[…] in late September, at the height of the uprising┬ across Burma,┬ I posted an “unconfirmed report” about certain Light Infantry Divisions in Rangoon and Mandalay that had defied orders to […]
As stated in a previous post, “Sufficiency Economy” is a ‘sub-set’ of the global narrative of “Sustainability” (which is unfortunately being hijacked and narrowed by “Climate Change”). The terms arose independently but the concepts are cogent. Sustainability is not about keeping the undeveloped countries undeveloped as SE is not about keeping poor villagers poor. The aim is the same to mitigate the excesses of aggressive capitalism that severes both social and ecological ties. SE seem to propose a ‘return’ to a rural society of smallholder organic farmers and that could be a viable alternative to the process of overreliance on chemical fertilizers, genetically modified seeds/food, indebtedness and landlessness. Who knows, in the process of ecological and social solidarity, a stronger glassroots political movement may arise that gives godfather and urban-based politicians a run for their money. The danger is as Historicus points out (and this is not limited to Thailand), if patronizing, self-serving bureaucrats and businessmen exploit and twist the concept and practices of whether ‘sustainability’ or ‘SE’.
Srithanonchai, in recycling your mom is doing what people have been doing time-immemorial. Just that, as a consumerist society, we have lately forgotten that. Sufficiency Economy is just a reminder, specifically to the Thai people, of how things can alternatively done. It is what the environmentalists/Greens were already doing for German society. I don’t think HM the King would claim credit for that and I don’t think anyone should be precious about ‘green’, eco-friendly knowledge and practice. If the Japanese practice of sorting their rubbish into 5-6 categories for recycling proves to be most environmental friendly, there shouldn’t be any issue with other societies adopting it…
I suspect is Srithanonchai’s #4 Bangkok Post article last paragraph is telling. The expansion of the Lese majeste is to protect the Privy Council – the most ‘active’ in politics – GenPrem, and particularly more so, PMSurayud. NLA members proposing this are on the opposing camp to the PAD’s spearheaded by Prasong Soonsiri, who are mounting (personal) pressure on PMSurayud to quit particularly on the case of Khao Yai Thiang land. (Here I’m inclined to agree with Ajarn Nidhi Eoseewong’s comments in the Bangkok Post sympathetic with PMSurayud: http://www.bangkokpost.net/News/09Oct2007_news20.php)
I don’t think this blanket expansion of the Lese majeste law is the way to go. The law is already exploited politically as it is (and here I am glad that, for whatever reasons, PMThaksin is not being pursued further for Lese majeste as was the original justification for the coup) and should be more clearly defined.
“…went to “Kaungkha” the KDA (Kachin Democratic Army) HQ (between Kutkai and Lashio) and met Mahtu Naw, head of the KDA. …How does this jibe with the statement that eventually the KDA troops will become auxiliary forces?”
Well, one thing certainly seems certain.
A strong military will have to be present to control all these ethnic pocket armies if and when the military junta falls.
Let’s hope there are some enlightened professional soldier type sleepers in the military who can play by a different rulebook.
Or perhaps we can assume that with the fall of the junta all these groups will peacefully turn in their weapons because they no longer see any reason to fight?
A group of 64 members of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) is seeking to extend protections against criticism for members of the royal family and Privy Council members as well as representatives appointed by the monarchy.
The group, led by Pornpetch Wichitcholchai, an NLA member and Supreme Court chief judge, plans to propose amendments to the Criminal Code in which Their Majesties’ children, privy councillors and representatives appointed by the monarchy will be protected from defamation, insults or threats.
The draft supporters include Borwornsak Uwanno, Sujit Boonbongkarn, Samran Rodpetch, Suchada Kiranand, Vallop Tangkananurak, Khunying Jada Wattanasiritham, Kamnoon Sitthisman, and Phattara Khampitak.
Under the draft proposal, offenders would be subject to a maximum jail term of five years and/or a fine of between 10,000 and 100,000 baht.
The current Criminal Code covers only Their Majesties, the heir apparent and the regent, and carries a maximum seven-year prison term and/or a maximum 140,000 baht fine.
The NLA members also seek to amend the Criminal Procedure Code to restrict media coverage of lese majeste cases.
In the course of the investigation, the hearing, the trial of cases against people charged with offences against the King, the Queen, the heir to the throne or the regent, investigators, the prosecution, or the plaintiff may ask the court to prohibit all kinds of media from publicising information on the cases, or expressing criticism or opinions on them.
The draft amendments are expected to go to the NLA tomorrow .
Mr Phattara, one of the NLA members, said the amendment was introduced to prevent attempts to use lese majeste allegations as a political tool and so offend the monarchy. “We think when someone is accused of offending the King, Queen, heir apparent or regent, it [the case] should not be covered by the media or used as a political tool.”
However, he noted that some critics might consider the proposed extended protection for the Privy Council as a move to protect Privy Council president Gen Prem Tinsulanonda, who was recently dragged into political turmoil.
Am I wrong? I see nothing wrong to vote for Thaksin and Thai Rak Thai . We are not stupid as those in ivory tower thinks we are… Why I vote for the Democrat? that southern scum only support the rich and the banking business.
Your guys know nothing about football! Do not make it political out of this .
Every team on PL have the first team and the reserves team .Some even have the third team. Also the City got a good academy system.
come on guys! you might hate Thaksin to the bone ! But everyone in Thai football circle see it as a big chance for those thai boy to be trained among the best of man city .
That just for training ! Everything eles blow up by the media.
[…] More on the Chinese in northern LaosAccording to the statistics of the Bokeo provincial office for tourism, 185000 persons went through the border post of Huay Sai in 2006, either going to Thailand or entering Laos. Among them, nearly 50000 were Lao, 70000 Asian (80% of … […]
[…] regime against the KIA, and also Khun Sa. The Kachin Rangers would be sort of analogous to the Rawang RRF.┬ However, I don’t think they are included in the three forces Mahtu Naw referenced; I […]
A quick look at the listing seems to indicate that the return to the “bureaucratic polity” version of administration is continuing. The bureaucracy has regularly come up with “model villages” for all kinds of policies that were in vogue at the time. This seems little different as a bureaucratic strategy for promoting fads and propaganising.
The Election Commission of Thailand has informed its provincial branches where they might download the three new election-related laws so that the PEC and its officials might study them. After all, there is very little time left until the royal decree officially setting the election for December 23 will come into effect and thus make the application of these laws urgent.
For those who can read Thai, the three laws can be downloaded at the Government Gazette web site:
Yes, dear Colonel I do believe there are alternatives to UN military engagement!
Here are some without putting a great deal of effort in:
a) the Junta is engaged with to a point where their position is undermined by the enormous adaptation of technological and communicative modernity.
b) people such as Major Win, return and divide the military
c) the Junta is offered asylum aboard a Qantas mystery flight (that just happens to be destined for the Hague..)
Realistically of course there is an alternative to confrontation. It has to happen for the morals to be learned and not simply acknowledged. That is not a system because as seen throughout history, these confrontations happen because nobody reads history books and so to make up for it, they must create one which can be related to with legitimacy.
Also, surely policy is written of an observed system and not what is great or bad about the particulars. A cohesive system cannot be moral because then it ceases to be emotionless and orderly. This is an ethical principle, but not a moral one.
Maybe I appear cold blooded here. I believe with emotion that humanitarian intervention is called for everywhere – not just the everywhere that happens to be most publicized that day – and the sooner we start acting like brothers and sisters maybe we can get somewhere. In my experience, I have simply observed that brothers and sisters do not agree on who gets what without a paternal system that shows no bias. I believe the only way to enact positive social change is through example. We outside Burma do not set a good example with our own hypocritical systems of governance that ironically proclaim to be capable of ‘humanitarian’ efforts. Sure there can be some economic and infrastructure development which we can assist, but I argue that this is not going to turn problems into lesser social problems. This post was about ways to show solidarity with the monks?; well how about ‘listening’ for starters?
Re: Grasshopper>
I disagree with you that the North Korean death camps don’t fit your definition of genocide/democide. The reports of systematic abortion and medical experimentation should be evidence enough; however, we don’t have enough information on the numbers imprisoned to debate whether or not the body count meets your approval to warrant being labeled genocide.
I ask you, how many people must be killed before it is considered “genocide” in your books? That’s not a rhetorical question, I really am curious.
As far as the Burmese genocide, I was refering to the Karen and other ethnic minorities. As for why the UN hasn’t intervened, I refer you to my previous comments.
Concerning the word “gringo,” yes, semantically, like the Thai word “farang“, it carries the denotation of “foreigner”; however, pragmatically both you and I know that it refers to Whites, usually Anglo-Americans. (Pragmatics: the subfield of Linguistics that studies speaker sense. [Intercultural Pragmatics is my academic speciality]) So, my comment stands. I should feel slightly offended, but I find it hilarious due to the fact that many people who do not know my (multi-)ethnic background, assume I’m hispanic/latino in origin.
Peace is a wonderful thing; it should be the goal of all civilizations, but at what price peace?
Well, the Friedrich Ebert Foundation also arranged for a group of military-appointed Thai academics to defend the coup in Germany. So, going to Burma only seems to be logical. The FES is the political foundation of the Social Democratic Party of Germany.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration also had an advertisement on “self sufficiency economy” in the Bangkok Post (can’t anybody tell these people that “self-sufficiency” has a very specific meaning?). Now it looks as if the separation and recycling of garbage is a direct outcome of this approach. My mom back home in Germany, who has been doing this for so long, will be glad to know that, in fact, she does this on the initiative of the Thai king. This might not be obvious to most Germans.
Mr. Grasshopper do you sincerely believe there are other alternatives, other than the Chamberlain speech you favor, that would discourage the Myanmar junta from further maiming, torturing and killing its dissidents (and Myanmar appear to be clearly divided between the 49.5 million dissident-citizens and the 0.5 million fascist junta soldiers)?
“The international system is not a moral system.” I dispute that Grasshopper. Because any international policy not grounded on sound ethical principles immediately loses legitimacy. Oh . . I don’t doubt that immoral international policies occurred past, present and future once international politics are factored in.
But humanitarian intervention by the United Nations is clearly called for in the case of the illegitimate Myanmar junta because of its past and present atrocities of death, torture, intimidation and deprivation against its own people.
Schwartz: Article 2 of the CPPCG defines genocide as “any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such: killing members of the group; causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life, calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; [and] forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.”
North Koreans killing Koreans in Camp 22 fulfills none of this criteria. Certainly individuals who have ties with other individuals are killed there for religious and political reasons but not groups of people enough to warrant the term ‘genocide’.
I am not willing to call what has recently occurred (ie. the detainments and killings over protests) in Burma-Myanmar genocide because it does not fulfill the hotly contested definition of the word. (I used the UN one from the CPPCG because its what is used by member nations..) This is not simply being semantically correct and its similarly not condoning the actions of the Junta. That genocide is a word that should not be used in conjunction with this situation does not lessen the impact of who died and those unjustly imprisoned as a result of the recent protests.
That ‘genocide’ is being used in relation to the recent protests highlights desensitization and the break down of discourse in our media because it means that people are simply looking for impact words to really drive home an atrocity when it should not be necessary. It says a lot for us in the beige that words like: political killings, murder, massacre, slaughter, butchering, which I think are more appropriate, might not be enough to rouse peoples attentions.
Genocide should be used in relation to other instances in Burma-Myanmar but they have not been highlighted on mainstream media at all. So if the act of genocide revokes sovereignty, and if genocide is being committed by Burmans against the Karen peoples – why hasn’t the UN used this to move against the Junta previously? These questions are not asked by journalists faulting China and Russia for vetoing potential Security Council resolutions. Instead, there is some obsequious agenda alluded about their respective intentions, rather than pragmatic, direct questioning to them which consequently dilutes the issue in an international context. Yet I haven’t come across anything in the British media that dared go after the esteemed Salisbury (or would it be Cranbourne) family for having significant shares in Premier Oil who maintain their drilling off Burma-Myanmar and consequently prop up the Junta.
Furthermore, I am not confusing the US and South Korea. Please see your recent engagement in multilateral diplomatic efforts: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7025930.stm. For me, multilateral + U.S. = success!
P/S ‘gringo’ in Spanish means foreign. It does not mean ‘white’. I used the term to tie in with the Cuban theme of my facetiousness because you said you would agree if my arguments were about Cuba, no?
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Lese Majeste
[…] report states: The NLA members also seek to amend the Criminal Procedure Code to restrict media coverage […]
Unconfirmed report from Burma
[…] in late September, at the height of the uprising┬ across Burma,┬ I posted an “unconfirmed report” about certain Light Infantry Divisions in Rangoon and Mandalay that had defied orders to […]
Lese Majeste
Dumb & Dumber !
Examples of “sufficiency economy”
As stated in a previous post, “Sufficiency Economy” is a ‘sub-set’ of the global narrative of “Sustainability” (which is unfortunately being hijacked and narrowed by “Climate Change”). The terms arose independently but the concepts are cogent. Sustainability is not about keeping the undeveloped countries undeveloped as SE is not about keeping poor villagers poor. The aim is the same to mitigate the excesses of aggressive capitalism that severes both social and ecological ties. SE seem to propose a ‘return’ to a rural society of smallholder organic farmers and that could be a viable alternative to the process of overreliance on chemical fertilizers, genetically modified seeds/food, indebtedness and landlessness. Who knows, in the process of ecological and social solidarity, a stronger glassroots political movement may arise that gives godfather and urban-based politicians a run for their money. The danger is as Historicus points out (and this is not limited to Thailand), if patronizing, self-serving bureaucrats and businessmen exploit and twist the concept and practices of whether ‘sustainability’ or ‘SE’.
Srithanonchai, in recycling your mom is doing what people have been doing time-immemorial. Just that, as a consumerist society, we have lately forgotten that. Sufficiency Economy is just a reminder, specifically to the Thai people, of how things can alternatively done. It is what the environmentalists/Greens were already doing for German society. I don’t think HM the King would claim credit for that and I don’t think anyone should be precious about ‘green’, eco-friendly knowledge and practice. If the Japanese practice of sorting their rubbish into 5-6 categories for recycling proves to be most environmental friendly, there shouldn’t be any issue with other societies adopting it…
Lese Majeste
I suspect is Srithanonchai’s #4 Bangkok Post article last paragraph is telling. The expansion of the Lese majeste is to protect the Privy Council – the most ‘active’ in politics – GenPrem, and particularly more so, PMSurayud. NLA members proposing this are on the opposing camp to the PAD’s spearheaded by Prasong Soonsiri, who are mounting (personal) pressure on PMSurayud to quit particularly on the case of Khao Yai Thiang land. (Here I’m inclined to agree with Ajarn Nidhi Eoseewong’s comments in the Bangkok Post sympathetic with PMSurayud: http://www.bangkokpost.net/News/09Oct2007_news20.php)
I don’t think this blanket expansion of the Lese majeste law is the way to go. The law is already exploited politically as it is (and here I am glad that, for whatever reasons, PMThaksin is not being pursued further for Lese majeste as was the original justification for the coup) and should be more clearly defined.
European scholars tour Burma
“…went to “Kaungkha” the KDA (Kachin Democratic Army) HQ (between Kutkai and Lashio) and met Mahtu Naw, head of the KDA. …How does this jibe with the statement that eventually the KDA troops will become auxiliary forces?”
Well, one thing certainly seems certain.
A strong military will have to be present to control all these ethnic pocket armies if and when the military junta falls.
Let’s hope there are some enlightened professional soldier type sleepers in the military who can play by a different rulebook.
Or perhaps we can assume that with the fall of the junta all these groups will peacefully turn in their weapons because they no longer see any reason to fight?
Lese Majeste
Lese majeste to be expanded…
LEGISLATION / ROYALTY, PRIVY COUNCILLORS
Group wants protections widened
MANOP THIP-OSOD
A group of 64 members of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) is seeking to extend protections against criticism for members of the royal family and Privy Council members as well as representatives appointed by the monarchy.
The group, led by Pornpetch Wichitcholchai, an NLA member and Supreme Court chief judge, plans to propose amendments to the Criminal Code in which Their Majesties’ children, privy councillors and representatives appointed by the monarchy will be protected from defamation, insults or threats.
The draft supporters include Borwornsak Uwanno, Sujit Boonbongkarn, Samran Rodpetch, Suchada Kiranand, Vallop Tangkananurak, Khunying Jada Wattanasiritham, Kamnoon Sitthisman, and Phattara Khampitak.
Under the draft proposal, offenders would be subject to a maximum jail term of five years and/or a fine of between 10,000 and 100,000 baht.
The current Criminal Code covers only Their Majesties, the heir apparent and the regent, and carries a maximum seven-year prison term and/or a maximum 140,000 baht fine.
The NLA members also seek to amend the Criminal Procedure Code to restrict media coverage of lese majeste cases.
In the course of the investigation, the hearing, the trial of cases against people charged with offences against the King, the Queen, the heir to the throne or the regent, investigators, the prosecution, or the plaintiff may ask the court to prohibit all kinds of media from publicising information on the cases, or expressing criticism or opinions on them.
The draft amendments are expected to go to the NLA tomorrow .
Mr Phattara, one of the NLA members, said the amendment was introduced to prevent attempts to use lese majeste allegations as a political tool and so offend the monarchy. “We think when someone is accused of offending the King, Queen, heir apparent or regent, it [the case] should not be covered by the media or used as a political tool.”
However, he noted that some critics might consider the proposed extended protection for the Privy Council as a move to protect Privy Council president Gen Prem Tinsulanonda, who was recently dragged into political turmoil.
Bangkok Post, 9 October 2007
Attacking Thailand’s anti-Thaksin academics
Am I wrong? I see nothing wrong to vote for Thaksin and Thai Rak Thai . We are not stupid as those in ivory tower thinks we are… Why I vote for the Democrat? that southern scum only support the rich and the banking business.
Own goals at Manchester City?
Your guys know nothing about football! Do not make it political out of this .
Every team on PL have the first team and the reserves team .Some even have the third team. Also the City got a good academy system.
come on guys! you might hate Thaksin to the bone ! But everyone in Thai football circle see it as a big chance for those thai boy to be trained among the best of man city .
That just for training ! Everything eles blow up by the media.
More on the Chinese in northern Laos
[…] More on the Chinese in northern LaosAccording to the statistics of the Bokeo provincial office for tourism, 185000 persons went through the border post of Huay Sai in 2006, either going to Thailand or entering Laos. Among them, nearly 50000 were Lao, 70000 Asian (80% of … […]
More on the Rebellion Resistance Force
[…] regime against the KIA, and also Khun Sa. The Kachin Rangers would be sort of analogous to the Rawang RRF.┬ However, I don’t think they are included in the three forces Mahtu Naw referenced; I […]
Examples of “sufficiency economy”
A quick look at the listing seems to indicate that the return to the “bureaucratic polity” version of administration is continuing. The bureaucracy has regularly come up with “model villages” for all kinds of policies that were in vogue at the time. This seems little different as a bureaucratic strategy for promoting fads and propaganising.
Global protest petition on Burma
I ask you, how many people must be killed before it is considered “genocide” in your books? That’s not a rhetorical question, I really am curious.
I would say its not a specific number, but a conscious decision and action to do away with an entire demographic of a society.
New Mandala’s election watch
The Election Commission of Thailand has informed its provincial branches where they might download the three new election-related laws so that the PEC and its officials might study them. After all, there is very little time left until the royal decree officially setting the election for December 23 will come into effect and thus make the application of these laws urgent.
For those who can read Thai, the three laws can be downloaded at the Government Gazette web site:
Political Party Act
http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2550/A/064/22.PDF
Election Commision Act
http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2550/A/064/1.PDF
MP and Senator Election Act
http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2550/A/064/69.PDF
Global protest petition on Burma
Yes, dear Colonel I do believe there are alternatives to UN military engagement!
Here are some without putting a great deal of effort in:
a) the Junta is engaged with to a point where their position is undermined by the enormous adaptation of technological and communicative modernity.
b) people such as Major Win, return and divide the military
c) the Junta is offered asylum aboard a Qantas mystery flight (that just happens to be destined for the Hague..)
Realistically of course there is an alternative to confrontation. It has to happen for the morals to be learned and not simply acknowledged. That is not a system because as seen throughout history, these confrontations happen because nobody reads history books and so to make up for it, they must create one which can be related to with legitimacy.
Also, surely policy is written of an observed system and not what is great or bad about the particulars. A cohesive system cannot be moral because then it ceases to be emotionless and orderly. This is an ethical principle, but not a moral one.
Maybe I appear cold blooded here. I believe with emotion that humanitarian intervention is called for everywhere – not just the everywhere that happens to be most publicized that day – and the sooner we start acting like brothers and sisters maybe we can get somewhere. In my experience, I have simply observed that brothers and sisters do not agree on who gets what without a paternal system that shows no bias. I believe the only way to enact positive social change is through example. We outside Burma do not set a good example with our own hypocritical systems of governance that ironically proclaim to be capable of ‘humanitarian’ efforts. Sure there can be some economic and infrastructure development which we can assist, but I argue that this is not going to turn problems into lesser social problems. This post was about ways to show solidarity with the monks?; well how about ‘listening’ for starters?
Global protest petition on Burma
Re: Grasshopper>
I disagree with you that the North Korean death camps don’t fit your definition of genocide/democide. The reports of systematic abortion and medical experimentation should be evidence enough; however, we don’t have enough information on the numbers imprisoned to debate whether or not the body count meets your approval to warrant being labeled genocide.
I ask you, how many people must be killed before it is considered “genocide” in your books? That’s not a rhetorical question, I really am curious.
As far as the Burmese genocide, I was refering to the Karen and other ethnic minorities. As for why the UN hasn’t intervened, I refer you to my previous comments.
Concerning the word “gringo,” yes, semantically, like the Thai word “farang“, it carries the denotation of “foreigner”; however, pragmatically both you and I know that it refers to Whites, usually Anglo-Americans. (Pragmatics: the subfield of Linguistics that studies speaker sense. [Intercultural Pragmatics is my academic speciality]) So, my comment stands. I should feel slightly offended, but I find it hilarious due to the fact that many people who do not know my (multi-)ethnic background, assume I’m hispanic/latino in origin.
Peace is a wonderful thing; it should be the goal of all civilizations, but at what price peace?
European scholars tour Burma
Well, the Friedrich Ebert Foundation also arranged for a group of military-appointed Thai academics to defend the coup in Germany. So, going to Burma only seems to be logical. The FES is the political foundation of the Social Democratic Party of Germany.
Examples of “sufficiency economy”
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration also had an advertisement on “self sufficiency economy” in the Bangkok Post (can’t anybody tell these people that “self-sufficiency” has a very specific meaning?). Now it looks as if the separation and recycling of garbage is a direct outcome of this approach. My mom back home in Germany, who has been doing this for so long, will be glad to know that, in fact, she does this on the initiative of the Thai king. This might not be obvious to most Germans.
Global protest petition on Burma
Mr. Grasshopper do you sincerely believe there are other alternatives, other than the Chamberlain speech you favor, that would discourage the Myanmar junta from further maiming, torturing and killing its dissidents (and Myanmar appear to be clearly divided between the 49.5 million dissident-citizens and the 0.5 million fascist junta soldiers)?
“The international system is not a moral system.” I dispute that Grasshopper. Because any international policy not grounded on sound ethical principles immediately loses legitimacy. Oh . . I don’t doubt that immoral international policies occurred past, present and future once international politics are factored in.
But humanitarian intervention by the United Nations is clearly called for in the case of the illegitimate Myanmar junta because of its past and present atrocities of death, torture, intimidation and deprivation against its own people.
Global protest petition on Burma
Schwartz: Article 2 of the CPPCG defines genocide as “any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such: killing members of the group; causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life, calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; [and] forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.”
North Koreans killing Koreans in Camp 22 fulfills none of this criteria. Certainly individuals who have ties with other individuals are killed there for religious and political reasons but not groups of people enough to warrant the term ‘genocide’.
I am not willing to call what has recently occurred (ie. the detainments and killings over protests) in Burma-Myanmar genocide because it does not fulfill the hotly contested definition of the word. (I used the UN one from the CPPCG because its what is used by member nations..) This is not simply being semantically correct and its similarly not condoning the actions of the Junta. That genocide is a word that should not be used in conjunction with this situation does not lessen the impact of who died and those unjustly imprisoned as a result of the recent protests.
That ‘genocide’ is being used in relation to the recent protests highlights desensitization and the break down of discourse in our media because it means that people are simply looking for impact words to really drive home an atrocity when it should not be necessary. It says a lot for us in the beige that words like: political killings, murder, massacre, slaughter, butchering, which I think are more appropriate, might not be enough to rouse peoples attentions.
Genocide should be used in relation to other instances in Burma-Myanmar but they have not been highlighted on mainstream media at all. So if the act of genocide revokes sovereignty, and if genocide is being committed by Burmans against the Karen peoples – why hasn’t the UN used this to move against the Junta previously? These questions are not asked by journalists faulting China and Russia for vetoing potential Security Council resolutions. Instead, there is some obsequious agenda alluded about their respective intentions, rather than pragmatic, direct questioning to them which consequently dilutes the issue in an international context. Yet I haven’t come across anything in the British media that dared go after the esteemed Salisbury (or would it be Cranbourne) family for having significant shares in Premier Oil who maintain their drilling off Burma-Myanmar and consequently prop up the Junta.
Furthermore, I am not confusing the US and South Korea. Please see your recent engagement in multilateral diplomatic efforts: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7025930.stm. For me, multilateral + U.S. = success!
P/S ‘gringo’ in Spanish means foreign. It does not mean ‘white’. I used the term to tie in with the Cuban theme of my facetiousness because you said you would agree if my arguments were about Cuba, no?