Professor Carey states that his “bottom line” is “what good will come from a particular association rather than the moral high ground?”, and he implies that this applies to his work at UI and Yayasan Arsari Djojohadikusumo (YAD). Carey offers a powerful comparative example from his past- the Cambodia Trust and its affiliation with Hun Sen, and the Nippon Foundation, founded by a war profiteer and Yakuza associate, Ryoichi Sasakawa, who wished to rehabilitate his image in a bid to win a Nobel prize (see http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-ryoichi-sasakawa-1592324.html), which funded it. Professor Carey’s indirect affiliation with such men allowed the Cambodia Trust to try to repair the lives of many Cambodians who were maimed by landmines and UXOs, namely through the extraordinary work of the Cambodian School of Prosthetics and Orthotics.
But Professor Carey doesn’t elaborate on what he does at the Universitas Indonesia, on a salary paid by YAD, and how his connection with Hashim Djojohadikusumo is therefore similar to his connection to Hun Sen and Ryoichi Sasakawa. His use of the Cambodia Trust example implies that Professor Carey is doing something equivalent at UI. But Professor Carey’s Linkedin profile only indicates that he supervises doctoral students at the faculty of humanities. Perhaps he has involvement in other projects which I am unaware of, that would allow him to connect his experience with the Cambodia Trust and the Nippon Foundation to his current experience with UI and YAD. But if all he’s doing is working as an adjunct professor, then the moral equivalence that Professor Carey implies doesn’t exist.
What good comes from Carey’s association with YAD that makes it comparable with the Cambodia Trust and the Nippon Foundation? Professor Carey implied that the answer is there, but he hasn’t given it, and that unknown is the basis for his response to Aspinall’s article.
The assertion that there is any such parallel is utterly false. The massive difference is that Singapore is a welfare state, and Thailand is a predatory state. The main hope for Thailand is that the predators slaughter each other in an elite conflict over the succession booty, and those of them that survive are utterly discredited.
“As long as the PAP’s technocratic elites provide political and social order alongside overall rising standards of living, then Singaporeans will repay the PAP with support at the ballot box and everyday political acquiescence”
A parallel is the acceptance by the majority of Thais of the present coup. It isn’t that Thais like coup, it’s a pragmatic solution.
And now for something completely different: Here’s a small sample (five bigger than any other poster here though) from last Friday of 6 KMITL tertiary students (I teach English and Cognitive skills) of mine who know me well enough to freely state their opinions in a private group setting.
Q.1 Is your attitude a) pro-junta, b)anti-junta, or c) undecided?
Result: Answer c. – unanimously
Q.2 Is this a) your own opinion, or b) that of your elders?
Result: Answer a. – again unanimously
Note 1: My own answers were only given after the poll was completed.
Note 2: My own answers were the same as theirs.
such as Temasek Holding but also playing an important role in encouraging the private sector to invest in the project. Additionally, thousands of Singaporeans are expected to be
Bialao, your remark that the Lao are a “Thai subgroup” is really untrue and insulting. There is nothing “sub-” about the relation between Lao and Thai (Siamese) people. Actually it is easier to define Lao as a ethnolinguistic group than the Thai, the latter being a modern political construct that is clearing failing at the seems. From a technical point of view we can distinguish a wider “Tai” category, which also includes peoples as diverse as the Ahom in India, the Zuang in China, etc. all divided by borders that have little to do with ethnic integrity. You are right that ‘one country one people’ is not a sure formula for prosperity, but we cannot hope to build tolerance and respect if we begin with a conception of the “Thai” as a super-ordinate category to which others bear a “sub-” relation.
Whether the junta succeeds with the Chinese model will all depend on whether the red shirts can be suppressed. Any government in Thailand will not be able to withstand sufficiently large street protests. The next protests or wave of protests will have to result in the evisceration of the military if democracy is going to succeed in the long run. The military has to be put under civilian control. As long as it functions as an independent body, the cycle of yellow shirt protests against elected governments will never end.
I would strongly agree Thai authorities are monitoring this site. I recognize one more recent user name from The Nation Weblog whom I’m sure will be making daily complaints to MICT for content here. One hopes personal IP registry information will be kept confidential and commentators within Thailand should use aliases.
The Smithsonian Magazine is a well respected journal, yet its site is blocked in Thailand for an article written some time ago exploring the evidence that regicide occurred in the 1940’s.
It’s is my opinion that’s the secret that 112 is really about.
“Proves her belief dead wrong?”
Read the text more carefully, then.
“After a number of red shirts complained to the Yingluck Shinawatra government about the appalling prison conditions, there was a slight improvement with some areas of prisons upgraded. Physical abuse against prisoners also subsided.”
I truly think the vote buying allegations are not why people vote for Thaksin Co. More likely it’s the socialist aspects of helping the poor, which is why the the rich are so incensed.
And even if money is handed out in villages- the vote is private, and no way to tell whom one voted for.
The fact is, The Democratic Party cannot win elections because the policies are for the elite. So, over and over, the elite system which Lese majeste protects ruthlessly- has the army overthrow legal governments.
The first reform must be to get rid of 112, until that is done, nothing can change. It is beyond any moral grounds and civility that a jail sentence awaits those that question the Monarch’s – or more likely, his circle’s- true ethics.
Look at the assets and tell me this is not rotten as it gets.
I agree that the Thai authorities prefer not to prosecute foreigners who are not also Thai or of Thai origin for LM. All foreigners I am aware of who have been convicted have been pardoned and deported rapidly, although had to suffer months of incarceration on remand. Some were even given the opportunity to write a letter of apology to the palace to avoid charges being pressed.
However, I would make two points here: 1) having declared a crackdown on LM, the junta is not going to want foreign academics who publicly criticise the monarchy to be running around freely in Thailand; 2) most LM charges are filed not by the authorities but by private citizens and police are obliged to follow up or face LM charges themselves. Even if the risk is perceived as low, it is a fat tail risk: i.e. high impact, if you happen to be caught in the wrong part of the bell curve.
I see that you’re not so well versed in the state of play in Thaialnd. You say that thaksin and his gang don’t take everything away? I see you also don’t bother to catch up on the news, so please let me cut and paste what I wrote beloe:
“Why is there no mention of the inept governance of his sister, the corruption plagued rice scheme that has seen Baht500Billion in losses to the state coffers and the disappearance of 3.0MM tons of rice from government warehouses, abuse of power, turning the country into a facist police state?”
They steal in a big way and do not even give crumbs for the hard work of the farmers. This is one example of the stealth perpetrated by thaksin’s puppets.
As I said with the brain trust here, we should be able to come up with constructive ideas and viewpoints that are reasonable and practical. But all the opinions and POV I’ve seen so far over many months is to attack and derogate views not of the New Mandala way. All the ideas that come about are to one-line witticism instead of constructive dialougue. Limited in your perpective more likely to put down opinions that are counter to your own.
In Thailand we call people with limited capacity to accept differing views or alternative views as RED Foreigners.
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Days of future past in Thailand
If this is a fairy tale, what happened to the the frog … er The Prince?
A lesson for researchers
Professor Carey states that his “bottom line” is “what good will come from a particular association rather than the moral high ground?”, and he implies that this applies to his work at UI and Yayasan Arsari Djojohadikusumo (YAD). Carey offers a powerful comparative example from his past- the Cambodia Trust and its affiliation with Hun Sen, and the Nippon Foundation, founded by a war profiteer and Yakuza associate, Ryoichi Sasakawa, who wished to rehabilitate his image in a bid to win a Nobel prize (see http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-ryoichi-sasakawa-1592324.html), which funded it. Professor Carey’s indirect affiliation with such men allowed the Cambodia Trust to try to repair the lives of many Cambodians who were maimed by landmines and UXOs, namely through the extraordinary work of the Cambodian School of Prosthetics and Orthotics.
But Professor Carey doesn’t elaborate on what he does at the Universitas Indonesia, on a salary paid by YAD, and how his connection with Hashim Djojohadikusumo is therefore similar to his connection to Hun Sen and Ryoichi Sasakawa. His use of the Cambodia Trust example implies that Professor Carey is doing something equivalent at UI. But Professor Carey’s Linkedin profile only indicates that he supervises doctoral students at the faculty of humanities. Perhaps he has involvement in other projects which I am unaware of, that would allow him to connect his experience with the Cambodia Trust and the Nippon Foundation to his current experience with UI and YAD. But if all he’s doing is working as an adjunct professor, then the moral equivalence that Professor Carey implies doesn’t exist.
What good comes from Carey’s association with YAD that makes it comparable with the Cambodia Trust and the Nippon Foundation? Professor Carey implied that the answer is there, but he hasn’t given it, and that unknown is the basis for his response to Aspinall’s article.
Bargaining with the PAP
The assertion that there is any such parallel is utterly false. The massive difference is that Singapore is a welfare state, and Thailand is a predatory state. The main hope for Thailand is that the predators slaughter each other in an elite conflict over the succession booty, and those of them that survive are utterly discredited.
Bargaining with the PAP
“As long as the PAP’s technocratic elites provide political and social order alongside overall rising standards of living, then Singaporeans will repay the PAP with support at the ballot box and everyday political acquiescence”
A parallel is the acceptance by the majority of Thais of the present coup. It isn’t that Thais like coup, it’s a pragmatic solution.
“Foreign influence” in Red Shirt demonstrations
I distinguish between Siamese and Thai and specifically stated the Lao are a Thai subgroup.
The Siamese are also a Thai subgroup. I don’t care how you spell it. Thai is Thai. Siamese is Siamese.
Video: Andrew Walker on latest Thai coup
Thai army video #ThaiCoup #р╕Бр╕нр╕Зр╕Чр╕▒р╕Юр╕Ър╕Б #р╕гр╕▒р╕Рр╕Ыр╕гр╕░р╕лр╕▓р╕г
Bargaining with the PAP
Singapore is a money-laundromat.
Thailand: a “soft revolution” in a happy country
And now for something completely different: Here’s a small sample (five bigger than any other poster here though) from last Friday of 6 KMITL tertiary students (I teach English and Cognitive skills) of mine who know me well enough to freely state their opinions in a private group setting.
Q.1 Is your attitude a) pro-junta, b)anti-junta, or c) undecided?
Result: Answer c. – unanimously
Q.2 Is this a) your own opinion, or b) that of your elders?
Result: Answer a. – again unanimously
Note 1: My own answers were only given after the poll was completed.
Note 2: My own answers were the same as theirs.
Malaysia in 2014 – a perspective from Singapore
such as Temasek Holding but also playing an important role in encouraging the private sector to invest in the project. Additionally, thousands of Singaporeans are expected to be
Interview with Joe Gordon: Lèse majesté and democracy
The rest of the world – call people with limited capacity to accept differing views or alternative views – Yellow shirts / Democrats / PDRC(?)
“Foreign influence” in Red Shirt demonstrations
Bialao, your remark that the Lao are a “Thai subgroup” is really untrue and insulting. There is nothing “sub-” about the relation between Lao and Thai (Siamese) people. Actually it is easier to define Lao as a ethnolinguistic group than the Thai, the latter being a modern political construct that is clearing failing at the seems. From a technical point of view we can distinguish a wider “Tai” category, which also includes peoples as diverse as the Ahom in India, the Zuang in China, etc. all divided by borders that have little to do with ethnic integrity. You are right that ‘one country one people’ is not a sure formula for prosperity, but we cannot hope to build tolerance and respect if we begin with a conception of the “Thai” as a super-ordinate category to which others bear a “sub-” relation.
Interview with Joe Gordon: Lèse majesté and democracy
Whether the junta succeeds with the Chinese model will all depend on whether the red shirts can be suppressed. Any government in Thailand will not be able to withstand sufficiently large street protests. The next protests or wave of protests will have to result in the evisceration of the military if democracy is going to succeed in the long run. The military has to be put under civilian control. As long as it functions as an independent body, the cycle of yellow shirt protests against elected governments will never end.
Video: Andrew Walker on latest Thai coup
As long as Mr Marshall is not in Thailand, no.
I would strongly agree Thai authorities are monitoring this site. I recognize one more recent user name from The Nation Weblog whom I’m sure will be making daily complaints to MICT for content here. One hopes personal IP registry information will be kept confidential and commentators within Thailand should use aliases.
Interview with Joe Gordon: Lèse majesté and democracy
The Smithsonian Magazine is a well respected journal, yet its site is blocked in Thailand for an article written some time ago exploring the evidence that regicide occurred in the 1940’s.
It’s is my opinion that’s the secret that 112 is really about.
Interview with Joe Gordon: Lèse majesté and democracy
“Proves her belief dead wrong?”
Read the text more carefully, then.
“After a number of red shirts complained to the Yingluck Shinawatra government about the appalling prison conditions, there was a slight improvement with some areas of prisons upgraded. Physical abuse against prisoners also subsided.”
Mr Gordon simply asserts some changes were made.
Interview with Joe Gordon: Lèse majesté and democracy
I truly think the vote buying allegations are not why people vote for Thaksin Co. More likely it’s the socialist aspects of helping the poor, which is why the the rich are so incensed.
And even if money is handed out in villages- the vote is private, and no way to tell whom one voted for.
The fact is, The Democratic Party cannot win elections because the policies are for the elite. So, over and over, the elite system which Lese majeste protects ruthlessly- has the army overthrow legal governments.
The first reform must be to get rid of 112, until that is done, nothing can change. It is beyond any moral grounds and civility that a jail sentence awaits those that question the Monarch’s – or more likely, his circle’s- true ethics.
Look at the assets and tell me this is not rotten as it gets.
Video: Andrew Walker on latest Thai coup
I agree that the Thai authorities prefer not to prosecute foreigners who are not also Thai or of Thai origin for LM. All foreigners I am aware of who have been convicted have been pardoned and deported rapidly, although had to suffer months of incarceration on remand. Some were even given the opportunity to write a letter of apology to the palace to avoid charges being pressed.
However, I would make two points here: 1) having declared a crackdown on LM, the junta is not going to want foreign academics who publicly criticise the monarchy to be running around freely in Thailand; 2) most LM charges are filed not by the authorities but by private citizens and police are obliged to follow up or face LM charges themselves. Even if the risk is perceived as low, it is a fat tail risk: i.e. high impact, if you happen to be caught in the wrong part of the bell curve.
Interview with Joe Gordon: Lèse majesté and democracy
Neptunian’s undisguised on-running adulation of NK Kim Jong makes me nearly certain that Denise Rodman and Neptunian are one and the same person.
Interview with Joe Gordon: Lèse majesté and democracy
I see that you’re not so well versed in the state of play in Thaialnd. You say that thaksin and his gang don’t take everything away? I see you also don’t bother to catch up on the news, so please let me cut and paste what I wrote beloe:
“Why is there no mention of the inept governance of his sister, the corruption plagued rice scheme that has seen Baht500Billion in losses to the state coffers and the disappearance of 3.0MM tons of rice from government warehouses, abuse of power, turning the country into a facist police state?”
They steal in a big way and do not even give crumbs for the hard work of the farmers. This is one example of the stealth perpetrated by thaksin’s puppets.
Interview with Joe Gordon: Lèse majesté and democracy
As I said with the brain trust here, we should be able to come up with constructive ideas and viewpoints that are reasonable and practical. But all the opinions and POV I’ve seen so far over many months is to attack and derogate views not of the New Mandala way. All the ideas that come about are to one-line witticism instead of constructive dialougue. Limited in your perpective more likely to put down opinions that are counter to your own.
In Thailand we call people with limited capacity to accept differing views or alternative views as RED Foreigners.