Depressing but true. Especially when you consider that Najib and UMNO are quickly making up lost ground. Even amongst top government officials, there is a recognition that Pakatan could one day become government after the results of the last election and this sobering realisation is creating an impetus for better accountability processes in a bureaucracy preparing for the day when an alternate government could take up office. There may just be enough change for the electorate to accommodate living with ‘the devil they know’ than risk a well-intentioned new government that would probably fumble finding its way.
The Thai political system and constitution (IE.People’s Constitution, et al)has been reformed already and more
than once.There is no reason to believe that this again would change the culture of the Thai society. I think this suggestion by a Chiang Rai MP was made to give the government a bit of respite and stop Suthep’s momentum.It’s the Democrat Party which needs reform to make it more inclusive and relevant to the rural people. They had no vision how to run an election strategy to appeal to a wider audience. Furthermore , involving the monarchy to take sides by “yellow shirts” is a divisive strategy which creates angst because the implications are that other than “yellows” are not respectful of the royal family.In this way the monarchy is “used” with bad intentions. The Palace should be more forthright publicly to insist that the Monarchy is not going to appoint political leaders. The Judiciary has a place as arbitrators for impasse.Thailand needs to grow up and nor rely on the King as a child would on a father. What kind of system is it when someone doesn’t like the elected government , then has a rent-a-crowd to come out on the street to cause chaos and rely on the King to step in a fix it? If this was put in the constitution no government can ever run the country, there will always be other Sutheps.
I think Suthep will have been told today to step down….I do not believe that the royal family will back a minority horse, I am certain that the younger is aware of supporting the growing rural classes as well as international opinion of equality for his continued status
Something’s going on, something’s brewing. Because this standoff between Suthep’s ‘uproot-the-Thaksin-system’ protesters and the government-who-tried-but-failed-to-amnesty-Thaksin is reaching breaking point.
Will Suthep’s protest movement sputter and die? Not likely because we recall the 400,000 or so Sunday mass of angry anti-Thaksins that poured into the streets of Bangkok, and the Asoke and Silom and other streets that was choked by sympathizers to Suthep’s angry call to come in anger against the Thaksin-servants. Many, including myself, balk at Suthep’s proposal for an interim government of appointed grandees. That said, my anger at the brazeness of Thaksin-servants-posing-as-lawmakers remains at a boil and many more share my sentiments against the Shinawatra gang.
Out of the blue, a Peau Thai MP for Chieng Rai suggested a way out of the standoff (and avoid violent clashes from opposing camps). He suggested to first amend Section 291 by inserting a transitory provision to allow an unelected interim prime minister and government. After that, the House could be dissolved and the power returned to the people… etc etc.
What is significant is that a Peau Thai MP is making a suggestion towards an interim unelected PM and is open somewhat to the suggestion of ‘reforming the political system of Thailand’ during that interim period!
Goood. Now ballgame is in Suthep’s camp. Negotiate Suthep please negotiate. There’s no such thing as a one-sided solution to Thailand’s political woes and broken political system. If Yingluck is suggesting a tango, then by all means Suthep join the tango!
While I am no fan of Abhisit, as I recall he did not expressly say whether he was in favour of Suthep’s proposal for a people’s council? My impression was that he was keeping his cards close to his chest.
I accidentally clicked thumbs up for Lim Weng Marc’s post instead of thumbs down……fat finger syndrome….lol. And i found out that you can’t undo your pick. Needless to say, i don’t agree with what he said.
Only occasionally do things come along that force me to reassess my comforting opinions. This thoughtful little essay does that, adding new and interesting complexity. Well done.
Just wondering if you have read Professor Andrew Leigh’s paper (link given in resume racism in another comment), or the speech by Dr Tim Soutphommasane.
Honestly, I feel a bit sad for the King. To witness at the fag end of his tenure the imminent downfall of an institution that he helped become the most powerful one in modern Thailand. I must say I have mixed feelings on the relevance and role of monarchy in Thailand over the decades. While the abolition of monarchy by the rising and pro-republican bourgeoise is considered by some as an ‘obvious’ progress and more ‘democratic’ I am not so sure of this. For the fact is that we are currently living globally in the era of what I can only call ‘corporate monarchy’. Are the big corporations of the world any less monarchial than the old ones? In fact they are even more authoritarian than the earlier model given the huge sums of money and technical power at their command. If monarchy has to go – in whatever manner- so must the power of the corporations. All monopolies- in whatever disguise- must go and effective institutional means found for exercising the true democratic will of the citizens. In a sense what is being played out in Thailand is a poser to people around the world- some of whom may think they are somehow superior because they have ‘elected’ governments but are in fact living under the silent (and not-so-silent too) dictatorships run by the corporate monarchs. In their own sometimes distorted, often frustrating and bewildering way Thais- red, yellow and other shades- are challenging the entire world to rethink their set ideas of what ‘democracy’ really means in our times of corporate domination. All power to the people of Thailand- who with all their limitations- remain some of the most beautiful human beings on this planet!
I am furious at this clamour for a royally-appointed premier; an appointment that would go against the principles of democracy. The claim that Section 7 of the constitution could be used in this case is a false one. Section 7 has two lines that specify that, if cases arise that are not covered by the constitution, then actions should be based on tradition or on precedent. There is nothing that suggests “We want a royally-appointed premier” – this is not part of a democratic system. It is incoherent. It is not, not, not rational.
“р╕Вр╣Йр╕▓р╕Юр╣Ар╕Ир╣Йр╕▓р╕бр╕╡р╕Др╕зр╕▓р╕бр╣Ар╕Фр╕╖р╕нр╕Фр╕гр╣Йр╕нр╕Щр╕бр╕▓р╕Б р╕Чр╕╡р╣Ир╣Ар╕нр╕░р╕нр╕░р╕нр╕░р╣Др╕гр╕Бр╣Зр╕Вр╕нр╕Юр╕гр╕░р╕гр╕▓р╕Кр╕Чр╕▓р╕Щр╕Щр╕▓р╕вр╕Бр╕п р╕Юр╕гр╕░р╕гр╕▓р╕Кр╕Чр╕▓р╕Щ р╕Лр╕╢р╣Ир╕Зр╣Др╕бр╣Ир╣Гр╕Кр╣Ир╕Бр╕▓р╕гр╕Ыр╕Бр╕Др╕гр╕нр╕Зр╣Бр╕Ър╕Ър╕Ыр╕гр╕░р╕Кр╕▓р╕Шр╕┤р╕Ыр╣Др╕Хр╕в р╕Цр╣Йр╕▓р╣Др╕Ыр╕нр╣Йр╕▓р╕Зр╕бр╕▓р╕Хр╕гр╕▓ р╣Ч р╕Вр╕нр╕Зр╕гр╕▒р╕Рр╕Шр╕гр╕гр╕бр╕Щр╕╣р╕Н р╣Ар╕Ыр╣Зр╕Щр╕Бр╕▓р╕гр╕нр╣Йр╕▓р╕Зр╕Чр╕╡р╣Ир╕Ьр╕┤р╕Ф р╕бр╕▒р╕Щр╕нр╣Йр╕▓р╕Зр╣Др╕бр╣Ир╣Др╕Фр╣Й р╕бр╕▓р╕Хр╕гр╕▓ р╣Ч р╕бр╕╡ р╣Т р╕Ър╕гр╕гр╕Чр╕▒р╕Фр╕зр╣Ир╕▓ р╕нр╕░р╣Др╕гр╕Чр╕╡р╣Ир╣Др╕бр╣Ир╕бр╕╡р╣Гр╕Щр╕гр╕▒р╕Рр╕Шр╕гр╕гр╕бр╕Щр╕╣р╕Н р╕Бр╣Зр╣Гр╕лр╣Йр╕Ыр╕Пр╕┤р╕Ър╕▒р╕Хр╕┤р╕Хр╕▓р╕бр╕Ыр╕гр╕░р╣Ар╕Юр╕Ур╕╡ р╕лр╕гр╕╖р╕нр╕Хр╕▓р╕бр╕Чр╕╡р╣Ир╣Ар╕Др╕вр╕Чр╕│р╕бр╕▓ р╣Др╕бр╣Ир╕бр╕╡ р╣Ар╕Вр╕▓р╕нр╕вр╕▓р╕Бр╕Ир╕░р╣Др╕Фр╣Йр╕Щр╕▓р╕вр╕Бр╕п р╕Юр╕гр╕░р╕гр╕▓р╕Кр╕Чр╕▓р╕Щ р╣Ар╕Ыр╣Зр╕Щр╕Хр╣Йр╕Щ р╕Ир╕░р╕Вр╕нр╕Щр╕▓р╕вр╕Бр╕п р╕Юр╕гр╕░р╕гр╕▓р╕Кр╕Чр╕▓р╕Щ р╣Др╕бр╣Ир╣Гр╕Кр╣Ир╣Ар╕Ыр╣Зр╕Щр╣Ар╕гр╕╖р╣Ир╕нр╕Зр╕Бр╕▓р╕гр╕Ыр╕Бр╕Др╕гр╕нр╕Зр╣Бр╕Ър╕Ър╕Ыр╕гр╕░р╕Кр╕▓р╕Шр╕┤р╕Ыр╣Др╕Хр╕в р╣Ар╕Ыр╣Зр╕Щр╕Бр╕▓р╕гр╕Ыр╕Бр╕Др╕гр╕нр╕Зр╣Бр╕Ър╕Ъ р╕Вр╕нр╣Вр╕Чр╕й р╕Юр╕╣р╕Фр╣Бр╕Ър╕Ър╕бр╕▒р╣Ир╕з р╣Бр╕Ър╕Ър╣Др╕бр╣И р╣Др╕бр╣И р╣Др╕бр╣Ир╕бр╕╡р╣Ар╕лр╕Хр╕╕р╕бр╕╡р╕Ьр╕е”
Royal address at the oath of allegiance by judges of the Court of Justice, before their appointment. At Glai Rangwan Palace, Hua Hin, Tuesday, 25 April, 2549
In the light of these discussions on doctorates for Asian leaders, I am proud to say that Malaysia too has contributed — not one, but to three Australian universities — although not as illustrious as ANU, nevertheless Adelaide, Monash, and Curtin are still respectable Australian universities.
ASSK has said repeatedly that she is a politician and not a human rights defender. She no longer can even be seen as a non-partisan, credible statesman. Her continued ignorance over the growing anti-Islamic sentiments in Myanmar and her silence over the violence in Kachin is quite telling. If anything ASSK has made the decision to behave exactly like the regime she is seeking to replace. The continued pomp and circumstance afforded to her by the international community is not doing her any favors. If she truly wishes to seek peace and reconciliation in Myanmar, she needs to step down her pedestal (which to be fair was built by an uncritical Western-led media PR campaign, as well as devoted cult of personality within Myanmar). If ASSK truly wants to make her mark and have a legacy to be proud of, she needs to start doing the right thing, and not the popular thing. More statesmanship and critical thinking, less politics and pandering to uncritical/corrupt minds.
The Democrats do not openly disagree with Suthep because they want to shake the foundations of Peau Thai hoping that internal bickering among them will destabilise it and thus the Democrats will once again rule in a coalition with other parties.Unfortunately in Thailand political parties aren’t wedded to ideological principles but are an opportunistic bunch of individuals. They stick with each other for personal advancement instead of being beholden to their electorates who make up their constituents. IMO Thaksin constituents in the rural areas are more attached to their Kamnans who can deliver wholesale votes to those who benefit them. It’s the way of a paternal society but even in the West there are examples of “porkbarreling” to attract loyality. Thaksin used a combination of eastern and western methods by way of populist policies to tie the rural voters to him. Don’t forget, the poor and disadvantaged need a benefactor more than the urban elite.Also the less educated are more prone to follow charismatic leaders.Until Abhisit realises this he’ll never have a majority and will rely on a cobbled coalition with diverse interests. The Democrats should clearly distance themselves from Suthep who in the LONG run is on a hiding to nothing. This is his 15 minute of fame.
There are some very influential business people in Bangkok right now who lost a lot of money when shopping malls closed down because of the chaos. A repetition of that will make Suthep public enemy number 1.
I watched Abhisit tell a bald-faced lie in an interview on BBC News on December 3, saying that Yingluck had only withdrawn the amnesty bill for 180 days and could still bring it back, which was the reason why they were continuing the protests, but he then went on to say that he wanted to replace the government with an unelected “people’s council”, so he is just as guilty as Suthep in perpetuating this mockery of a protest movement.
Something rotten is going on behind the scenes, and the rumors (from a tweet by Jonathan Head, BBC News) are that it involves the top generals in the military. We will see tomorrow, December 6, if there is a military backed coup, or some other form of judicial coup.
Meanwhile, it is clear to me as a Mahidol University employee that our Salaya campus shutdown by the University president was a politically backed move in support of the anti-government protests, and has had nothing to do with the safety of the students. It has really negatively impacted the students, who had final exams scheduled for this week, and which have now been postponed until January 6-9. Exchange students from countries like Australia, the US, and Europe in particular have been really screwed by this move because they have to leave without their courses completed. We faculty are being pressured to offer alternatives in lieu of final exams to them so that they can complete their grade transcripts. This is not the way to run a university and uphold international standards.
I too could only shake my head in disbelief after Suthep’s illuminations. The ruling Peau Thai Party consternation at what Suthep is proposing is understandable.
What disturbs me is that the Democrat Party leadership has NOT come out to openly disagree with Suthep’s proposal of appointed ‘grandees’ and royally handpicked PM to govern Thailand, while the Thai people sort out what political reforms are needed.
If Suthep is indeed suffering from a ‘disturbed mind’ (as alledged by PT party), then his mental illness must be communicably deadly to have infected the whole Democrat Party of Thailand.
Asian Wing Airways is owned by Tay Za, the top business crony of Than Shwe. TayZa the notorious tycoon crook of Burma received a hefty bribe, 50 million US$’s, for brokering the deal between Ivanhoe a Canadian mining company and Wanbao, the Chinese company that now owns the environmentally devastating Letpadaung copper mines that Suu Kyi endorsed to the ire of the local farmers who blindly trusted her. Wanbao supplies copper to the PLA.
TayZa got bribed by the Chinese and Suu Kyi got bribed by Tayza. What a country! So who’s bribing these Australian Universities. Are they also cash-strapped like most Universities in the West? Politics of honorary “tea-money for dictatorates” indeed!
Given the fact that negating the electoral process would set Thailand back decades Suthep’s suggestion is not a real option and even he must realise that.So why does he make demands which aren’t realistic? As Deputy Prime Minister he was responsible for the heavy loss of life of the Red Shirts and he is trying now to goad to present government to also kill some of his supporters in order to be able to claim that they’re no better than he was when in power.He is definitely hoping for violence and the Army to step in and so the country would be under military control once again.That’s the only way he can get rid of the Thaksin influence in politics.His personal safety now depends on this.Rest assured that he isn’t acting alone but he is the front man.The way out of this dilemma for the government would be for Yingluck to resign and his party to name another PM. Yingluck should have never been PM, this was a strategic mistake of Thaksin in exile and now the Phuai Thai Party should step in and correct this. Suthep then would have the rug pulled from under him, his only option would be to flee the country before he gets arrested.His hatred of Thaksin and his fear of being convicted of murder motivates him and he lost the plot. In the end he may be responsible for more deaths ,this time among the yellow shirt mob who are being misled. The long term solution for Thailand would be for the Democrats to embrace the rural electorate and take this constituency away from Thaksin. Abhisit should have done this during the Red Shirts rebellion and he’d still be PM. Unfortunately he succumbed to Suthep’s influence ,a hawk in his party. Now we see the repercussions.
Like a known Malaysian pseudo-academic at a non-accredited Malaysian ‘university,’ of no substance, awarding North Korean nut job and vicious dictator, Kim Jong Un, an Honorary Degree ? For what? Starving and subjugating his own people ? Ridiculous and stupid.
Daw Aung Suu Kyi deserves awards, but I am in no position to judge how many, and from whom, opinions about Daw Aung are generally positive, but she has her detractors, some on
New Mandala. I recall (and don’t remember their name) a contributor to New Mandala scoffing at Daw Aung and flippantly suggesting that she is “Posh” with an Oxford-accent. I take the inference to mean because of her Western ties (and former English husband), she is somehow suspect and not a true Burmese. Someone else said that the NLD was “Socialist” (and, therefore, so must be Daw Aung). I disagree with both assessments. If I were to question her, I might question her technocratic skills and ability to lead a poor and ravaged nation, since she was obviously not afforded the opportunity to gain national-level leadership skills, despite having won an election. I think Daw Aung is intelligent, dynamic, cares about Burma and its people, has very good speaking and people skills, but I am not so sure about national leadership abilities. Having said that, those that question her sincerity and her Western ‘ways,’ and her “Posh” attitudes, have a right to their opinion, but I think those views are exaggerated and not an accurate reflection of Daw Aung Suu Kyi, regardless of whatever human frailties she may have, which we all have.
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Pakatan Rakyat does not deserve to be government
Depressing but true. Especially when you consider that Najib and UMNO are quickly making up lost ground. Even amongst top government officials, there is a recognition that Pakatan could one day become government after the results of the last election and this sobering realisation is creating an impetus for better accountability processes in a bureaucracy preparing for the day when an alternate government could take up office. There may just be enough change for the electorate to accommodate living with ‘the devil they know’ than risk a well-intentioned new government that would probably fumble finding its way.
Thailand’s stark choice
The Thai political system and constitution (IE.People’s Constitution, et al)has been reformed already and more
than once.There is no reason to believe that this again would change the culture of the Thai society. I think this suggestion by a Chiang Rai MP was made to give the government a bit of respite and stop Suthep’s momentum.It’s the Democrat Party which needs reform to make it more inclusive and relevant to the rural people. They had no vision how to run an election strategy to appeal to a wider audience. Furthermore , involving the monarchy to take sides by “yellow shirts” is a divisive strategy which creates angst because the implications are that other than “yellows” are not respectful of the royal family.In this way the monarchy is “used” with bad intentions. The Palace should be more forthright publicly to insist that the Monarchy is not going to appoint political leaders. The Judiciary has a place as arbitrators for impasse.Thailand needs to grow up and nor rely on the King as a child would on a father. What kind of system is it when someone doesn’t like the elected government , then has a rent-a-crowd to come out on the street to cause chaos and rely on the King to step in a fix it? If this was put in the constitution no government can ever run the country, there will always be other Sutheps.
Thailand’s stark choice
I think Suthep will have been told today to step down….I do not believe that the royal family will back a minority horse, I am certain that the younger is aware of supporting the growing rural classes as well as international opinion of equality for his continued status
Thailand’s stark choice
Something’s going on, something’s brewing. Because this standoff between Suthep’s ‘uproot-the-Thaksin-system’ protesters and the government-who-tried-but-failed-to-amnesty-Thaksin is reaching breaking point.
Will Suthep’s protest movement sputter and die? Not likely because we recall the 400,000 or so Sunday mass of angry anti-Thaksins that poured into the streets of Bangkok, and the Asoke and Silom and other streets that was choked by sympathizers to Suthep’s angry call to come in anger against the Thaksin-servants. Many, including myself, balk at Suthep’s proposal for an interim government of appointed grandees. That said, my anger at the brazeness of Thaksin-servants-posing-as-lawmakers remains at a boil and many more share my sentiments against the Shinawatra gang.
Out of the blue, a Peau Thai MP for Chieng Rai suggested a way out of the standoff (and avoid violent clashes from opposing camps). He suggested to first amend Section 291 by inserting a transitory provision to allow an unelected interim prime minister and government. After that, the House could be dissolved and the power returned to the people… etc etc.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/383367/amend-charter-to-allow-interim-pm-says-pheu-thai-mp
What is significant is that a Peau Thai MP is making a suggestion towards an interim unelected PM and is open somewhat to the suggestion of ‘reforming the political system of Thailand’ during that interim period!
Goood. Now ballgame is in Suthep’s camp. Negotiate Suthep please negotiate. There’s no such thing as a one-sided solution to Thailand’s political woes and broken political system. If Yingluck is suggesting a tango, then by all means Suthep join the tango!
Thailand’s stark choice
While I am no fan of Abhisit, as I recall he did not expressly say whether he was in favour of Suthep’s proposal for a people’s council? My impression was that he was keeping his cards close to his chest.
Najib to receive honorary degree from Monash
I accidentally clicked thumbs up for Lim Weng Marc’s post instead of thumbs down……fat finger syndrome….lol. And i found out that you can’t undo your pick. Needless to say, i don’t agree with what he said.
The king’s birthday speech
Only occasionally do things come along that force me to reassess my comforting opinions. This thoughtful little essay does that, adding new and interesting complexity. Well done.
Say what, cakap apa?
Hi Disabuse,
Just wondering if you have read Professor Andrew Leigh’s paper (link given in resume racism in another comment), or the speech by Dr Tim Soutphommasane.
http://www.humanrights.gov.au/news/speeches/racism-hate-speech-and-multiculturalism
What are your views on them.
Thanks
Thailand’s stark choice
Suthep’s dystopia envisions a country free of Thaksin. I wonder who else is on his – or his backers – list of undesirables.
In the meantime, life goes on as usual in this reprehensible mess of a country, where morality and justice have no meaning whatsoever.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/12/05/us-thailand-rohingya-special-report-idUSBRE9B400320131205
The king’s birthday speech
Honestly, I feel a bit sad for the King. To witness at the fag end of his tenure the imminent downfall of an institution that he helped become the most powerful one in modern Thailand. I must say I have mixed feelings on the relevance and role of monarchy in Thailand over the decades. While the abolition of monarchy by the rising and pro-republican bourgeoise is considered by some as an ‘obvious’ progress and more ‘democratic’ I am not so sure of this. For the fact is that we are currently living globally in the era of what I can only call ‘corporate monarchy’. Are the big corporations of the world any less monarchial than the old ones? In fact they are even more authoritarian than the earlier model given the huge sums of money and technical power at their command. If monarchy has to go – in whatever manner- so must the power of the corporations. All monopolies- in whatever disguise- must go and effective institutional means found for exercising the true democratic will of the citizens. In a sense what is being played out in Thailand is a poser to people around the world- some of whom may think they are somehow superior because they have ‘elected’ governments but are in fact living under the silent (and not-so-silent too) dictatorships run by the corporate monarchs. In their own sometimes distorted, often frustrating and bewildering way Thais- red, yellow and other shades- are challenging the entire world to rethink their set ideas of what ‘democracy’ really means in our times of corporate domination. All power to the people of Thailand- who with all their limitations- remain some of the most beautiful human beings on this planet!
Thailand’s stark choice
As it’s his birthday, can we remind ourselves of the Thai King’s wise words?
http://kanchanapisek.or.th/speeches/2006/0425-02.th.html
I am furious at this clamour for a royally-appointed premier; an appointment that would go against the principles of democracy. The claim that Section 7 of the constitution could be used in this case is a false one. Section 7 has two lines that specify that, if cases arise that are not covered by the constitution, then actions should be based on tradition or on precedent. There is nothing that suggests “We want a royally-appointed premier” – this is not part of a democratic system. It is incoherent. It is not, not, not rational.
“р╕Вр╣Йр╕▓р╕Юр╣Ар╕Ир╣Йр╕▓р╕бр╕╡р╕Др╕зр╕▓р╕бр╣Ар╕Фр╕╖р╕нр╕Фр╕гр╣Йр╕нр╕Щр╕бр╕▓р╕Б р╕Чр╕╡р╣Ир╣Ар╕нр╕░р╕нр╕░р╕нр╕░р╣Др╕гр╕Бр╣Зр╕Вр╕нр╕Юр╕гр╕░р╕гр╕▓р╕Кр╕Чр╕▓р╕Щр╕Щр╕▓р╕вр╕Бр╕п р╕Юр╕гр╕░р╕гр╕▓р╕Кр╕Чр╕▓р╕Щ р╕Лр╕╢р╣Ир╕Зр╣Др╕бр╣Ир╣Гр╕Кр╣Ир╕Бр╕▓р╕гр╕Ыр╕Бр╕Др╕гр╕нр╕Зр╣Бр╕Ър╕Ър╕Ыр╕гр╕░р╕Кр╕▓р╕Шр╕┤р╕Ыр╣Др╕Хр╕в р╕Цр╣Йр╕▓р╣Др╕Ыр╕нр╣Йр╕▓р╕Зр╕бр╕▓р╕Хр╕гр╕▓ р╣Ч р╕Вр╕нр╕Зр╕гр╕▒р╕Рр╕Шр╕гр╕гр╕бр╕Щр╕╣р╕Н р╣Ар╕Ыр╣Зр╕Щр╕Бр╕▓р╕гр╕нр╣Йр╕▓р╕Зр╕Чр╕╡р╣Ир╕Ьр╕┤р╕Ф р╕бр╕▒р╕Щр╕нр╣Йр╕▓р╕Зр╣Др╕бр╣Ир╣Др╕Фр╣Й р╕бр╕▓р╕Хр╕гр╕▓ р╣Ч р╕бр╕╡ р╣Т р╕Ър╕гр╕гр╕Чр╕▒р╕Фр╕зр╣Ир╕▓ р╕нр╕░р╣Др╕гр╕Чр╕╡р╣Ир╣Др╕бр╣Ир╕бр╕╡р╣Гр╕Щр╕гр╕▒р╕Рр╕Шр╕гр╕гр╕бр╕Щр╕╣р╕Н р╕Бр╣Зр╣Гр╕лр╣Йр╕Ыр╕Пр╕┤р╕Ър╕▒р╕Хр╕┤р╕Хр╕▓р╕бр╕Ыр╕гр╕░р╣Ар╕Юр╕Ур╕╡ р╕лр╕гр╕╖р╕нр╕Хр╕▓р╕бр╕Чр╕╡р╣Ир╣Ар╕Др╕вр╕Чр╕│р╕бр╕▓ р╣Др╕бр╣Ир╕бр╕╡ р╣Ар╕Вр╕▓р╕нр╕вр╕▓р╕Бр╕Ир╕░р╣Др╕Фр╣Йр╕Щр╕▓р╕вр╕Бр╕п р╕Юр╕гр╕░р╕гр╕▓р╕Кр╕Чр╕▓р╕Щ р╣Ар╕Ыр╣Зр╕Щр╕Хр╣Йр╕Щ р╕Ир╕░р╕Вр╕нр╕Щр╕▓р╕вр╕Бр╕п р╕Юр╕гр╕░р╕гр╕▓р╕Кр╕Чр╕▓р╕Щ р╣Др╕бр╣Ир╣Гр╕Кр╣Ир╣Ар╕Ыр╣Зр╕Щр╣Ар╕гр╕╖р╣Ир╕нр╕Зр╕Бр╕▓р╕гр╕Ыр╕Бр╕Др╕гр╕нр╕Зр╣Бр╕Ър╕Ър╕Ыр╕гр╕░р╕Кр╕▓р╕Шр╕┤р╕Ыр╣Др╕Хр╕в р╣Ар╕Ыр╣Зр╕Щр╕Бр╕▓р╕гр╕Ыр╕Бр╕Др╕гр╕нр╕Зр╣Бр╕Ър╕Ъ р╕Вр╕нр╣Вр╕Чр╕й р╕Юр╕╣р╕Фр╣Бр╕Ър╕Ър╕бр╕▒р╣Ир╕з р╣Бр╕Ър╕Ър╣Др╕бр╣И р╣Др╕бр╣И р╣Др╕бр╣Ир╕бр╕╡р╣Ар╕лр╕Хр╕╕р╕бр╕╡р╕Ьр╕е”
Royal address at the oath of allegiance by judges of the Court of Justice, before their appointment. At Glai Rangwan Palace, Hua Hin, Tuesday, 25 April, 2549
р╕Юр╕гр╕░р╕гр╕▓р╕Кр╕Фр╕│р╕гр╕▒р╕к р╕Юр╕гр╕░р╕гр╕▓р╕Кр╕Чр╕▓р╕Щр╣Бр╕Бр╣Ир╕Ьр╕╣р╣Йр╕Юр╕┤р╕Юр╕▓р╕Бр╕йр╕▓р╕Ыр╕гр╕░р╕Ир╕│р╕ир╕▓р╕ер╕кр╕│р╕Щр╕▒р╕Бр╕Зр╕▓р╕Щр╕ир╕▓р╕ер╕вр╕╕р╕Хр╕┤р╕Шр╕гр╕гр╕б р╣Ар╕Вр╣Йр╕▓р╣Ар╕Эр╣Йр╕▓р╕п р╕Цр╕зр╕▓р╕вр╕кр╕▒р╕Хр╕вр╣Мр╕Ыр╕Пр╕┤р╕Нр╕▓р╕Ур╕Хр╕Щр╕Бр╣Ир╕нр╕Щр╣Ар╕Вр╣Йр╕▓р╕гр╕▒р╕Ър╕лр╕Щр╣Йр╕▓р╕Чр╕╡р╣И
р╕У р╕Юр╕гр╕░р╕Хр╕│р╕лр╕Щр╕▒р╕Бр╣Ар╕Ыр╕╡р╣Ир╕вр╕бр╕кр╕╕р╕В р╕зр╕▒р╕Зр╣Др╕Бр╕ер╕Бр╕▒р╕Зр╕зр╕е р╕н.р╕лр╕▒р╕зр╕лр╕┤р╕Щ р╕И.р╕Ыр╕гр╕░р╕Ир╕зр╕Ър╕Др╕╡р╕гр╕╡р╕Вр╕▒р╕Щр╕Шр╣М
р╕зр╕▒р╕Щр╕нр╕▒р╕Зр╕Др╕▓р╕гр╕Чр╕╡р╣И р╣Тр╣Х р╣Ар╕бр╕йр╕▓р╕вр╕Щ р╕Ю.р╕и. р╣Тр╣Хр╣Фр╣Щ
The politics of honorary degrees
In the light of these discussions on doctorates for Asian leaders, I am proud to say that Malaysia too has contributed — not one, but to three Australian universities — although not as illustrious as ANU, nevertheless Adelaide, Monash, and Curtin are still respectable Australian universities.
The Chief Minister of Sarawak and the University of Adelaide
The Prime Minister of Malaysia and Monash University
The First Lady of Malaysia and Curtin University
The politics of honorary degrees
ASSK has said repeatedly that she is a politician and not a human rights defender. She no longer can even be seen as a non-partisan, credible statesman. Her continued ignorance over the growing anti-Islamic sentiments in Myanmar and her silence over the violence in Kachin is quite telling. If anything ASSK has made the decision to behave exactly like the regime she is seeking to replace. The continued pomp and circumstance afforded to her by the international community is not doing her any favors. If she truly wishes to seek peace and reconciliation in Myanmar, she needs to step down her pedestal (which to be fair was built by an uncritical Western-led media PR campaign, as well as devoted cult of personality within Myanmar). If ASSK truly wants to make her mark and have a legacy to be proud of, she needs to start doing the right thing, and not the popular thing. More statesmanship and critical thinking, less politics and pandering to uncritical/corrupt minds.
Thailand’s stark choice
The Democrats do not openly disagree with Suthep because they want to shake the foundations of Peau Thai hoping that internal bickering among them will destabilise it and thus the Democrats will once again rule in a coalition with other parties.Unfortunately in Thailand political parties aren’t wedded to ideological principles but are an opportunistic bunch of individuals. They stick with each other for personal advancement instead of being beholden to their electorates who make up their constituents. IMO Thaksin constituents in the rural areas are more attached to their Kamnans who can deliver wholesale votes to those who benefit them. It’s the way of a paternal society but even in the West there are examples of “porkbarreling” to attract loyality. Thaksin used a combination of eastern and western methods by way of populist policies to tie the rural voters to him. Don’t forget, the poor and disadvantaged need a benefactor more than the urban elite.Also the less educated are more prone to follow charismatic leaders.Until Abhisit realises this he’ll never have a majority and will rely on a cobbled coalition with diverse interests. The Democrats should clearly distance themselves from Suthep who in the LONG run is on a hiding to nothing. This is his 15 minute of fame.
There are some very influential business people in Bangkok right now who lost a lot of money when shopping malls closed down because of the chaos. A repetition of that will make Suthep public enemy number 1.
Thailand’s stark choice
I watched Abhisit tell a bald-faced lie in an interview on BBC News on December 3, saying that Yingluck had only withdrawn the amnesty bill for 180 days and could still bring it back, which was the reason why they were continuing the protests, but he then went on to say that he wanted to replace the government with an unelected “people’s council”, so he is just as guilty as Suthep in perpetuating this mockery of a protest movement.
Something rotten is going on behind the scenes, and the rumors (from a tweet by Jonathan Head, BBC News) are that it involves the top generals in the military. We will see tomorrow, December 6, if there is a military backed coup, or some other form of judicial coup.
Meanwhile, it is clear to me as a Mahidol University employee that our Salaya campus shutdown by the University president was a politically backed move in support of the anti-government protests, and has had nothing to do with the safety of the students. It has really negatively impacted the students, who had final exams scheduled for this week, and which have now been postponed until January 6-9. Exchange students from countries like Australia, the US, and Europe in particular have been really screwed by this move because they have to leave without their courses completed. We faculty are being pressured to offer alternatives in lieu of final exams to them so that they can complete their grade transcripts. This is not the way to run a university and uphold international standards.
Thailand’s stark choice
I too could only shake my head in disbelief after Suthep’s illuminations. The ruling Peau Thai Party consternation at what Suthep is proposing is understandable.
What disturbs me is that the Democrat Party leadership has NOT come out to openly disagree with Suthep’s proposal of appointed ‘grandees’ and royally handpicked PM to govern Thailand, while the Thai people sort out what political reforms are needed.
If Suthep is indeed suffering from a ‘disturbed mind’ (as alledged by PT party), then his mental illness must be communicably deadly to have infected the whole Democrat Party of Thailand.
The politics of honorary degrees
Asian Wing Airways is owned by Tay Za, the top business crony of Than Shwe. TayZa the notorious tycoon crook of Burma received a hefty bribe, 50 million US$’s, for brokering the deal between Ivanhoe a Canadian mining company and Wanbao, the Chinese company that now owns the environmentally devastating Letpadaung copper mines that Suu Kyi endorsed to the ire of the local farmers who blindly trusted her. Wanbao supplies copper to the PLA.
TayZa got bribed by the Chinese and Suu Kyi got bribed by Tayza. What a country! So who’s bribing these Australian Universities. Are they also cash-strapped like most Universities in the West? Politics of honorary “tea-money for dictatorates” indeed!
Thailand’s stark choice
Given the fact that negating the electoral process would set Thailand back decades Suthep’s suggestion is not a real option and even he must realise that.So why does he make demands which aren’t realistic? As Deputy Prime Minister he was responsible for the heavy loss of life of the Red Shirts and he is trying now to goad to present government to also kill some of his supporters in order to be able to claim that they’re no better than he was when in power.He is definitely hoping for violence and the Army to step in and so the country would be under military control once again.That’s the only way he can get rid of the Thaksin influence in politics.His personal safety now depends on this.Rest assured that he isn’t acting alone but he is the front man.The way out of this dilemma for the government would be for Yingluck to resign and his party to name another PM. Yingluck should have never been PM, this was a strategic mistake of Thaksin in exile and now the Phuai Thai Party should step in and correct this. Suthep then would have the rug pulled from under him, his only option would be to flee the country before he gets arrested.His hatred of Thaksin and his fear of being convicted of murder motivates him and he lost the plot. In the end he may be responsible for more deaths ,this time among the yellow shirt mob who are being misled. The long term solution for Thailand would be for the Democrats to embrace the rural electorate and take this constituency away from Thaksin. Abhisit should have done this during the Red Shirts rebellion and he’d still be PM. Unfortunately he succumbed to Suthep’s influence ,a hawk in his party. Now we see the repercussions.
The politics of honorary degrees
The (strange) Politics of Honorary Degrees:
Like a known Malaysian pseudo-academic at a non-accredited Malaysian ‘university,’ of no substance, awarding North Korean nut job and vicious dictator, Kim Jong Un, an Honorary Degree ? For what? Starving and subjugating his own people ? Ridiculous and stupid.
Daw Aung Suu Kyi deserves awards, but I am in no position to judge how many, and from whom, opinions about Daw Aung are generally positive, but she has her detractors, some on
New Mandala. I recall (and don’t remember their name) a contributor to New Mandala scoffing at Daw Aung and flippantly suggesting that she is “Posh” with an Oxford-accent. I take the inference to mean because of her Western ties (and former English husband), she is somehow suspect and not a true Burmese. Someone else said that the NLD was “Socialist” (and, therefore, so must be Daw Aung). I disagree with both assessments. If I were to question her, I might question her technocratic skills and ability to lead a poor and ravaged nation, since she was obviously not afforded the opportunity to gain national-level leadership skills, despite having won an election. I think Daw Aung is intelligent, dynamic, cares about Burma and its people, has very good speaking and people skills, but I am not so sure about national leadership abilities. Having said that, those that question her sincerity and her Western ‘ways,’ and her “Posh” attitudes, have a right to their opinion, but I think those views are exaggerated and not an accurate reflection of Daw Aung Suu Kyi, regardless of whatever human frailties she may have, which we all have.
Who can stop the Thaksin system?
Step 1: Invent Time Machine.
Step 2: Go back to 2006; prevent coup.
– Fin –