Fantastic blog link Colum. Thanks for that – I look forward to sifting through the immense amount of articles that U San Oo Aung has posted.
And your Rohingya question is a very interesting one – I wonder if we could find out what the process is in Myanmar for nomination to become a Hajji – I know that in many countries there is a sort of selection process – I wonder if there are quotas for each different Muslim ethnic minority in Myanmar or how it works.
On a random personal note: I actually happened to be on one of the airplanes back to Yangon from Bangkok filled with Hajjis — I’ve never seen so many greeters at the Yangon airport at one time.
I also have been photographing “gangsters” scamming on tourists for the last 2 years.
It’s unbelievable how many make their living defrauding tourists.
The worst offenders are Thai Authorities.
The Thai Tourist Mafia is positioned all over town, intercepting tourists.
I once came across this blog by San Oo Aung (below) looking for reports on the Saffron demonstrations in 2007 and found an article about Tattmadaw members posing as Monks trashing a mosque. Anyway, it appears the author, San Oo Aung, has a host of articles concerning Islam and Myanmar.
I am very glad to hear that. As good as the crime coverage is in the Thai newpapers, what is completely missing, as you pointed out as well, the social, cultural and occasionally political significance.
I personally have missed this a lot, and in my photography have mostly concentrated on social and cultural significance of the cases i came across, and especially tried to find such cases, and worked in social hotspots, most of them not so well known as such.
I wish you good luck with your endeavor.
Ralph #200
A quick google with “р╕Чр╕▒р╕Бр╕йр╕┤р╕У р╕Кр╕┤р╕Щр╕зр╕▒р╕Хр╕г р╣Вр╕Яр╕Щр╕нр╕┤р╕Щ р╣Ар╕Щр╕ер╕кр╕▒р╕Щ р╣Бр╕бр╕Щр╣Ар╕Фр╕ер╕ер╣Ир╕▓” gave 51,300 hits. It’s too much to go through but from the three news site:
PMThaksin made the comparison at a phone-in the “Truth Today” episode of 25th January this year. He was being interviewed by the Red Leadership – Jatuporn, Natawut and Veera. Matichon and MCOT news station paraphrased the interview while Dailynews presented as a direct quotation:
The assets seizure case starts on July 16th? Coincidence?
If you believe PMThaksin’s words that he is “non-violently” and “peacefully” fighting for “bigger ideals” and “true democracy”, you shouldn’t be too suprised that he has compared himself to a modern day saint. Really, it’s not beyond him.
It is my intention to include Thai media reports and with translations where possible, although this is a time-consuming task it is necessary. I have already included a report from Khao Sod back in February, but it was a story with wide coverage. You are absolutely right that crime reporting is limited in the Bangkok Post and The Nation, especially compared with Thai language media. I have attempted to draw attention to the misconception you mention in an earlier post on crime stats in Thailand: http://www.bangkokcrimes.com/2009/05/27/thailand-crime-statistics/
I do want to focus on stories which have particular social, political or cultural significance rather than isolated incidents such as murders, robberies etc. but this may change as the blog develops.
I have photographed for many years crime and grime in Bangkok. A English language website on crime in Thailand is very welcome, but it has to include reports published in the Thai media. Bangkok Post and the Nation hardly write about crime. During my years taking photos of that underworld, less than a handful of cases i photographed ever made it into the English language papers, unfortunately, while many cases i have photographed were reported on in Thai language newspapers.
This of course leads to the common misconception under many foreigners that Thailand is compared to the west a relatively crime free and safe country.
During last year’s Bangkok Airport closure, the Saudi government organised charter flights for some of the 4000 Myanmar Muslims stuck in either Yangon or Bangkok. They also extended the December 2 deadline for entering Saudi Arabia so the 4000 could still make it.
You can read a report .
Thanks to Nicholas for pointing this out. A very interesting topic indeed and one that has a small core of interested watchers. Anyone hoping to read up on this subject should also check out the following sources, starting with Andrew Selth’s integral primer:
Sulaiman, Mohammed Mohiyuddin Mohammed. “Islamic Education in Myanmar: a case study.” In Dictarship, Disorder and Decline in Myanmar. Ed. Monique Skidmore and Trevor Wilson. ANU E-press available at http://epress.anu.edu.au/myanmar02 _citation.html
For a fantastic news source on the stateless Rohingyas, one of the four major groups of Muslims in Myanmar, and arguably the most persecuted of all ethnic minorities in Myanmar, check out http://www.kaladanpress.org/ , which is based out of Cox’s Bazaar, Bangladesh.
I believe antithaksin. com, when talking about the police not issuing warnings, meant the early morning assault. I do remember having heard the police warning protesters, and announcing the attack. A colleague of mine who was at the time with PAD said he heard nothing. Regardless, PAD did clearly expect the attack. What nobody knew, police on the ground, nor protesters, was that the teargas canisters were that lethal.
You are spot on about what happened at night, the moments before Ankhana (“Nong Bow”) died. Police was in a defensive position against approaching protesters closing in on police lines at Metropolitan Police Headquarters. The fourth last image of my report does actually show Ankhana, which at the time of writing my article i did not know yet. I thought the picture was of an injured protester, and could only confirm much later that it was in fact Ankhana. The other still photographers at the scene photographed two of the protesters who have had heavy leg injures (one of them lost his leg), most likely from teargas canisters. I have missed those scenes as i was too close to the frontlines of the police, and there was no other footage of Ankhana i could find at the time to compare my photos with.
There were two or three cameramen around me when i photographed Ankhana, one of them must have shot the tape you saw.
it’s nirmal ghosh. publication date is may15th. if you’ve time to follow up you might find in re-distribution a part is missing:
“The realities of Burma are not as black and white as they may seem in faraway Western capitals and to the woolly activists the country is prone to attract.
The army is the only functional institution left and views everything through a national security lens. It is a contradiction to expect the regime to divest power when it sees itself as the only institution capable of preventing the country from collapsing and ending up as a failed state.”
imho, it’s one of the better farang report on events. i like:
“In looking for explanations of developments in Burma, and given the choice between conspiracy and cock-up, it is usually safer to opt for the cock-up. In this case, it appears that there were two. A rather foolish and naive man simply failed to think through the dire consequences of his actions. The regime’s mistake was in not being more vigilant in their patrols around Aung San Suu Kyi’s compound. The result of these cock-ups has been a major international incident.”
*…
3) actually, imho, all that doesn’t matter at all. maybe for your inspiration you might read this:
“On April 28, simultaneous meetings were held between Myanmar military commanders and representatives of every major ethnic ceasefire army in the north and northeast of the country.
In Myitkyina, Brigadier General Soe Win, the Northern Command commander met with leaders of the Kachin Independence Organization/Army (KIO/A), and the National Democratic Army-Kachin (NDA-K). The Shan State Army (North) (SSA-N) met with Major General Aung Than Htut, Northeastern Command commander, in Lashio, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) met with Brigadier General Win Maung and meetings were held with the National Democratic Alliance Army (Eastern Shan State) (NDAA-ESS). Most importantly, Lieutenant-General Ye Myint met with the United Wa State Army (UWSA) in Tangyan, eastern Shan State. ”
That John Yettaw was able to swim across the lake and enter the home of Aung San Suu Kyi isn’t the result of some grand conspiracy by the SPDC.
If they wanted to continue her house arrest, they would have just done it, no excuses needed.
All John Yettaw did was provide them a legitimate reason (in their eyes only).
American society is full of John Yettaw’s. Little men who are seeking fame and fortune. They stand in Times Square, holding placards stating that the end is near. They stand in the well of the senate, proclaiming one grand thing or another. They write letters to the editor about one thing or another, then clap themselves on the back for their supposed quick wit, and that they have achieved some measure of notoriety.
When the trial of Aung San Suu Kyi reaches its conclusion, John Yettaw will sink back into obscurity. But the damage he has done will be with us for quite some time.
Another person, looking for fame, who has caused more problems than he could ever hope to solve.
I would wager that when / if he ever returns home, he will be welcomed back as a hero by people who have only the remotest understanding of what he did.
“1. The warnings with loudspeakers remain disputable from PAD side. Moreover, the police did not negotiate first. Unlike dealing with Cambodian. Perhaps we do not speak the same language!!!
However, the police constituted of three events, early morning, afternoon and the evening one. The reporter was not present at all sites, at all times. He was present at 6:00 am first raid.
Obviously, the police did not warn for the shooting in the evening when protesters were marching back to the government house and Miss Angkana was killed.
2. Does Nick Nostitz speak Thai? If he does certainly he may understand what he wrote about the police’s warning.”
I can only say that one Thai TV station has the footage of the whole event with the head of the police begging politely through a loudspeaker in the evening asking the PAD not to approach any further. But that policeman was attacked by a flag pole landed right in the middle of his forehead. And you can see a bunch of police getting hurt first by those “unarmed” protesters. Everything was capture on video. And you know what, from the very same tape, the PAD only edited the part when the police was kicking the head of the PAD protester who was kneeling next to Nong Bow’s body and posted it on YouTube.
So I don’t think the http://www.antithaksin.com knows what he’s talking about. The tape is still at the station’s library. The footage was not aired. The person who filmed the footage was asked not to cover any protest again. This is the reward for a Thai reporter who risked his life covering the event. I saw the whole tape and I bet the PAD who manipulated this very tape on YouTube has the evidence of this police begging and warning the crowds before. Seeing people spread lies on the websites makes me upset. We all are victims of politics. Don’t make it any worse.
Unfortunately, the recipients and senders of the cash are reluctant to produce remittance advices and receipts and the written agreement to provide the funding has been inexplicably mislaid. This is perhaps understandable since the protest organizers could be liable for income tax on the difference between the cash received and the actual cost of the riots and VAT on the total amount! Just because there is no documentary evidence, that doesn’t mean it is not true, e.g. where are the bodies?
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Burmese Hajj mission
Fantastic blog link Colum. Thanks for that – I look forward to sifting through the immense amount of articles that U San Oo Aung has posted.
And your Rohingya question is a very interesting one – I wonder if we could find out what the process is in Myanmar for nomination to become a Hajji – I know that in many countries there is a sort of selection process – I wonder if there are quotas for each different Muslim ethnic minority in Myanmar or how it works.
On a random personal note: I actually happened to be on one of the airplanes back to Yangon from Bangkok filled with Hajjis — I’ve never seen so many greeters at the Yangon airport at one time.
Bangkok Crimes online
I also have been photographing “gangsters” scamming on tourists for the last 2 years.
It’s unbelievable how many make their living defrauding tourists.
The worst offenders are Thai Authorities.
The Thai Tourist Mafia is positioned all over town, intercepting tourists.
Here is the BMA “Police” stalking & fining visitors.
Photos here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29324583@N05/sets/72157617714418287/detail/
Dozens more photos of the Thai Tourist Mafia here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29324583@N05/sets/
Burmese Hajj mission
I once came across this blog by San Oo Aung (below) looking for reports on the Saffron demonstrations in 2007 and found an article about Tattmadaw members posing as Monks trashing a mosque. Anyway, it appears the author, San Oo Aung, has a host of articles concerning Islam and Myanmar.
http://sanooaung.wordpress.com/islam-articles/
Also not that I know anything about it, but in regards to what Tom says, I wonder if any Rohingya were of those 4000?
Bangkok Crimes online
“Khlong Cowboy”
I am very glad to hear that. As good as the crime coverage is in the Thai newpapers, what is completely missing, as you pointed out as well, the social, cultural and occasionally political significance.
I personally have missed this a lot, and in my photography have mostly concentrated on social and cultural significance of the cases i came across, and especially tried to find such cases, and worked in social hotspots, most of them not so well known as such.
I wish you good luck with your endeavor.
The crushing of the Red Shirts
Ralph #200
A quick google with “р╕Чр╕▒р╕Бр╕йр╕┤р╕У р╕Кр╕┤р╕Щр╕зр╕▒р╕Хр╕г р╣Вр╕Яр╕Щр╕нр╕┤р╕Щ р╣Ар╕Щр╕ер╕кр╕▒р╕Щ р╣Бр╕бр╕Щр╣Ар╕Фр╕ер╕ер╣Ир╕▓” gave 51,300 hits. It’s too much to go through but from the three news site:
http://www.matichon.co.th/news_detail.php?newsid=1232889169
http://news.mcot.net/politic/inside.php?value=bmlkPTI1MDQzJm50eXBlPWNsaXA=
http://www.dailynews.co.th/web/html/popup_news/Default.aspx?Newsid=189020&NewsType=1&Template=1
PMThaksin made the comparison at a phone-in the “Truth Today” episode of 25th January this year. He was being interviewed by the Red Leadership – Jatuporn, Natawut and Veera. Matichon and MCOT news station paraphrased the interview while Dailynews presented as a direct quotation:
“р╕Ьр╕бр╕Цр╕╖р╕нр╕зр╣Ир╕▓р╕Бр╕▓р╕гр╕Хр╣Ир╕нр╕кр╕╣р╣Йр╕Чр╕▓р╕Зр╕нр╕╕р╕Фр╕бр╕Бр╕▓р╕гр╕Ур╣Мр╣Ар╕Ыр╣Зр╕Щр╕кр╕┤р╣Ир╕Зр╕Чр╕╡р╣Ир╕кр╕╣р╕Зр╕кр╕╕р╕Ф р╣Бр╕Хр╣Ир╕кр╕┤р╣Ир╕Зр╕Чр╕╡р╣Ир╕бр╕▓р╕Бр╕Бр╕зр╣Ир╕▓р╕Щр╕▒р╣Йр╕Щ р╕Др╕╖р╕н р╕Бр╕▓р╕гр╕Хр╣Ир╕нр╕кр╕╣р╣Йр╕Чр╕▓р╕Зр╕нр╕╕р╕Фр╕бр╕Бр╕▓р╕гр╕Ур╣Мр╣Бр╕ер╣Йр╕зр╣Др╕бр╣Ир╣Др╕Фр╣Йр╕гр╕▒р╕Ър╕Др╕зр╕▓р╕бр╕вр╕╕р╕Хр╕┤р╕Шр╕гр╕гр╕бр╕Цр╕╖р╕нр╕зр╣Ир╕▓р╣Ар╕Ыр╣Зр╕Щр╕кр╕┤р╣Ир╕Зр╕Чр╕╡р╣Ир╣Др╕бр╣Ир╕бр╕╡р╣Гр╕Др╕г р╕вр╕нр╕бр╕гр╕▒р╕Ър╣Др╕Фр╣Й р╣Вр╕Фр╕вр╣Ар╕Йр╕Юр╕▓р╕░р╕нр╕вр╣Ир╕▓р╕Зр╕вр╕┤р╣Ир╕З р╕Хр╕Щр╣Ар╕Юр╕┤р╣Ир╕Зр╣Ар╕Фр╕┤р╕Щр╕Чр╕▓р╕Зр╣Др╕Ыр╕Чр╕╡р╣Ир╣Ар╕Лр╕▓р╕Чр╣Мр╣Бр╕нр╕Яр╕гр╕┤р╕Бр╕▓р╕лр╕гр╕╖р╕нр╣Бр╕нр╕Яр╕гр╕┤р╕Бр╕▓р╣Гр╕Хр╣Йр╣Ар╕Ыр╣Зр╕Щр╣Ар╕бр╕╖р╕нр╕Зр╕Чр╕╡р╣Ир╣Ар╕Вр╕▓р╕Щр╕▒р╕Ър╕Цр╕╖р╕н “р╣Ар╕Щр╕ер╕кр╕▒р╕Щ р╣Бр╕бр╕Щр╣Ар╕Фр╕ер╕ер╣Ир╕▓” р╣Ар╕Ыр╣Зр╕Щр╕гр╕▒р╕Рр╕Ър╕╕р╕гр╕╕р╕йр╕Вр╕нр╕Зр╣Ар╕Вр╕▓ р╣Ар╕Юр╕гр╕▓р╕░р╣Ар╕Вр╕▓р╣Ар╕Ыр╣Зр╕Щр╕Щр╕▒р╕Бр╕Хр╣Ир╕нр╕кр╕╣р╣Йр╕Чр╕╡р╣Ир╣Др╕бр╣Ир╣Др╕Фр╣Йр╕гр╕▒р╕Ъ р╕Др╕зр╕▓р╕бр╣Ар╕Ыр╣Зр╕Щр╕Шр╕гр╕гр╕бр╕Цр╕╣р╕Бр╕Ир╕│р╕Др╕╕р╕Б 40 р╕Ыр╕╡ р╣Ар╕бр╕╖р╣Ир╕нр╕нр╕нр╕Бр╕Ир╕▓р╕Бр╕Др╕╕р╕Бр╕Бр╣Зр╣Др╕Фр╣Йр╕гр╕▒р╕Ър╣Ар╕ер╕╖р╕нр╕Бр╣Ар╕Ыр╣Зр╕Щр╕Ыр╕гр╕░р╕Шр╕▓р╕Щр╕▓р╕Шр╕┤р╕Ър╕Фр╕╡ р╕Ьр╕бр╣Ар╕нр╕Зр╕ар╕▓р╕зр╕░р╕Ир╕┤р╕Хр╣Гр╕Ир╕Хр╕нр╕Щр╕Щр╕╡р╣Й р╕Хр╣Йр╕нр╕Зр╕нр╕Фр╕Чр╕Щр╣Бр╕ер╕░р╣Ар╕Вр╣Йр╕бр╣Бр╕Вр╣Зр╕З р╣Ар╕Юр╕гр╕▓р╕░р╕Хр╣Йр╕нр╕Зр╕Хр╣Ир╕нр╕кр╕╣р╣Йр╕Бр╕▒р╕Ър╕Др╕зр╕▓р╕бр╣Др╕бр╣Ир╣Ар╕Ыр╣Зр╕Щр╕Шр╕гр╕гр╕бр╕Хр╣Ир╕нр╣Др╕Ыр╕Хр╣Йр╕нр╕Зр╣Бр╕кр╕зр╕Зр╕лр╕▓р╕Др╕зр╕▓р╕бр╣Ар╕Ыр╣Зр╕Щр╕Шр╕гр╕гр╕бр╣Гр╕лр╣Йр╣Ар╕Ир╕н р╣Др╕бр╣Ир╕зр╣Ир╕▓р╕Ир╕░р╣Ар╕Ир╕нр╕Ър╕Щр╕кр╕зр╕гр╕гр╕Др╣Мр╕лр╕гр╕╖р╕нр╕Вр╕╕р╕бр╕Щр╕гр╕Бр╕Хр╣Йр╕нр╕Зр╣Ар╕Ир╕нр╣Гр╕лр╣Йр╣Др╕Фр╣Й р╣Ар╕Юр╕гр╕▓р╕░р╕Ьр╕бр╣Ар╕Кр╕╖р╣Ир╕нр╕зр╣Ир╕▓р╕Др╕зр╕▓р╕бр╣Ар╕Ыр╣Зр╕Щр╕Шр╕гр╕гр╕бр╕Хр╣Йр╕нр╕Зр╕бр╕╡”
We also know now that the Reds have scheduled 27 June with some sort of “impact” within 3 months according to Nattawut Saikeur:
http://www.matichon.co.th/news_detail.php?newsid=1243780392&grpid=00&catid=01
The assets seizure case starts on July 16th? Coincidence?
If you believe PMThaksin’s words that he is “non-violently” and “peacefully” fighting for “bigger ideals” and “true democracy”, you shouldn’t be too suprised that he has compared himself to a modern day saint. Really, it’s not beyond him.
Bangkok Crimes online
It is my intention to include Thai media reports and with translations where possible, although this is a time-consuming task it is necessary. I have already included a report from Khao Sod back in February, but it was a story with wide coverage. You are absolutely right that crime reporting is limited in the Bangkok Post and The Nation, especially compared with Thai language media. I have attempted to draw attention to the misconception you mention in an earlier post on crime stats in Thailand: http://www.bangkokcrimes.com/2009/05/27/thailand-crime-statistics/
I do want to focus on stories which have particular social, political or cultural significance rather than isolated incidents such as murders, robberies etc. but this may change as the blog develops.
Many thanks for your comments and interest.
Bangkok Crimes online
I have photographed for many years crime and grime in Bangkok. A English language website on crime in Thailand is very welcome, but it has to include reports published in the Thai media. Bangkok Post and the Nation hardly write about crime. During my years taking photos of that underworld, less than a handful of cases i photographed ever made it into the English language papers, unfortunately, while many cases i have photographed were reported on in Thai language newspapers.
This of course leads to the common misconception under many foreigners that Thailand is compared to the west a relatively crime free and safe country.
$ufficiency economy
RK # 7
Maybe, mAvvvEErIckKKy thinks that this is cool sub-culture that will dominate blog comments in “2-5 years”? Ha!
Bangkok Crimes online
Good stuff.
What about documenting all the crimes against tourists.
here is a link to some news.
Crimes against foreigners here:
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=676476&page=6
Burmese Hajj mission
During last year’s Bangkok Airport closure, the Saudi government organised charter flights for some of the 4000 Myanmar Muslims stuck in either Yangon or Bangkok. They also extended the December 2 deadline for entering Saudi Arabia so the 4000 could still make it.
You can read a report .
Burmese Hajj mission
Thanks to Nicholas for pointing this out. A very interesting topic indeed and one that has a small core of interested watchers. Anyone hoping to read up on this subject should also check out the following sources, starting with Andrew Selth’s integral primer:
Selth, Andrew. “Burma’s Muslims: Terrorists or Terrorized.”
http://rspas.anu.edu.au/sdsc/canberra_papers.php
Sulaiman, Mohammed Mohiyuddin Mohammed. “Islamic Education in Myanmar: a case study.” In Dictarship, Disorder and Decline in Myanmar. Ed. Monique Skidmore and Trevor Wilson. ANU E-press available at http://epress.anu.edu.au/myanmar02 _citation.html
For a fantastic news source on the stateless Rohingyas, one of the four major groups of Muslims in Myanmar, and arguably the most persecuted of all ethnic minorities in Myanmar, check out http://www.kaladanpress.org/ , which is based out of Cox’s Bazaar, Bangladesh.
What happened on 7/10/2008?
“Newsroom witness”
I believe antithaksin. com, when talking about the police not issuing warnings, meant the early morning assault. I do remember having heard the police warning protesters, and announcing the attack. A colleague of mine who was at the time with PAD said he heard nothing. Regardless, PAD did clearly expect the attack. What nobody knew, police on the ground, nor protesters, was that the teargas canisters were that lethal.
You are spot on about what happened at night, the moments before Ankhana (“Nong Bow”) died. Police was in a defensive position against approaching protesters closing in on police lines at Metropolitan Police Headquarters. The fourth last image of my report does actually show Ankhana, which at the time of writing my article i did not know yet. I thought the picture was of an injured protester, and could only confirm much later that it was in fact Ankhana. The other still photographers at the scene photographed two of the protesters who have had heavy leg injures (one of them lost his leg), most likely from teargas canisters. I have missed those scenes as i was too close to the frontlines of the police, and there was no other footage of Ankhana i could find at the time to compare my photos with.
There were two or three cameramen around me when i photographed Ankhana, one of them must have shot the tape you saw.
And, by the way, yes, i do speak Thai. 😉
The crushing of the Red Shirts
I agree Portman, just because there is no evidence doesn’t make a rumour false. But it doesn’t make a rumour true, either.
$ufficiency economy
Maybe maverick can stick to SMS where argument is really, really not required.
$ufficiency economy
🙂
just to be a fool na…
pls, wizards of new mandala — you really want to tell me there’s an _alternative_ to sufficiency economy? really?
really?
REALLY?
just for record: i wonder what you’ll think in … 2-5 years 😉
Update on Inya Lake’s aquatic intruder
i’ve been to myanmar, a couple of times in recent years.
just for new mandala entertainment
1) http://www.asianewsnet.net/news.php?id=5751
it’s nirmal ghosh. publication date is may15th. if you’ve time to follow up you might find in re-distribution a part is missing:
“The realities of Burma are not as black and white as they may seem in faraway Western capitals and to the woolly activists the country is prone to attract.
The army is the only functional institution left and views everything through a national security lens. It is a contradiction to expect the regime to divest power when it sees itself as the only institution capable of preventing the country from collapsing and ending up as a failed state.”
*…
2) http://www.lowyinterpreter.org./post/2009/05/26/Conspiracies.aspx
imho, it’s one of the better farang report on events. i like:
“In looking for explanations of developments in Burma, and given the choice between conspiracy and cock-up, it is usually safer to opt for the cock-up. In this case, it appears that there were two. A rather foolish and naive man simply failed to think through the dire consequences of his actions. The regime’s mistake was in not being more vigilant in their patrols around Aung San Suu Kyi’s compound. The result of these cock-ups has been a major international incident.”
*…
3) actually, imho, all that doesn’t matter at all. maybe for your inspiration you might read this:
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/KE28Ae01.html
“On April 28, simultaneous meetings were held between Myanmar military commanders and representatives of every major ethnic ceasefire army in the north and northeast of the country.
In Myitkyina, Brigadier General Soe Win, the Northern Command commander met with leaders of the Kachin Independence Organization/Army (KIO/A), and the National Democratic Army-Kachin (NDA-K). The Shan State Army (North) (SSA-N) met with Major General Aung Than Htut, Northeastern Command commander, in Lashio, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) met with Brigadier General Win Maung and meetings were held with the National Democratic Alliance Army (Eastern Shan State) (NDAA-ESS). Most importantly, Lieutenant-General Ye Myint met with the United Wa State Army (UWSA) in Tangyan, eastern Shan State. ”
thx 4 ur time dear new mandala
Update on Inya Lake’s aquatic intruder
That John Yettaw was able to swim across the lake and enter the home of Aung San Suu Kyi isn’t the result of some grand conspiracy by the SPDC.
If they wanted to continue her house arrest, they would have just done it, no excuses needed.
All John Yettaw did was provide them a legitimate reason (in their eyes only).
American society is full of John Yettaw’s. Little men who are seeking fame and fortune. They stand in Times Square, holding placards stating that the end is near. They stand in the well of the senate, proclaiming one grand thing or another. They write letters to the editor about one thing or another, then clap themselves on the back for their supposed quick wit, and that they have achieved some measure of notoriety.
When the trial of Aung San Suu Kyi reaches its conclusion, John Yettaw will sink back into obscurity. But the damage he has done will be with us for quite some time.
Another person, looking for fame, who has caused more problems than he could ever hope to solve.
I would wager that when / if he ever returns home, he will be welcomed back as a hero by people who have only the remotest understanding of what he did.
Replica heritage
@Marco & Michael: There definitely is a (scaled down) replica of Preah Vihear in Ancient City/Muang Boran. See number 72 on this map: http://www.ancientcity.com/en?q=/en/map-of-the-ancientcity/northeast
What happened on 7/10/2008?
I just ran into this report just now. And I feel that I need to clarify on
http://www.antithaksin.com‘s doubt about the warning:
“1. The warnings with loudspeakers remain disputable from PAD side. Moreover, the police did not negotiate first. Unlike dealing with Cambodian. Perhaps we do not speak the same language!!!
However, the police constituted of three events, early morning, afternoon and the evening one. The reporter was not present at all sites, at all times. He was present at 6:00 am first raid.
Obviously, the police did not warn for the shooting in the evening when protesters were marching back to the government house and Miss Angkana was killed.
2. Does Nick Nostitz speak Thai? If he does certainly he may understand what he wrote about the police’s warning.”
I can only say that one Thai TV station has the footage of the whole event with the head of the police begging politely through a loudspeaker in the evening asking the PAD not to approach any further. But that policeman was attacked by a flag pole landed right in the middle of his forehead. And you can see a bunch of police getting hurt first by those “unarmed” protesters. Everything was capture on video. And you know what, from the very same tape, the PAD only edited the part when the police was kicking the head of the PAD protester who was kneeling next to Nong Bow’s body and posted it on YouTube.
So I don’t think the http://www.antithaksin.com knows what he’s talking about. The tape is still at the station’s library. The footage was not aired. The person who filmed the footage was asked not to cover any protest again. This is the reward for a Thai reporter who risked his life covering the event. I saw the whole tape and I bet the PAD who manipulated this very tape on YouTube has the evidence of this police begging and warning the crowds before. Seeing people spread lies on the websites makes me upset. We all are victims of politics. Don’t make it any worse.
The crushing of the Red Shirts
Ralph
Unfortunately, the recipients and senders of the cash are reluctant to produce remittance advices and receipts and the written agreement to provide the funding has been inexplicably mislaid. This is perhaps understandable since the protest organizers could be liable for income tax on the difference between the cash received and the actual cost of the riots and VAT on the total amount! Just because there is no documentary evidence, that doesn’t mean it is not true, e.g. where are the bodies?