“Any further escalation of the ethnic wars would not end well, for either side. So let’s hope the government opts for a more conciliatory path and gives itself a chance to agree final and lasting deals with its many ethnic opponents.”
These talks should give a fair indication on the state of mind not only of the Government but also of the NMSP and KNU regarding a willingness to bring Burma’s civil war to an end.
However, the ongoing offensive against the KIA and the atrocities being inflicted upon civilians – murder, rape, destruction of homes etc – certainly doesn’t bode well for the hope the Government may adopt a more conciliatory path.
On the eve of Hilary Clinton’s visit, I wish to implore the good Secretary of State to speak out against the continued imprisonment of American Joe Gordon, demand transparency in all current court cases involving Lese Majeste, call for an end to in camera procedings, call for an end to the draconian punishments exacted for perceived infractions of lese majeste, get Thaialnd to identify the exact number of people held on this charge and their dates of arrest and current locations, and engage the Thai authorities in obtaining the release of Citizen Joe Gordon.
It is time for a shout of Tear Down that Law just like Reagan shoted to the Russians to tear down a wall.
Shame on Thailand, Shame on the Government of the US, and shame on Ms. Clinton if she can’t provide the fundamental leadership that America shold provide in a free world.
Free JOE GORDON!!!
AND all other Political Prisones in Thailand’s Gulags.
[…] with a GREAT solution. I won’t go to much into scientific details (I suggest the articles at New Mandala & The Wall Street Journal for further information) but just so far: It is about sugar balls. em […]
Of course the political dimension is always there. No one is denying that. I have to take issue, however, with your absolutist view of what constitutes moral action. There are many grades of giving in Buddhism and the texts are very clear that you still gain merit if you give with desire for the karmic fruit. Only the very highest forms of giving are totally selfless. Also, it IS possible to use the merit of others to your own advantage – you do this by rejoicing in others’ meritmaking (anumodanaa) and thereby make merit yourself by cultivating good mental states. From a doctrinal view, you are right that labelling itself has no karmic value. However a more pragmatic/psychological approach needs to be adopted to explain such phenomena – is it not entirely intuitively understandable that a person may consider that merit is more likely to attach to them if a donation is named? Buddhists need to be viewed as real living human beings, with mixtures of selfish and unselfish motivations (nicely shown by the pride a person takes in a gift) not as representations of doctrinal tenets.
@ Ricky #4: That’s…um, interesting. I can’t imagine US making war on China. Can you give details of the date or title of that edition of ABC’s ‘Insiders’.
BTW, most espionage now, apart from anti-terrorism, which may not really apply in this case, is industrial, or getting ‘inside info’ connected with developing trade strategies, etc.
I doubt Australia need fear a Thai Philby Conspiracy. Suspect Thailand will proffer undying friendship to China and the US, and then support whoever they believe is stronger whilst still telling the other that they are really on their side.
The US has the most powerful and battle hardened military, if they actually unleashed all they could instead of dragging wars out for profit they would be utterly devastating. Will China’s rise falter, will the corrupt politicians and bankers finally bankrupt the US, a few variables in play for an uncertain future.
But can you tell me your position in Burma or Arakan ?
I have already told you that current Burmese Government failed to recognized Rohingya status in Burma .
We can not leave Rohingya issue unsolve , since it is becoming an International issue , we would like to solve the issue peacefuly to end the suffering of a large number of people .
Who should be part of this problem?
BURMA and Bangladesh ?
or we have other parties who are concern with the Issue.
Yes UNHCR is closely monitoring the problem .
We want International meeting on solving Rohingya Issue to find a solution which can be acceptable to all parties .
how the monarchy turns donations from others into their own
——————–
I don’t recall that it was explained to be understood in such manner.
I think everyone in Thailand is aware that to make your own what belongs to others ( not so much the money itself, but the fact of giving) doesn’t give you any karmic results (merit). Not positive ones at least.
Also, it is true that “labeling” is part of the culture of having good deeds acknowledged, one should still recall that no karmic fruit is to be obtained unless you are giving selflessly, so that the benefit of letting others know what you did is mainly playing at societal, political levels.
hence, you may give selflessly, but your deed be subsequently acknowledged. In that order! Heaven and Earth, so to speak, being not opposites but the 2 sides of the same coin.
One should not try either to convince that changes are happening for real, or that it’s all facade as usual. maybe time to think a bit out of the box, and listen to burmese people a little more, and a little less to the usual foreign pundits.
One thing is sure, the people who claim that very little is actually happening would have indeed be unable to imagine or even accaept the idea that within a year of the election, a repeat dialogue would have occured between ASSK and Thein Sein, that the chinese would be told to shove up that dam up after the people opposed it, that a substantial number of political prisoners would be released, and that the NLD would be able to debate to become a legit party again.
I think if it’s still improving after a decade – then okay – things will have changed. I think the combination of people desperate to see changed, and Burma’s tyrannical system of governance has not evolved, and this alchemy does not mix well for near-instant social and political change that some are claiming. There’s the possibility for things to instantly to resume the course prior to 2011. When that is no longer a possibility, then things will have really moved. In my opinion, the key word for Burma’s change is: irreversibility.
Hi,
Sorry for the late reply. Our discussion evolves around what Islam says about apostacy. Therein lies the question of whether it amounts to death penalty or not. In whatever cases, condemnation to apostates in the hereafter is not disputable.
Then there is the aspect of preventive measures. A muslim should hold dear their faith and preserve the belief in any way they can. To do that all manupulating factors that could lead a muslim to leave the islamic faith must be attended to such as poverty and ignorance.
Other form of preventive measures is continous effort of promoting and propagating the islamic way of life in order for a muslim to live and appreciate the beauty of Islam that he or she would not leave the faith without any strong reasons.
Upon knowing apostacy is taking place the preventive measures consists of the cooling period to a given time for the would be apostate to repent. If or when the repentive period fail to convince the apostate then the issue of punishment of which we are debating now takes its course.
In my opininon the issue of punishment for apostacy is determined by the surrounding and periodical factors as been stipulated by the syariah itself. The provision of repentance period to my humble opinion must be indefinite to allow a healthy discourse and debate over the issue of faith not only to the apostate but also to the community on the whole.
#Greg Lopez, I cant really answer the issue of when a muslim can leave his or her faith without your goodself understand first what i have said in the preventive measures. Giving you the answer as to when a muslim can leave the faith in itself could be a misleading statement by me. But as far as theMalaysian Islamic Enactment is concern, apostacy is provided in the syariah criminal law. Negeri Sembilan has a more detailed manner of the procedural aspect on how someone can leave the faith.
We’ll discuss the legal aspect of it in future. I would like to know myself how does Christian provides their beleivers to stick to their faith.
I believe it’s nothing more than a charm offensive at this stage. It is certainly a trend to be encouraged, but until reform moves outside Yangon and Naypyidaw to the borderlands I’m not convinced of its veracity.
Don’t worry about the CP’s shortcoming. The fact that his wife Srirasmi will become the next Queen if he is crowned as King is more than enough to support the CP as the next Monarch. Srirasmi is beautiful and she will become the most beautiful Queen in the world once she is crowned. Thais will be proud to have the most beautiful Queen in the world.
The mention of espionage by Michael makes me wonder where Thailand might stand vis-a-vis China and the USA? The espionage position in Australia becomes more important with recent talk (ABC Insiders TV show) that the USA has a new plan to make war on China with Australia to play a key role.
It’s a shame that flood diversion techniques are not a cooperative effort between communities and authority; from our standpoint, the longer a flood situation lasts, the larger its impact will be on economic output and local production. Working with all parties and communities to fairly and swiftly improve conditions where they are bad, and prevent the deterioration of conditions across the board, Thailand can mitigate the blow to its output — supply for agricultural goods, automobiles, and consumer electronics are all projected to be negatively impacted through the first quarter of 2012. You can’t rob Peter to pay Paul, of course, and there is never going to be a solution that equally benefits everyone — water has to go somewhere. But a joint effort at least makes people feel more positive about mitigation.
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Media, politics, Burma
“Any further escalation of the ethnic wars would not end well, for either side. So let’s hope the government opts for a more conciliatory path and gives itself a chance to agree final and lasting deals with its many ethnic opponents.”
Given this statment I expect that you will be watching carefully the talks between the Government of Burma and the NMSP and KNU:
http://www.dvb.no/news/karen-mon-armies-make-stab-at-peace/18728
These talks should give a fair indication on the state of mind not only of the Government but also of the NMSP and KNU regarding a willingness to bring Burma’s civil war to an end.
However, the ongoing offensive against the KIA and the atrocities being inflicted upon civilians – murder, rape, destruction of homes etc – certainly doesn’t bode well for the hope the Government may adopt a more conciliatory path.
FACT’s plea for Joe Gordon
On the eve of Hilary Clinton’s visit, I wish to implore the good Secretary of State to speak out against the continued imprisonment of American Joe Gordon, demand transparency in all current court cases involving Lese Majeste, call for an end to in camera procedings, call for an end to the draconian punishments exacted for perceived infractions of lese majeste, get Thaialnd to identify the exact number of people held on this charge and their dates of arrest and current locations, and engage the Thai authorities in obtaining the release of Citizen Joe Gordon.
It is time for a shout of Tear Down that Law just like Reagan shoted to the Russians to tear down a wall.
Shame on Thailand, Shame on the Government of the US, and shame on Ms. Clinton if she can’t provide the fundamental leadership that America shold provide in a free world.
Free JOE GORDON!!!
AND all other Political Prisones in Thailand’s Gulags.
EM balls – a flood hoax?
[…] with a GREAT solution. I won’t go to much into scientific details (I suggest the articles at New Mandala & The Wall Street Journal for further information) but just so far: It is about sugar balls. em […]
The princess and the FROC
Herve,
Of course the political dimension is always there. No one is denying that. I have to take issue, however, with your absolutist view of what constitutes moral action. There are many grades of giving in Buddhism and the texts are very clear that you still gain merit if you give with desire for the karmic fruit. Only the very highest forms of giving are totally selfless. Also, it IS possible to use the merit of others to your own advantage – you do this by rejoicing in others’ meritmaking (anumodanaa) and thereby make merit yourself by cultivating good mental states. From a doctrinal view, you are right that labelling itself has no karmic value. However a more pragmatic/psychological approach needs to be adopted to explain such phenomena – is it not entirely intuitively understandable that a person may consider that merit is more likely to attach to them if a donation is named? Buddhists need to be viewed as real living human beings, with mixtures of selfish and unselfish motivations (nicely shown by the pride a person takes in a gift) not as representations of doctrinal tenets.
tenets.
if a donation is named and indeed
Happy Birthday Thongdaeng
I’d give 2 thumb-ups to the Doctor for exposing this. I hope he doesn’t get a lese majeste for daring to contradict one of the Royals.
Diplomatic movements in Canberra
@ Ricky #4: That’s…um, interesting. I can’t imagine US making war on China. Can you give details of the date or title of that edition of ABC’s ‘Insiders’.
BTW, most espionage now, apart from anti-terrorism, which may not really apply in this case, is industrial, or getting ‘inside info’ connected with developing trade strategies, etc.
The princess and the FROC
Herve: see p. 131 of TKNS for part of the account.
Diplomatic movements in Canberra
I doubt Australia need fear a Thai Philby Conspiracy. Suspect Thailand will proffer undying friendship to China and the US, and then support whoever they believe is stronger whilst still telling the other that they are really on their side.
The US has the most powerful and battle hardened military, if they actually unleashed all they could instead of dragging wars out for profit they would be utterly devastating. Will China’s rise falter, will the corrupt politicians and bankers finally bankrupt the US, a few variables in play for an uncertain future.
BBC under fire on Rohingyas
Mong pru
Good
But can you tell me your position in Burma or Arakan ?
I have already told you that current Burmese Government failed to recognized Rohingya status in Burma .
We can not leave Rohingya issue unsolve , since it is becoming an International issue , we would like to solve the issue peacefuly to end the suffering of a large number of people .
Who should be part of this problem?
BURMA and Bangladesh ?
or we have other parties who are concern with the Issue.
Yes UNHCR is closely monitoring the problem .
We want International meeting on solving Rohingya Issue to find a solution which can be acceptable to all parties .
The princess and the FROC
how the monarchy turns donations from others into their own
——————–
I don’t recall that it was explained to be understood in such manner.
I think everyone in Thailand is aware that to make your own what belongs to others ( not so much the money itself, but the fact of giving) doesn’t give you any karmic results (merit). Not positive ones at least.
Also, it is true that “labeling” is part of the culture of having good deeds acknowledged, one should still recall that no karmic fruit is to be obtained unless you are giving selflessly, so that the benefit of letting others know what you did is mainly playing at societal, political levels.
hence, you may give selflessly, but your deed be subsequently acknowledged. In that order! Heaven and Earth, so to speak, being not opposites but the 2 sides of the same coin.
Media, politics, Burma
One should not try either to convince that changes are happening for real, or that it’s all facade as usual. maybe time to think a bit out of the box, and listen to burmese people a little more, and a little less to the usual foreign pundits.
One thing is sure, the people who claim that very little is actually happening would have indeed be unable to imagine or even accaept the idea that within a year of the election, a repeat dialogue would have occured between ASSK and Thein Sein, that the chinese would be told to shove up that dam up after the people opposed it, that a substantial number of political prisoners would be released, and that the NLD would be able to debate to become a legit party again.
Media, politics, Burma
Zarni’s : “Change the Burmese Public Can’t Believe In” http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=22301
Recent James Scott interview:
http://www.dvb.no/interview/james-c-scott-making-a-pact-with-the-military/17989
Media, politics, Burma
I think if it’s still improving after a decade – then okay – things will have changed. I think the combination of people desperate to see changed, and Burma’s tyrannical system of governance has not evolved, and this alchemy does not mix well for near-instant social and political change that some are claiming. There’s the possibility for things to instantly to resume the course prior to 2011. When that is no longer a possibility, then things will have really moved. In my opinion, the key word for Burma’s change is: irreversibility.
Sabai sabai
Apostasy in Malaysia: The hidden view
Hi,
Sorry for the late reply. Our discussion evolves around what Islam says about apostacy. Therein lies the question of whether it amounts to death penalty or not. In whatever cases, condemnation to apostates in the hereafter is not disputable.
Then there is the aspect of preventive measures. A muslim should hold dear their faith and preserve the belief in any way they can. To do that all manupulating factors that could lead a muslim to leave the islamic faith must be attended to such as poverty and ignorance.
Other form of preventive measures is continous effort of promoting and propagating the islamic way of life in order for a muslim to live and appreciate the beauty of Islam that he or she would not leave the faith without any strong reasons.
Upon knowing apostacy is taking place the preventive measures consists of the cooling period to a given time for the would be apostate to repent. If or when the repentive period fail to convince the apostate then the issue of punishment of which we are debating now takes its course.
In my opininon the issue of punishment for apostacy is determined by the surrounding and periodical factors as been stipulated by the syariah itself. The provision of repentance period to my humble opinion must be indefinite to allow a healthy discourse and debate over the issue of faith not only to the apostate but also to the community on the whole.
#Greg Lopez, I cant really answer the issue of when a muslim can leave his or her faith without your goodself understand first what i have said in the preventive measures. Giving you the answer as to when a muslim can leave the faith in itself could be a misleading statement by me. But as far as theMalaysian Islamic Enactment is concern, apostacy is provided in the syariah criminal law. Negeri Sembilan has a more detailed manner of the procedural aspect on how someone can leave the faith.
We’ll discuss the legal aspect of it in future. I would like to know myself how does Christian provides their beleivers to stick to their faith.
Diplomatic movements in Canberra
Interestingly, Maris also shares the same nickname as Yingluck–Poo!
Media, politics, Burma
I believe it’s nothing more than a charm offensive at this stage. It is certainly a trend to be encouraged, but until reform moves outside Yangon and Naypyidaw to the borderlands I’m not convinced of its veracity.
Happy Birthday Thongdaeng
@Stuart,
Don’t worry about the CP’s shortcoming. The fact that his wife Srirasmi will become the next Queen if he is crowned as King is more than enough to support the CP as the next Monarch. Srirasmi is beautiful and she will become the most beautiful Queen in the world once she is crowned. Thais will be proud to have the most beautiful Queen in the world.
Diplomatic movements in Canberra
The mention of espionage by Michael makes me wonder where Thailand might stand vis-a-vis China and the USA? The espionage position in Australia becomes more important with recent talk (ABC Insiders TV show) that the USA has a new plan to make war on China with Australia to play a key role.
The princess and the FROC
While there are folk donating time and money to helping flood victims and gaining “merit” a group of Buddhists in ChiangMai this weekend decided to look the other way. Instead of sending supplies to Siam they organised to buy fish to free in a dirty local klong, already brimming with fish escaped during the October flood, bread to feed them, lunch for 500 villagers and presents for chanting monks. Total budget coming to 115,000 baht:
http://ourchiangmai.com/blog/2011/10/28/%E0%B9%82%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%88%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%94%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%88%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%A3%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%87/
Gives the details in Thai with some comments in Thai and English.
Negotiating the flood
It’s a shame that flood diversion techniques are not a cooperative effort between communities and authority; from our standpoint, the longer a flood situation lasts, the larger its impact will be on economic output and local production. Working with all parties and communities to fairly and swiftly improve conditions where they are bad, and prevent the deterioration of conditions across the board, Thailand can mitigate the blow to its output — supply for agricultural goods, automobiles, and consumer electronics are all projected to be negatively impacted through the first quarter of 2012. You can’t rob Peter to pay Paul, of course, and there is never going to be a solution that equally benefits everyone — water has to go somewhere. But a joint effort at least makes people feel more positive about mitigation.