Makes you wonder if the govt regards this like freeing fish into a pond/river or caged birds in order to gain merit to atone for their sins and improve their karma in addition to yadaya to ward off ill fortune periodically.
Some of the ‘multicoloured insurgents’ were the first to ‘enter the light into the legal fold’ taking up Prime Minister U Nu’s “arms for democracy” offer of 1955. In 1980 U Nu was himself one of the people who took advantage of the amnesty to return home after winding down his failed Thailand based ‘revolutionary’ activities against Ne Win who ousted him in a military coup in 1962 and imprisoned him for four years.
Denial of the existence of prisoners of conscience however is a more recent phenomenon as the use of Section 5 to incarcerate political activists charged with sedition and treason has gone into disfavour. Instead the regime has introduced criminalisation by new legislation on electronic media and so forth. Besides the overwhelming majority of prisoners who benefited from the amnesties in the military era have been real criminals. The coup in 1988 during the popular uprising was staged on the grounds of anarchy and chaos deliberately heightened by the authorities releasing hundreds of hardened criminals from prison into the neighbourhoods of Rangoon to do their bidding.
The latest one included among over 6,000 released dozens of political prisoners such as the famous dentist turned comedian and defiant political activist Zarganar and also Su Su Nway, but the 88 generation student leaders such as Min Ko Naing, Ko Ko Gyi, Htay Kywe, Jimmy & Nilar Thein, Mie Mie etc. , the prominent leader of the Saffron Revolution Ashin Gambira, and ethnic leader Hkun Htun Oo are all conspicuous by their absence. The newly democratic govt either feels it is too risky to release these prisoners of conscience or is engaging in some haggling with the international community for the lifting of the sanctions and the Chair of ASEAN as a quid pro quo.
The people on their part have got used to this cat and mouse game, and reconciled with the amnesty lottery as far as their loved ones in jail are concerned.
This latest clip may further infuriate Vichai/Col. Jeru as Bob Amsterdam openly talked about Thaksin and the Democrat Party. You will also notice the two ladies’ reactions to Bob’s views:
You can’t/wont comment on the content, and instead give suggestions on the lighting?
I’m sure the people working on the vodcasts appreciate your practical, constructive criticism, but don’t you think that it may be quite possible that what the panel was talking about is more important than the poor lighting of the vodcast?
I find New Mandala to be a fountain of immense knowledge, debate and wisdom, and yet your comment leaves me cold.
You “can’t/wont” comment on the content after watching all three episodes, but you have lighting tips. Jeez… Well, seeing as the issues discussed in this third vodcast are possibly some of the most vital and fundamental issues facing Thai politics, society and the very make up of the Thai nation, I think that maybe your “can’t/wont” comment stance is a sort of cop-out, and your professional advice – which is indeed correct – is ludicrous in context.
First old flags and now the lighting? How many of us are left that actually want to discuss the issues raised by this very insightful, informed and forthright vodcast?
For those that don’t remember, it was about the king.
These are all great questions that it would be great to get hard numerical answers to, but honestly I think you also need a concise and accurate economics model of the mechanics behind the policy and how it would play out under various price movement scenarios. Otherwise, it could just end up that they effectively gambled on a price rise and won, which says nothing about how good a policy it is.
What I am especially looking forward to, is if you uncover some data sources that would allow rigorous, rather than politically motivated claims to be made about the system. 1. “experts” are continually making claims that are not backed up with data (at least they don’t cite the data) and 2. the whole process stretching from buying to selling the rice stretches over such a long period, net loss or gain within even one fiscal year does not seem to be very meaningful.
Anyway, given the political importance of this topic, I can hardly think of a better topic for a non-politically motivated rigorous research project ๐
From an apolitical perspective it hardly seems unreasonable to nullify the actions of a military that illegally overthrows an elected government and then sets about changing the constitution and laws to purely benefit itself and its supporters.
There again rulers elected or otherwise are also not adverse to going against the will of the public to secure the benefits for their stakeholder/financial backers. Just look at the fraudulent Wall Street bankster bailout and the socialist Australian Carbon Tax (yes both sides of politics are as bad), they were pushed through against majority public opinion as our so called leaders thought they knew better than the uneducated swill. Representative government is an illusion, at least a military dictatorship is exactly what it appears to be.
Watched V for Vendetta again last night, great and topical movie. Hugo Weaving was brilliant.
I’ve no idea of the connection unless perhaps sacred geometry but the first thing that appeared on a DMT trip was a mandela of the most intensely indescribably colour. I didn’t even know what the shape was despite reading this blog for quite some time and I had to do a little research to find out.
re. my last point: I’d be interested to know why they did nothing. It seems extremely sinister to me. After all, it was pretty clear they didn’t stand much chance of getting in.
As a non-Thai, who is extremely concerned with the floods & also “cares for” what Amsterdam says, I have to agree with Tom Hoy. Vichai/Colonel Jeru (I seem to remember that he’s been ‘outed’ as a non-Thai) seems to think that Thai people are obsessive & have one-track minds. I think he should stop judging others by his own very low standard of intellect, & get out amongst the people more. While Amsterdam’s speech is a very clever piece of rhetoric, given his audience (well, he IS a lawyer), I can’t fault it. He tells the truth regarding the ‘Democrats’ & their controllers (the army), about Suthep, & about who gave the orders for the massacre. We all knew this already. If Vichai N wants to carry on about the floods, let him blast the Democrat (not) govt for not listening to their ‘experts’, and doing something to avert the disaster when they could have.
Readers might note that the little discussion of boats/turbines and racing water to the sea here at NM has now become a much bigger debate, with yellow shirts screaming that a government claim that the idea was its own is now lambasted as somehow damaging to the king as it was his idea. I’m still not at all convinced (1) the idea works; and (2) that it is the king’s. Any more ideas on this?
My favorite ep so far; I found it quite interesting. I wont/can’t comment on the content but having watched all 3 eps now, I just have a couple suggestions production-wise (being fully appreciative of the amount of time and effort that must have gone into making these vodcasts).
1) The audio needs to be normalized post-production or the mic placement rearranged – some of the panelists are rather hard to hear.
2) Lighting should be adjusted – Nich, you look quite sallow compared to your guests on this last ep especially.
Just some constructive criticism from someone who previously worked in audio/video.
I had to go there on the opening and that place is a psychedelic nightmare, combining the wonderful consumerism of a mall and the agoraphobic atmosphere of an airport, something we already have in BKK – Suwannabhumi. Not enough Xanax in the world will bring me back. I just hope some developer finally razes Lumpini Park to build an equally superfluous, ill-thought out themed shopping complex.
Even the worst places in Bangkok have superior food to the “crap”served up in places like Canberra. Not only is most of it extremely bland but also over-priced and I am damned sure the benefits don’t accrue to most of those who produce the food. Apart from the crappy weather than one experiences in Canberra and probably the pathetically medicocre intleectual life – well there might be some exceptions to the ruke – I am not sure what a place like Canberra has to offer…
Most likely, Charles F. It’s an alternative to an eye for an eye or turning the other cheek, choose what you will. We all need to live in this land peacefully together.
Do not for a moment think Burmese of any political colour, civilian or military, present and future, will find the break up of the union acceptable.
Time a union of the willing replaced a union by coercion.
“Libertรฉ, Egalitรฉ, Fraternitรฉ”.
Facebook 
Twitter 
Soundcloud 
Youtube 
Rss
Burma amnesties
Makes you wonder if the govt regards this like freeing fish into a pond/river or caged birds in order to gain merit to atone for their sins and improve their karma in addition to yadaya to ward off ill fortune periodically.
Some of the ‘multicoloured insurgents’ were the first to ‘enter the light into the legal fold’ taking up Prime Minister U Nu’s “arms for democracy” offer of 1955. In 1980 U Nu was himself one of the people who took advantage of the amnesty to return home after winding down his failed Thailand based ‘revolutionary’ activities against Ne Win who ousted him in a military coup in 1962 and imprisoned him for four years.
Denial of the existence of prisoners of conscience however is a more recent phenomenon as the use of Section 5 to incarcerate political activists charged with sedition and treason has gone into disfavour. Instead the regime has introduced criminalisation by new legislation on electronic media and so forth. Besides the overwhelming majority of prisoners who benefited from the amnesties in the military era have been real criminals. The coup in 1988 during the popular uprising was staged on the grounds of anarchy and chaos deliberately heightened by the authorities releasing hundreds of hardened criminals from prison into the neighbourhoods of Rangoon to do their bidding.
The latest one included among over 6,000 released dozens of political prisoners such as the famous dentist turned comedian and defiant political activist Zarganar and also Su Su Nway, but the 88 generation student leaders such as Min Ko Naing, Ko Ko Gyi, Htay Kywe, Jimmy & Nilar Thein, Mie Mie etc. , the prominent leader of the Saffron Revolution Ashin Gambira, and ethnic leader Hkun Htun Oo are all conspicuous by their absence. The newly democratic govt either feels it is too risky to release these prisoners of conscience or is engaging in some haggling with the international community for the lifting of the sanctions and the Chair of ASEAN as a quid pro quo.
The people on their part have got used to this cat and mouse game, and reconciled with the amnesty lottery as far as their loved ones in jail are concerned.
Amsterdam in Bangkok
This latest clip may further infuriate Vichai/Col. Jeru as Bob Amsterdam openly talked about Thaksin and the Democrat Party. You will also notice the two ladies’ reactions to Bob’s views:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dn_Wp4sKMA&feature=player_embedded#!
Nation, Religion, King – Episode 3
Ricardo Duke,
You can’t/wont comment on the content, and instead give suggestions on the lighting?
I’m sure the people working on the vodcasts appreciate your practical, constructive criticism, but don’t you think that it may be quite possible that what the panel was talking about is more important than the poor lighting of the vodcast?
I find New Mandala to be a fountain of immense knowledge, debate and wisdom, and yet your comment leaves me cold.
You “can’t/wont” comment on the content after watching all three episodes, but you have lighting tips. Jeez… Well, seeing as the issues discussed in this third vodcast are possibly some of the most vital and fundamental issues facing Thai politics, society and the very make up of the Thai nation, I think that maybe your “can’t/wont” comment stance is a sort of cop-out, and your professional advice – which is indeed correct – is ludicrous in context.
First old flags and now the lighting? How many of us are left that actually want to discuss the issues raised by this very insightful, informed and forthright vodcast?
For those that don’t remember, it was about the king.
Discuss.
Rice mortgage scheme underway
These are all great questions that it would be great to get hard numerical answers to, but honestly I think you also need a concise and accurate economics model of the mechanics behind the policy and how it would play out under various price movement scenarios. Otherwise, it could just end up that they effectively gambled on a price rise and won, which says nothing about how good a policy it is.
What I am especially looking forward to, is if you uncover some data sources that would allow rigorous, rather than politically motivated claims to be made about the system. 1. “experts” are continually making claims that are not backed up with data (at least they don’t cite the data) and 2. the whole process stretching from buying to selling the rice stretches over such a long period, net loss or gain within even one fiscal year does not seem to be very meaningful.
Anyway, given the political importance of this topic, I can hardly think of a better topic for a non-politically motivated rigorous research project ๐
Nitirat: monarchy, constitution and democracy
From an apolitical perspective it hardly seems unreasonable to nullify the actions of a military that illegally overthrows an elected government and then sets about changing the constitution and laws to purely benefit itself and its supporters.
There again rulers elected or otherwise are also not adverse to going against the will of the public to secure the benefits for their stakeholder/financial backers. Just look at the fraudulent Wall Street bankster bailout and the socialist Australian Carbon Tax (yes both sides of politics are as bad), they were pushed through against majority public opinion as our so called leaders thought they knew better than the uneducated swill. Representative government is an illusion, at least a military dictatorship is exactly what it appears to be.
Watched V for Vendetta again last night, great and topical movie. Hugo Weaving was brilliant.
Floods, hacks and the Nitirat effect
JohnWin: my point at 15 is precisely that it is being used…
Nitirat: monarchy, constitution and democracy
Thanks very much for this summary. The group comprises (in Thai):
ัโะทัโะณัโฃะัโะัโะฅัโะฉัโฃะ ัโะฐัโโัโะัโโกัโะณัโโัโะฅัโะฉัโฃะ ัโะัโโัโะฉัโะงัโะัโโคัโะณัโโ ัโฃะัโะฝัโโกัโฃะัโะฒัโะฑัโะฑัโะฒัโโัโะณัโโ ัโะ ัโโัโะซัโะฉัโโัโะฉัโะงัโฃะ ัโะฉัโโคัโะฎัโโคัโะัโะ ัโะัโโัโะต ัโะจัโโกัโะณัโโ ัโะบัโโัโะจัโโกัโะทัโะณัโโัโะัโะัโโฃัโะณ
ัโะบัโโัโะทัโะฅัโะณัโโก ัโะบัโโัโะัโะธัโะณัโโก ัโะซัโโคัโะฒัโะชัโโัโะฅัโะณ ัโฃะัโะบัโะัโะัโะฉัโะัโะัโโัโะต ัโะซัโโฃัโะฉัโฃะัโะงัโะฎ ัโะธัโโคัโะณัโโคัโะฉัโโัโะฎัโะัโะธัโฃะ
The emphemeral mandala
I’ve no idea of the connection unless perhaps sacred geometry but the first thing that appeared on a DMT trip was a mandela of the most intensely indescribably colour. I didn’t even know what the shape was despite reading this blog for quite some time and I had to do a little research to find out.
Floods, hacks and the Nitirat effect
Ralph Kramden
It’s Thailand. The truth or falsehood of either claim is irrelevant. It’s just a matter of waiting to see how they will be used.
Glittering amidst the crisis
Why the sudden Canberra bashing? Did I miss something?
Amsterdam in Bangkok
re. my last point: I’d be interested to know why they did nothing. It seems extremely sinister to me. After all, it was pretty clear they didn’t stand much chance of getting in.
Amsterdam in Bangkok
As a non-Thai, who is extremely concerned with the floods & also “cares for” what Amsterdam says, I have to agree with Tom Hoy. Vichai/Colonel Jeru (I seem to remember that he’s been ‘outed’ as a non-Thai) seems to think that Thai people are obsessive & have one-track minds. I think he should stop judging others by his own very low standard of intellect, & get out amongst the people more. While Amsterdam’s speech is a very clever piece of rhetoric, given his audience (well, he IS a lawyer), I can’t fault it. He tells the truth regarding the ‘Democrats’ & their controllers (the army), about Suthep, & about who gave the orders for the massacre. We all knew this already. If Vichai N wants to carry on about the floods, let him blast the Democrat (not) govt for not listening to their ‘experts’, and doing something to avert the disaster when they could have.
Rice mortgage scheme underway
And how will it effect it’s neighbours, Laos and Cambodia, both of which form part of Thailands internal rice supply system …
Floods, hacks and the Nitirat effect
Readers might note that the little discussion of boats/turbines and racing water to the sea here at NM has now become a much bigger debate, with yellow shirts screaming that a government claim that the idea was its own is now lambasted as somehow damaging to the king as it was his idea. I’m still not at all convinced (1) the idea works; and (2) that it is the king’s. Any more ideas on this?
Nation, Religion, King – Episode 3
My favorite ep so far; I found it quite interesting. I wont/can’t comment on the content but having watched all 3 eps now, I just have a couple suggestions production-wise (being fully appreciative of the amount of time and effort that must have gone into making these vodcasts).
1) The audio needs to be normalized post-production or the mic placement rearranged – some of the panelists are rather hard to hear.
2) Lighting should be adjusted – Nich, you look quite sallow compared to your guests on this last ep especially.
Just some constructive criticism from someone who previously worked in audio/video.
Many thanks to all involved.
-R
Amsterdam in Bangkok
Nganadeleeg
I’m just taking Vichai at his word. he says he’s Thai so I’m happy to accept that.
Glittering amidst the crisis
I had to go there on the opening and that place is a psychedelic nightmare, combining the wonderful consumerism of a mall and the agoraphobic atmosphere of an airport, something we already have in BKK – Suwannabhumi. Not enough Xanax in the world will bring me back. I just hope some developer finally razes Lumpini Park to build an equally superfluous, ill-thought out themed shopping complex.
-R
Glittering amidst the crisis
Jatuporn, Arisman….where are you? Your silence is deafening.
Glittering amidst the crisis
Even the worst places in Bangkok have superior food to the “crap”served up in places like Canberra. Not only is most of it extremely bland but also over-priced and I am damned sure the benefits don’t accrue to most of those who produce the food. Apart from the crappy weather than one experiences in Canberra and probably the pathetically medicocre intleectual life – well there might be some exceptions to the ruke – I am not sure what a place like Canberra has to offer…
One observation, ten questions and much to ponder about the new Kachin war
Most likely, Charles F. It’s an alternative to an eye for an eye or turning the other cheek, choose what you will. We all need to live in this land peacefully together.
Do not for a moment think Burmese of any political colour, civilian or military, present and future, will find the break up of the union acceptable.
Time a union of the willing replaced a union by coercion.
“Libertรฉ, Egalitรฉ, Fraternitรฉ”.