…that there is a rising tide of racism being expressed by the ruling politicians these days to make political hay.
Looks like another lesson learned, and not a pleasant one, from the TRT. Remember Thaksin won his first election partly on this theme. Or are we back to short memories again?
Is Aung San Suu Kyi and NLD above criticism? If you think they are I have nothing more to say in response.
Only a year ago I wrote that the NLD should come out clean on sanctions ON IRRAWADDY site. I wrote scathing pieces about the opposition and its failings.
Its the opposition at large – and dissidents — above criticism? Does the Dalai Lama escape criticism? should he escape criticism because of his moral stature?
Not even the Buddha – if you are Buddhist – was above criticism in his human life time. Forget the rest.
What is the tangible result of the efforts of ANYONE who is trying to change Burma – through armed resistance, through international lobby, through political defiance, through non-violence, through UN special envoys, through resolutions, through capacity building projects, through non-violence, through calls for dialogue, through ‘working within the system’, through exposing the generals to the outside world, and the list goes on.
And above all, what is the result of your leaving rubbish comments on others’ transparently presented arguments? Why can’t you respond what I write intelligently, rather than engage in below-the-belt rubbish.
No “commenter” is outside his or her comment (about ourselves and others and any subject of our interest). No writer about human affairs can be outside of their stories.
Do you think Maj Sai Thein Win would have been able to make a splash with his information about the regime’s weapons’ programs, if he didn’t come out blowing the whistle under his real identity?
Agreement and disagreement are as natural as different sizes of even on own fingers. That’s not the issue here.
The issue is having no balls to openly declare one’s own identity and background – which will reveal relevant information about a comment left without any informational transparency.
To me that is a mark of cowardice, dishonesty and act of concealment based in insecurities about oneself which one doesn’t want the public or the readership to know.
Much of what has been commented here is not about a serious discussion, not even by a long stretch of imagination, and doesn’t in any way enlighten or educate the readership.
I’m afraid Arthurson’s comment is somewhat naive. Why is there income inequality anywhere in the world? Why is the Vatican so increadibly well-endowed with priceless works of art when so many of its adherents live in poverty? These are rhetorical questions, by the way; I don’t believe they are capable of a simple answer, and certainly not the simplistic answer of “Sell all you have and give to the poor”. They are useful polemical arguments for beating up your opponents, but have little value otherwise.
Actually, all credit to the Princess for eschewing the royal language. Perhaps, as a result, meaning was glimpsed a little more clearly through the eternal smoke and mirrors of Thai language structure.
It never fails to amaze me how so much of the content of Thai language courses for foreigners serves to reinforce power relations in this country.
I note with interest that the upcoming International Conference of Thai Studies has a session on “romanisation of the Thai alphabet.” Perhaps a first step might be to join the rest of the world and insert gaps between Thai words.
So you suggest that it is of “nationalistic” reasonings that the military is at arms against Cambodia?
So whereas in the 70s and 80s, Thailand feared to be the next domino to fall after Laos, the fear now is… of the Thais themselves, and thus they need an outside “enemy” to be a scapegoat for their own problems?
I fail to see any outrage expressed here over Deputy PM Suthep’s comment that he “doesn’t respect farangs” and that therefore international election observers of the upcoming elections should not be allowed.
I sense from his obvious hatred of westerners and other recent acts, such as the proposed law to ban marriage between Thais and foreigners over 50 years of age, that there is a rising tide of racism being expressed by the ruling politicians these days to make political hay. What worries me is how widespread does this jingoism go? and how far has it spread among the Thai electorate? Are we westerners the next convenient scapegoats for the economic problems the government is facing, such as the skyrocketing price increases in palm oil, rice, and petrol?
Is it possible that many Thais accept this fate? That people can be born poor? I know here in the west, at least in America, we stress the fact that one can move up in the ranks of socio-economic statuses via education and hard work.
There was an announcement this morning (April 7, 2011) on the English language NBT-TV Morning Focus program that the Thai government admitted to using cluster munitions against Cambodia in the recent military clashes near the Preah Vihar/ Phra Viharn temple complex, resulting in at least two deaths and two severely injured Cambodian civilian casualties.
This is in contradiction of the statements by the Thai military, who have continued to deny their use of cluster bombs, despite the very excellent and widespread news coverage by Thai, Cambodian, and international media organizations, with ample photographs of unexploded cluster ordnance and on-site videos of testimony from numerous eyewitnesses and surviving victims.
It quoted the Thai Ambassador to the UN saying that Thailand used cluster munitions in “self-defence”, using the principles of “necessity, proportionality and in compliance with the military code of conduct”. It is a constant source of frustration and bewilderment that Thai government representatives, who ought to know better, feel justified in making excuses for the inexcusable behavior of the Thai military.
Given that this is a violation of international law (the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions of which Thailand is a signatory), are there no sanctions that can be applied against Thailand? This is a very serious matter and deserves the attention of the UN Security Council.
The fact remains that she and the other members of the Thai royal family are very, very rich, while there are vast numbers of poor people in Thailand, and one can witness everyday examples of the very, very poor and incredibily miserable without straying far from one’s daily path. I must ask the following question. Why is it, if the King is so truly benevolent and munificent, that there is so much poverty persisting in Thailand at the same time that the wealth of the Crown Property Bureau continues to grow exponentially?
The Somchai Government most certainly did not order the first attack by the Thai Army on Cambodia, and it is highly likely that the Abhisit Government did not give orders for the subsequent attacks. This is further evidence that the Thai military is an out-of-control criminal organisation. All supplies of weapons to the Thai military from international sources should therefore cease. It is time for the UN to enforce sanctions on weapons sales to Thailand.
Re. Martino:
OK, you win today’s “English is Hardly Simple” prize from Mr. Andrew Biggs.
There is, however, a significant egregious issue here…that is the issue of resorting to banned weapons and techniques, period. It could be on the Sisaket border or at Takbai or in Bangkok via sniper, etc.; the issue is use, period, of improper and what have often been lethal means to take care of problems. Cluster bombs and Thai willingness to use them are part of, not THE, issue.
Frank
The relationship explode in the 2007 to be exact because the PAD was playing the nationalistic card against the Samak-Somchai government by stirring the sentimental that “Nopadon betray the nation by given away the Praviharn temple to the Cambodian”. To my surprise, many elite (who supposedly well educated) never actually learn about the issue in detail and start to gather behind the PAD and the rest is history.
you may have noticed that the democratic model is also based on “three legs” to balance power in government
the democratic legs are:
1. legislature, representatives of the people that must stand for election on a regular basis, usually maximum of 4 years
2. executive, government formed from the legislature for day to day operations
3. judiciary, appointed by the government on life terms removed only by the legislature for narrowly specified reasons
all institutions, agencies and citizens are subject to laws enacted by the legislature and administered by the judiciary
in a democracy their is no role for use of military force or “above or below the law” influence or exercise of power
the democratic regular election process enables the population to “clean” their politicians, a process that has always been subverted by corrupt military/amart actions in Thailand
Only anyone that promote and effect the well being of the citizenry immediately.
Now you see why Than Shwe is not regarded as the bad guy within Myanmar compared to everyone else here @ New Mandala or anywhere else ,arm chair or otherwise supporting a future with nothing beneficial presently.
Is it possible for anyone here at New Mandala to analyze the situation between Thailand and Cambodia in terms of why it differs so much from the relationship between Thailand and Laos?
I mean… Laos and Thailand in the 80s had border clashes, Thailand had rebel bases against, refugee camps, etc. etc. but none of it ever seemed to transfer into the 90s and the 2000s.
Cambodia and Thailand on the other hand… their situation seems to have exploded since the 2000s. Why is that? Why so different?
The CITIZENRY will ALWAYS be the FUTURE of a COUNTRY.
Neither fixation on Than Shwe nor NLD/Daw Aung San Suu Kyi serve the PRINCIPLE above
@ New Mandala an opened forum unlike The Irrawaddy the latter fixation on discrediting Than Shwe worst on Democracy ( in the form of NLD/Daw Aung San Suu Kyi) AT ALL COST while filling the role of Man Friday well, extracted tremendously from the citizenry’s plight.
As I see it:
Only Persistent and consistent Education and Health care promotion AT ALL COST will sustain THE CITIZENRY HEALTH, MIND & SPIRIT that WILL change Myanmar.
3 decades of wasted useless careless effort just to be politically tenable, has served only to promote SPDC now eSe paranoia.
Clearly Political Correctness at the expense of a humanity degraded slowly but surly. A citizenry just surviving.
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Will Thailand’s elections be fair?
Arthurson – 40
…that there is a rising tide of racism being expressed by the ruling politicians these days to make political hay.
Looks like another lesson learned, and not a pleasant one, from the TRT. Remember Thaksin won his first election partly on this theme. Or are we back to short memories again?
Zarni comes out firing at Burma experts, again
Alright.
Is Aung San Suu Kyi and NLD above criticism? If you think they are I have nothing more to say in response.
Only a year ago I wrote that the NLD should come out clean on sanctions ON IRRAWADDY site. I wrote scathing pieces about the opposition and its failings.
Its the opposition at large – and dissidents — above criticism? Does the Dalai Lama escape criticism? should he escape criticism because of his moral stature?
Not even the Buddha – if you are Buddhist – was above criticism in his human life time. Forget the rest.
What is the tangible result of the efforts of ANYONE who is trying to change Burma – through armed resistance, through international lobby, through political defiance, through non-violence, through UN special envoys, through resolutions, through capacity building projects, through non-violence, through calls for dialogue, through ‘working within the system’, through exposing the generals to the outside world, and the list goes on.
And above all, what is the result of your leaving rubbish comments on others’ transparently presented arguments? Why can’t you respond what I write intelligently, rather than engage in below-the-belt rubbish.
No “commenter” is outside his or her comment (about ourselves and others and any subject of our interest). No writer about human affairs can be outside of their stories.
Do you think Maj Sai Thein Win would have been able to make a splash with his information about the regime’s weapons’ programs, if he didn’t come out blowing the whistle under his real identity?
Agreement and disagreement are as natural as different sizes of even on own fingers. That’s not the issue here.
The issue is having no balls to openly declare one’s own identity and background – which will reveal relevant information about a comment left without any informational transparency.
To me that is a mark of cowardice, dishonesty and act of concealment based in insecurities about oneself which one doesn’t want the public or the readership to know.
Much of what has been commented here is not about a serious discussion, not even by a long stretch of imagination, and doesn’t in any way enlighten or educate the readership.
That’s what really wants me to puke!
I am signing out of this string. Thank you all.
A Thai response to Princess Chulabhorn’s interview
I’m afraid Arthurson’s comment is somewhat naive. Why is there income inequality anywhere in the world? Why is the Vatican so increadibly well-endowed with priceless works of art when so many of its adherents live in poverty? These are rhetorical questions, by the way; I don’t believe they are capable of a simple answer, and certainly not the simplistic answer of “Sell all you have and give to the poor”. They are useful polemical arguments for beating up your opponents, but have little value otherwise.
A Thai response to Princess Chulabhorn’s interview
Actually, all credit to the Princess for eschewing the royal language. Perhaps, as a result, meaning was glimpsed a little more clearly through the eternal smoke and mirrors of Thai language structure.
It never fails to amaze me how so much of the content of Thai language courses for foreigners serves to reinforce power relations in this country.
I note with interest that the upcoming International Conference of Thai Studies has a session on “romanisation of the Thai alphabet.” Perhaps a first step might be to join the rest of the world and insert gaps between Thai words.
Thailand accused of using cluster bombs against Cambodia
Tarrin,
So you suggest that it is of “nationalistic” reasonings that the military is at arms against Cambodia?
So whereas in the 70s and 80s, Thailand feared to be the next domino to fall after Laos, the fear now is… of the Thais themselves, and thus they need an outside “enemy” to be a scapegoat for their own problems?
Will Thailand’s elections be fair?
I fail to see any outrage expressed here over Deputy PM Suthep’s comment that he “doesn’t respect farangs” and that therefore international election observers of the upcoming elections should not be allowed.
I sense from his obvious hatred of westerners and other recent acts, such as the proposed law to ban marriage between Thais and foreigners over 50 years of age, that there is a rising tide of racism being expressed by the ruling politicians these days to make political hay. What worries me is how widespread does this jingoism go? and how far has it spread among the Thai electorate? Are we westerners the next convenient scapegoats for the economic problems the government is facing, such as the skyrocketing price increases in palm oil, rice, and petrol?
A Thai response to Princess Chulabhorn’s interview
Arthurson,
Is it possible that many Thais accept this fate? That people can be born poor? I know here in the west, at least in America, we stress the fact that one can move up in the ranks of socio-economic statuses via education and hard work.
Will Thailand’s elections be fair?
Excellent line from Jon Ungphakorn’s opinion piece in the Bangkok Post* yesterday:
“Maybe I’m paranoid, but I get the feeling that I’m seated in a plane that is being piloted by a masked figure to an unknown destination.”
Is he being “paranoid”? Doesn’t seem so to me.
* http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/230558/without-general-elections-catastrophe
Is an election the answer for Thailand?
David Brown – 27
But David, have we not established that Democracy isn’t working?
You haven’t proposed a viable alternative to military intervention in the cases of improper administrations.
Saying that something **should** be does not make it happen.
Thailand accused of using cluster bombs against Cambodia
There was an announcement this morning (April 7, 2011) on the English language NBT-TV Morning Focus program that the Thai government admitted to using cluster munitions against Cambodia in the recent military clashes near the Preah Vihar/ Phra Viharn temple complex, resulting in at least two deaths and two severely injured Cambodian civilian casualties.
This is in contradiction of the statements by the Thai military, who have continued to deny their use of cluster bombs, despite the very excellent and widespread news coverage by Thai, Cambodian, and international media organizations, with ample photographs of unexploded cluster ordnance and on-site videos of testimony from numerous eyewitnesses and surviving victims.
It quoted the Thai Ambassador to the UN saying that Thailand used cluster munitions in “self-defence”, using the principles of “necessity, proportionality and in compliance with the military code of conduct”. It is a constant source of frustration and bewilderment that Thai government representatives, who ought to know better, feel justified in making excuses for the inexcusable behavior of the Thai military.
Given that this is a violation of international law (the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions of which Thailand is a signatory), are there no sanctions that can be applied against Thailand? This is a very serious matter and deserves the attention of the UN Security Council.
A Thai response to Princess Chulabhorn’s interview
The fact remains that she and the other members of the Thai royal family are very, very rich, while there are vast numbers of poor people in Thailand, and one can witness everyday examples of the very, very poor and incredibily miserable without straying far from one’s daily path. I must ask the following question. Why is it, if the King is so truly benevolent and munificent, that there is so much poverty persisting in Thailand at the same time that the wealth of the Crown Property Bureau continues to grow exponentially?
Thailand accused of using cluster bombs against Cambodia
Frank from Nakhon Ratchachisma ,
Yes, exactly.
Thailand accused of using cluster bombs against Cambodia
The Somchai Government most certainly did not order the first attack by the Thai Army on Cambodia, and it is highly likely that the Abhisit Government did not give orders for the subsequent attacks. This is further evidence that the Thai military is an out-of-control criminal organisation. All supplies of weapons to the Thai military from international sources should therefore cease. It is time for the UN to enforce sanctions on weapons sales to Thailand.
Thailand accused of using cluster bombs against Cambodia
Further on the Agent Orange issue:
http://www.monitor.net/monitor/9905a/copyright/thaiorange.html
Thailand accused of using cluster bombs against Cambodia
Re. Martino:
OK, you win today’s “English is Hardly Simple” prize from Mr. Andrew Biggs.
There is, however, a significant egregious issue here…that is the issue of resorting to banned weapons and techniques, period. It could be on the Sisaket border or at Takbai or in Bangkok via sniper, etc.; the issue is use, period, of improper and what have often been lethal means to take care of problems. Cluster bombs and Thai willingness to use them are part of, not THE, issue.
Frank
Thailand accused of using cluster bombs against Cambodia
Nok – 8
The relationship explode in the 2007 to be exact because the PAD was playing the nationalistic card against the Samak-Somchai government by stirring the sentimental that “Nopadon betray the nation by given away the Praviharn temple to the Cambodian”. To my surprise, many elite (who supposedly well educated) never actually learn about the issue in detail and start to gather behind the PAD and the rest is history.
Is an election the answer for Thailand?
Soonuk Dum
you may have noticed that the democratic model is also based on “three legs” to balance power in government
the democratic legs are:
1. legislature, representatives of the people that must stand for election on a regular basis, usually maximum of 4 years
2. executive, government formed from the legislature for day to day operations
3. judiciary, appointed by the government on life terms removed only by the legislature for narrowly specified reasons
all institutions, agencies and citizens are subject to laws enacted by the legislature and administered by the judiciary
in a democracy their is no role for use of military force or “above or below the law” influence or exercise of power
the democratic regular election process enables the population to “clean” their politicians, a process that has always been subverted by corrupt military/amart actions in Thailand
Zarni comes out firing at Burma experts, again
@ Jusrin Bomber
At this point
Only anyone that promote and effect the well being of the citizenry immediately.
Now you see why Than Shwe is not regarded as the bad guy within Myanmar compared to everyone else here @ New Mandala or anywhere else ,arm chair or otherwise supporting a future with nothing beneficial presently.
Thailand accused of using cluster bombs against Cambodia
Is it possible for anyone here at New Mandala to analyze the situation between Thailand and Cambodia in terms of why it differs so much from the relationship between Thailand and Laos?
I mean… Laos and Thailand in the 80s had border clashes, Thailand had rebel bases against, refugee camps, etc. etc. but none of it ever seemed to transfer into the 90s and the 2000s.
Cambodia and Thailand on the other hand… their situation seems to have exploded since the 2000s. Why is that? Why so different?
Benedict Rogers deported from Burma
Ko Moe Aung
The CITIZENRY will ALWAYS be the FUTURE of a COUNTRY.
Neither fixation on Than Shwe nor NLD/Daw Aung San Suu Kyi serve the PRINCIPLE above
@ New Mandala an opened forum unlike The Irrawaddy the latter fixation on discrediting Than Shwe worst on Democracy ( in the form of NLD/Daw Aung San Suu Kyi) AT ALL COST while filling the role of Man Friday well, extracted tremendously from the citizenry’s plight.
As I see it:
Only Persistent and consistent Education and Health care promotion AT ALL COST will sustain THE CITIZENRY HEALTH, MIND & SPIRIT that WILL change Myanmar.
3 decades of wasted useless careless effort just to be politically tenable, has served only to promote SPDC now eSe paranoia.
Clearly Political Correctness at the expense of a humanity degraded slowly but surly. A citizenry just surviving.