“Wrong Nakal. Thailand was not colonized by Japan. They were an ally. They were on the same side as Japan and the Third Reich. They declared war on the United States of America and Britain.”
Japanese troops invaded Thailand and FORCED
a pseudo-alliance on a formally neutral nation. Thailand was not pro-Axis. It was neutral, but the weak Thai government allowed
the Japanese to dominate Thailand and USE it as a staging area for further expansion in SE Asia. AT NO TIME, where the Thai people in favor of Japan, in favor of an alliance with Japan, nor did Thailand “declare war” on the US and the UK, with whom it had a pact of neutrality. Thailand at not time was an ally of the Nazis and the Third Reich. That is nonsense.
Both Thais and Westerners in Thailand were beaten, tortured and incarcerated in Japanese Prison of War Camps.
Your knowledge is deficient and your analysis of Thailand poor, confusing a nation that was neutral and allowed itself to be occupied and used by the Japanese with a nation that was actively pro-Japanese, throughout the nation. There was no such nation in Asia, including Thailand. PLEASE do your homework.
It’s the difference between minor local chieftains (Kachin and Yunnan war-lords, traders, smugglers, etc.) doing their local “businesses” and the more global geo-strategic players and planners building pipelines, railway lines, dams, electricity, copper, natural resources, Lebensraum etc. (to be protected by the PLA proxy UWSA not the KIA), serving Peking’s long-term goal of absolute hegemony.
In a way, I feel sorry for the Kachins for being too naive and not see China beyond the mountains and valleys of Yunnan. China has changed dramatically over the last 2 decades (I wish it didn’t happen that quickly!).
For Peking, Burma is more important as a pearl on the Bay of Bengal (string-of-pearls strategy). Getting timber, jade, tiger parts, bear parts, snakes, cattle, dogs, geckos etc. through Kachin State is great locally speaking, but there are bigger things like controlling the Indian Ocean (after dealing with Vietnam and Philippines in the South China Seas).
Besides, China has problems with its own “pesky ethnics” such as the Tibetans and the Uyghurs!
I found this sentence in the WikiLeaks press statement relating to the suppression order of the Securency (a Reserve Bank of Australia fully owned subsidiary) corruption scandal interesting.
“It is ironic that it took Tony Abbott to bring the worst of ‘Asian Values’ to Australia.”
Some of Prabowo coalition, notably PPP and a faction of Golkar led by Agung Laksono, seem to have switched position and joint Jokowi-JK. If so (it still IF), the significant changes may be less effective. In that case, the initiative for changes may just be an attempt to solidify Prabowo’s coalition. All these may be confirmed or otherwise in the next few months after the Jokowi’s cabinet is installed.
‘spect as the murky alliances go, all of them are as reliable as quagmire. Wa indeed are the main suppliers for US, European and Australian narcotic requirement using the proceeds to pay their overlord- Lobans- for all the killing implements to scare Bamar Sit-tut who always want/ need/ bag for a cut. Wa bookkeepers are ethnic Chinese as are their “interpreters” with Wa State modeled after Chinese- education, medical care, communication, administration- sufficiently organised to keep the Bamar wolf at bay.
There is no point Chinese helping the Kachin win over the Burmese. As they are more interested in west coast rail, high way and of course the Pipe which found NO resistance and instead earned even cheers from all parties in Burma including the people’s champions (being in jail in the last twenty qualifies you as people’s champion) of all sorts. Perhaps this is the first time the world’s history where an foreign country can easily come in and build a Pipeline and plan rails and roads for their own use and charge the host country for the cost and yet the “leaders” and so-called people’s champions of that country unanimously support, cheer and suck up more.
Kachins who suddenly got yanked out of sweet “pipe” dream after 18 years of happily looting their own land together -nothing visible much left now- with the Burmese are truly in a bind. The Pipe and the Dam are for the Chinese. Bamar took money from the Chinese selling out those under their very eyes and are now killing the Kachins – mostly civilians- en mass to honor their due to the Chinks. Yet, Chinks are the very ones Kachins have to turn to when the ruthless- most savage and ritually cannibalistic Bamar Sit-thars turn up in large masses from low land even though tens of thousands of them die en route.
It is still amusing to see the Kachins are still trying to be hanky-panky with their Bamar Pauk-phaws. Eternal rule: “what’s in it for me” principal.
Thank you for the analysis. I am still not sure how the mechanics work though – mainly, how does DPR’s Steering Committee (Bamus) “order” a vote? If Bamus had the power to order a vote, why has DPR been bogged down by its mufakat model on other issues?
“With such shallowness in the Interim Charter, only one question remains: why did it take two months to write an empty text?”
To answer the author’s question, the empty text was written long time ago but the two months were needed to present the abserd text to the public with straight face. The last article (48) which states in effects “If there were crimes committed, we will not be responsible and be punished” is unforgiveable. Even the worst criminal dare not say such despicable words.
Wrong Nakal. Thailand was not colonized by Japan. They were an ally. They were on the same side as Japan and the Third Reich. They declared war on the United States of America and Britain.
If you were to trouble yourself to read a history book that contained facts, you would know that.
Hope springs eternal. Let’s just see how this prodigal wong cilik fares. His supporters have projected a vast array of policies and change upon him. He has already become a towering figure — he’s already being mythologized — and yet he is not even spent so much as one day as RI1. I for one am interested to see how the Jowowi-timses spirit of volunteerism and phenomenal support from Indonesian activists translates into oversight and accountability.
You don’t need to go too far why Burmese Army is still fighting the KIA. Just go see the narrow mountainous strip between May Kha River (One of two rivers that converge and formed Great River Irrawaddy)and Chinese border on the East.
According to army sources from Ma-pa-kha (Northern Military Region Command at Myitkyinar) the area had only 2 rifle battalions (IB-58 and IB-21 with only about 900 soldiers each battalion) fortified in small but strategic towns like Wainmaw and tactical villages like Chibwe and Htawgaw in 1975 and the area was a hardcore KIA stronghold.
Now in 2013 the area had 55 rifle battalions (about 45,000 soldiers) and the result is a total wipeout of KIA from the area.
The reason is gigantic Chinese investment in massive Hydro-Electric-Generators there. More than 20 dams are now being built in the area and the massive Chibwe dam project alone will generate 3,400 MW a year and more than 1,000 Chinese engineers and workers are working there day and night since 2011.
Burmese army supported by China have no choice but to fight to keep the disruptive KIA away from the massive construction projects which will power the industry in neighboring Yunan Province of China.
It reminds me of a joke told about Singapore. PM Lee Kuan Yew met Mrs. Indira Gandhi at a Commonwealth Conference. Mr. Lee was boasting how well he governed Singapore to Mrs. Gandhi’s annoyance. She finally retorted, saying: Mr. Prime Minister. I am Prime Minister of the world two largest democracy. You are only managing a shopping mall.
Give us a break! It is ridiculous to claim that Jokowi’s election is the most important event in Indonesia’s modern history. What about the destruction of the PKI in 1965 and the massacre of hundreds of thousands of Indonesians that was part of it? Those events were followed by the overthrow of Sukarno and Soeharto’s installation for 32 years. Was all that perhaps part of Indonesia’s ancient history?
As this is an academic website, it’s about time we dropped the celebratory rhetoric and began to offer some analysis. Yesterday we learned here that Soeharto-era lieutenant-general Luhut Binsar Panjaitan was Jokowi’s main business partner. He’s another ‘cashed-up former military general’, like Prabowo. And yet we are informed by this author that Jokowi is the first leader without ties to Soeharto-era politics.
Well, apart from Panjaitan, there’s Jusuf Kalla, former chair of Golkar, which was Soeharto’s electoral vehicle. He is another wealthy businessman, though not a former TNI officer. Then, hovering in the background is Hendropriyono, former chief of BIN and another Soeharto-era general, who may know a thing or two about the murders of Munir and of Theys Eluay in Papua, as well as the bloody repression of the 1980s Muslim revolt in Lampung. Let’s not forget Wiranto, stout defender of human rights in East Timor, and Ryamizard Ryacudu, one of Megawati’s favourite generals, who hails from Palembang like her late, much-lamented husband, Taufik Kiemas, who reportedly said when she became president that at last he would have his own conglomerate. Ryamizard was the army chief of staff who found out and told the world in 2004 that there were 60,000 foreign spies in Indonesia.
Let’s wish good luck to Jokowi by all means, but there are enough sincere propagandists for his cause in Indonesia. We don’t need any here.
The last thing President-elect Jokowi needs is Prabowo’s skeletons ending up in his closet. Yes, furniture maker to President is indeed an accomplishment, as was a nearly corrupt free Governorship of Jakarta. The stakes are higher now, and with the Sword of Megawaticles hanging over his neck (or an “Indonesian albatross”), Jokowi must stake Indonesia’s future on HIS goals and not PDI-P’s goals. Jokowi must manage as a President and not a Party man, lest he fall into the perpetual trap of parliamentary water buffalo trading. The Islamic Parties always want a piece of the action, and as much as Prabowo may have been more inclined to please them, Jokowi is not free from Islamist influence. I suggest he take a page from Gus Dur’s manual of Indonesian tolerance (but not his manual of inept technocratic leadership). Jokowi must advocate for an Indonesia that is moderate, diverse (Shi’ites and Ahamdiyas are
welcome in Indonesia, as much as Christians,
Hindus and Buddhists), tolerant, legally sound, corrupt free (at least in the Istana Merdeka), inclusive of all regions of Indonesia, and that his administration is TRANSPARENT AND ACCOUNTABLE. Furthermore, unless Indonesia wants to follow in Malaysia’s and Turkey’s downward trajectories, Jokowi must state explicitly, and for the record, that he OPPOSES Hudud,
Shari’a Law in place of civil law, and that he also rejects misogyny and child abuse, systemic problems in Indonesia. That WAS the easy part. NOW, get to work, build a competent team (not a mafioso), include some
stable members of some other parties (Golkar, PKS) and take advice from Nadhlatul Ulama (NU) and other reputable moderate Islamic institutions, but reach out to Christians, Hindus, Buddhists and Animists, and tell the Indonesian People, the most important thing that NO Indonesian has ever heard from their leaders, tell the Indonesian people, that if they are not satisfied after two years, you will resign and call new elections. In doing this one act, you will have done more for Indonesia than you can possibly imagine. Offer this deal with your people NOW, so you and they remember, and you might find, that after two years, Indonesians don’t want you to leave the Istana Merdeka. Be smart, but be bold and show the people, THAT THEY MATTER MORE THAN YOU DO.
Yes there are many ways to bring down an entrenched oligarchy and lets hope one of the more peaceful methods prevails.
Unfortunately the entrenched elite seem willing to take the gloves off and resort to any means necessary, violent or otherwise to retain their grip power against the will of the majority. This tends to reduce the chances of finding a peaceful solution, however its still possible and preferable.
The yellow shirts are currently brimming with pride at their percieved victory and with each new democracy destroying policy announcement their chorus of praise seems to intensify.
Therefore Im not hopeful that they will suddenly grow a social conscience or some simple respect for the majority of Thais that are widely seen amongst the Network monarchy supporters as inferior beings.
If only a Thai Mahatma Ghandi or Nelson Mandela would step forth there may be a peaceful resolution on the horizon.
Barring that, I suspect the fascist network will maintain their grip on power by notching up their assaults on democracy and human rights and by strategically appointing a host of new “independent agencies” with sweeping powers designed specifically to undermine any and all opposition at will.
Until after the demi god drops from his perch I fear it will be business as usual for the fascists. From that point onwards however, I predict their ongoing power play will become increasingly fraught with danger and If they continue to keep treating the majority of the population as inferior beings who are intellectually incapable of participating in the future direction of the country, they are likely to find themselves reliving the French or or Russian experience.
Yes, it is possible that Thailand’s rigid oligarchy will “go up in flames”. It happened in France 200 years ago, in Russia 100 years ago, and in Europe and Japan through two world wars. The result everywhere was enormous human suffering. The story in England was different, with far less bloodshed. There, the elite were shamed into giving up enough of their power to allow democracy to work. I’m talking about England almost 100 years ago, not the present tragic descent into bourgeois fundamentalism.
Shame could also work in Thailand. It’s the most peaceful way. It’s the duty of liberal-minded people who love the Thais to shame their elite into more moral behaviour. The elite are not all heartless, and enough of them can be changed to give ordinary Thais a better life. Let them have their own heroes. I nominate Prince Mahidol who turned down the military career of an oppressor for one in medicine, relieving the suffering of ordinary Thais, not just the rich. Far better Mahidol than the pathetic failure Bhumibol. The last years of his reign have clearly shown that improvements for ordinary Thais have occurred in spite of his existence, not because of it.
Quite right Bialao – “An independent Isaan does not serve anybody’s interests”, and personally I favour a federation or confederation – which would address economic integration issues. But does Patani think SO rationally about its “economic interest” ? Patani seems to be fighting an increasingly succesful fight against the Thai Military, eg. Betong blasts – without thinking about whether Patani could become economically viable (which I doubt). My question is : how much is Isaarn looking at Patani, and thinking “we can do the same”. Increasingly, I suspect. The point is : injustice.
China using KIA as pawn is an absurd observation! If KIA is really China’s proxy pawn, China would have supplied some strategic weapons (i.e., shoulder-missile) for airplanes.
Kachin, being mostly Christian and fought for UK and US during WW I & II, China knows well than KIA is not willing to listen to China at any cost!
Perhaps, United Wa State Army – UWSA is the Chinese proxy?
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Causes of intolerance and prejudice in Buddhism
Wrong La Kanne
“Wrong Nakal. Thailand was not colonized by Japan. They were an ally. They were on the same side as Japan and the Third Reich. They declared war on the United States of America and Britain.”
Wrong La Kanne
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_invasion_of_Thailand
Japanese troops invaded Thailand and FORCED
a pseudo-alliance on a formally neutral nation. Thailand was not pro-Axis. It was neutral, but the weak Thai government allowed
the Japanese to dominate Thailand and USE it as a staging area for further expansion in SE Asia. AT NO TIME, where the Thai people in favor of Japan, in favor of an alliance with Japan, nor did Thailand “declare war” on the US and the UK, with whom it had a pact of neutrality. Thailand at not time was an ally of the Nazis and the Third Reich. That is nonsense.
Both Thais and Westerners in Thailand were beaten, tortured and incarcerated in Japanese Prison of War Camps.
Your knowledge is deficient and your analysis of Thailand poor, confusing a nation that was neutral and allowed itself to be occupied and used by the Japanese with a nation that was actively pro-Japanese, throughout the nation. There was no such nation in Asia, including Thailand. PLEASE do your homework.
Four questions about the Kachin war
It’s the difference between minor local chieftains (Kachin and Yunnan war-lords, traders, smugglers, etc.) doing their local “businesses” and the more global geo-strategic players and planners building pipelines, railway lines, dams, electricity, copper, natural resources, Lebensraum etc. (to be protected by the PLA proxy UWSA not the KIA), serving Peking’s long-term goal of absolute hegemony.
In a way, I feel sorry for the Kachins for being too naive and not see China beyond the mountains and valleys of Yunnan. China has changed dramatically over the last 2 decades (I wish it didn’t happen that quickly!).
For Peking, Burma is more important as a pearl on the Bay of Bengal (string-of-pearls strategy). Getting timber, jade, tiger parts, bear parts, snakes, cattle, dogs, geckos etc. through Kachin State is great locally speaking, but there are bigger things like controlling the Indian Ocean (after dealing with Vietnam and Philippines in the South China Seas).
Besides, China has problems with its own “pesky ethnics” such as the Tibetans and the Uyghurs!
Review of Sensing Singapore
A shopping mall with a squeaky clean money-laundromat.
Malaysia and Singapore – models for the Asian Century?
I found this sentence in the WikiLeaks press statement relating to the suppression order of the Securency (a Reserve Bank of Australia fully owned subsidiary) corruption scandal interesting.
“It is ironic that it took Tony Abbott to bring the worst of ‘Asian Values’ to Australia.”
http://wikileaks.org/aus-suppression-order/
Maybe Asians and Asian governments are not so different from Australians and Australian governments.
Thailand’s Constitution: An Empty Text
If Prayuth goes ahead with this Constitution – effectively disenfransching Isarn – Prayuth will become the father of Isarn secession.
House of Cards Part III
Some of Prabowo coalition, notably PPP and a faction of Golkar led by Agung Laksono, seem to have switched position and joint Jokowi-JK. If so (it still IF), the significant changes may be less effective. In that case, the initiative for changes may just be an attempt to solidify Prabowo’s coalition. All these may be confirmed or otherwise in the next few months after the Jokowi’s cabinet is installed.
Four questions about the Kachin war
‘spect as the murky alliances go, all of them are as reliable as quagmire. Wa indeed are the main suppliers for US, European and Australian narcotic requirement using the proceeds to pay their overlord- Lobans- for all the killing implements to scare Bamar Sit-tut who always want/ need/ bag for a cut. Wa bookkeepers are ethnic Chinese as are their “interpreters” with Wa State modeled after Chinese- education, medical care, communication, administration- sufficiently organised to keep the Bamar wolf at bay.
There is no point Chinese helping the Kachin win over the Burmese. As they are more interested in west coast rail, high way and of course the Pipe which found NO resistance and instead earned even cheers from all parties in Burma including the people’s champions (being in jail in the last twenty qualifies you as people’s champion) of all sorts. Perhaps this is the first time the world’s history where an foreign country can easily come in and build a Pipeline and plan rails and roads for their own use and charge the host country for the cost and yet the “leaders” and so-called people’s champions of that country unanimously support, cheer and suck up more.
Kachins who suddenly got yanked out of sweet “pipe” dream after 18 years of happily looting their own land together -nothing visible much left now- with the Burmese are truly in a bind. The Pipe and the Dam are for the Chinese. Bamar took money from the Chinese selling out those under their very eyes and are now killing the Kachins – mostly civilians- en mass to honor their due to the Chinks. Yet, Chinks are the very ones Kachins have to turn to when the ruthless- most savage and ritually cannibalistic Bamar Sit-thars turn up in large masses from low land even though tens of thousands of them die en route.
It is still amusing to see the Kachins are still trying to be hanky-panky with their Bamar Pauk-phaws. Eternal rule: “what’s in it for me” principal.
House of Cards Part III
Thank you for the analysis. I am still not sure how the mechanics work though – mainly, how does DPR’s Steering Committee (Bamus) “order” a vote? If Bamus had the power to order a vote, why has DPR been bogged down by its mufakat model on other issues?
Thailand’s Constitution: An Empty Text
“With such shallowness in the Interim Charter, only one question remains: why did it take two months to write an empty text?”
To answer the author’s question, the empty text was written long time ago but the two months were needed to present the abserd text to the public with straight face. The last article (48) which states in effects “If there were crimes committed, we will not be responsible and be punished” is unforgiveable. Even the worst criminal dare not say such despicable words.
Causes of intolerance and prejudice in Buddhism
Wrong Nakal. Thailand was not colonized by Japan. They were an ally. They were on the same side as Japan and the Third Reich. They declared war on the United States of America and Britain.
If you were to trouble yourself to read a history book that contained facts, you would know that.
The local-merit President
Hope springs eternal. Let’s just see how this prodigal wong cilik fares. His supporters have projected a vast array of policies and change upon him. He has already become a towering figure — he’s already being mythologized — and yet he is not even spent so much as one day as RI1. I for one am interested to see how the Jowowi-timses spirit of volunteerism and phenomenal support from Indonesian activists translates into oversight and accountability.
Four questions about the Kachin war
You don’t need to go too far why Burmese Army is still fighting the KIA. Just go see the narrow mountainous strip between May Kha River (One of two rivers that converge and formed Great River Irrawaddy)and Chinese border on the East.
According to army sources from Ma-pa-kha (Northern Military Region Command at Myitkyinar) the area had only 2 rifle battalions (IB-58 and IB-21 with only about 900 soldiers each battalion) fortified in small but strategic towns like Wainmaw and tactical villages like Chibwe and Htawgaw in 1975 and the area was a hardcore KIA stronghold.
Now in 2013 the area had 55 rifle battalions (about 45,000 soldiers) and the result is a total wipeout of KIA from the area.
The reason is gigantic Chinese investment in massive Hydro-Electric-Generators there. More than 20 dams are now being built in the area and the massive Chibwe dam project alone will generate 3,400 MW a year and more than 1,000 Chinese engineers and workers are working there day and night since 2011.
Burmese army supported by China have no choice but to fight to keep the disruptive KIA away from the massive construction projects which will power the industry in neighboring Yunan Province of China.
http://kachinlandnews.com/?p=24073
http://www.ubifrance.com/medias/press/mepe_9_7_2013_29_31.pdf
Review of Sensing Singapore
It reminds me of a joke told about Singapore. PM Lee Kuan Yew met Mrs. Indira Gandhi at a Commonwealth Conference. Mr. Lee was boasting how well he governed Singapore to Mrs. Gandhi’s annoyance. She finally retorted, saying: Mr. Prime Minister. I am Prime Minister of the world two largest democracy. You are only managing a shopping mall.
Presidential election a page turner
Give us a break! It is ridiculous to claim that Jokowi’s election is the most important event in Indonesia’s modern history. What about the destruction of the PKI in 1965 and the massacre of hundreds of thousands of Indonesians that was part of it? Those events were followed by the overthrow of Sukarno and Soeharto’s installation for 32 years. Was all that perhaps part of Indonesia’s ancient history?
As this is an academic website, it’s about time we dropped the celebratory rhetoric and began to offer some analysis. Yesterday we learned here that Soeharto-era lieutenant-general Luhut Binsar Panjaitan was Jokowi’s main business partner. He’s another ‘cashed-up former military general’, like Prabowo. And yet we are informed by this author that Jokowi is the first leader without ties to Soeharto-era politics.
Well, apart from Panjaitan, there’s Jusuf Kalla, former chair of Golkar, which was Soeharto’s electoral vehicle. He is another wealthy businessman, though not a former TNI officer. Then, hovering in the background is Hendropriyono, former chief of BIN and another Soeharto-era general, who may know a thing or two about the murders of Munir and of Theys Eluay in Papua, as well as the bloody repression of the 1980s Muslim revolt in Lampung. Let’s not forget Wiranto, stout defender of human rights in East Timor, and Ryamizard Ryacudu, one of Megawati’s favourite generals, who hails from Palembang like her late, much-lamented husband, Taufik Kiemas, who reportedly said when she became president that at last he would have his own conglomerate. Ryamizard was the army chief of staff who found out and told the world in 2004 that there were 60,000 foreign spies in Indonesia.
Let’s wish good luck to Jokowi by all means, but there are enough sincere propagandists for his cause in Indonesia. We don’t need any here.
Presidential election a page turner
The last thing President-elect Jokowi needs is Prabowo’s skeletons ending up in his closet. Yes, furniture maker to President is indeed an accomplishment, as was a nearly corrupt free Governorship of Jakarta. The stakes are higher now, and with the Sword of Megawaticles hanging over his neck (or an “Indonesian albatross”), Jokowi must stake Indonesia’s future on HIS goals and not PDI-P’s goals. Jokowi must manage as a President and not a Party man, lest he fall into the perpetual trap of parliamentary water buffalo trading. The Islamic Parties always want a piece of the action, and as much as Prabowo may have been more inclined to please them, Jokowi is not free from Islamist influence. I suggest he take a page from Gus Dur’s manual of Indonesian tolerance (but not his manual of inept technocratic leadership). Jokowi must advocate for an Indonesia that is moderate, diverse (Shi’ites and Ahamdiyas are
welcome in Indonesia, as much as Christians,
Hindus and Buddhists), tolerant, legally sound, corrupt free (at least in the Istana Merdeka), inclusive of all regions of Indonesia, and that his administration is TRANSPARENT AND ACCOUNTABLE. Furthermore, unless Indonesia wants to follow in Malaysia’s and Turkey’s downward trajectories, Jokowi must state explicitly, and for the record, that he OPPOSES Hudud,
Shari’a Law in place of civil law, and that he also rejects misogyny and child abuse, systemic problems in Indonesia. That WAS the easy part. NOW, get to work, build a competent team (not a mafioso), include some
stable members of some other parties (Golkar, PKS) and take advice from Nadhlatul Ulama (NU) and other reputable moderate Islamic institutions, but reach out to Christians, Hindus, Buddhists and Animists, and tell the Indonesian People, the most important thing that NO Indonesian has ever heard from their leaders, tell the Indonesian people, that if they are not satisfied after two years, you will resign and call new elections. In doing this one act, you will have done more for Indonesia than you can possibly imagine. Offer this deal with your people NOW, so you and they remember, and you might find, that after two years, Indonesians don’t want you to leave the Istana Merdeka. Be smart, but be bold and show the people, THAT THEY MATTER MORE THAN YOU DO.
A new paradigm of Muslim politics
I am not a Muslim and do not claim to know much about it. It seems to me that Muslims kill each other as much as they kill non-Muslims.
Thailand’s Constitution: An Empty Text
Yes there are many ways to bring down an entrenched oligarchy and lets hope one of the more peaceful methods prevails.
Unfortunately the entrenched elite seem willing to take the gloves off and resort to any means necessary, violent or otherwise to retain their grip power against the will of the majority. This tends to reduce the chances of finding a peaceful solution, however its still possible and preferable.
The yellow shirts are currently brimming with pride at their percieved victory and with each new democracy destroying policy announcement their chorus of praise seems to intensify.
Therefore Im not hopeful that they will suddenly grow a social conscience or some simple respect for the majority of Thais that are widely seen amongst the Network monarchy supporters as inferior beings.
If only a Thai Mahatma Ghandi or Nelson Mandela would step forth there may be a peaceful resolution on the horizon.
Barring that, I suspect the fascist network will maintain their grip on power by notching up their assaults on democracy and human rights and by strategically appointing a host of new “independent agencies” with sweeping powers designed specifically to undermine any and all opposition at will.
Until after the demi god drops from his perch I fear it will be business as usual for the fascists. From that point onwards however, I predict their ongoing power play will become increasingly fraught with danger and If they continue to keep treating the majority of the population as inferior beings who are intellectually incapable of participating in the future direction of the country, they are likely to find themselves reliving the French or or Russian experience.
Thailand’s Constitution: An Empty Text
Yes, it is possible that Thailand’s rigid oligarchy will “go up in flames”. It happened in France 200 years ago, in Russia 100 years ago, and in Europe and Japan through two world wars. The result everywhere was enormous human suffering. The story in England was different, with far less bloodshed. There, the elite were shamed into giving up enough of their power to allow democracy to work. I’m talking about England almost 100 years ago, not the present tragic descent into bourgeois fundamentalism.
Shame could also work in Thailand. It’s the most peaceful way. It’s the duty of liberal-minded people who love the Thais to shame their elite into more moral behaviour. The elite are not all heartless, and enough of them can be changed to give ordinary Thais a better life. Let them have their own heroes. I nominate Prince Mahidol who turned down the military career of an oppressor for one in medicine, relieving the suffering of ordinary Thais, not just the rich. Far better Mahidol than the pathetic failure Bhumibol. The last years of his reign have clearly shown that improvements for ordinary Thais have occurred in spite of his existence, not because of it.
Thailand’s coup: same same but different?
Quite right Bialao – “An independent Isaan does not serve anybody’s interests”, and personally I favour a federation or confederation – which would address economic integration issues. But does Patani think SO rationally about its “economic interest” ? Patani seems to be fighting an increasingly succesful fight against the Thai Military, eg. Betong blasts – without thinking about whether Patani could become economically viable (which I doubt). My question is : how much is Isaarn looking at Patani, and thinking “we can do the same”. Increasingly, I suspect. The point is : injustice.
Four questions about the Kachin war
China using KIA as pawn is an absurd observation! If KIA is really China’s proxy pawn, China would have supplied some strategic weapons (i.e., shoulder-missile) for airplanes.
Kachin, being mostly Christian and fought for UK and US during WW I & II, China knows well than KIA is not willing to listen to China at any cost!
Perhaps, United Wa State Army – UWSA is the Chinese proxy?