Suzie?
р╣Ар╕лр╕вр╕╖р╣Ир╕нр╕ер╣Ир╕▓ means ‘bait’ doesn’t it? Was the young red guard placed as bait to lure the state soldiers? Or is the Thai press tainting the facts?
I for one do not condone the use of human bait. I am uncomfortable with the idea that someone’s life is considered dispensible by some higher ‘elite’. The idea of democracy is that people’s lives, or opinions are equal. The use of human bait must come in the form of self sacrifice…or courage. To push someone out in front of you, into the firing line, is cowardly. Call it tactical if you like, but it sounds like the kind of rubbish behaviour we want rid of.
Do these people know what they want? Yes, they haven’t had much of a chance to understand virtue and values etc, but is ‘red’ just another shade of ‘yellow’?
sounds like readers here think it’s the teacher’s fault. As a university professor, my respect goes out to her for having the guts of doing what most teachers (including me) keep dreaming of. Just today I had to get mad again when 3 students were using their bloody blackberries (one was talking on the phone, the others were typing) during another teacher’s explanation. Maybe some of you are not aware how rude and disrespectful certain students can be. That mostly happens in private universities. In fact, I hardly see anything like that during my lessons at the other – public – institute I teach at.
On a related note, historian Bin Yang published an article on the zhiqing (sent-down youth) that discusses the proliferation of rubber plantations in Sipsongpanna:
Bin Yang (2009). “We Want to Go Home!” The Great Petition of the Zhiqing, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, 1978–1979. The China Quarterly, 198 , pp 401-421
Had Indonesia and the Philippines been blessed with a King like Thailand’s, these countries would have prospered immensely more definitely . . . you can take my word for it.
But if not, just compare how Thailand had zoomed up in prosperity, past Philippines, Indonesia, Burma which are countries possessing same potentials as Thailand at the end of WWII . . . but had lagged terribly behind.
Had Indonesia and the Philippines been blessed with a King like Thailand’s, these countries would have prospered immensely more definitely . . . you can take my word for it.
But if not, just compare how Thailand had zoomed up in prosperity, past Philippines, Indonesa, Burma which are countries possessing same potentials as Thailand at the end of WWII . . . but had lagged terribly behind.
Re: “They do not understand that free speech does not mean that you are free to lie and insult other people.” (Somkiet)
Actually, Somkiet, that’s exactly what free speech means.
As for “lies”, lese-majeste isn’t intended to protect the monarchy against slander: it protects them against all forms of criticism, including–or especially–the truth.
Ha Ha! You should see another school where a teacher hit students buttocks with rattan and rope tight together with all of his strength. When the parents complaint to the principal, the principal tried to negotiate by bribing those parents. Some parents disagreed and reported to the police. That teacher was then suspended. The wound were so severe. It would take months to be cured. It reminds me of a caning punishment in Singapore of which the wound will last a life time. But those punishment are for a serious crime. But this is school’s punishment, not a severe offend. The education system in Thailand really need a big change. It is wrong to criticize or argue with the teachers when you have doubt in what the teachers teach you. He or she will be very upset when a student stand up and challenge them. The system just want you to obey to what elderly people teach you, so when you argue with them, it means you are a bad boy. That teacher might even take revenge by giving you bad grade or bad comment. You may even have to see the principal for that action. The school might even invite your parents for some serious discussion in your behavior.
Well! this is Thailand, the land where they want all of their citizens to follow what their great leader says. No more no less.
[…] of the Thai regime. The international community, and bodies such as Amnesty International (whose tacit acceptance of lese majeste imprisonments is problematic), need to implement a coherent campaign where it is made clear that the Thai regime […]
[…] for any election. At the same time, there is growing indication that the administration is itself engaged in a campaign of terror designed to justify the continued recourse to emergency powers through a string of mysterious, […]
[…] of the Thai regime. The international community, and bodies such as Amnesty International (whose tacit acceptance of lese majeste imprisonments is problematic), need to implement a coherent campaign where it is made clear that the Thai regime […]
[…] for any election. At the same time, there is growing indication that the administration is itself engaged in a campaign of terror designed to justify the continued recourse to emergency powers through a string of mysterious, […]
For Bak Falang who is impressed by the statue of Fa Ngum’s ‘commanding pose’: Soon after the statue’s erection in 2003 a joke circulated which compared the pose of each of the statues of kings in Vientiane as if they were sitting around having a glass of beer. The statue of Sisavangvong was purported to be saying, with his hand up, ‘thanks I have enough.’ Setthathilath who sits jauntily in front of the That Luang stupa, is saying ‘I’ll sit this round out.’ While Fa Ngum with his finger raised in the air is calling for “Ik keo neung!” one more beer! Commanding indeed.
MattB (34). What makes you think that Bhumibhol’s long reign is fundamentally different from those of Marcos or Suharto? It seems to me that the differences are superficial, mainly that Bhumibol has ruled through an absolutist cabal, and that constitutional processes have been a sham manipulated by it. If this is the main difference then it would seem, if anything, to be more corrupt than those other régimes. The Thai Parliament is so used to being dictated to by an outside cabal, that when large numbers of its members are disqualified (in processes organised by the royal cabal), it carries on as if nothing happened. It very much suits the royal cabal for the Parliament to operate as a means of corruptly distributing tax-payers’ money to members and their bosses, rather than a respected and genuinely powerful body that makes the laws. The stink of it keeps the status of the democratic institution low in the eyes of the Thai people.
Peter just to add a bit to your comments. It appears that the grenade attack was coordinated by multiple persons at once. Depending on who they were this could be a very important piece of information.
[…] of the Thai regime. The international community, and bodies such as Amnesty International (whose tacit acceptance of lese majeste imprisonments is problematic), need to implement a coherent campaign where it is made clear that the Thai regime […]
Unknown assailants fired five grenades with the M-79 grenade launchers at the Fifth Special Warfare Regiment in Chiang Mai’s Mae Rim district Thursday night (The Nation).
The above attack followed a prediction by Chiengmai MP Surapong on a top general’s plan to stage a coup in October (see Bkk Post a few days ago). Surapong claimed the coup’s pretext is to save state money from being grabbed by greedy politicians, but personally I think the motive may change in view of the coming 19 September “celebrations” (4th anniv of the 2006 coup and 4th month of the Ratchaprasong crackdown). From the 19th onwards, the temperature will rise up to the extent that Abhisit will no longer be able to run the country due to the resurgent reds’ activities and this worries the military. This is complicated by the shootings of two husband-wife teachers in the South and the pressure from the Saudis over the appointment of a police general (ironically based in Chiengmai earlier and resented by local people).
A more revealing angle on Thaksin’s wealth is not how much he owned, but WHAT he owned :
it was concentrated heavily in emerging hi-tech sectors of the Thai economy.
Unlike Thailand’s traditional elite, Thaksin’s wealth was not based on land-ownership, but instead on a sharpened spearhead of Thailand’s economy.
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The red’s northern challenge
Suzie?
р╣Ар╕лр╕вр╕╖р╣Ир╕нр╕ер╣Ир╕▓ means ‘bait’ doesn’t it? Was the young red guard placed as bait to lure the state soldiers? Or is the Thai press tainting the facts?
I for one do not condone the use of human bait. I am uncomfortable with the idea that someone’s life is considered dispensible by some higher ‘elite’. The idea of democracy is that people’s lives, or opinions are equal. The use of human bait must come in the form of self sacrifice…or courage. To push someone out in front of you, into the firing line, is cowardly. Call it tactical if you like, but it sounds like the kind of rubbish behaviour we want rid of.
Do these people know what they want? Yes, they haven’t had much of a chance to understand virtue and values etc, but is ‘red’ just another shade of ‘yellow’?
Teaching tips – how to keep students engaged
sounds like readers here think it’s the teacher’s fault. As a university professor, my respect goes out to her for having the guts of doing what most teachers (including me) keep dreaming of. Just today I had to get mad again when 3 students were using their bloody blackberries (one was talking on the phone, the others were typing) during another teacher’s explanation. Maybe some of you are not aware how rude and disrespectful certain students can be. That mostly happens in private universities. In fact, I hardly see anything like that during my lessons at the other – public – institute I teach at.
Smallholder rubber profits
On a related note, historian Bin Yang published an article on the zhiqing (sent-down youth) that discusses the proliferation of rubber plantations in Sipsongpanna:
Bin Yang (2009). “We Want to Go Home!” The Great Petition of the Zhiqing, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, 1978–1979. The China Quarterly, 198 , pp 401-421
Abhisit and Thailand’s bad men
Had Indonesia and the Philippines been blessed with a King like Thailand’s, these countries would have prospered immensely more definitely . . . you can take my word for it.
But if not, just compare how Thailand had zoomed up in prosperity, past Philippines, Indonesia, Burma which are countries possessing same potentials as Thailand at the end of WWII . . . but had lagged terribly behind.
Abhisit and Thailand’s bad men
Had Indonesia and the Philippines been blessed with a King like Thailand’s, these countries would have prospered immensely more definitely . . . you can take my word for it.
But if not, just compare how Thailand had zoomed up in prosperity, past Philippines, Indonesa, Burma which are countries possessing same potentials as Thailand at the end of WWII . . . but had lagged terribly behind.
Thailand’s royal disgrace
Re: “They do not understand that free speech does not mean that you are free to lie and insult other people.” (Somkiet)
Actually, Somkiet, that’s exactly what free speech means.
As for “lies”, lese-majeste isn’t intended to protect the monarchy against slander: it protects them against all forms of criticism, including–or especially–the truth.
Teaching tips – how to keep students engaged
Hilarious. Reminds me of this clip I saw years ago: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hut3VRL5XRE
Teaching tips – how to keep students engaged
Ha Ha! You should see another school where a teacher hit students buttocks with rattan and rope tight together with all of his strength. When the parents complaint to the principal, the principal tried to negotiate by bribing those parents. Some parents disagreed and reported to the police. That teacher was then suspended. The wound were so severe. It would take months to be cured. It reminds me of a caning punishment in Singapore of which the wound will last a life time. But those punishment are for a serious crime. But this is school’s punishment, not a severe offend. The education system in Thailand really need a big change. It is wrong to criticize or argue with the teachers when you have doubt in what the teachers teach you. He or she will be very upset when a student stand up and challenge them. The system just want you to obey to what elderly people teach you, so when you argue with them, it means you are a bad boy. That teacher might even take revenge by giving you bad grade or bad comment. You may even have to see the principal for that action. The school might even invite your parents for some serious discussion in your behavior.
Well! this is Thailand, the land where they want all of their citizens to follow what their great leader says. No more no less.
Teaching tips – how to keep students engaged
Take it from abroad and make suitable for our culture …
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sESVQlxxNlU
Abhisit and Thailand’s bad men
This article puts the king in that company:
http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2010/09/09/lessons-for-indonesia-from-thailand-strengthen-institutions-before-the-crisis/
Amnesty’s silence on lese majeste
[…] of the Thai regime. The international community, and bodies such as Amnesty International (whose tacit acceptance of lese majeste imprisonments is problematic), need to implement a coherent campaign where it is made clear that the Thai regime […]
Robert Amsterdam on a “Strategy of Tension” in Bangkok
[…] for any election. At the same time, there is growing indication that the administration is itself engaged in a campaign of terror designed to justify the continued recourse to emergency powers through a string of mysterious, […]
Amnesty’s silence on lese majeste
[…] of the Thai regime. The international community, and bodies such as Amnesty International (whose tacit acceptance of lese majeste imprisonments is problematic), need to implement a coherent campaign where it is made clear that the Thai regime […]
Robert Amsterdam on a “Strategy of Tension” in Bangkok
[…] for any election. At the same time, there is growing indication that the administration is itself engaged in a campaign of terror designed to justify the continued recourse to emergency powers through a string of mysterious, […]
National celebrations and historiography in Laos
For Bak Falang who is impressed by the statue of Fa Ngum’s ‘commanding pose’: Soon after the statue’s erection in 2003 a joke circulated which compared the pose of each of the statues of kings in Vientiane as if they were sitting around having a glass of beer. The statue of Sisavangvong was purported to be saying, with his hand up, ‘thanks I have enough.’ Setthathilath who sits jauntily in front of the That Luang stupa, is saying ‘I’ll sit this round out.’ While Fa Ngum with his finger raised in the air is calling for “Ik keo neung!” one more beer! Commanding indeed.
Abhisit and Thailand’s bad men
MattB (34). What makes you think that Bhumibhol’s long reign is fundamentally different from those of Marcos or Suharto? It seems to me that the differences are superficial, mainly that Bhumibol has ruled through an absolutist cabal, and that constitutional processes have been a sham manipulated by it. If this is the main difference then it would seem, if anything, to be more corrupt than those other régimes. The Thai Parliament is so used to being dictated to by an outside cabal, that when large numbers of its members are disqualified (in processes organised by the royal cabal), it carries on as if nothing happened. It very much suits the royal cabal for the Parliament to operate as a means of corruptly distributing tax-payers’ money to members and their bosses, rather than a respected and genuinely powerful body that makes the laws. The stink of it keeps the status of the democratic institution low in the eyes of the Thai people.
The red’s northern challenge
Peter just to add a bit to your comments. It appears that the grenade attack was coordinated by multiple persons at once. Depending on who they were this could be a very important piece of information.
Amnesty’s silence on lese majeste
[…] of the Thai regime. The international community, and bodies such as Amnesty International (whose tacit acceptance of lese majeste imprisonments is problematic), need to implement a coherent campaign where it is made clear that the Thai regime […]
The red’s northern challenge
Unknown assailants fired five grenades with the M-79 grenade launchers at the Fifth Special Warfare Regiment in Chiang Mai’s Mae Rim district Thursday night (The Nation).
The above attack followed a prediction by Chiengmai MP Surapong on a top general’s plan to stage a coup in October (see Bkk Post a few days ago). Surapong claimed the coup’s pretext is to save state money from being grabbed by greedy politicians, but personally I think the motive may change in view of the coming 19 September “celebrations” (4th anniv of the 2006 coup and 4th month of the Ratchaprasong crackdown). From the 19th onwards, the temperature will rise up to the extent that Abhisit will no longer be able to run the country due to the resurgent reds’ activities and this worries the military. This is complicated by the shootings of two husband-wife teachers in the South and the pressure from the Saudis over the appointment of a police general (ironically based in Chiengmai earlier and resented by local people).
Just wait for the interesting times in October.
Thailand’s hungry military
A more revealing angle on Thaksin’s wealth is not how much he owned, but WHAT he owned :
it was concentrated heavily in emerging hi-tech sectors of the Thai economy.
Unlike Thailand’s traditional elite, Thaksin’s wealth was not based on land-ownership, but instead on a sharpened spearhead of Thailand’s economy.