р╕Фр╕г.р╕ир╕гр╕╡р╕кр╕бр╕ар╕Ю р╕Ир╕┤р╕Хр╕гр╣Мр╕ар╕┤р╕гр╕бр╕вр╣Мр╕ир╕гр╕╡ was referred to by two of the panelist.
Here is his recent radio interview on Thai politics. (in Thai)
Not a word about the cooperation between Royal Thai Army and the Royal Thai Sangha in the South.
It is never explicitly reported but after years of following the violence in the South it eventually becomes apparent that the Royal Thai Army operates out of many of the Royal Thai Sangha’s wats in the South. Malay Muslims have been tortured to death in the Royal Thai Sangha’s wats in the South. Leaving aside the absurd contradiction between the Royal Thai Sangha’s acquiescence to the stationing of soldiers in its wats and the violence that subsequently routinely takes place within its wats and its professions of Buddhism devotion and belief, this is stupidly unconscious from the political point of view on the part of what is, in fact, a profoundy political ‘religious’ organization.
I’m sure the Malay Muslims of the South of Thailand are intensely aware of the intimate ties between these two arms of the Royal Thai Government arrayed against them.
I cannot imagine any ‘solution’ to the ‘troubles’ in the South, other than perhaps ethnic cleansing or genocide a la Israel/Palestine, unless and until power is decentralized in all of Thailand and therefore in the South as well, the Royal Thai Army and Royal Thai Sangha are relieved of control, and the people who live in the region are allowed to solve their own problems.
The talking part is over. There is a story there. Perhaps even a movie, but it would have to be a comedy…dramatic comedy. It would show the truly farcical side of the internet. A venue where one can intervene w/ heroic intentions, but the downside is slippery. There appears to be a lapse between intent and action. The principles in this high drama have more or less achieved their aim. In their worlds they get to march onto the battle field in full regalia to live out some heroic myth…an unfulfilled dream now brought to life in cyberspace. OK guys. Saddle up. Let’s go see if their breath smells like rice. Shoot-em-up bang bang. We will get to hide out in the trees w/ mosquitoes pumping malaria into us. We can pass out halizone tablets to the refugees because the wells have been poisoned. Kill a Commie for mommy. And then, of course, when this farce is played out all the heroes get to bask in their glory with faces lit from the screens of their computers.
When I worked in Johor Bahru, the capital of Johor state, in 1999 Malaysians from Kuala Lumpur would take me aside where they thought no-one could overhear them, and solemnly state “The sultan of Johor is head of the Mafia in Malaysia”. Certainly counterfeit goods including “sex DVD” were much more widely available in some of the Johor shopping malls than in KL and many from the capital believed that the sultan had done a deal with the government across the Causeway – he would allow Singapore’s red light district to be based in Johor, in return he would keep Johor’s criminals out of Singapore.
For me, it wasn’t that it lacked bite so much as it wasn’t about ‘nation’. Nation is all about identity, territory, imagined communties, hegemony, power relations and the like. It is about the attempts to maintain the mythic narratives that hold a people together (or don’t as the case may be). And yet this whole episode was about contemporary economy, led off by the very staid remarks of Pasuk who elsewhere has delivered far more interesting material. My problem with it was that it served to reify the state and the economy as the be all and end all of nation and society. This all seems a thoroughly instrumentalised, bureaucratic way of seeing the world. Yes, policy and the state are important, but ideas of the ‘nation’ go far beyond this narrow (and frankly dull) scope. Yes people’s lives are impacted by state and policy, but if you asked most people what matters to them in life, these things would be pretty far down the list. My concern is that the social sciences has become just another servant of a certain way of thinking (dominated by the state and an instrumental view of the world) rather than opening all kinds of imaginative possibilities for thinking about the world and the ‘nation’ within it.
The SPDC losses are believable. Conscripts in the SPDC are poorly trained, poorly equipped, and poorly led.
I’ve spoken to many KA and KNLA soldiers who told me that the SPDC conscripts were a sorry bunch, with the exception of their artillery and mortar units, who are rated as very good.
Insofar as repatriating their dead to the families – rarely happens.
An officer in the Karenni Army related to me that after an attack on his compound was repulsed with heavy SPDC casualties, the dead were left to rot where they lay. He stated that it stunk for weeks.
In battle, the Kachins, Karen and Karenni have home court advantage. Additionally, their morale is much, much higher, as they’re fighting for their homes and way of life.
The average SPDC conscript doesn’t have the foggiest idea as to what he’s fighting for.
“…Pakatan Rakyat (PR), is a political coalition, consisting of the Democratic Action Party (DAP), Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and the Pan-Malaysia Islamic Party (PAS). With the exception of PAS, the DAP and PKR parties have initiated a one-youth-wing strategy, to give an equal platform for both young men and women members to excel. However, based on existing literature, such a novel structural
change is merely one of several underlying factors that impinge
upon men and women’s participation, as political party members. Nonetheless, PR’s new initiative, gives us an opportunity to document and study the experiences of these members, within these new youth wings.
The analysis showed that a mere structural change of the PR
party is not sufficient to encourage women to be active as
political members….”
Remember the would be Prime Minister Mr. Ruler Purachai who failed to get the job but did gain a seat in parliament?
He calims to be a strong believer in justice and abiding by the law. What ever one thinks of the Lese Majeste law the process of trial for those accused with a long wait before appearing in court, a secret trial and no hope of bail is patently unjust.
Perhaps Mr Purachai MP can be prevailed upon to raise this matter in parliament?
The reveloution is near.. tens of thousands are poised to strike nation wide within months. The time for talk has passed. In retrospect, none could talk to Hitler, Mao or Stalin. The same goes for the illegal military junta. This fight will go national…none are safe.
Since Joe Gordon’s “crime” is posting a link to a Yale University Press book, a book which to this day is still available from Yale University Press, it seems to me that in the interest of consistency and thoroughness, all graduates of Yale University residing in Thailand should be arrested and charged by association with defaming the monarchy.
And since Google search engine continiues to provide 100,000+ links to the book in question, all person residing in Thailand who use and support Google should also be arrested and charged.
Only then will Thailand and the universally revered Thai monarchy be safe.
A very good and thoughtful analysis, based on the data collected – while the amount of data collected was probably similar, this paper is so much superior to that of the so-called ‘expert’ Abuza. And some of the key findings are at odds with his as well..Abuza’s speculations lead one to believe the insurgency will continue as is and neither side will win; this study leads one to believe its entirely possible for the separatists to eventually get their way. I find it alarming that National Defense University would actually base its understanding of the situation on Abuza’s pseudo-research from interviews and his wild speculations . Oh wait, I guess we’re talking about the USA here – where every joker with any kind of degree who goes on TV or writes to the public is labeled an ‘expert.’ And Witness buddy – what’s your affiliation with the DoD?
Joe Gordon’s lawyer, khun Anon Nampha, just told me that his latest attempt to get bail for Joe (the sixth or seventh time, if I remember correctly), was rejected by the Court this afternoon.
I understand that this is the last time Joe and his lawyer are asking for bail, as it’s obvious that there is no use.
I personally suspect that Joe may have no other choice but to take the degrading “option” of “confessing” and then to ask for royal pardon. Otherwise, he could be in jail probably up to a year during his trial with the likelihood of conviction and long-term jail sentence.
Of course, even if he does “confess”, there’s no absolute guarantee of pardon. But in his case, as an American (perhaps now with some “help” from the embassy?), he at least has a better chance of “early” freedom, than continuing with the trial.
Hi Aaaron, in realtion to “diverse sources of power”. Even under Thaksin, the vast Thai bureaucracy was full of all sorts of opportunities for support. Some of Thaksin’s programs were delivered pretty much direct but that certainly did not eliminate other parts of the bureaucracy, especially local government, from the picture. And there are many sources of power that lie outside the bureaucracy – private companies involved in agricultural contracting, traders, politicians from various parties, spirits, sacred objects, picture of the royal family, tattoos and even visiting anthropologists. Thaksin was important, but his networks of power certainly did not displace other networks of power and auspiciousness. AW
Rumours that Malaysia’s 13th general elections will be called “soon” has been spreading since 2010. Its a strategy that the government uses to keep the opposition in a perpetual back foot. However, the crescendo is now increasing as reported by Reuters.
A recent slew of populist measures has strengthened expectations that Malaysian Prime Minister Najib could call a snap election within the next 6 months, as he seeks a mandate to execute economic reforms and strengthen his grip on power.
David W, Thailand makes me feel warm and fuzzy, much like this vodcast. I hoped there was going to be more about fascism. Given Walker was wearing a suit AND A RED TIE!!, I thought it was going to be very serious. Though after watching, I see it could have been very serious in the way that luke warm is actually very disturbing. Bubbles began to surface when Walker was talking about regarding the next Monarch, but mostly the water was kept tepid. Hope the next vodcast will bubble violently, but I suspect it will be salutory. Not ‘Religion: golden or urinal cake?’, but something about the monks’ crucial role in politics. Political Buddhism, like Political Islam. In any case, I will look forward to the next installment of ‘Dusit at dusk’.
I just had the chance to read your paper from the ISEAS conference. There is one thing I don’t quite understand: you write that the new stratum of political peasants is trying to tap into diverse sources of power. At the same time Thaksin is credited with having initiated this shift in peasant strategy.
Thaksin’s rural projects effectively bypassed other sources of power (esp. local government officials). Staff closely associated with the PM delivered these programs. So, what sources of power are responsive to peasants’ demands apart from those close to the Thaksin government? Do you have some examples for this?
Was struck that the commentary was more about economy (and some politics) than “nation” per se. Given that the cue for the series is the 3 markers of Thai official nationalism, I rather expected this vod/podcast to be about nationalism and citizenship. Certainly there is plenty to discuss on these topics given recent developments.
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Nation, Religion, King – Episode 2
р╕Фр╕г.р╕ир╕гр╕╡р╕кр╕бр╕ар╕Ю р╕Ир╕┤р╕Хр╕гр╣Мр╕ар╕┤р╕гр╕бр╕вр╣Мр╕ир╕гр╕╡ was referred to by two of the panelist.
Here is his recent radio interview on Thai politics. (in Thai)
http://soundcloud.com/senthang67/54-1
Nation, Religion, King – Episode 2
Not a word about the cooperation between Royal Thai Army and the Royal Thai Sangha in the South.
It is never explicitly reported but after years of following the violence in the South it eventually becomes apparent that the Royal Thai Army operates out of many of the Royal Thai Sangha’s wats in the South. Malay Muslims have been tortured to death in the Royal Thai Sangha’s wats in the South. Leaving aside the absurd contradiction between the Royal Thai Sangha’s acquiescence to the stationing of soldiers in its wats and the violence that subsequently routinely takes place within its wats and its professions of Buddhism devotion and belief, this is stupidly unconscious from the political point of view on the part of what is, in fact, a profoundy political ‘religious’ organization.
I’m sure the Malay Muslims of the South of Thailand are intensely aware of the intimate ties between these two arms of the Royal Thai Government arrayed against them.
I cannot imagine any ‘solution’ to the ‘troubles’ in the South, other than perhaps ethnic cleansing or genocide a la Israel/Palestine, unless and until power is decentralized in all of Thailand and therefore in the South as well, the Royal Thai Army and Royal Thai Sangha are relieved of control, and the people who live in the region are allowed to solve their own problems.
Nation, Religion, King – Episode 2
The first one sounded optimistic. This one is instead pessimistic.
I cannot wait to see the last one. I guess it must be really controversial.
The Republic of Kawthoolei and Thomas Bleming
The talking part is over. There is a story there. Perhaps even a movie, but it would have to be a comedy…dramatic comedy. It would show the truly farcical side of the internet. A venue where one can intervene w/ heroic intentions, but the downside is slippery. There appears to be a lapse between intent and action. The principles in this high drama have more or less achieved their aim. In their worlds they get to march onto the battle field in full regalia to live out some heroic myth…an unfulfilled dream now brought to life in cyberspace. OK guys. Saddle up. Let’s go see if their breath smells like rice. Shoot-em-up bang bang. We will get to hide out in the trees w/ mosquitoes pumping malaria into us. We can pass out halizone tablets to the refugees because the wells have been poisoned. Kill a Commie for mommy. And then, of course, when this farce is played out all the heroes get to bask in their glory with faces lit from the screens of their computers.
Sultan of Johor
When I worked in Johor Bahru, the capital of Johor state, in 1999 Malaysians from Kuala Lumpur would take me aside where they thought no-one could overhear them, and solemnly state “The sultan of Johor is head of the Mafia in Malaysia”. Certainly counterfeit goods including “sex DVD” were much more widely available in some of the Johor shopping malls than in KL and many from the capital believed that the sultan had done a deal with the government across the Causeway – he would allow Singapore’s red light district to be based in Johor, in return he would keep Johor’s criminals out of Singapore.
Nation, Religion, King – Episode 1
For me, it wasn’t that it lacked bite so much as it wasn’t about ‘nation’. Nation is all about identity, territory, imagined communties, hegemony, power relations and the like. It is about the attempts to maintain the mythic narratives that hold a people together (or don’t as the case may be). And yet this whole episode was about contemporary economy, led off by the very staid remarks of Pasuk who elsewhere has delivered far more interesting material. My problem with it was that it served to reify the state and the economy as the be all and end all of nation and society. This all seems a thoroughly instrumentalised, bureaucratic way of seeing the world. Yes, policy and the state are important, but ideas of the ‘nation’ go far beyond this narrow (and frankly dull) scope. Yes people’s lives are impacted by state and policy, but if you asked most people what matters to them in life, these things would be pretty far down the list. My concern is that the social sciences has become just another servant of a certain way of thinking (dominated by the state and an instrumental view of the world) rather than opening all kinds of imaginative possibilities for thinking about the world and the ‘nation’ within it.
Look forward to episode 2
One observation, ten questions and much to ponder about the new Kachin war
The SPDC losses are believable. Conscripts in the SPDC are poorly trained, poorly equipped, and poorly led.
I’ve spoken to many KA and KNLA soldiers who told me that the SPDC conscripts were a sorry bunch, with the exception of their artillery and mortar units, who are rated as very good.
Insofar as repatriating their dead to the families – rarely happens.
An officer in the Karenni Army related to me that after an attack on his compound was repulsed with heavy SPDC casualties, the dead were left to rot where they lay. He stated that it stunk for weeks.
In battle, the Kachins, Karen and Karenni have home court advantage. Additionally, their morale is much, much higher, as they’re fighting for their homes and way of life.
The average SPDC conscript doesn’t have the foggiest idea as to what he’s fighting for.
Malaysian youth roles and responsibilities
Extract from, “Young people’s perceptions of roles and responsibilities as political party members in Malaysia – an exploratory analysis“, Teo Sue Ann and Rashidah Shuib, University Sains Malaysia.
FACT’s plea for Joe Gordon
Remember the would be Prime Minister Mr. Ruler Purachai who failed to get the job but did gain a seat in parliament?
He calims to be a strong believer in justice and abiding by the law. What ever one thinks of the Lese Majeste law the process of trial for those accused with a long wait before appearing in court, a secret trial and no hope of bail is patently unjust.
Perhaps Mr Purachai MP can be prevailed upon to raise this matter in parliament?
The Republic of Kawthoolei and Thomas Bleming
Tom Bleming, is that you?
The Republic of Kawthoolei and Thomas Bleming
The reveloution is near.. tens of thousands are poised to strike nation wide within months. The time for talk has passed. In retrospect, none could talk to Hitler, Mao or Stalin. The same goes for the illegal military junta. This fight will go national…none are safe.
FACT’s plea for Joe Gordon
Since Joe Gordon’s “crime” is posting a link to a Yale University Press book, a book which to this day is still available from Yale University Press, it seems to me that in the interest of consistency and thoroughness, all graduates of Yale University residing in Thailand should be arrested and charged by association with defaming the monarchy.
And since Google search engine continiues to provide 100,000+ links to the book in question, all person residing in Thailand who use and support Google should also be arrested and charged.
Only then will Thailand and the universally revered Thai monarchy be safe.
Anatomy of southern Thailand’s insurgency: Some preliminary insights
A very good and thoughtful analysis, based on the data collected – while the amount of data collected was probably similar, this paper is so much superior to that of the so-called ‘expert’ Abuza. And some of the key findings are at odds with his as well..Abuza’s speculations lead one to believe the insurgency will continue as is and neither side will win; this study leads one to believe its entirely possible for the separatists to eventually get their way. I find it alarming that National Defense University would actually base its understanding of the situation on Abuza’s pseudo-research from interviews and his wild speculations . Oh wait, I guess we’re talking about the USA here – where every joker with any kind of degree who goes on TV or writes to the public is labeled an ‘expert.’ And Witness buddy – what’s your affiliation with the DoD?
FACT’s plea for Joe Gordon
UPDATE:
Joe Gordon’s lawyer, khun Anon Nampha, just told me that his latest attempt to get bail for Joe (the sixth or seventh time, if I remember correctly), was rejected by the Court this afternoon.
I understand that this is the last time Joe and his lawyer are asking for bail, as it’s obvious that there is no use.
I personally suspect that Joe may have no other choice but to take the degrading “option” of “confessing” and then to ask for royal pardon. Otherwise, he could be in jail probably up to a year during his trial with the likelihood of conviction and long-term jail sentence.
Of course, even if he does “confess”, there’s no absolute guarantee of pardon. But in his case, as an American (perhaps now with some “help” from the embassy?), he at least has a better chance of “early” freedom, than continuing with the trial.
The straw man critique of neoliberalism in Cambodia
Readers following this debate may be interested in this article, which is another vigorous defence by Simon Springer of his work: http://www.newmandala.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Springer.pdf
The coup: five years on
Hi Aaaron, in realtion to “diverse sources of power”. Even under Thaksin, the vast Thai bureaucracy was full of all sorts of opportunities for support. Some of Thaksin’s programs were delivered pretty much direct but that certainly did not eliminate other parts of the bureaucracy, especially local government, from the picture. And there are many sources of power that lie outside the bureaucracy – private companies involved in agricultural contracting, traders, politicians from various parties, spirits, sacred objects, picture of the royal family, tattoos and even visiting anthropologists. Thaksin was important, but his networks of power certainly did not displace other networks of power and auspiciousness. AW
The 13th General Election in Malaysia
Rumours that Malaysia’s 13th general elections will be called “soon” has been spreading since 2010. Its a strategy that the government uses to keep the opposition in a perpetual back foot. However, the crescendo is now increasing as reported by Reuters.
Nation, Religion, King – Episode 1
David W, Thailand makes me feel warm and fuzzy, much like this vodcast. I hoped there was going to be more about fascism. Given Walker was wearing a suit AND A RED TIE!!, I thought it was going to be very serious. Though after watching, I see it could have been very serious in the way that luke warm is actually very disturbing. Bubbles began to surface when Walker was talking about regarding the next Monarch, but mostly the water was kept tepid. Hope the next vodcast will bubble violently, but I suspect it will be salutory. Not ‘Religion: golden or urinal cake?’, but something about the monks’ crucial role in politics. Political Buddhism, like Political Islam. In any case, I will look forward to the next installment of ‘Dusit at dusk’.
Sabai sabai!
The coup: five years on
Dear Andrew,
I just had the chance to read your paper from the ISEAS conference. There is one thing I don’t quite understand: you write that the new stratum of political peasants is trying to tap into diverse sources of power. At the same time Thaksin is credited with having initiated this shift in peasant strategy.
Thaksin’s rural projects effectively bypassed other sources of power (esp. local government officials). Staff closely associated with the PM delivered these programs. So, what sources of power are responsive to peasants’ demands apart from those close to the Thaksin government? Do you have some examples for this?
Nation, Religion, King – Episode 1
Was struck that the commentary was more about economy (and some politics) than “nation” per se. Given that the cue for the series is the 3 markers of Thai official nationalism, I rather expected this vod/podcast to be about nationalism and citizenship. Certainly there is plenty to discuss on these topics given recent developments.