Why do you always get to do the fun things Warren? Arent you supposed to be working or studying or something?! Sounds like you had a fab time! Hope your Lao is getting better! See you soon!
Just found this blog and was, frankly, appalled at the perspective of Andrew Walker. If this is the most sympathetic vision of Thailand available in the enlightened academies of Australia… well, he’s young yet I imagine.
I did enjoy Nirut’s comments. And he doesn’t seem to be very old.
Thanks for taking the time and effort, all of you, in creating this blog. I’ll surely follow it in the future.
Some royalist editors on Thai Wikipedia insist on deleting the links on the partial translations of The King Never Smiles on the grounds that it is political propaganda.
The article stub is here, the stub discussion page is here.
Guess where Surayud’s next stop will be after his brief term of administration ended? Backing up by the military, this is a gradual rise of the ‘administrative power’ of the Privy Council.
Now that political parties are in limbo, the concept of democracy is very fragile indeed.
Thailand is, once again, at the mercy of………. (History/God/Capitalist logic/or whatever you’d prefer).
There are also some 1,158 urban governments and 75 PAO. Will they all receive the same amount of money? Disburse for what? Is there any project framework with a statement concerning the expected benefits? Will there be any monitoring and evaluation? Or will the procedure rather follow what was used during the Miyazawa fund? So far, there seem to be more questions than answers. Hopefully, some more details will be made public soon.
Thaksin spent one million baht of a revolving fund for villages and urban communities, not tambons. Anyway, I am quite certain that an equivalent announcement by Thaksin would have caused an outcry by his “regulars.” Let’s see what will follow on Surayud’s announcement.
This is one example of the social progression of Laos over the past decades. The youths today and tomorrow will better the country in the future. I look forward to hearing more activities like this. If you have any more great pictures feel free to e-mail them to me. Thanks…
There were 7254 tambon as of the 2000 census. Spending 10 billion for all of these tambon is equal to about 1.4 million baht each.
Thank you very much, Surayud! This now makes you more of a populist than Thaksin!
Thaksin spent only 1 million baht per tambon, and although some of that was spent on improving “well-being” by buying things like telephones and pickup trucks, much of it was spent on long-term investments.
Ten billion are no peanuts. The Auditor General might want to get ready to investigate whether this will result in the squandering of public funds for an ill-conceived and implemented pet project. Better start the data gathering now than waiting until everything is done.
Still on money but slightly off topic:
Thaksin and HM the King didn’t make the Forbes billionaires lits this year. The only Thais on it are
#264 Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, 3.4 bn
#279 Chaleo Yoovidhya 3.1 bn
#390 Dhanin Chearavanont & family 2.4bn
One imagines that they don’t know where Thaksin has stashed the money — or that Thaksin has really screwed up his own fortune — and that they think the palace doesn’t control what it controls. Or else the Forbes chief is a buddy of Bhumibol and accepts to keep things discreet.
I arrived 20 mins later yesterday and found a room crowded up to the door. A silent as possible I squeezed into the hot and humid venue. Thant Myint-U was hardly visible, sitting in a corner at the front of the room.
He was in what I believed to be review of the developments from 1988 to date, but very soon his standpoint became apparent.
Describing present day Burma, TMU points out that the country has moved well away from the isolationist state it was until 1988. And what is important, the junta has become stronger and more immune to sanctions compared to the beginning of the nineties. Due to the fact that there is no united front against the regime on the international level, the junta managed to navigate around the different external powers.
But in the way the military has become strong enough (albeit bloated) to withstand any sanctions, the ground it is standing on is pretty shaky. With a desastrous healthcare and education (and the social welfare in general) the social cohesion (he refers to ceasefires achieved in the past years – whether one agrees or not; my remark) is extremely fragile and any fractioning would push the Burma into a desaster.
As a conclusion, he demands for an engagement with the junta to address that is in dire need for the povery-stricken country: Improvement in infrastructure, education, healthcare. He encourages foreign investment to enable a smooth transition whenever that will be and to whatever system.
As you can guess from the title of his lecture, Thant Myint-U declares the international policy on Burma as largely failed. Pressure has never been applied univocally and merely resulted in being a catalyst for the junta’s xenophobia. And there is always a loophole where the regime slips through. Remarkably, none of the members of the international community has an explicit plan with Burma.
What strikes me though, is that TMU hardly mention Aung San Suu Kyi, but that is due to his view that she is largely contained in a box. Despite the still existing support she has he does not expect her to take any significant role anymore.
I find the views of TMU lecture refreshingly different from the “free ASSK now” sermon that is prayed everywhere you go. It is not to say that I support the regime, by no means, but the call for boycott just has become a hollow phrase and whatever boycott has been made hasn’t done any damage on the ruling junta. I am just afraid that his view is rather exotic and does not fit in the US’ simplistic black-and-white approach and the block-and-boycott method. As Burma is not of any economic significance to the US, it is easiest for the US just to ignore this poverty-stricken country, defy any humanitarian help. It is just a classic example of the US double morale. Saudi-Arabia or Pakistan are counter-examples where human rights does not seem too important for Washington.
But is the refusal of any humanitarian help not a refusal of the Geneva convention which does not discriminate who is a dictator or who is democratic? Burma is in desperate need for humanitarian help and development and if we provide that, we help the Burmese people to open up to the world, to access opportunities and finally to help transforming the Burmese societey from the bottom.
Isolating the country is not the solution. That has been done to Burma for almost 40 years by their regime. And now by us? Isn’t it unfair?
For the first time in many years the northern Thai farmers received higher price for glutinous rice than non-glutinous rice in 2006-07 season. Recently farmers have been promoted to grow high quality non-glutinous rice for export, namely Kao Dawk Mali 105 or Hom Mali rice, which had highest mortgaged price in 2005 provided by the government.
In the 2006 season, farmers continued to allocate larger proportion of their land to non-glutinous rice, hoping to receive high mortgaged price as in 2005. Widespread flooding during the season had damaged rice crop, thus causing price of glutinous rice, which is the staple food crop for the local Northern Thai, to go up.
With availability of non-photosensitive and high yielding rice varieties, such as RD 10, and San Patong 1, farmers are able to plant glutinous rice in dry season. The dry season glutinous rice crop, which will be harvested in May-June, will provide food security as well as good income during June to November, before the harvest of the rainy season rice in 2007.
In general tobacco has lost its competitiveness. However, in area with favorable soil and water conditions, various forms of contract tobacco farming exist. Farmers are paid on the fresh weight basis. Local tobacco, which is sun cured, continues to be planted by farmers for local market.
Chris: Yes, that would be a great show indeed for the international audience: an elected prime minister overthrown in a coup, accused of lese majeste, and then sent to jail for, say, 10 years. As you say, this would tremendously increase the reputation of Thailand, its monarchy, and its military in the world. But, then, this accusation in the original “reasons” for the coup was included for local Thai consumption. After it has achieved its purpose, one might well approach this issue in a more relaxed manner. And on Thaksin’s new web site (www.hi-Thaksin.net), Thaksin is seen devotely giving a deep wai to the king sitting on his throne.
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Lao explorers reach Vietnam on Italian Scooters
Why do you always get to do the fun things Warren? Arent you supposed to be working or studying or something?! Sounds like you had a fab time! Hope your Lao is getting better! See you soon!
Greenhouse gas
[…] Original post by New Mandala » Dancing tiger, small elephant […]
Greenhouse gas
[…] Original post by Andrew Walker […]
Sufficiency going forward, diversity going backward
Just found this blog and was, frankly, appalled at the perspective of Andrew Walker. If this is the most sympathetic vision of Thailand available in the enlightened academies of Australia… well, he’s young yet I imagine.
I did enjoy Nirut’s comments. And he doesn’t seem to be very old.
Thanks for taking the time and effort, all of you, in creating this blog. I’ll surely follow it in the future.
New Mandala in Yunnan
You lucky dog!! I guess I’ll have to enjoy it via your writings.
Banned but scanned
Some royalist editors on Thai Wikipedia insist on deleting the links on the partial translations of The King Never Smiles on the grounds that it is political propaganda.
The article stub is here, the stub discussion page is here.
The translated introduction is available here: http://www.geocities.com/kingneversmiles/intro.html.
The translated 15th chapter is available here: http://tknsthai.googlepages.com.
Lao explorers reach Vietnam on Italian Scooters
I’m originally from Laos… It’s great to see the pics. Looks like a lot of fun!
Surayud splurges on allegiance, sufficiency and well-being
Guess where Surayud’s next stop will be after his brief term of administration ended? Backing up by the military, this is a gradual rise of the ‘administrative power’ of the Privy Council.
Now that political parties are in limbo, the concept of democracy is very fragile indeed.
Thailand is, once again, at the mercy of………. (History/God/Capitalist logic/or whatever you’d prefer).
Surayud splurges on allegiance, sufficiency and well-being
There are also some 1,158 urban governments and 75 PAO. Will they all receive the same amount of money? Disburse for what? Is there any project framework with a statement concerning the expected benefits? Will there be any monitoring and evaluation? Or will the procedure rather follow what was used during the Miyazawa fund? So far, there seem to be more questions than answers. Hopefully, some more details will be made public soon.
Thaksin spent one million baht of a revolving fund for villages and urban communities, not tambons. Anyway, I am quite certain that an equivalent announcement by Thaksin would have caused an outcry by his “regulars.” Let’s see what will follow on Surayud’s announcement.
Lao explorers reach Vietnam on Italian Scooters
This is one example of the social progression of Laos over the past decades. The youths today and tomorrow will better the country in the future. I look forward to hearing more activities like this. If you have any more great pictures feel free to e-mail them to me. Thanks…
Surayud splurges on allegiance, sufficiency and well-being
There were 7254 tambon as of the 2000 census. Spending 10 billion for all of these tambon is equal to about 1.4 million baht each.
Thank you very much, Surayud! This now makes you more of a populist than Thaksin!
Thaksin spent only 1 million baht per tambon, and although some of that was spent on improving “well-being” by buying things like telephones and pickup trucks, much of it was spent on long-term investments.
Bread and circuses, indeed!
Mine the gap. Australians and Laos – Part III
[…] A follow-on from Jonathan Cornford’s earlier posts┬ … […]
Lao explorers reach Vietnam on Italian Scooters
Awesome! Good story and beautiful pics. I wish there are more groups and activities being held in Laos, especially for young people.
Surayud splurges on allegiance, sufficiency and well-being
Ten billion are no peanuts. The Auditor General might want to get ready to investigate whether this will result in the squandering of public funds for an ill-conceived and implemented pet project. Better start the data gathering now than waiting until everything is done.
Seminar: Thant Myint-U at SOAS, London
Thanks Amateur,
Nice review of what sounds like a very interesting session. Thanks for covering it.
Best wishes,
Nich
Lao explorers reach Vietnam on Italian Scooters
thank you for emailing me about your trip warren.
I like the beautiful mountain views.
“Unrealistic expenses”?: the 5.5 million baht “sufficiency teow”
Still on money but slightly off topic:
Thaksin and HM the King didn’t make the Forbes billionaires lits this year. The only Thais on it are
#264 Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, 3.4 bn
#279 Chaleo Yoovidhya 3.1 bn
#390 Dhanin Chearavanont & family 2.4bn
One imagines that they don’t know where Thaksin has stashed the money — or that Thaksin has really screwed up his own fortune — and that they think the palace doesn’t control what it controls. Or else the Forbes chief is a buddy of Bhumibol and accepts to keep things discreet.
Seminar: Thant Myint-U at SOAS, London
I arrived 20 mins later yesterday and found a room crowded up to the door. A silent as possible I squeezed into the hot and humid venue. Thant Myint-U was hardly visible, sitting in a corner at the front of the room.
He was in what I believed to be review of the developments from 1988 to date, but very soon his standpoint became apparent.
Describing present day Burma, TMU points out that the country has moved well away from the isolationist state it was until 1988. And what is important, the junta has become stronger and more immune to sanctions compared to the beginning of the nineties. Due to the fact that there is no united front against the regime on the international level, the junta managed to navigate around the different external powers.
But in the way the military has become strong enough (albeit bloated) to withstand any sanctions, the ground it is standing on is pretty shaky. With a desastrous healthcare and education (and the social welfare in general) the social cohesion (he refers to ceasefires achieved in the past years – whether one agrees or not; my remark) is extremely fragile and any fractioning would push the Burma into a desaster.
As a conclusion, he demands for an engagement with the junta to address that is in dire need for the povery-stricken country: Improvement in infrastructure, education, healthcare. He encourages foreign investment to enable a smooth transition whenever that will be and to whatever system.
As you can guess from the title of his lecture, Thant Myint-U declares the international policy on Burma as largely failed. Pressure has never been applied univocally and merely resulted in being a catalyst for the junta’s xenophobia. And there is always a loophole where the regime slips through. Remarkably, none of the members of the international community has an explicit plan with Burma.
What strikes me though, is that TMU hardly mention Aung San Suu Kyi, but that is due to his view that she is largely contained in a box. Despite the still existing support she has he does not expect her to take any significant role anymore.
I find the views of TMU lecture refreshingly different from the “free ASSK now” sermon that is prayed everywhere you go. It is not to say that I support the regime, by no means, but the call for boycott just has become a hollow phrase and whatever boycott has been made hasn’t done any damage on the ruling junta. I am just afraid that his view is rather exotic and does not fit in the US’ simplistic black-and-white approach and the block-and-boycott method. As Burma is not of any economic significance to the US, it is easiest for the US just to ignore this poverty-stricken country, defy any humanitarian help. It is just a classic example of the US double morale. Saudi-Arabia or Pakistan are counter-examples where human rights does not seem too important for Washington.
But is the refusal of any humanitarian help not a refusal of the Geneva convention which does not discriminate who is a dictator or who is democratic? Burma is in desperate need for humanitarian help and development and if we provide that, we help the Burmese people to open up to the world, to access opportunities and finally to help transforming the Burmese societey from the bottom.
Isolating the country is not the solution. That has been done to Burma for almost 40 years by their regime. And now by us? Isn’t it unfair?
Playing the market in rice
For the first time in many years the northern Thai farmers received higher price for glutinous rice than non-glutinous rice in 2006-07 season. Recently farmers have been promoted to grow high quality non-glutinous rice for export, namely Kao Dawk Mali 105 or Hom Mali rice, which had highest mortgaged price in 2005 provided by the government.
In the 2006 season, farmers continued to allocate larger proportion of their land to non-glutinous rice, hoping to receive high mortgaged price as in 2005. Widespread flooding during the season had damaged rice crop, thus causing price of glutinous rice, which is the staple food crop for the local Northern Thai, to go up.
With availability of non-photosensitive and high yielding rice varieties, such as RD 10, and San Patong 1, farmers are able to plant glutinous rice in dry season. The dry season glutinous rice crop, which will be harvested in May-June, will provide food security as well as good income during June to November, before the harvest of the rainy season rice in 2007.
In general tobacco has lost its competitiveness. However, in area with favorable soil and water conditions, various forms of contract tobacco farming exist. Farmers are paid on the fresh weight basis. Local tobacco, which is sun cured, continues to be planted by farmers for local market.
Sonthi on manners and democracy
Chris: Yes, that would be a great show indeed for the international audience: an elected prime minister overthrown in a coup, accused of lese majeste, and then sent to jail for, say, 10 years. As you say, this would tremendously increase the reputation of Thailand, its monarchy, and its military in the world. But, then, this accusation in the original “reasons” for the coup was included for local Thai consumption. After it has achieved its purpose, one might well approach this issue in a more relaxed manner. And on Thaksin’s new web site (www.hi-Thaksin.net), Thaksin is seen devotely giving a deep wai to the king sitting on his throne.