I feel both honored and humble by your comment U Ko Htay or U Htay as this might be more appropriate to address you. And I hope you will accept that I said it with full sincerity as we Burmese usually find it hard to swallow a guidance or a lecture from our own, especially in public. I have read the books you mentioned including ‘Ye The’, the water vendor and ‘Famous quotes of Ven. Thingazar’. I’ve been to Bagan twice. Much less than I anticipated, I know. But I have paintings similar to murals you mentioned framed and hanged on the walls at home. I thank U Moe Aung for shedding a light on PSRD. I did not know until now it is called just that. I am only aware that we call them just ‘censorship’ and it existed since British colonial time. Ref: . I’d love to land a job there but I highly doubt that I will ever get one. Let me know if you know some insiders there. Ha Ha. I am just joking.
I am one of those reluctant ones who made a moral choice and made a stand for what he believes in. Everyone react one way or another if provoked. The manner in which they react that makes a difference.
Gov. John Hickenlooper (D) Fax: 303-866-2003
Sen. Mark Udall (D) Fax: 202-224-6471
Sen. Michael Bennet (D) Fax: 202-224-1933
Rep. Diana DeGette (D-1) Fax: 202-225-5657
Rep. Jared Polis (D-2) Fax: 202-226-7840
Rep. Scott Tipton (R-3) Fax: 202-226-9669
Rep. Cory Gardner (R-4) Fax: 202-225-5870
Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-5) Fax: 202-225-1942
Rep. Mike Coffman (R-6) Fax: 202-226-4623
Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-7) Fax: 202-225-5278
Now what I want to know is what you have done to try to obtain the release of fellow Coloradan Joe Gordon who has languashed in Thai jails for the ‘crime’ of lese majeste. He was arrested
while visiting his family in Thailand. The charges were based on blog writings that he wrote while a resident of Colorado
in the United States.
What did he write? The trials are held in camera and the exact charges are not revealed trasparently but it
seems that he wrote about the book The King Never Smiles, published by Yale–A book banned in Thailand.
So a former resident of Thailand, a naturalized US Citizen, comments about a book while residing in Colorado,
returns to visit family and recieve medical treatment and he is arrested, denied bail, shackeled, and persuaded
to plead ‘guilty’ under the false impression that he will recieve a quick pardon.
Instead, he continues to languash in jail. His second year begins at the end of this month.
What I want to know:
Is American Joe Gordon less important to the US State Department than a blind Chinese dissident?
Why the publicity and condemnation of China and not Thailand?
Have you urged legislation or initiated hearings into this matter? If not, why
Why have we not urged sanctions against the Thai Government?
Why have I not heard Secretary Clinton or President Obama condem the Thai Government’s actions in
this case?
Take steps to free American Citizen Joe Gordon, America’s Political Prisoner in Thailand.
Thank you for your time.
I would sign my name, however, I as evidenced by the arrest and treatment of Joe Gordon, I would risk my
freedom if I ever went to Thailand and so must sign………….
Why are you not surprised Hitler was not charged with LM? You shouldn’t be. This is because Hitler himself also has a law which is kinda equivalent to LM to protect him as well. During the Nazi regime, anyone can report anyone who opposes Hitler to the authorities and the person reported will be jailed or sent to GULAG. So if Thai authorities dare charge Hitler with LM, they should know what awaits them: hardcore labour camp :p
The last news of Kachin deaths, whether it is true or not as truth never matters in the Burma, being picked up by foreign media outlets immediately hopefully is because of the significance of the number of death.
If not, the other interpretation is the international media forces of WMD fame is joining forces with military government (yes, yes – clothes changed- lovely nice civilian democratic wonderful government) to beat up the Kachin as well because as far as the global pathetic business concern ( which owns these media) is concerned, Chinese interest ( The Dam, The Pipe, The mines) is global interest.
Tired as this thread is and well off the original article’s course, this is opportune.
For reasons best known to the behavioural scientists, Burmese always needed a cult figure and had great admiration for people in power regardless of how despicable or indeed admirable they are. All kings are revered, all past heroes elevated. Ne Win was called “Number One Gyi”, Tin Oo “Myat Hman Gyi”, Khin Nyunt “S1”, Than Shwe “Tut Choke Kyi” and now admittedly may be in totally different character Aung San Suu Kyi as a cult figure all the same and any perceived or real slight would incite most violent reaction.
That itself is OK.
But it does harm the society in two ways. One is total lack of alternate view as one is determined to follow the other with no attempt to find out more facts and analyse by oneself. It is inconceivable that if such things are done all the millions of people would come to the same conclusion and action as one person as is the situation in current Burma.
Another is the present example, waste of effort for unproductive and pointless squabbling and indeed wise mediation.
The issue in Burma is simple.
Stephen’s pointer of “Passive Revolution” is spot on.
The ruling class plans ahead and gives some measured concessions to consolidate their position stronger and longer while giving the appearance of losing to the opponents.
In fact that itself is still OK if the ruling class dose do real good things for the people at the same time.
But the current Burmese situation shows exactly the worst of this exercise.
Ruling class is rotten to the core and plans is to sell out the country to the unscrupulous foreigners of all sorts for indiscriminate destruction and now they are speeding away unhindered. All sorts of contracts are signed as this writing, and reading no doubt, in Sedona, Traders, Strands Hotels as well as that weirdly named looted place called- Ne Pyi Daw for transfer of public property for mining, factories, ports, roads, rails, hotels, brothels and no doubt ubiquitous casinoes.
First time the people will find out is when the bulldozers turn up backed by the people’s Tatmadaw as is seen in Salingyi today for the past contracts.
Please take time out and read the years work of Kachin Develent Networking Group.
Unfortunate it demonstrates vividly and unquestionably what is in store for the Karen now they are so smart to develop their land and in fact the rest of the whole country Burma as the ruling, decision making segments that does include the venerable Aung San Suu Kyi seem keen to develop as well.
Again for practical point of view this is still OK provided the whole population is keen for such development. To turn the natural water to toxic wash- outs of factories and mine discharge, land into rubble, farms into poisoned monocrop plantation, coastal lines into damaged segments and brothel rows , with the populace as addicts and pimps.
In the odd chance the the population of Karen and Burma of which KNU and NLD are only a small portion however lionised, feels like the Kachin now to resist the overall degradation, they should be told of what lies ahead.
Thus far there is no presentation of likely effect on people by all these rapid changes- signing away chunks of the country to foreigners and the usual groups of comprador bourgeoisie (thank you- U Moe Aung) by any one to the public and no action is seen to stop it either.
So while cult for cult’s sake is OK for anyone, there are incessant evil forces at work simply out of sight and out of mind.
There is no disputing the role of colonialism past and neo-colonialism present in kindling the fires of communal strife and stoking them up. It’s evident all over the planet.
It is incumbent upon the govt in power nonetheless to find a genuine political solution and end the over six decade old civil war on all fronts and to bring peace and progress that all the peoples of Burma deserve and long for. The political will however is conspicuous by its absence all along, and ‘peace talks’ have a track record of being merely tactical retreats to buy time and wriggle out of a crisis. Worse, keeping the fires smoldering serves the raison d’etre of military domination by stoking up the fear of Balkanisation.
Easy enough to coopt the NLD after wearing it down for so long given its total commitment to non-violence, not so in the case of people who uphold their right to armed resistance and are prepared to carry on indefinitely. It takes two to tango, and legitimate grievances that urgently need to be addressed a plenty. And it’s obvious which side needs to show magnanimity and fairness. Noblesse oblige.
Excellent – though unnecessarily obtuse – review.
Interesting that Edward Said can be applied to Thai Studies.
” The reality of this understood spatial hierarchy will be instantly clear to any reader who has spent appreciable periods of time in provincial Southeast Asia” – is a welcome, realistic approach that contrast with the Bangkok-centric narrative.
Dubious comparison’s to Japan’s Tanaka, let alone Marcos, and even more far-fetched : Kim Dae Jung – where’ Banharn’s Lockheed scandal ?
“as Nishizaki well appreciates, most Thai provinces have not been Suphanburi”. Indeed.
Unless the West re engage fully in the next Decades in:
a) Education: The foundation of understanding basic undeniable freedom.
1) Which this government is ‘begging’ to be taken over.
2) Only conies can afford a true ed by sending the next generation cronies to Singapore to real education.
3) Zero exchanges that will strengthen the rule of law, medicine and true status of a Military.
b) Health Care:The desperation of dying from common causes/diseases unfathomable to the West, which promote fatalism must be reversed.
1) Presently Myanmar health care over all is not too far off from the end of the colonial days, overall.
2) Yet up to date brain and brawn exist only to the very few that can afford then.
c) Economics: Infra structure, Laws and Finance (to name a few aspects)
1) The # of public roads that b/t any major cities that are close to any country DOT standard, can be counted on only one hand.
2) All are built by the Chinese or the Korean. Quality to withstand the monsoon is never a factor as in Thailand.
Constant maintenance of every road is relegated to private parties ie Chinese on profitable route or the local villages if not important with tolls that are often used to feed the poor villagers.
3) Any unequivocal commitment to building road as well as improving power supply alone will open up every economic aspect as well as develop permanent ties to the West technologies thus foster reliance less on China and N. Korea.
The danger of this military government proceeding to Nuclear Energy development, for the right reasons or more as a cover for other activities is truly worth considering.
These are but a few rambling suggestions to ensure the “Booming Burma” do not become a “Busted One”
A well deserved compliment to Ko Kyaw Kyaw for his western style analysis of voter turn, yet not mentioning within the context on the ground reality that were mentioned.
1) The area of Mandalay is a tinder box of ugly racist bomb looking for any reason to explode.
2) The etiology of #1 is the direct result of SPDC saving it own skin during the initial West useless careless policy.
Not until these root etiology are repeated this another “sky is falling’
assertion will be our cross to bear in order to high light the plight of the citizenry.
Very interesting and much of this post is applicable to present-day Buri Ram which is literally booming with new construction, infrastructure projects, university and hospital expansion, higher income levels, etc.
Despite what various people might think of Newin and his “values”, etc. he does seem to understand that bringing development, prosperity, increased opportunities and better infrastructure (yes, even his new football stadium and its club’s high-standing in the Thai Premier League) is not only good for his constituants bank accounts and state of mind but also good for Newin in terms of an ongoing high-level of support and popularity.
Perhaps there is a graduate student who follows New Mandala who will spend some time in Buri Ram and even do his Ph.D. thesis on the Newin/Buri Ram situation with a fresh set of eyes and open mind.
Batson does not portray Prajadhipok as “a real democrat”. Batson states “Prajadhipok sought to follow in the footsteps of Mongkut and Chulalongkorn in imposing basic changes on Thai society from above.” Furthermore Batson provides the entire “memorandum” written to Francis Sayre in 1926 in which Prajadhipok outlines his thoughts on ruling the country;
“Must this country have a parliamentary system one day………..I personally have my doubts”
“Is this country ready to have some sort of representative Government………..my personal opinion is an emphatic NO”
Thanks, Ko Htay, for that gem of of an ad lib by our own Shakespeare U Ponnya and the link to Bhamo Sayadaw.
Thank heavens Aung wasn’t around at the time or U Ponnya could have lost his head over his impudent prurient language; the prince certainly understood poetic licence. It’s the way you tell ’em, innit?
It’s not difficult to imagine Aung busy behind a desk in PSRD striking out and blacking in. With friends like these, democracy and freedom of expression don’t need enemies.
It’d be nice to think we Burmese are peaceful and docile, polite and deferential at all times. Nothing can be farther from the truth about human beings given the circumstances and provocation.
As a loyal Thai, I am shocked that the farang Hitler was allowed to actually touch our sacred King. And also allowed to stand when he should have been prostrating himself at the feet of our sacred King. Hitler is lucky he was not arrested on the spot and flown to Thailand to stand trial for Lese Majeste.
I did not address the issue of a potential conflict between Red Shirts and Pueah Thai as my whole story was pointing at this issue anyhow.
As to you assessment of “cynical populist movements”, etc, i do not agree. The PAD indeed is way past its prime.
The Red Shirts (of which the UDD is just its largest mass organization) is still rising, in organizational, structural and ideological terms. While there naturally is a fair amount of propaganda and indoctrination, there is also much political discourse taking place – on all levels. Much of this discourse, due to the sensitive nature, is not publishable.
No – i do not see the Red Shirts going the same way as the PAD went, mostly because of its very active internal discussion, and constant developments of said discussion.
What i see is, if Pueah Thai Puyai do not find a for the Red Shirts acceptable compromise with the “reconciliation” plans, that many sectors of the Red Shirts will separate from this party, and quite possibly radicalize themselves even more. But this is pure speculation.
And here some more speculation – I personally think that a reason for Thaksin’s evasiveness in answering my question on amnesty could be that, after having been given strong signals by Red Shirts, he may have to rethink his strategy. But again, just speculation, and i guess we will see what the future brings.
My personal guess regarding the so-called “reconciliation” is that it will simply not work. I have asked many Red Shirts of all levels, and not one single person had anything but disdain when i mentioned the term “prong dong”. Right now i am watching the new Democrat Party mouthpiece – Blue Sky TV – and the hate speech there is so strong, even sprinkled with occasional quite sordid insults – that this whole notion seems to me nothing but a pipe dream.
Most “true” hardcore leaders and organizers are not well know by the public, neither do they care to be. Much has happened as well when our news hounds lost interest in the whole thing, when the civil war did not break out in the immediate aftermath of the 2010 crackdown. Grassroots organizations became far more independent of politicians, their canvassers and the UDD leadership in the past two years.
Yes, i even know one old Red Shirt guard who was a member of the Kratingdaeng, and involved in the Oct. 6, 1976 mess. But Thailand then, and Thailand today are very different countries. The term “da sawaang”, which came up in the aftermath of the 2010 crackdown is particularly descriptive in this regard of changing perceptions under Red Shirt protesters towards not just the monarchy, but also their entire identity as Thais.
#124 Nick ” but the majority of them turned out to be urban legends when i dug a bit deeper.”
The Shan guys weren’t urban legends. They were sat right in front of me and they had gone to Bangkok because the pay was good. 1000 baht a day from the PAD. The UDD paid less I think. Nor did villagers who related being approached have any real reason to lie to me. It was they who volunteered the information when they were asking me how things had been in Bangkok.
@John Smith #130
“Paid protestors. The only experience I have with this is in late April 2010, when numbers at the rally site were dwindling, the UDD made a flying pass through my wife’s district offering 2,000 baht with a promise of food provided, but you had to hand over your ID card.”
There is a widely disseminated youtube video (can’t find it at the moment) showing money being handed out to red shirts. Those who received the money had their ID card information recorded. It was money being offered to drivers willing to ferry protesters to Bangkok, although the anti-TS camp interpreted the same video very differently. A friend of mine told me she was offered money to ferry protesters, too, but never to attend (I can’t remember the amount offered).
“Unfortunately the UDD followers tend to be people that are easily led by demagoguery and eloquent oratory, even when it is espousing violence. ”
Did you just say Thaksin and Yingluck . . . are better orators than Abhisit?!
Nick #116
Paid protestors. The only experience I have with this is in late April 2010, when numbers at the rally site were dwindling, the UDD made a flying pass through my wife’s district offering 2,000 baht with a promise of food provided, but you had to hand over your ID card. As Sanoh, at that time, was not supporting the UDD or the rally, they were politely asked to leave with thier one recruit and never returned.
From your report, apparently Sanoh has had a change of heart about the UDD. What a surprise.
Nick #124
You have unsurprisingly not addressed a single issue I raised about the coming divide between the PTP and the UDD.
I do not see this as a Red/Yellow conflict. In simplistic terms I see this more as two cynical populist movements used to drum up support using a decoy platform as cover for a power grabbing agenda. The yellow movement is way past its prime and the bulk of its previous supporters have gone back to their lives and are no longer are as passionate about their politics and at this point tend to be rather disillusioned about the whole thing. There are of course the small nubmers of radicals that Nick loves to bring up when things get to uncomfortable about the UDD.
My question is are the grassroots’ UDD going to go the same way, or are because the propaganda used was raised to level not seen in the prime PAD days will there be problems when the divide occurs?
What are they going to do when Jatuporn tells them to go home and accept what happens?
Is Arisman and the other true radicals, who arenot a hack client politician, but publicity seeking egotist with a bent toward violence, going to go along? Didn’t they gave Arismans’s wife a party list MP seat, is that the payoff? Are the other faction leaders susceptible to this sort of thing?
The problem as I see it is the UDD is a different demographic than the PAD. Unfortunately the UDD followers tend to be people that are easily led by demagoguery and eloquent oratory, even when it is espousing violence. Keep in mind that many of these people have parents or grandparents that were hard core Village Scouts and were just fine with what happened in 1976. The parent and grandfathers of some the PAD was more likely to have been the victims.
We shall see what happens. I look forward to Nick’s continued ground level reporting.
“Sorry, I must’ve been in Disneyland. As there’s no way we were at the same place.”
Quite possibly you still are in Disneyland. Definitely you are not in the same Thailand i live in.
Have you, other than filming one or the other news event, ever researched both Red Shirts and Yellow in any depth, such as attending seminars of the different groups, village level rallies, visited grass roots organizations, listened in at the level of political debate, and taken the time to discuss these issues directly with people, in Thai?
“Where else in the world is it Ok to pay people to attend a political rally?” is nothing but the same old and typical non sequitur line of argumentation neglecting not just all existing research, but also the simple fact that countless Red Shirts have spend vast sums into the budgets themselves. This occurred on all levels, in which Red Shirts that stayed home have supported fellow villagers that attended the rallies.
Funny though that you have apparently never filmed at donation boxes at Red Shirt rallies, small or big, or filmed fundraisers, such as Chinese table dinners, in which people paid for their seats to raise funds. Not to speak of the countless seminars and other activities that are taking place every day on all levels of society.
But to answer your question – yes, almost all resistance armies in the world do pay their fighters, and have always done so, and collect funds from both rich and less rich supporters. In the perception of the Red Shirts, since 2006 they are in a warlike scenario against what they define as the “Amaart”. At times that war is cold, and at other times it is hot – as it was in 2010 since April 10. To fight this conflict they need funds, as also their opponents have vast amounts of funds available as well.
If you believe that the past 6 years have all been orchestrated, than you are truly living in Disneyland, and you have completely missed one of the most exiting social developments in this part of the world.
Facebook 
Twitter 
Soundcloud 
Youtube 
Rss
The elephant and Myanmar politics
I feel both honored and humble by your comment U Ko Htay or U Htay as this might be more appropriate to address you. And I hope you will accept that I said it with full sincerity as we Burmese usually find it hard to swallow a guidance or a lecture from our own, especially in public. I have read the books you mentioned including ‘Ye The’, the water vendor and ‘Famous quotes of Ven. Thingazar’. I’ve been to Bagan twice. Much less than I anticipated, I know. But I have paintings similar to murals you mentioned framed and hanged on the walls at home. I thank U Moe Aung for shedding a light on PSRD. I did not know until now it is called just that. I am only aware that we call them just ‘censorship’ and it existed since British colonial time. Ref: . I’d love to land a job there but I highly doubt that I will ever get one. Let me know if you know some insiders there. Ha Ha. I am just joking.
I am one of those reluctant ones who made a moral choice and made a stand for what he believes in. Everyone react one way or another if provoked. The manner in which they react that makes a difference.
FACT’s plea for Joe Gordon
An open letter to:
Gov. John Hickenlooper (D) Fax: 303-866-2003
Sen. Mark Udall (D) Fax: 202-224-6471
Sen. Michael Bennet (D) Fax: 202-224-1933
Rep. Diana DeGette (D-1) Fax: 202-225-5657
Rep. Jared Polis (D-2) Fax: 202-226-7840
Rep. Scott Tipton (R-3) Fax: 202-226-9669
Rep. Cory Gardner (R-4) Fax: 202-225-5870
Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-5) Fax: 202-225-1942
Rep. Mike Coffman (R-6) Fax: 202-226-4623
Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-7) Fax: 202-225-5278
Now what I want to know is what you have done to try to obtain the release of fellow Coloradan Joe Gordon who has languashed in Thai jails for the ‘crime’ of lese majeste. He was arrested
while visiting his family in Thailand. The charges were based on blog writings that he wrote while a resident of Colorado
in the United States.
What did he write? The trials are held in camera and the exact charges are not revealed trasparently but it
seems that he wrote about the book The King Never Smiles, published by Yale–A book banned in Thailand.
So a former resident of Thailand, a naturalized US Citizen, comments about a book while residing in Colorado,
returns to visit family and recieve medical treatment and he is arrested, denied bail, shackeled, and persuaded
to plead ‘guilty’ under the false impression that he will recieve a quick pardon.
Instead, he continues to languash in jail. His second year begins at the end of this month.
What I want to know:
Is American Joe Gordon less important to the US State Department than a blind Chinese dissident?
Why the publicity and condemnation of China and not Thailand?
Have you urged legislation or initiated hearings into this matter? If not, why
Why have we not urged sanctions against the Thai Government?
Why have I not heard Secretary Clinton or President Obama condem the Thai Government’s actions in
this case?
Take steps to free American Citizen Joe Gordon, America’s Political Prisoner in Thailand.
Thank you for your time.
I would sign my name, however, I as evidenced by the arrest and treatment of Joe Gordon, I would risk my
freedom if I ever went to Thailand and so must sign………….
American Citizen and Fellow Coloradan.
Rama VII and Hitler
@Somchai
Why are you not surprised Hitler was not charged with LM? You shouldn’t be. This is because Hitler himself also has a law which is kinda equivalent to LM to protect him as well. During the Nazi regime, anyone can report anyone who opposes Hitler to the authorities and the person reported will be jailed or sent to GULAG. So if Thai authorities dare charge Hitler with LM, they should know what awaits them: hardcore labour camp :p
Kachin media war continues
The last news of Kachin deaths, whether it is true or not as truth never matters in the Burma, being picked up by foreign media outlets immediately hopefully is because of the significance of the number of death.
If not, the other interpretation is the international media forces of WMD fame is joining forces with military government (yes, yes – clothes changed- lovely nice civilian democratic wonderful government) to beat up the Kachin as well because as far as the global pathetic business concern ( which owns these media) is concerned, Chinese interest ( The Dam, The Pipe, The mines) is global interest.
It does make the world a lot, a lot sadder.
The elephant and Myanmar politics
Tired as this thread is and well off the original article’s course, this is opportune.
For reasons best known to the behavioural scientists, Burmese always needed a cult figure and had great admiration for people in power regardless of how despicable or indeed admirable they are. All kings are revered, all past heroes elevated. Ne Win was called “Number One Gyi”, Tin Oo “Myat Hman Gyi”, Khin Nyunt “S1”, Than Shwe “Tut Choke Kyi” and now admittedly may be in totally different character Aung San Suu Kyi as a cult figure all the same and any perceived or real slight would incite most violent reaction.
That itself is OK.
But it does harm the society in two ways. One is total lack of alternate view as one is determined to follow the other with no attempt to find out more facts and analyse by oneself. It is inconceivable that if such things are done all the millions of people would come to the same conclusion and action as one person as is the situation in current Burma.
Another is the present example, waste of effort for unproductive and pointless squabbling and indeed wise mediation.
The issue in Burma is simple.
Stephen’s pointer of “Passive Revolution” is spot on.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passive_revolution
The ruling class plans ahead and gives some measured concessions to consolidate their position stronger and longer while giving the appearance of losing to the opponents.
In fact that itself is still OK if the ruling class dose do real good things for the people at the same time.
But the current Burmese situation shows exactly the worst of this exercise.
Ruling class is rotten to the core and plans is to sell out the country to the unscrupulous foreigners of all sorts for indiscriminate destruction and now they are speeding away unhindered. All sorts of contracts are signed as this writing, and reading no doubt, in Sedona, Traders, Strands Hotels as well as that weirdly named looted place called- Ne Pyi Daw for transfer of public property for mining, factories, ports, roads, rails, hotels, brothels and no doubt ubiquitous casinoes.
First time the people will find out is when the bulldozers turn up backed by the people’s Tatmadaw as is seen in Salingyi today for the past contracts.
Please take time out and read the years work of Kachin Develent Networking Group.
http://www.irrawaddy.org/archives/3568
http://www.kdng.org/images/stories/publication/lessons%20from%20the%20kachin%20development%20experience%20longer%20paper.2.pdf
Unfortunate it demonstrates vividly and unquestionably what is in store for the Karen now they are so smart to develop their land and in fact the rest of the whole country Burma as the ruling, decision making segments that does include the venerable Aung San Suu Kyi seem keen to develop as well.
Again for practical point of view this is still OK provided the whole population is keen for such development. To turn the natural water to toxic wash- outs of factories and mine discharge, land into rubble, farms into poisoned monocrop plantation, coastal lines into damaged segments and brothel rows , with the populace as addicts and pimps.
In the odd chance the the population of Karen and Burma of which KNU and NLD are only a small portion however lionised, feels like the Kachin now to resist the overall degradation, they should be told of what lies ahead.
Thus far there is no presentation of likely effect on people by all these rapid changes- signing away chunks of the country to foreigners and the usual groups of comprador bourgeoisie (thank you- U Moe Aung) by any one to the public and no action is seen to stop it either.
So while cult for cult’s sake is OK for anyone, there are incessant evil forces at work simply out of sight and out of mind.
Kachin media war continues
There is no disputing the role of colonialism past and neo-colonialism present in kindling the fires of communal strife and stoking them up. It’s evident all over the planet.
It is incumbent upon the govt in power nonetheless to find a genuine political solution and end the over six decade old civil war on all fronts and to bring peace and progress that all the peoples of Burma deserve and long for. The political will however is conspicuous by its absence all along, and ‘peace talks’ have a track record of being merely tactical retreats to buy time and wriggle out of a crisis. Worse, keeping the fires smoldering serves the raison d’etre of military domination by stoking up the fear of Balkanisation.
Easy enough to coopt the NLD after wearing it down for so long given its total commitment to non-violence, not so in the case of people who uphold their right to armed resistance and are prepared to carry on indefinitely. It takes two to tango, and legitimate grievances that urgently need to be addressed a plenty. And it’s obvious which side needs to show magnanimity and fairness. Noblesse oblige.
Review of Political Authority and Provincial Identity in Thailand
Excellent – though unnecessarily obtuse – review.
Interesting that Edward Said can be applied to Thai Studies.
” The reality of this understood spatial hierarchy will be instantly clear to any reader who has spent appreciable periods of time in provincial Southeast Asia” – is a welcome, realistic approach that contrast with the Bangkok-centric narrative.
Dubious comparison’s to Japan’s Tanaka, let alone Marcos, and even more far-fetched : Kim Dae Jung – where’ Banharn’s Lockheed scandal ?
“as Nishizaki well appreciates, most Thai provinces have not been Suphanburi”. Indeed.
Booming Burma
Unless the West re engage fully in the next Decades in:
a) Education: The foundation of understanding basic undeniable freedom.
1) Which this government is ‘begging’ to be taken over.
2) Only conies can afford a true ed by sending the next generation cronies to Singapore to real education.
3) Zero exchanges that will strengthen the rule of law, medicine and true status of a Military.
b) Health Care:The desperation of dying from common causes/diseases unfathomable to the West, which promote fatalism must be reversed.
1) Presently Myanmar health care over all is not too far off from the end of the colonial days, overall.
2) Yet up to date brain and brawn exist only to the very few that can afford then.
c) Economics: Infra structure, Laws and Finance (to name a few aspects)
1) The # of public roads that b/t any major cities that are close to any country DOT standard, can be counted on only one hand.
2) All are built by the Chinese or the Korean. Quality to withstand the monsoon is never a factor as in Thailand.
Constant maintenance of every road is relegated to private parties ie Chinese on profitable route or the local villages if not important with tolls that are often used to feed the poor villagers.
3) Any unequivocal commitment to building road as well as improving power supply alone will open up every economic aspect as well as develop permanent ties to the West technologies thus foster reliance less on China and N. Korea.
The danger of this military government proceeding to Nuclear Energy development, for the right reasons or more as a cover for other activities is truly worth considering.
These are but a few rambling suggestions to ensure the “Booming Burma” do not become a “Busted One”
When not to swear in public
Thank you Dom.
Rule of Law as her advocacy yet:
1) Over reaching again without securing the true power of all citizenry and support/Guns.
2) The reliance only on the West opinion that got Myanmar into present quagmire by her is so soon forgotten.
Will she and NLD ever become adaptive to lessons in Myanmar history that clearly says “Don’t go there yet”?
Analysis of Myanmar’s NLD landslide
Thank you Ko Aung #8
A well deserved compliment to Ko Kyaw Kyaw for his western style analysis of voter turn, yet not mentioning within the context on the ground reality that were mentioned.
1) The area of Mandalay is a tinder box of ugly racist bomb looking for any reason to explode.
2) The etiology of #1 is the direct result of SPDC saving it own skin during the initial West useless careless policy.
Not until these root etiology are repeated this another “sky is falling’
assertion will be our cross to bear in order to high light the plight of the citizenry.
Review of Political Authority and Provincial Identity in Thailand
Very interesting and much of this post is applicable to present-day Buri Ram which is literally booming with new construction, infrastructure projects, university and hospital expansion, higher income levels, etc.
Despite what various people might think of Newin and his “values”, etc. he does seem to understand that bringing development, prosperity, increased opportunities and better infrastructure (yes, even his new football stadium and its club’s high-standing in the Thai Premier League) is not only good for his constituants bank accounts and state of mind but also good for Newin in terms of an ongoing high-level of support and popularity.
Perhaps there is a graduate student who follows New Mandala who will spend some time in Buri Ram and even do his Ph.D. thesis on the Newin/Buri Ram situation with a fresh set of eyes and open mind.
Rama VII and Hitler
Maratjp #16
Hitler was born Austrian
Batson does not portray Prajadhipok as “a real democrat”. Batson states “Prajadhipok sought to follow in the footsteps of Mongkut and Chulalongkorn in imposing basic changes on Thai society from above.” Furthermore Batson provides the entire “memorandum” written to Francis Sayre in 1926 in which Prajadhipok outlines his thoughts on ruling the country;
“Must this country have a parliamentary system one day………..I personally have my doubts”
“Is this country ready to have some sort of representative Government………..my personal opinion is an emphatic NO”
The elephant and Myanmar politics
Thanks, Ko Htay, for that gem of of an ad lib by our own Shakespeare U Ponnya and the link to Bhamo Sayadaw.
Thank heavens Aung wasn’t around at the time or U Ponnya could have lost his head over his impudent prurient language; the prince certainly understood poetic licence. It’s the way you tell ’em, innit?
It’s not difficult to imagine Aung busy behind a desk in PSRD striking out and blacking in. With friends like these, democracy and freedom of expression don’t need enemies.
It’d be nice to think we Burmese are peaceful and docile, polite and deferential at all times. Nothing can be farther from the truth about human beings given the circumstances and provocation.
Rama VII and Hitler
As a loyal Thai, I am shocked that the farang Hitler was allowed to actually touch our sacred King. And also allowed to stand when he should have been prostrating himself at the feet of our sacred King. Hitler is lucky he was not arrested on the spot and flown to Thailand to stand trial for Lese Majeste.
Songkran in Cambodia: Red Shirts meet Thaksin
“John Smith”:
I did not address the issue of a potential conflict between Red Shirts and Pueah Thai as my whole story was pointing at this issue anyhow.
As to you assessment of “cynical populist movements”, etc, i do not agree. The PAD indeed is way past its prime.
The Red Shirts (of which the UDD is just its largest mass organization) is still rising, in organizational, structural and ideological terms. While there naturally is a fair amount of propaganda and indoctrination, there is also much political discourse taking place – on all levels. Much of this discourse, due to the sensitive nature, is not publishable.
No – i do not see the Red Shirts going the same way as the PAD went, mostly because of its very active internal discussion, and constant developments of said discussion.
What i see is, if Pueah Thai Puyai do not find a for the Red Shirts acceptable compromise with the “reconciliation” plans, that many sectors of the Red Shirts will separate from this party, and quite possibly radicalize themselves even more. But this is pure speculation.
And here some more speculation – I personally think that a reason for Thaksin’s evasiveness in answering my question on amnesty could be that, after having been given strong signals by Red Shirts, he may have to rethink his strategy. But again, just speculation, and i guess we will see what the future brings.
My personal guess regarding the so-called “reconciliation” is that it will simply not work. I have asked many Red Shirts of all levels, and not one single person had anything but disdain when i mentioned the term “prong dong”. Right now i am watching the new Democrat Party mouthpiece – Blue Sky TV – and the hate speech there is so strong, even sprinkled with occasional quite sordid insults – that this whole notion seems to me nothing but a pipe dream.
Most “true” hardcore leaders and organizers are not well know by the public, neither do they care to be. Much has happened as well when our news hounds lost interest in the whole thing, when the civil war did not break out in the immediate aftermath of the 2010 crackdown. Grassroots organizations became far more independent of politicians, their canvassers and the UDD leadership in the past two years.
Yes, i even know one old Red Shirt guard who was a member of the Kratingdaeng, and involved in the Oct. 6, 1976 mess. But Thailand then, and Thailand today are very different countries. The term “da sawaang”, which came up in the aftermath of the 2010 crackdown is particularly descriptive in this regard of changing perceptions under Red Shirt protesters towards not just the monarchy, but also their entire identity as Thais.
Songkran in Cambodia: Red Shirts meet Thaksin
#124 Nick ” but the majority of them turned out to be urban legends when i dug a bit deeper.”
The Shan guys weren’t urban legends. They were sat right in front of me and they had gone to Bangkok because the pay was good. 1000 baht a day from the PAD. The UDD paid less I think. Nor did villagers who related being approached have any real reason to lie to me. It was they who volunteered the information when they were asking me how things had been in Bangkok.
Songkran in Cambodia: Red Shirts meet Thaksin
@John Smith #130
“Paid protestors. The only experience I have with this is in late April 2010, when numbers at the rally site were dwindling, the UDD made a flying pass through my wife’s district offering 2,000 baht with a promise of food provided, but you had to hand over your ID card.”
There is a widely disseminated youtube video (can’t find it at the moment) showing money being handed out to red shirts. Those who received the money had their ID card information recorded. It was money being offered to drivers willing to ferry protesters to Bangkok, although the anti-TS camp interpreted the same video very differently. A friend of mine told me she was offered money to ferry protesters, too, but never to attend (I can’t remember the amount offered).
“Unfortunately the UDD followers tend to be people that are easily led by demagoguery and eloquent oratory, even when it is espousing violence. ”
Did you just say Thaksin and Yingluck . . . are better orators than Abhisit?!
Songkran in Cambodia: Red Shirts meet Thaksin
Nick #116
Paid protestors. The only experience I have with this is in late April 2010, when numbers at the rally site were dwindling, the UDD made a flying pass through my wife’s district offering 2,000 baht with a promise of food provided, but you had to hand over your ID card. As Sanoh, at that time, was not supporting the UDD or the rally, they were politely asked to leave with thier one recruit and never returned.
From your report, apparently Sanoh has had a change of heart about the UDD. What a surprise.
Nick #124
You have unsurprisingly not addressed a single issue I raised about the coming divide between the PTP and the UDD.
I do not see this as a Red/Yellow conflict. In simplistic terms I see this more as two cynical populist movements used to drum up support using a decoy platform as cover for a power grabbing agenda. The yellow movement is way past its prime and the bulk of its previous supporters have gone back to their lives and are no longer are as passionate about their politics and at this point tend to be rather disillusioned about the whole thing. There are of course the small nubmers of radicals that Nick loves to bring up when things get to uncomfortable about the UDD.
My question is are the grassroots’ UDD going to go the same way, or are because the propaganda used was raised to level not seen in the prime PAD days will there be problems when the divide occurs?
What are they going to do when Jatuporn tells them to go home and accept what happens?
Is Arisman and the other true radicals, who arenot a hack client politician, but publicity seeking egotist with a bent toward violence, going to go along? Didn’t they gave Arismans’s wife a party list MP seat, is that the payoff? Are the other faction leaders susceptible to this sort of thing?
The problem as I see it is the UDD is a different demographic than the PAD. Unfortunately the UDD followers tend to be people that are easily led by demagoguery and eloquent oratory, even when it is espousing violence. Keep in mind that many of these people have parents or grandparents that were hard core Village Scouts and were just fine with what happened in 1976. The parent and grandfathers of some the PAD was more likely to have been the victims.
We shall see what happens. I look forward to Nick’s continued ground level reporting.
Songkran in Cambodia: Red Shirts meet Thaksin
“Asia Journo”:
“Sorry, I must’ve been in Disneyland. As there’s no way we were at the same place.”
Quite possibly you still are in Disneyland. Definitely you are not in the same Thailand i live in.
Have you, other than filming one or the other news event, ever researched both Red Shirts and Yellow in any depth, such as attending seminars of the different groups, village level rallies, visited grass roots organizations, listened in at the level of political debate, and taken the time to discuss these issues directly with people, in Thai?
“Where else in the world is it Ok to pay people to attend a political rally?” is nothing but the same old and typical non sequitur line of argumentation neglecting not just all existing research, but also the simple fact that countless Red Shirts have spend vast sums into the budgets themselves. This occurred on all levels, in which Red Shirts that stayed home have supported fellow villagers that attended the rallies.
Funny though that you have apparently never filmed at donation boxes at Red Shirt rallies, small or big, or filmed fundraisers, such as Chinese table dinners, in which people paid for their seats to raise funds. Not to speak of the countless seminars and other activities that are taking place every day on all levels of society.
But to answer your question – yes, almost all resistance armies in the world do pay their fighters, and have always done so, and collect funds from both rich and less rich supporters. In the perception of the Red Shirts, since 2006 they are in a warlike scenario against what they define as the “Amaart”. At times that war is cold, and at other times it is hot – as it was in 2010 since April 10. To fight this conflict they need funds, as also their opponents have vast amounts of funds available as well.
If you believe that the past 6 years have all been orchestrated, than you are truly living in Disneyland, and you have completely missed one of the most exiting social developments in this part of the world.
Rama VII and Hitler
Oh, just dug up the trailer of the movie the Heil Hitler Dem Party MP once appeared in should anyone be bored enough to watch it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Xa10c6mLYY