Its time for a another Karpal Singh to appear. And that’s the fact. He will be even greater than the late Karpal Singh.We pray that his soul may rest in peace. Amen.
Singapore is a powerhouse. A clean and beautiful city with an educated and prosperous population. You have neighbours that plain stupid in Indonesia and Malaysia, two nations that are jealous of the success of Singapore. Be careful of what you wish for, because methinks you view the world through rose coloured glasses.
The one important historical reality that all western educated Myanmar born academics hate to admit is:
Precolonial Myanmar is closest in resemblance to the Panlong agreement.
The characteristics of those era ‘sans Monarchy’ can still be copied.
However with the constant west HR/NGO to stay in business;
1)Pitting one ethnic group against another.
2)Denying Buddhism IS Myanmar, thus sacrificing this precious central philosophy, a religion of peace.
From which the most fundamental of HR are derived
.
3) Replacing self serving commercialized western often hypocritical HR standard.
Vichai, no deliberate deceit was intended and I am prepared to stand corrected if you really know better My source was http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thaksin_Shinawatra#Early_ventures (not always 100% accurate, I agree) The quote is “Advance Info Service was given a monopoly contract by his contacts in the military in 1986.” Even so, I am not
suggesting that Prem was likely to have been involved personally though the connection is amusing!
As to your quote at the end, is there any real evidence that he said this or is it just more innuendo? Time and again I hear allegations of Thaksin’s corrupt practices designed to benefit himself personally or his family, and time and again I find that they don’t actually stand up to scrutiny. I don’t doubt that in the vicious and corrupt world of Thai politics he is, like most, into it up to his neck, though not actually for personal gain. Snoh’s allegations certainly have the ring of truth about them. But maybe that is what you have to do to survive in what someone else has described as a “pool of crocodiles.”
I should perhaps make it clear that the quotes in the first two paragraphs of my comment are extracted from the New York Times article by Thomas Fuller referred to in Bia Lao’s previous post. Apologies for the lack of clarity.
Thanks for your reply, Chris. As you will have gathered from the article, I am not suggesting that we have seen a vote for political Islam at this election. The interesting story is the continued pattern of ‘Islamic’ parties polling poorly in pre-election surveys, but ultimately winning a more significant vote share than predicted (and why this happens). In terms of the viability of the current parties, I’m very hesitant to agree that Golkar and PKS are likely to die out any time soon. Nor am I convinced that Gerindra’s late-campaign actions would have significantly improved support levels for a party like PKS. The most plausible reason for the ‘unpopular’ parties doing comparatively well is that voters were influenced more by individual candidate’s campaigns than party ID. Ed Aspinall wrote a great NM article on this phenomenon. Cheers, Tom.
David Blake (#19) has made an extremely important point. The patronage system adapts to, and corrupts democracy by tying people for life to the local patronage unit they were born into. They move into industrial society with the shackles of serfdom still attached.
Vichai,
I assume you forgot to mention Suthep and his thugs who have stated that some corruption is ok. The undemocratic democrats who avoid elections and dig into their pockets to buy votes.
Corruption of any sort is killing Thailand and is unacceptable. Even Thaksin should realise that you cannot guarantee anyone who you pay to vote voting for you.
1. Correction: Strike ‘quibbles’ and insert ‘ no major problems.
2. Maybe next Sonkran, unless the book comes out first: I still have one or two more mountains to climb myself.
3. In the meantime, I will be an occasional contributor endeavoring mainly to address half-truths and present inconvenient facts.
4. Thanks for your comments – although I would recommend that you try to avoid using the term ‘the truth’ as it is generally frowned upon in academic discussion there days – if not in journalism. Perhaps NM could do a better job than me of explaining this to readers, but it’s akin to the preferred terminology of ‘belief systems’ rather than ‘religions’ as it contains an inherent value judgement.
5. ‘nil desperandum illegitimi carborundum’
The Islamic parties, were, ummm, diligent. So? All the established unpopular parties did better than expected because Jokowi was unable to bring out the undecided swing vote for PDI-P. Why? Because of a very late-term sophisticated and very “heavy” (in terms of orchestration and reach) social media strike by Gerindra and Prabowo (according to Jokowi’s analysis, at least). Golkar did better than expected, so did the Democrats, as did the PKS, and most people I know will tell you they are all spent forces. So?
Ref my offering April 7 “awaiting moderation.”
Curious why it’s still “awaiting.” We can wait all we wish, but representative democracy in Thailand is dead, kaput.
” Thaksin certainly got lucky by doing a deal with Prem’s military government and so getting into the mobile phone market at just about the right time.” – Sceptic (9.1.2)
Sceptic is being deliberately deceitful. Prem was NOT the Thai PM when Thaksin got for his AIS the 20-year mobile phone business monopoly in year 1990, Chatichai Choonhavan was. Chatichai’s Deputy PM in charge of the Mass Organization of Thailand was no other than Chalerm Yubamrung.
“Isn’t corruption great and am I cool or not?” Thaksin must have said to himself.
That’s very good to hear. I appreciate you taking the time to say so, despite the fact we’ve clashed here on New Mandala in the past. My prickly demeanour is partly due to all the abuse I get for trying to uncover and report the truth, which is genuinely what I am trying to do. If you have time, please e-mail me with your quibbles. I welcome constructive criticism and corrections and they help me get closer to the truth. Cheers.
Whether vote buying/vote selling works or not … the short of it is vote selling/vote buying reinforces in Thailand Thaksin’s maxim that “it is indeed cool to be corrupt in Thailand”.
A group of local government associations and scholars, the People’s Network for a Self-Governing Administration, submitted a bill to Parliament last year calling for greater self-administration of provinces.
“We propose that power be restructured,” the group said in a statement last month. Among the proposals, which have not yet been taken up by Parliament: Provincial governors would be directly elected and more taxes would be collected and spent locally. The group says Bangkok “lacks knowledge or neglects the differences of local identities.”
Apropos these comments, surely one of the major drawbacks of the present structure of power and electoral representation is that it does not adequately reflect where people actually live and work? This constant polarisation of Bangkok and upcountry North or Isaan is unhealthy, as it does not recognise that the real economic heart of Thailand is actually Bangkok and the Central Plains (for better or, more likely, worse), and if people were allowed to vote where their economic livelihoods existed, then the electoral map of Thailand would change greatly, as it would take political power away from the rotten (depopulated) boroughs of the North and Isaan and redistribute it to the core. And it seems neither side in the current conflict want to do that, but rather live in the fanciful dreamland of Bangkok taxi drivers and factory workers, at heart being chao naa-chao rai and one day returning to merrily till the utopian fields under benevolent patrons, whether bureaucratic or politician businessmen.
Has any politician in the last few years seriously suggested redrawing the electoral map to allow votes to count where people are actually domiciled, rather than where their birth place is? Or is this yet one more elephant in the room that is stepped around in polite conversation? Electing provincial governors will do little for furthering democracy in Thailand, as far as I can see, though it might please those happy with the status quo of rampant “vote buying” (or whatever you prefer to call it) in every type and level of election.
Anglo-Saxons par excellence across the seven seas and seven ranges of mountains…. and still at it.
Texas by the way was a shining example (history conveniently glossed over) of settlers from a contiguous land you know who grabbing a big piece of Mexico and succeeding where the Rohingya tried the same and failed.. so far.
Thank you very much for this thought provoking response. To do it justice I will discuss it with Raheem and the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign here in Thailand before posting a full reply.
Thanks also for reminding people that Palestinians do not enjoy ownership of full passports, only travel documents. This is a bureaucratic impediment that impedes the granting of visas by many countries.
Government supporters say a sense of solidarity has emerged between northern Thailand and the vast northeastern Isaan plateau, where the maternal tongue, a form of Lao, is similar to the Lanna language of the north.
Chalida Chusirithanakit, a pharmacist in the northeast, says the current round of protests has kindled “a real sense of pride in being Isaan people,” especially among the government supporters, called the red shirts.
“They feel they have struggled and have been oppressed for a long time,” said Ms. Chalida, who moved to Isaan from northern Thailand nearly 40 years ago.
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On the death of Karpal Singh, MP
Its time for a another Karpal Singh to appear. And that’s the fact. He will be even greater than the late Karpal Singh.We pray that his soul may rest in peace. Amen.
Review of One Man’s View of the World
Singapore is a powerhouse. A clean and beautiful city with an educated and prosperous population. You have neighbours that plain stupid in Indonesia and Malaysia, two nations that are jealous of the success of Singapore. Be careful of what you wish for, because methinks you view the world through rose coloured glasses.
Colonialism and ethnic conflict in Burma
The one important historical reality that all western educated Myanmar born academics hate to admit is:
Precolonial Myanmar is closest in resemblance to the Panlong agreement.
The characteristics of those era ‘sans Monarchy’ can still be copied.
However with the constant west HR/NGO to stay in business;
1)Pitting one ethnic group against another.
2)Denying Buddhism IS Myanmar, thus sacrificing this precious central philosophy, a religion of peace.
From which the most fundamental of HR are derived
.
3) Replacing self serving commercialized western often hypocritical HR standard.
Continuing this useless careless policy.
Network monarchy’s twilight
Vichai, no deliberate deceit was intended and I am prepared to stand corrected if you really know better My source was http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thaksin_Shinawatra#Early_ventures (not always 100% accurate, I agree) The quote is “Advance Info Service was given a monopoly contract by his contacts in the military in 1986.” Even so, I am not
suggesting that Prem was likely to have been involved personally though the connection is amusing!
As to your quote at the end, is there any real evidence that he said this or is it just more innuendo? Time and again I hear allegations of Thaksin’s corrupt practices designed to benefit himself personally or his family, and time and again I find that they don’t actually stand up to scrutiny. I don’t doubt that in the vicious and corrupt world of Thai politics he is, like most, into it up to his neck, though not actually for personal gain. Snoh’s allegations certainly have the ring of truth about them. But maybe that is what you have to do to survive in what someone else has described as a “pool of crocodiles.”
Network monarchy’s twilight
I should perhaps make it clear that the quotes in the first two paragraphs of my comment are extracted from the New York Times article by Thomas Fuller referred to in Bia Lao’s previous post. Apologies for the lack of clarity.
Why were the polls wrong about Islamic parties?
*candidates’
Why were the polls wrong about Islamic parties?
Thanks for your reply, Chris. As you will have gathered from the article, I am not suggesting that we have seen a vote for political Islam at this election. The interesting story is the continued pattern of ‘Islamic’ parties polling poorly in pre-election surveys, but ultimately winning a more significant vote share than predicted (and why this happens). In terms of the viability of the current parties, I’m very hesitant to agree that Golkar and PKS are likely to die out any time soon. Nor am I convinced that Gerindra’s late-campaign actions would have significantly improved support levels for a party like PKS. The most plausible reason for the ‘unpopular’ parties doing comparatively well is that voters were influenced more by individual candidate’s campaigns than party ID. Ed Aspinall wrote a great NM article on this phenomenon. Cheers, Tom.
Network monarchy’s twilight
David Blake (#19) has made an extremely important point. The patronage system adapts to, and corrupts democracy by tying people for life to the local patronage unit they were born into. They move into industrial society with the shackles of serfdom still attached.
Vote buying – commodity or gift?
Vichai,
I assume you forgot to mention Suthep and his thugs who have stated that some corruption is ok. The undemocratic democrats who avoid elections and dig into their pockets to buy votes.
Corruption of any sort is killing Thailand and is unacceptable. Even Thaksin should realise that you cannot guarantee anyone who you pay to vote voting for you.
Network monarchy’s twilight
1. Correction: Strike ‘quibbles’ and insert ‘ no major problems.
2. Maybe next Sonkran, unless the book comes out first: I still have one or two more mountains to climb myself.
3. In the meantime, I will be an occasional contributor endeavoring mainly to address half-truths and present inconvenient facts.
4. Thanks for your comments – although I would recommend that you try to avoid using the term ‘the truth’ as it is generally frowned upon in academic discussion there days – if not in journalism. Perhaps NM could do a better job than me of explaining this to readers, but it’s akin to the preferred terminology of ‘belief systems’ rather than ‘religions’ as it contains an inherent value judgement.
5. ‘nil desperandum illegitimi carborundum’
Why were the polls wrong about Islamic parties?
The Islamic parties, were, ummm, diligent. So? All the established unpopular parties did better than expected because Jokowi was unable to bring out the undecided swing vote for PDI-P. Why? Because of a very late-term sophisticated and very “heavy” (in terms of orchestration and reach) social media strike by Gerindra and Prabowo (according to Jokowi’s analysis, at least). Golkar did better than expected, so did the Democrats, as did the PKS, and most people I know will tell you they are all spent forces. So?
Network monarchy’s twilight
Ref my offering April 7 “awaiting moderation.”
Curious why it’s still “awaiting.” We can wait all we wish, but representative democracy in Thailand is dead, kaput.
Jokowi the party man
i hope, jokowi not to be president.
Network monarchy’s twilight
” Thaksin certainly got lucky by doing a deal with Prem’s military government and so getting into the mobile phone market at just about the right time.” – Sceptic (9.1.2)
Sceptic is being deliberately deceitful. Prem was NOT the Thai PM when Thaksin got for his AIS the 20-year mobile phone business monopoly in year 1990, Chatichai Choonhavan was. Chatichai’s Deputy PM in charge of the Mass Organization of Thailand was no other than Chalerm Yubamrung.
“Isn’t corruption great and am I cool or not?” Thaksin must have said to himself.
Network monarchy’s twilight
That’s very good to hear. I appreciate you taking the time to say so, despite the fact we’ve clashed here on New Mandala in the past. My prickly demeanour is partly due to all the abuse I get for trying to uncover and report the truth, which is genuinely what I am trying to do. If you have time, please e-mail me with your quibbles. I welcome constructive criticism and corrections and they help me get closer to the truth. Cheers.
Vote buying – commodity or gift?
Whether vote buying/vote selling works or not … the short of it is vote selling/vote buying reinforces in Thailand Thaksin’s maxim that “it is indeed cool to be corrupt in Thailand”.
Network monarchy’s twilight
A group of local government associations and scholars, the People’s Network for a Self-Governing Administration, submitted a bill to Parliament last year calling for greater self-administration of provinces.
“We propose that power be restructured,” the group said in a statement last month. Among the proposals, which have not yet been taken up by Parliament: Provincial governors would be directly elected and more taxes would be collected and spent locally. The group says Bangkok “lacks knowledge or neglects the differences of local identities.”
Apropos these comments, surely one of the major drawbacks of the present structure of power and electoral representation is that it does not adequately reflect where people actually live and work? This constant polarisation of Bangkok and upcountry North or Isaan is unhealthy, as it does not recognise that the real economic heart of Thailand is actually Bangkok and the Central Plains (for better or, more likely, worse), and if people were allowed to vote where their economic livelihoods existed, then the electoral map of Thailand would change greatly, as it would take political power away from the rotten (depopulated) boroughs of the North and Isaan and redistribute it to the core. And it seems neither side in the current conflict want to do that, but rather live in the fanciful dreamland of Bangkok taxi drivers and factory workers, at heart being chao naa-chao rai and one day returning to merrily till the utopian fields under benevolent patrons, whether bureaucratic or politician businessmen.
Has any politician in the last few years seriously suggested redrawing the electoral map to allow votes to count where people are actually domiciled, rather than where their birth place is? Or is this yet one more elephant in the room that is stepped around in polite conversation? Electing provincial governors will do little for furthering democracy in Thailand, as far as I can see, though it might please those happy with the status quo of rampant “vote buying” (or whatever you prefer to call it) in every type and level of election.
Colonialism and ethnic conflict in Burma
Anglo-Saxons par excellence across the seven seas and seven ranges of mountains…. and still at it.
Texas by the way was a shining example (history conveniently glossed over) of settlers from a contiguous land you know who grabbing a big piece of Mexico and succeeding where the Rohingya tried the same and failed.. so far.
Interview with a Palestinian refugee in Thailand
Thank you very much for this thought provoking response. To do it justice I will discuss it with Raheem and the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign here in Thailand before posting a full reply.
Thanks also for reminding people that Palestinians do not enjoy ownership of full passports, only travel documents. This is a bureaucratic impediment that impedes the granting of visas by many countries.
Network monarchy’s twilight
Interesting article in the times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/13/world/asia/thailands-political-tensions-are-rekindling-ethnic-and-regional-divisions.html?_r=0
Government supporters say a sense of solidarity has emerged between northern Thailand and the vast northeastern Isaan plateau, where the maternal tongue, a form of Lao, is similar to the Lanna language of the north.
Chalida Chusirithanakit, a pharmacist in the northeast, says the current round of protests has kindled “a real sense of pride in being Isaan people,” especially among the government supporters, called the red shirts.
“They feel they have struggled and have been oppressed for a long time,” said Ms. Chalida, who moved to Isaan from northern Thailand nearly 40 years ago.