Regarding the subject of inclusiveness on the part of Field Marshall Prayuth in his appointments – cabinet and NLA. He has to be practical. After all, there are no guarantees as to how long the trough will be available to the brass, and they need to get their retirement villas, and their furnishings, off-shore accounts, etc. in order. What does it matter that these folks have no idea how to run a government, as they will have completed their looting activities before the chickens come home to roost.
For a particular type of narrow, barred shut mindset, the assassination of the red general Seh daeng in front of the news cameras by the very same adversaries the reds are facing today doesn’t constitute proof of anything at all.
Naturally the merciless shooting of many unarmed red shirt protesters who were cringing in fear in broad daylight at a temple in Bangkok by the very same adversaries the reds face today is totally irrelevant and can not be seen as proof of anything.
When Brother Suthep publicly brags that he conspired with the military for years to (again) topple a democratically elected government and give us the current dictatorship, this absolutely does not amount to proof of the orchestrated and planned power grab we are witnessing.
Im sure in Our dear Lerms mind barred shut ‘good persons’ text book interpretation, it was all Thaksin killing and beating his own supporters for fun and Kamnan Thep was just momentarily confused when he confessed his treasonous crimes against the nation.
Oh, and lets not forget that in Lerms world, Khun Kritsuda is a disgraceful liar because she could not convince her torturers to equip her with documentary evidence of her torture prior to her release. Shame on her, how dare she speak up using just her experiences of torture.
Its also totally her fault that the military refuses to transparently investigate these most serious claims, despite demands from the UN and governments around the world who also give her claims credibility simply because the Thai Junta has no credibility what so ever.
Yes in the world of Lerm and others who love a good old fashioned oppressive dictatorship, the only proof that counts is who holds the machine guns and who’s ducking for cover. All other evidence is summarily written off as “Spurious” and “proves nothing” Right Lerm?
Sadly, your mind appears to be barred shut Lerm and nothing will ever amount to sufficient proof for you. Why not migrate yourself to a site where others with closed minds like to worship disgusting and oppressive dictatorships. I’m sure you’ll find some vocal feel good support in places like North Korea, Zimbabwe even China. Enjoy!
Addendum: Typo: … Gen. ‘Pay-You to Acquiesce’. @ Sattahibo … too bad you won’t see the spoils of this (will be) mitigated corruption. Some concepts expressed here such as yourself actually died (tried and tested) hundreds of years ago. People together care about a nation (community). Dynasties and their protective military-elite care about self-preservation.
@ Sattahibo … How is it that your studies and lateral thinking does not teach you that Gen. ‘Pa-You’ is not only a crony himself but now a person who has hand-picked his own cronies to try to control a nation that has never been a nation. Meaning: Thailand currently is still an extension (colony) of the Chakri dynasty and the Bangkok Sino-Thai elite. ASEAN hopes to have 10 nations – thoughtfully balanced in Politics, Economics and Cultural Diversity. In your opinion, when will “Thailand” become such a nation? (The question is not rhetorical).
All Jaidee, Neptunian and Jim Taylor have to do give me the video clips websites about their claims of ‘routine torture’, ‘rampant disappeareds’ and ‘inhumane treatment’ and ‘terrorizing’ of Thai citizens during this recent Thai coup.
Neptunian even goes to say of “A mass killing of an entire village in full view of several international news group may not be “proof” enough”. Give me the video clip Neptunian … if it exists.
Thai military ‘atrocities’, if it indeed happened, should receive as much publicity and condemnation in the media … and punishment meted out promptly to the perpetrators.
Again I must ask … if such horrors truly happened during General Prayuth’s short coup rule, why are there no screams of protests from Peau Thai Party and Red Shirts leaders?????
Thus the spurious say-sos of Jim Taylor, Jaidee and Neptunian still draw my disbelief and suspicions … until they show me proofs.
So Lerm, video footage of soldiers illegally handcuffing and beating people in the street with gun butts “proves nothing” regarding their willingness to overstep the boundaries of the law and human rights?…. Wow!…… Interesting logic.
So what sort of evidence would be meaningful for you Lerm? Do you require Video footage accompanied with detailed signed confessions and a full cancellation of the military’s disgracefully hypocritical blanket amnesty so that justice can be served?
Unfortunately in the real world Lerm, violent law breaking dictators don’t make it so easy for the regular people to achieve justice, but never mind, feel free to stay in your cosy bubble where all evidence is completely meaningless unless it gets the magic tick of ‘Lerm Approval’.
In case you’re not aware Lerm, Thailand’s generals and their network of supporters are seen as being amongst the lowest class of leaders possible throughout most of the world.
The international community and Thailand has seen their type so many, many times before and is sick to death of their greedy selfish, oppressive power games. That’s why many of these self imposed NCPO leaders have now been banned from even setting foot in various countries, such is the sour level of their reputation and the level of shame they have brought to their homeland.
The widespread disgust and condemnation which clearly frustrates you Lerm will only increase as long as these thugs stay in power. Get used to it.
Maybe lerm can ask his / her cousin, if he has been brutalising the citizenry. Just saying. A mass killing of an entire village in full view of several international news group may not be “proof” enough. So, what say you M(?) lerm – ask your cousin.
Until I get proof — references to youtubes Jaidee claimed to have seen where Gen. Prayuth’s military are torturing, abusing and inhumanely treating Thai citizens … then I will continue to treat Jaidee’s/Jim Taylor rants as ‘vapors’. Are there men in fatigues who get drunk and get abusive — most definitely there are … but that proves nothing.
I still maintain that if the Thai coupists are terrorizing, torturing, abusing, or inhumanely treating the Thais, of whatever color persuasion, their leaders should scream and protests to protect ahd defend their followers.
If the Peau Thai party leaders and the Red Shirt leaders are NOT making any noise … then such allegations of rampant torture, or disappeareds, or inhumane treatment hold no truths whatsover.
Now these are the very words most useful to con the desperate people around the world along with those words mentioned in the comments above “middle class”.
Funny thing is people saying these words seem to believe in them even though one will never know. One can always look around the publications of various organizations and see who are the ones trying to use the words to entice their own respective audience, sincere or not.
The word “Democracy” immediately promises any insecure poor soul with hope and indeed lively expectation of decision making power. So much so that one cannot either see obvious disparities abound in the societies that comes with that even though the opposite would be expected or find various excuses for it. One can easily forget daily grinds and life getting tougher every day. One must be deeply doped to vouch that either that beacon of freedom Untied States of America or for that matter, Australia has such representative government that people are enjoying the fruits of “Democracy”. For people of Burma not having one of those is definitely not a loss. Destructive party politics influenced by funders (who are unknown) being drummed up and literally conducted by the advertising agencies and the “Media” owned by a few.
As far as the military is concerned , it is not a separate entity as someone noted above but is part of the strategy of financial interest. (If required, read John Perkins) Why did sons and daughters of destitute (and few not so destitute) Americans go to Iraq and die there? and Australia now hosts the same crowd? Please, please, please do not say “For Democracy”.
For pragmatic purpose, Burmese military is well battle tried, well organised, disciplined and ruthless killing machine any one would like to own.
Thai’s have thus far been useful but now every citizen in Burma desperate to be identified themselves with “Pyithu Hlut Taw” a con house of military’s invention and ownership and the power holders being all military or associated people and with high admiration for anything American, it must be so tempting to get in bed abandoning always fractious and not that battle tested Thai’s. There is also ease of control of China’s now open access to the Indian ocean.
The only deterrents seem to be not knowing how much the Chinese are prepared to wager and unreadable Than Shwe. Of course the only consistent feature of Burmese military since Aung San’s time has been treachery which they have perfected to an art form.
To understand what the Junta means by “impartiality, fairness justice” etc one simply needs to apply the “ying yang” formula to their public statements.
If NCPO announces the goal is impartiality they definitely mean partiality, Respect for human rights means total disrespect, This simple formula works with surprising accuracy across the spectrum.
I hope the State Department has better qualified “experts” dealing with countries like Burma, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia (although I sometimes doubt that!). Otherwise the US has no chance in “containing” Chinese hegemony over these countries. “Pivoting” has to be done at different levels and along a multidimensional fronts. Obama (like Suu Kyi) talks too much without any decisive action to back it up. Walk the walk, young man! American politics is basically controlled by WalStreet and WalMart and in fact I blame the faulty US foreign policy over the last 40 or so years for China’s “rise”.
Incidentally, there must be thousands of US citizens who can read and speak both Burmese and English fluently.
In the article I never claim to be an expert on the internal machinations of Burmese politics. I explicitly approached the issue from the perspective of US strategy in the region, which is what my research is mainly focused on in the first place. Whether I speak the language or not is a moot point because I am examining how the US perceives the changes that are occurring in the country, not what those changes might entail on the domestic level.
As for the comparison with Thailand, you’re again confusing the issue of what’s happening on the ground with how the US is reacting to it. Whatever the future may hold, at present the US has already strongly condemned the military government and blocked significant levels of military assistance. This is evidently a sign of the US reconsidering its defence relationship with Thailand.
It’s also hardly ‘intellectually sloppy’ not to comment on the durability of the military government in the country given the uncertainty of the situation. At this stage it is still unclear what the interim government’s long-term strategy might be and of course the direction the military rulers end up taking will have a significant impact on the US’s policy. What implications this might have for future US-Thai military cooperation is anyone’s guess.
Talking about the article itself, of course the oft-used word “pragmatism” pragmatically means one’s desire to screw everything as in “End justify the means” Mechiavallian way and still cowardly and shamelessly claims to be in the good guy camp.
At the beginning when Aung San Suuu Kyi, following that 18th August 2011 “Family” dinner with Thamada Gyi and his missus, came out singing “Gon-daw Ko bar” of the said “Thamada Gyi”, Ronald Watson wrote that the only strength of her was her principals and if she dropped that there would be nothing to hold on. Alas, he was proved wrong. The Burmese public evidently simply want to have someone who has multitudinous foreign supports and won those famous awards and see her still as a separate- and even balancing- entity from the “Thein Sein Circus” in spite of on-going Latpadaung incident clearly demonstrating that their interests are indeed identical- Aung San Suu Kyi on behalf of the multinational marauding ruthless predatory companies, and Thei Sein fronted military on behalf of the multinational marauding ruthless predatory companies.
But the essence of the article is right. Of course it would be immensely more desirable to get Aung San Suu Kyi’s as President to ractify all sorts of laws and regulations to gurantee to multiply all the “FDI” and fascilitate the loot of the country (called development) and drive poeple from their low-yielding traditional farming and farmlands (Burma must again become that coveted leading rice bowl of the universe, etc., etc.- of course using mechanised immense scale farming with GM crops and fartilizers) and re-deployment of them in sock-and-soap sweat shops (the ILO and plenty of usual professional goody-two shoes are already ready to help them out with wage-negotiations and strike mediations) living in shanty town (yet to be developed) full of crimes and drugs.
But as it happens current military- in clown clothes- can do exactly the same- albeit with lesser sale pitch to the share-holders of the said companies- after currently happening making deals with various armed groups regarding the cuts each gets.
Still it must be said that no one- repeat no one- regardless of thier educational or professional status has thus far shown ability to read Than Shwe correctly keeping everyone on their toes all the time. Not having Aung San Suu Kyi in that all important pen-weilding President position may mean it is a simpler task for him to declare any agreements made to or by the current or in-coming governemt null and void any time he feels by simple -so-called- military coup. Then the world at large who has loudly endorsed Then Sein govenrment and are readying to recognise anyone coming along again after 2015 as “legitimate” and binding may yet get a bloody nose like those Indian business men (actually taken in the British to loot the land together and did got filthy rich) in the 60’s.
Whichever would be the way, the losers will always be the public of Burma.
For their naivety and blind faith as well as the sin of their own greed and pride.
Elimination seems to be the name of the game, plan B. Real success in any of those so far has however contrary to your assertion eluded the ruling elite. Political will in achieving genuine national reconciliation and a durable peace is sadly non-existent, and pragmatism only so far as it serves the purpose of staying in power and further enriching themselves. Ethnic elites, at least some of them, are now invited to the trough as bottom feeders, with talks dragging on in a “peace process” that is set to beat that in the Middle East, just as the “democratisation process” has already hit the buffers.
Rather like the elimination of poverty in the global context, U Nu no exception.
The reason for this is something that eludes you as in most top down elitist solutions based on economic determinism – simply that there is no intention of minimising, let alone eliminating class based exploitation around the planet full of poor people in the 21st C, a scandal and a disgrace.
Perhaps time for you to rejoice as the West now carefully usefully continues to engage with your generals, having been wayward before through no fault of their own but because of the West “careless useless” policies according to you.
Lerm, you asked the right question, ‘Where are all the fearless red shirt leaders’. Could it be perhaps that like the rest of the non yellow population (most of Thailand) they are too fearful to publicly speak out against the men in green dictatorship?
You never know Lerm, they may be just a little bit fearful of the same treatment we can all see on Youtube where the highly dangerous men in green handcuff and beat people in the street as brutal punishment when somone asked some men in green to respect the law by not smoking at a public venue.
You asked for proof Lerm, get on youtube like millions of Thais have already so you can enjoy watching the hero men in green at work bringing happiness to the people with their fists, hand cuffs and the butts of their guns.
When I watch the army handcuffing and using their weapons to illegally beat people in the street, I can fully understand why the population in general and particularly those from persecuted political parties are indeed fearful of speaking up. Everyone knows, that staunchly speaking up against the military’s actions will get you put into a dark hidden room somewhere for up to a week with such thugs who will merrily set to work “adjusting your thinking”. No sane person wants to end up in that room Lerm.
So Lerm, I offer you visual on line evidence documenting exactly why so many people are indeed very scared to speak out against the men in green.
As the footage shows, they are clearly violent against those who dare to question them and clearly have no qualms overstepping the boundaries of the law and human rights in order to assert absolute dominance over anyone they see as an adversary.
I advance that the red politicians, are also scared of similar ‘military persuasion tactics’ that go on behind closed doors.
So I’m curious Lerm, where is your documentary evidence to disprove mine? Do you have proof that the documentary evidence I submit has been fabricated even though Prayuth acknowledges that they were his men in the clip and has ordered a probe?
Do you perhaps have proof that the men in green were just playing pretend with the others when they hand cuffed and illegally beat them in the street, causing them to be sent to hospital?
Please be sure to provide documentary evidence to back up your claims like I did Lerm And please try to resist resorting to “inane accusations, lies” or “rants” if you cant come up with any worth while evidence to disprove mine.
This “Consitution” looks like a wish-list – back to the bygone Sarit-era.
There’s nothing modern, or inclusive about it. I give it 18 months till overthrown by – yet another Thai coup.
So say the troll with machine gun in his hands. I will not sit silently by while a troll like yourself sneer at those trampled upon! Since I can’t do it with a “bombs” I shall do it with words.
I shall not rest until trolls like yourselves get sleepless nights with insults from people like me, whom you cannot arrest or beat up!
I would think anytime their followers are tortured or “were disappeareds”, or abused and treated inhumanely, those so called ‘fearless’ political leaders would raise lots of hackles and protest loudly.
What do you think Jim Taylor or Jaidee? Or were you just both making inane accusations and lies?
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Thailand’s National Legislative Assembly
Regarding the subject of inclusiveness on the part of Field Marshall Prayuth in his appointments – cabinet and NLA. He has to be practical. After all, there are no guarantees as to how long the trough will be available to the brass, and they need to get their retirement villas, and their furnishings, off-shore accounts, etc. in order. What does it matter that these folks have no idea how to run a government, as they will have completed their looting activities before the chickens come home to roost.
Open Letter Condemning the Thai Constitution
So our dear Lerm demands proof…..
For a particular type of narrow, barred shut mindset, the assassination of the red general Seh daeng in front of the news cameras by the very same adversaries the reds are facing today doesn’t constitute proof of anything at all.
Naturally the merciless shooting of many unarmed red shirt protesters who were cringing in fear in broad daylight at a temple in Bangkok by the very same adversaries the reds face today is totally irrelevant and can not be seen as proof of anything.
When Brother Suthep publicly brags that he conspired with the military for years to (again) topple a democratically elected government and give us the current dictatorship, this absolutely does not amount to proof of the orchestrated and planned power grab we are witnessing.
Im sure in Our dear Lerms mind barred shut ‘good persons’ text book interpretation, it was all Thaksin killing and beating his own supporters for fun and Kamnan Thep was just momentarily confused when he confessed his treasonous crimes against the nation.
Oh, and lets not forget that in Lerms world, Khun Kritsuda is a disgraceful liar because she could not convince her torturers to equip her with documentary evidence of her torture prior to her release. Shame on her, how dare she speak up using just her experiences of torture.
Its also totally her fault that the military refuses to transparently investigate these most serious claims, despite demands from the UN and governments around the world who also give her claims credibility simply because the Thai Junta has no credibility what so ever.
Yes in the world of Lerm and others who love a good old fashioned oppressive dictatorship, the only proof that counts is who holds the machine guns and who’s ducking for cover. All other evidence is summarily written off as “Spurious” and “proves nothing” Right Lerm?
Sadly, your mind appears to be barred shut Lerm and nothing will ever amount to sufficient proof for you. Why not migrate yourself to a site where others with closed minds like to worship disgusting and oppressive dictatorships. I’m sure you’ll find some vocal feel good support in places like North Korea, Zimbabwe even China. Enjoy!
Thailand’s National Legislative Assembly
Addendum: Typo: … Gen. ‘Pay-You to Acquiesce’. @ Sattahibo … too bad you won’t see the spoils of this (will be) mitigated corruption. Some concepts expressed here such as yourself actually died (tried and tested) hundreds of years ago. People together care about a nation (community). Dynasties and their protective military-elite care about self-preservation.
Thailand’s National Legislative Assembly
@ Sattahibo … How is it that your studies and lateral thinking does not teach you that Gen. ‘Pa-You’ is not only a crony himself but now a person who has hand-picked his own cronies to try to control a nation that has never been a nation. Meaning: Thailand currently is still an extension (colony) of the Chakri dynasty and the Bangkok Sino-Thai elite. ASEAN hopes to have 10 nations – thoughtfully balanced in Politics, Economics and Cultural Diversity. In your opinion, when will “Thailand” become such a nation? (The question is not rhetorical).
Open Letter Condemning the Thai Constitution
Could be lerm is a spokes person for the torturers? Have not seen such glee over such a serious matter since Vichai. (and I thought Vichai was bad!)
Open Letter Condemning the Thai Constitution
All Jaidee, Neptunian and Jim Taylor have to do give me the video clips websites about their claims of ‘routine torture’, ‘rampant disappeareds’ and ‘inhumane treatment’ and ‘terrorizing’ of Thai citizens during this recent Thai coup.
Neptunian even goes to say of “A mass killing of an entire village in full view of several international news group may not be “proof” enough”. Give me the video clip Neptunian … if it exists.
Thai military ‘atrocities’, if it indeed happened, should receive as much publicity and condemnation in the media … and punishment meted out promptly to the perpetrators.
Again I must ask … if such horrors truly happened during General Prayuth’s short coup rule, why are there no screams of protests from Peau Thai Party and Red Shirts leaders?????
Thus the spurious say-sos of Jim Taylor, Jaidee and Neptunian still draw my disbelief and suspicions … until they show me proofs.
Open Letter Condemning the Thai Constitution
So Lerm, video footage of soldiers illegally handcuffing and beating people in the street with gun butts “proves nothing” regarding their willingness to overstep the boundaries of the law and human rights?…. Wow!…… Interesting logic.
So what sort of evidence would be meaningful for you Lerm? Do you require Video footage accompanied with detailed signed confessions and a full cancellation of the military’s disgracefully hypocritical blanket amnesty so that justice can be served?
Unfortunately in the real world Lerm, violent law breaking dictators don’t make it so easy for the regular people to achieve justice, but never mind, feel free to stay in your cosy bubble where all evidence is completely meaningless unless it gets the magic tick of ‘Lerm Approval’.
In case you’re not aware Lerm, Thailand’s generals and their network of supporters are seen as being amongst the lowest class of leaders possible throughout most of the world.
The international community and Thailand has seen their type so many, many times before and is sick to death of their greedy selfish, oppressive power games. That’s why many of these self imposed NCPO leaders have now been banned from even setting foot in various countries, such is the sour level of their reputation and the level of shame they have brought to their homeland.
The widespread disgust and condemnation which clearly frustrates you Lerm will only increase as long as these thugs stay in power. Get used to it.
Open Letter Condemning the Thai Constitution
Maybe lerm can ask his / her cousin, if he has been brutalising the citizenry. Just saying. A mass killing of an entire village in full view of several international news group may not be “proof” enough. So, what say you M(?) lerm – ask your cousin.
Open Letter Condemning the Thai Constitution
Until I get proof — references to youtubes Jaidee claimed to have seen where Gen. Prayuth’s military are torturing, abusing and inhumanely treating Thai citizens … then I will continue to treat Jaidee’s/Jim Taylor rants as ‘vapors’. Are there men in fatigues who get drunk and get abusive — most definitely there are … but that proves nothing.
I still maintain that if the Thai coupists are terrorizing, torturing, abusing, or inhumanely treating the Thais, of whatever color persuasion, their leaders should scream and protests to protect ahd defend their followers.
If the Peau Thai party leaders and the Red Shirt leaders are NOT making any noise … then such allegations of rampant torture, or disappeareds, or inhumane treatment hold no truths whatsover.
Of pragmatism and politics
” fully functional and effective democracy”
Now these are the very words most useful to con the desperate people around the world along with those words mentioned in the comments above “middle class”.
Funny thing is people saying these words seem to believe in them even though one will never know. One can always look around the publications of various organizations and see who are the ones trying to use the words to entice their own respective audience, sincere or not.
The word “Democracy” immediately promises any insecure poor soul with hope and indeed lively expectation of decision making power. So much so that one cannot either see obvious disparities abound in the societies that comes with that even though the opposite would be expected or find various excuses for it. One can easily forget daily grinds and life getting tougher every day. One must be deeply doped to vouch that either that beacon of freedom Untied States of America or for that matter, Australia has such representative government that people are enjoying the fruits of “Democracy”. For people of Burma not having one of those is definitely not a loss. Destructive party politics influenced by funders (who are unknown) being drummed up and literally conducted by the advertising agencies and the “Media” owned by a few.
As far as the military is concerned , it is not a separate entity as someone noted above but is part of the strategy of financial interest. (If required, read John Perkins) Why did sons and daughters of destitute (and few not so destitute) Americans go to Iraq and die there? and Australia now hosts the same crowd? Please, please, please do not say “For Democracy”.
For pragmatic purpose, Burmese military is well battle tried, well organised, disciplined and ruthless killing machine any one would like to own.
Thai’s have thus far been useful but now every citizen in Burma desperate to be identified themselves with “Pyithu Hlut Taw” a con house of military’s invention and ownership and the power holders being all military or associated people and with high admiration for anything American, it must be so tempting to get in bed abandoning always fractious and not that battle tested Thai’s. There is also ease of control of China’s now open access to the Indian ocean.
The only deterrents seem to be not knowing how much the Chinese are prepared to wager and unreadable Than Shwe. Of course the only consistent feature of Burmese military since Aung San’s time has been treachery which they have perfected to an art form.
Open Letter Condemning the Thai Constitution
The Junta have put their equality and fairness credentials on display again by ensuring complete political impartiality in choosing the new colour scheme for parliament house “all the buildings on the premises have now been painted yellow” http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/430031/bureaucrats-risk-failure-scholar-says
To understand what the Junta means by “impartiality, fairness justice” etc one simply needs to apply the “ying yang” formula to their public statements.
If NCPO announces the goal is impartiality they definitely mean partiality, Respect for human rights means total disrespect, This simple formula works with surprising accuracy across the spectrum.
Of pragmatism and politics
I hope the State Department has better qualified “experts” dealing with countries like Burma, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia (although I sometimes doubt that!). Otherwise the US has no chance in “containing” Chinese hegemony over these countries. “Pivoting” has to be done at different levels and along a multidimensional fronts. Obama (like Suu Kyi) talks too much without any decisive action to back it up. Walk the walk, young man! American politics is basically controlled by WalStreet and WalMart and in fact I blame the faulty US foreign policy over the last 40 or so years for China’s “rise”.
Incidentally, there must be thousands of US citizens who can read and speak both Burmese and English fluently.
Of pragmatism and politics
In the article I never claim to be an expert on the internal machinations of Burmese politics. I explicitly approached the issue from the perspective of US strategy in the region, which is what my research is mainly focused on in the first place. Whether I speak the language or not is a moot point because I am examining how the US perceives the changes that are occurring in the country, not what those changes might entail on the domestic level.
As for the comparison with Thailand, you’re again confusing the issue of what’s happening on the ground with how the US is reacting to it. Whatever the future may hold, at present the US has already strongly condemned the military government and blocked significant levels of military assistance. This is evidently a sign of the US reconsidering its defence relationship with Thailand.
It’s also hardly ‘intellectually sloppy’ not to comment on the durability of the military government in the country given the uncertainty of the situation. At this stage it is still unclear what the interim government’s long-term strategy might be and of course the direction the military rulers end up taking will have a significant impact on the US’s policy. What implications this might have for future US-Thai military cooperation is anyone’s guess.
Of pragmatism and politics
Talking about the article itself, of course the oft-used word “pragmatism” pragmatically means one’s desire to screw everything as in “End justify the means” Mechiavallian way and still cowardly and shamelessly claims to be in the good guy camp.
At the beginning when Aung San Suuu Kyi, following that 18th August 2011 “Family” dinner with Thamada Gyi and his missus, came out singing “Gon-daw Ko bar” of the said “Thamada Gyi”, Ronald Watson wrote that the only strength of her was her principals and if she dropped that there would be nothing to hold on. Alas, he was proved wrong. The Burmese public evidently simply want to have someone who has multitudinous foreign supports and won those famous awards and see her still as a separate- and even balancing- entity from the “Thein Sein Circus” in spite of on-going Latpadaung incident clearly demonstrating that their interests are indeed identical- Aung San Suu Kyi on behalf of the multinational marauding ruthless predatory companies, and Thei Sein fronted military on behalf of the multinational marauding ruthless predatory companies.
But the essence of the article is right. Of course it would be immensely more desirable to get Aung San Suu Kyi’s as President to ractify all sorts of laws and regulations to gurantee to multiply all the “FDI” and fascilitate the loot of the country (called development) and drive poeple from their low-yielding traditional farming and farmlands (Burma must again become that coveted leading rice bowl of the universe, etc., etc.- of course using mechanised immense scale farming with GM crops and fartilizers) and re-deployment of them in sock-and-soap sweat shops (the ILO and plenty of usual professional goody-two shoes are already ready to help them out with wage-negotiations and strike mediations) living in shanty town (yet to be developed) full of crimes and drugs.
But as it happens current military- in clown clothes- can do exactly the same- albeit with lesser sale pitch to the share-holders of the said companies- after currently happening making deals with various armed groups regarding the cuts each gets.
Still it must be said that no one- repeat no one- regardless of thier educational or professional status has thus far shown ability to read Than Shwe correctly keeping everyone on their toes all the time. Not having Aung San Suu Kyi in that all important pen-weilding President position may mean it is a simpler task for him to declare any agreements made to or by the current or in-coming governemt null and void any time he feels by simple -so-called- military coup. Then the world at large who has loudly endorsed Then Sein govenrment and are readying to recognise anyone coming along again after 2015 as “legitimate” and binding may yet get a bloody nose like those Indian business men (actually taken in the British to loot the land together and did got filthy rich) in the 60’s.
Whichever would be the way, the losers will always be the public of Burma.
For their naivety and blind faith as well as the sin of their own greed and pride.
Of pragmatism and politics
Elimination seems to be the name of the game, plan B. Real success in any of those so far has however contrary to your assertion eluded the ruling elite. Political will in achieving genuine national reconciliation and a durable peace is sadly non-existent, and pragmatism only so far as it serves the purpose of staying in power and further enriching themselves. Ethnic elites, at least some of them, are now invited to the trough as bottom feeders, with talks dragging on in a “peace process” that is set to beat that in the Middle East, just as the “democratisation process” has already hit the buffers.
Rather like the elimination of poverty in the global context, U Nu no exception.
The reason for this is something that eludes you as in most top down elitist solutions based on economic determinism – simply that there is no intention of minimising, let alone eliminating class based exploitation around the planet full of poor people in the 21st C, a scandal and a disgrace.
Perhaps time for you to rejoice as the West now carefully usefully continues to engage with your generals, having been wayward before through no fault of their own but because of the West “careless useless” policies according to you.
Open Letter Condemning the Thai Constitution
Lerm, you asked the right question, ‘Where are all the fearless red shirt leaders’. Could it be perhaps that like the rest of the non yellow population (most of Thailand) they are too fearful to publicly speak out against the men in green dictatorship?
You never know Lerm, they may be just a little bit fearful of the same treatment we can all see on Youtube where the highly dangerous men in green handcuff and beat people in the street as brutal punishment when somone asked some men in green to respect the law by not smoking at a public venue.
You asked for proof Lerm, get on youtube like millions of Thais have already so you can enjoy watching the hero men in green at work bringing happiness to the people with their fists, hand cuffs and the butts of their guns.
When I watch the army handcuffing and using their weapons to illegally beat people in the street, I can fully understand why the population in general and particularly those from persecuted political parties are indeed fearful of speaking up. Everyone knows, that staunchly speaking up against the military’s actions will get you put into a dark hidden room somewhere for up to a week with such thugs who will merrily set to work “adjusting your thinking”. No sane person wants to end up in that room Lerm.
So Lerm, I offer you visual on line evidence documenting exactly why so many people are indeed very scared to speak out against the men in green.
As the footage shows, they are clearly violent against those who dare to question them and clearly have no qualms overstepping the boundaries of the law and human rights in order to assert absolute dominance over anyone they see as an adversary.
I advance that the red politicians, are also scared of similar ‘military persuasion tactics’ that go on behind closed doors.
So I’m curious Lerm, where is your documentary evidence to disprove mine? Do you have proof that the documentary evidence I submit has been fabricated even though Prayuth acknowledges that they were his men in the clip and has ordered a probe?
Do you perhaps have proof that the men in green were just playing pretend with the others when they hand cuffed and illegally beat them in the street, causing them to be sent to hospital?
Please be sure to provide documentary evidence to back up your claims like I did Lerm And please try to resist resorting to “inane accusations, lies” or “rants” if you cant come up with any worth while evidence to disprove mine.
Open Letter Condemning the Thai Constitution
This “Consitution” looks like a wish-list – back to the bygone Sarit-era.
There’s nothing modern, or inclusive about it. I give it 18 months till overthrown by – yet another Thai coup.
Open Letter Condemning the Thai Constitution
Would you like to see them tortured?
Open Letter Condemning the Thai Constitution
So say the troll with machine gun in his hands. I will not sit silently by while a troll like yourself sneer at those trampled upon! Since I can’t do it with a “bombs” I shall do it with words.
I shall not rest until trolls like yourselves get sleepless nights with insults from people like me, whom you cannot arrest or beat up!
Open Letter Condemning the Thai Constitution
I would think anytime their followers are tortured or “were disappeareds”, or abused and treated inhumanely, those so called ‘fearless’ political leaders would raise lots of hackles and protest loudly.
What do you think Jim Taylor or Jaidee? Or were you just both making inane accusations and lies?