There’s desperation and gloom/doom sentiments rapidly causing near panic at our housing village at Pathum Thani, where neck high water marks were left untouched after warnings that Year 2012 floods will definitely come and more probably worse.
Should we flee, should we sell or should we just continue to panic?
It’s difficult for Singaporean bloggers to get across these issues as they can’t discuss openly issues that have got others into trouble. Nonetheless Alex Au on Yawning Bread and Cherian George on journalism.sg (amongst others) have provided some thoughtful, objective commentary which is worth checking out.
I can’t help but to agree about the predictability and omnipresence of sex scandals, Singapore and elsewhere. But what about the latest string of events surrounding the TR Emeritus publication.
This was an independent magazine which is now facing (seems to have escaped for now) closure and had to retract its stories after alleging nepotism when the Prime Minister’s wife (I believe?) and brother were assigned to high positions in Temasek, the Singaporean national corporation.
Does someone have a good perspective on these issues? It would be nice to hear about them outside of the limited world of the Straits Times or the (now) self-censoring world of TR Emeritus.
“The next episode might rather be called something like “Aung San Suu Kyi and the generals holding hands” ….. to give their country some much-needed rest from divisive politics and grow the economy for a while.”
As much as I have respect your good will and well wishes, the true situation on the ground is disheartening. The West absolutely empty talk has no bearing on relieving the BURDEN on Myanmar Citizenry in mind.
Still propping DASSK, that has been around together with NLD for decades and have NOTHING substantive to offer beyond photo op and SOS.
It is the East that is now charging ahead with trades albeit to benefit the military cronies more. Remembering the first Burmese billionaire was created thanks to the West Targeted Sanction.
AS for the Generals, they will have their cake and eat them too. No thanks to DASSK? West useless careless interferences.
Not until the focus is directed to help the humanity within Myanmar ground up as opposed to up down, as this farce is, will remain just a farce that westerners delude themselves as redemption thinking “Things are getting better”.
I think the name of Prince Vajiralongkorn comes from The Ramayana an ancient Sanskrit epic. like most of Thai kings’ names.
“Prince Vajiralongkorn [is] a name coined by the combination of the words vajira, which means thunderbolt and alongkorn (meaning ornament), but the combined term means something like “the possessor of a thunderbolt”.
I think the translattion from The Mercury is correct. Basically “Vajiralongkorn” means Pra-In (р╕Юр╕гр╕░р╕нр╕┤р╕Щр╕Чр╕гр╣М) because Pra-In also has a thunderbolt as a weapon. Pra-In is one of the Ramayana characters, he is the head or the king of deities.
Jon,
For once I might agree with you, but it seems to me the crucial question is how the generals grow their wealth. Care to expand on that interesting suggestion
@JohnWin wrote: “I did a Google search for pictures of Princess Srirasmi. Almost all the hits lead to – well, see for yourself.”
Ah, true Siamese beauty and charm, isn’t she? Now you see why I insist that she should be the next Queen? There is not other Thai Royal who is eligible to succeed the throne who is as beautiful as her ^^
An aside, really. Last night, on behalf of someone else, I did a Google search for pictures of Princess Srirasmi. Which I always find myself spelling Srigasmi (not sure whether to attribute that one to Reich or Freud.)
And I’m not alone, evidently. Almost all the hits lead to – well, see for yourself. An interesting take on Bagehot’s idea of the ‘dignified’ constitution.
Though, as an aside from an aside, It would be a stretch to apply Bagehot’s term ‘efficient’ to Chalerm. So honours even, I suppose.
Nicholas Farrelly: “We have not seen a revolution on the streets. Nor a coup. Nor have we observed any one event that catalyses abrupt transformation.”
That may be what the popular imagination built of emotionally cathartic film scripts expects, but it may never happen. The old inner-machiavelli says events might unfold otherwise.
The next episode might rather be called something like “Aung San Suu Kyi and the generals holding hands” ….. to give their country some much-needed rest from divisive politics and grow the economy for a while. Possibly controversial hypothesis: The best way to alleviate poverty over the long haul is to grow the whole economy, even the wealth of the evil generals. 🙂
“We also know that in any major political recalibration the sequencing of changes can be crucial. It is not merely a matter of how much, and how soon, but also of in what order, and particularly what should come first. If the process is managed effectively then Burma may avoid the revolution that many have secretly hoped is (still) in the stars.”
A very important observation I think. Especially if rule of law, and therefore the judicial system, is not a high priority for reform, including aggressive anti-corruption, real change is unlikely to come forward for the people at the grassroots.
I wrote about these name games last month. Of course, this will be an issue for the foreseeable future and you will see in that post how I tend to deal with it. Sooner rather than later Myanmar will reign supreme. I expect the tipping point will come in 2012…let’s see…
Just a pet peeve of mine. Nothing directed at the author. But perhaps with these changes taking place, can we now please begin referring to Burma as Myanmar?
Not long ago, it was asked whether Vietnam could serve the Burmese government as an example of how to develop the country without giving up power. Now, it seems that Vietnam can learn something from Burma, not about economic development but about political “liberalization.”
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From the archives: Burma in 1942
Perhaps today’s race is an aid race. Is JICA much involved in the North now? What aid agencies are operating up there in a major way?
I would like to be in the back of a cattle truck now for the breeze. A bit humid, here.
┼╜i┼╛ek and social change in Malaysia – Part 1
[…] brings us to the second ┼╜i┼╛ek /Lacanian principle in this series (go HERE for the first […]
Lynas – with love from Perth!
This is fabulous. If Australians are serious about communicating with Asia, this is the way to do it.
The toll of flooding on lives and politics
There’s desperation and gloom/doom sentiments rapidly causing near panic at our housing village at Pathum Thani, where neck high water marks were left untouched after warnings that Year 2012 floods will definitely come and more probably worse.
Should we flee, should we sell or should we just continue to panic?
The (in)significance of sex scandals in Singapore
It’s difficult for Singaporean bloggers to get across these issues as they can’t discuss openly issues that have got others into trouble. Nonetheless Alex Au on Yawning Bread and Cherian George on journalism.sg (amongst others) have provided some thoughtful, objective commentary which is worth checking out.
The (in)significance of sex scandals in Singapore
I can’t help but to agree about the predictability and omnipresence of sex scandals, Singapore and elsewhere. But what about the latest string of events surrounding the TR Emeritus publication.
This was an independent magazine which is now facing (seems to have escaped for now) closure and had to retract its stories after alleging nepotism when the Prime Minister’s wife (I believe?) and brother were assigned to high positions in Temasek, the Singaporean national corporation.
Does someone have a good perspective on these issues? It would be nice to hear about them outside of the limited world of the Straits Times or the (now) self-censoring world of TR Emeritus.
Building up Burma analysis
“The next episode might rather be called something like “Aung San Suu Kyi and the generals holding hands” ….. to give their country some much-needed rest from divisive politics and grow the economy for a while.”
http://www.mizzima.com/business/6635-burmese-businessmen-tell-surin-sanctions-hurt-growth.html
jonfernquest
As much as I have respect your good will and well wishes, the true situation on the ground is disheartening. The West absolutely empty talk has no bearing on relieving the BURDEN on Myanmar Citizenry in mind.
Still propping DASSK, that has been around together with NLD for decades and have NOTHING substantive to offer beyond photo op and SOS.
It is the East that is now charging ahead with trades albeit to benefit the military cronies more. Remembering the first Burmese billionaire was created thanks to the West Targeted Sanction.
AS for the Generals, they will have their cake and eat them too. No thanks to DASSK? West useless careless interferences.
Not until the focus is directed to help the humanity within Myanmar ground up as opposed to up down, as this farce is, will remain just a farce that westerners delude themselves as redemption thinking “Things are getting better”.
Vajiralongkorn: Possessor of the thunderbolt
I think the name of Prince Vajiralongkorn comes from The Ramayana an ancient Sanskrit epic. like most of Thai kings’ names.
“Prince Vajiralongkorn [is] a name coined by the combination of the words vajira, which means thunderbolt and alongkorn (meaning ornament), but the combined term means something like “the possessor of a thunderbolt”.
I think the translattion from The Mercury is correct. Basically “Vajiralongkorn” means Pra-In (р╕Юр╕гр╕░р╕нр╕┤р╕Щр╕Чр╕гр╣М) because Pra-In also has a thunderbolt as a weapon. Pra-In is one of the Ramayana characters, he is the head or the king of deities.
Building up Burma analysis
Jon,
For once I might agree with you, but it seems to me the crucial question is how the generals grow their wealth. Care to expand on that interesting suggestion
Layers of King Bhumibol’s life
@JohnWin wrote: “I did a Google search for pictures of Princess Srirasmi. Almost all the hits lead to – well, see for yourself.”
Ah, true Siamese beauty and charm, isn’t she? Now you see why I insist that she should be the next Queen? There is not other Thai Royal who is eligible to succeed the throne who is as beautiful as her ^^
Layers of King Bhumibol’s life
An aside, really. Last night, on behalf of someone else, I did a Google search for pictures of Princess Srirasmi. Which I always find myself spelling Srigasmi (not sure whether to attribute that one to Reich or Freud.)
And I’m not alone, evidently. Almost all the hits lead to – well, see for yourself. An interesting take on Bagehot’s idea of the ‘dignified’ constitution.
Though, as an aside from an aside, It would be a stretch to apply Bagehot’s term ‘efficient’ to Chalerm. So honours even, I suppose.
Building up Burma analysis
Nicholas Farrelly: “We have not seen a revolution on the streets. Nor a coup. Nor have we observed any one event that catalyses abrupt transformation.”
That may be what the popular imagination built of emotionally cathartic film scripts expects, but it may never happen. The old inner-machiavelli says events might unfold otherwise.
The next episode might rather be called something like “Aung San Suu Kyi and the generals holding hands” ….. to give their country some much-needed rest from divisive politics and grow the economy for a while. Possibly controversial hypothesis: The best way to alleviate poverty over the long haul is to grow the whole economy, even the wealth of the evil generals. 🙂
Building up Burma analysis
“We also know that in any major political recalibration the sequencing of changes can be crucial. It is not merely a matter of how much, and how soon, but also of in what order, and particularly what should come first. If the process is managed effectively then Burma may avoid the revolution that many have secretly hoped is (still) in the stars.”
A very important observation I think. Especially if rule of law, and therefore the judicial system, is not a high priority for reform, including aggressive anti-corruption, real change is unlikely to come forward for the people at the grassroots.
Building up Burma analysis
P.S. Rosalie Metro over at Cornell wrote an excellent article on this topic recently. I guess I fall into the “Myanmar” camp. You can read her article here: http://seap.einaudi.cornell.edu/system/files/The_Divided_Discipline_of_Burma_Studies.pdf
Building up Burma analysis
Thanks for your kind reply, Nich, and for pointing me to your post on the subject. Much more useful than Ron’s comment.
Building up Burma analysis
Thanks STU, thanks Ron,
I wrote about these name games last month. Of course, this will be an issue for the foreseeable future and you will see in that post how I tend to deal with it. Sooner rather than later Myanmar will reign supreme. I expect the tipping point will come in 2012…let’s see…
Best wishes to all,
Nich
Building up Burma analysis
STU
I think everyone will call things what they want to whether it is acceptable to you or not
Vajiralongkorn: Possessor of the thunderbolt
The basic meaning of the word “vajira” is “jewel”. This word is also part of the name of the Supreme Patriarch who named the prince.
Building up Burma analysis
Just a pet peeve of mine. Nothing directed at the author. But perhaps with these changes taking place, can we now please begin referring to Burma as Myanmar?
Building up Burma analysis
Not long ago, it was asked whether Vietnam could serve the Burmese government as an example of how to develop the country without giving up power. Now, it seems that Vietnam can learn something from Burma, not about economic development but about political “liberalization.”