That is nothing compared to what is going on in Phuket where thousands have been put out of jobs the last month alone. Beaches on the west coast look like war zones and hundreds of businesses have been leveled, everything from iconic beach clubs to masseuse huts. The reasoning is they were operating on King’s Land (the beaches) yet not one local governmental official who collected “permit” monies has been questioned on their role in it. It is truly a fully militarized elite.
TVF is overrun by the Royalist foreigner brigade who love the coup and consider Prayuth to be infallible. They have successfully run off dissenters through censorship so those desperate for real news and an outlet for their comments are coming here.
One wonders if their outlook will change once sites are set upon foreigners as surely they will be.
I should have added the communist cultures to the list of those seriously hindered by the maladaptation in which moral and temporal leadership is confused. Just why that is a maladaptation, is most easily understood, for me, by remembering Lord Acton’s dictum, “All power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely”. Acton seems to have discovered an empirical law of human culture. The revival of Confucianism may yet rescue Chinese communism. Confucius also seems to have enunciated timeless empirical laws of effective administration that help minimise corruption. They offer an essential independent standard by which a people can judge its leaders, all the way to the top. The only required change is to substitute Confucius’ emperor with the national culture. The interests of the emperor and his cronies always conflicted too much with those of the people, and the same goes for the King of Thailand and his.
I learnt Burmese history in Burmese in Burma before Thant Myint_U was born (1966 in the US). I think Thant Myint-U learnt how to read Burmese properly late in his life (perhaps even after he wrote his first book as you can observe if you read some of his atrocious translation of Mrauk-U in his first book).
I am not a Burma-expert, but it is a sad state of affairs if “Burma-experts” think Burmese history can be learnt by reading a couple of facile books written by some dilettanti such as Thant Myint-U.
Emjay, since by your own admission your in the business of signing off on MA Theses for people who have done ‘very little genuine intellectual work’ then you should know well that it is precisely this type of careless and non professional, pump’em through and pump’em out conduct on the behalf of many Thai educators (and quite clearly Expat educators also) which explains why a great many elements of the education system, including the ministry of educations unofficial subservience indoctrination agenda have indeed failed to reach their full potential.
[…] What is surprising, however, is the particularly blatant manner in which it rejects democratic process and confers powers and immunities on the junta, and the sheer prevalence of anti-corruption rhetoric which has often been used to justify authoritarian rule and which in current political circumstances is far from neutral. […]
This article might appear reasonable to all armchair Myanmar observers as well as the forever lamenting glitterati of new Mandala, is deeply flawed for the following reasons:
1) Again discounting/disregarding the present reality of “Discipline Democracy”. Thus any assumption without the intimate knowledge of how SPDC/ Ret. Sr Gen Than Shwe will do is politely put “nefarious”.
2) Forgetting the History of Myanmar, that can be easily gleaned from Thant Myint-U two books, will put the perspectives of a destitute citizenry that perceive freedom that is diametrically different from the westerner concept of “Democracy”.
Test it for yourself and ask any one of the citizenry
a)”What Democracy mean to each?”
b) “Then ask what kind of freedom do each one desire?”
May be then next article will adjust to the realities of Myanmar instead of how westerner like Bertil Litner see it.
3) The burden put on the ordinary citizenry since the colonial time if not for Buddhism will have made Myanmar another Cambodia under Pol Pot. Therefore without including any Buddhism concepts of freedom (Democracy) will again be and empty effort predicting the future of Myanmar.
Presently 2 years in under “DD” of SPDC the west peanut gallery should:
1) Avoid same mistake that acertain Pauk Pau domination more.
2) Unlike NGO, without much ado Concentrate on improving overall Myanmar catching up for the last 2 decades of the west useless careless policy.
And witness the changes starting from the citizenry a unique transformation like no other in S.E Asia.
Brilliant. It starts with “Merdeka” – freedom, independence – then shows the central role of Islam, women, and the ordinary bapak street vendor – who have done so much to keep Merdeka, and the Indonesian nation, alive.
Yes, Jaidee, this “brainwashing” meme is certainly a popular one, particularly among a certain type of expat who seems to utterly loathe Thais and their culture. I don’t mean to suggest that is your case, but it is something that becomes rather obvious after a few years reading local web forums and the like.
The interesting thing about the fanatical royalists, who certainly exist in Thailand and can be found in a great number of environments here, is how few of them there are in any given group.
Whereas a certain degree of reflexive respect for the institution seems close to universal, the Thai education system does somehow manage to fail miserably to achieve what you seem to believe is its very deliberate and precisely imagined goal.
You can meet the starry-eyed believers who want to ensure that the farang understands the utterly unique nature of the Thai institution, just as you can meet those who go quiet and expressionless as the faithful one expounds his or her credo.
What you rarely find is anyone who, in a public place like a classroom,whether at a university or a workplace, will express criticism either of the monarchy or the royalist in their midst.
To do so is to risk imprisonment in Thailand. Not doing so is not due to “brainwashing” so much as a simple preference for a normal life outside prison walls.
Being a lefty anarchist Chomsky-lite at an American or Canadian university will usually get you into the best parties and possibly even a job on the campus newspaper.
Perhaps that is a “cultural” difference, rather than one of “brainwashing”.
As to the groveling at degree time and the enforced “respect” for teachers everywhere, I share your disdain. Again though, I don’t see “brainwashing”, just kids afraid of being disciplined and adults reveling in the drama of a royal audience of sorts.
Having signed off on a number of MA theses myself, I would suggest that having done very little genuine intellectual work to get that document, many MA grads probably feel that a little kneeling around isn’t too much to do considering the benefit an advanced degree grants.
Jaidee: So the 50K Red Shirts who turned out on the 11th of November to “protect democracy”, meaning in this case of course the YL administration, don’t count?
They weren’t there? They were actually with the anti-amnesty yellow-dominated protest against said administration?
They chose to mount their rally far from the Yellow crowd because of a clash of colors, purely a fashion thing?
Your way of reading those dozens of articles, which I have also read, is very different from mine.
Nigel (#25), the evolutionary approach to culture and history in your comment is most welcome. It allows us to get down to the nitty gritty of what is maladaptive in Thai culture as it faces the problems of survival in the 21st century. Every culture has such problems, where some of the values inherited from the past, or some that have evolved relatively recently, become a burden that threatens its survival. Inadequate separation of moral and temporal leadership seems to me to be one of the most dangerous forms of maladaptation. The cultures that produced Mahomet, Hirohito, the sermonising Bhumibol, and the Renaissance Popes are amongst the most obvious examples. Adequate separation of moral and temporal leadership allows citizens to openly judge for themselves the virtues and faults of their temporal leaders.
Most Thais are like children who love their father, rely completely on his moral guidance, and know and accept that they will be severely punished if ever they say anything that undermines his power over them. That is a maladaptation because it demands beliefs that fly in the face of reality. The real-world idea that they can be led by someone who is a good deal less than perfect is coming too slowly to them.
Good points Nigel, I agree with nearly everything you mentioned however I feel the brainwashing element is more significant than your comments indicate.
Anyone who has spent some time in a Thai primary school and witnessed the hundreds of hrs dedicated to learning the 300? syllable name of his majesty and allotted to performing the endless rituals of subservience while constantly learning just how exceptional and wonderful the monarchy is each year can attest to the fact that its also largely a top down indoctrination process.
By the time a child graduates high school they will have spent thousands of hrs engaged in these top down indoctrination processes that have been planned and implemented through the education department with specific psychological objectives in mind.
I therefore feel that the resulting national consciousness is a blend of the powerful time manifested cultural elements you mentioned as well as the effects of a highly focussed, concerted and planned top down indoctrination campaign that is largely delivered via the education system.
I also totally agree that changing this system of indoctrination wont instantly make Thailand’s problems go away, my main point is that the psychological legacy of this system is one of the many major factors that have led to the current peculiar political status quo and make the next steps rather challenging.
Yes Emjay, you were so utterly ‘astounded’ that I would call the protesters from across the political spectrum that brought down the amnesty bill ‘the people’ that you proceeded to accuse me of ‘sleight of hand rhetoric’
Therefore you will probably be ‘astounded’ ‘flabbergasted’ and ‘utterly shocked’ to the point of passing out if you do a simple google search on the make up of protesters who brought down the amnesty bill.
Heres one of dozens of references I just found
that clearly agree with my assessment that there were people from many political stripes who were responsible for bringing down the bill which is why I referred to them quite reasonably as ‘the people’
Emjay please make sure your sitting down before reading further, as I know you have a tendency to be easily ‘astounded’ which leads you to throw about some rather silly accusations before taking the time to consider your thoughts.
“The protests were first triggered by a proposed blanket amnesty bill that would have pardoned several politicians from various charges since 2004, including Thaksin, Suthep Thaugsuban and Abhisit Vejjajiva. Opposition from across the political spectrum, including the pro-government Red Shirt movement, caused the bill to be rejected unanimously by the Senate of Thailand.[27]”
A few searches will provide dozens of similar references from across the media and academic world. Are all those sources engaged in ‘slight of hand rhetoric’ as well?
Which particular political camp happened to be more numerous at the protests is besides the point. It is an undeniable fact that the opposition that thwarted the amnesty bill came from across the political spectrum.
Maybe in your world Emjay, only the yellow shirt protesters counted because they were more numerous? All others were irrelevent?
If so then you must be engaged with the typical fascist political methodology of Thailand.
Personally I think its fine to refer to the thousands of Thais from across the full political spectrum who together brought down the amnesty bill as ‘the people’. Anyone who tries to make it a purely yellow shirt achievement is either extremely naive or has an agenda.
I share your frustration with certain aspects of Thai culture, Jaidee. However, I disagree with the suggestion that these aspects of culture are entirely the result of brainwashing by sinister elites. This isn’t how culture works. It is more of a bottom-up than a top-down phenomenon.
Cultures are not designed by elites but emerge over long stretches of time as solutions to the problems of group living: How will people collaborate effectively to produce food? How will resources be divided up? How will decisions affecting the group be made? Solutions to these problems emerge over the centuries and certain features may, as you point out, turn out to be maladaptive to the needs of a modern society. Maladaptive elements are often particularly pernicious and hard to get rid of when they are underpinned by the psychology of the sacred and taboo. It is true that certain elites, who may consider themselves the guardians of sacred values, can be the main culprits in retarding change in such cases. It is, however, not true that by relieving these groups of power, all problems will be resolved. The memes of culture and the pathologies they give rise to are not so easy to deal with.
The prospect of Jokowi’s presidency may already have disappointed at least one Indonesian, Suciwati, the widow of human rights activist Munir, who was murdered ten years ago. She has denounced Jokowi for appointing former BIN chief Hendropriyono, whom Suciwati seems to blame for her husband’s murder, as intelligence adviser on his transition team.
Jokowi has responded to criticism of Hendropriyono by calling on his critics to prove their allegations. Does he think Suciwati has the same investigative resources as the KPK? Soeharto would probably have had Suciwati arrested, so Jokowi does represent some progress.
Since you are addressing me directly I should set the record straight:
I was never a member of any group of Burmese dissidents and I never applied for refugee status or political asylum in any country.
My professional life has nothing whatsoever to do with Burma, economically, politically and otherwise. I have never written articles or books or Ph.D. theses about anything even remotely related to Burma and I have never sold shrimp or anything else exported from Burma. Most people that I work with don’t even know that I am from Burma.
“The stories that Burmese ex-pat dissidents tell are of course very biased, if not totally made-up, since these people are often seeking political asylum, refugee status, financial support or even a cheap Ph.D.thesis (on something related to “Myanmar”, not Burma anymore!) so that they can get a good job and live in some poshy neighbourhood in some Western country.”
Sound just like someone here at New Mandala poster named “tocherian”.
What ever reason for the “ax to grind” against the Chinese, the pauk paur are here to stay for the foreseeable future.
Deal with the realities the citizenry are facing.
1) Barely 2 yr since Former SR Gen now uncle Than Shwe has his way the west now reduced to “a peanut gallery” are lamenting over the potential of limited freedom still without regards to the ongoing needs for the sins of supporting ASSK.
When ASSK called for sanction the west complied.
Does the west comply when she called for engagement on behalf of the whole citizenry of Myanmar?
2) If the Kala persecuted are Christian instead of Muslim there will certainly be a crusade against this Military government. Lord know how many more post of “fight in Burma” will be reactivated here.
Anyone who is interested in Myanmar should travel, “JUST A FEW MILES OUTSIDE THE TOURIST SITES” and find each destiny that has nothing to do with most posters ideas here.
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Open Letter Condemning the Thai Constitution
With this appointment, it certinly looks as if General Prayuth does NOT think he yet has the situation under control – especially in Isaarn – where this new police chief is assigned “special duties” : http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/427747/pol-gen-somyot-chosen-as-new-chief-of-royal-thai-police
Open Letter Condemning the Thai Constitution
That is nothing compared to what is going on in Phuket where thousands have been put out of jobs the last month alone. Beaches on the west coast look like war zones and hundreds of businesses have been leveled, everything from iconic beach clubs to masseuse huts. The reasoning is they were operating on King’s Land (the beaches) yet not one local governmental official who collected “permit” monies has been questioned on their role in it. It is truly a fully militarized elite.
Open Letter Condemning the Thai Constitution
TVF is overrun by the Royalist foreigner brigade who love the coup and consider Prayuth to be infallible. They have successfully run off dissenters through censorship so those desperate for real news and an outlet for their comments are coming here.
One wonders if their outlook will change once sites are set upon foreigners as surely they will be.
Great expectations
As a result poor families were only electrified for a short period.
Open Letter Condemning the Thai Constitution
I should have added the communist cultures to the list of those seriously hindered by the maladaptation in which moral and temporal leadership is confused. Just why that is a maladaptation, is most easily understood, for me, by remembering Lord Acton’s dictum, “All power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely”. Acton seems to have discovered an empirical law of human culture. The revival of Confucianism may yet rescue Chinese communism. Confucius also seems to have enunciated timeless empirical laws of effective administration that help minimise corruption. They offer an essential independent standard by which a people can judge its leaders, all the way to the top. The only required change is to substitute Confucius’ emperor with the national culture. The interests of the emperor and his cronies always conflicted too much with those of the people, and the same goes for the King of Thailand and his.
Of pragmatism and politics
I learnt Burmese history in Burmese in Burma before Thant Myint_U was born (1966 in the US). I think Thant Myint-U learnt how to read Burmese properly late in his life (perhaps even after he wrote his first book as you can observe if you read some of his atrocious translation of Mrauk-U in his first book).
I am not a Burma-expert, but it is a sad state of affairs if “Burma-experts” think Burmese history can be learnt by reading a couple of facile books written by some dilettanti such as Thant Myint-U.
Open Letter Condemning the Thai Constitution
Emjay, since by your own admission your in the business of signing off on MA Theses for people who have done ‘very little genuine intellectual work’ then you should know well that it is precisely this type of careless and non professional, pump’em through and pump’em out conduct on the behalf of many Thai educators (and quite clearly Expat educators also) which explains why a great many elements of the education system, including the ministry of educations unofficial subservience indoctrination agenda have indeed failed to reach their full potential.
A democratic anti-corruption discourse for Thailand
[…] What is surprising, however, is the particularly blatant manner in which it rejects democratic process and confers powers and immunities on the junta, and the sheer prevalence of anti-corruption rhetoric which has often been used to justify authoritarian rule and which in current political circumstances is far from neutral. […]
Of pragmatism and politics
This article might appear reasonable to all armchair Myanmar observers as well as the forever lamenting glitterati of new Mandala, is deeply flawed for the following reasons:
1) Again discounting/disregarding the present reality of “Discipline Democracy”. Thus any assumption without the intimate knowledge of how SPDC/ Ret. Sr Gen Than Shwe will do is politely put “nefarious”.
2) Forgetting the History of Myanmar, that can be easily gleaned from Thant Myint-U two books, will put the perspectives of a destitute citizenry that perceive freedom that is diametrically different from the westerner concept of “Democracy”.
Test it for yourself and ask any one of the citizenry
a)”What Democracy mean to each?”
b) “Then ask what kind of freedom do each one desire?”
May be then next article will adjust to the realities of Myanmar instead of how westerner like Bertil Litner see it.
3) The burden put on the ordinary citizenry since the colonial time if not for Buddhism will have made Myanmar another Cambodia under Pol Pot. Therefore without including any Buddhism concepts of freedom (Democracy) will again be and empty effort predicting the future of Myanmar.
Presently 2 years in under “DD” of SPDC the west peanut gallery should:
1) Avoid same mistake that acertain Pauk Pau domination more.
2) Unlike NGO, without much ado Concentrate on improving overall Myanmar catching up for the last 2 decades of the west useless careless policy.
And witness the changes starting from the citizenry a unique transformation like no other in S.E Asia.
Hopes for a nation
Brilliant. It starts with “Merdeka” – freedom, independence – then shows the central role of Islam, women, and the ordinary bapak street vendor – who have done so much to keep Merdeka, and the Indonesian nation, alive.
Jokowi’s coming presidency: a cautionary note
In case any bambi-eyed grad students or “analysts” are confused, the above commentator is being sarcastic.
Open Letter Condemning the Thai Constitution
Yes, Jaidee, this “brainwashing” meme is certainly a popular one, particularly among a certain type of expat who seems to utterly loathe Thais and their culture. I don’t mean to suggest that is your case, but it is something that becomes rather obvious after a few years reading local web forums and the like.
The interesting thing about the fanatical royalists, who certainly exist in Thailand and can be found in a great number of environments here, is how few of them there are in any given group.
Whereas a certain degree of reflexive respect for the institution seems close to universal, the Thai education system does somehow manage to fail miserably to achieve what you seem to believe is its very deliberate and precisely imagined goal.
You can meet the starry-eyed believers who want to ensure that the farang understands the utterly unique nature of the Thai institution, just as you can meet those who go quiet and expressionless as the faithful one expounds his or her credo.
What you rarely find is anyone who, in a public place like a classroom,whether at a university or a workplace, will express criticism either of the monarchy or the royalist in their midst.
To do so is to risk imprisonment in Thailand. Not doing so is not due to “brainwashing” so much as a simple preference for a normal life outside prison walls.
Being a lefty anarchist Chomsky-lite at an American or Canadian university will usually get you into the best parties and possibly even a job on the campus newspaper.
Perhaps that is a “cultural” difference, rather than one of “brainwashing”.
As to the groveling at degree time and the enforced “respect” for teachers everywhere, I share your disdain. Again though, I don’t see “brainwashing”, just kids afraid of being disciplined and adults reveling in the drama of a royal audience of sorts.
Having signed off on a number of MA theses myself, I would suggest that having done very little genuine intellectual work to get that document, many MA grads probably feel that a little kneeling around isn’t too much to do considering the benefit an advanced degree grants.
Open Letter Condemning the Thai Constitution
Jaidee: So the 50K Red Shirts who turned out on the 11th of November to “protect democracy”, meaning in this case of course the YL administration, don’t count?
They weren’t there? They were actually with the anti-amnesty yellow-dominated protest against said administration?
They chose to mount their rally far from the Yellow crowd because of a clash of colors, purely a fashion thing?
Your way of reading those dozens of articles, which I have also read, is very different from mine.
Open Letter Condemning the Thai Constitution
Nigel (#25), the evolutionary approach to culture and history in your comment is most welcome. It allows us to get down to the nitty gritty of what is maladaptive in Thai culture as it faces the problems of survival in the 21st century. Every culture has such problems, where some of the values inherited from the past, or some that have evolved relatively recently, become a burden that threatens its survival. Inadequate separation of moral and temporal leadership seems to me to be one of the most dangerous forms of maladaptation. The cultures that produced Mahomet, Hirohito, the sermonising Bhumibol, and the Renaissance Popes are amongst the most obvious examples. Adequate separation of moral and temporal leadership allows citizens to openly judge for themselves the virtues and faults of their temporal leaders.
Most Thais are like children who love their father, rely completely on his moral guidance, and know and accept that they will be severely punished if ever they say anything that undermines his power over them. That is a maladaptation because it demands beliefs that fly in the face of reality. The real-world idea that they can be led by someone who is a good deal less than perfect is coming too slowly to them.
Open Letter Condemning the Thai Constitution
Good points Nigel, I agree with nearly everything you mentioned however I feel the brainwashing element is more significant than your comments indicate.
Anyone who has spent some time in a Thai primary school and witnessed the hundreds of hrs dedicated to learning the 300? syllable name of his majesty and allotted to performing the endless rituals of subservience while constantly learning just how exceptional and wonderful the monarchy is each year can attest to the fact that its also largely a top down indoctrination process.
By the time a child graduates high school they will have spent thousands of hrs engaged in these top down indoctrination processes that have been planned and implemented through the education department with specific psychological objectives in mind.
I therefore feel that the resulting national consciousness is a blend of the powerful time manifested cultural elements you mentioned as well as the effects of a highly focussed, concerted and planned top down indoctrination campaign that is largely delivered via the education system.
I also totally agree that changing this system of indoctrination wont instantly make Thailand’s problems go away, my main point is that the psychological legacy of this system is one of the many major factors that have led to the current peculiar political status quo and make the next steps rather challenging.
Open Letter Condemning the Thai Constitution
Yes Emjay, you were so utterly ‘astounded’ that I would call the protesters from across the political spectrum that brought down the amnesty bill ‘the people’ that you proceeded to accuse me of ‘sleight of hand rhetoric’
Therefore you will probably be ‘astounded’ ‘flabbergasted’ and ‘utterly shocked’ to the point of passing out if you do a simple google search on the make up of protesters who brought down the amnesty bill.
Heres one of dozens of references I just found
that clearly agree with my assessment that there were people from many political stripes who were responsible for bringing down the bill which is why I referred to them quite reasonably as ‘the people’
Emjay please make sure your sitting down before reading further, as I know you have a tendency to be easily ‘astounded’ which leads you to throw about some rather silly accusations before taking the time to consider your thoughts.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013%E2%80%9314_Thai_political_crisis
“The protests were first triggered by a proposed blanket amnesty bill that would have pardoned several politicians from various charges since 2004, including Thaksin, Suthep Thaugsuban and Abhisit Vejjajiva. Opposition from across the political spectrum, including the pro-government Red Shirt movement, caused the bill to be rejected unanimously by the Senate of Thailand.[27]”
A few searches will provide dozens of similar references from across the media and academic world. Are all those sources engaged in ‘slight of hand rhetoric’ as well?
Which particular political camp happened to be more numerous at the protests is besides the point. It is an undeniable fact that the opposition that thwarted the amnesty bill came from across the political spectrum.
Maybe in your world Emjay, only the yellow shirt protesters counted because they were more numerous? All others were irrelevent?
If so then you must be engaged with the typical fascist political methodology of Thailand.
Personally I think its fine to refer to the thousands of Thais from across the full political spectrum who together brought down the amnesty bill as ‘the people’. Anyone who tries to make it a purely yellow shirt achievement is either extremely naive or has an agenda.
Open Letter Condemning the Thai Constitution
I share your frustration with certain aspects of Thai culture, Jaidee. However, I disagree with the suggestion that these aspects of culture are entirely the result of brainwashing by sinister elites. This isn’t how culture works. It is more of a bottom-up than a top-down phenomenon.
Cultures are not designed by elites but emerge over long stretches of time as solutions to the problems of group living: How will people collaborate effectively to produce food? How will resources be divided up? How will decisions affecting the group be made? Solutions to these problems emerge over the centuries and certain features may, as you point out, turn out to be maladaptive to the needs of a modern society. Maladaptive elements are often particularly pernicious and hard to get rid of when they are underpinned by the psychology of the sacred and taboo. It is true that certain elites, who may consider themselves the guardians of sacred values, can be the main culprits in retarding change in such cases. It is, however, not true that by relieving these groups of power, all problems will be resolved. The memes of culture and the pathologies they give rise to are not so easy to deal with.
Jokowi’s coming presidency: a cautionary note
The prospect of Jokowi’s presidency may already have disappointed at least one Indonesian, Suciwati, the widow of human rights activist Munir, who was murdered ten years ago. She has denounced Jokowi for appointing former BIN chief Hendropriyono, whom Suciwati seems to blame for her husband’s murder, as intelligence adviser on his transition team.
Jokowi has responded to criticism of Hendropriyono by calling on his critics to prove their allegations. Does he think Suciwati has the same investigative resources as the KPK? Soeharto would probably have had Suciwati arrested, so Jokowi does represent some progress.
Of pragmatism and politics
Since you are addressing me directly I should set the record straight:
I was never a member of any group of Burmese dissidents and I never applied for refugee status or political asylum in any country.
My professional life has nothing whatsoever to do with Burma, economically, politically and otherwise. I have never written articles or books or Ph.D. theses about anything even remotely related to Burma and I have never sold shrimp or anything else exported from Burma. Most people that I work with don’t even know that I am from Burma.
Of pragmatism and politics
“The stories that Burmese ex-pat dissidents tell are of course very biased, if not totally made-up, since these people are often seeking political asylum, refugee status, financial support or even a cheap Ph.D.thesis (on something related to “Myanmar”, not Burma anymore!) so that they can get a good job and live in some poshy neighbourhood in some Western country.”
Sound just like someone here at New Mandala poster named “tocherian”.
What ever reason for the “ax to grind” against the Chinese, the pauk paur are here to stay for the foreseeable future.
Deal with the realities the citizenry are facing.
1) Barely 2 yr since Former SR Gen now uncle Than Shwe has his way the west now reduced to “a peanut gallery” are lamenting over the potential of limited freedom still without regards to the ongoing needs for the sins of supporting ASSK.
When ASSK called for sanction the west complied.
Does the west comply when she called for engagement on behalf of the whole citizenry of Myanmar?
2) If the Kala persecuted are Christian instead of Muslim there will certainly be a crusade against this Military government. Lord know how many more post of “fight in Burma” will be reactivated here.
Anyone who is interested in Myanmar should travel, “JUST A FEW MILES OUTSIDE THE TOURIST SITES” and find each destiny that has nothing to do with most posters ideas here.