[…] Depending on how┬ broadly it is conceived, “Buddhist Social History” is one sub-discipline┬ that is┬ particularly relevant to the sorts of recent discussions we have hosted here at New Mandala. […]
Those police underlings were merely following direct orders from the top. Thaksin Shinawatra was micro-managing the anti- ya ba campaign truly intent on extrajudicial killings of thousands of suspects to demonstrate Thaksin’s godlike powers. Thaksin Shinawatra first demanded ‘blacklists’ from the underpaid undertrained village police, then followed that up with demands for weekly body counts, mercilessly under the killed reached the thousands.
Thaksin figuratively pulled the triggers. Those village police underlings had no choice but to follow Thaksin’s speciic orders to kill.
[…] Depending on how widely it is conceived, “Buddhist Social History” is one sub-discipline┬ that is┬ particularly relevant to the sorts of recent discussions we have hosted here at New Mandala. […]
Actually, promoting a “rural self sufficiency economy” serves capitalist development perfectly well – it stops any pressure for welfare and minimum wages.
Surely the “buddhist ideal of moral and political authority” is to be the Dhammaraja – the wheel turning monarch. If that’s Pattana’s line, then he’s condemning Thaksin for not being king.
But I agree that Thailand is structured towards strong man nak-leng leadership – not because it’s “cultural” but because the country is so overcentralised in Bangkok that he who controls Sanam Luang controls the nation.
She may know a lot about “high culture”, but if she doesn’t know that the end of lent is all about fertility and sexuality (this is when all the weddings are held) and having a party after the hard work of the rainy season planting is over, then she’s got no idea how culture is actually lived.
This conservatism is indicative of a general trend in Thailand that can be traced quite clearly over the past two decades. For those interested Heather Montgomery in her book Modern Babylon discusses this with regards to Child Prostitution in Thailand and Graham Fordham talks about it in his book A New Look at Thai AIDS with regards to AIDS research and prevention programmes.
It is according to an Iranian colleague of mine not dissimilar to the lead up to the revolution in Iran…are we seeing the begining of “Traiphum Law” where monks will be beating women with sticks for being seen in public inappropriately dressed?
CNS finally came out with a statement that they have a lead to tie in a Thaksin aide in connection with the disappearance of the human rights lawyer Somchai N. (whom Thaksin had publicly declared is already dead, but kept quiet since then).
I am perplexed as anyone else why the junta is taking so long to hone in on Thaksin’s human rights abuses. Thaksin’s extrajudicial murderous rampage in that Y2003 anti-ya ba campaign clearly was a violation of Thailand’s constitutional rule of law.
Perhaps the junta’s priorities are misplaced. Because lots of Thais demand quick results on Thaksin’s corruption spree.
Personally I believe the junta is making a mistake. They should target Thaksin’s human rights abuses first, then Thaksin’s corruption second.
[…] Australian broadcaster SBS has just shown a Dateline report on Burma by journalist Ginny Stein. Following is the promo from the Dateline website. A transcript should be available on the site soon. In the past week activists inside Burma, one of the world’s most repressive military dictatorships, have been testing the limits with a campaign of organised dissent. They’ve been holding prayer vigils across the country. While that may sound harmless, this is a country where even joking about the military regime can land you in prison. Burma, renamed as Myanmar by the military regime, is a nation where outside scrutiny is virtually impossible, its citizens generally kept quiet by a climate of fear. […]
[…] New Mandala: It was only a matter of time before more stories about the planned filming of Rambo IV: In The Serpent’s Eye started seeping out. This action flick is slated to be “shot” in a Thai national park in the far north over the coming dry season. The global media just gorges on this kind of story and, well, why not? […]
Vichai, why isn’t the junta investigating the war against drugs? They’ve assigned armies of people to investigate dozens of charges against Thaksin and his family, even the triffling stuff. Yet they ignore the war against drugs. What does that tell you about the military’s motives?
Her conservatism can be better understood by looking at some previous controversies she has been involved in. I recall that she was one of the people who got Acharn Piriya Krairiksh fired from Silpakorn University for theorizing that the so-called “Sukhothai Inscription” of King Ramkhamhaeng was a forgery created by its discoverer, King Rama IV.
Such a theory rocked the basis of ancient Siamese history and was deemed blasphemous by people like Acharn Khaisri. Ramkhamhaeng was hailed by historians from Rama IV onwards as the first great Thai king and the model for all modern Kings. He listened to his people, created a centralized model for centralized military/administrative government, reformed the religion, fundamentally reformed education with his development of the Thai script, and allowed free trade. Without his wise and virtuous example, it would have been impossible for Rama IV to convince the British to allow Siam into the community of civilized nations and enter into equal trade treaties.
Acharn Piriya’s theories are still controversial. After being fired from Silpakorn, he joined Thammasat University, became the first Thai president of the Siam Society, and until recently was the head of Thammasat’s Thai Khadi Research Institute. Acharn Khaisri defended the traditional/royalist orthodoxy, and partly as a result, also rose to bigger and greater things.
He’s very fluent in English. He did his bachelors degree in UCLA and was a TA throughout his masters degree. His kid studied in Australia and he has a home there.
If the speech is in Thai, it probably means his intended audience is the Seattle PAD (e.g., the “Thaksin worships dead fetuses crowd”) rather than the academic crowd. He’ll probably be raising funds for the IPO of ASTV as well.
IMHO most nations do not have politically sophisticated electorates, however Thailand may take the cake is this exchange on Bangkok Pundits site is any example: http://bangkokpundit.blogspot.com/2006/10/forces-of-darkness.html#7483202778557400936
Bear in mind that these are obviously educated people, so one wonders what must be the beliefs of the less educated in Thailand!
Unfortunately, it looks like coups will continue to be a part of the Thai political scene for years to come – reset and start again …..
[…] Minister for Culture in the Surayud regime, Khunying Khaisri Sriarun, is leading the charge against inappropriate coyote dancing. Khunying Khaisri has impeccable cultural and royal connections. She is reported as being the former President of Silpakorn University, serves as secretary of the Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Foundation (and sits on the committee of the Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre) and she is President of Naresuan University and Silpakorn University Councils. She is co-author of a book on the art of Sukhotai. She has responded promptly to the challenges of post-coup cultural renovation. Thai Rat reports on a ban on coyote dancing for girls under 20. Here is a summary of the article: The ban was a response to Her Majesty the Queen’s concern over a popular racy dance by “Coyote Girls” as seen in the news of the celebration of the end of Buddhist Lent in Phonphisai, Nong Khai Province, bordering Laos, where people came to celebrate the Naga fireballs from the Mekong River. Very close to the temple grounds, a local motorcycle shop hired coyote girls to promote its wares. The practice seems inappropriate for this location. Different authorities involved (culture, religious, education, social development, family, women and children) have responded in different ways to reinforce the rules and regulations to prevent this practice. There is a need to protect young girls under 20; to protect the good image of the country; and to prevent crime provoked by sexy dancing. Short-term and long-term measures have been launched to deal with the matter. The local administration and police were ordered to prevent the shows in public places. The Culture and the Education Ministries will enact a Ministerial regulation banning students aged below 20 from working as “Coyote Girls” or “Pretty Girls”. For the long-term solution, the Ministry of Culture will hold meetings and workshops with parents, academics, young people and entrepreneurs, to focus on what are the appropriate behaviors in society. These will lead to the solution in a sustainable manner. The scheme will be promoted as a national agenda. (Thanks to Ai Man for the summary.) […]
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The deva-raja
[…] Depending on how┬ broadly it is conceived, “Buddhist Social History” is one sub-discipline┬ that is┬ particularly relevant to the sorts of recent discussions we have hosted here at New Mandala. […]
Surayud to bring love, harmony and virtue (with strengthened military potential)!
I dispute that James Haughton (#10).
Those police underlings were merely following direct orders from the top. Thaksin Shinawatra was micro-managing the anti- ya ba campaign truly intent on extrajudicial killings of thousands of suspects to demonstrate Thaksin’s godlike powers. Thaksin Shinawatra first demanded ‘blacklists’ from the underpaid undertrained village police, then followed that up with demands for weekly body counts, mercilessly under the killed reached the thousands.
Thaksin figuratively pulled the triggers. Those village police underlings had no choice but to follow Thaksin’s speciic orders to kill.
Thai style democracy – “Asian values” reborn?
[…] Depending on how widely it is conceived, “Buddhist Social History” is one sub-discipline┬ that is┬ particularly relevant to the sorts of recent discussions we have hosted here at New Mandala. […]
Protest at the Shwedagon
[…] In one way or another, this has been a big week for the discussion of Buddhist religious expression┬ in Thailand and Burma.┬ […]
Lewd dancing and Buddhist festivals
[…] In one way or another, this has been a big week for the discussion of Buddhist religious expression┬ in Thailand and Burma.┬ […]
Surayud to bring love, harmony and virtue (with strengthened military potential)!
Let’s remember that whatever Thaksin may have SAID, it’s the military and paramilitary police who actually pulled the triggers.
Virtuous sufficiency
Actually, promoting a “rural self sufficiency economy” serves capitalist development perfectly well – it stops any pressure for welfare and minimum wages.
Thai style democracy – “Asian values” reborn?
Surely the “buddhist ideal of moral and political authority” is to be the Dhammaraja – the wheel turning monarch. If that’s Pattana’s line, then he’s condemning Thaksin for not being king.
But I agree that Thailand is structured towards strong man nak-leng leadership – not because it’s “cultural” but because the country is so overcentralised in Bangkok that he who controls Sanam Luang controls the nation.
Sufficiency coyote – “getting weird”
She may know a lot about “high culture”, but if she doesn’t know that the end of lent is all about fertility and sexuality (this is when all the weddings are held) and having a party after the hard work of the rainy season planting is over, then she’s got no idea how culture is actually lived.
Sufficiency coyote – “getting weird”
This conservatism is indicative of a general trend in Thailand that can be traced quite clearly over the past two decades. For those interested Heather Montgomery in her book Modern Babylon discusses this with regards to Child Prostitution in Thailand and Graham Fordham talks about it in his book A New Look at Thai AIDS with regards to AIDS research and prevention programmes.
It is according to an Iranian colleague of mine not dissimilar to the lead up to the revolution in Iran…are we seeing the begining of “Traiphum Law” where monks will be beating women with sticks for being seen in public inappropriately dressed?
Surayud to bring love, harmony and virtue (with strengthened military potential)!
CNS finally came out with a statement that they have a lead to tie in a Thaksin aide in connection with the disappearance of the human rights lawyer Somchai N. (whom Thaksin had publicly declared is already dead, but kept quiet since then).
I am perplexed as anyone else why the junta is taking so long to hone in on Thaksin’s human rights abuses. Thaksin’s extrajudicial murderous rampage in that Y2003 anti-ya ba campaign clearly was a violation of Thailand’s constitutional rule of law.
Perhaps the junta’s priorities are misplaced. Because lots of Thais demand quick results on Thaksin’s corruption spree.
Personally I believe the junta is making a mistake. They should target Thaksin’s human rights abuses first, then Thaksin’s corruption second.
Protest at the Shwedagon
[…] Australian broadcaster SBS has just shown a Dateline report on Burma by journalist Ginny Stein. Following is the promo from the Dateline website. A transcript should be available on the site soon. In the past week activists inside Burma, one of the world’s most repressive military dictatorships, have been testing the limits with a campaign of organised dissent. They’ve been holding prayer vigils across the country. While that may sound harmless, this is a country where even joking about the military regime can land you in prison. Burma, renamed as Myanmar by the military regime, is a nation where outside scrutiny is virtually impossible, its citizens generally kept quiet by a climate of fear. […]
Surayud to bring love, harmony and virtue (with strengthened military potential)!
IIRC, a poll at that time of the War on Drugs found that 80+ % of Thais supported it. That’s the saddest part, if true.
Rambo vs. SPDC: Thais ask for “reasonable” violence
[…] New Mandala: It was only a matter of time before more stories about the planned filming of Rambo IV: In The Serpent’s Eye started seeping out. This action flick is slated to be “shot” in a Thai national park in the far north over the coming dry season. The global media just gorges on this kind of story and, well, why not? […]
Rambo vs. SPDC: Thais ask for “reasonable” violence
Great stuff. I posted my two cents re: the flick, as well, and am eager to see how things play out:
http://newley.com/2006/08/03/rambo-coming-to-bangkok-and-burma/
Surayud to bring love, harmony and virtue (with strengthened military potential)!
Vichai, why isn’t the junta investigating the war against drugs? They’ve assigned armies of people to investigate dozens of charges against Thaksin and his family, even the triffling stuff. Yet they ignore the war against drugs. What does that tell you about the military’s motives?
Sufficiency coyote – “getting weird”
Her conservatism can be better understood by looking at some previous controversies she has been involved in. I recall that she was one of the people who got Acharn Piriya Krairiksh fired from Silpakorn University for theorizing that the so-called “Sukhothai Inscription” of King Ramkhamhaeng was a forgery created by its discoverer, King Rama IV.
Such a theory rocked the basis of ancient Siamese history and was deemed blasphemous by people like Acharn Khaisri. Ramkhamhaeng was hailed by historians from Rama IV onwards as the first great Thai king and the model for all modern Kings. He listened to his people, created a centralized model for centralized military/administrative government, reformed the religion, fundamentally reformed education with his development of the Thai script, and allowed free trade. Without his wise and virtuous example, it would have been impossible for Rama IV to convince the British to allow Siam into the community of civilized nations and enter into equal trade treaties.
Acharn Piriya’s theories are still controversial. After being fired from Silpakorn, he joined Thammasat University, became the first Thai president of the Siam Society, and until recently was the head of Thammasat’s Thai Khadi Research Institute. Acharn Khaisri defended the traditional/royalist orthodoxy, and partly as a result, also rose to bigger and greater things.
Sondhi in Seattle
He’s very fluent in English. He did his bachelors degree in UCLA and was a TA throughout his masters degree. His kid studied in Australia and he has a home there.
If the speech is in Thai, it probably means his intended audience is the Seattle PAD (e.g., the “Thaksin worships dead fetuses crowd”) rather than the academic crowd. He’ll probably be raising funds for the IPO of ASTV as well.
“Signs of unease”
IMHO most nations do not have politically sophisticated electorates, however Thailand may take the cake is this exchange on Bangkok Pundits site is any example:
http://bangkokpundit.blogspot.com/2006/10/forces-of-darkness.html#7483202778557400936
Bear in mind that these are obviously educated people, so one wonders what must be the beliefs of the less educated in Thailand!
Unfortunately, it looks like coups will continue to be a part of the Thai political scene for years to come – reset and start again …..
Lewd dancing and Buddhist festivals
[…] Minister for Culture in the Surayud regime, Khunying Khaisri Sriarun, is leading the charge against inappropriate coyote dancing. Khunying Khaisri has impeccable cultural and royal connections. She is reported as being the former President of Silpakorn University, serves as secretary of the Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Foundation (and sits on the committee of the Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre) and she is President of Naresuan University and Silpakorn University Councils. She is co-author of a book on the art of Sukhotai. She has responded promptly to the challenges of post-coup cultural renovation. Thai Rat reports on a ban on coyote dancing for girls under 20. Here is a summary of the article: The ban was a response to Her Majesty the Queen’s concern over a popular racy dance by “Coyote Girls” as seen in the news of the celebration of the end of Buddhist Lent in Phonphisai, Nong Khai Province, bordering Laos, where people came to celebrate the Naga fireballs from the Mekong River. Very close to the temple grounds, a local motorcycle shop hired coyote girls to promote its wares. The practice seems inappropriate for this location. Different authorities involved (culture, religious, education, social development, family, women and children) have responded in different ways to reinforce the rules and regulations to prevent this practice. There is a need to protect young girls under 20; to protect the good image of the country; and to prevent crime provoked by sexy dancing. Short-term and long-term measures have been launched to deal with the matter. The local administration and police were ordered to prevent the shows in public places. The Culture and the Education Ministries will enact a Ministerial regulation banning students aged below 20 from working as “Coyote Girls” or “Pretty Girls”. For the long-term solution, the Ministry of Culture will hold meetings and workshops with parents, academics, young people and entrepreneurs, to focus on what are the appropriate behaviors in society. These will lead to the solution in a sustainable manner. The scheme will be promoted as a national agenda. (Thanks to Ai Man for the summary.) […]