Why bother reminding the world that “Thaksin was mega-corrupt, dangerously divisive, spiritually undemocratic BUT was elected (should we mention massive vote buying gentlemen)??”
Can you substantiate the vote-buying with witnesses who will say so under oath, or photographs and documents or tape recordings? I’m surprised that not even one shred of hard evidence exists to back up the claims of “massive” vote buying. So far even Yongyuth has only been accused of messing around with village chiefs and not the villagers themselves. Surely “massive” vote buying must leave equally “massive” traces. Thaksin bought the hearts and minds of rural folk with his policies more than any occasional 500 baht could, I would argue.
In any case, my point remains, Colonel, what is the point of repeating such allegations if you refuse to add anything new (or provide evidence besides on the vine chatter) each time you say it? It is futile.
Don’t be mistaken in thinking that my dismissals of your affinity for repetition means I condone vote buying. Rather, take a step back and look at the big picture. What should we do about it? If you’ve done nothing, or have concluded that nothing much can be done, is not the lesser of two evils a better choice? In this case, the lesser of two evils is a less incompetent government versus a more incompetent government. It is clear both are corrupt.
Because the machinations of PPP and the loquacious Samak to rewrite the Thai constitution is SPECIFICALLY for one and for one purpose only: to quash all pending legal and tax cases against Thaksin and the Shinawatra family to pave for the IMMEDIATE return to the premiership of Thaksin!
Can you read their minds? I have a feeling you have misread many minds and intentions before, what with originally supporting the coup and all.
But hey, are they not amending the constitution constitutionally? At the moment you can only play up their intentions and the fear that somehow the constitutional amendments will wreck havoc upon the country. The only havoc that will be wrought will be wrought by the protesting Alliances who continue to engage in a predictable and futile fight. Clearly Thaksin has the upper hand while the Alliances have no clue. Do they honestly believe Thaksin or Samak will suddenly listen to them?
If they are honestly worried for the country, they should participate in electoral democracy instead of fighting a rematch and learning nothing from the past. Make a positive contribution, for once.
NM can forgive Samak, Yuth and even Chalerm and the Yubamrung sons (for murder of a police officer and the blatant manipulation of Thai justice) and of course Beloved Leader Thaksin. . . these people (or their parents) were all democratically elected for chrisssakes . . . right Teth?
They were never forgive nor are their crimes forgotten, Jeru. They are merely tolerated for the reasons I have explained already.
There is no need to paint me as a defender of criminals as I have been clear I have no regards for turning into a repetitive and disruptive cabal of protesters.
Here’s a different tack for the Alliances to use that 5-minutes’ brain storming has produced. Why don’t they picket Independent Agencies to demand action? Why don’t they take their allegations to court? Why don’t they use Sondhi’s press empire to demand transparency and the attitudinal changes Andrew Walker has brilliant pointed out that we need? Instead, they are picketing PPP/TRT, who they have once picketed before without success. Did Thaksin resign? Are the PPP/TRT out of power?
Instead of showing contempt on the electorate, why don’t they instead show support towards Independent Agencies and do something positive by trying a different tack. Surely campaigning and putting pressure on constitutional checks and balances and encouraging them to function properly has more hope than pressuring Thaksin to resign even though he is overwhelming popular with the electorate.
More . . to Teth who said ” . . . Samak is going along as he is supposed to do. Nothing so comment worthy. Chalerm is still being the old-style politician, re-instating his son, Thai-style. Was there a lot of comment here about typical Thai-style promotions?”
The thing Teth is the things you easily accept as being “old-style politics and Thai-style” are the exactly the same things that trigger the “old-Thai-style military coup”.
It is people like you Teth . . and Bangkok Pundit who so readily embrace “old-style Thai politics” as normal and ho-hum SO LONG AS THEY ARE ELECTED that give the Thai generals the excuse to be “outraged” and do one more coup . . . and one more.
Teth said “. . . . So why bother repeating the obvious fact that this cabinet is bad except for that fact that people elected them.?”
Why bother reminding the world that “Thaksin was mega-corrupt, dangerously divisive, spiritually undemocratic BUT was elected (should we mention massive vote buying gentlemen)??” Because the machinations of PPP and the loquacious Samak to rewrite the Thai constitution is SPECIFICALLY for one and for one purpose only: to quash all pending legal and tax cases against Thaksin and the Shinawatra family to pave for the IMMEDIATE return to the premiership of Thaksin!
NM can forgive Samak, Yuth and even Chalerm and the Yubamrung sons (for murder of a police officer and the blatant manipulation of Thai justice) and of course Beloved Leader Thaksin. . . these people (or their parents) were all democratically elected for chrisssakes . . . right Teth?
and as for …attached to the word ‘liberal’ – it doesn’t exist as an example for other peoples from elsewhere, because how many other cultures adopt empiricism as a basis for societal structure? I meant that we have both liberalism through empiricism, we empirically believe that to be liberal is best based on past practical experience, but to be liberal in this way as a basis of social structure?
What is it to be a liberal empirically? Experience gives us options through hindsight – and options provide freedom of choice. Consequently, our society permits us to make as many mistakes as we can – and to learn in a way that shows us that the option one chooses was a mistake. Again we are closer to the greasy pole of centralized power! The ones who determine what is a mistake. Without them, could we be as liberal?
How many other societies are based on an ethic such as this? I am ignorant after all. I should make this mistake and ask!
An online presentation of the book is available at http://www.sac.or.th, the websit of the Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Anthropology Cente. This augment the study with almost 400 illustrations and also recordings of the ritual texts found in the book chanted by the ritual masters
Land of Snarls, That’s right, the noble savage!!! That’s where we’re headed. Back to the cozy cocoon womb of universality. Thanks for the lecture?! A first!!!
I think I kicked the hacky sack too hard last night. My leg broke in many places and my foot landed in my mouth. Or should that be, my fingers were ablaze with seething contempt and melted into the keyboard messing up what I aught to have said, which was nothing at all.
Yes, there are so many inconsistencies in my goo of a reply that probably the most progressive thing for me to admit is that the biggest hypocrisy in what I wrote is illuminating my own hubris as a ‘maybe values are relative’ sort of person, by damning what I’m from; when what I’m from allows me to damn it.
Although, that is a great failsafe for being right at the end… that ‘you can say what you want’… but to whom is one saying this too? A clique as you mention? You say ‘depends on what you mean by advancing yourself’, but without others to tell you, that you are ‘something’, then it is the ‘if a leaf falls in the forest and no-one is there to hear it, does it make a sound?!’ scenario, and not a pragmatic social concept. A great social power is where one is able to gain power by giving others power; so if there are a few people with such tremendous power that they are able to shape the perceptions of individuals then the social system is irrelevant because the perceptions of individuals are determined by whomever it is with the power. So would I be wrong in saying that power cannot be democratized?
Or does democracy empower the people? Would I be wrong in saying that only if everyone is aware of democracy on an idealistic level is it empowering? Maybe I underestimate how many people appreciate it on an idealistic level.
Rupert Murdoch – our King Bhumibol? David Hicks – our Jonathon Head? Unlike the arguments Republican used to present, I have decided that because of these relative similarities in power relations, I cannot damn the Thai monarchy or it’s governance system because it is as ours – dependent on centralized power. And that I am from a society of centralized power allows me the luxury of being a sheep to it, as I was through this day and probably tomorrow. Speaking for myself, of course.
So whilst interrupting the lovely hacky sack circle that was going on above (or maybe it had already stopped and I just wanted to kick it), my point is lese majeste is just a more obvious power (for us here on New Mandala) than ones Westerners are inadvertently subservient too, and for better international utility, I don’t think it is terribly wise for Jonathon Head to be the pot calling the kettle black.
This is probably riddled with inconsistencies too, but to decentralize power, and therefore, to have democracy itself as a source of social empowerment, societies must be small enough for everyone to understand their actions to be of significance and not subservient to any other – because as we are witness to power centralized and can see (and in lots of cases cannot see) what that has meant.
Where are these Noble Savages? At Foucault cliques in San Francisco of course!
Some kind of crop insurance (or hedging commodity prices) for small scale farmers to survive potentially devastating short term unpredictable price changes is needed, it seems.
But to enforce the insurance contract? Like if farmers agree not to grow garlic, then the insurance is invalidated if they grow it.
Private companies like CP Group are probably going to do a better job monitoring and enforcing the terms of contracts than the government. In what I’ve seen they’ve been quite successful working with small farmers on a contractual basis (contract farming) ranging from the original chicken farming (I even saw in Taungyi, Shan States, or so they claimed) to Tap Tim fish farming in the Mekong.
I know a year or two ago the World Bank was promoting crop insurance but that was before people realised the need for it.
How times have changed from the constant NM commentating under the junta to barely a mention here about Jakrapob, Chalerm, The Refrigerator & Samak’s exploits, the culture ministry’s latest efforts, the removal of the police chief, military reshuffles, or even Thaksin’s 99 temple ‘merit making’ tour.
What’s wrong with Thaksin’s 99 temple merit making tour? Nor are Samak’s exploits worthy of attention. He’s made a few incendiary remarks, but nothing particularly harmful as when he did 6 October denial and was roundly condemned. What has Jakrapob done besides setting up his TV station? He hasn’t interfered with TPBS has he? Oh, his speech at the FCCT. What’s wrong with free speech again?
Let me make comparisons: the Fridge is being put through the ropes by due process, so what’s there to comment about? Samak is going along as he is supposed to do. Nothing so comment worthy. Chalerm is still being the old-style politician, re-instating his son, Thai-style. Was there a lot of comment here about typical Thai-style promotions? No, NM didn’t really discuss Saphrang and his cronies either.
So what is it that NM has blogged about? The junta’s constitution drafting, yes. Compare that to PPP’s constitutional amendments. Guess whose is constitutional?
So besides the clear cronyism of Chalerm, Thai politics has returned to its usual, nominally elected nature. Its good NM isn’t bothering with the day to day dirt of it; hopefully they will focus on the bigger picture, like long term political development. The electorate also seems to be content with focusing on the bigger picture of feeding their families and moving ahead, rather than endlessly (and dare I say pointlessly) pointing out Samak & Co.’s obvious flaws. At the very least they are not incompetently mismanaging the economy, the Yoobamrung boys are staying out of trouble, and ministers are actually being prosecuted.
Oh, and if you were looking for some condemnation, Chalerm is a filthy pig who has no place in this country. But we all knew that. So why bother repeating the obvious fact that this cabinet is bad except for that fact that people elected them.
Colonel, the dictionary definition of futility is: “incapable of producing any useful result; pointless”. No such finality, but surely you see its pointlessness now.
Yes, yes, I shall apologize to you, Colonel, for libelously referring to you as a Colonel, first and foremost. Then, I apologize for even daring to suggest that you were somehow corrupt in that fictional post. Are we all good now? 😉
Jeru: After your decommissioning you could always apply for an appointment to the health ministry to supplement your income in these hard times – perhaps as an assistant to another of Chalerm’s offspring 🙂
Why does it not surprise me that no other NM readers show any interest in the rise of the Yubamrung boys.
How times have changed from the constant NM commentating under the junta to barely a mention here about Jakrapob, Chalerm, The Refrigerator & Samak’s exploits, the culture ministry’s latest efforts, the removal of the police chief, military reshuffles, or even Thaksin’s 99 temple ‘merit making’ tour.
Can we take the lack of commentary as agreement & general satisfaction with the current governments actions?
Grasshopper, thank you for the lecture. Given that the word ’empiricism’ means, ‘the belief in basing your ideas on the evidence of practical experience,’ I would say the answer to your question is most societies, to some degree, although they are all muddling through.
“The pursuit of democracy?” Yes, that’s what I said. “Pursuit” is the important word. “…only a hubris for you and me to swallow,” speak for yourself. I don’t swallow the overwheening arrogance of any peoples. I ridicule it. I am entirely free to do that in Australia & UK (expected to, actually); not free at all to do it in Thailand (especially in the “local societies whose members are not ashamed of the animal within,” if by that you mean the villages), China, etc., etc.; only somewhat free to do it in US.
“This faux, idolatrous humility” (c.f.Thailand, in every sector of society)
British civil & common law is also based on the thought of the Greeks, not monotheistic.
“What counts is that you are in the right social circle if you want to advance yourself,” depends on what you mean by “advance yourself.” People in any society network and form cliques. In UK, since the 60s, there has been a significant breakdown in all areas, including academia, the arts, and business. I would say, having had experience in both countries, that in some ways Australia, being smaller & more cliquey, is much more difficult for many without pre-existing connexions to break into, e.g. the arts, than UK.
Where are your “thinking, local societies whose members are not ashamed of the animal within”? Smacks of the Noble Savage!
Teth you still haven’t explained “futility” of Thai constitutions . . . “Futility” suggests “finality” . . . total “hopelessness”. But if that was the case, why would PPP go about furiously agitating for a rewrite and military juntas would keep coming for their suggested “improved” versions?
And you have not substantiated your libelous claim, that “you thought I (you were clearly pointing your finger at the clean-cut ramrod-straight honest-to-goodness Colonel Jeru) have plundered enough from the national coffers to feed your family through the ever turbulent international commodities markets. ”
Apologize Teth, apologize!
BTW I resent NM readers who recently refuse to salue or address me by rank (earned in many worthy battles)! It was puzzling until I realized NM readers withheld me my rank-title at nearly the same time of the recent re-commissioning to military sub-Lieutenant Duang Yubamrung (formerly Duangchalerm Yubamrong, the gunslinger son of PPP deputy leader and concurrently Interior Minister Chalerm Yubamrung). I geeet it!
Sheela, while I think the points you raise are relevant, I don’t think that it is so much “KHRG’s views” which should be taken into account, but those of the villagers quoted at length in the KHRG report. Their views should really be taken as far more authoritative than KHRG’s, Crisis Group’s or RI’s. Also, the KHRG report does contain statements by villagers living in areas where there are projects being implemented by both international agencies as well as SPDC-controlled organisations who report receiving funding from international agencies. Perhaps, it would be most beneficial for those interested to read all three reports in full and then assess the varied views (both local and otherwise) contained therein.
LSS: What you mention in your main paragraph represents basic methodological considerations in any social-anthropological field research, in whichever setting it is done, including its limitations (the specific person of the researcher and his or her properties is one such limitation). Have you done any such research in the South, by the way? Since McCargo’s book will come out soon, you may feel free to contribute a more substantive book review to New Mandala. Besides, there have been at least four more academics doing field work in and on the South (Pattani, Narathiwat), using different approaches and commanding different personal qualifications. Thus, sooner or later, we will have more accounts from a number of perspectives. You might then contribute more reviews to New Mandala, and compare those writings with McCargo’s description.
In response to your piece–Is this a real place? baan tiam? like baan kra tiam (Thai for garlic) The garlic village? Can you imagine the odor after a bumper harvest!
As to drop in prices, it depends on many factors such as garlic price elasticity, imports, amount of domestic production, and most importantly the number of vampire threats to the village
LSS I am always inclined to take you at your word – – that plants crave for sports drink, cult movies are entertaining and herpes burns slightly less when you pee than gonorrhea.
Any more of your medical experiences that colonels should be wary about?
Well, Jeru, your buddies’ actions speak for themselves. Thaksin’s actions spoke for themselves. The so-called solution to the Thaksin problem only really did the same things Thaksin did, but much more incompetently: prove that Thai constitutions are not worth they paper they are printed on unless we clean our act up. Truth is, I don’t understand all this continued barking from Sondhi, why didn’t they say a word when the military introduced self-serving articles into the constitution. Its clear their agenda is not the benefit of the country, but it is a personal grudge.
As for the plunder (keeping in mind the standards you set for Thaksin), refer to the less than transparent purchase of armored vehicles from Ukraine, buying Gripens at an apparently inflated price, arbitrarily increasing the military budget, allocating “secret” budgets for use, Saphrang’s takeover various state agencies’s boards of directors whilst pocketing 100K salaries for himself, reappointing board members with his own friends (eg Bannawit Kengrien), and being a generally incompetent fool. How has Suvarnabhumi improved under his reign? Was anything resolved at all? It is no surprise Saphrang claims his proudest achievement as chairman of the board of AoT was organizing the taxi queue. Over a million board meetings in which he gained a considered amount of money per meet.
In fact, the Union of TOT felt compelled to officially voice their concern over how his leadership managed to plunge their company’s profits. Not to mention the “special donation” TOT had to make to the Army for the purchase of communications equipment. He fired Wuthiphong Priebjariyawat for that, to jog your memory, Colonel.
Even Gen Surayud the Privy Councillor isn’t clean. How has a lifetime civil servant managed to stockpile more money than the current chef-politician-TV anchor-prime minister? Not to mention a dodgy piece of land near a national park.
And shall I get started on Gen Sondhi and the assets a career soldier has managed to put away with his wives?
Or Adm Bannawit’s past antics as head of a small state enterprise that now ceases to exist because of his incompetence (and thus far un-explained irregularities)?
Facebook 
Twitter 
Soundcloud 
Youtube 
Rss
Ringbarking a government
Why bother reminding the world that “Thaksin was mega-corrupt, dangerously divisive, spiritually undemocratic BUT was elected (should we mention massive vote buying gentlemen)??”
Can you substantiate the vote-buying with witnesses who will say so under oath, or photographs and documents or tape recordings? I’m surprised that not even one shred of hard evidence exists to back up the claims of “massive” vote buying. So far even Yongyuth has only been accused of messing around with village chiefs and not the villagers themselves. Surely “massive” vote buying must leave equally “massive” traces. Thaksin bought the hearts and minds of rural folk with his policies more than any occasional 500 baht could, I would argue.
In any case, my point remains, Colonel, what is the point of repeating such allegations if you refuse to add anything new (or provide evidence besides on the vine chatter) each time you say it? It is futile.
Don’t be mistaken in thinking that my dismissals of your affinity for repetition means I condone vote buying. Rather, take a step back and look at the big picture. What should we do about it? If you’ve done nothing, or have concluded that nothing much can be done, is not the lesser of two evils a better choice? In this case, the lesser of two evils is a less incompetent government versus a more incompetent government. It is clear both are corrupt.
Because the machinations of PPP and the loquacious Samak to rewrite the Thai constitution is SPECIFICALLY for one and for one purpose only: to quash all pending legal and tax cases against Thaksin and the Shinawatra family to pave for the IMMEDIATE return to the premiership of Thaksin!
Can you read their minds? I have a feeling you have misread many minds and intentions before, what with originally supporting the coup and all.
But hey, are they not amending the constitution constitutionally? At the moment you can only play up their intentions and the fear that somehow the constitutional amendments will wreck havoc upon the country. The only havoc that will be wrought will be wrought by the protesting Alliances who continue to engage in a predictable and futile fight. Clearly Thaksin has the upper hand while the Alliances have no clue. Do they honestly believe Thaksin or Samak will suddenly listen to them?
If they are honestly worried for the country, they should participate in electoral democracy instead of fighting a rematch and learning nothing from the past. Make a positive contribution, for once.
NM can forgive Samak, Yuth and even Chalerm and the Yubamrung sons (for murder of a police officer and the blatant manipulation of Thai justice) and of course Beloved Leader Thaksin. . . these people (or their parents) were all democratically elected for chrisssakes . . . right Teth?
They were never forgive nor are their crimes forgotten, Jeru. They are merely tolerated for the reasons I have explained already.
There is no need to paint me as a defender of criminals as I have been clear I have no regards for turning into a repetitive and disruptive cabal of protesters.
Here’s a different tack for the Alliances to use that 5-minutes’ brain storming has produced. Why don’t they picket Independent Agencies to demand action? Why don’t they take their allegations to court? Why don’t they use Sondhi’s press empire to demand transparency and the attitudinal changes Andrew Walker has brilliant pointed out that we need? Instead, they are picketing PPP/TRT, who they have once picketed before without success. Did Thaksin resign? Are the PPP/TRT out of power?
Instead of showing contempt on the electorate, why don’t they instead show support towards Independent Agencies and do something positive by trying a different tack. Surely campaigning and putting pressure on constitutional checks and balances and encouraging them to function properly has more hope than pressuring Thaksin to resign even though he is overwhelming popular with the electorate.
Ringbarking a government
More . . to Teth who said ” . . . Samak is going along as he is supposed to do. Nothing so comment worthy. Chalerm is still being the old-style politician, re-instating his son, Thai-style. Was there a lot of comment here about typical Thai-style promotions?”
The thing Teth is the things you easily accept as being “old-style politics and Thai-style” are the exactly the same things that trigger the “old-Thai-style military coup”.
It is people like you Teth . . and Bangkok Pundit who so readily embrace “old-style Thai politics” as normal and ho-hum SO LONG AS THEY ARE ELECTED that give the Thai generals the excuse to be “outraged” and do one more coup . . . and one more.
Ringbarking a government
Teth said “. . . . So why bother repeating the obvious fact that this cabinet is bad except for that fact that people elected them.?”
Why bother reminding the world that “Thaksin was mega-corrupt, dangerously divisive, spiritually undemocratic BUT was elected (should we mention massive vote buying gentlemen)??” Because the machinations of PPP and the loquacious Samak to rewrite the Thai constitution is SPECIFICALLY for one and for one purpose only: to quash all pending legal and tax cases against Thaksin and the Shinawatra family to pave for the IMMEDIATE return to the premiership of Thaksin!
NM can forgive Samak, Yuth and even Chalerm and the Yubamrung sons (for murder of a police officer and the blatant manipulation of Thai justice) and of course Beloved Leader Thaksin. . . these people (or their parents) were all democratically elected for chrisssakes . . . right Teth?
Lèse majesté and the BBC
and as for …attached to the word ‘liberal’ – it doesn’t exist as an example for other peoples from elsewhere, because how many other cultures adopt empiricism as a basis for societal structure? I meant that we have both liberalism through empiricism, we empirically believe that to be liberal is best based on past practical experience, but to be liberal in this way as a basis of social structure?
What is it to be a liberal empirically? Experience gives us options through hindsight – and options provide freedom of choice. Consequently, our society permits us to make as many mistakes as we can – and to learn in a way that shows us that the option one chooses was a mistake. Again we are closer to the greasy pole of centralized power! The ones who determine what is a mistake. Without them, could we be as liberal?
How many other societies are based on an ethic such as this? I am ignorant after all. I should make this mistake and ask!
Childbirth in Isan
An online presentation of the book is available at http://www.sac.or.th, the websit of the Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Anthropology Cente. This augment the study with almost 400 illustrations and also recordings of the ritual texts found in the book chanted by the ritual masters
Lèse majesté and the BBC
Land of Snarls, That’s right, the noble savage!!! That’s where we’re headed. Back to the cozy cocoon womb of universality. Thanks for the lecture?! A first!!!
I think I kicked the hacky sack too hard last night. My leg broke in many places and my foot landed in my mouth. Or should that be, my fingers were ablaze with seething contempt and melted into the keyboard messing up what I aught to have said, which was nothing at all.
Yes, there are so many inconsistencies in my goo of a reply that probably the most progressive thing for me to admit is that the biggest hypocrisy in what I wrote is illuminating my own hubris as a ‘maybe values are relative’ sort of person, by damning what I’m from; when what I’m from allows me to damn it.
Although, that is a great failsafe for being right at the end… that ‘you can say what you want’… but to whom is one saying this too? A clique as you mention? You say ‘depends on what you mean by advancing yourself’, but without others to tell you, that you are ‘something’, then it is the ‘if a leaf falls in the forest and no-one is there to hear it, does it make a sound?!’ scenario, and not a pragmatic social concept. A great social power is where one is able to gain power by giving others power; so if there are a few people with such tremendous power that they are able to shape the perceptions of individuals then the social system is irrelevant because the perceptions of individuals are determined by whomever it is with the power. So would I be wrong in saying that power cannot be democratized?
Or does democracy empower the people? Would I be wrong in saying that only if everyone is aware of democracy on an idealistic level is it empowering? Maybe I underestimate how many people appreciate it on an idealistic level.
Rupert Murdoch – our King Bhumibol? David Hicks – our Jonathon Head? Unlike the arguments Republican used to present, I have decided that because of these relative similarities in power relations, I cannot damn the Thai monarchy or it’s governance system because it is as ours – dependent on centralized power. And that I am from a society of centralized power allows me the luxury of being a sheep to it, as I was through this day and probably tomorrow. Speaking for myself, of course.
So whilst interrupting the lovely hacky sack circle that was going on above (or maybe it had already stopped and I just wanted to kick it), my point is lese majeste is just a more obvious power (for us here on New Mandala) than ones Westerners are inadvertently subservient too, and for better international utility, I don’t think it is terribly wise for Jonathon Head to be the pot calling the kettle black.
This is probably riddled with inconsistencies too, but to decentralize power, and therefore, to have democracy itself as a source of social empowerment, societies must be small enough for everyone to understand their actions to be of significance and not subservient to any other – because as we are witness to power centralized and can see (and in lots of cases cannot see) what that has meant.
Where are these Noble Savages? At Foucault cliques in San Francisco of course!
Garlic woes
Some kind of crop insurance (or hedging commodity prices) for small scale farmers to survive potentially devastating short term unpredictable price changes is needed, it seems.
But to enforce the insurance contract? Like if farmers agree not to grow garlic, then the insurance is invalidated if they grow it.
Private companies like CP Group are probably going to do a better job monitoring and enforcing the terms of contracts than the government. In what I’ve seen they’ve been quite successful working with small farmers on a contractual basis (contract farming) ranging from the original chicken farming (I even saw in Taungyi, Shan States, or so they claimed) to Tap Tim fish farming in the Mekong.
I know a year or two ago the World Bank was promoting crop insurance but that was before people realised the need for it.
Ringbarking a government
How times have changed from the constant NM commentating under the junta to barely a mention here about Jakrapob, Chalerm, The Refrigerator & Samak’s exploits, the culture ministry’s latest efforts, the removal of the police chief, military reshuffles, or even Thaksin’s 99 temple ‘merit making’ tour.
What’s wrong with Thaksin’s 99 temple merit making tour? Nor are Samak’s exploits worthy of attention. He’s made a few incendiary remarks, but nothing particularly harmful as when he did 6 October denial and was roundly condemned. What has Jakrapob done besides setting up his TV station? He hasn’t interfered with TPBS has he? Oh, his speech at the FCCT. What’s wrong with free speech again?
Let me make comparisons: the Fridge is being put through the ropes by due process, so what’s there to comment about? Samak is going along as he is supposed to do. Nothing so comment worthy. Chalerm is still being the old-style politician, re-instating his son, Thai-style. Was there a lot of comment here about typical Thai-style promotions? No, NM didn’t really discuss Saphrang and his cronies either.
So what is it that NM has blogged about? The junta’s constitution drafting, yes. Compare that to PPP’s constitutional amendments. Guess whose is constitutional?
So besides the clear cronyism of Chalerm, Thai politics has returned to its usual, nominally elected nature. Its good NM isn’t bothering with the day to day dirt of it; hopefully they will focus on the bigger picture, like long term political development. The electorate also seems to be content with focusing on the bigger picture of feeding their families and moving ahead, rather than endlessly (and dare I say pointlessly) pointing out Samak & Co.’s obvious flaws. At the very least they are not incompetently mismanaging the economy, the Yoobamrung boys are staying out of trouble, and ministers are actually being prosecuted.
Oh, and if you were looking for some condemnation, Chalerm is a filthy pig who has no place in this country. But we all knew that. So why bother repeating the obvious fact that this cabinet is bad except for that fact that people elected them.
Ringbarking a government
Colonel, the dictionary definition of futility is: “incapable of producing any useful result; pointless”. No such finality, but surely you see its pointlessness now.
Yes, yes, I shall apologize to you, Colonel, for libelously referring to you as a Colonel, first and foremost. Then, I apologize for even daring to suggest that you were somehow corrupt in that fictional post. Are we all good now? 😉
Ringbarking a government
Jeru: After your decommissioning you could always apply for an appointment to the health ministry to supplement your income in these hard times – perhaps as an assistant to another of Chalerm’s offspring 🙂
Why does it not surprise me that no other NM readers show any interest in the rise of the Yubamrung boys.
How times have changed from the constant NM commentating under the junta to barely a mention here about Jakrapob, Chalerm, The Refrigerator & Samak’s exploits, the culture ministry’s latest efforts, the removal of the police chief, military reshuffles, or even Thaksin’s 99 temple ‘merit making’ tour.
Can we take the lack of commentary as agreement & general satisfaction with the current governments actions?
Childbirth in Isan
I wonder how Poulsen’s study compares to Andrea Whittacker’s “Intimate Knowledge: Women and Their Health in North-east Thailand”.
Lèse majesté and the BBC
Grasshopper, thank you for the lecture. Given that the word ’empiricism’ means, ‘the belief in basing your ideas on the evidence of practical experience,’ I would say the answer to your question is most societies, to some degree, although they are all muddling through.
“The pursuit of democracy?” Yes, that’s what I said. “Pursuit” is the important word. “…only a hubris for you and me to swallow,” speak for yourself. I don’t swallow the overwheening arrogance of any peoples. I ridicule it. I am entirely free to do that in Australia & UK (expected to, actually); not free at all to do it in Thailand (especially in the “local societies whose members are not ashamed of the animal within,” if by that you mean the villages), China, etc., etc.; only somewhat free to do it in US.
“This faux, idolatrous humility” (c.f.Thailand, in every sector of society)
British civil & common law is also based on the thought of the Greeks, not monotheistic.
“What counts is that you are in the right social circle if you want to advance yourself,” depends on what you mean by “advance yourself.” People in any society network and form cliques. In UK, since the 60s, there has been a significant breakdown in all areas, including academia, the arts, and business. I would say, having had experience in both countries, that in some ways Australia, being smaller & more cliquey, is much more difficult for many without pre-existing connexions to break into, e.g. the arts, than UK.
Where are your “thinking, local societies whose members are not ashamed of the animal within”? Smacks of the Noble Savage!
Ringbarking a government
Teth you still haven’t explained “futility” of Thai constitutions . . . “Futility” suggests “finality” . . . total “hopelessness”. But if that was the case, why would PPP go about furiously agitating for a rewrite and military juntas would keep coming for their suggested “improved” versions?
And you have not substantiated your libelous claim, that “you thought I (you were clearly pointing your finger at the clean-cut ramrod-straight honest-to-goodness Colonel Jeru) have plundered enough from the national coffers to feed your family through the ever turbulent international commodities markets. ”
Apologize Teth, apologize!
BTW I resent NM readers who recently refuse to salue or address me by rank (earned in many worthy battles)! It was puzzling until I realized NM readers withheld me my rank-title at nearly the same time of the recent re-commissioning to military sub-Lieutenant Duang Yubamrung (formerly Duangchalerm Yubamrong, the gunslinger son of PPP deputy leader and concurrently Interior Minister Chalerm Yubamrung). I geeet it!
Politics, aid, Burma and “solidarity”
Sheela, while I think the points you raise are relevant, I don’t think that it is so much “KHRG’s views” which should be taken into account, but those of the villagers quoted at length in the KHRG report. Their views should really be taken as far more authoritative than KHRG’s, Crisis Group’s or RI’s. Also, the KHRG report does contain statements by villagers living in areas where there are projects being implemented by both international agencies as well as SPDC-controlled organisations who report receiving funding from international agencies. Perhaps, it would be most beneficial for those interested to read all three reports in full and then assess the varied views (both local and otherwise) contained therein.
An unwinnable war?
LSS: What you mention in your main paragraph represents basic methodological considerations in any social-anthropological field research, in whichever setting it is done, including its limitations (the specific person of the researcher and his or her properties is one such limitation). Have you done any such research in the South, by the way? Since McCargo’s book will come out soon, you may feel free to contribute a more substantive book review to New Mandala. Besides, there have been at least four more academics doing field work in and on the South (Pattani, Narathiwat), using different approaches and commanding different personal qualifications. Thus, sooner or later, we will have more accounts from a number of perspectives. You might then contribute more reviews to New Mandala, and compare those writings with McCargo’s description.
Garlic woes
Yes it is a real place. But Baan Tiam is not a real name. And, yes, I took “Tiam” from “kratiam.”
Garlic woes
In response to your piece–Is this a real place? baan tiam? like baan kra tiam (Thai for garlic) The garlic village? Can you imagine the odor after a bumper harvest!
As to drop in prices, it depends on many factors such as garlic price elasticity, imports, amount of domestic production, and most importantly the number of vampire threats to the village
Ringbarking a government
LSS I am always inclined to take you at your word – – that plants crave for sports drink, cult movies are entertaining and herpes burns slightly less when you pee than gonorrhea.
Any more of your medical experiences that colonels should be wary about?
Ringbarking a government
P.S. I sincerely hope you found that amusing.
Ringbarking a government
Well, Jeru, your buddies’ actions speak for themselves. Thaksin’s actions spoke for themselves. The so-called solution to the Thaksin problem only really did the same things Thaksin did, but much more incompetently: prove that Thai constitutions are not worth they paper they are printed on unless we clean our act up. Truth is, I don’t understand all this continued barking from Sondhi, why didn’t they say a word when the military introduced self-serving articles into the constitution. Its clear their agenda is not the benefit of the country, but it is a personal grudge.
As for the plunder (keeping in mind the standards you set for Thaksin), refer to the less than transparent purchase of armored vehicles from Ukraine, buying Gripens at an apparently inflated price, arbitrarily increasing the military budget, allocating “secret” budgets for use, Saphrang’s takeover various state agencies’s boards of directors whilst pocketing 100K salaries for himself, reappointing board members with his own friends (eg Bannawit Kengrien), and being a generally incompetent fool. How has Suvarnabhumi improved under his reign? Was anything resolved at all? It is no surprise Saphrang claims his proudest achievement as chairman of the board of AoT was organizing the taxi queue. Over a million board meetings in which he gained a considered amount of money per meet.
In fact, the Union of TOT felt compelled to officially voice their concern over how his leadership managed to plunge their company’s profits. Not to mention the “special donation” TOT had to make to the Army for the purchase of communications equipment. He fired Wuthiphong Priebjariyawat for that, to jog your memory, Colonel.
Even the Manager turned on Gen Saphrang. http://www.prachatai.com/webboard2/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=6170
Even Gen Surayud the Privy Councillor isn’t clean. How has a lifetime civil servant managed to stockpile more money than the current chef-politician-TV anchor-prime minister? Not to mention a dodgy piece of land near a national park.
And shall I get started on Gen Sondhi and the assets a career soldier has managed to put away with his wives?
Or Adm Bannawit’s past antics as head of a small state enterprise that now ceases to exist because of his incompetence (and thus far un-explained irregularities)?