I am not convinced that the ruling classes of Thailand were ever white skinned caucasians. I note the Indians may have been once so ruled.
I also note that many Koreans are lighter skinned that many southern Europeans. However , there is no genectic relationship between light skinned Koreans and Aryans.
All subject to change…anicca (impermanence). The name is in itself reminiscent of dynasties gone – Inwa Naypyitaw, Yadanabon Naypyitaw. Naypyitaw Naypyitaw is just as absurd as Myamarese or worse Myanmese.
Never been and no desire to go Naypyidaw.
Like every city the glitter and available services are extracted from the outskirt og all major city like Yangon, Mandalay and beyond.
These area has less amenity such as running water, and electricity however like Okalapa used to be similarly developed is now part of the metropolis of Yangon, will become more gentrified if:
1)Quality Roads are build that withstand the weather.
2)Sanitation apparatus are placed
one will not have to call anyone by any other name other than Burmese.
AFter all Aussie in Australian speak English and Burmese will speak Burmese.
As local manufacturing already loosing out to cheaper and more efficient asean neighbours, traditional industries pretty much obliterated, and Indonesia imports most of its needs, they most probably would not mind being flooded by US goods rather than the current alternative of dumping ground for stuffs made in you-know-where.
According to a graphic reproduced on TPP (and which I won’t link to) that was originally published in the Bangkok Post based on statistics apparently compiled by David Streckfuss, in 2012 alone 96 cases of LM were accepted in lower courts and 108 were ruled on.
Of course, TPP comments that the Yingluck administration did so “pressured by the military and monarchy”, so it doesn’t count. (I just can’t wait till pro-democracy folks in Thailand start wearing t-shirts in rainbow hues with the exculpatory “THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT” printed front and rear.)
It is almost impossible using Google to get a clear picture of how LM charges have fluctuated over the past ten years or so, but it is beyond dispute that the junta has increased both the number of charges and the severity of sentencing.
The question is whether we need to consider differences in kind or differences in degree where these comparisons are concerned. Because if it is about degree, then the Junta has a long way to go to match the 1K+ deaths brought to us by TRT1.
So it probably won’t be for most folks on NM. Because, after all, what the devil makes you do you don’t have to say sorry for, right?
It is important to distinguish prosecutions from convictions and convictions from prison sentences. The FIDH figure is, as far as I know, correct, (at least for those detained after sentencing; it does not include those in pre-trial detention). It also does not include those who have completed their terms or been released after pardons, or in the sad case of Uncle SMS, who died in prison.
But the figures are clear. The surge came after the 2006 coup. The 2014 coup added the injustices of disproportionate sentences, unfair trials in military courts, and prosecutions for the novel offence under 112 of using royal names for personal gain, rather than a significant increase in the number of prosecutions.
‘prior to the military coup, only two people had been prosecuted for lèse majesté’
I am afraid that this is hopelessly incorrect. Before the 2006 coup, there were only a handful of lèse majesté prosecutions each year, but the numbers then soared and continued high even under elected governments. iLaw records 21 prosecutions in the 4 months of 2014 before the coup. Damn me, Sulak alone has been prosecuted more than twice under 112.
Somebody apparently needs to tell Retno Marsudi, perhaps even the catwalk-oriented author of this post, that more Muslims live outside the Middle East than in it. The Muslim populations of Indonesia, Malaysia, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Afghanistan vastly outnumber the Muslims of the Middle East. This non-secret fact should have found its way into some briefing or other before Retno set out on her travels.
Mr Graham suggests that Indonesia, like Saudi Arabia, ‘trashes’ Shia. Let’s not push this argument too far. As far as I know, Indonesia has yet to behead a Shia cleric, which Saudi Arabia did a few months ago. For that matter, Indonesia has yet to behead any Saudi maids.
Retno’s attempt to mediate between Iran and Saudi Arabia, which latter country will probably appoint its first female foreign minister some time next century, reminds one of earlier, fruitless Indonesian mediation efforts. Gus Dur once claimed that he had intervened to solve no fewer than thirteen international disputes. His calculation may have been wrong, however, as arithmetic was never his forte.
Megawati also hoped to use her remote acquaintance with Kim Jong-il when he ruled the DPRK to bring about peace and reconciliation on the Korean Peninsula. Kim, whom she had met as a child when he accompanied his father on a visit to Indonesia, at least was ‘portly’, thereby meeting an important Megawati condition for competence in politicians.
Incidentally, Mr Graham is himself rather casual with arithmetic. ASEAN is a little older than 39 years, though the adhesion of Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar occurred long after ASEAN’s foundation. Maybe that’s what he had in mind.
Similarly, three stars do not make four. Panjaitan was a three-star general when he was still on active service. He acquired his fourth star only on retirement. General Wiranto, who is indeed a former four-star general, once pointed out this distinction to SBY publicly by means of the inscription on a wreath congratulating him on his being elected president, either the first or second time. SBY is like Panjaitan only a former three-star, but a retired four-star. When four-stars retire, they don’t get an honorary promotion. But they don’t necessarily like people to forget that they used to be senior to uppity three-stars.
Mr Graham acknowledges that Jokowi is inconsistent (‘plin-plan’, in his eyes) on economic policy but claims that Jokowi is single-mindedly focused on domestic issues. To the contrary, I believe that we should look for inconsistency here as well. That he is gauche in foreign settings is clear, but why assume that Jokowi has lost the ambition he showed early in his presidency for Indonesia to become a great power? This is a foreign policy goal.
A causal element in his endorsement of the ill-conceived Jakarta-Bandung rail project, very much a ‘mercusuar’ concept in my view, may be a belief that fast trains are symbolise great power status, even if America doesn’t have them.
At a time Catholic Church is desperately “Ecumenical-ing” all over the world and intensely proselytizing especially in Burma with Cardinal Bo being the Pope’s new Best Friend, this popular and obvious “Righteous” act being done in the name of “Christianity” is a bit unfortunate.
Good and wonderful “Christians” vs Big, Bad Buddhist Military!
Hmm.. Who really benefits? Definitely not the farmers. poor, poor farmers with no other income. not the addicts for sure.
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Nationalism and genetics: Thai obsession with race
I am not convinced that the ruling classes of Thailand were ever white skinned caucasians. I note the Indians may have been once so ruled.
I also note that many Koreans are lighter skinned that many southern Europeans. However , there is no genectic relationship between light skinned Koreans and Aryans.
Who are the ‘Naypyitawrians’?
All subject to change…anicca (impermanence). The name is in itself reminiscent of dynasties gone – Inwa Naypyitaw, Yadanabon Naypyitaw. Naypyitaw Naypyitaw is just as absurd as Myamarese or worse Myanmese.
The Thai princess and her loo by the lake
It’s the ‘trickle down’ effect.
Who are the ‘Naypyitawrians’?
Nic
Never been and no desire to go Naypyidaw.
Like every city the glitter and available services are extracted from the outskirt og all major city like Yangon, Mandalay and beyond.
These area has less amenity such as running water, and electricity however like Okalapa used to be similarly developed is now part of the metropolis of Yangon, will become more gentrified if:
1)Quality Roads are build that withstand the weather.
2)Sanitation apparatus are placed
one will not have to call anyone by any other name other than Burmese.
AFter all Aussie in Australian speak English and Burmese will speak Burmese.
To TPP or not to TPP – that is Jokowi’s question
As local manufacturing already loosing out to cheaper and more efficient asean neighbours, traditional industries pretty much obliterated, and Indonesia imports most of its needs, they most probably would not mind being flooded by US goods rather than the current alternative of dumping ground for stuffs made in you-know-where.
Thailand’s iron fist and an academic’s family
Thank you for not keeping quiet about this.
The Thai princess and her loo by the lake
Sorry, Punditji. Never bored with Mohinga.
Ritualism and the erosion of human rights
According to a graphic reproduced on TPP (and which I won’t link to) that was originally published in the Bangkok Post based on statistics apparently compiled by David Streckfuss, in 2012 alone 96 cases of LM were accepted in lower courts and 108 were ruled on.
Of course, TPP comments that the Yingluck administration did so “pressured by the military and monarchy”, so it doesn’t count. (I just can’t wait till pro-democracy folks in Thailand start wearing t-shirts in rainbow hues with the exculpatory “THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT” printed front and rear.)
It is almost impossible using Google to get a clear picture of how LM charges have fluctuated over the past ten years or so, but it is beyond dispute that the junta has increased both the number of charges and the severity of sentencing.
The question is whether we need to consider differences in kind or differences in degree where these comparisons are concerned. Because if it is about degree, then the Junta has a long way to go to match the 1K+ deaths brought to us by TRT1.
So it probably won’t be for most folks on NM. Because, after all, what the devil makes you do you don’t have to say sorry for, right?
Ritualism and the erosion of human rights
Thanks Alec — all very illuminating.
Ritualism and the erosion of human rights
Dear James,
http://freedom.ilaw.or.th/en/report/2014-situation-summary-report-25-l%C3%A8se-majest%C3%A9-cases-one-step-forward-three-steps-backward
It is important to distinguish prosecutions from convictions and convictions from prison sentences. The FIDH figure is, as far as I know, correct, (at least for those detained after sentencing; it does not include those in pre-trial detention). It also does not include those who have completed their terms or been released after pardons, or in the sad case of Uncle SMS, who died in prison.
But the figures are clear. The surge came after the 2006 coup. The 2014 coup added the injustices of disproportionate sentences, unfair trials in military courts, and prosecutions for the novel offence under 112 of using royal names for personal gain, rather than a significant increase in the number of prosecutions.
The Thai princess and her loo by the lake
Enough Thai Scatalogical Puns please. What happened ? Got bored with the “Rohingya” ?
The Thai princess and her loo by the lake
Loonatics.
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The Thai princess and her loo by the lake
Of course the Privy Council would approve it… it was after all about a ‘privy’
Ritualism and the erosion of human rights
Hi Alec
Thanks for the comment.
Do you have a link to that figure from iLaw that you have quoted? I ask, because according to iLaw themselves there were only two prosecutions for LM in the lead up to the 2014 coup. See here: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/thai-man-jailed-for-30-years-for-facebook-posts-insulting-monarchy-10445226.html
In contrast, a FIDH report (published in February 2016) says that there were only six people behind bars on LM charges before May 2014. See here: https://www.fidh.org/IMG/pdf/fidh_thailand_report_lese_majeste.pdf
If any NM readers can shed more light on the issue (with sources) it would be most welcome.
All the very best to all,
James
Ritualism and the erosion of human rights
‘prior to the military coup, only two people had been prosecuted for lèse majesté’
I am afraid that this is hopelessly incorrect. Before the 2006 coup, there were only a handful of lèse majesté prosecutions each year, but the numbers then soared and continued high even under elected governments. iLaw records 21 prosecutions in the 4 months of 2014 before the coup. Damn me, Sulak alone has been prosecuted more than twice under 112.
Polishing the plin-plan president
Somebody apparently needs to tell Retno Marsudi, perhaps even the catwalk-oriented author of this post, that more Muslims live outside the Middle East than in it. The Muslim populations of Indonesia, Malaysia, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Afghanistan vastly outnumber the Muslims of the Middle East. This non-secret fact should have found its way into some briefing or other before Retno set out on her travels.
Mr Graham suggests that Indonesia, like Saudi Arabia, ‘trashes’ Shia. Let’s not push this argument too far. As far as I know, Indonesia has yet to behead a Shia cleric, which Saudi Arabia did a few months ago. For that matter, Indonesia has yet to behead any Saudi maids.
Retno’s attempt to mediate between Iran and Saudi Arabia, which latter country will probably appoint its first female foreign minister some time next century, reminds one of earlier, fruitless Indonesian mediation efforts. Gus Dur once claimed that he had intervened to solve no fewer than thirteen international disputes. His calculation may have been wrong, however, as arithmetic was never his forte.
Megawati also hoped to use her remote acquaintance with Kim Jong-il when he ruled the DPRK to bring about peace and reconciliation on the Korean Peninsula. Kim, whom she had met as a child when he accompanied his father on a visit to Indonesia, at least was ‘portly’, thereby meeting an important Megawati condition for competence in politicians.
Incidentally, Mr Graham is himself rather casual with arithmetic. ASEAN is a little older than 39 years, though the adhesion of Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar occurred long after ASEAN’s foundation. Maybe that’s what he had in mind.
Similarly, three stars do not make four. Panjaitan was a three-star general when he was still on active service. He acquired his fourth star only on retirement. General Wiranto, who is indeed a former four-star general, once pointed out this distinction to SBY publicly by means of the inscription on a wreath congratulating him on his being elected president, either the first or second time. SBY is like Panjaitan only a former three-star, but a retired four-star. When four-stars retire, they don’t get an honorary promotion. But they don’t necessarily like people to forget that they used to be senior to uppity three-stars.
Mr Graham acknowledges that Jokowi is inconsistent (‘plin-plan’, in his eyes) on economic policy but claims that Jokowi is single-mindedly focused on domestic issues. To the contrary, I believe that we should look for inconsistency here as well. That he is gauche in foreign settings is clear, but why assume that Jokowi has lost the ambition he showed early in his presidency for Indonesia to become a great power? This is a foreign policy goal.
A causal element in his endorsement of the ill-conceived Jakarta-Bandung rail project, very much a ‘mercusuar’ concept in my view, may be a belief that fast trains are symbolise great power status, even if America doesn’t have them.
Ritualism and the erosion of human rights
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At a time Catholic Church is desperately “Ecumenical-ing” all over the world and intensely proselytizing especially in Burma with Cardinal Bo being the Pope’s new Best Friend, this popular and obvious “Righteous” act being done in the name of “Christianity” is a bit unfortunate.
Good and wonderful “Christians” vs Big, Bad Buddhist Military!
Hmm.. Who really benefits? Definitely not the farmers. poor, poor farmers with no other income. not the addicts for sure.