I think the truth is a mix of Marshall’s and Jones’ positions plus a little more. Marshall stresses the power struggle between the king’s and the crown prince’s cronies, whereas Jones thinks its more between the king’s and Thaksin’s cronies. They are both important, and where the balance lies is not clear. The matter is complicated somewhat by possible overlaps, like the rumoured one between Thaksin’s and the crown prince’s cronies.
The other important factor in the mix is the slow and sporadic development of a constitution that minimises cronyism by concentrating political power in the hands of the people’s elected representatives, who hold office for a limited time, and who must constantly bare open public criticism.
The disastrously long lives of Bhumibol and Prem have seen the Thai state degenerate further and further into the property of a closed group of their most favoured cronies. The worst thing about them is that they are implacable enemies of the kind of constitution that would rescue the state from their clutches and make it more adequately serve the public interest.
Only one group of people arrested for their involvement in human trafficking.
Their is another scandal about the fishing industry hopefully to break into Thailand’s limp press.
A Thai fishing company called Silver Sea Fishery co Ltd is accused of using slaves in its supply line. One large ship was spotted in an area called Dog Leg off the Indonesian coast, loading fish from trawlers suspected of involvement in the slave trade. Satelite photos appear to confirm this.
The report was in the SCMP.
Perhaps the company is to big a fish to investigate for the illegal military junta.
Perhaps the company will slap criminal charges against the authors of this article as is usual in Thailand.
Well, they did arrest Chinese loggers andsentenced them to life imprisonment that raised the ire of Big Cousin. Does that remind you of Myitsone and Kokang? But not Shwe Gas or Wanbao/NORINCO.
We should keep at least one vintage rail track and train near Naypyidaw as part of the attractions of the future theme park called what else Naypyidaw. Think of the tourist dollars… kerching!
ASEAN Charter is a bunch of agreements among a bunch of member nations in Asia to ignore or justify individual need.
The ‘none interference’ principle happened to be used more often then others in the charter.
#1
Instead of going the usual Sinophobic, and obviously racist approach to advocate for Kalar in Yakhine one Move on to a real problem solving approach:
1) Where is the west encouraging legislature that legislation to solve the quagmire instead of more $ to more groups that support none constructive berating.
2) ‘Understand and take good enduring notes’ of unique factors that affect this particular Yakhine situation instead of blindly blame the religions of opposing sides.
3) Instead of just using every crisis, which present “Severe monsoon” flooding is one more opportunities, to condemn the inequities, propose boldly constructive proposal such as:
a) Infrastructure improvements such as building roads that will endure the next flood. That only the west can and will.
b) Establish education centers/school that will have a short cut approach to future problems
As it is now this bout of sever flooding is about to unleash suffering among the rural populations unseen.
A chance for the west for redemption properly the past useless careless policy.
This Rohingya mess (conundrum?) is mainly about racism (or tribalism if you want to be polite!), but at a deeper strategic level, China will always be splitting ASEAN (Philippines all alone against Chinese building these artificial Chinese islands in disputed territory?) It’s easier to bully smaller nations individually, if they are not united. China doesn’t want ASEAN to become an American “pivot” (remember SEATO?). One Belt, One Road but under Chinese hegemony. The wretched Rohingyas are just pawns (or perhaps red herrings) in this bigger context, where China is playing a giant game of “Go” against the US. Australians, who want to sell natural resources to China should be aware of that!
Here you can find the 227 precepts for Theravada buddhist monks: http://en.dhammadana.org/sangha/vinaya/227.htm
They are not allowed to touch money, for example. Maybe that’s why they use smart phones nowadays. To do business transactions with Apple Pay?
Re: the monk with a smartphone. Doubtless, a peculiar sight but monks wielding modern tech is not all too a novel occurrence. Before smart phones, some monks had cell phones, some laptops. The availability of smart phones in Burma, esp cities, really does affirm fast spread of select modernization. But an interesting social note to consider is that within the umbrella of Theravada Buddhism, there are many schools in Burma. Some schools consider monks wielding modern tech to be violations of the monastic way of life. There are also common folks, likewise, who are members of these “stricter” schools. It will be very intriguing to see how monasticism and modernity will negotiate in the coming years.
Awesome review!
Bye the way, Myanmar flood info ;
The UN also said : there was “extensive damage” to camps housing 100,000 in Rakhine state, the city of Kalay, with 400,000 people, is accessible only by air, at least 100 houses were destroyed by landslides in Chin state, Haka town in Chin state, with a population of 40,000, is inaccessible by road due to landslides.
Burma’s natural environment and ecology is seriously damaged by illegal logging, indiscriminate mining and improper damming of rivers, but the Burmese government is too scared of China that they don’t dare to arrest Chinese loggers, miners and smugglers.
It’s not “rocket science” why Burmese people do not even have access to clean water. Even Chelsea Clinton knows that and she tried to help. Suu Kyi should be discussing environmental and health issues with Chelsea’s mom Hillary (or for that matter with Angelina Jolie, who is in Burma right now) instead of going on pilgrimages to China and trying so hard to become President.
Excellent analysis marred by the typical ommission in so much current excellence analysis of Thai politics : I.e. that the current situation is NOT ONLY about Succession – it is also about Secession. Eg. this article makes NO mention of the HUGE cost to the Thai State of the current Patani war.
Kazakhstan not Hawaii. The Son-in-Law is from Kazakhstan and Nursultan Nazarbayev has given the Razaks an open-ended invitation, should the Daulat drop.
“Mahathir, for all his faults, has unabashedly painted Najib’s prime ministership, financial ministership and his UMNO presidency as “verging on criminal”
Right here is where the writer looses redibility as an independent analyst. If najib’s actions are “bordering on criminal” mahathir’s actions were downright criminal. There is absolutely no need for “sly” praise and support for the old fox. All the serious ills in Malaysia now can be traced back to him – these include all of Najib’s scandalous stuff.
For Malaysia, it’s not about what you can do for the country. It’s NOT about what the country can do for you. It’s all about what YOU, each of you, can do for yourself. You can rant all you want. The cruel reality remains. Najib is not the problem. He is the symptom, a by product of the problem. As long as there are enough Malay-Muslims who passively depend on the state, blindly trusting their supreme leaders, and overwhelmed with fear of the minority Chinese and Indians, the country is shackled, gagged, and going nowhere.
I agree. I partially blame Suu Kyi’s stubborn insistence on sanctions from the West (she never asked the same thing from China, not even from Singapore!) for the fact that Than Shwe was “forced” to sell off huge swathes of the country to the “clever” Chinese. Hillary, Obama and the “stupid” Americans totally misjudged Suu Kyi (because of her posh Oxford accent?). As she herself admitted, she is just another selfish politician without ideals or principles and so trying to use her as a human rights icon or as a Burmese “pivot” to contain China totally misfired. Perhaps Suu Kyi should give back the “Congressional Gold Medal” that she got from the Americans, no?
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Review of Kingdom in Crisis
I think the truth is a mix of Marshall’s and Jones’ positions plus a little more. Marshall stresses the power struggle between the king’s and the crown prince’s cronies, whereas Jones thinks its more between the king’s and Thaksin’s cronies. They are both important, and where the balance lies is not clear. The matter is complicated somewhat by possible overlaps, like the rumoured one between Thaksin’s and the crown prince’s cronies.
The other important factor in the mix is the slow and sporadic development of a constitution that minimises cronyism by concentrating political power in the hands of the people’s elected representatives, who hold office for a limited time, and who must constantly bare open public criticism.
The disastrously long lives of Bhumibol and Prem have seen the Thai state degenerate further and further into the property of a closed group of their most favoured cronies. The worst thing about them is that they are implacable enemies of the kind of constitution that would rescue the state from their clutches and make it more adequately serve the public interest.
Thailand’s human trafficking won’t stop
Only one group of people arrested for their involvement in human trafficking.
Their is another scandal about the fishing industry hopefully to break into Thailand’s limp press.
A Thai fishing company called Silver Sea Fishery co Ltd is accused of using slaves in its supply line. One large ship was spotted in an area called Dog Leg off the Indonesian coast, loading fish from trawlers suspected of involvement in the slave trade. Satelite photos appear to confirm this.
The report was in the SCMP.
Perhaps the company is to big a fish to investigate for the illegal military junta.
Perhaps the company will slap criminal charges against the authors of this article as is usual in Thailand.
Regional responses to Rohingya exclusion
2015 election is going near, we don’t need any violation with these boat people ( Not Rohingya ) and now half of our country are flooding.
Myanmar’s middle-class bulge
Well, they did arrest Chinese loggers and sentenced them to life imprisonment that raised the ire of Big Cousin. Does that remind you of Myitsone and Kokang? But not Shwe Gas or Wanbao/NORINCO.
The “illegal loggers” were jailed for the whole of eight days before including them in the most convenient amnesty.
Never you mind, the Chinese are apparently on a “public” diplomatic offensive in order to woo the Myanmese (sic)… Myanmarese… whatever.
Tourism and Myanmar’s missed opportunity
We should keep at least one vintage rail track and train near Naypyidaw as part of the attractions of the future theme park called what else Naypyidaw. Think of the tourist dollars… kerching!
Regional responses to Rohingya exclusion
ASEAN Charter is a bunch of agreements among a bunch of member nations in Asia to ignore or justify individual need.
The ‘none interference’ principle happened to be used more often then others in the charter.
#1
Instead of going the usual Sinophobic, and obviously racist approach to advocate for Kalar in Yakhine one Move on to a real problem solving approach:
1) Where is the west encouraging legislature that legislation to solve the quagmire instead of more $ to more groups that support none constructive berating.
2) ‘Understand and take good enduring notes’ of unique factors that affect this particular Yakhine situation instead of blindly blame the religions of opposing sides.
3) Instead of just using every crisis, which present “Severe monsoon” flooding is one more opportunities, to condemn the inequities, propose boldly constructive proposal such as:
a) Infrastructure improvements such as building roads that will endure the next flood. That only the west can and will.
b) Establish education centers/school that will have a short cut approach to future problems
As it is now this bout of sever flooding is about to unleash suffering among the rural populations unseen.
A chance for the west for redemption properly the past useless careless policy.
Malaysia’s refugee shame
Malaysia’s refugee shame ? What about Malaysia’s Governmental shame ?
Regional responses to Rohingya exclusion
This Rohingya mess (conundrum?) is mainly about racism (or tribalism if you want to be polite!), but at a deeper strategic level, China will always be splitting ASEAN (Philippines all alone against Chinese building these artificial Chinese islands in disputed territory?) It’s easier to bully smaller nations individually, if they are not united. China doesn’t want ASEAN to become an American “pivot” (remember SEATO?). One Belt, One Road but under Chinese hegemony. The wretched Rohingyas are just pawns (or perhaps red herrings) in this bigger context, where China is playing a giant game of “Go” against the US. Australians, who want to sell natural resources to China should be aware of that!
Visions of Myanmar, old and new
Here you can find the 227 precepts for Theravada buddhist monks: http://en.dhammadana.org/sangha/vinaya/227.htm
They are not allowed to touch money, for example. Maybe that’s why they use smart phones nowadays. To do business transactions with Apple Pay?
Visions of Myanmar, old and new
Re: the monk with a smartphone. Doubtless, a peculiar sight but monks wielding modern tech is not all too a novel occurrence. Before smart phones, some monks had cell phones, some laptops. The availability of smart phones in Burma, esp cities, really does affirm fast spread of select modernization. But an interesting social note to consider is that within the umbrella of Theravada Buddhism, there are many schools in Burma. Some schools consider monks wielding modern tech to be violations of the monastic way of life. There are also common folks, likewise, who are members of these “stricter” schools. It will be very intriguing to see how monasticism and modernity will negotiate in the coming years.
Great photos! Very interesting perspectives.
Visions of Myanmar, old and new
Awesome review!
Bye the way, Myanmar flood info ;
The UN also said : there was “extensive damage” to camps housing 100,000 in Rakhine state, the city of Kalay, with 400,000 people, is accessible only by air, at least 100 houses were destroyed by landslides in Chin state, Haka town in Chin state, with a population of 40,000, is inaccessible by road due to landslides.
Gender and Myanmar’s Kachin conflict
Ms J Hedr├┤m
The citizenry of Kachin as well as Bamar are mere instruments/pawns of their various leaders. Especially so with the minority Kachin.
As with every down turn women and children suffered (the weakest) the most, won’t it make sense to end conflict by promoting dialogue.
The ethnic conflicts within Myanmar has been ongoing partly due to the west policy of Laiser fair and useless careless sanctions since 1962.
Is it it about time someone from the west initiate some resolutions that only the west can offer as a redemption to all Myanmar citizenry.
Myanmar’s middle-class bulge
Burma’s natural environment and ecology is seriously damaged by illegal logging, indiscriminate mining and improper damming of rivers, but the Burmese government is too scared of China that they don’t dare to arrest Chinese loggers, miners and smugglers.
It’s not “rocket science” why Burmese people do not even have access to clean water. Even Chelsea Clinton knows that and she tried to help. Suu Kyi should be discussing environmental and health issues with Chelsea’s mom Hillary (or for that matter with Angelina Jolie, who is in Burma right now) instead of going on pilgrimages to China and trying so hard to become President.
Breaking the mould: Singapore elections 2015
The PAP will still retain power. The main reason this time is that the other parties are too disorganised to collective form government.
Political implications of Thailand’s royal succession
Excellent analysis marred by the typical ommission in so much current excellence analysis of Thai politics : I.e. that the current situation is NOT ONLY about Succession – it is also about Secession. Eg. this article makes NO mention of the HUGE cost to the Thai State of the current Patani war.
Myanmar’s middle-class bulge
As for the immediate present “Cholera and other water sanitation related diseases” loom large.
Malaysia’s deadly connection
Kazakhstan not Hawaii. The Son-in-Law is from Kazakhstan and Nursultan Nazarbayev has given the Razaks an open-ended invitation, should the Daulat drop.
Malaysia is cracking up and cracking down
“Mahathir, for all his faults, has unabashedly painted Najib’s prime ministership, financial ministership and his UMNO presidency as “verging on criminal”
Right here is where the writer looses redibility as an independent analyst. If najib’s actions are “bordering on criminal” mahathir’s actions were downright criminal. There is absolutely no need for “sly” praise and support for the old fox. All the serious ills in Malaysia now can be traced back to him – these include all of Najib’s scandalous stuff.
Malaysia is cracking up and cracking down
For Malaysia, it’s not about what you can do for the country. It’s NOT about what the country can do for you. It’s all about what YOU, each of you, can do for yourself. You can rant all you want. The cruel reality remains. Najib is not the problem. He is the symptom, a by product of the problem. As long as there are enough Malay-Muslims who passively depend on the state, blindly trusting their supreme leaders, and overwhelmed with fear of the minority Chinese and Indians, the country is shackled, gagged, and going nowhere.
Myanmar’s middle-class bulge
I agree. I partially blame Suu Kyi’s stubborn insistence on sanctions from the West (she never asked the same thing from China, not even from Singapore!) for the fact that Than Shwe was “forced” to sell off huge swathes of the country to the “clever” Chinese. Hillary, Obama and the “stupid” Americans totally misjudged Suu Kyi (because of her posh Oxford accent?). As she herself admitted, she is just another selfish politician without ideals or principles and so trying to use her as a human rights icon or as a Burmese “pivot” to contain China totally misfired. Perhaps Suu Kyi should give back the “Congressional Gold Medal” that she got from the Americans, no?