In the Bangkpok Post of today, but in a different context, Sulak has this to day:
“The elite want to live under structural violence with inner peace and good conscience. They don’t want (radical) social change or emancipation. There’s something terribly reactionary about this position.”
Time for a brainstorming activity on living within your means. Collaborate, and choose a spokesman to present your conclusions . Messrs. Thaksin & Sonthi ought to be talking to Somsri and Somchai, since they are the only folks in the group who truly know what subsistence means. But no! Try to ensure that there is an interaction, and you still get the same old over-eager hand-raising race by those who think it is their prerogative alone. They are conditioned to react rapidly without considering at all what is actually being called for. It would be unrealistic to expect an opinion from Somsri and Somchai, who are themselves thoroughly conditioned into the habit of always allowing their more gregarious and rich classmates compete for all the attention. Poor classroom management, right! But stick to imposing outside approaches and you get nothing. Do what local teachers do and you get way too much ill thought-out input from the self-elected classroom cleverclogs.
It is at times like these when one is very inclined to conclude that one is thoroughly wasting one’s time. One might even wonder whether outside ways of doing stuff have any relevance at all here. Particularly since one probably ended up working here through redundancy at home. The rejects of one daft system trying to make converts among those thoroughly locked into another daft system. There is actually a lot to be said for early retirement, if one can afford the indulgence. But the grim reality is that one is locked into this bollocks until death or more redundancy do us part.
And already SE has morphed into just another form of corruption. Thailand’s finest are essentially very one trick ponies. And the pony has long been completely lame.
Re Thaksin’s challenge for Thailand is serious because “Thaksin does not think like a Thai” :
Hmmm…
1. ugly crony capitalism – check
2. never admits a mistake (except being too nice, of course) – check
3. a practiced liar – check
4. dodgy education -check
5. arguably never made an honest dollar in his life – check
…etc. etc.
Thaksin certainly seems to think and act a lot like many if not most of the ruling elite – red or yellow. So when the rich and powerful privelidged (?) elites openly display such gross immorality, it is no mystery why dishonesty and crime is so prevalent in the poor and middle classes who are just struggling to survive or provide for a better future for their kids.
Perhaps if there were double-sided signs at the airport reading: “MEGALOMANIACS AND PEDOPHILES NOT WELCOME HERE”
Not The Nation, Liberal Thai, UDD Today, etc — not a good time to be producing satire, translation, or political networks in the kingdom. What’s next?
Another point that continues to intrigue me about these efforts to “block” certain sites is that the implementation tends to be haphazard and incomplete. But, by the sounds of it, that may change soon. According to that report over 10,000 websites are blocked because they “are considered as affecting national security”. For a comparative dimension: that is 57.52% of the total number of blocked websites. Drug advertisements, gambling sites and pornographic material all pale into insignificance behind online security concerns. A full typology of these sites (and any updated list) would be interesting. Is this article still blocked? Apparently this is blocked too???
Randomly clicking around on other supposedly “blocked” sites reveals that many are no longer online, or have found a new home. And some, no doubt, have found other ways around the censorship. It was ever thus…
And one final thought: many readers will know that Thammasat University Library at Tha Phrachan has a collection of “politically banned books [that] mark an important period of the struggle for freedom from military dictatorship”. Should they be thinking about making an online archive to store all of the currently censored content? “Available only on special request”?
Yes, it does seem it’s gone the same way as the Not The Nation link you posted a few months back. mitc.gov.th has somehow stuck its oar in and we are therefore not allowed to see how the red half live.
Having read the judgement, I ADEQUATELY conclude that this terribly rude woman deserves this 18-year sentence (personally she should hang till death) as the yellow shirted and light-blue shirted she mentioned in her speech can SOLELY AND EXCLUSIVELY refer to ONLY our GREATEST king and queen. Additionally, our GREATEST General, Admiral, and Air Chief Mashal Prem cannot be accused of anything as accusing him is also subject to LESE MAJESTE laws.
I think in Thailand, we, including me, as a Thai don’t need any rationale behind WHAT we’ve been encouraged to what and being
informed “24/7 “. In other words, according to this CONSTITUTIONAL laws we don’t need any other choice rather than accepting this kind of dogma.
In fact, our king and queen don’t need to be accountable to anyone but being revered as they are like god and goddess who’ve done all the things for themse… oops! I mean for solely THAI PEOPLE, NOT for THEMSELVES. Thus, no wonder if they won’t do anything WRONG.
Last but not least, this’s why I can adequately say that I undoubtedly love and revere for my king and queen 🙂
Is it possible that this is the very same Stephen B. Young who wrote reports on “non-partipatory democracy” for USOM in 1966 and then had it published in 1968 in Asian Survey? That article was “The Northeastern Thai Village: A Non-Participatory Democracy” in Vol. 8, No. 11, pp. 873-86. There he was listed as employed by USAID in Vietnam, and the research was said to have been financed by Havard University.
His CIA links are explained in that biography: “Young served for the American Agency for International Development in the Republic of
Vietnam during the Vietnam War, working on village government reforms and economic development. Young developed unusual relationships with the Tan DaiViet Party of Vietnamese nationalists who formulated the strategy of pacification, rural development and constitutional reform that defeated the Communist insurgency in South Vietnam. Young’s work on village community development was recognized in his book on the Vietnam War by CIA Director William Colby and Young’s understanding of the realities of the Vietnam War were admired by President Richard Nixon, who asked Young to advise him in the writing of his book No More Vietnams.”
He is a Republican (not on Thailand!): “In 1996 Young ran for the nomination of the Republican Party of Minnesota for the United States Senate and in 1999 Young sought the Chairmanship of the Party on a coalition basis uniting social conservatives with moderates and independents.”
He has taught at SASIN, Chulalongkorn University, on
corporate social responsibility, something he has a deep interest in and which is reflected in an article he wrote about the economic crisis and the CPB’s businesses in 2002 as “Family Businesses and Reforms in Corporate Governance,” a paper presented at the Caux Round Table in Singapore, at the the Institute of Policy Studies (http://www.cauxroundtable.org/view_file.cfm?fileid=34).
A long and complicated history with Thailand, but just the kind of person the palace conservatives like having around.
I would apply the same skepticism though also about the claims that there were no dead.
I wouldn’t really say that the Red Shirts were outsmarted by the government. The whole thing was a fuck up on many levels by all, both Red Shirts and government (and i will write about some of that in my next book, i still wait for one or the other bit of information).
One thing though that i have observed – the government did not come out very strong after the Songkran riots (both internationally and locally), and contrary to speculation i have not seen a decrease of support for the Red Shirts here, on contrary – i have seen both organization and mobilization capabilities only increase since Songkran.
Apologies Nick. I wasn’t firing my rubber bullets at you, just at some of the more hot-headed posters who were so sure hundreds had been killed.
From experience in the Thai courts I can say That Thai lawyers are no more honest than those in the UK or the US. When one of them fails to produce the evidence I think I have the right to be very skeptical.
What I suspect there isn’t much argument about is that the red-shirt leadership and Thaksin in particular were out-smarted by Abhisit and whoever over Songkran. With so many supporters heading back upcountry for the holiday it really wasn’t the time to call for revolution and for the red-shirts to take over the various Bangkok intersections. If it had kicked off a week before or a week later then I suspect you may have got your bodies and a lot more wounded.
I visited the army base at Prachinburi province (east of Bangkok) after last Songkran. Along the road, you would see some forest. It’s dark at night.
Anyway, some of protester at Din Daeng were policemen, and they tried to stop the soldiers to hold their fire.
Two security guards of the Red-Shirt were found dead at Chao Praya river after the protest ended. The cause of death is mysterious.
A man with red-shirt and his girlfriend were dragged off motorcycle and beaten up by followers of Yellow Shirts, they are residents nearby government house.
If you want the truth, do some homework like Mr. Nick. Don’t let the Thai media do homework for you.
Seriously? But then again I note that this apparently happens to that site from time-to-time. Today I spent a fair bit of time trawling around UDD Today. From what I saw it was hardly that subversive. In fact I went away with a sense that much of the content was, well, innocuous. But far be it for me to say…
If somebody wants to point out the content on UDD Today that is considered illegal in Thailand I would be very grateful. Understanding the specifics of why a website of that ilk gets blocked is something we could all learn from.
Coincidentally, the same Stephen Young also features in an article in the Bangkk Post of 7 September 2009. His statements were as follows:
…
At a recent seminar entitled “Ethics in Thai Democracy: Do We Have It?”, organised by the Political Development Council, Stephen B Young, Caux Round Table Global executive director, said democracy could only work in an environment that is ruled by law and a fair justice system.
Mr Young said Thai jurisprudence has standards for judging the actions of leaders and rulers. These standards, he said, impose an ethic of fiduciary conduct and servant leadership on the outcomes of democracy, and should therefore be incorporated into Thai democracy to prevent its abuse at the hands of the unscrupulous.
Among the standards are barami (charisma) of a good patron who holds the trust and care of the people at his or her heart, and Tosapitratjatham, the 10 virtues for ethical leadership as well as the principle of sufficiency economy emphasising the middle path, foresight, rationality, self-responsibility and compassion.
He disagreed with the notion that Thailand was now greatly divided between the elite and grass-roots.
“There are only differences in opinion. All people have the right to vote. Look at Isan, say, in the early 70s and how it is now. Before there were few roads, now there is development and they are like Bangkok.”
He concluded that the challenge of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra for Thailand was serious because Thaksin does not “think like a Thai”.
“Other Thai leaders who had political problems at home – Pridi Banomyong, Plaek Pibulsonggram and Thanom Kittikachorn – they did not fight back nor try to restore their power after living in exile. But Thaksin is defiant,” Mr Young said.
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
From: [email protected]
Date: 09/05/2009 05:14AM
Subject: First CRT Regional Dialogue in Southeast Asia – Qur’anic Guidance for Good Governance and Sufficiency Economy Principles
Dear Friends and Colleagues:
The Round Table proposes to demonstrate that Southeast Asian ethical philosophies can make important contributions to the global community in the 21st Century. Two approaches familiar to the Caux Round Table have been selected for review and discussion. They are, first, understandings of Qur’anic Guidance for good governance evolving from workshops and study at the International Islamic University Malaysia, and second, the principles of a Sufficiency Economy articulated in a Theravada Buddhist context initially by His Majesty the King of Thailand.
To discuss these ethical approaches with global applicability, the CRT organized a dialogue in Bangkok. The Foreign Minister of Thailand, the. Hon. Kasit Piromya, hosted the dialogue at the Ministry. Tunku Abdul Aziz, CRT Coordinator for Southeast Asia, chaired the discussions. The dialogue was co-sponsored by Banyan Tree Global Foundation and the Institute for Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore. Khun Nick Pisalyaput, Chair of CRT Thailand most ably organized the sessions.
The statement of conclusions agreed to by participants is attached for your review.
Southeast Asia, throughout history a crossroads of people, cultures, trade and political influences, has a unique intellectual and moral relationship to decision-making. Southeast Asian cultures, communities and nations stand apart from the more hierarchical traditions and highly structured social patterns of Northeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent. In Southeast Asia, a deeply personal sense for the individual in the context of cosmic movement is paramount. Southeast Asian perspectives center on fluidity, the flow of time and the changing currents of circumstance. Southeast Asians, in general as there are always exceptions, seek a balance and a sense of due proportion in their relationships – neither too close to shore nor in over their heads. Adjusting one’s circumstances without loss of faith or self-confidence as larger trends reveal themselves is often seen as successful accomplishment.
This perspective gives rise to important insights about human nature and human opportunities, insights which deserve to be shared with the larger global community.
The study of Qur’an in the International Islamic University Malaysia reflects such a vision of a person’s place in being responsible as a Khalifa, or steward of God’s purposes and open to the needs for justice as they may arise in different settings.
The standards of a Sufficiency Economy similarly acknowledge the responsibility of companies to subordinate inordinate demands to the needs of the total environment which supports their profitability.
Sincerely yours,
Stephen B. Young
Global Executive Director
Caux Round Table http://www.cauxroundtable.org
6 West Fifth St., 3rd Floor
Saint Paul, MN 55102
Phone: (651) 223 2852
I am neither privy to the strategies of the lawyers, not to their information, and neither will i speculate about this.
I have never claimed a “massacre” took place. I have always stated that a have strong suspicions of some dead.
I can’t speak for people who claimed that a “massacre” took place, neither can i speak for the ones that say only fake bullets were used. I report what i see, what i believe to be true, and clearly state when i have no proof for my suspicions.
Yes, it would be interesting to know who has manufactured the tape, and who was the origin of the distribution. Again, i have only suspicions, and not enough evidence for those to voice them in public as they are based on only one source. I will not entertain speculation based on what i would at best describe on circumstantial evidence or pure rumor mongering.
Facebook 
Twitter 
Soundcloud 
Youtube 
Rss
$ufficiency economy
Ralph #31
That’s indeed him.
In the Bangkpok Post of today, but in a different context, Sulak has this to day:
“The elite want to live under structural violence with inner peace and good conscience. They don’t want (radical) social change or emancipation. There’s something terribly reactionary about this position.”
http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/23450/a-virtuous-life-in-the-service-of-humanity
$ufficiency economy
Time for a brainstorming activity on living within your means. Collaborate, and choose a spokesman to present your conclusions . Messrs. Thaksin & Sonthi ought to be talking to Somsri and Somchai, since they are the only folks in the group who truly know what subsistence means. But no! Try to ensure that there is an interaction, and you still get the same old over-eager hand-raising race by those who think it is their prerogative alone. They are conditioned to react rapidly without considering at all what is actually being called for. It would be unrealistic to expect an opinion from Somsri and Somchai, who are themselves thoroughly conditioned into the habit of always allowing their more gregarious and rich classmates compete for all the attention. Poor classroom management, right! But stick to imposing outside approaches and you get nothing. Do what local teachers do and you get way too much ill thought-out input from the self-elected classroom cleverclogs.
It is at times like these when one is very inclined to conclude that one is thoroughly wasting one’s time. One might even wonder whether outside ways of doing stuff have any relevance at all here. Particularly since one probably ended up working here through redundancy at home. The rejects of one daft system trying to make converts among those thoroughly locked into another daft system. There is actually a lot to be said for early retirement, if one can afford the indulgence. But the grim reality is that one is locked into this bollocks until death or more redundancy do us part.
$ufficiency economy
And already SE has morphed into just another form of corruption. Thailand’s finest are essentially very one trick ponies. And the pony has long been completely lame.
$ufficiency economy
Re Thaksin’s challenge for Thailand is serious because “Thaksin does not think like a Thai” :
Hmmm…
1. ugly crony capitalism – check
2. never admits a mistake (except being too nice, of course) – check
3. a practiced liar – check
4. dodgy education -check
5. arguably never made an honest dollar in his life – check
…etc. etc.
Thaksin certainly seems to think and act a lot like many if not most of the ruling elite – red or yellow. So when the rich and powerful privelidged (?) elites openly display such gross immorality, it is no mystery why dishonesty and crime is so prevalent in the poor and middle classes who are just struggling to survive or provide for a better future for their kids.
Perhaps if there were double-sided signs at the airport reading: “MEGALOMANIACS AND PEDOPHILES NOT WELCOME HERE”
Red Shirt self-portrait
Thanks Marcos, and everyone,
Not The Nation, Liberal Thai, UDD Today, etc — not a good time to be producing satire, translation, or political networks in the kingdom. What’s next?
Another point that continues to intrigue me about these efforts to “block” certain sites is that the implementation tends to be haphazard and incomplete. But, by the sounds of it, that may change soon. According to that report over 10,000 websites are blocked because they “are considered as affecting national security”. For a comparative dimension: that is 57.52% of the total number of blocked websites. Drug advertisements, gambling sites and pornographic material all pale into insignificance behind online security concerns. A full typology of these sites (and any updated list) would be interesting. Is this article still blocked? Apparently this is blocked too???
Randomly clicking around on other supposedly “blocked” sites reveals that many are no longer online, or have found a new home. And some, no doubt, have found other ways around the censorship. It was ever thus…
And one final thought: many readers will know that Thammasat University Library at Tha Phrachan has a collection of “politically banned books [that] mark an important period of the struggle for freedom from military dictatorship”. Should they be thinking about making an online archive to store all of the currently censored content? “Available only on special request”?
Best wishes to all,
Nich
Red Shirt self-portrait
Yes, it does seem it’s gone the same way as the Not The Nation link you posted a few months back. mitc.gov.th has somehow stuck its oar in and we are therefore not allowed to see how the red half live.
Red Shirt self-portrait
Not blocked as I write this – access via TOT in Chiang Mai.
Thailand’s royal disgrace
Absolutely!, I wholeheartedly agree with Taro.
Having read the judgement, I ADEQUATELY conclude that this terribly rude woman deserves this 18-year sentence (personally she should hang till death) as the yellow shirted and light-blue shirted she mentioned in her speech can SOLELY AND EXCLUSIVELY refer to ONLY our GREATEST king and queen. Additionally, our GREATEST General, Admiral, and Air Chief Mashal Prem cannot be accused of anything as accusing him is also subject to LESE MAJESTE laws.
I think in Thailand, we, including me, as a Thai don’t need any rationale behind WHAT we’ve been encouraged to what and being
informed “24/7 “. In other words, according to this CONSTITUTIONAL laws we don’t need any other choice rather than accepting this kind of dogma.
In fact, our king and queen don’t need to be accountable to anyone but being revered as they are like god and goddess who’ve done all the things for themse… oops! I mean for solely THAI PEOPLE, NOT for THEMSELVES. Thus, no wonder if they won’t do anything WRONG.
Last but not least, this’s why I can adequately say that I undoubtedly love and revere for my king and queen 🙂
Thailand and lese majeste: In Thai
Unfortunately, Liberal Thai, the site that has your translated article, is BIT (Blocked in Thailand) and has been for some time already.
$ufficiency economy
Is it possible that this is the very same Stephen B. Young who wrote reports on “non-partipatory democracy” for USOM in 1966 and then had it published in 1968 in Asian Survey? That article was “The Northeastern Thai Village: A Non-Participatory Democracy” in Vol. 8, No. 11, pp. 873-86. There he was listed as employed by USAID in Vietnam, and the research was said to have been financed by Havard University.
Sounds like it could be if one looks at this: http://www.asianforumcsr.com/programs/bios/Young.htm
Another biography (http://www.cauxroundtable.org/view_file.cfm?fileid=18) says this: “In 1966, Young discovered the ancient bronze age culture of Ban Chiang, Thailand, by tripping over a tree root on a small path in Ban Chiang village in Udorn-Thani province.”
His CIA links are explained in that biography: “Young served for the American Agency for International Development in the Republic of
Vietnam during the Vietnam War, working on village government reforms and economic development. Young developed unusual relationships with the Tan DaiViet Party of Vietnamese nationalists who formulated the strategy of pacification, rural development and constitutional reform that defeated the Communist insurgency in South Vietnam. Young’s work on village community development was recognized in his book on the Vietnam War by CIA Director William Colby and Young’s understanding of the realities of the Vietnam War were admired by President Richard Nixon, who asked Young to advise him in the writing of his book No More Vietnams.”
He is a Republican (not on Thailand!): “In 1996 Young ran for the nomination of the Republican Party of Minnesota for the United States Senate and in 1999 Young sought the Chairmanship of the Party on a coalition basis uniting social conservatives with moderates and independents.”
He has taught at SASIN, Chulalongkorn University, on
corporate social responsibility, something he has a deep interest in and which is reflected in an article he wrote about the economic crisis and the CPB’s businesses in 2002 as “Family Businesses and Reforms in Corporate Governance,” a paper presented at the Caux Round Table in Singapore, at the the Institute of Policy Studies (http://www.cauxroundtable.org/view_file.cfm?fileid=34).
A long and complicated history with Thailand, but just the kind of person the palace conservatives like having around.
Shot at Din Daeng
“Les Abbey”
No offense taken.
I would apply the same skepticism though also about the claims that there were no dead.
I wouldn’t really say that the Red Shirts were outsmarted by the government. The whole thing was a fuck up on many levels by all, both Red Shirts and government (and i will write about some of that in my next book, i still wait for one or the other bit of information).
One thing though that i have observed – the government did not come out very strong after the Songkran riots (both internationally and locally), and contrary to speculation i have not seen a decrease of support for the Red Shirts here, on contrary – i have seen both organization and mobilization capabilities only increase since Songkran.
Red Shirt self-portrait
they are pro-Thaksin, therefore Prem is scared of them
Prems friends dont like him to be discomfited so try to hide them
thats it
Amnesty’s silence on lese majeste
hi Ben Zawacki, Perhaps you could have a quiet word next time you are having tea at the palace
Shot at Din Daeng
Apologies Nick. I wasn’t firing my rubber bullets at you, just at some of the more hot-headed posters who were so sure hundreds had been killed.
From experience in the Thai courts I can say That Thai lawyers are no more honest than those in the UK or the US. When one of them fails to produce the evidence I think I have the right to be very skeptical.
What I suspect there isn’t much argument about is that the red-shirt leadership and Thaksin in particular were out-smarted by Abhisit and whoever over Songkran. With so many supporters heading back upcountry for the holiday it really wasn’t the time to call for revolution and for the red-shirts to take over the various Bangkok intersections. If it had kicked off a week before or a week later then I suspect you may have got your bodies and a lot more wounded.
Shot at Din Daeng
jonfernquest
I visited the army base at Prachinburi province (east of Bangkok) after last Songkran. Along the road, you would see some forest. It’s dark at night.
Anyway, some of protester at Din Daeng were policemen, and they tried to stop the soldiers to hold their fire.
Two security guards of the Red-Shirt were found dead at Chao Praya river after the protest ended. The cause of death is mysterious.
A man with red-shirt and his girlfriend were dragged off motorcycle and beaten up by followers of Yellow Shirts, they are residents nearby government house.
If you want the truth, do some homework like Mr. Nick. Don’t let the Thai media do homework for you.
Red Shirt self-portrait
Thanks BKK Lawyer,
Seriously? But then again I note that this apparently happens to that site from time-to-time. Today I spent a fair bit of time trawling around UDD Today. From what I saw it was hardly that subversive. In fact I went away with a sense that much of the content was, well, innocuous. But far be it for me to say…
If somebody wants to point out the content on UDD Today that is considered illegal in Thailand I would be very grateful. Understanding the specifics of why a website of that ilk gets blocked is something we could all learn from.
Best wishes to all,
Nich
Red Shirt self-portrait
Your link to “thousands of pictures” on the UDD website is now BIT — Blocked in Thailand.
$ufficiency economy
Coincidentally, the same Stephen Young also features in an article in the Bangkk Post of 7 September 2009. His statements were as follows:
…
At a recent seminar entitled “Ethics in Thai Democracy: Do We Have It?”, organised by the Political Development Council, Stephen B Young, Caux Round Table Global executive director, said democracy could only work in an environment that is ruled by law and a fair justice system.
Mr Young said Thai jurisprudence has standards for judging the actions of leaders and rulers. These standards, he said, impose an ethic of fiduciary conduct and servant leadership on the outcomes of democracy, and should therefore be incorporated into Thai democracy to prevent its abuse at the hands of the unscrupulous.
Among the standards are barami (charisma) of a good patron who holds the trust and care of the people at his or her heart, and Tosapitratjatham, the 10 virtues for ethical leadership as well as the principle of sufficiency economy emphasising the middle path, foresight, rationality, self-responsibility and compassion.
He disagreed with the notion that Thailand was now greatly divided between the elite and grass-roots.
“There are only differences in opinion. All people have the right to vote. Look at Isan, say, in the early 70s and how it is now. Before there were few roads, now there is development and they are like Bangkok.”
He concluded that the challenge of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra for Thailand was serious because Thaksin does not “think like a Thai”.
“Other Thai leaders who had political problems at home – Pridi Banomyong, Plaek Pibulsonggram and Thanom Kittikachorn – they did not fight back nor try to restore their power after living in exile. But Thaksin is defiant,” Mr Young said.
…
For the entire article, see http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/23404/thailand-still-has-to-struggle-to-achieve-democracy
$ufficiency economy
See below, and don’t laugh–the guy is serious!!!
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
From: [email protected]
Date: 09/05/2009 05:14AM
Subject: First CRT Regional Dialogue in Southeast Asia – Qur’anic Guidance for Good Governance and Sufficiency Economy Principles
Dear Friends and Colleagues:
The Round Table proposes to demonstrate that Southeast Asian ethical philosophies can make important contributions to the global community in the 21st Century. Two approaches familiar to the Caux Round Table have been selected for review and discussion. They are, first, understandings of Qur’anic Guidance for good governance evolving from workshops and study at the International Islamic University Malaysia, and second, the principles of a Sufficiency Economy articulated in a Theravada Buddhist context initially by His Majesty the King of Thailand.
To discuss these ethical approaches with global applicability, the CRT organized a dialogue in Bangkok. The Foreign Minister of Thailand, the. Hon. Kasit Piromya, hosted the dialogue at the Ministry. Tunku Abdul Aziz, CRT Coordinator for Southeast Asia, chaired the discussions. The dialogue was co-sponsored by Banyan Tree Global Foundation and the Institute for Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore. Khun Nick Pisalyaput, Chair of CRT Thailand most ably organized the sessions.
The statement of conclusions agreed to by participants is attached for your review.
Southeast Asia, throughout history a crossroads of people, cultures, trade and political influences, has a unique intellectual and moral relationship to decision-making. Southeast Asian cultures, communities and nations stand apart from the more hierarchical traditions and highly structured social patterns of Northeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent. In Southeast Asia, a deeply personal sense for the individual in the context of cosmic movement is paramount. Southeast Asian perspectives center on fluidity, the flow of time and the changing currents of circumstance. Southeast Asians, in general as there are always exceptions, seek a balance and a sense of due proportion in their relationships – neither too close to shore nor in over their heads. Adjusting one’s circumstances without loss of faith or self-confidence as larger trends reveal themselves is often seen as successful accomplishment.
This perspective gives rise to important insights about human nature and human opportunities, insights which deserve to be shared with the larger global community.
The study of Qur’an in the International Islamic University Malaysia reflects such a vision of a person’s place in being responsible as a Khalifa, or steward of God’s purposes and open to the needs for justice as they may arise in different settings.
The standards of a Sufficiency Economy similarly acknowledge the responsibility of companies to subordinate inordinate demands to the needs of the total environment which supports their profitability.
Sincerely yours,
Stephen B. Young
Global Executive Director
Caux Round Table
http://www.cauxroundtable.org
6 West Fifth St., 3rd Floor
Saint Paul, MN 55102
Phone: (651) 223 2852
Shot at Din Daeng
“Les Abbey”
I am neither privy to the strategies of the lawyers, not to their information, and neither will i speculate about this.
I have never claimed a “massacre” took place. I have always stated that a have strong suspicions of some dead.
I can’t speak for people who claimed that a “massacre” took place, neither can i speak for the ones that say only fake bullets were used. I report what i see, what i believe to be true, and clearly state when i have no proof for my suspicions.
Yes, it would be interesting to know who has manufactured the tape, and who was the origin of the distribution. Again, i have only suspicions, and not enough evidence for those to voice them in public as they are based on only one source. I will not entertain speculation based on what i would at best describe on circumstantial evidence or pure rumor mongering.
That is all i can say about this.