The conference was well attended by scholars from various disciplines. Mny thanks to Andrew for your supportive words and presentation at the conference.
We look forward to the next phase, the International Journal of Thai Studies.
There is a good chance that abolition of the Lèse Majesté law could be achieved soon, ideally if the King believes that its existence is against his interest and that of his successor. There would of course be an outbreak of anti-monarchist sentiment. The King may well realise that the monarchy has a better chance of surviving if the pressure is let off now, while he is still alive, than if it is allowed to build up further. Though the King may personally be in favour of abolition, he may hesitate at the thought of letting down his own unruly power base, and not show his cards. If he can’t be persuaded to support it publicly, secret proposals could be made to key foreign governments to publicly back the Thai Government’s effort to abolish the law. It would be desirable for the present and the future King to be kept in the loop, but whether this is possible is something that only a few people could guess. With strong statements of support for abolition from Clinton and others, immediately an announcement was made, the Army would be isolated. Abolition of Lèse Majesté would be a big step towards bringing the Army under the control of the elected government.
The time for reform is now.
From today’s Bangkok Post:
“The electronic content for Prathom 1 students’ tablets is plentiful and has already been prepared, he said.
E-content will be provided by the Education Ministry’s Office of Basic Educational Commission, the National Science and Technology Development Agency and several universities.”
If they have done a decent job of it there should be voice overs in central Thai for all the material for all to practice elocution.
But I question – Is this material available now for downloading and are there any pathetic restrictions to protect copyright in a country, which like the USA in the 19th century as it was booming with growth rejected the concept, just as does the student population of Thiland today?
BERSIH 2.0 has become a global movement. This video captures the events that were held in 38 cities on 9 July 2011 in support of free and fair elections by Malaysians and their supporters.
This article is correct. Its very obvious NAJIB and Hisham rushed through this deal as there are massive money involved. The RM 900M for the swap will go into their own accoutns by default as NAJIB controls the Finance Minstry and Hisham controls the Home Ministry. They have no regard whatsoever for the wellbeing of the refugees, only their own personal wellbeing. I think also that the current Australian regime has made a severe error in judgement in ratifying the deal. If this deal was meant to discourage the human smugglers and traffickers, its doing a very bad job. In fact, going by economics, these human smugglers and traffickers can charge more for their services simply because their ‘clients’ are no going to be ‘guaranteed’ a job, proper housing, healthcare, education, welfare, etc, etc, if not in Australia, in Malaysia.
So, YES, NAJIB and Malaysia will suffer humiliation on the international stage becuase of their own vanity, greed and selfish interest.
A Special Friday 13th gift from Thaliand’s favourite Mother –
Internet censorship is easing e.g. http://redthaisocialist.com/ , which was banned for months is now available.
The author of the site who presently lives in exile in Merry England has accused the King of being a weak character and responsible for allowing the execution of two innocents over the mysterious shooting death of his brother which brought him to the throne.
Does this mean the lese mageste law is now a dead letter?
[…] year, Pavin Chachavalpongpun writes in New Mandala, Sirikit has composed a special verse to mark her birthday: Thai national anthem reminds Thais, day […]
Poor old Malaysia, didn’t they know that everything Australia’s worst PM in living memory, Julia Gillard, touches turns into a disaster? They should have done some homework first as she certainly never does hers. She is even now unraveling Bob Hawke’s sensible reforms, Malaysia should get as far away from her as possible, they may have hated Keating in his day but at least he knew what he was doing.
This show will run and run, it seems, which can’t be bad.
I’m signing out with a quote from “The Ambiguous Allure of the West”
A question to be addressed is whether, despite its largely Western origins, current theory is in fact universal and hence relevant to Thailand. This is an open question that can only be answered through theoretically engaged empirical research, not by a priori philosophical reflection conducted in isolation from locally grounded work.
Walker, the only thing worse than being completely wrong and getting caught abusing your academic credentials and platform to peddle your paid-for political agenda with crass gossip is to then lie about it and further insult the intelligence of your audience.
I propose that you, Andrew Walker, made it this far simply because no one truly informed has shined the light of truth on you – sort of like Prachatai who is now completely exposed as almost exclusively funded MILLIONS of baht a year by the US government yet still has the audacity to call themselves “independent journalists.” Shoulder shrugs and “who cares?” punctuates their fading legitimacy and relevance as people look into the backgrounds of the absolute degenerate neo-con war criminals that are entirely sustaining Prachatai’s existence.
You had to lie and censor my comments in the past to cover up your own dirty little secrets and overt lies regarding the Lowy Institute and who is really behind your unprofessional intellectually sloven treatment of the daily news and hijacking of liberal progressive ideals to promote what is really a corporate fascist agenda of globalization- but you know that won’t work forever. So enjoy the dusk of your ignominious career – an ignominious ending you have surely earned with your shameful duplicity.
PS we both know who has the larger audience and the longer reach as well as the growing disparity between us in terms of credibility – despite your constant use by the corporate-funded media shills as an “academic expert” on Thailand. Again, you insult the intelligence of your audience, not me, when you make such factually bankrupt comments.
Whart can be done to eradicate wastage of tax payers resources ?
Should we waste the umNO led goverment at the next general election ?
A majority are of the same opinion and perhaps the incumbent leaders are milking the cow while they can .
It is also disapponiting to note CNBC are not without fault .
However their prompt response is much apprreciated and should be set as a gentle reminder for responsible broadcasting etchics.
Politics is a family business throughout Asia, what is said about the Thai situation is valid for the Japanese or Korean system too. The problem of Thailand is that the elite protects it’s business interests by demanding that any person that is electable for parliament needs to have a University degree, therefore ruling out very smart people, who did not had the money to attend a (paper) university. One could not possibly argue that Lula of Brazil or Walesa from Poland were less qualified than the representatives of the old money families ruling Thailand. Unfortunately the people writing for the Bangkok Post or Nation are themselves part of the old boys network and have no interest whatsoever in changing anything.
Election and mandate obviously not enough, we need to defined to word “democracy” in detail, election does not equate democracy. Freedom, rights, and equality are the fundamental basic of democracy. Thailand as of now, even under Yingluck, does not have that basic.
A John Jay Chapman was quoted in the BKK Post today
“People who love soft methods and hate iniquity forget… that reform consists in taking a bone from a dog. Philosophy will not do it.”
I was a former supporter of the Democrat Party and definitely anti-Thaksin until 2005 when Abhisit refuesed to contest the election. This was solidified in his response to the coup.
Ins 2005 I felt that he had made the Democrat Party irrelevant by boycotting the election.
Then in 2006 after the coup put the Democrat Party in Power, I felt that he would and should call for an immediate election to get a mandate from the people to lead the Nation. When he did not, I became a red shirt supporter.
I felt that the only way to a true democracy in Thailand, lay in getting the nation back to elecions, mandates, etc and that the only way to do that was with getting Thaksin back to PM and voters deciding who was their government.
Clearly the backroom forces at work had no interest in democracy.
I then watched in horror as the Democrat Party formed an alliance with the morally backrupt Godfather of Buiram and his kin and saw his blue shirts in action at the APEC summit in Pattaya,
Then the numerous scandals that followed including the rubber tree sappling case, the disbandment of TRT/PPP and executives banned for nothing that they did.
The sacking of 2 PMs furter outraged me, and believe me I didn’t trust for a second Samak, as I view him as the Butcher in charge of the Tammasat lynchings.
These events were followed by the senseless murders in Bangkok of unarmed people at Wat Pratunum– and the incredible faces of Abshit and Suthep say that the goverment forces killed no one when it was obvious on live feeds from CNN that goverment forces were shooting people from the Saladeng Skytrain Station and BTS tracks.
This was coupled with increased censorship. When I wanted to go online to view bloggers, I got pictures of fern leaves, or 404 messages, or Banned messages from the ‘goverment’.
So where am I now?
I want Yinglick to suceed. I want Thailand to be a leader in democracy in Asia. I want the goverment to actually help people solve their concerns like making it possible to feed, shelter and care for our families. I want a social safety net to assure that my neighbors will also be able to eat, live, and work.
So what I want is a government that tackles corruption. Actually put some people behind bars for it. And also to reign in the Police who abuse power, and the military that operates in an alternate reality.
I’d like to see the money spent on projects actually spent on projects and not diverted into politicains family and friends pockets.
The redshirts and people like me, still have a role, and that is to see that the corrupt in power actually get that kind of government.
As for the cabinet, and this goverment’s future, we shall see….
And hopefully be able to vote them into another term or out of office at the next election based on our conclusions.
Money.
An invitation to enter politics comes from several sources and depends on each case. Some people are invited because they are perceived to be committed and able to make a difference. Others are invited because they are family members. Others invite themselves. But the single most cementing factor seems to be a network of committed supporters and money to get the job done. Despite powerful aging political machines, new movements can win the day but it takes a lot of planning, activism and personal time. Change is possible, but I am becoming convinced that at least in the States change means getting rid of almost all the old guard and starting with a new slate. Write-in for 2012.
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Thai Studies conference in Melbourne, redux
The conference was well attended by scholars from various disciplines. Mny thanks to Andrew for your supportive words and presentation at the conference.
We look forward to the next phase, the International Journal of Thai Studies.
Yingluck’s cabinet
@W #10:
Here, here. Well said, Simon agrees with you 100%.
Ji Ungpakorn on lese majeste
There is a good chance that abolition of the Lèse Majesté law could be achieved soon, ideally if the King believes that its existence is against his interest and that of his successor. There would of course be an outbreak of anti-monarchist sentiment. The King may well realise that the monarchy has a better chance of surviving if the pressure is let off now, while he is still alive, than if it is allowed to build up further. Though the King may personally be in favour of abolition, he may hesitate at the thought of letting down his own unruly power base, and not show his cards. If he can’t be persuaded to support it publicly, secret proposals could be made to key foreign governments to publicly back the Thai Government’s effort to abolish the law. It would be desirable for the present and the future King to be kept in the loop, but whether this is possible is something that only a few people could guess. With strong statements of support for abolition from Clinton and others, immediately an announcement was made, the Army would be isolated. Abolition of Lèse Majesté would be a big step towards bringing the Army under the control of the elected government.
Find the gap
The time for reform is now.
From today’s Bangkok Post:
“The electronic content for Prathom 1 students’ tablets is plentiful and has already been prepared, he said.
E-content will be provided by the Education Ministry’s Office of Basic Educational Commission, the National Science and Technology Development Agency and several universities.”
If they have done a decent job of it there should be voice overs in central Thai for all the material for all to practice elocution.
But I question – Is this material available now for downloading and are there any pathetic restrictions to protect copyright in a country, which like the USA in the 19th century as it was booming with growth rejected the concept, just as does the student population of Thiland today?
BERSIH 2.0 analysis
BERSIH 2.0 has become a global movement. This video captures the events that were held in 38 cities on 9 July 2011 in support of free and fair elections by Malaysians and their supporters.
Najib still an asset?
This article is correct. Its very obvious NAJIB and Hisham rushed through this deal as there are massive money involved. The RM 900M for the swap will go into their own accoutns by default as NAJIB controls the Finance Minstry and Hisham controls the Home Ministry. They have no regard whatsoever for the wellbeing of the refugees, only their own personal wellbeing. I think also that the current Australian regime has made a severe error in judgement in ratifying the deal. If this deal was meant to discourage the human smugglers and traffickers, its doing a very bad job. In fact, going by economics, these human smugglers and traffickers can charge more for their services simply because their ‘clients’ are no going to be ‘guaranteed’ a job, proper housing, healthcare, education, welfare, etc, etc, if not in Australia, in Malaysia.
So, YES, NAJIB and Malaysia will suffer humiliation on the international stage becuase of their own vanity, greed and selfish interest.
Ji Ungpakorn on lese majeste
A Special Friday 13th gift from Thaliand’s favourite Mother –
Internet censorship is easing e.g. http://redthaisocialist.com/ , which was banned for months is now available.
The author of the site who presently lives in exile in Merry England has accused the King of being a weak character and responsible for allowing the execution of two innocents over the mysterious shooting death of his brother which brought him to the throne.
Does this mean the lese mageste law is now a dead letter?
Royal motherhood statement
[…] year, Pavin Chachavalpongpun writes in New Mandala, Sirikit has composed a special verse to mark her birthday: Thai national anthem reminds Thais, day […]
Najib still an asset?
Poor old Malaysia, didn’t they know that everything Australia’s worst PM in living memory, Julia Gillard, touches turns into a disaster? They should have done some homework first as she certainly never does hers. She is even now unraveling Bob Hawke’s sensible reforms, Malaysia should get as far away from her as possible, they may have hated Keating in his day but at least he knew what he was doing.
Find the gap
This show will run and run, it seems, which can’t be bad.
I’m signing out with a quote from “The Ambiguous Allure of the West”
A question to be addressed is whether, despite its largely Western origins, current theory is in fact universal and hence relevant to Thailand. This is an open question that can only be answered through theoretically engaged empirical research, not by a priori philosophical reflection conducted in isolation from locally grounded work.
The question is unlikely to go away.
Crown Prince’s family update?
Walker, the only thing worse than being completely wrong and getting caught abusing your academic credentials and platform to peddle your paid-for political agenda with crass gossip is to then lie about it and further insult the intelligence of your audience.
I propose that you, Andrew Walker, made it this far simply because no one truly informed has shined the light of truth on you – sort of like Prachatai who is now completely exposed as almost exclusively funded MILLIONS of baht a year by the US government yet still has the audacity to call themselves “independent journalists.” Shoulder shrugs and “who cares?” punctuates their fading legitimacy and relevance as people look into the backgrounds of the absolute degenerate neo-con war criminals that are entirely sustaining Prachatai’s existence.
You had to lie and censor my comments in the past to cover up your own dirty little secrets and overt lies regarding the Lowy Institute and who is really behind your unprofessional intellectually sloven treatment of the daily news and hijacking of liberal progressive ideals to promote what is really a corporate fascist agenda of globalization- but you know that won’t work forever. So enjoy the dusk of your ignominious career – an ignominious ending you have surely earned with your shameful duplicity.
PS we both know who has the larger audience and the longer reach as well as the growing disparity between us in terms of credibility – despite your constant use by the corporate-funded media shills as an “academic expert” on Thailand. Again, you insult the intelligence of your audience, not me, when you make such factually bankrupt comments.
Najib still an asset?
Whart can be done to eradicate wastage of tax payers resources ?
Should we waste the umNO led goverment at the next general election ?
A majority are of the same opinion and perhaps the incumbent leaders are milking the cow while they can .
It is also disapponiting to note CNBC are not without fault .
However their prompt response is much apprreciated and should be set as a gentle reminder for responsible broadcasting etchics.
Family business, Thai style
Politics is a family business throughout Asia, what is said about the Thai situation is valid for the Japanese or Korean system too. The problem of Thailand is that the elite protects it’s business interests by demanding that any person that is electable for parliament needs to have a University degree, therefore ruling out very smart people, who did not had the money to attend a (paper) university. One could not possibly argue that Lula of Brazil or Walesa from Poland were less qualified than the representatives of the old money families ruling Thailand. Unfortunately the people writing for the Bangkok Post or Nation are themselves part of the old boys network and have no interest whatsoever in changing anything.
Yingluck’s cabinet
W – 10
Election and mandate obviously not enough, we need to defined to word “democracy” in detail, election does not equate democracy. Freedom, rights, and equality are the fundamental basic of democracy. Thailand as of now, even under Yingluck, does not have that basic.
Yingluck’s cabinet
W. (10)
We live in interesting times…
A John Jay Chapman was quoted in the BKK Post today
“People who love soft methods and hate iniquity forget… that reform consists in taking a bone from a dog. Philosophy will not do it.”
Any Dog Whisperers out there?
That Effing Show’s BERSIH 2.0
John Funston, an expert on Malaysia’s political system, has an interesting article on the BERSIH 2.0 at East Asia Forum.
Yingluck’s cabinet
I was a former supporter of the Democrat Party and definitely anti-Thaksin until 2005 when Abhisit refuesed to contest the election. This was solidified in his response to the coup.
Ins 2005 I felt that he had made the Democrat Party irrelevant by boycotting the election.
Then in 2006 after the coup put the Democrat Party in Power, I felt that he would and should call for an immediate election to get a mandate from the people to lead the Nation. When he did not, I became a red shirt supporter.
I felt that the only way to a true democracy in Thailand, lay in getting the nation back to elecions, mandates, etc and that the only way to do that was with getting Thaksin back to PM and voters deciding who was their government.
Clearly the backroom forces at work had no interest in democracy.
I then watched in horror as the Democrat Party formed an alliance with the morally backrupt Godfather of Buiram and his kin and saw his blue shirts in action at the APEC summit in Pattaya,
Then the numerous scandals that followed including the rubber tree sappling case, the disbandment of TRT/PPP and executives banned for nothing that they did.
The sacking of 2 PMs furter outraged me, and believe me I didn’t trust for a second Samak, as I view him as the Butcher in charge of the Tammasat lynchings.
These events were followed by the senseless murders in Bangkok of unarmed people at Wat Pratunum– and the incredible faces of Abshit and Suthep say that the goverment forces killed no one when it was obvious on live feeds from CNN that goverment forces were shooting people from the Saladeng Skytrain Station and BTS tracks.
This was coupled with increased censorship. When I wanted to go online to view bloggers, I got pictures of fern leaves, or 404 messages, or Banned messages from the ‘goverment’.
So where am I now?
I want Yinglick to suceed. I want Thailand to be a leader in democracy in Asia. I want the goverment to actually help people solve their concerns like making it possible to feed, shelter and care for our families. I want a social safety net to assure that my neighbors will also be able to eat, live, and work.
So what I want is a government that tackles corruption. Actually put some people behind bars for it. And also to reign in the Police who abuse power, and the military that operates in an alternate reality.
I’d like to see the money spent on projects actually spent on projects and not diverted into politicains family and friends pockets.
The redshirts and people like me, still have a role, and that is to see that the corrupt in power actually get that kind of government.
As for the cabinet, and this goverment’s future, we shall see….
And hopefully be able to vote them into another term or out of office at the next election based on our conclusions.
Family business, Thai style
Money.
An invitation to enter politics comes from several sources and depends on each case. Some people are invited because they are perceived to be committed and able to make a difference. Others are invited because they are family members. Others invite themselves. But the single most cementing factor seems to be a network of committed supporters and money to get the job done. Despite powerful aging political machines, new movements can win the day but it takes a lot of planning, activism and personal time. Change is possible, but I am becoming convinced that at least in the States change means getting rid of almost all the old guard and starting with a new slate. Write-in for 2012.
Letter to Thailand
@Somsak42
The link from ‘tettyan38′ has one of the boys’ email address. Aren’t you interested in finding the truth from the source?
Measuring failed states
@ HRK #6. Excellent inputs. Much appreciated.