I am one of those “fortunate” enough to have a CPM rifle stuck in my face. Enough historical revisionism for the trendy set who weren’t even born before 1970. No, I do not romanticise LKY, but Ong is completely correct. This repugnant and amateurish attempt at rehabilitating a war criminal, by graduate students, ‘artistes’ and tenure-ambitious faculty is beyond nauseating. You weren’t even alive then; you did not see all the innocent people killed by Chin Peng, who’s only loyalty was to himself, and even barely to Mao Zedong. Later his own fashionable self-revisionism as a later-day Chinese Che Guevara would be amusing if he wasn’t all covered in blood. So you think a Communist government in Malaya would have been good eh ? Ask the Lao, ask Cambodians, even ask the Indonesians. And for all those who, rightly, complain about discrimination and intolerance towards non-Malays today, are you so utterly stupid to think Chin Peng would have ushered in a multicultural worker’s paradise ? If you do, better find a very big couch.
I fail to see the value in continuing to write things like “government agencies that are purportedly politically neutral”.
Everyone involved knows there is no such thing as “neutrality” anywhere in the political or legal realms in Thailand, and to coyly “suggest” this as if it were some sort of subtle criticism to do so is disingenuous at best.
When do Thai politicians, academics and political commentators stop with the shadow puppets and start casting a little light on what is what in Thailand?
There is zero chance of any form of real democracy taking root in Thailand without the political classes and their adjuncts in the media and academe going through at least one short phase of telling the truth: to themselves, to power, and to the Thai people whom they continually insult with their obvious nonsense.
The NACC doesn’t “substantiate” its charges of corruption for the same reasons the tribunal set up to charge Thaksin with corruption couldn’t come up with anything more substantial than the land deal.
And it isn’t because neither Yingluck nor Thaksin are or were innocent; it is because any substantial investigation would inevitably spread out to involve such an array of untouchables, likely including cousins of the investigators themselves, as well as elements of the top brass in the RTA and so many “good people” that it would make Buddha’s head spin to see it. So, fat chance of that happening under the present conditions of agreed-upon prevarication from all sides.
Constitutional legalities in Thailand are like a game of Snakes and Ladders (especially snakes): when one approach to “getting someone” or “gaining something” doesn’t appear to be popular, just slide over to another and another until eventually so much mud has been slung and so many vacuous words flung into the ether that anything will do and people will shrug and accept it. And everyone knows the outcome was fixed before the process began.
It is not worthy of a “constitutional scholar” to pretend that anything else is the case in such cases.
The ILLEGAL military junta must be punished severely for its actions in stealing power from the people. ALL pretence politicians working tirelessly for the illegal military junta must face imprisonment for their crimes.
The farce of impeachment by kangaroos is a massive joke to the international community.
Perhaps its time to get the Australians involved in a cull of kangaroos in Thailand.
Nicely done movie review Sandeep but did your friendship with the filmmaker of this film Tan Pin Pin romanticize the show a little too much?
When it came to this “they are men and women who were castigated, hunted and eventually ostracized for being outliers to the fledgling PAP government’s vision of a dissent-free Singapore” I nearly fell off my chair
If you bother to read up on these individuals, it would be quite a fairy tale to say that they were hunted and ostracized for dissent. But I have got to admit, their emotions and tears were heart wrenching to watch.
But fact is they were not. Take for example Ang Swee Chai, she was never kicked out of Singapore.
Rather she went into self-imposed exile with her husband. She came back to Singapore to lay her husband’s ashes and even gave a talk at the university but she did not want to stay when she could.
You also said “whether these octogenarians living in Thailand are committed life-long communists is a moot issue today.” I think this line will probably fly with the youths of today but tell this to the other still breathing octogenarians, i reckon they will be pissed as hell since the communists were the ones giving them living hell back in the day.
Well CPM leader Chin Peng wasn’t called the Butcher of Malaya for no reason. He did cause the deaths of thousands of innocent civilians and security troops. So yes it does matter for some still and it is flippant to just dismiss it as a moot issue. It was only in 1989 that Chin Peng finally signed a peace agreement. I guess when the Berlin wall fell, it was a signal to Chin Peng that the communist ideology he lived by was thoroughly bankrupt.
Sandeep should know better. Even till today Chin Peng ashes are not allowed back to Malaysia so maybe he should take up the cudgels for Chin Peng before trying to make a name for himself here in Singapore through social media.
Since Sandeep is from the film industry, he should probably organise a private screening if Tan Pin Pin agrees to it. There is afterall nothing stopping him from doing so or even sharing the full script of the film.
Given the recent military coup, and no timeline for getting back on track to a non-dictatorial political system, it is preposterous to assume there would be any chance of the rule of law.
If there’s occasionally anything resembling the rule of law under the junta, it is purely pretense when convenient, to be discarded (just like the constitution itself) when not.
Impeach – Charge (a public official) with an offence or misdemeanour committed while in office Eg:”The President was impeached”
The whole deal is a farce. Yingluck is already over-thrown by the coup. No longer the Prime Minister, how is the trial an “Impeachment”?
They (the Military, democrat?, yellow shirts) could have tried to bring an impeachment proceeding against her “while she is in office” BUT NO – that would not work, a coup followed by a farcical trial works better for their version of Thainess.
“British records in the 1950s often spoke positively about the communist threat..”
Is that Korean humor or the result of too much Korean rice wine with dinner ? Calling your communist adversary a “formidable threat” is NOT a positive commentary; nowhere and at no time, did any British soldier, officer or resident in Malaya or Singapore, speak “positively” of communism or of the CPM. That would be rather funny, had not so many died from such “positivism”.
All of this from the vantage point of a secondary university in South Korea. I wonder if Mr Loh is prepared to reiterate such beliefs in Singapore and provide the direct quotes (and source) of British officials or whatever speaking “positively” about communism. I think you are confusing Templeton or Clifford with
Kim Philby.
Khun Khemthong is quite correct in his assessment of the current state of Thailand. The NACC is hopelessly biased and the Constitution Courts interpretations of the Constitution itself quite bizarre. The latter’s ruling that proposing legislation to make the Senate fully representative contravened S 108 in that it sought to overthrow the constitution with the Monarch as head of state, is farcical.
Khun Khemthong rightly asserts that there really is no rule of law in Thailand, only politically fuelled witch hunts inspired by a win at all costs mentality. There will be a reckoning and an eventual showdown which will go way beyond Thaksin. All eyes on the economy because if that tanks no amount of preaching the 12 values will save the junta.
Aside from there being no team from non-existent ‘Palestine’, one can only hope the Aussies succeed. Having been through the tragedies of the loss of Phil Hughes to a freak accident at bat, and the loss of life and innocence, at the hands of a crazed Iranian Shi’ite turned Sunni Salafist, I think Oz could do with some good news.
[…] At the forum, Professor Emmerson discussed at some length the limitations and vulnerabilities of Indonesia, including the rise of counter-democratic forces, and the economic slowdown. Lest anyone thinks I have ignored these, Chapter 6 of Indonesia Matters discusses several key challenges to Indonesia’s regional and international role. These include: (1) poor quality and uncertain durability of Indonesian democracy, (2) risks of middle income trap for a resource dependent economy, (3) the continuing problems of internal stability, (4) the danger posed by intensified US-China competition which calls into question the previous government’s “dynamic equilibrium” and “million friends, zero enemies” slogans, and (5) inadequate foreign policy capacity and the uncertain impact of leadership transition on foreign policy. (For a summary, see: Amitav Acharya, “From Yudhoyono to Jokowi: Can Indonesia Keep Rising?”http://www.newmandala.org/2014/10/27/from-yudhoyono-to-jokowi-can-indonesia-keep-risi…) […]
Note how Poh deny treating communist but did not deny selling medicine to the communists. It is known that from 1974 to 1976, Poh sold medicine to Wong Kui Inn, another communist, not once but 3 times. Wong told Poh that the medicine was for the communist liberation army in Malaysia who was then fighting a war with the Malaysian government. Poh even taught Wong how to administer the medicine.
[…] could follow-up on the concessions that Hendropriyono made to me. Hendro said that he was willing to stand trial for Talangsari, for Munir, for Timor […]
I think the last paragraphs is where Dr Poh kind of tells us where this recent historical debate is going. He is most concern in urging for a change in the present, minister salaries, freedom of speech etc.
Dr Poh should run for elections or throw in his support with the SDP who has featured him prominently over the last years.
for someone keen on south east asian history, if you look hard enough on the internet, you will find plenty of hidden golden nuggets lying around.
dr poh may firmly believe that lim chin siong was not a communist but did you know that in 1962, lee kuan yew publicly challenged lim chin siong to sue him in court for libel and forgery if he had nothing to hide and was not a communist member. despite lim’s repeated denial of being communist, he did not sue lee kuan yew.
perhaps this is telling of the potential can of worms that would be shed on himself if it ever went to the court of law?
that is why for ever person saying A, there will be another person claiming B. So read all these “historical” claims just for fun and treat it with a pinch of salt. everyone has their own ego to stroke, be it lee or poh, they are both the same.
I think that as much as the Quran is a relevation from God, the pope is the representative of God on earth. Thus, even Muslims should accept papal infallibility!
A bare, village is about 45″ walk from world class beach resort of Ngapali. Yet one can not help noticed the disparity b/t those 2 places. One rural, regarded as a well off village the other modern/urban with everything affordable to mostly caucasian tourists, mainly due to access to modern infrastructure.
To reach A Bare one can walk on dry mud elevated tracks or in the already harvested field during the dry season but only by fishing boat during the monsoon months to the nearest city next to Ngapali.
The chief of the village is glad that the village now has extended hours, previously 2 now 6 hours of electricity therefor he can play his portable DVD (not TV mind you) player longer. He is married to a Diabetic wife and the daughter has just survived mumps. She appear to be well nourished due to the post mumps round face, common among almost every kids in the village. His brother is an alcoholic due to the constant pain secondarily to thoracic scoliosis, that I have only sen in old medical book b/f I was born circa 1956.
I can go on more about his extended family members yet the only difference b/t his family and extended ones are access to essential modernity, Road and Healthcare.
If the author realize that much (1/2) of the population is still inaccessible during the rainy months she will realize the true change will need longer time and much more help.
Vietnam was able to pick up and move along after the war because of the infrastructure US in inadvertently left behind, the road and super highways that US built for the war effort.
Myanmar has only one super Highway or the resemblance of one. Not until infrastructure that will take decades to build catch up to improve the 2/3 rural population true change will come about.
For now the author should try and see how the 2/3 of population in the rural area need instead of being just a visitor to Ngapali..
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Review: To Singapore, with Love
I am one of those “fortunate” enough to have a CPM rifle stuck in my face. Enough historical revisionism for the trendy set who weren’t even born before 1970. No, I do not romanticise LKY, but Ong is completely correct. This repugnant and amateurish attempt at rehabilitating a war criminal, by graduate students, ‘artistes’ and tenure-ambitious faculty is beyond nauseating. You weren’t even alive then; you did not see all the innocent people killed by Chin Peng, who’s only loyalty was to himself, and even barely to Mao Zedong. Later his own fashionable self-revisionism as a later-day Chinese Che Guevara would be amusing if he wasn’t all covered in blood. So you think a Communist government in Malaya would have been good eh ? Ask the Lao, ask Cambodians, even ask the Indonesians. And for all those who, rightly, complain about discrimination and intolerance towards non-Malays today, are you so utterly stupid to think Chin Peng would have ushered in a multicultural worker’s paradise ? If you do, better find a very big couch.
Impeaching Yingluck Shinawatra
I fail to see the value in continuing to write things like “government agencies that are purportedly politically neutral”.
Everyone involved knows there is no such thing as “neutrality” anywhere in the political or legal realms in Thailand, and to coyly “suggest” this as if it were some sort of subtle criticism to do so is disingenuous at best.
When do Thai politicians, academics and political commentators stop with the shadow puppets and start casting a little light on what is what in Thailand?
There is zero chance of any form of real democracy taking root in Thailand without the political classes and their adjuncts in the media and academe going through at least one short phase of telling the truth: to themselves, to power, and to the Thai people whom they continually insult with their obvious nonsense.
The NACC doesn’t “substantiate” its charges of corruption for the same reasons the tribunal set up to charge Thaksin with corruption couldn’t come up with anything more substantial than the land deal.
And it isn’t because neither Yingluck nor Thaksin are or were innocent; it is because any substantial investigation would inevitably spread out to involve such an array of untouchables, likely including cousins of the investigators themselves, as well as elements of the top brass in the RTA and so many “good people” that it would make Buddha’s head spin to see it. So, fat chance of that happening under the present conditions of agreed-upon prevarication from all sides.
Constitutional legalities in Thailand are like a game of Snakes and Ladders (especially snakes): when one approach to “getting someone” or “gaining something” doesn’t appear to be popular, just slide over to another and another until eventually so much mud has been slung and so many vacuous words flung into the ether that anything will do and people will shrug and accept it. And everyone knows the outcome was fixed before the process began.
It is not worthy of a “constitutional scholar” to pretend that anything else is the case in such cases.
Impeaching Yingluck Shinawatra
The ILLEGAL military junta must be punished severely for its actions in stealing power from the people. ALL pretence politicians working tirelessly for the illegal military junta must face imprisonment for their crimes.
The farce of impeachment by kangaroos is a massive joke to the international community.
Perhaps its time to get the Australians involved in a cull of kangaroos in Thailand.
What’s left unspoken
Don’t just Burmese it. All Asians do. Koreans, Japanese, Chinese. And not just “upper-class”.
Review: To Singapore, with Love
Nicely done movie review Sandeep but did your friendship with the filmmaker of this film Tan Pin Pin romanticize the show a little too much?
When it came to this “they are men and women who were castigated, hunted and eventually ostracized for being outliers to the fledgling PAP government’s vision of a dissent-free Singapore” I nearly fell off my chair
If you bother to read up on these individuals, it would be quite a fairy tale to say that they were hunted and ostracized for dissent. But I have got to admit, their emotions and tears were heart wrenching to watch.
But fact is they were not. Take for example Ang Swee Chai, she was never kicked out of Singapore.
Rather she went into self-imposed exile with her husband. She came back to Singapore to lay her husband’s ashes and even gave a talk at the university but she did not want to stay when she could.
You also said “whether these octogenarians living in Thailand are committed life-long communists is a moot issue today.” I think this line will probably fly with the youths of today but tell this to the other still breathing octogenarians, i reckon they will be pissed as hell since the communists were the ones giving them living hell back in the day.
Well CPM leader Chin Peng wasn’t called the Butcher of Malaya for no reason. He did cause the deaths of thousands of innocent civilians and security troops. So yes it does matter for some still and it is flippant to just dismiss it as a moot issue. It was only in 1989 that Chin Peng finally signed a peace agreement. I guess when the Berlin wall fell, it was a signal to Chin Peng that the communist ideology he lived by was thoroughly bankrupt.
Sandeep should know better. Even till today Chin Peng ashes are not allowed back to Malaysia so maybe he should take up the cudgels for Chin Peng before trying to make a name for himself here in Singapore through social media.
Since Sandeep is from the film industry, he should probably organise a private screening if Tan Pin Pin agrees to it. There is afterall nothing stopping him from doing so or even sharing the full script of the film.
Impeaching Yingluck Shinawatra
Given the recent military coup, and no timeline for getting back on track to a non-dictatorial political system, it is preposterous to assume there would be any chance of the rule of law.
If there’s occasionally anything resembling the rule of law under the junta, it is purely pretense when convenient, to be discarded (just like the constitution itself) when not.
Impeaching Yingluck Shinawatra
Impeach – Charge (a public official) with an offence or misdemeanour committed while in office Eg:”The President was impeached”
The whole deal is a farce. Yingluck is already over-thrown by the coup. No longer the Prime Minister, how is the trial an “Impeachment”?
They (the Military, democrat?, yellow shirts) could have tried to bring an impeachment proceeding against her “while she is in office” BUT NO – that would not work, a coup followed by a farcical trial works better for their version of Thainess.
An annotated bibliography of Operation Coldstore
“British records in the 1950s often spoke positively about the communist threat..”
Is that Korean humor or the result of too much Korean rice wine with dinner ? Calling your communist adversary a “formidable threat” is NOT a positive commentary; nowhere and at no time, did any British soldier, officer or resident in Malaya or Singapore, speak “positively” of communism or of the CPM. That would be rather funny, had not so many died from such “positivism”.
All of this from the vantage point of a secondary university in South Korea. I wonder if Mr Loh is prepared to reiterate such beliefs in Singapore and provide the direct quotes (and source) of British officials or whatever speaking “positively” about communism. I think you are confusing Templeton or Clifford with
Kim Philby.
Impeaching Yingluck Shinawatra
Khun Khemthong is quite correct in his assessment of the current state of Thailand. The NACC is hopelessly biased and the Constitution Courts interpretations of the Constitution itself quite bizarre. The latter’s ruling that proposing legislation to make the Senate fully representative contravened S 108 in that it sought to overthrow the constitution with the Monarch as head of state, is farcical.
Khun Khemthong rightly asserts that there really is no rule of law in Thailand, only politically fuelled witch hunts inspired by a win at all costs mentality. There will be a reckoning and an eventual showdown which will go way beyond Thaksin. All eyes on the economy because if that tanks no amount of preaching the 12 values will save the junta.
Will Australia’s cup runneth over in Asia?
Aside from there being no team from non-existent ‘Palestine’, one can only hope the Aussies succeed. Having been through the tragedies of the loss of Phil Hughes to a freak accident at bat, and the loss of life and innocence, at the hands of a crazed Iranian Shi’ite turned Sunni Salafist, I think Oz could do with some good news.
From Yudhoyono to Jokowi: Can Indonesia keep rising?
[…] At the forum, Professor Emmerson discussed at some length the limitations and vulnerabilities of Indonesia, including the rise of counter-democratic forces, and the economic slowdown. Lest anyone thinks I have ignored these, Chapter 6 of Indonesia Matters discusses several key challenges to Indonesia’s regional and international role. These include: (1) poor quality and uncertain durability of Indonesian democracy, (2) risks of middle income trap for a resource dependent economy, (3) the continuing problems of internal stability, (4) the danger posed by intensified US-China competition which calls into question the previous government’s “dynamic equilibrium” and “million friends, zero enemies” slogans, and (5) inadequate foreign policy capacity and the uncertain impact of leadership transition on foreign policy. (For a summary, see: Amitav Acharya, “From Yudhoyono to Jokowi: Can Indonesia Keep Rising?”http://www.newmandala.org/2014/10/27/from-yudhoyono-to-jokowi-can-indonesia-keep-risi…) […]
Singapore’s “Battle for Merger” revisited – Part II
Note how Poh deny treating communist but did not deny selling medicine to the communists. It is known that from 1974 to 1976, Poh sold medicine to Wong Kui Inn, another communist, not once but 3 times. Wong told Poh that the medicine was for the communist liberation army in Malaysia who was then fighting a war with the Malaysian government. Poh even taught Wong how to administer the medicine.
http://thelastlibertybroadcast.blogspot.sg/2015/01/former-detainee-i-bought-medicine-from.html
What’s left unspoken
Are “upper-class” Burmese still crazy about skin-whitening creams? Why are they so obsessed about skin colour and other racial characteristics?
Wither Human Rights?
[…] could follow-up on the concessions that Hendropriyono made to me. Hendro said that he was willing to stand trial for Talangsari, for Munir, for Timor […]
Singapore’s “Battle for Merger” revisited – Part II
I think the last paragraphs is where Dr Poh kind of tells us where this recent historical debate is going. He is most concern in urging for a change in the present, minister salaries, freedom of speech etc.
Dr Poh should run for elections or throw in his support with the SDP who has featured him prominently over the last years.
Singapore’s “Battle for Merger” revisited – Part II
for someone keen on south east asian history, if you look hard enough on the internet, you will find plenty of hidden golden nuggets lying around.
dr poh may firmly believe that lim chin siong was not a communist but did you know that in 1962, lee kuan yew publicly challenged lim chin siong to sue him in court for libel and forgery if he had nothing to hide and was not a communist member. despite lim’s repeated denial of being communist, he did not sue lee kuan yew.
perhaps this is telling of the potential can of worms that would be shed on himself if it ever went to the court of law?
that is why for ever person saying A, there will be another person claiming B. So read all these “historical” claims just for fun and treat it with a pinch of salt. everyone has their own ego to stroke, be it lee or poh, they are both the same.
A rage against history
I think that as much as the Quran is a relevation from God, the pope is the representative of God on earth. Thus, even Muslims should accept papal infallibility!
A rage against history
You point exactly at the difference between the two faith’s. The one opened up to study based on reason, while the other did not.
What’s left unspoken
cheap chinese solar panels for example that you can now find on every street corner.
What’s left unspoken
A bare, village is about 45″ walk from world class beach resort of Ngapali. Yet one can not help noticed the disparity b/t those 2 places. One rural, regarded as a well off village the other modern/urban with everything affordable to mostly caucasian tourists, mainly due to access to modern infrastructure.
To reach A Bare one can walk on dry mud elevated tracks or in the already harvested field during the dry season but only by fishing boat during the monsoon months to the nearest city next to Ngapali.
The chief of the village is glad that the village now has extended hours, previously 2 now 6 hours of electricity therefor he can play his portable DVD (not TV mind you) player longer. He is married to a Diabetic wife and the daughter has just survived mumps. She appear to be well nourished due to the post mumps round face, common among almost every kids in the village. His brother is an alcoholic due to the constant pain secondarily to thoracic scoliosis, that I have only sen in old medical book b/f I was born circa 1956.
I can go on more about his extended family members yet the only difference b/t his family and extended ones are access to essential modernity, Road and Healthcare.
If the author realize that much (1/2) of the population is still inaccessible during the rainy months she will realize the true change will need longer time and much more help.
Vietnam was able to pick up and move along after the war because of the infrastructure US in inadvertently left behind, the road and super highways that US built for the war effort.
Myanmar has only one super Highway or the resemblance of one. Not until infrastructure that will take decades to build catch up to improve the 2/3 rural population true change will come about.
For now the author should try and see how the 2/3 of population in the rural area need instead of being just a visitor to Ngapali..