It is often said that the Tories in Britain sometimes deliberately lose elections when times are bad, in the knowledge that Labour – misguidedly trusted by the working class – can wield the big stick more effectively.
Maybe cunning ruling class ploys are not restricted to Britain.
Fascinating deconstruction. I’m also wondering if there is any relevance to meditation practice, or whether the main point concerns a ‘proof’ of anatta. I’m picturing the atman-notion being pricked by the image of the atman leaving the corpse by way of a fart, or at least the noxious gasses that depart the corpse.
I’m not getting the impression here in Singapore that the rank and file of the government service here is mostly Malay and Indian. Actually, the remuneration for an upper second-class honors degree for the government is higher than what you would get compared to the private sector. I am not comfortable with the racialization of the governments either way, as “ketuanan melayu” to me has never meant ethnic domination of government but of politics. Should you accuse the government of such in Singapore, be prepared!
I also don’t think it’s possible that all political parties will be prepared to eliminate corruption. It’s more likely that one or more parties will make some promises to do so. Half of them will be fulfilled, and another half will only properly enforced. The next party then criticises the last for not doing everything they set out to do and makes promises to do better. They might get into power. They fulfil some of them, and ad infinitum. This will be a long, drawn-out war, winning each precious foot of integrity and accountability bit by bit. But is there a democratic polity that is able and willing to keep tally of the records? Are they responsive enough to make a political statement and create political action when something’s really amiss?
So hopelessly mixed up in your mind between one’s love for one’s country and ‘my country right or wrong’ mindset, I despair for you.
I guess, like the generals, you reckon you have a monopoly on patriotism. They still believe only they can run the country properly and look where we are after nearly half a century of military rule in one form or another. In deep proverbial, and all the neighbors having overtaken us by a million miles, mocking privately among themselves and taking advantage of us. Who put us in this situation? Like in our old expression “drifting in a river of other people’s spit”.
Change must and will come from within, not because of people like you bemoaning and complaining the ‘west useless careless’ policy ad infinitum ad nauseam, looking to outsiders for any tangible progress which you lot has accused ASSK of all along with not a hint of irony.
Remove the cause, not ineffective palliative measures. The Burmese patient needs radical excision of the cancer of military rule that is gnawing at the heart. Not band-aid and balms. And we must do it ourselves.
I operate in the realm of possibilities, rockjianrock.
But being a sceptic is part of academic training. Never take anything for granted.
Change is the only constant they say. So, Malaysia will change. For better or worse, I don’t know. If everyone plays by the rules, it should be for the better and it will be in a smooth manner – like in other mature democracies. And the same. If Pakatan Rakyat does not perform, we change them again. We change them as the video says – We’re the boss.
In reference to the Prime Minister and his announcements, I welcome it. Very brave of him. Although he has backtracked on many of his promises and policies, I will still give him the benefit of the doubt.
If he renegades on his promise/announcements, the video above shall decide his fate.
“Of course plan B’s overarching concerns over dignity that a ‘HoS’ deserves, denied by the ‘useless careless west’ to Than Shwe but enjoyed by Ne Win before the days of the Internet and globalisation, are bound to be shared by many Burmese chauvinists who feel their country’s name has been sullied and its flag dragged in the mud so often, regardless of who made it happen in the first place. ”
Ko Moe Aung
Just one mistake you made in this sweeping Man Friday statement.
…who know (not feel, mind you) their country’s name has been sullied…
‘Chauvinist’ for the citizenry is always better than a sell out to a host country.
And I thought you believe in “The change must come from within”!
Ramon Navaratnam is as you correctly point out in your posting above devoid of true compassion. This is possibly because he repeats the government line (Australian) in an effort to give legitimacy to their very poor understanding of the problem of refugees now that they are faced with a monster of their own making.
Having ridiculed John Howard and demonized his policies on the subject of immigration specifically where it concerned the plight of and definition of refugee, they adopt Howard’s policies shamelessley and act on it in a more sinister and dishonest way.
Your views are interesting and refreshing on this subject. You are correct and perhaps more analytical than most in the context of this issue of the nexus between ‘people smuggler, the refugee and the government’s views of him’.
I am particularly impressed by the way you have described the role of the “people smuggler” and how he is viewed by the refugee and governments of Australia and Malaysia (and perhaps others too.
An issue which everyone conveniently skips is the number of illegal migrants in Australia they refer to as the “jet people”. These are not refugees but economic migrants from mainly China and south east Asia followed by the UK, who come to Australia as students and mainly visitors then melt into the community and assimilate draining the precious resources of the state reserved for its citizens and those deserving wretched boat people like the refugees Australia now wants to close the door on.
I’ve had a hard time trying to understanding the comments contributed by the readers. I wonder how the ordinary burmese readers will even appreciate the serious discussions going on about them in New Mandala. If New Mandala publish a burmese version would be a great idea.
Link to Bangkok Post article with more details of the “Special” political prison that isn’t just being discussed, it’s actually being refurbished and made ready to open:
How can it be that the government that has come to power out of the recent conflict, voted in by the very people who were being persecuted, shot at, hunted down, imprisoned by the Abhisit/military/royalist government is moving forward so forcefully to arrest the very same voters for speaking their mind and throwing the very same voters into prison for their political ideas, thoughts, positions?
Or is this all a multi-layered endlessly complex Thai story with the whole thing part of a plan to enact a pantomime/shadow puppet play of arresting and imprisoning Thaksin upon his upcoming return, and making sure he has a place to stay that is safe from assassination?
ASEAN is bending over backwards to accommodate Burma. Any excuse will do. They have Jim Webb on side not to mention certain experts.
Andrew Selth makes these salient points that the regime habitually turns into a vicious circle.
Another mass protest in Burma, for example, prompting yet another military crackdown, would be hard for the Association (ASEAN) to ignore. An escalation of the current counter-insurgency campaigns against armed ethnic groups and a renewed flood of refugees across Burma’s borders would also be major obstacles. And there is still Naypyidaw’s problematic relationship with Pyongyang, with its associated claims of ballistic missile and nuclear weapons cooperation.
‘Disciplined democracy’ is being tested by the farmers of the Delta in this report here. Can we envisage the new hybrid regime overseeing fair play and rule of law in this very important issue of land confiscation taking place not just in the Delta but in Mon State too? How about forced labor, union rights and industrial dispute? No way so long as the fox continues to be in charge of the hen house.
Unless these day to day bread and butter (rice and oil) issues rightly become a priority, and not the USDP’s exclusive permit to import new cars (to print money) or gold mining rights in Kachin State for the Chinese and their cronies, there’s no way out of this miserable vortex.
Of course plan B’s overarching concerns over dignity that a ‘HoS’ deserves, denied by the ‘useless careless west’ to Than Shwe but enjoyed by Ne Win before the days of the Internet and globalisation, are bound to be shared by many Burmese chauvinists who feel their country’s name has been sullied and its flag dragged in the mud so often, regardless of who made it happen in the first place.
They want to have their cake and eat it. And some of us seem to want ‘pragmatism’ stretch all the way. It must be someone else’s fault to wit the West mishandling the whole thing. So let’s all join in watering the proverbial poison plant.
Around 45 years ago in my early Peace Corps days (daze) I was in Buriram, at the local provincial hall, watching a couple of Thai women holdilng a document the governor had signed and laughing like the devil. At the time I did not know what they were talking about, but later understood. They were making fun of the governor’s hand-writing wherein he meant to write the word “bear” with the rising tone and ee vowel, but had written it loosely enough for the letter M to look like an H. So the word was not bear but you-know-what. The two girls were enjoying their little aside.
A point here is that this country is in bad shape and society is as Sonthi Limthongkul said, “hia.” Many people are fed up, sick and have grown estranged, and the old guard is getting tired of people not walking the straight and narrow.
Put this together and you have trouble brewing. The types of control being implemented are nothing short of communist Korea on the one hand, and the looseness in common decency, ethics and morals on the other is sometimes as bad as it seems to be able to get – but then gets worse.
Asian culture can seem rather hypocritical at times, yes.
A lot of Asian moralists bay for the blood of those who flaunt such sexuality openly. Some of those doing this fall into the same category as the likes of Eliot Spitzer and themselves have mistresses or indulge in various vices hidden from the public eye.
I wouldn’t claim to speak for all of Asia, but a lot of the younger Asian adults like myself in their 20s and 30s are hoping for a new normal thats a bit more liberal instead of all these goons in their 40s and 50s making so much noise over such performances and then happily going to massage parlours, accepting tea money and screwing poor people over behind closed doors.
[…] a letter in the New Mandala blog-site implying that Htoo Paw’s article, and David Mathieson’s article in Asia Times, were an attack on academic […]
The show is a part of the modern Thai pop culture. As one of the many audiences, I understand that both Woody and nong Ja knew the consequence of the show from the beginning. The nature of the entertainment world is ‘you’d better being scolded than not being watched’ and this is woody’s receipt for success since his very first show, Hiso-Bannok.
Nong Ja has qualities her detractors lack: she’s young, beautiful, intelligent and talented, and I’ve yet to hear her utter a word of criticism of anyone else. I wish her well.
1. Yes, the syllabus needs to be revised to reflect not just local history but also cover world history in more depth. That the accusation it is too Islam-centric is partially true. BTW, you might be interested to know that the author behind this was none other than Anwar Ibrahim, the then Education Minister / DPM.
2. CPI is hardly a non-partisan body. I would rather have a panel of independent historians to review it.
3. Prof Kling is an academic jester, driven by politics than academic. Not very different from another Malaysian “academic” currently based at Oz…..LOL.
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New prison for political prisoners in Thailand?
It is often said that the Tories in Britain sometimes deliberately lose elections when times are bad, in the knowledge that Labour – misguidedly trusted by the working class – can wield the big stick more effectively.
Maybe cunning ruling class ploys are not restricted to Britain.
Flatulence and breathing meditation
Fascinating deconstruction. I’m also wondering if there is any relevance to meditation practice, or whether the main point concerns a ‘proof’ of anatta. I’m picturing the atman-notion being pricked by the image of the atman leaving the corpse by way of a fart, or at least the noxious gasses that depart the corpse.
Corruption in Malaysia and Singapore
Killer,
I’m not getting the impression here in Singapore that the rank and file of the government service here is mostly Malay and Indian. Actually, the remuneration for an upper second-class honors degree for the government is higher than what you would get compared to the private sector. I am not comfortable with the racialization of the governments either way, as “ketuanan melayu” to me has never meant ethnic domination of government but of politics. Should you accuse the government of such in Singapore, be prepared!
I also don’t think it’s possible that all political parties will be prepared to eliminate corruption. It’s more likely that one or more parties will make some promises to do so. Half of them will be fulfilled, and another half will only properly enforced. The next party then criticises the last for not doing everything they set out to do and makes promises to do better. They might get into power. They fulfil some of them, and ad infinitum. This will be a long, drawn-out war, winning each precious foot of integrity and accountability bit by bit. But is there a democratic polity that is able and willing to keep tally of the records? Are they responsive enough to make a political statement and create political action when something’s really amiss?
Sheridan and Selth on Burma today
plan B,
So hopelessly mixed up in your mind between one’s love for one’s country and ‘my country right or wrong’ mindset, I despair for you.
I guess, like the generals, you reckon you have a monopoly on patriotism. They still believe only they can run the country properly and look where we are after nearly half a century of military rule in one form or another. In deep proverbial, and all the neighbors having overtaken us by a million miles, mocking privately among themselves and taking advantage of us. Who put us in this situation? Like in our old expression “drifting in a river of other people’s spit”.
Change must and will come from within, not because of people like you bemoaning and complaining the ‘west useless careless’ policy ad infinitum ad nauseam, looking to outsiders for any tangible progress which you lot has accused ASSK of all along with not a hint of irony.
Remove the cause, not ineffective palliative measures. The Burmese patient needs radical excision of the cancer of military rule that is gnawing at the heart. Not band-aid and balms. And we must do it ourselves.
Flatulence and breathing meditation
So what’s the correct meditation practice?
(asking as someone who’s never meditated in his life, excluding the odd lecture on Husserl)
Happy Malaysia Day
I operate in the realm of possibilities, rockjianrock.
But being a sceptic is part of academic training. Never take anything for granted.
Change is the only constant they say. So, Malaysia will change. For better or worse, I don’t know. If everyone plays by the rules, it should be for the better and it will be in a smooth manner – like in other mature democracies. And the same. If Pakatan Rakyat does not perform, we change them again. We change them as the video says – We’re the boss.
In reference to the Prime Minister and his announcements, I welcome it. Very brave of him. Although he has backtracked on many of his promises and policies, I will still give him the benefit of the doubt.
If he renegades on his promise/announcements, the video above shall decide his fate.
Kita tunggu dan lihatlah!
Sheridan and Selth on Burma today
“Of course plan B’s overarching concerns over dignity that a ‘HoS’ deserves, denied by the ‘useless careless west’ to Than Shwe but enjoyed by Ne Win before the days of the Internet and globalisation, are bound to be shared by many Burmese chauvinists who feel their country’s name has been sullied and its flag dragged in the mud so often, regardless of who made it happen in the first place. ”
Ko Moe Aung
Just one mistake you made in this sweeping Man Friday statement.
…who know (not feel, mind you) their country’s name has been sullied…
‘Chauvinist’ for the citizenry is always better than a sell out to a host country.
And I thought you believe in “The change must come from within”!
Happy Malaysia Day
How skeptical are you of real change, Greg?
Ramon Navaratnam has no compassion
Ramon Navaratnam is as you correctly point out in your posting above devoid of true compassion. This is possibly because he repeats the government line (Australian) in an effort to give legitimacy to their very poor understanding of the problem of refugees now that they are faced with a monster of their own making.
Having ridiculed John Howard and demonized his policies on the subject of immigration specifically where it concerned the plight of and definition of refugee, they adopt Howard’s policies shamelessley and act on it in a more sinister and dishonest way.
Your views are interesting and refreshing on this subject. You are correct and perhaps more analytical than most in the context of this issue of the nexus between ‘people smuggler, the refugee and the government’s views of him’.
I am particularly impressed by the way you have described the role of the “people smuggler” and how he is viewed by the refugee and governments of Australia and Malaysia (and perhaps others too.
An issue which everyone conveniently skips is the number of illegal migrants in Australia they refer to as the “jet people”. These are not refugees but economic migrants from mainly China and south east Asia followed by the UK, who come to Australia as students and mainly visitors then melt into the community and assimilate draining the precious resources of the state reserved for its citizens and those deserving wretched boat people like the refugees Australia now wants to close the door on.
Sheridan and Selth on Burma today
Great idea Aung. Coincidentally, I was having a conversation with a friend about this yesterday. Any plans for a Burmese language version, Nich?
Sheridan and Selth on Burma today
I’ve had a hard time trying to understanding the comments contributed by the readers. I wonder how the ordinary burmese readers will even appreciate the serious discussions going on about them in New Mandala. If New Mandala publish a burmese version would be a great idea.
New prison for political prisoners in Thailand?
Link to Bangkok Post article with more details of the “Special” political prison that isn’t just being discussed, it’s actually being refurbished and made ready to open:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/256776/rogues-gallery-recalled-as-old-prison-comes-out-of-mothballs
How can it be that the government that has come to power out of the recent conflict, voted in by the very people who were being persecuted, shot at, hunted down, imprisoned by the Abhisit/military/royalist government is moving forward so forcefully to arrest the very same voters for speaking their mind and throwing the very same voters into prison for their political ideas, thoughts, positions?
Or is this all a multi-layered endlessly complex Thai story with the whole thing part of a plan to enact a pantomime/shadow puppet play of arresting and imprisoning Thaksin upon his upcoming return, and making sure he has a place to stay that is safe from assassination?
Sheridan and Selth on Burma today
ASEAN is bending over backwards to accommodate Burma. Any excuse will do. They have Jim Webb on side not to mention certain experts.
Andrew Selth makes these salient points that the regime habitually turns into a vicious circle.
Another mass protest in Burma, for example, prompting yet another military crackdown, would be hard for the Association (ASEAN) to ignore. An escalation of the current counter-insurgency campaigns against armed ethnic groups and a renewed flood of refugees across Burma’s borders would also be major obstacles. And there is still Naypyidaw’s problematic relationship with Pyongyang, with its associated claims of ballistic missile and nuclear weapons cooperation.
‘Disciplined democracy’ is being tested by the farmers of the Delta in this report here. Can we envisage the new hybrid regime overseeing fair play and rule of law in this very important issue of land confiscation taking place not just in the Delta but in Mon State too? How about forced labor, union rights and industrial dispute? No way so long as the fox continues to be in charge of the hen house.
Unless these day to day bread and butter (rice and oil) issues rightly become a priority, and not the USDP’s exclusive permit to import new cars (to print money) or gold mining rights in Kachin State for the Chinese and their cronies, there’s no way out of this miserable vortex.
Of course plan B’s overarching concerns over dignity that a ‘HoS’ deserves, denied by the ‘useless careless west’ to Than Shwe but enjoyed by Ne Win before the days of the Internet and globalisation, are bound to be shared by many Burmese chauvinists who feel their country’s name has been sullied and its flag dragged in the mud so often, regardless of who made it happen in the first place.
They want to have their cake and eat it. And some of us seem to want ‘pragmatism’ stretch all the way. It must be someone else’s fault to wit the West mishandling the whole thing. So let’s all join in watering the proverbial poison plant.
р╕Др╕▒р╕Щр╕лр╕╣ : Nong Ja ahead of Democrats!
Around 45 years ago in my early Peace Corps days (daze) I was in Buriram, at the local provincial hall, watching a couple of Thai women holdilng a document the governor had signed and laughing like the devil. At the time I did not know what they were talking about, but later understood. They were making fun of the governor’s hand-writing wherein he meant to write the word “bear” with the rising tone and ee vowel, but had written it loosely enough for the letter M to look like an H. So the word was not bear but you-know-what. The two girls were enjoying their little aside.
A point here is that this country is in bad shape and society is as Sonthi Limthongkul said, “hia.” Many people are fed up, sick and have grown estranged, and the old guard is getting tired of people not walking the straight and narrow.
Put this together and you have trouble brewing. The types of control being implemented are nothing short of communist Korea on the one hand, and the looseness in common decency, ethics and morals on the other is sometimes as bad as it seems to be able to get – but then gets worse.
р╕Др╕▒р╕Щр╕лр╕╣ : Nong Ja ahead of Democrats!
@Eva
I’d say that there are some pretty hardcore Dangdut performances out there that leave Nong Ja in the dust
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLtBy9x4xYE&feature=related
Asian culture can seem rather hypocritical at times, yes.
A lot of Asian moralists bay for the blood of those who flaunt such sexuality openly. Some of those doing this fall into the same category as the likes of Eliot Spitzer and themselves have mistresses or indulge in various vices hidden from the public eye.
I wouldn’t claim to speak for all of Asia, but a lot of the younger Asian adults like myself in their 20s and 30s are hoping for a new normal thats a bit more liberal instead of all these goons in their 40s and 50s making so much noise over such performances and then happily going to massage parlours, accepting tea money and screwing poor people over behind closed doors.
Threats to academic freedom
[…] a letter in the New Mandala blog-site implying that Htoo Paw’s article, and David Mathieson’s article in Asia Times, were an attack on academic […]
р╕Др╕▒р╕Щр╕лр╕╣ : Nong Ja ahead of Democrats!
The show is a part of the modern Thai pop culture. As one of the many audiences, I understand that both Woody and nong Ja knew the consequence of the show from the beginning. The nature of the entertainment world is ‘you’d better being scolded than not being watched’ and this is woody’s receipt for success since his very first show, Hiso-Bannok.
р╕Др╕▒р╕Щр╕лр╕╣ : Nong Ja ahead of Democrats!
I prefer comparative politics…anyone remember this?
http://youtu.be/AFiwFKDyp8A
Skip to 3:00 to relive Madonna’s own itchy ear moment. ^__^
р╕Др╕▒р╕Щр╕лр╕╣ : Nong Ja ahead of Democrats!
Nong Ja has qualities her detractors lack: she’s young, beautiful, intelligent and talented, and I’ve yet to hear her utter a word of criticism of anyone else. I wish her well.
Reclaiming Malaysian history
I have the following comments.
1. Yes, the syllabus needs to be revised to reflect not just local history but also cover world history in more depth. That the accusation it is too Islam-centric is partially true. BTW, you might be interested to know that the author behind this was none other than Anwar Ibrahim, the then Education Minister / DPM.
2. CPI is hardly a non-partisan body. I would rather have a panel of independent historians to review it.
3. Prof Kling is an academic jester, driven by politics than academic. Not very different from another Malaysian “academic” currently based at Oz…..LOL.