You have one side that wants democracy with rule of law and checks and balances. You have the other side that wants dictatorship with no rule of law and no checks and balances.
The Democrat party stands somewhere in the middle. It supports democracy, but only if it wins the election.
I don’t see where Donald Trump falls into this. What “Tom” is doing is giving the typical middle-class Bangkok ignorant view, where Abhisit is the only sensible candidate and everybody else a self-serving Donald Trump.
Malaysia or rather UMNO and BN is facing the common problem of one-party systems, namely smooth succession. An exception is Singapore, but this is a rather special case anyway. In general, in these systems one of the main tasks of the person who could finally establish himself (I don’t know of a female head of a one party system) as leader is to prevent the rise of any potential challenger. Of course, a well-established successor is a challenge to the dominance of the leader. Thus, we have a period of turmoil until a new leader has pushed away any challenger and established himself. In Malaysia we have two such periods: firstly after Tunku Abdul Rahman, the first prime minister had to resign until Mahathir became the new big man of UMNO and Malaysia. The second, when Mahathir resigned. Perhaps, when Anwar becomes again the candidate of UMNO, he could become such a new leader. However, one should keep in mind Marx saying when thinking of Anwar, namely: History repeats itself. First as tragedy (when he was acting deputy prime-minister) later as farce (when he would be prime minister).
Agree. I talked for hours with Pak Roeslan at his home in Jalan Diponegoro in Jakarta in 1997 and met him in the Netherlands. Ben Anderson has correctly some doubts. Roeslan of course enjoyed talking to diplomats, foreigners, he was proud of being Arek Suroboyo and spoke Dutch and English fluently. He never said he joined the fighting on the streets but was surely proud of Nov.10 1945. He was in good terms with many of the whole political spectrum in 1950-60s. Rumor has it that he had sympathy for PSI for sometime before Sukarno asked him to be his ideological spokesman. In the 1960s he was popularly known as ‘Jubir Manipol-Usdek’, the spokesman of (Sukarno’s) Manifesto Politik & Usdek (acronym of 1945 Constitution, Indonesian Socialism, Guided Democracy, National Identity). He was charismatic, did it effectively, but never detained by Suharto. Indeed shortly after that he became Suharto’s Ambassador to the UN. Leftwingers I met (Joesoef Isak, Soerjono) paid respect but had some reservation about him. In 1999 two Dutch historians wrote a book titled ‘Villa Marheese’. It’s about secret archive of Dutch intelligence, then declassified. They wrote about Dutch spies in Indonesia in 1940-50s. Someone should check that out too.
I don’t think Roeslan would have compared himself with Ho Chi Minh.
Like me, Ben Anderson didn’t consider Roeslan a ‘revolutionary leader’. In his Java in a Time of Revolution, Anderson provides biographical sketches of well over a hundred Indonesian figures, but doesn’t include Roeslan in the list. Nor does Roeslan’s name appear in the index to this classic.
By contrast, Kahin refers twice to Roeslan in Nationalism and Revolution in Indonesia, as well as including him among the many Indonesians listed in the acknowledgements.
Anderson once told me that he thought Roeslan was an ‘opportunist’. I believed this was a little too harsh, but Roeslan was definitely very flexible.
In one of his two references to Roeslan, Kahin wrote that he had been a follower of Sutan Sjahrir’s in Surabaya, but I am pretty sure that, in later years, Roeslan never tried to intervene with Soekarno on Sjahrir’s behalf after the president had, disgracefully, jailed the man who had been Indonesia’s first prime minister.
Similarly, Roeslan accepted Soeharto’s offer of the ambassadorship to the UN when Soekarno was under house arrest. Young New Order supporters were outraged by this appointment because of Roeslan’s strong identification with Guided Democracy.
Roeslan Abdulgani was very helpful to me as to many other foreign students of Indonesia. To repay him to some extent, I asked Foreign Minister Downer to launch the biography that one of his daughters had written of him. It was in English, thus being something of a rarity as far as the work of Indonesian family biographers go. This took place at the ANU in 2004.
Indebtedness to one’s sources should not obstruct one’s view of their real historical importance.
Whether Thaksin is a great and compassionate leader, or a better leader than Suthep, does not seem to be the main point of Winson’s post, or even particularly relevant. Rather, he is raising questions about governance and the rule of law. What can Thais try to do to protect themselves from rabble-rousers and democracy-destroyers, whether they are called Thaksin, Suthep or anything else? What can MPs – from all parties – try to do to make Parliament rather than the streets the venue for political debate? What can judges and commissioners of the so-called independent agencies (like the Electoral Commission and Anti-Corruption Commission) try to do to establish a more independent judiciary? What can the media try to do to promote the freedom of the press?
At present, almost all attention is directed at who should govern Thailand or, from the NCPO’s (and Suthep’s) point of view, who should not govern Thailand. What can academics, analysts and commentators do to direct greater attention at HOW Thailand might be better governed?
I also find the comparison ridiculous. Thaksin is a leader, Suthep is a rabble-rouser Thaksin introduced Universal Healthcare, Suthep destroyed democracy. . What exactly do they have in common?
Can we get in touch Daud? My name is Chris Su and I live on Christmas Island. I would like to read about your research. You can get me at [email protected]
my anecdotal observation, for what its worth, on my most recent visit to Chiangmai, is that police are now regularly stopping tourist vehicles and shamelessly shaking them down on the pretext that they require an international driving permit – its definitely a new thing in my experience. The broader context is simply – if the cops are busy robbing people, who’s protecting us from the crooks? The other sense is that while the government slides into a vacuum, the police can get away with misbehaving because if it aint politics nobody is paying attention.
I remember reading an interview by a Dutch newspaper a while back. The gentleman gave frank details of the casualties during the chaos. Like how most of the young men in this act of heroism were non-organised vigilantes comprising mixed bag kampong boys, pedicap drivers and general labourers running amok. And the targets were Europeans, mostly starving women and children staying at concentration camps, awaiting liberation as the men and husbands dispatched to work on railways in Burma. Grim stories of random butchering of the helpless.
Subsequent events on the following decades probably shows the characteristics of the nation, and will likely repeat itself, regardless of the target next time. Europeans, Commies, Orientals or otherwise.
The Burmese are suckers for international brands. lt continues to spread like an epidemic from Rangoon with its historic reputation for bragging and snobbery (Mandalay for speaking, Rangoon for bragging, Moulmein for eating). The ‘rise of the middle class’ is set to make it incurable, never mind Buddhism. The consumer society will win hands down, just as it’s seen off the Church.
Myoma Nyein was one of the most loved and famous composer cum lyricists, not a singer. His very popular Thingyan songs including the disputed number Tupo have become classics you hear at every new year festival like Christmas carols.
The Panama Papers did mention the Marcoses (daughter Emee) and Estrada, the Najib’s (a son implicated) and Thaksin’s ex-wife Potjaman and ex-brother in- law Damapong, among the many wealthy Asians cited in those damning Panama Papers.
We are very much appreciated with your article above. We sincerely hope that Hario Kecik’s wish to young people to defend the Republic becoming materialized forever…
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Donald Trump is Thailand’s friend
You have one side that wants democracy with rule of law and checks and balances. You have the other side that wants dictatorship with no rule of law and no checks and balances.
The Democrat party stands somewhere in the middle. It supports democracy, but only if it wins the election.
I don’t see where Donald Trump falls into this. What “Tom” is doing is giving the typical middle-class Bangkok ignorant view, where Abhisit is the only sensible candidate and everybody else a self-serving Donald Trump.
3R: race, religion and royalty in Malaysia
A medium size country like Malaysia seldom attracts world’s attention. When it does, it usually is bad news. Be careful.
Personalities and institutional power in Malaysia
Malaysia or rather UMNO and BN is facing the common problem of one-party systems, namely smooth succession. An exception is Singapore, but this is a rather special case anyway. In general, in these systems one of the main tasks of the person who could finally establish himself (I don’t know of a female head of a one party system) as leader is to prevent the rise of any potential challenger. Of course, a well-established successor is a challenge to the dominance of the leader. Thus, we have a period of turmoil until a new leader has pushed away any challenger and established himself. In Malaysia we have two such periods: firstly after Tunku Abdul Rahman, the first prime minister had to resign until Mahathir became the new big man of UMNO and Malaysia. The second, when Mahathir resigned. Perhaps, when Anwar becomes again the candidate of UMNO, he could become such a new leader. However, one should keep in mind Marx saying when thinking of Anwar, namely: History repeats itself. First as tragedy (when he was acting deputy prime-minister) later as farce (when he would be prime minister).
The days when boys became men
Agree. I talked for hours with Pak Roeslan at his home in Jalan Diponegoro in Jakarta in 1997 and met him in the Netherlands. Ben Anderson has correctly some doubts. Roeslan of course enjoyed talking to diplomats, foreigners, he was proud of being Arek Suroboyo and spoke Dutch and English fluently. He never said he joined the fighting on the streets but was surely proud of Nov.10 1945. He was in good terms with many of the whole political spectrum in 1950-60s. Rumor has it that he had sympathy for PSI for sometime before Sukarno asked him to be his ideological spokesman. In the 1960s he was popularly known as ‘Jubir Manipol-Usdek’, the spokesman of (Sukarno’s) Manifesto Politik & Usdek (acronym of 1945 Constitution, Indonesian Socialism, Guided Democracy, National Identity). He was charismatic, did it effectively, but never detained by Suharto. Indeed shortly after that he became Suharto’s Ambassador to the UN. Leftwingers I met (Joesoef Isak, Soerjono) paid respect but had some reservation about him. In 1999 two Dutch historians wrote a book titled ‘Villa Marheese’. It’s about secret archive of Dutch intelligence, then declassified. They wrote about Dutch spies in Indonesia in 1940-50s. Someone should check that out too.
The days when boys became men
I don’t think Roeslan would have compared himself with Ho Chi Minh.
Like me, Ben Anderson didn’t consider Roeslan a ‘revolutionary leader’. In his Java in a Time of Revolution, Anderson provides biographical sketches of well over a hundred Indonesian figures, but doesn’t include Roeslan in the list. Nor does Roeslan’s name appear in the index to this classic.
By contrast, Kahin refers twice to Roeslan in Nationalism and Revolution in Indonesia, as well as including him among the many Indonesians listed in the acknowledgements.
Anderson once told me that he thought Roeslan was an ‘opportunist’. I believed this was a little too harsh, but Roeslan was definitely very flexible.
In one of his two references to Roeslan, Kahin wrote that he had been a follower of Sutan Sjahrir’s in Surabaya, but I am pretty sure that, in later years, Roeslan never tried to intervene with Soekarno on Sjahrir’s behalf after the president had, disgracefully, jailed the man who had been Indonesia’s first prime minister.
Similarly, Roeslan accepted Soeharto’s offer of the ambassadorship to the UN when Soekarno was under house arrest. Young New Order supporters were outraged by this appointment because of Roeslan’s strong identification with Guided Democracy.
Roeslan Abdulgani was very helpful to me as to many other foreign students of Indonesia. To repay him to some extent, I asked Foreign Minister Downer to launch the biography that one of his daughters had written of him. It was in English, thus being something of a rarity as far as the work of Indonesian family biographers go. This took place at the ANU in 2004.
Indebtedness to one’s sources should not obstruct one’s view of their real historical importance.
Donald Trump is Thailand’s friend
Whether Thaksin is a great and compassionate leader, or a better leader than Suthep, does not seem to be the main point of Winson’s post, or even particularly relevant. Rather, he is raising questions about governance and the rule of law. What can Thais try to do to protect themselves from rabble-rousers and democracy-destroyers, whether they are called Thaksin, Suthep or anything else? What can MPs – from all parties – try to do to make Parliament rather than the streets the venue for political debate? What can judges and commissioners of the so-called independent agencies (like the Electoral Commission and Anti-Corruption Commission) try to do to establish a more independent judiciary? What can the media try to do to promote the freedom of the press?
At present, almost all attention is directed at who should govern Thailand or, from the NCPO’s (and Suthep’s) point of view, who should not govern Thailand. What can academics, analysts and commentators do to direct greater attention at HOW Thailand might be better governed?
Donald Trump is Thailand’s friend
I also find the comparison ridiculous. Thaksin is a leader, Suthep is a rabble-rouser Thaksin introduced Universal Healthcare, Suthep destroyed democracy. . What exactly do they have in common?
Australia’s Malay population
Can we get in touch Daud? My name is Chris Su and I live on Christmas Island. I would like to read about your research. You can get me at [email protected]
Brunei’s stateless left in a state of confusion
Genuinely fascinating article about an area of the world we hear very little about in our media! Would love to hear more
Australian politician pens awful Orientalist erotica
Thanks Michael! I’ve edited it now 🙂
Challenging times for Thai tourism
my anecdotal observation, for what its worth, on my most recent visit to Chiangmai, is that police are now regularly stopping tourist vehicles and shamelessly shaking them down on the pretext that they require an international driving permit – its definitely a new thing in my experience. The broader context is simply – if the cops are busy robbing people, who’s protecting us from the crooks? The other sense is that while the government slides into a vacuum, the police can get away with misbehaving because if it aint politics nobody is paying attention.
Australian politician pens awful Orientalist erotica
Mish, a minor correction – Jensen was a backbench MP, not a minister. Thankfully.
He recently lost his pre-selection, so won’t be a candidate at the next election. Good result.
The days when boys became men
I remember reading an interview by a Dutch newspaper a while back. The gentleman gave frank details of the casualties during the chaos. Like how most of the young men in this act of heroism were non-organised vigilantes comprising mixed bag kampong boys, pedicap drivers and general labourers running amok. And the targets were Europeans, mostly starving women and children staying at concentration camps, awaiting liberation as the men and husbands dispatched to work on railways in Burma. Grim stories of random butchering of the helpless.
Subsequent events on the following decades probably shows the characteristics of the nation, and will likely repeat itself, regardless of the target next time. Europeans, Commies, Orientals or otherwise.
Donald Trump is Thailand’s friend
History will prove Thaksin to be a great and compassionate leader, not like other Thais you mention.
A sip of something more in Myanmar?
The Burmese are suckers for international brands. lt continues to spread like an epidemic from Rangoon with its historic reputation for bragging and snobbery (Mandalay for speaking, Rangoon for bragging, Moulmein for eating). The ‘rise of the middle class’ is set to make it incurable, never mind Buddhism. The consumer society will win hands down, just as it’s seen off the Church.
Myoma Nyein was one of the most loved and famous composer cum lyricists, not a singer. His very popular Thingyan songs including the disputed number Tupo have become classics you hear at every new year festival like Christmas carols.
A sip of something more in Myanmar?
What is wrong with the local beer? I hate Heineken, and Carlsberg gives me migraine!
Donald Trump is Thailand’s friend
Great satirical article – best I’ve seen. (Not that I see many).
Good luck getting this printed in Thailand, yet many Thai will understand – I do.
A sip of something more in Myanmar?
I prefer the Manischewitz wine I purchase in Yangon; much nicer than any beer.
The return of the Marcoses
The Panama Papers did mention the Marcoses (daughter Emee) and Estrada, the Najib’s (a son implicated) and Thaksin’s ex-wife Potjaman and ex-brother in- law Damapong, among the many wealthy Asians cited in those damning Panama Papers.
The days when boys became men
We are very much appreciated with your article above. We sincerely hope that Hario Kecik’s wish to young people to defend the Republic becoming materialized forever…