Interesting eh how some Australian academics bang on about democracy in Indonesia but appear not to want one person one vote in Papua.
With ethnic Papuan and non Papuan populations reaching parity, 20% of ethnic Papuans voting for the status quo would give Indonesia a solid majority. That’s why.
Over on another NM thread about Papua I notice the author is only interested in the ‘ethnic Papuan’ vote. Gov Bram’s wife is E.Timorese, a rellie of Gusmao’s no less, but obviously she and the kids are not ethnic enough for their votes to count.
We all know Australia has a continuing problem with racism. We shouldn’t be exporting it guys.
Read what I said. I do not like coups in principle. But examine what has actually happened. Can you comment about what the NCPO has done with legal execution? Can you name me the person involved in the moves? Are you even aware of it?
I don’t see it happening. Having lived in Khon Kaen, Roi Et, and Ubon, I would say frankly that Isaan on its own does not have the financial resources or infrastructure to survive as an independent nation. However, if it were to unite together with the north (Lanna), with Chiang Mai as the new capital, that might be viable. It would take a bloody civil war to accomplish that, however.
There was idle speculation right after the coup among those of us ex-pats who have lived here for more than a decade that if Thaksin was to fly to Chiang Mai, announce an independent government, and tell the troops to “come home”, half of the RTA would do so. The problem with that scenario is that Thaksin doesn’t want to split the kingdom, he is still a royalist and still has too much to lose. (“He wants all of Thailand, not just half of it”, one colleague said).
“I have not given my political views.” You are obviously a coup supporter. Do you deny it?
Here is another example from Prachatai of the mistreatment and execution threats of four students (from Isaan) at the hands of the Royal Thai Army in Bangkok, for possessing “No coup” stickers:
“Military ill-treats, threatens to kill anti-coup protesters”
Thailand is becoming the new Burma with this level of political repression and intimidation. These students were actually lucky, we don’t yet know how many like them have actually been ‘disappeared’, or how many will disappear in the months to come.
My point is more about Mandala not respecting the opinions of those who don’t support their bigoted agenda and selectively quoting out of context.
While writing, do you support what the NCPO have done in moving key people in the Legal Execution department. (Are you even aware of it?) I don’t like the concept of coups. I’m merely pointing out what is actually happening and it is not all doom and gloom. My time in Isaan certainly showed that. (That was not commented on of course)
Netiwit, Your courage is most commendable not least because were all aware that the more brain washed minions of the Amart would much rather spill the blood of their fellow countrymen rather than see their masters subjected to some honest and intelligent questioning. You do your country proud at a time when inspirational individuals are in dire need.
Most everything I would say has been said. But I challenge the usual “America is the worlds first democracy”. Uh, no. Arguably the world’s first liberal modern democracy but democracy has existed in lets see, Greece, Iceland and the UK (amongst others) before white people even knew there was an american continent. From that point on the drivel became not worth reading. Ironic that prabowo would complain about western influence and then use an American on his team….
Be careful what you wish for. What if you wake up and find Thailand has become the new Burma? The military has proven itself to be thin skinned and is arresting people for the slightest opposition to them.
I thought it would be a day or two before I got a reply like that. I fully understood you would pick up on only part of my post. I was fully aware of Duncan’s article. That does not mean that he and others support your one-sided views and your blatant censorship of posts that don’t fit your agenda.
As a radical site, you should allow free expression of views and not manipulate posts.
A certain person mischievously mis-quoted McCargo. You left that in.
I have not given my political views. i am reporting what is happening and that is very different from the one-sided reporting coming out of New Mandala. It was meant to be a radical site where alternative views could be aired. That simply does not happen.
I was “not allowed to appear” No permission was needed. You’re listening to the wrong people it seems. Get out there, away from bigoted sources, and do your own research.
Ask yourself why academics such as McCargo have no time for Mandala.
Surprised there was no mention of the fact that the West Papuan people responded to the call of civil society groups to boycott the presidential election. http://suarapapua.com/read/201…
Leading up to the election graffiti on walls calling for a boycott were painted over by the security forces and up to
13 members of the KNPB were arrested and beaten for distributing leaflets calling for a boycott.
The lesson for the Australia Government in all this is that the issue of West Papua is not going away. Instead of the usual mantra of, “we recognise Indonesian sovereignty over West Papua”, DFAT should be encouraging Jakarta to dialogue with West Papuan representatives as is the MSG. http://www.radionz.co.nz/inter…
As the July issue of Islands Business magazine noted. West Papua has never had this much regional support. Churches and human rights organisations have tried for years to keep the issue alive. Now, as Fiji prepares for elections, at least one political party has decided to enter the fray and challenge Indonesia’s occupation of the Melanesian land. http://www.islandsbusiness.com/2014/7/whispers/whispers/
Arthurson – and Matt Owen Rees : “We are being SILENCED! Given your political views it is not a surprise that you were allowed to appear on the local Thai radio station in Isaan”. All the more reason why Isaarn is likely to secede within the next decade.
Thaksin sought to bring about a redistribution of wealth in a Thailand where Greater Bangkok is about eight times richer than the Northeast. He sought to do this through his village and tambon (sub-district) subsidies, health care measures and infrastructure projects. Yingluck’s government implemented even more direct measures such as subsidizing the purchase of rice at 40% above the market price and instituting a minimum wage for Thai nationals of 300 baht (about US$10) per day. In doing so it exacerbated an economic, malaise that is beginning to grip Thailand. From a classical macro-economic view it is the cost of these rice subsidies of some US$21 billion (condemned by the IMF), as well as wages that make unskilled Thai labor less competitive that are the problem. But, from a broader perspective, these measures challenged the Faustian bargain at the heart of the Asian miracle: keeping rural incomes low, in order for labor costs in the manufacturing and service sectors to be kept correspondingly competitive. At the same time as during Europe during the industrial revolution, the countryside provided the ‘factory fodder’ and both licit and illicit service sector ‘fodder’ for Thailand’s growth. Yet without a corresponding investment in infrastructure, education and research and development in order to improve productivity, Thailand finds itself threatened by a middle-income trap. Labour-intensive manufacturing and even tourism have to face increased competition from China, Vietnam, Cambodia and, in the near future, Myanmar. Like Malaysia Thailand’s growth its based on increased inputs rather than innovation, improved productivity and a significant movement up the added value chain. In order to keep labour-intensive production of textiles, for example, in Thailand the country relies on an underpaid migrant population (especially from Myanmar) who are highly vulnerable to exploitation.
You should title your article “Hypocrite Thai Educators” instead of a “confused”
I do agree with your analysis of the situation, being part of the educational institution, the example you’ve mentioned is factual and the questions you ask are pertinent to the lack of democratic freedom in Thailand
This article sounds exactly like Prabowo’s. Allyn may, indeed, be the one who wrote for him. What surprises me the most is to learn how this highly-paid political consultant has no idea about how accurate the quick counts have predicted election’s results in Indonesia and how he simply ignored the QC of the non-partisant RRI/TVRI. To me, Allyn is simply an overrated consultant.
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Trouble in the East?
Interesting eh how some Australian academics bang on about democracy in Indonesia but appear not to want one person one vote in Papua.
With ethnic Papuan and non Papuan populations reaching parity, 20% of ethnic Papuans voting for the status quo would give Indonesia a solid majority. That’s why.
Over on another NM thread about Papua I notice the author is only interested in the ‘ethnic Papuan’ vote. Gov Bram’s wife is E.Timorese, a rellie of Gusmao’s no less, but obviously she and the kids are not ethnic enough for their votes to count.
We all know Australia has a continuing problem with racism. We shouldn’t be exporting it guys.
Political economy of Thai political pathologies
Read what I said. I do not like coups in principle. But examine what has actually happened. Can you comment about what the NCPO has done with legal execution? Can you name me the person involved in the moves? Are you even aware of it?
Political economy of Thai political pathologies
I don’t see it happening. Having lived in Khon Kaen, Roi Et, and Ubon, I would say frankly that Isaan on its own does not have the financial resources or infrastructure to survive as an independent nation. However, if it were to unite together with the north (Lanna), with Chiang Mai as the new capital, that might be viable. It would take a bloody civil war to accomplish that, however.
There was idle speculation right after the coup among those of us ex-pats who have lived here for more than a decade that if Thaksin was to fly to Chiang Mai, announce an independent government, and tell the troops to “come home”, half of the RTA would do so. The problem with that scenario is that Thaksin doesn’t want to split the kingdom, he is still a royalist and still has too much to lose. (“He wants all of Thailand, not just half of it”, one colleague said).
Political economy of Thai political pathologies
“I have not given my political views.” You are obviously a coup supporter. Do you deny it?
Here is another example from Prachatai of the mistreatment and execution threats of four students (from Isaan) at the hands of the Royal Thai Army in Bangkok, for possessing “No coup” stickers:
“Military ill-treats, threatens to kill anti-coup protesters”
http://www.prachatai.com/english/node/4221
Thailand is becoming the new Burma with this level of political repression and intimidation. These students were actually lucky, we don’t yet know how many like them have actually been ‘disappeared’, or how many will disappear in the months to come.
Political economy of Thai political pathologies
I respect your opinion.
My point is more about Mandala not respecting the opinions of those who don’t support their bigoted agenda and selectively quoting out of context.
While writing, do you support what the NCPO have done in moving key people in the Legal Execution department. (Are you even aware of it?) I don’t like the concept of coups. I’m merely pointing out what is actually happening and it is not all doom and gloom. My time in Isaan certainly showed that. (That was not commented on of course)
Confused Thai Educators
Netiwit, Your courage is most commendable not least because were all aware that the more brain washed minions of the Amart would much rather spill the blood of their fellow countrymen rather than see their masters subjected to some honest and intelligent questioning. You do your country proud at a time when inspirational individuals are in dire need.
Every vote must be counted, every voice must be heard
Most everything I would say has been said. But I challenge the usual “America is the worlds first democracy”. Uh, no. Arguably the world’s first liberal modern democracy but democracy has existed in lets see, Greece, Iceland and the UK (amongst others) before white people even knew there was an american continent. From that point on the drivel became not worth reading. Ironic that prabowo would complain about western influence and then use an American on his team….
Trouble in the East?
As if Papuan want to separate from Indonesia. It would be twice worse than East Timor today, presumably.
Political economy of Thai political pathologies
Be careful what you wish for. What if you wake up and find Thailand has become the new Burma? The military has proven itself to be thin skinned and is arresting people for the slightest opposition to them.
This is the salvation they bring?
Political economy of Thai political pathologies
I thought it would be a day or two before I got a reply like that. I fully understood you would pick up on only part of my post. I was fully aware of Duncan’s article. That does not mean that he and others support your one-sided views and your blatant censorship of posts that don’t fit your agenda.
As a radical site, you should allow free expression of views and not manipulate posts.
A certain person mischievously mis-quoted McCargo. You left that in.
Political economy of Thai political pathologies
Thanks Matt,
You mean this McCargo?
Best wishes to all,
Nich
Voting Number 1
No 1 not change Indonesia, the more Indonesia set back same with the daddy Suharto, may be better no 2 ?
Political economy of Thai political pathologies
Chris, widen your sources of information. Glad you pointed out that you can’t “appear” on a radio station. Says much about Mandala’s readership
Political economy of Thai political pathologies
I have not given my political views. i am reporting what is happening and that is very different from the one-sided reporting coming out of New Mandala. It was meant to be a radical site where alternative views could be aired. That simply does not happen.
I was “not allowed to appear” No permission was needed. You’re listening to the wrong people it seems. Get out there, away from bigoted sources, and do your own research.
Ask yourself why academics such as McCargo have no time for Mandala.
Trouble in the East?
Surprised there was no mention of the fact that the West Papuan people responded to the call of civil society groups to boycott the presidential election. http://suarapapua.com/read/201…
Up to 80% of West Papuans did support the boycott. http://www.radionz.co.nz/inter…
Leading up to the election graffiti on walls calling for a boycott were painted over by the security forces and up to
13 members of the KNPB were arrested and beaten for distributing leaflets calling for a boycott.
The lesson for the Australia Government in all this is that the issue of West Papua is not going away. Instead of the usual mantra of, “we recognise Indonesian sovereignty over West Papua”, DFAT should be encouraging Jakarta to dialogue with West Papuan representatives as is the MSG. http://www.radionz.co.nz/inter…
As the July issue of Islands Business magazine noted. West Papua has never had this much regional support. Churches and human rights organisations have tried for years to keep the issue alive. Now, as Fiji prepares for elections, at least one political party has decided to enter the fray and challenge Indonesia’s occupation of the Melanesian land. http://www.islandsbusiness.com/2014/7/whispers/whispers/
Political economy of Thai political pathologies
Arthurson – and Matt Owen Rees : “We are being SILENCED! Given your political views it is not a surprise that you were allowed to appear on the local Thai radio station in Isaan”. All the more reason why Isaarn is likely to secede within the next decade.
Political economy of Thai political pathologies
Thaksin sought to bring about a redistribution of wealth in a Thailand where Greater Bangkok is about eight times richer than the Northeast. He sought to do this through his village and tambon (sub-district) subsidies, health care measures and infrastructure projects. Yingluck’s government implemented even more direct measures such as subsidizing the purchase of rice at 40% above the market price and instituting a minimum wage for Thai nationals of 300 baht (about US$10) per day. In doing so it exacerbated an economic, malaise that is beginning to grip Thailand. From a classical macro-economic view it is the cost of these rice subsidies of some US$21 billion (condemned by the IMF), as well as wages that make unskilled Thai labor less competitive that are the problem. But, from a broader perspective, these measures challenged the Faustian bargain at the heart of the Asian miracle: keeping rural incomes low, in order for labor costs in the manufacturing and service sectors to be kept correspondingly competitive. At the same time as during Europe during the industrial revolution, the countryside provided the ‘factory fodder’ and both licit and illicit service sector ‘fodder’ for Thailand’s growth. Yet without a corresponding investment in infrastructure, education and research and development in order to improve productivity, Thailand finds itself threatened by a middle-income trap. Labour-intensive manufacturing and even tourism have to face increased competition from China, Vietnam, Cambodia and, in the near future, Myanmar. Like Malaysia Thailand’s growth its based on increased inputs rather than innovation, improved productivity and a significant movement up the added value chain. In order to keep labour-intensive production of textiles, for example, in Thailand the country relies on an underpaid migrant population (especially from Myanmar) who are highly vulnerable to exploitation.
House of Cards
Well, let’s see what part two and three bring. The core statement of this part could in fact have been made a lot simpler.
Confused Thai Educators
You should title your article “Hypocrite Thai Educators” instead of a “confused”
I do agree with your analysis of the situation, being part of the educational institution, the example you’ve mentioned is factual and the questions you ask are pertinent to the lack of democratic freedom in Thailand
Every vote must be counted, every voice must be heard
This article sounds exactly like Prabowo’s. Allyn may, indeed, be the one who wrote for him. What surprises me the most is to learn how this highly-paid political consultant has no idea about how accurate the quick counts have predicted election’s results in Indonesia and how he simply ignored the QC of the non-partisant RRI/TVRI. To me, Allyn is simply an overrated consultant.