All the bourgeois academics @ ANU – the Isaarn people don’t believe the bullshit you peddle because of your big money incomes.
And the same to all the Australian journalists – such as Hamish McDonald, who never lived among the Isaarn people.
A clear analysis of the current situation. However, what appears to be missing in the article is the author’s view and analysis of how Thaksin will react and what could happen when the Reds continue with their struggle for more rights and freedom despite of Thaksin. This is already happening when there is a momentum for amending Article 112 and annulling the effect of the 2006 coup as proposed by the Nitirat group. Thaksin and his party have distanced themselves from this movement, apparently due to their hidden agreement with the ammat clique. But the momentum seems to be there and this at least shows that Thaksin cannot tell the Reds what do to and what not to do at all times. Instead of the lead character he is taking on more of a supporting role.
I don’t think this will mean that there will be a break between Thaksin and the Reds. Even supporting actors have their roles to play. The next few months thus are crucial for the development of Thailand’s political struggles.
This is merely a flagrant example of wastage of taxpayers’ money. Have any of these demi-gods offered to pay for their cousins’ funerals? After all, we have some Thai demi-gods who are among the richest in the world.
Azmil Tayeb, a doctoral candidate at the ANU’s Department of Political and Social Change, has this analysis of Bersih 3.0:
This is the beauty of the Bersih movement. It not only brings together people from various races, ethnic backgrounds, religions, social classes and sexual orientations, but also more importantly serves as a vehicle of political expression by people who hitherto had been too complacent and intimidated to let their grouses be known publicly. It is 1Malaysia in its most unadulterated and representative form, undreamed of even by the wildest imagination of the PM’s spinmeister, as it shows the belief in fairness, justice and common good is widely and genuinely shared by a broad cross-section of society.
Debating Les Majeste in parliament in a jubilee year?? Good heavens I should hope not. In a shocking BBC report yesterday it was revealed that 3 customers refused to stand for the national anthem in a novelty royalty themed tearoom in Co Durham.
They were of course quickly ejected by the patriotic owner but do not as yet appear to have been arrested, let alone imprsoned or lynched.
what is the rule of law coming to? I can only assume they were not properly British.
This is probably no different from previous efforts the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the US to boost Thai studies and SE Asian studies. I can recall funding to Johns Hopkins, Wisconsin, UNC-Chapel Hill, Georgetown, Maryland, Oregon and Michigan (the latter also began a fund-raising effort).
Harvard is indeed no surprise: think rankings, think king’s birth, his father’s much-hyped connection, and think MBAs.
Hopefully, Herzfeld can make something of it as SE Asian studies is ill in the US.
He needs to be well aware that being in any way critical of the monarchy, no matter how mild, can see a quick freeze out by the MFA. While MFA has stuck with “friends of Thailand,” where there has been an academic who is critical – Wisconsin is one example – the relationship immediately becomes difficult. My understanding is that it was rocky from the start there. In another place, they tried to have a say on who could be an “appropriate” visiting prof from Thailand.
It seems to me that “friends of Thailand” are those who do what MFA/Embassy considers “right” and who are prepared to bend on issues of academic freedom.
Considering that the current King was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and is the son of a Harvard alumnus, I’m very surprised that it has taken Harvard this long to exploit its Thai connections.
[…] of the Constitutional Court’s politicized decision on Somyot, see the fine analysis by Elizabeth Fitzgerald at New Mandala. It is worth reading and considering in full. Share […]
I am just amazed you are suddenly so concerned with the plight of the Red Shirts.
You’ve not fully explained your sudden conversion.
Let me suggest one other thing – go to Laksi prison and ask the political prisoners there if they feel “deliberately neglected.”
When I went there and spoke to about a dozen of them their answers contained more nuances and a deeper understanding of the issue than you’ve exhibited, in toto, on the New Mandela comments’ pages.
Charoenkhwan Sabye Sabye has cut to the chase. Thailand has no justice system, it has an Inquisition. They make it up as they go along. The only thing that counts is that those in power stay in power and everything else is rearranged beneath to facilitate the arrangement.
The next chance for peaceful revolution is the CDA. I hope that all the red shirts betrayed by Thaksin and PT realize that is the next inflection point in Thai politics and make sure that they themselves are the elected delegates thereto. They will need a strong majority in order to undo all the sabotage that will be the business of the appointed people.
All of this Kangaroo Kourt stuff is the usual bluff and stall, and it will keep on until the very day that the people of Thailand write their own Constitution, turn the Kangaroos out of the Kourts, and bury the Royal Thai Army.
“If, however, the PAD members who shot at the police in 2008 and then occupied the airport, the Thai Army who used snipers to kill unarmed civilians in 2010 (amongst their other 5 decades of crimes) and the Dems direct ordering of the 2010 massacre were all equally prosecuted/punished in the same manner the Red Shirts have been, then yes, if the UDD committed criminal acts, why not keep them in prison.” – Spooner
Too many IFS, Spooner. The issue I simply raised is whether Yingluck Shinawatra is deliberately, I repeat DELIBERATELY, neglecting the many Reds still in prison, and, deliberately neglecting to address the Red grievance for justice (I believe many who are not Reds btw also are demanding justice for the same) deaths and damages they suffered during the Reds vicious rampage of M79 grenade launcher, assault rifles and arson attacks in May2010. The deliberate neglect, of course, is so the amnesty law would be passed to benefit a specific Thaksin Shinawatra, Red Shirt Supremo and Yingluck’s brother. What says you Spooner?
The solution to Thailand’s woes remains embracing the rule of law. That means a full scale inquiry about the May2010 Red/Black Shirt rampage and whether or not the army/military had deliberately shot at “90+ unarmed civilians”.
(For the record, I do agree with Spooner that PAD leaders should be tried for their 2008 rampage. Whether Abhisit had behaved criminally during the May2010 tragedy should be investigated thoroughly thru an independent public inquiry. Personally I believe that former PM Abhisit had acted with utmost restraint . . . whereas the Red Shirts followers had been provoked by their leaders and by the vicious black shirted elements within their midst to rampage.)
Does this mean the Harvard brand is “for sale”? Are their fund-raisers out and about in Bangkok hi-so/royalist circles looking for funds for a “named” chair? Will “heretics” and “heretical” ideas and views about Thailand be allowed if the funding sources are against all “heresy”?
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Dangerous lack of clarity from Thailand’s Constitutional Court
All the bourgeois academics @ ANU – the Isaarn people don’t believe the bullshit you peddle because of your big money incomes.
And the same to all the Australian journalists – such as Hamish McDonald, who never lived among the Isaarn people.
Why the compromise game?
It would be for the good of all that our dear Thaksin makes his permanent home abroad.
Why the compromise game?
A clear analysis of the current situation. However, what appears to be missing in the article is the author’s view and analysis of how Thaksin will react and what could happen when the Reds continue with their struggle for more rights and freedom despite of Thaksin. This is already happening when there is a momentum for amending Article 112 and annulling the effect of the 2006 coup as proposed by the Nitirat group. Thaksin and his party have distanced themselves from this movement, apparently due to their hidden agreement with the ammat clique. But the momentum seems to be there and this at least shows that Thaksin cannot tell the Reds what do to and what not to do at all times. Instead of the lead character he is taking on more of a supporting role.
I don’t think this will mean that there will be a break between Thaksin and the Reds. Even supporting actors have their roles to play. The next few months thus are crucial for the development of Thailand’s political struggles.
Talk on royal cremation ceremony
This is merely a flagrant example of wastage of taxpayers’ money. Have any of these demi-gods offered to pay for their cousins’ funerals? After all, we have some Thai demi-gods who are among the richest in the world.
Bersih 3.0 – What next Mr. Najib Razak?
Azmil Tayeb, a doctoral candidate at the ANU’s Department of Political and Social Change, has this analysis of Bersih 3.0:
Anatomy of a Burmese migrant strike
“All the Burmese in and out now WANT to be like Bangkok and Singapore. At any cost. And that irreverent wish WILL be fulfilled.”
[b]+1[/b]
Irreverent!
How about next to never!
Let start with saving one person at a time, mate?
Lese majeste makes it to UK parliament
Debating Les Majeste in parliament in a jubilee year?? Good heavens I should hope not. In a shocking BBC report yesterday it was revealed that 3 customers refused to stand for the national anthem in a novelty royalty themed tearoom in Co Durham.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-18141421
They were of course quickly ejected by the patriotic owner but do not as yet appear to have been arrested, let alone imprsoned or lynched.
what is the rule of law coming to? I can only assume they were not properly British.
Thai Studies at Harvard
This is probably no different from previous efforts the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the US to boost Thai studies and SE Asian studies. I can recall funding to Johns Hopkins, Wisconsin, UNC-Chapel Hill, Georgetown, Maryland, Oregon and Michigan (the latter also began a fund-raising effort).
Harvard is indeed no surprise: think rankings, think king’s birth, his father’s much-hyped connection, and think MBAs.
Hopefully, Herzfeld can make something of it as SE Asian studies is ill in the US.
He needs to be well aware that being in any way critical of the monarchy, no matter how mild, can see a quick freeze out by the MFA. While MFA has stuck with “friends of Thailand,” where there has been an academic who is critical – Wisconsin is one example – the relationship immediately becomes difficult. My understanding is that it was rocky from the start there. In another place, they tried to have a say on who could be an “appropriate” visiting prof from Thailand.
It seems to me that “friends of Thailand” are those who do what MFA/Embassy considers “right” and who are prepared to bend on issues of academic freedom.
Others may know more.
Kachin State: Don’t mention the war
Has ASSK made any public statement regarding the conflict in Kachin and northern Shan States?
How hardline have the redshirts become?
[…] Also earlier, Nirmal Gosh, a Straits Times journalist, interviewed two anti-government red-shirt leaders who are now hiding. […]
Thai Studies at Harvard
A $6 million dollar endowment for Harvard. That will teach Yale for publishing TKNS.
Thai Studies at Harvard
Considering that the current King was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and is the son of a Harvard alumnus, I’m very surprised that it has taken Harvard this long to exploit its Thai connections.
Dangerous lack of clarity from Thailand’s Constitutional Court
[…] of the Constitutional Court’s politicized decision on Somyot, see the fine analysis by Elizabeth Fitzgerald at New Mandala. It is worth reading and considering in full. Share […]
Left out of reconciliation?
Vichai N
I am just amazed you are suddenly so concerned with the plight of the Red Shirts.
You’ve not fully explained your sudden conversion.
Let me suggest one other thing – go to Laksi prison and ask the political prisoners there if they feel “deliberately neglected.”
When I went there and spoke to about a dozen of them their answers contained more nuances and a deeper understanding of the issue than you’ve exhibited, in toto, on the New Mandela comments’ pages.
Anatomy of a Burmese migrant strike
Roy,
“…USA can build cars in Burma where they can treat workers as badly as they want.”
Don’t wish us that. As it is the reality.
See there is a traditional saying: When luck is running out, people take the fire mountain as gold mountain.
All the Burmese in and out now WANT to be like Bangkok and Singapore. At any cost. And that irreverent wish WILL be fulfilled.
In Utopia, there is no need for trade unions. In Burma there is no point for trade union.
Dangerous lack of clarity from Thailand’s Constitutional Court
Charoenkhwan Sabye Sabye has cut to the chase. Thailand has no justice system, it has an Inquisition. They make it up as they go along. The only thing that counts is that those in power stay in power and everything else is rearranged beneath to facilitate the arrangement.
The next chance for peaceful revolution is the CDA. I hope that all the red shirts betrayed by Thaksin and PT realize that is the next inflection point in Thai politics and make sure that they themselves are the elected delegates thereto. They will need a strong majority in order to undo all the sabotage that will be the business of the appointed people.
All of this Kangaroo Kourt stuff is the usual bluff and stall, and it will keep on until the very day that the people of Thailand write their own Constitution, turn the Kangaroos out of the Kourts, and bury the Royal Thai Army.
Vajiralongkorn on “roll of dishonour”
Where was North Korea’s monarchy?
Left out of reconciliation?
“If, however, the PAD members who shot at the police in 2008 and then occupied the airport, the Thai Army who used snipers to kill unarmed civilians in 2010 (amongst their other 5 decades of crimes) and the Dems direct ordering of the 2010 massacre were all equally prosecuted/punished in the same manner the Red Shirts have been, then yes, if the UDD committed criminal acts, why not keep them in prison.” – Spooner
Too many IFS, Spooner. The issue I simply raised is whether Yingluck Shinawatra is deliberately, I repeat DELIBERATELY, neglecting the many Reds still in prison, and, deliberately neglecting to address the Red grievance for justice (I believe many who are not Reds btw also are demanding justice for the same) deaths and damages they suffered during the Reds vicious rampage of M79 grenade launcher, assault rifles and arson attacks in May2010. The deliberate neglect, of course, is so the amnesty law would be passed to benefit a specific Thaksin Shinawatra, Red Shirt Supremo and Yingluck’s brother. What says you Spooner?
The solution to Thailand’s woes remains embracing the rule of law. That means a full scale inquiry about the May2010 Red/Black Shirt rampage and whether or not the army/military had deliberately shot at “90+ unarmed civilians”.
(For the record, I do agree with Spooner that PAD leaders should be tried for their 2008 rampage. Whether Abhisit had behaved criminally during the May2010 tragedy should be investigated thoroughly thru an independent public inquiry. Personally I believe that former PM Abhisit had acted with utmost restraint . . . whereas the Red Shirts followers had been provoked by their leaders and by the vicious black shirted elements within their midst to rampage.)
Thai Studies at Harvard
Does this mean the Harvard brand is “for sale”? Are their fund-raisers out and about in Bangkok hi-so/royalist circles looking for funds for a “named” chair? Will “heretics” and “heretical” ideas and views about Thailand be allowed if the funding sources are against all “heresy”?
Vajiralongkorn on “roll of dishonour”
Thailand’s bland representative only rightly reflected the country’s royal house.