What might get very hurt, in a bureaucratic free for all, are the very low budget NGOs, hundreds of them, that look after the children of Cambodia. The breakdown of families across all sectors has produced a torrent of desperate children: all with specific needs: HIV+ve, traumatised, handicapped. Maybe, some of the writers above are just as guilty of hotel room journalism and need to get out to some of these Centers and have a look.
Cambodian politicians neither have the will nor the money to look after these sad children and without the small NGOs these children (about 600,000 by UN estimates) will suffer tremendously.
It doesn’t surprise me that the many guerrilla groups fighting against the SPDC are having ammunition problems.
AK-47 ammo, for the most part, is berdan primed. Very difficult o reload.
The M-16 ammo, on the other hand, is usually boxer primed, which is a simple matter to reload.
As the article stated, the Thai’s use M-16’s, with .223 ammo. And I understand that the SPDC is utilizing quite a bit of .308 ammo, fired from G3’s.
It also doesn’t surprise me that the UWSA is producing crappy ammo – it takes some sophisticated equipment to achieve proper quality control and produce quantity. Home reloading kits aren’t going to provide ammo in the quantities needed.
If the UWSA really wants to get into production they’ll need to spend at least a half million dollars to get the equipment they need. I don’t think they have that kind of money.
Lastly, in that part of the world, moisture is a real problem. That’s why most ammunition is lacquer sealed. That stuff gums up weapons really bad.
its true she was elected… interesting, her NGO type colleagues tried to get themselves accepted as nominated senators but none of them were selected
meanwhile I discovered that she was originally sponsored in her work in holistic health (coals to newcastle?) by the Canadian Friends Service Committee… who are Qakers (pacifists) … and is celebrated in their magazine for being elected into the Thai senate
As I believe Rosana can be classed as “one of those from the Peoples’ Movement that was poisoned by the P.A.D. leadership which dragged too many people into supporting the “yellow-ribbon” coup”
I have sent an email to the Qaker organisation asking them if they are aware of what their reputation may be associated?
so, thanks for a bit more information on who and what is happening here
jonfernquest chooses to examine a paragraph in Anek. That’s fine, but the last paragraph of Pasuk and Baker also deserves further consideration and is quite a distance from the alleged repetition of Anek’s simplistic rural-urban dichotomy which was reproduced above. There’s more in this article than the so-called rural-urban divide that was, for Anek, embedded in a kind of neo-liberal perspective on the future of Thai society.
I wonder how the UK’s foreign policy will alter towards Thailand when fellow old scholar David Cameron takes the reins. I imagine that Britain will posture itself directly behind Thailand’s efforts to be more stable economically. The question is whether Abhisit and Korn will ask for it, or whether they will just chance upon FDI (Foreign Direct Insertion) like meeting an established gentleman on a cozy misty morning stroll along a college lane..
Undoubtedly, what is good for Abhisit Vejjajiva is good for Thailand…
Having said that, I congratulate him on landing Thailand’s most prized valet parking job. At least he doesn’t seem like he will leave his half smoked cigarette’s mashed into the seat covers, but you can never be sure. Especially with Mrs Pornthiwa’s history in massage institutions. Not only will we be calling for the Royal stance to be revealed towards democracy, but Coyote dancing too!
De Oppressor Liber seems to be entranced by Ji. I do agree that (along with Jon) the Ungpakorn name carries weight. However, Ji’s Marxism is narrow and does not enjoy much support in Thailand. His tendency to attack even his friends for their alleged theoretical failures causes some angst among those who do recognise the role he plays.
At the same time, there is a small Marxist literature that comes out of the defunct CPT (that Ji rejects out of hand as Stalinist and the root cause of all of Thailand’s problems) that is worth considering. Thong Chaemsri, for secretary-general recently came out with a piece on the 66th anniversary of the founding of the CPT. This is found at Prachathai. Also, Surachai Sae Dan has recently spoken with some reporters. I haven’t found a paper or lengthy article by him yet, but if anyone see anything, please post to NM.
Of course, others associated with the last days of the CPT have been on the PAD stage too (e.g. Chonthira and Pirun). Interesting times!
If Mandala reporters will do a little more research on many public toilets, especially within many gas stations all over the country. He/she will find many more direct mentioning on “Who’s behind the PAD mob?” The action is the same as it was during the Sept 19, 2006 coup., but directly, not subtle!!! Go ahead.
It would be very interesting to find out who is the complainant against Harry. In Thai law, for a criminal complaint to be lodged with the court, there must be a complaining victim. In some criminal cases the prosecutor can be the complainant, even though he was not personally harmed by the activity. I think this is the case with lese majeste; however, there may be a complainant other than the prosecutor.
This case is somewhat bizarre. Given what we have been told about the offense it doesn’t seem possible that it went to prosecution. Of course once guy was arrested the prosecution is in a bind. The prosecutor won’t want to admit he lodged a case without sufficient evidence for continuing, but since it’s against a foreigner it isn’t a big deal. Unless the original complainant is a very influential person. I have no idea how to find this information (in other countries it would be a matter of public record, but in Thailand it’s probably a state secret).
Some months ago after the arrest of Harry Nicolaides I called in at the Australian Embassy Bangkok to ask about his fate. The Australian official I spoke to declined to give me any information whatsoever about the case and what assistance was being provided to Harry.
This leaves me, as an Australian resident in Thailand, concened that one day I might say or write something which somebody takes offence to and land up in a similar predicament with apparently no help from the government of Australia.
His Magesty the King of Thailand has publicly expressed his unhappiness about the Lesse-majeste law and made it clear that it troubles him when he has to pardon foreigners found guilty of the offence which is his normal practice.
Considering his remarks my view is that people who prosecute lesse-majeste cases hold their monarch in contempt.
I am not sure that Abhisit’s conduct represents the best of Eton and Oxford. Time and again he failed to offer good wishes to his political opponents, and his ability to control his self-aggrandizement leaves something to be desired. With Eton and Oxford having failed to instil in him a sense of human decency, he should study and practice the teachings of the Buddha to turn himself into a productive politician. My every good wish to this young man with a great potential. I hope he doesn’t live up to his name, which means “special privilege”.
In my opinion, Ji represents two important symbols. First, he is a Marxist scholar who analyzes Thai politics with depth of knowledge and integrity. Second, he is Dr. Puey’s son, one of the most important Statesmen in our country and the world. This aspect of Ji, is more crucial because it relates to Thailand’s national security and the Asia Pacific stability.
Ji heavy weight’s credibility as a scholar and his reputation as an integrity person, have made the enemy of Thailand frighten. Ji has an in-depth knowledge about Thailand, the enemy of Thailand knows that they can not fool Ji. More important than anything else which Ji himself might not aware of it, Ji has the capability to disrupt the enemy of Thailand’s objectives. As a result, they have to attack Ji’s reputation. We must distinguish the reason why and which aspects, the enemy of Thailand attacks Ji.
Ji, you are born with the responsibility to protect the Asia Pacific’s security. Please continue to be the lighthouse of the region.
Charles F., the KNLA is more like the golden boy of the western powers than the orphan boy though I guess that’s probably how they think of themselves . Broken promises and all that. You don’t see the Buddhist Shan enjoying anything like the high profile the KNU have achieved on account of being Christian and Baptist and accessibility from the Thai border. Bertil Lintner is perhaps the one knight in shining armour for the Shan and we know why his sympathies lie where they do, pretty much like a few of the Anglo- Americans when it comes to the Karen. Shans nowadays make news also because the refugee population has expanded to include them.
Should they be fussy about where they can get hold of what they need? There’s the famous example of Aung San getting help from the Japanese instead of the Chinese Communists. And of course there’s also the infamous example of the CIA doing a roaring trade with Khun Sa during the Vietnam War. Fussy, not the CIA.
I am also very suspicious of the sabi sabai thing and the other phrase….
“cultures such as Thailand which value consensus, conformity and community much more than confrontation and competition.”
I winder if its this culture that means the rich can manipulate the society to their benefit?
where the legal system is manipulated by the rich, all the way from people in cars with dark window tinting bluff the traffic police up to the Privy Council conspiring to convict Thaskin and the rich can support thugs to defeat a strong democratically elected government… ?
most human beings aspire to peaceful coexistance but again most recognise that ability for independent thinking is a requirement of growing up from being a child
who reinforces the culture and why is it perpetuated?
David Brown, it is not very often I agree with what you have to say.
But, I was almost totally with you ,regarding your comments on democracy and accountability, until the last couple of sentences.
I agree that one should ask questions about what Sondhi, might have achieved, and for what ends.
However, to be balanced (as the rest of your piece is – to me), you should also ask the same questions of Thaksin.
David,
I was not equating ‘stability’ with ‘oppression’. And I kind of welcome his apparent lack of political and business ‘experience’ in the Thai context. We will have to wait and see.
“actually the hallmark of democracy is not stability, its tensions between opposing views resolved by voting” Which opens up the debate (to be followed elsewhere) whether the type ‘democracy’ the West so stridently seeks to impose is appropriate to cultures such as Thailand which value consensus, conformity and community much more than confrontation and competition. I am not against democracy in Thailand, quite the opposite, but I am prepared to allow it to take forms and functions that don’t conform to the pure democratic idea.
full participatory democracy has built in accountabilty
anyone wanting to be elected has to commit something to get the electors to vote for them, associate with a party with a charismatic, effective leader, time, energy, money, whatever
after election the MPs are faced with decisions on how they will spend their maximum term in office,
will they please themselves and not expect to be reelected or will they do something for their electors and work to get reelected?
in any case, in a democracy it is rare for one party to be in power for more than say two terms
then the member has to decide whether to keep working either outside or in opposition hoping to be elected and for his party to be in power next time
the situation is entirely different for nominated members, they just need to suck up to the selection panel or its controller otherwise they are not really accountable to anyone, they can behave like the infamous Rosana and her colleagues, supporting the PAD and other unproductive activities without needing to care about whether the country is going down the drain
I wonder if Sondhi Lim feels he has achieved anything?
How much money has he stacked away?
How many peoples lives has he destroyed?
What other objectives does he still want to pursue?
Odd Spot: The following paragraph appears at the beginning of several unrelated articles on Bkk Post online, including one on damaged underwater cables causing internet problems for Europe:
“New prime minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva, vowed Thursday to visit the poor northeast, a stronghold of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra, where he has struggled to win support.”
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Cambodia’s four letter word: NGOs
What might get very hurt, in a bureaucratic free for all, are the very low budget NGOs, hundreds of them, that look after the children of Cambodia. The breakdown of families across all sectors has produced a torrent of desperate children: all with specific needs: HIV+ve, traumatised, handicapped. Maybe, some of the writers above are just as guilty of hotel room journalism and need to get out to some of these Centers and have a look.
Cambodian politicians neither have the will nor the money to look after these sad children and without the small NGOs these children (about 600,000 by UN estimates) will suffer tremendously.
Christmas celebrations at New Mandala
Merry Christmas, Happy New Year
enjoy your break and thanks for all the fish
Volunteering to fight in Burma
It doesn’t surprise me that the many guerrilla groups fighting against the SPDC are having ammunition problems.
AK-47 ammo, for the most part, is berdan primed. Very difficult o reload.
The M-16 ammo, on the other hand, is usually boxer primed, which is a simple matter to reload.
As the article stated, the Thai’s use M-16’s, with .223 ammo. And I understand that the SPDC is utilizing quite a bit of .308 ammo, fired from G3’s.
It also doesn’t surprise me that the UWSA is producing crappy ammo – it takes some sophisticated equipment to achieve proper quality control and produce quantity. Home reloading kits aren’t going to provide ammo in the quantities needed.
If the UWSA really wants to get into production they’ll need to spend at least a half million dollars to get the equipment they need. I don’t think they have that kind of money.
Lastly, in that part of the world, moisture is a real problem. That’s why most ammunition is lacquer sealed. That stuff gums up weapons really bad.
The writing on the wall
If Mandala reporters will do a little more research on many public toilets….
I cannot wait for those reports to start coming in 🙂
Volunteering to fight in Burma
More info on access and availability of arms & ammo, past and present:
http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=14829
Dishonourable but parliamentary
hi Another David
thanks for your correction about Rosana
its true she was elected… interesting, her NGO type colleagues tried to get themselves accepted as nominated senators but none of them were selected
meanwhile I discovered that she was originally sponsored in her work in holistic health (coals to newcastle?) by the Canadian Friends Service Committee… who are Qakers (pacifists) … and is celebrated in their magazine for being elected into the Thai senate
As I believe Rosana can be classed as “one of those from the Peoples’ Movement that was poisoned by the P.A.D. leadership which dragged too many people into supporting the “yellow-ribbon” coup”
I have sent an email to the Qaker organisation asking them if they are aware of what their reputation may be associated?
so, thanks for a bit more information on who and what is happening here
Far from over
jonfernquest chooses to examine a paragraph in Anek. That’s fine, but the last paragraph of Pasuk and Baker also deserves further consideration and is quite a distance from the alleged repetition of Anek’s simplistic rural-urban dichotomy which was reproduced above. There’s more in this article than the so-called rural-urban divide that was, for Anek, embedded in a kind of neo-liberal perspective on the future of Thai society.
Banter about the Abhisit Vejjajiva cabinet
Wit and Abhisit.
I wonder how the UK’s foreign policy will alter towards Thailand when fellow old scholar David Cameron takes the reins. I imagine that Britain will posture itself directly behind Thailand’s efforts to be more stable economically. The question is whether Abhisit and Korn will ask for it, or whether they will just chance upon FDI (Foreign Direct Insertion) like meeting an established gentleman on a cozy misty morning stroll along a college lane..
Undoubtedly, what is good for Abhisit Vejjajiva is good for Thailand…
Having said that, I congratulate him on landing Thailand’s most prized valet parking job. At least he doesn’t seem like he will leave his half smoked cigarette’s mashed into the seat covers, but you can never be sure. Especially with Mrs Pornthiwa’s history in massage institutions. Not only will we be calling for the Royal stance to be revealed towards democracy, but Coyote dancing too!
Ji Ungpakorn on Thailand’s second coup
De Oppressor Liber seems to be entranced by Ji. I do agree that (along with Jon) the Ungpakorn name carries weight. However, Ji’s Marxism is narrow and does not enjoy much support in Thailand. His tendency to attack even his friends for their alleged theoretical failures causes some angst among those who do recognise the role he plays.
At the same time, there is a small Marxist literature that comes out of the defunct CPT (that Ji rejects out of hand as Stalinist and the root cause of all of Thailand’s problems) that is worth considering. Thong Chaemsri, for secretary-general recently came out with a piece on the 66th anniversary of the founding of the CPT. This is found at Prachathai. Also, Surachai Sae Dan has recently spoken with some reporters. I haven’t found a paper or lengthy article by him yet, but if anyone see anything, please post to NM.
Of course, others associated with the last days of the CPT have been on the PAD stage too (e.g. Chonthira and Pirun). Interesting times!
The writing on the wall
If Mandala reporters will do a little more research on many public toilets, especially within many gas stations all over the country. He/she will find many more direct mentioning on “Who’s behind the PAD mob?” The action is the same as it was during the Sept 19, 2006 coup., but directly, not subtle!!! Go ahead.
An op-ed on Harry Nicolaides
It would be very interesting to find out who is the complainant against Harry. In Thai law, for a criminal complaint to be lodged with the court, there must be a complaining victim. In some criminal cases the prosecutor can be the complainant, even though he was not personally harmed by the activity. I think this is the case with lese majeste; however, there may be a complainant other than the prosecutor.
This case is somewhat bizarre. Given what we have been told about the offense it doesn’t seem possible that it went to prosecution. Of course once guy was arrested the prosecution is in a bind. The prosecutor won’t want to admit he lodged a case without sufficient evidence for continuing, but since it’s against a foreigner it isn’t a big deal. Unless the original complainant is a very influential person. I have no idea how to find this information (in other countries it would be a matter of public record, but in Thailand it’s probably a state secret).
An op-ed on Harry Nicolaides
Some months ago after the arrest of Harry Nicolaides I called in at the Australian Embassy Bangkok to ask about his fate. The Australian official I spoke to declined to give me any information whatsoever about the case and what assistance was being provided to Harry.
This leaves me, as an Australian resident in Thailand, concened that one day I might say or write something which somebody takes offence to and land up in a similar predicament with apparently no help from the government of Australia.
His Magesty the King of Thailand has publicly expressed his unhappiness about the Lesse-majeste law and made it clear that it troubles him when he has to pardon foreigners found guilty of the offence which is his normal practice.
Considering his remarks my view is that people who prosecute lesse-majeste cases hold their monarch in contempt.
Banter about the Abhisit Vejjajiva cabinet
I am not sure that Abhisit’s conduct represents the best of Eton and Oxford. Time and again he failed to offer good wishes to his political opponents, and his ability to control his self-aggrandizement leaves something to be desired. With Eton and Oxford having failed to instil in him a sense of human decency, he should study and practice the teachings of the Buddha to turn himself into a productive politician. My every good wish to this young man with a great potential. I hope he doesn’t live up to his name, which means “special privilege”.
Ji Ungpakorn on Thailand’s second coup
In my opinion, Ji represents two important symbols. First, he is a Marxist scholar who analyzes Thai politics with depth of knowledge and integrity. Second, he is Dr. Puey’s son, one of the most important Statesmen in our country and the world. This aspect of Ji, is more crucial because it relates to Thailand’s national security and the Asia Pacific stability.
Ji heavy weight’s credibility as a scholar and his reputation as an integrity person, have made the enemy of Thailand frighten. Ji has an in-depth knowledge about Thailand, the enemy of Thailand knows that they can not fool Ji. More important than anything else which Ji himself might not aware of it, Ji has the capability to disrupt the enemy of Thailand’s objectives. As a result, they have to attack Ji’s reputation. We must distinguish the reason why and which aspects, the enemy of Thailand attacks Ji.
Ji, you are born with the responsibility to protect the Asia Pacific’s security. Please continue to be the lighthouse of the region.
Volunteering to fight in Burma
Charles F., the KNLA is more like the golden boy of the western powers than the orphan boy though I guess that’s probably how they think of themselves . Broken promises and all that. You don’t see the Buddhist Shan enjoying anything like the high profile the KNU have achieved on account of being Christian and Baptist and accessibility from the Thai border. Bertil Lintner is perhaps the one knight in shining armour for the Shan and we know why his sympathies lie where they do, pretty much like a few of the Anglo- Americans when it comes to the Karen. Shans nowadays make news also because the refugee population has expanded to include them.
Should they be fussy about where they can get hold of what they need? There’s the famous example of Aung San getting help from the Japanese instead of the Chinese Communists. And of course there’s also the infamous example of the CIA doing a roaring trade with Khun Sa during the Vietnam War. Fussy, not the CIA.
“Thailand will soon quiet down…”
Joy, Dr J?
I am also very suspicious of the sabi sabai thing and the other phrase….
“cultures such as Thailand which value consensus, conformity and community much more than confrontation and competition.”
I winder if its this culture that means the rich can manipulate the society to their benefit?
where the legal system is manipulated by the rich, all the way from people in cars with dark window tinting bluff the traffic police up to the Privy Council conspiring to convict Thaskin and the rich can support thugs to defeat a strong democratically elected government… ?
most human beings aspire to peaceful coexistance but again most recognise that ability for independent thinking is a requirement of growing up from being a child
who reinforces the culture and why is it perpetuated?
Dishonourable but parliamentary
David Brown, it is not very often I agree with what you have to say.
But, I was almost totally with you ,regarding your comments on democracy and accountability, until the last couple of sentences.
I agree that one should ask questions about what Sondhi, might have achieved, and for what ends.
However, to be balanced (as the rest of your piece is – to me), you should also ask the same questions of Thaksin.
Another David
Ji Ungpakorn on Thailand’s second coup
Interesting points raised,
David,
I was not equating ‘stability’ with ‘oppression’. And I kind of welcome his apparent lack of political and business ‘experience’ in the Thai context. We will have to wait and see.
“actually the hallmark of democracy is not stability, its tensions between opposing views resolved by voting” Which opens up the debate (to be followed elsewhere) whether the type ‘democracy’ the West so stridently seeks to impose is appropriate to cultures such as Thailand which value consensus, conformity and community much more than confrontation and competition. I am not against democracy in Thailand, quite the opposite, but I am prepared to allow it to take forms and functions that don’t conform to the pure democratic idea.
Dishonourable but parliamentary
RN England… I agree
full participatory democracy has built in accountabilty
anyone wanting to be elected has to commit something to get the electors to vote for them, associate with a party with a charismatic, effective leader, time, energy, money, whatever
after election the MPs are faced with decisions on how they will spend their maximum term in office,
will they please themselves and not expect to be reelected or will they do something for their electors and work to get reelected?
in any case, in a democracy it is rare for one party to be in power for more than say two terms
then the member has to decide whether to keep working either outside or in opposition hoping to be elected and for his party to be in power next time
the situation is entirely different for nominated members, they just need to suck up to the selection panel or its controller otherwise they are not really accountable to anyone, they can behave like the infamous Rosana and her colleagues, supporting the PAD and other unproductive activities without needing to care about whether the country is going down the drain
I wonder if Sondhi Lim feels he has achieved anything?
How much money has he stacked away?
How many peoples lives has he destroyed?
What other objectives does he still want to pursue?
Weakness and legitimacy
Odd Spot: The following paragraph appears at the beginning of several unrelated articles on Bkk Post online, including one on damaged underwater cables causing internet problems for Europe:
“New prime minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva, vowed Thursday to visit the poor northeast, a stronghold of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra, where he has struggled to win support.”