Colin: “People talk of revolution from the middle class, I disagree, what needs revolution is this sort of thinking that makes young women go out and do these sorts of things. Thailand should not be a place where wifes can be bought, but a place where the poorest still have enough sense to keep their pride and not sell themselves so cheaply.”
It’s a little more complex than that – Have you considered who set the conditions where such choices are seen a viable by so many of the poor?
I’ve also seen arguments that the elite profit from those conditions in at least 2 ways:
– Who own the tourist resorts & other such infrastructure?
– They don’t mind having an alternative support system for the poor as it avoids the higher taxes needed for a welfare state.
The car of the DSI member who happened to have laptop containing all file related to the case was broken in, and of cause, the theft stole the laptop and nothing else of valuable. Furthermore, there were many other cars there, but it so happened to be this one particular one.
Don’t you think this is too fishy?
Anything else to show that Democrats had more money to run the elections?
There’s no way to know who got more money, but I’m darn sure that the Dem is not poor, I dined with Apimongkon Sonakul and his gang before, they are loaded. Furthermore, look at who supporting the PAD and the Dem, they were majority of the upper class and the elite, they can get the PAD protest going for months. It cost 1 million a day to run the protest according to Mr. Sondhi himself. If the PAD can get that kind of support then I’m sure the Dem will get the same treatment.
Not to sound crass, but this ‘situation’ is too often typical. Thais seem to feel that those with must give what they have to those without, or those who are married to foreigners somehow deserve lesser respect. In my in-laws’ case this has not occurred because they have all been self-sufficient. But recently a Thai niece referred to me in a very dismissive and shameful manner, alluding to my being the owner of the soi she parked her car on and blocked my access. When I blew the horn she came out, very unhappy, then made these strange remarks. When I asked her whether she respected anyone older than she, she said, “No!”
Thailand is, like anyplace else, a bit more complex than it sometimes appears, even to Thais born there who have not seen the other side of the coin.
In your case, if that young lady is to be given any advice, it is to explain the facts of life to her family and tell them they are on their own.
Something interesting and relevant happened to my wife yesterday that opened her eyes a bit wider to this discussion.
Now before I go on, my wife is NOT from Isan but comes from a poor family that has worked harder than I would say is humanly possible to get “middle class” status. Her mother has no education past year 6 (12 years old) and left school to work in a pineapple factory many years ago for barely enough to survive.
Anyway, my wife has a friend from Isan, a girl the same age of 26. Her friend has an Australian husband that is 38 (I have no problem with this at all, strictly their business and they are both good people). To get straight to the point, this girls life is quite stressful because of her surroundings, the people around her see her as a money tree and the husband as the money seeds. Because her husband is white, her mother complains to her that she has not bought her a car and new house. The reason why she expects this??? The other girls in the village who have white husbands, have bought their parents new cars and have built new homes. Is this just keeping up with the Jones’ on a Thai level??
Now, my wife was so surprised by this, she came running to tell me. She was speechless, only gave me this look like she was telling me how disgusted she was but at the same time felt so sorry for her friend, because she knew that it was not her fault.
This kind of situation is rife in Thailand…it is disgusting that a parent treats their children like this. People talk of revolution from the middle class, I disagree, what needs revolution is this sort of thinking that makes young women go out and do these sorts of things. Thailand should not be a place where wifes can be bought, but a place where the poorest still have enough sense to keep their pride and not sell themselves so cheaply. Then, and only then will the middle class start taking the poor seriously, when they start thinking about their own actions and how it affects not just themselves, but the image of the country as a place to “buy” a wife.
I first read the article without looking at the title or author. Afterwards I curiously looked at the top to see who wrote it. You could believe my amazement when I saw your name! Drop me a quick line so I can fill you in on the last 8 years! Good to see what you are up to these days. As to the content, I think any reform solutions will require strong outside political leadership which the police higher-ups are willing to trust, respect, work with, and also fear; police higher-ups who want reform and have power to make changes; strong pressure from the citizenry and media; and culture change. And in all of this it doesn’t help that political factions try to “capture” police loyalty and use it as a political weapon/shield! Some investigation into other countries who have faced and overcome similar obstacles might be useful. Finally the cynic will always throw this bone: having a dysfunctional and corrupt police force uniquely benefits which groups in society?
Police reform SOUNDS good. To begin with, policemen could be paid decent salaries. Given training in the law.
Yet I am afraid it would still not make much of a difference if the goal is a police force that actually “serves and protects” the PUBLIC (and can possibly gain its respect in doing so).
Because that’s not Thailand. The realities of a society stuck in a patronage (not to say “feudalistic”) system simply don’t permit it. Accountability applies to the individual environment and the patrons but – god forbid – not beyond.
It requires a revolution on the big stage of politics to create a backdrop that allows a genuine reform of the police. Doesn’t look so good, does it?
There’s also a non-political factor when it comes to “law and order”: As we know, you avoid conflicts in the “Land of Smiles”. People smile and ignore and smile and ignore. However, that doesn’t mean the conflict goes away. And when it gets too much, people explode. Thailand has the highest homicide rate in Asia (says Wikipedia).
Suwicha was released yesterday by royal pardon. Today he went to Sirirat Hospital to pay respect to HM and gave an interview, thanking HM for showing mercy and urging all Thai to be grateful to what HM has done to the country. Suwicha also called on all those who ‘did wrong’ [on LM issue], either ‘for lack of knowledge/understanding’ [р╕гр╕╣р╣Йр╣Ар╕Чр╣Ир╕▓р╣Др╕бр╣Ир╕Цр╕╢р╕Зр╕Бр╕▓р╕гр╕Ур╣М] to change their behaviors.
I’ve made a video clip of news report from Channel 5 military TV (29 June, 20.00). NM readers can download it here. http://www.mediafire.com/?zmjgmhkynnm
The clip contains the whole report of people going to Sirirat to pay respect to HM for today It’s a regular daily segment on all TV channels nowsaday (part of the ‘Royal Family News’ segment), but only Channel 5 seems to include news of Suwicha’s being there. Suwicha appears at the end of the clip beginning around minute 1.20
My point is less a comment than a question. I’ve tried to find some further information about this project. As of today, I’ve found only an article in The Vientiane Times. Even in the Chinese newspapers and websites, there were only reports based on the Vientiane Times’ story.
Also, are you certain that this project is going on? Do you have any idea of the budget and of the railway’s map?
Under all the other fundamental issues in Thailand I think is that almost everyone has swallowed the rantings of Sondhi Lim and believes the worst of Thaksin and that we have to be cynical of all politicians…
This self-defeating conclusion means no escape from the “hidden” state is possible.
I have stood back and tried to be objective, not easy as I live under quite a stable democracy in Australia, but even here I can see similar forces at work, thankfully the forces have found a different equilibrium here, and what a difference this makes!
In Australia we have a UK based monarch with agents in Australia paid a salary that almost all the time have purely symbolic document signing and representation role.
In Thailand you have a fabulously rich royal family that is key to the overt and covert patronage networks. The hidden state uses the protection of the monarchy as their excuse for ignoring any power threat that might arise from an elected government.
The military in Australia are subservient to the elected government, cannot engage in public debate or any business activities. Their upper echelons are appointed by the government. Military personnel are subject to military and civilian law.
The Thai military (BPP, etc) are out of control, they engage in legal and illegal businesses, they threaten the government for access to public money, are famous for corrupt equipment and services acquisition and engage in all sorts of atrocities but rarely subject to legal sanctions.
This is the environment that Thaksin had to operate an elected government with a solid mandate from the people to implement his policies.
My observation is that he tried to work with the existing forces to achieve his policies and overtime attempted to exert his authority to restructure them.
He engaged with the people of Thailand and observed the democratic election cycle to maintain his mandate. Internationally, he engaged more with China than the USA perhaps to loosen the Thai-USA military nexus mentioned by Jakrapob. He broadened Thailands trade relationships. He intervened in the military hierarchy reshuffle ( a prime reason for the coup).
Meanwhile Thaksin recognised that the telecommunication industry was restructuring worldwide and changed Thai regulations to improve private competition (marginally to Shun Corp detriment).
I think Thaksin sold Shin Corp because it was near its peak value and, as is normal in Thai business he arranged the sale by share transfer knowing tax is (still) not payable on such deals. He was probably astounded when Sondhi made this a cause celebre.
I am sure we can go on ad nauseum about all the perceived Thaksin wrongs but I dont think its worth discussing things like the “extra-judicial: killings until we see the soldiers that actually committed the killings brought to justice. Once the crimes are proven then those responsible up the chain of command should be pursued. After all that I will be willing to consider charges against the relevant PM (Thaksin, Abhisit, etc) .
I don’t know how real 258 mil is, EC chairman decided to drop the case after the investigations, then the full board unexpectedly voted on it in the middle of the red shirt rally when reds threated commissioners lives.
Then the attorney general sent it back for the lack of evidence, now they are obliged to sit together and spend another month trying to formulate the case again.
And it’s all related to paying for election posters, of all things.
Anything else to show that Democrats had more money to run the elections? Anyone else who thought so in those years?
Les Abbey, I don’t believe there are shakedowns on any significant scale, not involving fully legitimate businesses.
On the other hand, I know of some fully legit businesses that need a bit of a slack on law enforcement side here and there and they happily pay the police to look the other way.
And then there’s vice trade that needs to pay up to stay open, can’t call it a shakedown.
There’s a gap between the legality, how the society wants to present itself, and the reality, what the country really is, and those who can’t or don’t want to live to impossible expectations desperately need corrupt police force who are happy to help. That includes not only businesses but their patrons, too.
It’s the symbiosis and so far the system of operates smoothly, and why fix what is not broken?
Police reform. That is one hell of an issue but reform cant really even be approached without taking into account the position of the police in historical and current power politics. The rivalry with the army, the ding dong over the navy and more recently their sudden acquisition or should that be inheritance of a very large proportion of one of the countries most lucrative trades. Throw in human rights issues which are routinely dismissed by polticians and the powerful of absolutely every persuasion as nothing and of course fear.
Police reform may be much talked about but hardly likley to be seen in the near future. The polity is too weak to challenge such powerful institutional players and the one time it may have been powerful enough the said institution was used in an attempt, ultimately unsuccesful, to counterbalance other institutions in what became a bit of a revisit of 60s history in institutional rivalry.
I’ve been following the discussions on Australian media about the new administration under Ms. Gillard.
Immigration will always be a big issue in any nation. How it is debated will be an indication of whether there is a genuine attempt to resolve the issue or simply use it for political expediency.
In the next few weeks, I await to see how Ms. Gillard addresses the problem of immigration and refugees.
I believe Australia has the resources and capability to manage the current number of immigrants & refugees ( i think its in the region of 300,000++ a year).
But I am also interested to see how Ms. Gillard will manage the mining tax and climate change/carbon emissions tax and on the international front, whether she will be as much as an “internationalist” as Rudd was.
Frankly, I thought Rudd was good for the region as he forced the region to start talking to one another seriously by bringing up the APC, never mind the fact that it was not a very good idea.
In my opinion, the key point is the one put forward by Singapore
“…The island state has long been a staunch ally of the West, but APC, if materialised, could potentially sharpen the tensions and conflicts – currently under control – among the regional powers.”
One of the key reason that ASEAN is “neutral” and advocates “non-interference” is to avoid big-power competition.
This is an awkward policy – best displayed by Malaysia under Mahathir – who had strong security relationship with the west (U.S., U.K., Australia & New Zealand) – even stronger that with the East (Japan, India or China) but saw no qualms about ridiculing the west.
But the point remains – this policy of limited involvement works. Hence, how should ASEAN – who relies on the west to underwrite its security – address greater interests by the U.S. & Australia in the region without being drawn into big power competition?
Are the current frameworks – Asean Regional Forum, G20, APEC, ASEAN + 3, East Asia Summit – sufficient?
How to reform the Thai police? Well the obvious regarding decent pay and decentralization.
Then something like an internal affairs division with real power to act on public complaints. Tell mid-range officers they have to serve in this division with distinction if they hope to land a senior position in the future. Encourage the public to use their camera phones to record shakedowns and send them in.
On the other hand, Gordon Brown in the UK who was in very similar position to Gillard managed to stay in for a couple of years. It’s how parliamentary democracy works. Far from perfect, but the perfect system hasn’t been created yet.
Perhaps I didn’t make it quite clear in the text, for which I apologize, but I don’t endorse harsh police tactics. Rather, I wanted simply to point out that I think that such support does exist in Thailand (and many other places, including the city where I am from) and that this, among other things, makes change difficult. Its funny, in a lot of ways I agree with John’s comment about decentralization and democratization of policing, but this decentralized model of policing is in some ways what the police reforms of the late nineteenth century to the 1930s was targeted to eliminate.
Australian companies funding human rights abuses in Burma
Australia’s Twinza Oil is currently doing exploration for oil and gas in Burma. Should Twinza Oil’s project move forward, it is extremely likely a pipeline will be built which will cause more Burmese soldiers to be deployed along the pipeline, resulting increased human rights violations against villagers and it is estimated that Burma’s military regime will earn US$2.5 billion over the lifetime of Twinza Oil’s project.
This money will help fund Burma’s military dictatorship, one of the worst military regime and violator of human rights in the world.
At present there is nothing to stop Australian companies like Twinza Oil investing in Burma, despite the severe negative impacts and direct links to human rights violations these projects have. Targeted sanctions would stop companies like Twinza Oil, profiting from the oppression of others.
No impact on ordinary citizens
Targeted trade and investment sanctions against Burma would only affect the regime and individuals who have financially profited from the brutal oppression of the Burmese population.
Burma Economic Watch, a group of economic professors from Macquarie University, estimates that trade and investment sanctions targeting Burma’s oil and gas industry would at the most negatively affect less than 1% of Burma’s population.
Facebook 
Twitter 
Soundcloud 
Youtube 
Rss
Sex, love and vote-buying
Colin: “People talk of revolution from the middle class, I disagree, what needs revolution is this sort of thinking that makes young women go out and do these sorts of things. Thailand should not be a place where wifes can be bought, but a place where the poorest still have enough sense to keep their pride and not sell themselves so cheaply.”
It’s a little more complex than that – Have you considered who set the conditions where such choices are seen a viable by so many of the poor?
I’ve also seen arguments that the elite profit from those conditions in at least 2 ways:
– Who own the tourist resorts & other such infrastructure?
– They don’t mind having an alternative support system for the poor as it avoids the higher taxes needed for a welfare state.
KhiKwai (Federico) has some good writing on this subject http://khikwai.com/blog/2009/10/02/thailand-for-sale-redux/
(better still, get his book ‘Thailand Unhinged’ http://www.equinoxpublishing.com/product_info.php?products_id=255)
Suwicha Thakor still locked up
That is a good news!
Is there any similar possibility for Da Torpedo and others e.g. Ji, Jakrapob, Suchart, etc. ? It certainly would help the reconciliation.
Thailand in crisis: Episode 4
StanG – 61
The car of the DSI member who happened to have laptop containing all file related to the case was broken in, and of cause, the theft stole the laptop and nothing else of valuable. Furthermore, there were many other cars there, but it so happened to be this one particular one.
Don’t you think this is too fishy?
Anything else to show that Democrats had more money to run the elections?
There’s no way to know who got more money, but I’m darn sure that the Dem is not poor, I dined with Apimongkon Sonakul and his gang before, they are loaded. Furthermore, look at who supporting the PAD and the Dem, they were majority of the upper class and the elite, they can get the PAD protest going for months. It cost 1 million a day to run the protest according to Mr. Sondhi himself. If the PAD can get that kind of support then I’m sure the Dem will get the same treatment.
Sex, love and vote-buying
Not to sound crass, but this ‘situation’ is too often typical. Thais seem to feel that those with must give what they have to those without, or those who are married to foreigners somehow deserve lesser respect. In my in-laws’ case this has not occurred because they have all been self-sufficient. But recently a Thai niece referred to me in a very dismissive and shameful manner, alluding to my being the owner of the soi she parked her car on and blocked my access. When I blew the horn she came out, very unhappy, then made these strange remarks. When I asked her whether she respected anyone older than she, she said, “No!”
Thailand is, like anyplace else, a bit more complex than it sometimes appears, even to Thais born there who have not seen the other side of the coin.
In your case, if that young lady is to be given any advice, it is to explain the facts of life to her family and tell them they are on their own.
Sex, love and vote-buying
Something interesting and relevant happened to my wife yesterday that opened her eyes a bit wider to this discussion.
Now before I go on, my wife is NOT from Isan but comes from a poor family that has worked harder than I would say is humanly possible to get “middle class” status. Her mother has no education past year 6 (12 years old) and left school to work in a pineapple factory many years ago for barely enough to survive.
Anyway, my wife has a friend from Isan, a girl the same age of 26. Her friend has an Australian husband that is 38 (I have no problem with this at all, strictly their business and they are both good people). To get straight to the point, this girls life is quite stressful because of her surroundings, the people around her see her as a money tree and the husband as the money seeds. Because her husband is white, her mother complains to her that she has not bought her a car and new house. The reason why she expects this??? The other girls in the village who have white husbands, have bought their parents new cars and have built new homes. Is this just keeping up with the Jones’ on a Thai level??
Now, my wife was so surprised by this, she came running to tell me. She was speechless, only gave me this look like she was telling me how disgusted she was but at the same time felt so sorry for her friend, because she knew that it was not her fault.
This kind of situation is rife in Thailand…it is disgusting that a parent treats their children like this. People talk of revolution from the middle class, I disagree, what needs revolution is this sort of thinking that makes young women go out and do these sorts of things. Thailand should not be a place where wifes can be bought, but a place where the poorest still have enough sense to keep their pride and not sell themselves so cheaply. Then, and only then will the middle class start taking the poor seriously, when they start thinking about their own actions and how it affects not just themselves, but the image of the country as a place to “buy” a wife.
Thai institutions: Police
Samson,
I first read the article without looking at the title or author. Afterwards I curiously looked at the top to see who wrote it. You could believe my amazement when I saw your name! Drop me a quick line so I can fill you in on the last 8 years! Good to see what you are up to these days. As to the content, I think any reform solutions will require strong outside political leadership which the police higher-ups are willing to trust, respect, work with, and also fear; police higher-ups who want reform and have power to make changes; strong pressure from the citizenry and media; and culture change. And in all of this it doesn’t help that political factions try to “capture” police loyalty and use it as a political weapon/shield! Some investigation into other countries who have faced and overcome similar obstacles might be useful. Finally the cynic will always throw this bone: having a dysfunctional and corrupt police force uniquely benefits which groups in society?
Cheers,
Jay Harriman
Cheers,
Jay
Thai institutions: Police
Police reform SOUNDS good. To begin with, policemen could be paid decent salaries. Given training in the law.
Yet I am afraid it would still not make much of a difference if the goal is a police force that actually “serves and protects” the PUBLIC (and can possibly gain its respect in doing so).
Because that’s not Thailand. The realities of a society stuck in a patronage (not to say “feudalistic”) system simply don’t permit it. Accountability applies to the individual environment and the patrons but – god forbid – not beyond.
It requires a revolution on the big stage of politics to create a backdrop that allows a genuine reform of the police. Doesn’t look so good, does it?
There’s also a non-political factor when it comes to “law and order”: As we know, you avoid conflicts in the “Land of Smiles”. People smile and ignore and smile and ignore. However, that doesn’t mean the conflict goes away. And when it gets too much, people explode. Thailand has the highest homicide rate in Asia (says Wikipedia).
Bangkok shophouses
Very nice! The Kathmandu Gallery is also a very well chosen location! Thank you very much for pointing this out.
Suwicha Thakor still locked up
Suwicha was released yesterday by royal pardon. Today he went to Sirirat Hospital to pay respect to HM and gave an interview, thanking HM for showing mercy and urging all Thai to be grateful to what HM has done to the country. Suwicha also called on all those who ‘did wrong’ [on LM issue], either ‘for lack of knowledge/understanding’ [р╕гр╕╣р╣Йр╣Ар╕Чр╣Ир╕▓р╣Др╕бр╣Ир╕Цр╕╢р╕Зр╕Бр╕▓р╕гр╕Ур╣М] to change their behaviors.
I’ve made a video clip of news report from Channel 5 military TV (29 June, 20.00). NM readers can download it here.
http://www.mediafire.com/?zmjgmhkynnm
The clip contains the whole report of people going to Sirirat to pay respect to HM for today It’s a regular daily segment on all TV channels nowsaday (part of the ‘Royal Family News’ segment), but only Channel 5 seems to include news of Suwicha’s being there. Suwicha appears at the end of the clip beginning around minute 1.20
Lao development on track?
Hello,
My point is less a comment than a question. I’ve tried to find some further information about this project. As of today, I’ve found only an article in The Vientiane Times. Even in the Chinese newspapers and websites, there were only reports based on the Vientiane Times’ story.
Also, are you certain that this project is going on? Do you have any idea of the budget and of the railway’s map?
Thanks in advance
Fran├зois Gerles
Jakrapob on the state within the state
Excellent statement by Jakropob.
Under all the other fundamental issues in Thailand I think is that almost everyone has swallowed the rantings of Sondhi Lim and believes the worst of Thaksin and that we have to be cynical of all politicians…
This self-defeating conclusion means no escape from the “hidden” state is possible.
I have stood back and tried to be objective, not easy as I live under quite a stable democracy in Australia, but even here I can see similar forces at work, thankfully the forces have found a different equilibrium here, and what a difference this makes!
In Australia we have a UK based monarch with agents in Australia paid a salary that almost all the time have purely symbolic document signing and representation role.
In Thailand you have a fabulously rich royal family that is key to the overt and covert patronage networks. The hidden state uses the protection of the monarchy as their excuse for ignoring any power threat that might arise from an elected government.
The military in Australia are subservient to the elected government, cannot engage in public debate or any business activities. Their upper echelons are appointed by the government. Military personnel are subject to military and civilian law.
The Thai military (BPP, etc) are out of control, they engage in legal and illegal businesses, they threaten the government for access to public money, are famous for corrupt equipment and services acquisition and engage in all sorts of atrocities but rarely subject to legal sanctions.
This is the environment that Thaksin had to operate an elected government with a solid mandate from the people to implement his policies.
My observation is that he tried to work with the existing forces to achieve his policies and overtime attempted to exert his authority to restructure them.
He engaged with the people of Thailand and observed the democratic election cycle to maintain his mandate. Internationally, he engaged more with China than the USA perhaps to loosen the Thai-USA military nexus mentioned by Jakrapob. He broadened Thailands trade relationships. He intervened in the military hierarchy reshuffle ( a prime reason for the coup).
Meanwhile Thaksin recognised that the telecommunication industry was restructuring worldwide and changed Thai regulations to improve private competition (marginally to Shun Corp detriment).
I think Thaksin sold Shin Corp because it was near its peak value and, as is normal in Thai business he arranged the sale by share transfer knowing tax is (still) not payable on such deals. He was probably astounded when Sondhi made this a cause celebre.
I am sure we can go on ad nauseum about all the perceived Thaksin wrongs but I dont think its worth discussing things like the “extra-judicial: killings until we see the soldiers that actually committed the killings brought to justice. Once the crimes are proven then those responsible up the chain of command should be pursued. After all that I will be willing to consider charges against the relevant PM (Thaksin, Abhisit, etc) .
Thailand in crisis: Episode 4
I don’t know how real 258 mil is, EC chairman decided to drop the case after the investigations, then the full board unexpectedly voted on it in the middle of the red shirt rally when reds threated commissioners lives.
Then the attorney general sent it back for the lack of evidence, now they are obliged to sit together and spend another month trying to formulate the case again.
And it’s all related to paying for election posters, of all things.
Anything else to show that Democrats had more money to run the elections? Anyone else who thought so in those years?
Thai institutions: Police
Les Abbey, I don’t believe there are shakedowns on any significant scale, not involving fully legitimate businesses.
On the other hand, I know of some fully legit businesses that need a bit of a slack on law enforcement side here and there and they happily pay the police to look the other way.
And then there’s vice trade that needs to pay up to stay open, can’t call it a shakedown.
There’s a gap between the legality, how the society wants to present itself, and the reality, what the country really is, and those who can’t or don’t want to live to impossible expectations desperately need corrupt police force who are happy to help. That includes not only businesses but their patrons, too.
It’s the symbiosis and so far the system of operates smoothly, and why fix what is not broken?
What exactly do they hope to reform?
Thai institutions: Police
Police reform. That is one hell of an issue but reform cant really even be approached without taking into account the position of the police in historical and current power politics. The rivalry with the army, the ding dong over the navy and more recently their sudden acquisition or should that be inheritance of a very large proportion of one of the countries most lucrative trades. Throw in human rights issues which are routinely dismissed by polticians and the powerful of absolutely every persuasion as nothing and of course fear.
Police reform may be much talked about but hardly likley to be seen in the near future. The polity is too weak to challenge such powerful institutional players and the one time it may have been powerful enough the said institution was used in an attempt, ultimately unsuccesful, to counterbalance other institutions in what became a bit of a revisit of 60s history in institutional rivalry.
Rudd and the APC – dead in the water?
In response to LesAbbey:
I’ve been following the discussions on Australian media about the new administration under Ms. Gillard.
Immigration will always be a big issue in any nation. How it is debated will be an indication of whether there is a genuine attempt to resolve the issue or simply use it for political expediency.
In the next few weeks, I await to see how Ms. Gillard addresses the problem of immigration and refugees.
I believe Australia has the resources and capability to manage the current number of immigrants & refugees ( i think its in the region of 300,000++ a year).
But I am also interested to see how Ms. Gillard will manage the mining tax and climate change/carbon emissions tax and on the international front, whether she will be as much as an “internationalist” as Rudd was.
Frankly, I thought Rudd was good for the region as he forced the region to start talking to one another seriously by bringing up the APC, never mind the fact that it was not a very good idea.
Rudd and the APC – dead in the water?
In my opinion, the key point is the one put forward by Singapore
“…The island state has long been a staunch ally of the West, but APC, if materialised, could potentially sharpen the tensions and conflicts – currently under control – among the regional powers.”
One of the key reason that ASEAN is “neutral” and advocates “non-interference” is to avoid big-power competition.
This is an awkward policy – best displayed by Malaysia under Mahathir – who had strong security relationship with the west (U.S., U.K., Australia & New Zealand) – even stronger that with the East (Japan, India or China) but saw no qualms about ridiculing the west.
Read here and here
But the point remains – this policy of limited involvement works. Hence, how should ASEAN – who relies on the west to underwrite its security – address greater interests by the U.S. & Australia in the region without being drawn into big power competition?
Are the current frameworks – Asean Regional Forum, G20, APEC, ASEAN + 3, East Asia Summit – sufficient?
Thai institutions: Police
How to reform the Thai police? Well the obvious regarding decent pay and decentralization.
Then something like an internal affairs division with real power to act on public complaints. Tell mid-range officers they have to serve in this division with distinction if they hope to land a senior position in the future. Encourage the public to use their camera phones to record shakedowns and send them in.
Rudd and the APC – dead in the water?
Steve – 6
On the other hand, Gordon Brown in the UK who was in very similar position to Gillard managed to stay in for a couple of years. It’s how parliamentary democracy works. Far from perfect, but the perfect system hasn’t been created yet.
Thai institutions: Police
Hi Charles,
Perhaps I didn’t make it quite clear in the text, for which I apologize, but I don’t endorse harsh police tactics. Rather, I wanted simply to point out that I think that such support does exist in Thailand (and many other places, including the city where I am from) and that this, among other things, makes change difficult. Its funny, in a lot of ways I agree with John’s comment about decentralization and democratization of policing, but this decentralized model of policing is in some ways what the police reforms of the late nineteenth century to the 1930s was targeted to eliminate.
Samson
On oil exploration and Burma
Australian companies funding human rights abuses in Burma
Australia’s Twinza Oil is currently doing exploration for oil and gas in Burma. Should Twinza Oil’s project move forward, it is extremely likely a pipeline will be built which will cause more Burmese soldiers to be deployed along the pipeline, resulting increased human rights violations against villagers and it is estimated that Burma’s military regime will earn US$2.5 billion over the lifetime of Twinza Oil’s project.
This money will help fund Burma’s military dictatorship, one of the worst military regime and violator of human rights in the world.
At present there is nothing to stop Australian companies like Twinza Oil investing in Burma, despite the severe negative impacts and direct links to human rights violations these projects have. Targeted sanctions would stop companies like Twinza Oil, profiting from the oppression of others.
No impact on ordinary citizens
Targeted trade and investment sanctions against Burma would only affect the regime and individuals who have financially profited from the brutal oppression of the Burmese population.
Burma Economic Watch, a group of economic professors from Macquarie University, estimates that trade and investment sanctions targeting Burma’s oil and gas industry would at the most negatively affect less than 1% of Burma’s population.