As Colum Graham pointed out, question #9 can be interpreted in several different ways.
If you’re referring to how many people work at the Press Scrutiny Registration Division (PSRD), which vets all journals before they go to print, then the number is about 100. Apparently it hasn’t risen for ages, even though the number of journals has perhaps tripled in the last three years.
I agree… Nothing’s going to happen with that attitude. If you want the country to move forward, you have to give up a little, to potentially gain a lot.
Good work getting hold of the itinerary too. It will be interesting to see if the do let Ban Ki-moon meet The Lady… and what her response is.
Her trial has just been postponed to July 10 (next Friday), by the way.
Why is Laos not treated in the same way as Burma? (which by the way is exactly the question asked in a comment made by Mr. Roland on Haberkorn’s earlier piece – Haberkorn’s piece itself raises the question: having bombed the bejasus out of Laos for years and then spent far more resources looking for MIA remains than on easing the plight of Lao KAAs [Killed after Action], and having set one portion of the Hmong up as ‘defenders of democratic values’ and then abandoning them because the Americans weren’t officially in Laos at all, why do not American academics seem to have any sense of chutzpah when they take the stereotypical ‘one-party-state-dreadful-treatment-of Hmong- line’?) Back to the question. I am not familiar with the Burmese press. Until about two years ago I used to rather look forward to seeing the BKK Post arrive in Vientiane; wonderful contrast to the Vientiane Times I thought (probably because the Post has good cartoons). But on reflection, which do I prefer: a newspaper like the Post which flagrantly opposed the side in Thailand which has won the last few elections and fell over itself to try and portray the Yellows staging their economic coup at Suvarnabhumi as justified in doing so, or a paper that everyone knows is under government control but can publish – as it did July 1 – accounts of the intricacies of problems facing the police having to deal with foreign retailers or a statement by the Public Prosecutor General on a case in Luang Prabang which ‘he did not know about but, if it was true, it would mean the authorities had violated the law’? Do I go for a sham democracy where whenever things get tough the true nature of the game is revealed or a state where everyone knows the government is in control but where that control that appears to be loosening? I am not sure, but I lean to Laos on this one and feel that perhaps Nicholas’ question should be ‘Why isn’t Lao looked at in the same light as Thailand’ (rather than Myanmar)?
Susie, not so sure what you expect institutions to produce in people? Should Eton and Oxford only produce the very finest cosmopolitan, vegan, post-materialist, UN do-gooders? Oh
Good post. In relation to the quote regarding ’20 years and nothing to show for it’, this represents an equally under siege mentality that the Junta demonstrates and would be totally unlikely to achieve any sort of conciliatory result. Indeed, if anything, this might be Ban Ki Moon’s chance to proselytize the Junta at least a little bit.
As someone who knows Zoya Phan personally I find this criticism a bit harsh. Saying that talks are only a means to an end is not the same as saying talks shouldn’t begin until all political prisoners are released.
I hope anyone reading the post will follow the link to Zoya Phan to see where she is coming from. Perhaps this might engender a bit of humility. The link was written before Zoya’s father was assassinated.
Mr Gambari is no doubt doing his best but Ban Ki Moon’s getting a major breakthrough in just 24 hours seems very unlikely.
Just quickly, to expand on the questions I responded to before without thinking too much ..
Is greater economic status for Southeast Asian individuals, or a much expanded middle class, likely to provoke a change in political value? If this is the case, to what extent does China influence economic development in Southeast Asia?
I’m not saying China’s actions are benign (as is often the case when anyone presents a case for even distantly defending the CCP), or that Hanoi for instance, should have a giant starbucks next to a pumping stock exchange, with a low suicide rate amongst accountants being seen as a positive and noted in tabloids.. but siege politics does seem to inhibit patience…
On the other hand, is China’s two parties one country policy a good thing for a country like Thailand with the PAD preaching.. similar policies? ‘Good’ if we’re going to be all rigid about our own views…???
What influence do northerly Southeast Asian nations have over Southern China? Is it really all one way traffic?
Obviously since the signing of the TAC there have been huge incidents … but what I am getting at, with my short memory, is that sine 1995 when Myanmar and Cambodia signed up, the incidents, from what I can remember have been relatively few and therefore a seismic scale of Southeast Asian chaos could only be measured in small increments.
Surely Myanmar’s pursuit of a nuclear weapon would violate the Southeast Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (SEANWFZ) which Myanmar is apparently a signatory – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southeast_Asian_Nuclear-Weapon-Free_Zone_Treaty.. So clearly the Junta must be pursuing Nuclear -energy- for the elite in Yangon? Hm. How would the rest of the members of ASEAN react to Myanmar having ‘the bomb’.. and breaking the aforementioned treaty?
What sort of labour from Myanmar does Thailand use, and .. how exploitative is it? Is it rural labour like in Isan?
Circulating Around the World that a person closed to Privy Council, filed lese majeste charge to 13 foreign journalists.
by Thai E-News Team
1st July 2009
It is reported that Ms. Laksana Kornsilp, who filed complaint against Mr. Jonathan Head and the other 13 executive boards of the Foreign Correspondence Club of Thailand, her family is a close friend of Mr. Thanin Kraivichien, former Prime Minister after the event of the 6th October, 1976. Recently, Mr. Thanin presided as the chief host for her mother’s funeral at a temple in Bang-na area. One of Ms. Laksana’s brother, Colonel Kritsadakorn Kornsilp, works for Mr. Thanin. Her younger brother, Dr. Noppadon Kornsilph is lobbyist for ChatThaiPattana Party of Mr. Banharn Silapa-archa.
There is a smaller yellow sign with the same photos of the King and, I think the same logos. Often next to the pink Bhumjai Thai signs. Sorry I cant be of more help..
Hi, I’ve got a few mins waiting for an email while my net time runs down…
Is China a greater positive influence in the region than we tend to acknowledge?
Yes, what is positive tends to reflect a value judgment and to answer this, there must be acknowledgement values can change in individuals. For me, I think liberalism is encouraged with economic advancement and thus, irrespective of whatever supposedly rigid political systems are in place, China’s industrialisation promotes liberalism in Southeast Asia through stronger economic relationships. Political systems evolve with peoples values. That current elites in Southeast Asia control the fruit of these economic relationships is something for citizens in ASEAN countries to consider… Much the same as it is for citizens in China to consider regarding the CCP.
How many people are employed by Burma’s censorship apparatus?
Those who feel attached to the state of Myanmar and the present SPDC paradigm might be considered ’employed’ to censorship. So how many feel attached to that paradigm?
Is mainland Southeast Asia, as a whole, more peaceful in 2009 than it has been at almost any other time in history?
I think the incriments for measuring peace and stability in Southeast Asia since the TAC must be really fine to say that 2009 is the most peaceful time. Perhaps not, regarding Preah Vihear (Or Wat Wiharn?) and Rohingya hot potato. You sort of answer this with your #26 question too.
Does Thailand intentionally keep Burma unstable so that it can benefit from cheap labour?
I saw plenty of cheap labour between Si Saket and Kantharalak yesterday. How much cheap labour does Thailand need?!
What ambitions do the Burmese generals harbour for acquiring nuclear weapons?
Regime guarantee. Can hardly say that India or China are guarantors of the Junta.
Why did so few people in Thailand condemn the 2003 “War on Drugs” at the time?
Because it’s easier to defend liberalism when your name is not likely to be sullied.
Let me (belatedly) add a question that might relate to #34: Thailand’s informal economy seems to be quite large. How much of an obstacle to economic growth and political stability is this sector?
This is not unusual in zoological nomenclature.
Anyway,the generic name only alludes to the King.
The savvy describer of the species should have had the King’s name as second part of the binomial.Again,that is not unusual though some taxonomists consider it to be bad form.
I would used the King’s name as the specific designation….with permission from the Palace ,of course.
Many very interesting questions.
7.I have often wondered why this is so.
32.A number of years ago I asked a Thai journalist if the names of the generals involved in the drug trade were known. The reply was “Yes,but they would never be published.”
One has to ask what has the Australian Federal Police been doing in Thailand over the past 20 years .I think the AFP have been working with the Royal Thai Police in combating drug trafficking [?] for about 20 years but the AFP have not outed one Thai general for being involved in the trade ,as far as I know.
36.Good question.
38.Another good question.A number of years ago I was surprised to learn that some PNG police were being trained in Israel.
41.Much worse, according to one Thai woman I know.
44.Probably one of the most important questions.Singapore needs be put well and truly in the spotlight .Or is that the hot seat?
46.Or,what is the role of the [expat] academic working…..?
Nothing on “Asian[Emperor Lee ‘s]values”?Just joking.
The trial was adjourned until 28 July after her lawyer protested against the trial being held in secret. His appeal to the court made no headway, so he is planning to appeal to the Constitutional Court on the grounds that her constitutional right to a public trial is being denied.
The Thai criminal code does allow closed trials on grounds of national security – the grounds invoked by the judge in Daranee’s case – although Amnesty International has made the point that this argument in her case is very unpersuasive.
She has lost a lot of weight – a few months ago she referred to a jaw infection which had made her feel very ill.
“Prime Minister Abhisit could simplify things a great deal by limiting the scope for concerned citizens to make these very serious accusations. But if he is feeling really brave he could go even further and use this muddle-headed accusation as an opportunity to extricate his government from the clutches of those who have no time for free expression.”
Dream on. PM Opposite is great at talking the talk, largely to present a reformer’s image to the world, but walking the walk is another matter. He will say that he’s open to anything, but nothing happens or changes when the talk fades. That’s because he knows who pulled the strings to put him in power and who’s keeping him there. He is not about to reform himself out of the job. We dont call him PM Opposite for nothing.
This escalation is necessary to push the LM circus into a full and revelatory crisis of absurdity and unsustainability. I very much hope that more narrow-minded monarchist conservatives bring even broader charges of LM against ever larger groups of individuals. Perhaps the entire PT party? The entire staff of Matichon? The million reds who might sign the Thaksin-pardon petition? Or better yet, the millions who voted for Thaksin in two elections. Charge them all with conspiring against the monarchy.
In fact, those who oppose LM should start a guerrilla campaign to file deliberately bizarre charges against random people. Charge all Thai Muslims, for refusing to accept the king’s religion. Charge all motorists for failing to stop their cars at 6pm when the anthem plays (the king wrote it, thus LM). For that matter, charge senator Manoonkrit for the 1981 coup that forced the king to flee from Bangkok. The list is endless.
Andrew Young #10, I have a question for you.
You seem quite certain, that both Abhisit and Korn’s previous “work experience” and “privilaged” upbringing, makes them both unfit for their present roles.
The question I have is : what sort of qualifications should people have, before they fit your “ideal” for these positions?
If you can answer, that, then can you please tell me, where are these “ideal politicians, who are capable of running a prosperous, free and democratic, Thailand ?
Let me remind all of you that Apisit didn’t become PM because he has the ability to do so. From the day he was born, this guy has not done anything to prove that he has the ability. He has no knowledge in any business at all. He was raised from a wealthy family. When he finished Eton, he went to Oxford and came back to Thailand to serve as a politician. He has never had any experience in doing any business at all. Before he became Thailand PM, he served as minister in some unimportant ministries. As for Mr. Korn who now serves as the Finance Minister, he too has no experience of any kind except in some shares sector. He may be good in manipulating shares prices but not the finance sector.
How much harm this two little kids will do to Thailand is remain to be seen. I can only think that the longer this government stay on, the more rotten Thailand will be. It will be a lesson for those elites who are behind this government. But this lesson is definately a painful one, especially for the poors.
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Fifty-two questions for the study of mainland Southeast Asia
As Colum Graham pointed out, question #9 can be interpreted in several different ways.
If you’re referring to how many people work at the Press Scrutiny Registration Division (PSRD), which vets all journals before they go to print, then the number is about 100. Apparently it hasn’t risen for ages, even though the number of journals has perhaps tripled in the last three years.
The Secretary-General and the generals
I agree… Nothing’s going to happen with that attitude. If you want the country to move forward, you have to give up a little, to potentially gain a lot.
Good work getting hold of the itinerary too. It will be interesting to see if the do let Ban Ki-moon meet The Lady… and what her response is.
Her trial has just been postponed to July 10 (next Friday), by the way.
Fifty-two questions for the study of mainland Southeast Asia
Why is Laos not treated in the same way as Burma? (which by the way is exactly the question asked in a comment made by Mr. Roland on Haberkorn’s earlier piece – Haberkorn’s piece itself raises the question: having bombed the bejasus out of Laos for years and then spent far more resources looking for MIA remains than on easing the plight of Lao KAAs [Killed after Action], and having set one portion of the Hmong up as ‘defenders of democratic values’ and then abandoning them because the Americans weren’t officially in Laos at all, why do not American academics seem to have any sense of chutzpah when they take the stereotypical ‘one-party-state-dreadful-treatment-of Hmong- line’?) Back to the question. I am not familiar with the Burmese press. Until about two years ago I used to rather look forward to seeing the BKK Post arrive in Vientiane; wonderful contrast to the Vientiane Times I thought (probably because the Post has good cartoons). But on reflection, which do I prefer: a newspaper like the Post which flagrantly opposed the side in Thailand which has won the last few elections and fell over itself to try and portray the Yellows staging their economic coup at Suvarnabhumi as justified in doing so, or a paper that everyone knows is under government control but can publish – as it did July 1 – accounts of the intricacies of problems facing the police having to deal with foreign retailers or a statement by the Public Prosecutor General on a case in Luang Prabang which ‘he did not know about but, if it was true, it would mean the authorities had violated the law’? Do I go for a sham democracy where whenever things get tough the true nature of the game is revealed or a state where everyone knows the government is in control but where that control that appears to be loosening? I am not sure, but I lean to Laos on this one and feel that perhaps Nicholas’ question should be ‘Why isn’t Lao looked at in the same light as Thailand’ (rather than Myanmar)?
Two ways to love Thailand
Susie, not so sure what you expect institutions to produce in people? Should Eton and Oxford only produce the very finest cosmopolitan, vegan, post-materialist, UN do-gooders? Oh
The Secretary-General and the generals
Good post. In relation to the quote regarding ’20 years and nothing to show for it’, this represents an equally under siege mentality that the Junta demonstrates and would be totally unlikely to achieve any sort of conciliatory result. Indeed, if anything, this might be Ban Ki Moon’s chance to proselytize the Junta at least a little bit.
The Secretary-General and the generals
As someone who knows Zoya Phan personally I find this criticism a bit harsh. Saying that talks are only a means to an end is not the same as saying talks shouldn’t begin until all political prisoners are released.
I hope anyone reading the post will follow the link to Zoya Phan to see where she is coming from. Perhaps this might engender a bit of humility. The link was written before Zoya’s father was assassinated.
Mr Gambari is no doubt doing his best but Ban Ki Moon’s getting a major breakthrough in just 24 hours seems very unlikely.
Fifty-two questions for the study of mainland Southeast Asia
Just quickly, to expand on the questions I responded to before without thinking too much ..
Is greater economic status for Southeast Asian individuals, or a much expanded middle class, likely to provoke a change in political value? If this is the case, to what extent does China influence economic development in Southeast Asia?
I’m not saying China’s actions are benign (as is often the case when anyone presents a case for even distantly defending the CCP), or that Hanoi for instance, should have a giant starbucks next to a pumping stock exchange, with a low suicide rate amongst accountants being seen as a positive and noted in tabloids.. but siege politics does seem to inhibit patience…
On the other hand, is China’s two parties one country policy a good thing for a country like Thailand with the PAD preaching.. similar policies? ‘Good’ if we’re going to be all rigid about our own views…???
What influence do northerly Southeast Asian nations have over Southern China? Is it really all one way traffic?
Obviously since the signing of the TAC there have been huge incidents … but what I am getting at, with my short memory, is that sine 1995 when Myanmar and Cambodia signed up, the incidents, from what I can remember have been relatively few and therefore a seismic scale of Southeast Asian chaos could only be measured in small increments.
Surely Myanmar’s pursuit of a nuclear weapon would violate the Southeast Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (SEANWFZ) which Myanmar is apparently a signatory – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southeast_Asian_Nuclear-Weapon-Free_Zone_Treaty.. So clearly the Junta must be pursuing Nuclear -energy- for the elite in Yangon? Hm. How would the rest of the members of ASEAN react to Myanmar having ‘the bomb’.. and breaking the aforementioned treaty?
What sort of labour from Myanmar does Thailand use, and .. how exploitative is it? Is it rural labour like in Isan?
The lese majeste circus continues
Addition information fromThai E-News, important to this case.
р╕Бр╕гр╕░р╕Йр╣Ир╕нр╕Щр╣Вр╕ер╕Бр╕Др╕Щр╣Гр╕Бр╕ер╣Йр╕Кр╕┤р╕Фр╕нр╕Зр╕Др╕бр╕Щр╕Хр╕гр╕╡р╣Бр╕Ир╣Йр╕Зр╕Др╕зр╕▓р╕бр╕Др╕Фр╕╡р╕лр╕бр╕┤р╣Ир╕Щ13р╕Щр╕▒р╕Бр╕Вр╣Ир╕▓р╕зр╕Хр╣Ир╕▓р╕Зр╕Кр╕▓р╕Хр╕┤
р╣Вр╕Фр╕в р╕Чр╕╡р╕бр╕Вр╣Ир╕▓р╕зр╣Др╕Чр╕вр╕нр╕╡р╕Щр╕┤р╕зр╕кр╣М
1 р╕Бр╕гр╕Бр╕Ор╕▓р╕Др╕б 2552
р╕бр╕╡р╕гр╕▓р╕вр╕Зр╕▓р╕Щр╕зр╣Ир╕▓р╕кр╕│р╕лр╕гр╕▒р╕Ър╕Щр╕▓р╕Зр╕кр╕▓р╕зр╕ер╕▒р╕Бр╕йр╕Ур╕▓ р╕Бр╕гр╕Ур╣Мр╕ир╕┤р╕ер╕Ы р╕Ьр╕╣р╣Йр╕Фр╕│р╣Ар╕Щр╕┤р╕Щр╕Др╕Фр╕╡р╣Бр╕Ир╣Йр╕Зр╕Др╕зр╕▓р╕бр╕Бр╕▒р╕Ър╕Щр╕▓р╕вр╣Вр╕Ир╕Щр╕▓р╕Шр╕▓р╕Щ р╣Ар╕ор╕Ф р╣Бр╕ер╕░р╕Бр╕гр╕гр╕бр╕Бр╕▓р╕гр╕кр╣Вр╕бр╕кр╕гр╕Щр╕▒р╕Бр╕Вр╣Ир╕▓р╕зр╕Хр╣Ир╕▓р╕Зр╕Ыр╕гр╕░р╣Ар╕Чр╕ир╕Чр╕▒р╣Йр╕З13р╕гр╕▓р╕вр╕Щр╕▒р╣Йр╕Щ р╕Др╕гр╕нр╕Ър╕Др╕гр╕▒р╕зр╕бр╕╡р╕Др╕зр╕▓р╕бр╣Гр╕Бр╕ер╣Йр╕Кр╕┤р╕Фр╕Бр╕▒р╕Ър╕Щр╕▓р╕вр╕Шр╕▓р╕Щр╕┤р╕Щр╕Чр╣М р╕Бр╕гр╕▒р╕вр╕зр╕┤р╣Ар╕Кр╕╡р╕вр╕г р╕Щр╕▓р╕вр╕Бр╕гр╕▒р╕Рр╕бр╕Щр╕Хр╕гр╕╡р╕кр╕бр╕▒р╕вр╕лр╕ер╕▒р╕Зр╣Ар╕лр╕Хр╕╕р╕Бр╕▓р╕гр╕Ур╣М6р╕Хр╕╕р╕ер╕▓р╕Др╕б 2519 р╣Бр╕ер╕░р╕нр╕Зр╕Др╕бр╕Щр╕Хр╕гр╕╡ р╣Вр╕Фр╕вр╣Ар╕бр╕╖р╣Ир╕нр╣Ар╕гр╣Зр╕зр╣Жр╕Щр╕╡р╣Йр╕Щр╕▓р╕вр╕Шр╕▓р╕Щр╕┤р╕Щр╕Чр╣М р╣Ар╕Юр╕┤р╣Ир╕Зр╕бр╕▓р╣Ар╕Ыр╣Зр╕Щр╕Ыр╕гр╕░р╕Шр╕▓р╕Щр╣Гр╕Щр╕Бр╕▓р╕гр╕Юр╕гр╕░р╕гр╕▓р╕Кр╕Чр╕▓р╕Щр╣Ар╕Юр╕ер╕┤р╕Зр╕ир╕Юр╕бр╕▓р╕гр╕Фр╕▓р╕Вр╕нр╕Зр╕Щр╕▓р╕Зр╕кр╕▓р╕зр╕ер╕▒р╕Бр╕йр╕Ур╕▓р╕Чр╕╡р╣Ир╕зр╕▒р╕Фр╣Бр╕лр╣Ир╕З р╕лр╕Щр╕╢р╣Ир╕Зр╕вр╣Ир╕▓р╕Щр╕Ър╕▓р╕Зр╕Щр╕▓ р╣Вр╕Фр╕вр╕Щр╣Йр╕нр╕Зр╕Кр╕▓р╕вр╕Др╕Щр╕лр╕Щр╕╢р╣Ир╕Зр╕Вр╕нр╕Зр╕Щр╕▓р╕Зр╕кр╕▓р╕зр╕ер╕▒р╕Бр╕йр╕Ур╕▓р╕Др╕╖р╕нр╕Юр╕▒р╕Щр╣Ар╕нр╕Бр╕Бр╕др╕йр╕Ор╕▓р╕Бр╕гр╕Ур╣М р╕Бр╕гр╕Ур╣Мр╕ир╕┤р╕ер╕Ы р╣Ар╕Ыр╣Зр╕Щр╕Щр╕▓р╕вр╕Чр╕лр╕▓р╕гр╕Чр╕│р╕Зр╕▓р╕Щр╕нр╕вр╕╣р╣Ир╕Бр╕▒р╕Ър╕нр╕Зр╕Др╕бр╕Щр╕Хр╕гр╕╡р╕Шр╕▓р╕Щр╕┤р╕Щр╕Чр╣М р╕кр╣Ир╕зр╕Щр╕Щр╣Йр╕нр╕Зр╕Кр╕▓р╕вр╕нр╕╡р╕Бр╕Др╕Щр╕Вр╕нр╕Зр╣Ар╕Шр╕нр╕Др╕╖р╕нр╕Фр╕г.р╕Щр╕Юр╕Фр╕е р╕Бр╕гр╕Ур╣Мр╕ир╕┤р╕ер╕Ы р╣Ар╕Ыр╣Зр╕Щр╕ер╣Зр╕нр╕Ър╕Ър╕╡р╣Йр╕вр╕┤р╣Йр╕кр╕Хр╣Мр╣Гр╕лр╣Йр╕Бр╕▒р╕Ър╕Юр╕гр╕гр╕Др╕Кр╕▓р╕Хр╕┤р╣Др╕Чр╕вр╕Юр╕▒р╕Тр╕Щр╕▓р╕Вр╕нр╕Зр╕Щр╕▓р╕вр╕Ър╕гр╕гр╕лр╕▓р╕г р╕ир╕┤р╕ер╕Ыр╕нр╕▓р╕Кр╕▓
Translation:
Circulating Around the World that a person closed to Privy Council, filed lese majeste charge to 13 foreign journalists.
by Thai E-News Team
1st July 2009
It is reported that Ms. Laksana Kornsilp, who filed complaint against Mr. Jonathan Head and the other 13 executive boards of the Foreign Correspondence Club of Thailand, her family is a close friend of Mr. Thanin Kraivichien, former Prime Minister after the event of the 6th October, 1976. Recently, Mr. Thanin presided as the chief host for her mother’s funeral at a temple in Bang-na area. One of Ms. Laksana’s brother, Colonel Kritsadakorn Kornsilp, works for Mr. Thanin. Her younger brother, Dr. Noppadon Kornsilph is lobbyist for ChatThaiPattana Party of Mr. Banharn Silapa-archa.
Signs of the Thai state
There is a smaller yellow sign with the same photos of the King and, I think the same logos. Often next to the pink Bhumjai Thai signs. Sorry I cant be of more help..
Fifty-two questions for the study of mainland Southeast Asia
Hi, I’ve got a few mins waiting for an email while my net time runs down…
Is China a greater positive influence in the region than we tend to acknowledge?
Yes, what is positive tends to reflect a value judgment and to answer this, there must be acknowledgement values can change in individuals. For me, I think liberalism is encouraged with economic advancement and thus, irrespective of whatever supposedly rigid political systems are in place, China’s industrialisation promotes liberalism in Southeast Asia through stronger economic relationships. Political systems evolve with peoples values. That current elites in Southeast Asia control the fruit of these economic relationships is something for citizens in ASEAN countries to consider… Much the same as it is for citizens in China to consider regarding the CCP.
How many people are employed by Burma’s censorship apparatus?
Those who feel attached to the state of Myanmar and the present SPDC paradigm might be considered ’employed’ to censorship. So how many feel attached to that paradigm?
Is mainland Southeast Asia, as a whole, more peaceful in 2009 than it has been at almost any other time in history?
I think the incriments for measuring peace and stability in Southeast Asia since the TAC must be really fine to say that 2009 is the most peaceful time. Perhaps not, regarding Preah Vihear (Or Wat Wiharn?) and Rohingya hot potato. You sort of answer this with your #26 question too.
Does Thailand intentionally keep Burma unstable so that it can benefit from cheap labour?
I saw plenty of cheap labour between Si Saket and Kantharalak yesterday. How much cheap labour does Thailand need?!
What ambitions do the Burmese generals harbour for acquiring nuclear weapons?
Regime guarantee. Can hardly say that India or China are guarantors of the Junta.
Why did so few people in Thailand condemn the 2003 “War on Drugs” at the time?
Because it’s easier to defend liberalism when your name is not likely to be sullied.
Two ways to love Thailand
How could he graduated from Eton and Oxford?
“The injustice of a closed trial” in Thai
Thanks Jonathan,
This is very helpful.
Best wishes to all,
Nich
Fifty-two questions for the study of mainland Southeast Asia
Let me (belatedly) add a question that might relate to #34: Thailand’s informal economy seems to be quite large. How much of an obstacle to economic growth and political stability is this sector?
Reptile granted royal title
This is not unusual in zoological nomenclature.
Anyway,the generic name only alludes to the King.
The savvy describer of the species should have had the King’s name as second part of the binomial.Again,that is not unusual though some taxonomists consider it to be bad form.
I would used the King’s name as the specific designation….with permission from the Palace ,of course.
Fifty-two questions for the study of mainland Southeast Asia
Many very interesting questions.
7.I have often wondered why this is so.
32.A number of years ago I asked a Thai journalist if the names of the generals involved in the drug trade were known. The reply was “Yes,but they would never be published.”
One has to ask what has the Australian Federal Police been doing in Thailand over the past 20 years .I think the AFP have been working with the Royal Thai Police in combating drug trafficking [?] for about 20 years but the AFP have not outed one Thai general for being involved in the trade ,as far as I know.
36.Good question.
38.Another good question.A number of years ago I was surprised to learn that some PNG police were being trained in Israel.
41.Much worse, according to one Thai woman I know.
44.Probably one of the most important questions.Singapore needs be put well and truly in the spotlight .Or is that the hot seat?
46.Or,what is the role of the [expat] academic working…..?
Nothing on “Asian[Emperor Lee ‘s]values”?Just joking.
“The injustice of a closed trial” in Thai
The trial was adjourned until 28 July after her lawyer protested against the trial being held in secret. His appeal to the court made no headway, so he is planning to appeal to the Constitutional Court on the grounds that her constitutional right to a public trial is being denied.
The Thai criminal code does allow closed trials on grounds of national security – the grounds invoked by the judge in Daranee’s case – although Amnesty International has made the point that this argument in her case is very unpersuasive.
She has lost a lot of weight – a few months ago she referred to a jaw infection which had made her feel very ill.
The lese majeste circus continues
“Prime Minister Abhisit could simplify things a great deal by limiting the scope for concerned citizens to make these very serious accusations. But if he is feeling really brave he could go even further and use this muddle-headed accusation as an opportunity to extricate his government from the clutches of those who have no time for free expression.”
Dream on. PM Opposite is great at talking the talk, largely to present a reformer’s image to the world, but walking the walk is another matter. He will say that he’s open to anything, but nothing happens or changes when the talk fades. That’s because he knows who pulled the strings to put him in power and who’s keeping him there. He is not about to reform himself out of the job. We dont call him PM Opposite for nothing.
The lese majeste circus continues
This escalation is necessary to push the LM circus into a full and revelatory crisis of absurdity and unsustainability. I very much hope that more narrow-minded monarchist conservatives bring even broader charges of LM against ever larger groups of individuals. Perhaps the entire PT party? The entire staff of Matichon? The million reds who might sign the Thaksin-pardon petition? Or better yet, the millions who voted for Thaksin in two elections. Charge them all with conspiring against the monarchy.
In fact, those who oppose LM should start a guerrilla campaign to file deliberately bizarre charges against random people. Charge all Thai Muslims, for refusing to accept the king’s religion. Charge all motorists for failing to stop their cars at 6pm when the anthem plays (the king wrote it, thus LM). For that matter, charge senator Manoonkrit for the 1981 coup that forced the king to flee from Bangkok. The list is endless.
Why Abhisit won’t call an election
Andrew Young #10, I have a question for you.
You seem quite certain, that both Abhisit and Korn’s previous “work experience” and “privilaged” upbringing, makes them both unfit for their present roles.
The question I have is : what sort of qualifications should people have, before they fit your “ideal” for these positions?
If you can answer, that, then can you please tell me, where are these “ideal politicians, who are capable of running a prosperous, free and democratic, Thailand ?
Why Abhisit won’t call an election
Let me remind all of you that Apisit didn’t become PM because he has the ability to do so. From the day he was born, this guy has not done anything to prove that he has the ability. He has no knowledge in any business at all. He was raised from a wealthy family. When he finished Eton, he went to Oxford and came back to Thailand to serve as a politician. He has never had any experience in doing any business at all. Before he became Thailand PM, he served as minister in some unimportant ministries. As for Mr. Korn who now serves as the Finance Minister, he too has no experience of any kind except in some shares sector. He may be good in manipulating shares prices but not the finance sector.
How much harm this two little kids will do to Thailand is remain to be seen. I can only think that the longer this government stay on, the more rotten Thailand will be. It will be a lesson for those elites who are behind this government. But this lesson is definately a painful one, especially for the poors.