shirts helped to put in power seems to be pulling out all the stops to appear more pro-establishment than the Democrats and their fiendish amartiya and military allies.
It is now hard to say whether Pheua Thai or the Democrats and their feudalistic allies are more committed to the systematic suppression of freedom of expression ostensibly in support of the establishment but, more importantly, in their own personal interests. Suddenly the evil amartiya who were previously demonised in demagogic phone-ins have become close friends. The establishment has been traditionally terrified of the prospect of an articulate peasantry that will be harder to manipulate but so, it seems, is Pheua Thai which only offers gimmicks in place of desperately needed educational reform.
The establishment has always turned a blind eye to the corruption of politicians and other government officials in return for their support of the status quo, even though corruption gnaws away at Thailand’s competitiveness, holds back progress and denies ordinary Thais the opportunities for development their deserve. Corruption flourished under the Thaksin regime and got even worse under Abhisit, Newin and the military. Unfortunately there are no signs that the Pheua Thai government will be regarded as any less corrupt than the previous Thaksin or Abhisit regimes.
Essentially we are dealing with a bi-polar situation involving two extreme right wing parties that are both staunchly pro-establishment, although one of them occasionally throws a few populist crumbs to its supporters to keep them keen.
Thant Myint-U on Yangon
Thank you Tom for the link, and the best bit is most definitely the conclusion: Dr Thant Myint-U said it was crucial that local communities benefited from preservation efforts.
Kuomintang in northern Thailand
Andrew Spooner: According to the piece you did for the Independent on Mae Salong – “The other advantage of the location is the views – on a clear day, a giant sweep of rolling green marches all the way to the Mekong River” – that is some view! 25kms over to highway 1 then another 30km over to Chiang Saen … – I won’t bother reading what you wrote for CNN and congratulate myself on never having used any Footprint guides.
Nick Nostitz interviewed by Matichon
> “It was too bad that his attitude that only he knew anything about it and his intolerance of any other viewpoint and his disagreement with the owner about that intolerance caused to him withdraw. At least now, Nick has learned to moderate that fanaticism, though he does have a few moments at times.”
Tell me about it … :rolleyes:
I also think Nicholas Farrelly’s response to post #5 was over the top.
The end, the beginning
Dan
There’s nothing journalistically partial about reporting a “protest” movement’s own self-confessed, self-publicised political platform in shorthand form using their own form or words of that of a respected organisation such as the AHRC.
Here is an article about Golden Dawn in Greece who are constantly referred to as “neo-Nazi” by news organisations.
http://www.latitudenews.com/story/greece-neo-nazis-golden-dawn/
Plenty of brave journalists representing international news organisations have been able to accurately inform the public of Golden Dawn’s politics – why can’t they do that in Thailand?
In the Reuters’ article I link to in my piece here http://bit.ly/JE5d5W about the recent PAD protests Reuters spend two paragraphs and 68words of the piece laying out the PAD’s politics yet fail, completely, to mention the PAD’s self-confessed programme of wanting to destroy democracy or that noted voices such as they AHRC describe them as fascist.
It seems to me like a deliberate omission.
The end, the beginning
#58 Andrew Spooner
“Are you suggesting that international news organisations and journalists working in Thailand don’t actually already know what democracy is?”
Andrew you appear to be chasing your own tail again…..
The realities of the PAD’s agenda are pretty well known…. And the media don’t seem to be particularly shy of echoing that….. You want them to use the word ‘fascist’ or ‘fascism’ every time the Yellow bellies are mentioned?….. Well although the PAD are pretty fascistic, news organisations are not student common rooms peopled by angry student activists or clones of Rik from the Young Ones…. They have responsibilities and guidelines however loathsome the political players are that they report on….
Do you think that every time the UDD are mentioned one should say ‘Supporters of Thaksin Shinawatra,internationally condemned for serial human rights abuses when in power’?….. I mean it would all get a bit long winded wouldn’t it?
The end, the beginning
Owen Thomas
Couple more articles about Amnesty here.
The first looks at Amnesty’s decision not to recognise staff members who are members of the trade union, UNITE.
This article states –
“Union members at the International Secretariat in London have been given three months to agree these new terms or face derecognition.”
http://www.unitetheunion.org/news__events/latest_news/amnesty_international_threaten.aspx
So AI utilise campaigns for workers’ rights when you using it as leverage to raise funds (that then get used to make US$800k golden handshakes that they try to cover up) but not in their own backyard. Nice.
The second relates to AI IS’s lack of charitable status and that it is, in fact, a limited company –
http://www.civilsociety.co.uk/finance/news/content/8390/charity_commission_has_no_jurisdiction_over_board_members_payment_from_amnesty
It states very very clearly –
“The Charity Commission has said it has no jurisdiction over Amnesty International making a valedictory payment of ┬г530,000 to its former secretary general – now a Charity Commission board member – because the part of Amnesty that made the payment is not a charity. A spokeswoman said that as Amnesty International Ltd, which employed Irene Khan, is not a charity, the regulator has no interest.”
Yay! Trebles all round!
The end, the beginning
Dan
“Are you seriously suggesting that all media organisations put this in as a compulsory caveat every time the PAD are mentioned?”
No, I’m suggesting that in some way that the international media accurately portray the PAD’s politics. They don’t.
If they don’t want to use the PAD’s own words as a reference point they could also reference the esteemed Asian Human Rights Commission who said
“Some commentators and opponents of the alliance [PAD] have described its agenda as fascist. This is not an exaggeration.”
I also find your idea that if the international media include some mention of the PAD’s fascism that “news organisations would then have to have a philosophically defined of what ‘democracy’ is” a bit strange.
Are you suggesting that international news organisations and journalists working in Thailand don’t actually already know what democracy is?
The end, the beginning
#56 Andrew Spooner
“Here you go
“The PAD openly espouse a political programme that seeks to “destroy democracy”.”
Are you seriously suggesting that all media organisations put this in as a compulsory caveat every time the PAD are mentioned?…. Why?…. Have you ever actually worked in a news organisation?…. Do you know just what a naive and ridiculous suggestion this is?….. Whilst I agree roughly with your definition of the aims of the PAD, news organisations would then have to have a philosophically defined of what ‘democracy’ is and indeed whether there is actually a ‘democracy’ in place for the PAD to destroy….
This not the way grown ups report the news. It’s infantile student nonsense and it is also deeply patronising towards the general public….. London Borough of la la land…….
Kuomintang in northern Thailand
The story of the KMT in N. Thailand is one which has always fascinated me.
I’ve spent a fair bit of time in Mae Salong, the former KMT HQ, and have got to know a few of the people up there and particularly a former KMT Colonel, Somboon, who now runs one of Mae Salong’s most popular guesthouses.
Somboon’s father was Jang Pong Gow, who went on to become a one star KMT General and was one of General Duan’s most trusted fighters. Jang Pong Gow died, I believe, fighting Thai communists at Phu Chi Fah, up in the hills near the Laos border.
Back in late 2008 I wrote/photographed two stories about Somboon and Mae Salong one of which appeared in CNN Traveller magazine and another which appeared in UK national paper, The Independent.
The Independent one is a bit more travel orientated, the CNN one has a bit more of a feature feel although the two pieces do overlap in places.
The Independent one can be found online here
http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/asia/mae-salong-from-army-camp-to-tourist-town-1667396.html
The CNN Traveller one is not online – although I reproduced it in two parts on the Travel Wire Asia site
http://www.travelwireasia.com/2012/01/the-extraordinary-story-of-mae-salong-a-slice-of-yunnan-china-in-n-thailand-pt1/
http://www.travelwireasia.com/2012/01/the-extraordinary-story-of-mae-salong-a-slice-of-yunnan-china-in-n-thailand-pt2/
Nick Nostitz interviewed by Matichon
Nich #6. I think you are being a bit over sensitive. I agree with your comments on the quality and uniqueness of Nick’s photojournalism but I simply stated the obvious in saying that it is clear where his sympathies lie. Do you dispute that?
The end, the beginning
Dan
“No one has enough space in every news report to publish a thesis on the rounded complexities of each and every player each time they are mentioned.”
Here you go
“The PAD openly espouse a political programme that seeks to “destroy democracy”.”
12 words.
The end, the beginning
Owen Thomas
I don’t think you understand how Amnesty works.
It is split into different parts and entities.
Amnesty International International Secretariat (AI IS), who Zawacki works for, is a private company.
I called them and asked them – you can do the same – and then checked their listing on Companies House and the other company information available online that I pasted in above.
AI IS was set up as a private company to commercially protect the copyright of the AI branding and to allow it to make profit to fund the work of Zawacki et al (and presumably to finance US$800k golden handshakes).
AI IS also have the power to push around local national entities of AI as they get to deem who or who isn’t part of AI. Hence Zawacki/Guest riding into town and bullying AI Malaysia.
So AI UK, as you correctly point out IS a charity. But Zawacki doesn;t work for them. He works for AI IS.
Thant Myint-U on Yangon
Here’s some more from The Myanmar Times about the June 1 conference. Not sure if it’s been covered elsewhere but if so please share the links.
http://www.mmtimes.com/2012/news/629/news62905.html
Succession planning: Rama XIII
@Postman #13
I’ve lived in Thailand since 2001 but still found the BP mistake (and the fact that someone alerted NM to it) very funny…or were you saying that living here for many years degenerates one’s mind so that one’s humor is low enough to find the mistake funny? Either way, my mind’s confused by the manner in which you made your point about finding the mistake funny. Either I was already a moron before I moved here, or living here so long has made me a moron, or whatever, but for frack’s sake, considering all of the self-concious fawning and bending over backwards throughout the Kingdom to avoid anything discernible as an LM offence, THAT MISTAKE WAS BLOODY FUNNY.
I’m going off now to eat some som tam.