Of course the previous bearer of the thunderbolt was King Vajiravudh who between 1910 and 1925 presided over an institution that went from the pinnacle of its power down to bankruptcy in both the literal and moral sense.
I wonder if 100 years later history will repeat itself with the latest wielder of the thunderbolt.
AusAID involvement in this project because of Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade. Aim is to support first major contract for Toll company so it can enter Asian market. Poor people are not considered.
ADB record on resettlement is very bad and AusAID must know this.
It is no surprise really. When AusAID released their independent review last year, they discussed whether they should adopt a human rights based approach (which should be a mechanisms for recognizing and stopping the kinds of activities highlighted in this report). However, they did not support “the formal adoption of a rights–based approach” (113). There were arguments against using a rights based approach, mostly weak, saying that this approach would stop them reducing poverty, and would open the Govt to unpredictable demands (I guess like displaced people?). I guess the question is how can AusAID stop these violations which it can’t even see.
How the sex scandal is dealt with in the public realm would be really interesting to see. Whether it is dealt with quietly and disappears quickly with public discussions avoided (either by implicit agreement via social taboo or via coercive threat of defamation suit) or whether it becomes raw material for late night standup comedians (or puppet show parodies of politics the way the Nation channel did in Thailand) or raw material for Buddhist moral crusaders (assuming these types exist in Singapore) or whether it becomes a focal point for national shame (maybe westerners will begin to doubt the image of cleanliness and order, litter-free streets & clean public toilets, we have projected to the outside world for decades) and no doubt the independent media will play a role in the scandal’s ultimate fate in the public realm. But thank you Mr. Ong. Having lived in Asia for a long time and having alternated from shock and outrage to just plain confusion at similar things to this sex scandal were handled in the public realm of information, discussion & debate, it is nice to see someone, dissecting it and seeing what makes it tick 🙂
If you want to get rid of asbestos in Thailand you need to go back to the source.
One of the world’s largest asbestos mines is in a little town of less than 7,000 people, in Quebec Canada, by the name of…. Asbestos.
2.6 percent of Canada’s asbestos exports are sent to Thailand, in a trade worth $2.6 million annually.
Asbestos, also marketed as chrysotile, is a recognized deadly substance and carcinogen. 125 million people in the world are exposed to asbestos in the workplace, and each year more than 107,000 people die from asbestos-related lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis.
Canada has twice blocked the inclusion of chrysotile on a list of hazardous substances under the United Nations Rotterdam Convention, which regulates the global trade of certain hazardous chemicals.
Canadian New Democratic Party MP Nathan Cullen has called this move “pure politics in its worst form.”
“It just struck me as a very hypocritical thing for Canada to be doing,” he said, “pretending to be a good player on the international scene but exporting a known carcinogen to countries that couldn’t handle it….People are dying because of Canada’s policies.”
In late 2011, in a vote of 152-123, the Canadian Conservative Stephen Harper Government defeated an NDP private members bill to ban the use and export of asbestos. The NDP and Liberals voted to end the exportation, the Conservative and Bloq Quebecois voted to keep exporting.
Tell the Canadian Conservative Government under PM Stephen Harper that they must support the inclusion of asbestos as a hazardous substance under the Rotterdam Convention, and must stop the export of chrysotile to other countries, particularly while it is banned for use in Canada.
Amazingly, former Canadian federal Cabinet Minister under PM Stephen Harper, Chuck Strahl, himself has inoperable lung cancer, linked to his previous workplace exposure to asbestos.
Lawyers have made it more-or-less impossible for desperately needed new railways to be built in Sydney. It looks as if they’re doing the same for Cambodia.
Hi I am a Canadian who likes to visit Thailand. I did consider retireing here but the health affict of asbestose will stop me from doing so. I am not happy about Canadas roal it plays in shipping this dangeruas product abroad. I hope that something is done to put a stop to it before many young lives are destroyed.If you are in a position to do anything that would change the way this product is been used please please do something. I will right a letter to the Harper goverment that sees profit before peoples health but I dont think that I will get a responce it would be like talking to a pig with his head down drinking from the capitalist troff.
Singapore’s longing image cultivation of a clean and immaculate city state is not shattered by these instances. Frequent travellers know about the “darker” side of SP. Remarkable however is the reaction of the caught persons: They step down, or are expelled-simply as that. This is not so common in all OECD countries. The former German President for instance tried to muddle through several accepting advantages affairs while in office and only stepped down after the public prosecution department asked the parliament to revoke his immunity last week. Therefore, I do not see any problems in revealing “scandals” of politicians or public servants as long as these people make the right decision and step down. People are not without fail. And this has to be accepted.
Sounds like shades of the Profumo/Keeler/Rice-Davies affair in the UK early 60’s. Would hardly get a mention now. Is Singapore REALLY that conservative?
NB that a byelection hasn’t yet been triggered by YSL’s expulsion. It’s one of the many quirks of Singapore’s quasi-democracy that the Prime Minister has the power to decide if and when byelections will be held. In the meantime the people of Hougang are left without any democratic representation.
The Lady’s brother is doing just fine, thank you. He is an American citizen; he has plenty of money to live quite comfortably on, and, most importantly, he relinquished long ago any right to the property, when he decided to cast his lot with what was then called SLORC – the same bastards imprisoning his sister in the house he claims to want. He gave up family loyalty long ago when he took the junta’s side, so he gave up any right to the family’s house. (Not in a legal sense, of course, but in a karmic one.)
Exiled blogger and scourge to both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat, Raja Petra Kamarudin has just made some startling allegations (with some documented evidence). Read HERE.
“Tun Zaki Tun Azmi retired as the Sixth Chief Justice of Malaysia on 9th September 2011. And how will we remember him? As the Umno Legal Advisor and Disciplinary Committee Deputy Chairperson who became Malaysia’s top Judge? As the man who gave Perak back to Umno? Or as the retired ‘Umno’ Chief Justice who got a RM2.2 billion-highway concession as his retirement present for helping Umno to get Perak back?”
Facebook 
Twitter 
Soundcloud 
Youtube 
Rss
The Cambodia Railway Project – what is AusAID’s responsibility?
Actually AusAID now have a policy on relocation. It’s on their website in the aid themes section.
The senate estimates hearings have a bit of a discussion about this too.
Vajiralongkorn: Possessor of the thunderbolt
Of course the previous bearer of the thunderbolt was King Vajiravudh who between 1910 and 1925 presided over an institution that went from the pinnacle of its power down to bankruptcy in both the literal and moral sense.
I wonder if 100 years later history will repeat itself with the latest wielder of the thunderbolt.
Building up Burma analysis
Agreed, many risks, yet still for Burma watchers this is an interesting time.
The Cambodia Railway Project – what is AusAID’s responsibility?
AusAID involvement in this project because of Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade. Aim is to support first major contract for Toll company so it can enter Asian market. Poor people are not considered.
ADB record on resettlement is very bad and AusAID must know this.
The Cambodia Railway Project – what is AusAID’s responsibility?
It is no surprise really. When AusAID released their independent review last year, they discussed whether they should adopt a human rights based approach (which should be a mechanisms for recognizing and stopping the kinds of activities highlighted in this report). However, they did not support “the formal adoption of a rights–based approach” (113). There were arguments against using a rights based approach, mostly weak, saying that this approach would stop them reducing poverty, and would open the Govt to unpredictable demands (I guess like displaced people?). I guess the question is how can AusAID stop these violations which it can’t even see.
The (in)significance of sex scandals in Singapore
How the sex scandal is dealt with in the public realm would be really interesting to see. Whether it is dealt with quietly and disappears quickly with public discussions avoided (either by implicit agreement via social taboo or via coercive threat of defamation suit) or whether it becomes raw material for late night standup comedians (or puppet show parodies of politics the way the Nation channel did in Thailand) or raw material for Buddhist moral crusaders (assuming these types exist in Singapore) or whether it becomes a focal point for national shame (maybe westerners will begin to doubt the image of cleanliness and order, litter-free streets & clean public toilets, we have projected to the outside world for decades) and no doubt the independent media will play a role in the scandal’s ultimate fate in the public realm. But thank you Mr. Ong. Having lived in Asia for a long time and having alternated from shock and outrage to just plain confusion at similar things to this sex scandal were handled in the public realm of information, discussion & debate, it is nice to see someone, dissecting it and seeing what makes it tick 🙂
Review of A Life’s Work
Re the Forbes article on CPB wealth (Eddy W #108), the Thai government has now sent a response to Forbes.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/simonmontlake/2012/02/20/his-majestys-balance-sheet-a-thai-government-response
Follows the standard line that the reported wealth “include assets belonging to the CPB, which are held in trust for the nation” without addressing who has control of this “trust fund”.
Asbestos in Thailand
“Fatal Deception”. A CBC Special Investigative Report
by Terence McKenna
http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/News/TV_Shows/The_National/Health/1244506052/ID=2196356334
“Is the Canadian federal government relying on junk science to justify its support for re-opening asbestos mines in Quebec?”
(Note: might take a few tries for the streaming video to load).
Asbestos in Thailand
If you want to get rid of asbestos in Thailand you need to go back to the source.
One of the world’s largest asbestos mines is in a little town of less than 7,000 people, in Quebec Canada, by the name of…. Asbestos.
2.6 percent of Canada’s asbestos exports are sent to Thailand, in a trade worth $2.6 million annually.
Asbestos, also marketed as chrysotile, is a recognized deadly substance and carcinogen. 125 million people in the world are exposed to asbestos in the workplace, and each year more than 107,000 people die from asbestos-related lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis.
Canada has twice blocked the inclusion of chrysotile on a list of hazardous substances under the United Nations Rotterdam Convention, which regulates the global trade of certain hazardous chemicals.
Canadian New Democratic Party MP Nathan Cullen has called this move “pure politics in its worst form.”
“It just struck me as a very hypocritical thing for Canada to be doing,” he said, “pretending to be a good player on the international scene but exporting a known carcinogen to countries that couldn’t handle it….People are dying because of Canada’s policies.”
In late 2011, in a vote of 152-123, the Canadian Conservative Stephen Harper Government defeated an NDP private members bill to ban the use and export of asbestos. The NDP and Liberals voted to end the exportation, the Conservative and Bloq Quebecois voted to keep exporting.
Tell the Canadian Conservative Government under PM Stephen Harper that they must support the inclusion of asbestos as a hazardous substance under the Rotterdam Convention, and must stop the export of chrysotile to other countries, particularly while it is banned for use in Canada.
See:
http://www.canadianasbestosexports.ca/
http://www.canadianasbestosexports.ca/What-Can-You-Do
Amazingly, former Canadian federal Cabinet Minister under PM Stephen Harper, Chuck Strahl, himself has inoperable lung cancer, linked to his previous workplace exposure to asbestos.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_Strahl
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7wpU5TmU3A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCCY93i35WM&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Qi3cSWR9wQ
Will UMNO give up power?
So RPK was right on the former Chief Justice and UMNO man Tun Zaki getting the RM2.2 billion highway contract [Read HERE].
Was RPK also right that this was Najib’s gift to Tun Zaki for gifting Perak to Najib?
The Cambodia Railway Project – what is AusAID’s responsibility?
Lawyers have made it more-or-less impossible for desperately needed new railways to be built in Sydney. It looks as if they’re doing the same for Cambodia.
Asbestos in Thailand
Hi I am a Canadian who likes to visit Thailand. I did consider retireing here but the health affict of asbestose will stop me from doing so. I am not happy about Canadas roal it plays in shipping this dangeruas product abroad. I hope that something is done to put a stop to it before many young lives are destroyed.If you are in a position to do anything that would change the way this product is been used please please do something. I will right a letter to the Harper goverment that sees profit before peoples health but I dont think that I will get a responce it would be like talking to a pig with his head down drinking from the capitalist troff.
The (in)significance of sex scandals in Singapore
Singapore’s longing image cultivation of a clean and immaculate city state is not shattered by these instances. Frequent travellers know about the “darker” side of SP. Remarkable however is the reaction of the caught persons: They step down, or are expelled-simply as that. This is not so common in all OECD countries. The former German President for instance tried to muddle through several accepting advantages affairs while in office and only stepped down after the public prosecution department asked the parliament to revoke his immunity last week. Therefore, I do not see any problems in revealing “scandals” of politicians or public servants as long as these people make the right decision and step down. People are not without fail. And this has to be accepted.
The (in)significance of sex scandals in Singapore
Well said.
Personally, this is the sort of rational and disarming commentary and view that would expose the soft underbelly of the govt.
Too often, local commentators/politicians allow the sly govt party to channel the debate away – in the direction of its choosing.
But, be completely aware that the govt is one that is not above employing Machiavellian methods to get its way.
The (in)significance of sex scandals in Singapore
Sounds like shades of the Profumo/Keeler/Rice-Davies affair in the UK early 60’s. Would hardly get a mention now. Is Singapore REALLY that conservative?
The (in)significance of sex scandals in Singapore
NB that a byelection hasn’t yet been triggered by YSL’s expulsion. It’s one of the many quirks of Singapore’s quasi-democracy that the Prime Minister has the power to decide if and when byelections will be held. In the meantime the people of Hougang are left without any democratic representation.
Aung San Suu Kyi’s house
@Peter O.
The Lady’s brother is doing just fine, thank you. He is an American citizen; he has plenty of money to live quite comfortably on, and, most importantly, he relinquished long ago any right to the property, when he decided to cast his lot with what was then called SLORC – the same bastards imprisoning his sister in the house he claims to want. He gave up family loyalty long ago when he took the junta’s side, so he gave up any right to the family’s house. (Not in a legal sense, of course, but in a karmic one.)
That’s just my two indignant pence.
The (in)significance of sex scandals in Singapore
Aiyo, next time go to Batam to get that ‘extra’. Nobody cares who you are maaa.
Tango with the tatmadaw
“Dunkley is a polarising figure and over the years has no doubt made many enemies.”
Sounds like he does his job well, stirring up debate 🙂 Excellent. Thanks for wonderful article.
Will UMNO give up power?
Exiled blogger and scourge to both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat, Raja Petra Kamarudin has just made some startling allegations (with some documented evidence). Read HERE.