Nevertheless, it is difficult to generalize. Several years ago i did a story for Colors magazine about the AIDS treatment in the health station of my wife’s village in the North, and things there seemed to have been a lot better.
There was much preventive programs. Different to the station in the study, nurses did try constantly to convince patients to use condoms, visited families at home, incorporated the families of the infected to prevent ostracizing patients. They have even founded a self help group for HIV infected, of which one of the highlights at the time was to travel to protests against the FTA’s.
I believe it very much depends on how the different health stations deal individually with the issues, and can range from miserable to excellent.
#13 Well said! There is a world of difference…I am all for pragmatic solutions and fully appreciate the seductive allure of local illusions idols of non-western values and virtues to people who are not on their receiving end. Clearly a military humantarian intervention regime change in Burma would have been appropriate. Thai FP will do nothing they have too much profit to lose from their favourite ‘enemy’ and are very busy exploiting illegal Burmese migrant workers, casting Rohingya refugees out to sea, conducting a slow genocide of Malay Muslims in the South…Human rights need to not just be imposed but enforced as does Western style democracy
I don’t think any country could afford to joke about Al Qaeda training campsite.
A meeting between US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her counterparts from the four Mekong riparian states on the 24th of July on the sidelines of the 42nd ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ meeting signaled the beginning of US interest in expanding cooperation with Laos, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia in all areas, especially economic development in the Mekong sub-region as well as health and education. This initiative is taken as part of bilateral cooperation between two river basins of the Mississippi and the Mekong. The Mekong River Commission also has been focusing on the formulation of regulations on sustainable and environment-friendly uses of water resources among the riparian states.
In this context, everyone can enjoy a dip in the wonder nature of the Mekong River.
Bogseptic #12: “Aren’t we all being just a trifle condescending here?” Speak for yourself.
“… wifebeating is considered relatively normal here. But then again, it isn’t exactly unknown in East Cheam either.” I’m sure everyone understands that, but do you understand the difference?
And do you understand the difference between the “scrapheap” you’ve been cast on, with all the options for a pretty luxurious lifestyle that have opened up, and its pre-scrapheap Thai equivalent?
All are important questions and issues, but be aware that high-ranking officials have circumscribed roles and behaviors they must follow. Hillary is probably well aware of everything you mentioned, but it is not protocol (and never will be) to speak about these things in public (unless you don’t have relations with that country- i.e. North Korea). Is it possible that something was said behind closed doors, who knows? That is usually how these things get handled. When the Secretary of State travels to another country, they become a guest of that country and it is considered bad manners to criticize and speak badly of the host country. Indeed, if you want something to get done on these issues–bashing the host in public is not the way to acheive results–in fact it is probably counter-productive. Some of the blame should fall on the US (prisons), but you can’t lay all of it on foreigners–the Thai government itself plays a big part here.
Real change won’t happen unless we make our voices heard. However, we also must be sensitive to the fact that those audiences live in different political settings and with different cultural frames of reference. With the rate of globalization, information technology, and education we are having presently, I am sure people in Chiang Mai will catch up soon enough. Why not start with a few scholarships to study Cultural Anthropology in Australia? I am certain it will bridge the gap.
The reason why you do not see the handing over of the money is that it happened too quickly, and i had my camera not ready. At the time i sat about ten meters away with a few intelligence agents i know who have witnessed with astonishment the scene as well.
I was lucky that i could still snap the image of the recipient putting the wad of money into the pocket. The image of the bagman i took after, but you can see him in the picture of the man putting the money into the pocket as well, his head is just behind the man with the blue shirt on the left.
You will have to believe me that it happened as i described it. Journalism is always a matter of trust, and reputation as well. My professional record speaks for itself – i have worked almost ten years for Focus Agency, which is one of the top three German photo agencies. If you google my name – you can see that i have worked for many of the most reputable magazines and newspapers, such as Der Spiegel, Colors Magazine, Die Zeit, etc.
Bild so far has not been one of my clients (other than one image they have stolen from me, and had to pay a fine for), i have actually refused two assignments for Bild, as they were ethically doubtful.
If i would try to mislead readers here, i would hardly stake my personal and professional reputation by posting with my real name on a blog for which i don’t receive one bit of money.
Raimund is waiting for the movie version. By the way Raimund, you might want to read the article and try to understand it before you suggest a new headline. Otherwise your comment just sounds dopey.
I can see a guy with a plastic bag,but I do not see money inside. Is it Nick’s imagination? Another guy pushing a bundle of what seems to be money into his pocket.Where did it come from?
Nick,if you want me believe what you write get some real photos and evidence.We got too many Bild-reports already.
Taxidrivers change their master for money should be the headline.
Great reporting. I’m a Thai national who has been craving for some real investigative reporting here from our own media for a long time. If I were holding my breath, I’d be dead and cremated long ago.
Keep up the good work.
SARDINES
ps. Hope you don’t mind that I’ve posted your above piece in another forum / web-blog and passing on the link to others.
The “poor reportage” ‘Jojo’ describes is the simple act of showing the dark side of Thai politics. “Good reportage” on the other hand is a 12 page color supplement about the “good works” of this or that member of the royal family.
Aren’t we all being just a trifle condescending here? It isn’t just academics who realize the different cultural perceptions involved. I am inclined to let locals work these things out in their own way and entirely on their own timescale – if they even wish to work them out at all. But as an outside observer, I am bound to have a slightly different perspective which I must work through on my own terms – albeit informed by the fact that I might be working with values that I might be taking for granted. (Not necessarily the case. In case you hadn’t noted, people do struggle with the values with which they were nurtured. Many of us would not be here at all if we fitted that seamlessly into the current economy and society of our native countries.) That said, these are all good reasons not to lend any overt or tacit support to either side in this conflict. (Not least of which because wifebeating is considered relatively normal here. But then again, it isn’t exactly unknown in East Cheam either.) Especially since neither side seem at all enamored with the lifestyle that I currently wish to pursue, as a result of my redundancy. Rather, the protagonists seem intent on repeating the follies of those same societies which have cast so many of us expats on the scrapheap.
and if you still want to buy the book of this obnoxious “Farang guy who’s want to make him self important in Thailand” 😉 , here is a link where you can order it:
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Primary health care and the rural poor in Thailand
Interesting paper.
Nevertheless, it is difficult to generalize. Several years ago i did a story for Colors magazine about the AIDS treatment in the health station of my wife’s village in the North, and things there seemed to have been a lot better.
There was much preventive programs. Different to the station in the study, nurses did try constantly to convince patients to use condoms, visited families at home, incorporated the families of the infected to prevent ostracizing patients. They have even founded a self help group for HIV infected, of which one of the highlights at the time was to travel to protests against the FTA’s.
I believe it very much depends on how the different health stations deal individually with the issues, and can range from miserable to excellent.
ASEAN and Human Rights – Can they mix?
#13 Well said! There is a world of difference…I am all for pragmatic solutions and fully appreciate the seductive allure of local illusions idols of non-western values and virtues to people who are not on their receiving end. Clearly a military humantarian intervention regime change in Burma would have been appropriate. Thai FP will do nothing they have too much profit to lose from their favourite ‘enemy’ and are very busy exploiting illegal Burmese migrant workers, casting Rohingya refugees out to sea, conducting a slow genocide of Malay Muslims in the South…Human rights need to not just be imposed but enforced as does Western style democracy
A Mekong odyssey
I don’t think any country could afford to joke about Al Qaeda training campsite.
A meeting between US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her counterparts from the four Mekong riparian states on the 24th of July on the sidelines of the 42nd ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ meeting signaled the beginning of US interest in expanding cooperation with Laos, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia in all areas, especially economic development in the Mekong sub-region as well as health and education. This initiative is taken as part of bilateral cooperation between two river basins of the Mississippi and the Mekong. The Mekong River Commission also has been focusing on the formulation of regulations on sustainable and environment-friendly uses of water resources among the riparian states.
In this context, everyone can enjoy a dip in the wonder nature of the Mekong River.
ASEAN and Human Rights – Can they mix?
Bogseptic #12: “Aren’t we all being just a trifle condescending here?” Speak for yourself.
“… wifebeating is considered relatively normal here. But then again, it isn’t exactly unknown in East Cheam either.” I’m sure everyone understands that, but do you understand the difference?
And do you understand the difference between the “scrapheap” you’ve been cast on, with all the options for a pretty luxurious lifestyle that have opened up, and its pre-scrapheap Thai equivalent?
Bhum Jai Thai and the business of protests slightly gone wrong
Nick:
Better not waste your time writing more than two sentences on comments like that by “Raimund.”
Stranger than fiction
It is sad that many Thais have chosen to path of extravagance, instead of concentrating on the necessities of life for the people.
Questions left unspoken in Thailand
All are important questions and issues, but be aware that high-ranking officials have circumscribed roles and behaviors they must follow. Hillary is probably well aware of everything you mentioned, but it is not protocol (and never will be) to speak about these things in public (unless you don’t have relations with that country- i.e. North Korea). Is it possible that something was said behind closed doors, who knows? That is usually how these things get handled. When the Secretary of State travels to another country, they become a guest of that country and it is considered bad manners to criticize and speak badly of the host country. Indeed, if you want something to get done on these issues–bashing the host in public is not the way to acheive results–in fact it is probably counter-productive. Some of the blame should fall on the US (prisons), but you can’t lay all of it on foreigners–the Thai government itself plays a big part here.
Stranger than fiction
Real change won’t happen unless we make our voices heard. However, we also must be sensitive to the fact that those audiences live in different political settings and with different cultural frames of reference. With the rate of globalization, information technology, and education we are having presently, I am sure people in Chiang Mai will catch up soon enough. Why not start with a few scholarships to study Cultural Anthropology in Australia? I am certain it will bridge the gap.
Tribute to Yasmin Ahmad, Malaysian filmmaker (1958-2009)
I loved her Petronas commercials.
It tried, in a very unique – and Malaysian way – to let Malaysians know that we are after all Malaysians.
We have our weaknesses but also so much of strength – if we can only come together as one nation.
Rest assured Yasmin, there are millions of Malaysians who will carry out your dream.
Bhum Jai Thai and the business of protests slightly gone wrong
“Raimund”
The reason why you do not see the handing over of the money is that it happened too quickly, and i had my camera not ready. At the time i sat about ten meters away with a few intelligence agents i know who have witnessed with astonishment the scene as well.
I was lucky that i could still snap the image of the recipient putting the wad of money into the pocket. The image of the bagman i took after, but you can see him in the picture of the man putting the money into the pocket as well, his head is just behind the man with the blue shirt on the left.
You will have to believe me that it happened as i described it. Journalism is always a matter of trust, and reputation as well. My professional record speaks for itself – i have worked almost ten years for Focus Agency, which is one of the top three German photo agencies. If you google my name – you can see that i have worked for many of the most reputable magazines and newspapers, such as Der Spiegel, Colors Magazine, Die Zeit, etc.
Bild so far has not been one of my clients (other than one image they have stolen from me, and had to pay a fine for), i have actually refused two assignments for Bild, as they were ethically doubtful.
If i would try to mislead readers here, i would hardly stake my personal and professional reputation by posting with my real name on a blog for which i don’t receive one bit of money.
I hope that clarifies your doubts.
Bhum Jai Thai and the business of protests slightly gone wrong
Raimund is waiting for the movie version. By the way Raimund, you might want to read the article and try to understand it before you suggest a new headline. Otherwise your comment just sounds dopey.
Bhum Jai Thai and the business of protests slightly gone wrong
@Nick,
thanks for the info’s on the avaiablity of your book.
PS: I will be for one day in BKK this Saturday and surely will pick it then. I’ll hope to meet you again in the future…
Tribute to Yasmin Ahmad, Malaysian filmmaker (1958-2009)
My heart skipped a beat when I heard about the passing of Yasmin Ahmad.
A humanist at heart, a giver to the young – rest in peace, you’ll be sorely missed.
With respect,
Sawarin Suwichakornpong
Bhum Jai Thai and the business of protests slightly gone wrong
I can see a guy with a plastic bag,but I do not see money inside. Is it Nick’s imagination? Another guy pushing a bundle of what seems to be money into his pocket.Where did it come from?
Nick,if you want me believe what you write get some real photos and evidence.We got too many Bild-reports already.
Taxidrivers change their master for money should be the headline.
Bhum Jai Thai and the business of protests slightly gone wrong
Hi Nick,
Great reporting. I’m a Thai national who has been craving for some real investigative reporting here from our own media for a long time. If I were holding my breath, I’d be dead and cremated long ago.
Keep up the good work.
SARDINES
ps. Hope you don’t mind that I’ve posted your above piece in another forum / web-blog and passing on the link to others.
Bhum Jai Thai and the business of protests slightly gone wrong
The “poor reportage” ‘Jojo’ describes is the simple act of showing the dark side of Thai politics. “Good reportage” on the other hand is a 12 page color supplement about the “good works” of this or that member of the royal family.
A Mekong odyssey
Is this supposed to be funny?
“I would not want to see al-Qaeda exploring and using for its campsite training area.”
ASEAN and Human Rights – Can they mix?
Aren’t we all being just a trifle condescending here? It isn’t just academics who realize the different cultural perceptions involved. I am inclined to let locals work these things out in their own way and entirely on their own timescale – if they even wish to work them out at all. But as an outside observer, I am bound to have a slightly different perspective which I must work through on my own terms – albeit informed by the fact that I might be working with values that I might be taking for granted. (Not necessarily the case. In case you hadn’t noted, people do struggle with the values with which they were nurtured. Many of us would not be here at all if we fitted that seamlessly into the current economy and society of our native countries.) That said, these are all good reasons not to lend any overt or tacit support to either side in this conflict. (Not least of which because wifebeating is considered relatively normal here. But then again, it isn’t exactly unknown in East Cheam either.) Especially since neither side seem at all enamored with the lifestyle that I currently wish to pursue, as a result of my redundancy. Rather, the protagonists seem intent on repeating the follies of those same societies which have cast so many of us expats on the scrapheap.
Bhum Jai Thai and the business of protests slightly gone wrong
“Ferdinand”
Thanks, and yes, the book is published.
Here a few links from new manadala, related to the book:
http://rspas.anu.edu.au/rmap/newmandala/2009/07/09/red-versus-yellow/
http://rspas.anu.edu.au/rmap/newmandala/2009/07/16/nick-nostitz-at-the-fcct/
and if you still want to buy the book of this obnoxious “Farang guy who’s want to make him self important in Thailand” 😉 , here is a link where you can order it:
http://www.dcothai.com/product_info.php?products_id=1004
It’s also in the book stores here, i have seen in both in Asia Books and in Kinokuniya.
Bhum Jai Thai and the business of protests slightly gone wrong
“Phumjai Ngoen” would be a more appropriate name for the party.