The silence of Thai Khadi Research Institute, the organizers of the conference, on this issue is deafening. Why don’t they come out to make a statement of where they stand? In particular they should respond to NM’s questions as to whether academic freedom would be guaranteed at the conference for panels and papers regarding the monarchy and the September 19 coup, sufficiency theory, the Crown Property Bureau, lese majeste, etc. At the very least, foreign participants at the conference who do make references to the monarchy would surely want a guarantee from Thai Khadi that they will not be given a 10 year prison term (or longer) like the Swiss convicted of lese majeste in Chiang Mai last month. If they fail to make that guarantee then we will know that this conference is indeed purely ” to celebrate the auspicious occasion of the 80th birth anniversary ….” and has absolutely no academic value whatsoever.
de reasons because u’re called a ‘bloody ang moh’ are more complicated than juz being high on money. bloody grow up. people are people, no one’s perfect, we can only count on values and principles to guide us.
Just read a collection of Chang noi’s writings on geocities as DE recommended. Ok, think it’s a Thai chang. I find most of his/her commentaries rather bland but they are probably helpful for outsiders who want to be in, and insiders who want to be out.
For those interested in finding out the role of Thai intellectuals/ academics and their ‘contribution’ towards the materialisation of this coup, check out blog postings by a Thai historian Somsak Jiamteerasethakul. Leaving aside his politics, these short essays are more penetrating than the others I came across. See if you can connect them to the current debate on Thai studies conference.
Please read my posts carefully and do not generalise my comments. I did not criticise Singaporeans who discuss about Singapore in the western media. What I disagreed with is the contents in which singapore is described by these singaporeans are often “customised” to attract their attention. These are what i term loud-mouthing. An obvious example is the letter supposedly written by Chee Soon Juan. Further example is those who attacked singapore for hanging the nguyen guy. Let me just again say this, Chee Soon Juan is clearly playing to the western media for whatever motives he has, but time again and again showed that he does not have the support of singaporeans. look at how the sdp fared in the last GE as compared to workers’ party. It is obvious that singaporeans are generally tired of his tactic and prefer non-confrontational ones adopted by the Sylvia Lim and her WP. But then it saddens me that everytime there is a report on singapore, CSJ would receive the attention. Simply because reports of someone being “victimised” suits their purpose. But seriously, do you really think singaporeans at large would vote for him?
Secondly, on the nguyen case, regardless how cruel it may seem to you, the law is clearly stated when one arrives in singapore, yet if you opt to take the risks then you must bear the risks. I am sure his was a tragic case, but what about the victims of drug addicts and their families, is it fair to them?
I myself do not agree with many policies adopted by the PAP, but I would not sell my soul to western media for their use in projecting my country in a way to suit only their purpose of “demonising” our culture and way of life.
I stand by what I said, there are no doubts many flaws in LKY and his policies in the past and present. But give the circumstances faced by them at those times and the results which we are enjoying now, they had to be done. It takes time to change how we do things, and no one would expect overnight adjustments. But what we do and how we do should be affected by the so called western democracy or even other asian democracies. Each nation faces their own constraints and I don’t think one should be faulted for wanting to enhance the life of our countrymen. FULL STOP!!
Chang Noi’s commentary included two problems: (i) the mini-symposium at Cornell was not held under the title Chang Noi gives it. The title was: Issues in Contemporary Thai Politics. The title CN uses was the title of one paper, by Paul Handley; (ii) Chang Noi says, “The Royal association with these conferences is nothing new. In the past it has been a tradition for HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn to preside over the opening ceremony and listen to the keynote address.” I have attended 5 of these events, and I know of no such tradition. I suggest that this is recent – not a “tradition” – and limited to events in Thailand. Chang Noi is creating yet another royal tradition!!
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[…] 2, 2007 at 2:37 am · Filed under Burma Comment on The Irrawaddy on Burma tourism by Burmese Student First of all, I doubt if many tourists know or even care about political situations of Burma. […]
[…] My proposition is that there are too many Burma marketing campaigns which attempt to highlight atrocities and create a label for Burmese as eternal victims; keeping handbags and trinkets cheap in Oxfam shops everywhere. … – more – […]
[…] Further to my previous posts on the UN Security Council vote on Burma, Nobel Laureate Desmond Tutu has now been widely quoted in the South African media. He does not mince his words:. I am deeply disappointed by our vote. … – more – […]
Someone mentioned previously that it would be nice to make the Cornell conference available on Utube. I did a search but nothing was there. Kind of disappointing.
Chang Noi probably writes the best articles in English on Thailand. You can read the last 11 years of his bimonthly commentary here: http://www.geocities.com/changnoi2/
In sum: People outside of Thailand can be much more open about what they say on certain aspects of Thai politics than people inside Thailand. And it would be good if the latter group could be as open in their analyses as the first one, thus eliminating this distinction (or “boundary”). Sounds rather agreeable to me.
Chang Noi’s mistaken title for the conference was the title of one of the presentations. In this case, it was the presentation by Paul Handley. Of course, the monarchy was discussed in the other discussions on constitutions and the violence in the south as well.
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Boycotts and boundaries
The silence of Thai Khadi Research Institute, the organizers of the conference, on this issue is deafening. Why don’t they come out to make a statement of where they stand? In particular they should respond to NM’s questions as to whether academic freedom would be guaranteed at the conference for panels and papers regarding the monarchy and the September 19 coup, sufficiency theory, the Crown Property Bureau, lese majeste, etc. At the very least, foreign participants at the conference who do make references to the monarchy would surely want a guarantee from Thai Khadi that they will not be given a 10 year prison term (or longer) like the Swiss convicted of lese majeste in Chiang Mai last month. If they fail to make that guarantee then we will know that this conference is indeed purely ” to celebrate the auspicious occasion of the 80th birth anniversary ….” and has absolutely no academic value whatsoever.
Boycotts and boundaries
and I agree with Andrew that this chang is not so ‘noi’ 🙂
“Lee Kuan Yew – ANU is not for you!”
de reasons because u’re called a ‘bloody ang moh’ are more complicated than juz being high on money. bloody grow up. people are people, no one’s perfect, we can only count on values and principles to guide us.
Boycotts and boundaries
Just read a collection of Chang noi’s writings on geocities as DE recommended. Ok, think it’s a Thai chang. I find most of his/her commentaries rather bland but they are probably helpful for outsiders who want to be in, and insiders who want to be out.
For those interested in finding out the role of Thai intellectuals/ academics and their ‘contribution’ towards the materialisation of this coup, check out blog postings by a Thai historian Somsak Jiamteerasethakul. Leaving aside his politics, these short essays are more penetrating than the others I came across. See if you can connect them to the current debate on Thai studies conference.
http://somsakcouppostings.blogspot.com/
ps. your Thai must be good.
ANU honours Lee Kuan Yew. Why?
It is obvious that Srithanonchai has hidden motives just as he is using names which do not even reflect his roots. What have you got to hide?
ANU honours Lee Kuan Yew. Why?
AN,
Please read my posts carefully and do not generalise my comments. I did not criticise Singaporeans who discuss about Singapore in the western media. What I disagreed with is the contents in which singapore is described by these singaporeans are often “customised” to attract their attention. These are what i term loud-mouthing. An obvious example is the letter supposedly written by Chee Soon Juan. Further example is those who attacked singapore for hanging the nguyen guy. Let me just again say this, Chee Soon Juan is clearly playing to the western media for whatever motives he has, but time again and again showed that he does not have the support of singaporeans. look at how the sdp fared in the last GE as compared to workers’ party. It is obvious that singaporeans are generally tired of his tactic and prefer non-confrontational ones adopted by the Sylvia Lim and her WP. But then it saddens me that everytime there is a report on singapore, CSJ would receive the attention. Simply because reports of someone being “victimised” suits their purpose. But seriously, do you really think singaporeans at large would vote for him?
Secondly, on the nguyen case, regardless how cruel it may seem to you, the law is clearly stated when one arrives in singapore, yet if you opt to take the risks then you must bear the risks. I am sure his was a tragic case, but what about the victims of drug addicts and their families, is it fair to them?
I myself do not agree with many policies adopted by the PAP, but I would not sell my soul to western media for their use in projecting my country in a way to suit only their purpose of “demonising” our culture and way of life.
I stand by what I said, there are no doubts many flaws in LKY and his policies in the past and present. But give the circumstances faced by them at those times and the results which we are enjoying now, they had to be done. It takes time to change how we do things, and no one would expect overnight adjustments. But what we do and how we do should be affected by the so called western democracy or even other asian democracies. Each nation faces their own constraints and I don’t think one should be faulted for wanting to enhance the life of our countrymen. FULL STOP!!
Boycotts and boundaries
Chang Noi’s commentary included two problems: (i) the mini-symposium at Cornell was not held under the title Chang Noi gives it. The title was: Issues in Contemporary Thai Politics. The title CN uses was the title of one paper, by Paul Handley; (ii) Chang Noi says, “The Royal association with these conferences is nothing new. In the past it has been a tradition for HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn to preside over the opening ceremony and listen to the keynote address.” I have attended 5 of these events, and I know of no such tradition. I suggest that this is recent – not a “tradition” – and limited to events in Thailand. Chang Noi is creating yet another royal tradition!!
Pandering to porn
[…] by refusing to cooperate with the new regime. In an important update┬ on an earlier New Mandala story, the Bangkok Post reports: Thailand’s Chiang Mai Zoo on Monday resorted to artificially […]
The Economist on Burma’s pipeline possibilities
[…] The real issue is that the United States does not value Burma-Myanmar relations and uses Burma as a human rights show, essentially the only real value that Burma-Myanmar has for American policy makers. Over the last twenty years Chinese … – more – […]
The Irrawaddy on Burma tourism
[…] 2, 2007 at 2:37 am · Filed under Burma Comment on The Irrawaddy on Burma tourism by Burmese Student First of all, I doubt if many tourists know or even care about political situations of Burma. […]
“Carrying the Cross”: Christians and Burma
[…] My proposition is that there are too many Burma marketing campaigns which attempt to highlight atrocities and create a label for Burmese as eternal victims; keeping handbags and trinkets cheap in Oxfam shops everywhere. … – more – […]
Tutu on South Africa’s Burma vote
[…] Further to my previous posts on the UN Security Council vote on Burma, Nobel Laureate Desmond Tutu has now been widely quoted in the South African media. He does not mince his words:. I am deeply disappointed by our vote. … – more – […]
A Thai Studies boycott?
Someone mentioned previously that it would be nice to make the Cornell conference available on Utube. I did a search but nothing was there. Kind of disappointing.
“…put on a happy face. The face of Myanmar”
Hey It’s not such irony here in Myanmar. I’m frm myanmar and I’m happy and smiling with the situation here.
Boycotts and boundaries
>> “Chang Noi probably writes the best articles in English on Thailand”
I agree that this chap has some gift in English.
Boycotts and boundaries
Chang Noi probably writes the best articles in English on Thailand. You can read the last 11 years of his bimonthly commentary here:
http://www.geocities.com/changnoi2/
Boycotts and boundaries
In sum: People outside of Thailand can be much more open about what they say on certain aspects of Thai politics than people inside Thailand. And it would be good if the latter group could be as open in their analyses as the first one, thus eliminating this distinction (or “boundary”). Sounds rather agreeable to me.
Thai studies boycott? An update
Chang Noi’s mistaken title for the conference was the title of one of the presentations. In this case, it was the presentation by Paul Handley. Of course, the monarchy was discussed in the other discussions on constitutions and the violence in the south as well.
Boycotts and boundaries
Yes, anon. Elephants never forget and I suspect this “chang” is not so “noi”.
Boycotts and boundaries
From the full article, it’s clear that Chang Noi has a lot more historical perspective than most posters on this blog.