If Chin Peng had come to power, Malaysia would have become a disaster. Anyway, like Ho Chi Minh, Chin Peng lacked any developmental vision for Malaysia. Yes, he was a fighter against the British yet, as an individual, egotistical and opportunistic (which sounds like some Malaysian leaders, past and present). His continued struggle into the 1980s was a reflection of his ego and his
desire to lead Malaysia, which thankfully he
never did.
“Having met Chin Peng, no doubt in his twilight years when he appeared as everyone’s favourite grandfather, I am convinced that had Tunku agreed to permit the MCP and Chin Peng to participate in Malaya’s general elections, the first one held in 1959, and had MCP been elected, and had Chin Peng come to power, he would have voluntarily relinquished power if MCP had subsequently been defeated in the polls…”
Thomas naturally has a bias having been Chin Peng’s lawyer and confidant. I could not disagree more with these comments and I do not believe Chin Peng would have come to power; neither the British nor the Tunku
would have allowed it and their assessment
of Chin Peng (the British that is) was
correct.
There are some excellent documentaries on this subject on Youtube. The British were brutal in expelling the communists. Neither side comes out looking pretty.
While i agree with most points of the article, especially that the discussion has to be moved beyond the trafficking and sex tourism stereotypes. The motivations and social environments in the different SEA nations vary considerably, due to wide cultural and economical differences.
I can only comment on a few points here on Thailand, as i have worked on this subject in Thailand more intensely than in other SEA countries.
The point brought up about affordability of rooms for their own solitude is emotive, but not entirely correct. Many women and men by choice prefer to rent rooms with friends/relatives from their villages as this reminds them of the more communal lifestyle back home. The concept of solitude is quite often here not as desirable as in western societies.
Another point is that the argument of poverty driven prostitution and lack of opportunities in Thailand’s North and Northeast is not entirely correct anymore. Things have changed considerably, and there are many opportunities to acquire skills. Factory work is also quite easy to get in Bangkok and surrounding industrial centers.
I believe there are more contributing factors rooted more in culture than economics. If you look at villages in provinces of Roi Et and Udon Thani, for example, “prostitution” has turned into a regular profession, with far more diverse aspects as migrating to red light districts in tourist spots, or even in foreign countries such as Switzerland and Singapore. There is a booming industry, for example, of getting married to older westerners, driven by internet chat rooms or personal recommendation.
Educational levels and skill sets of young rural Thais are far higher than just a generation ago. Most are now internet experienced, and have Mor 3 or Mor 6 certificates, which would enable them to get “normal” work quite easily. It is not too difficult to earn at least 15 000 baht a month or more nowadays in factory jobs.
While without doubt both men and women sex workers often have self esteem issues, and social pressure of “providing for the parents” – who at times do not really need this provision anymore, there is also a lifestyle choice involved which can be summarized with the under Thai prostitutes infamous term “kin – kee – bee – non” (eat – shit – fuck – sleep).
Also drugs should not solely be seen as a way to compensate self esteem issue, but are often a conscious lifestyle choice. It’s not that a sex worker’s life in the industry began when they decided to enter the bar, but already long before in their villages and communities, where sex and drugs and all that is quite prevalent as well.
I don’t have the final answer on this complex, the past 20 odd years have taught me that far more diverse factors are involved than just economics and lack of opportunity.
Chin Peng remains a disputed figure in Malaysian history. The first half, where he fought against the Japanese is undisputed and for that he was recognized and rewarded. However his struggle against the British and subsequently against the independent Malayan government remains somewhat problematic. If given the chance, I would have liked to ask him one question, knowing that the MCP was not going to win the war, why continue an arm struggle until the late 1980’s? Would it have not been better to simply put down arms? The war was lost. His reply would have help me at least understand this man. Perhaps Peter Cohen is right, he is an egoistical person, or simply incredibly idealistic and naive.
Guest – well said. A very apt summary. As for the ‘lower rung’ I suspect they won’t be joining the ‘avant garde’ (WTF) any time soon, just continuing on down in the dung.
Tommy Thomas, a Malaysian constitutional expert and also Chin Peng’s lawyer in his unsuccessful bid to return to Malaysia, had this to say:
Posterity will remember Chin Peng as one of the great liberation fighters of the second half of the 20th century. Indeed, he led an armed struggle against two imperialist powers: the Japanese from December 1941 to August 1945, and the British thereafter until 1957.
and
Having met Chin Peng, no doubt in his twilight years when he appeared as everyone’s favourite grandfather, I am convinced that had Tunku agreed to permit the MCP and Chin Peng to participate in Malaya’s general elections, the first one held in 1959, and had MCP been elected, and had Chin Peng come to power, he would have voluntarily relinquished power if MCP had subsequently been defeated in the polls.
To be sure, the Malaysian government’s operational actions against Islamic “extremists” and “radicals” are but one dimension of a complex relationship between religion, the state, and Malaysian society today. At the same time that the government is identifying and clamping down on extremists and radicals… the regime has encouraged, facilitated, and enhanced the role of the Islamic religious establishment in Malaysian society, the judiciary, and public life in general… [T]he regime has permitted–indeed, facilitated–a remarkable degree of penetration by the conservative Muslim clergy of the institutions of the state.
For jihadi militants, Malaysia was a land of opportunity but not where militants could enjoy tacit government sponsorship or a safe sanctuary. What Malaysia had to offer the Al Qaeda network was its climate of politicised Islam within a Muslim-majority population, its visa-free immigration to citizens of Islamic countries, its excellent worldwide communication linkages, and its advanced banking system that included a well-developed sector of Islamic banks.
Agree completely. Guess how many Iranians and Pakistanis live in Malaysia (with or without valid student visas) ? Malaysia is a sieve and a sponge and has a dichotomous policy regarding individual acts of terrorism committed by Malaysian (which it tries to prevent) and widespread extremism a la Ibrahim Ali among the poorly-educated Malays who would rather (following Mahathir’s example) scapegoat Chinese and Indians (and foreigners and Jews) for all their problems rather than engage in self-reflection (which is rather rare among Malaysians anyway).
I think Tony Reid fails to comment on Chin Peng’s enormous ego and conceit. I believe that Peng was a ‘mini-Mao’ in the sense that he did not devolve authority and insisted on all decision making. The MCP lasted because of Chin Peng’s popularity with indigent Chinese mine workers but failed to attract any real Malay support which would have been essential for Peng’s goals to have had any chance of success.
Despite his outward charm, Chin Peng was no hero.
“Without our struggle, I don’t think the British would grant independence to Malaya..”
I don’t agree. The British were going to leave sooner or later, and not because of Chin Peng. The British saw that the Malay aristocracy was malleable and made great use of this. This led to eventual home rule under the Tunku.
Malaysia’s refusal to grant Chin Peng a visa to return can be argued from both sides.
A German/European/Western Model to Myanmar quagmire!
At best make for a good academic paper at the worst re-energize those who regard ‘the West as the patron of Democracy’ and thus justify any approach to achieving a Democratic Myanmar through any means.
Fantastic work! We need more nuanced research such as this. Check out my work in Cambodia, where the situation is very similar. I just wrote a book about it titled Sex, Love and Money in Cambodia, and have stories in Southeast Asia Globe Magazine and Phnom Penh Post talking about professional girlfriends in the hostess bars.
Heidi Hoefinger
Come on, Mr Dom. Citing “research” undertaken by Prof Selway will convince no one interested in the real world of anything. Ever. Save that rot for gatherings of fools at APSA.
The German system is not exactly the way it is described in the article. You have two votes: die zweite Stimme (second vote) is what really matters even to the extent of having ├Ьberhangsmandate. This is for the Bundestag. Bundesrat is a different thing altogether. They are not elected directly but are representatives from the L├дnder.
Perhaps these religious mobs in Burma are incited to achieve something more political (perhaps even geo-political). The US is trying to “pivot” towards Burma (with hugs and kisses for Suu Kyi) and Peking doesn’t like that at all because it wants to keep Burma as an obedient vassal state (as it was under the previous junta) and there are a lot of Chinese-bribed ex-junta generals
(“hardliners”) who can manipulate public sentiment through Buddhist organisations like the 969 using Muslims and Rohingyas as convenient scapegoats. I don’t think the Muslims in Meikhtila and Rakhaing State
will be allowed back into their destroyed neighbourhoods. It would be interesting to see who would move in and buy up property in those “ethnically cleansed” areas. Most probably Chinese-backed business people and “developers”. This would be a good indicator for what really is behind all of this apparent religious fanaticism. Kyaukphyu,
Sandoway, Meikhtila and Lashio, where the major anti-Muslim violence happened, all
lie strategically along the Chinese gas/oil pipeline and the planned accompanying railway from Yunnan to the Bay of Bengal, where the Chinese are building deep-sea ports and naval bases. For Peking it’s all about “Lebensraum” and the “string-of-pearls-strategy”, access to the Bay of
Bengal. Burma is a juicy plum in Peking’s eyes both for natural resources and also as a fertile place for Chinese settlements (remember China has a surplus of Y-chromosomes). Besides, if you checked the
Facebook page of the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar (although Facebook is forbidden in China!) before they deleted them, you will find many pictures of the Chinese
ambassador mingling with both Chinese and Buddhist monks and also some big “religious festival” about China giving Burma a replica of a tooth relic from Buddha (although China doesn’t particularly like Tibetan Buddhist monks or Uyghur Muslims). Go figure!
If I should use the same criteria applied, here to all the “useless careless policy of the west”, by most westerners, you will certainly be institutionalized for ‘paranoia’.
Dx: ‘The Chinese are coming’
True the Chinese has been taking over within (in major cities) and without (border town) for the past centuries,and especially so during last 3 decades of useless careless policy period by the west, yet to see any Burmese culture being affected, eroded purposely like the Muslim everywhere else insist on.
In fact the Chinese has not only serve themselves but also lifted up locals through assimilation and work, another fact diametrically opposed to the Muslim community which only promote fellow Muslim and Islamic culture while DISDAINFUL of the Buddhists believes.
As for the destruction of environment anyone with 1/2 a brain will see the Halted Myintsoe dam and the recent copper mine incident as clearly as the Generals and it cronies are in charge again.
Given the choice of a relationship with the west to balance China influence, these will all rectified itself as long as the West do not again use nefarious meaningless terms such as ‘Democracy’ or worst ‘Human rights’ in stead of “FREEDOM” and “UNJUSTIFIABLE POVERTY” when dealing with Myanmar and it ruling Generals.
The thread from outside is not the WA, who may be well armed by the Chinese but rather the clash b/t Islam and Buddhism as seen by conflicts everywhere within South East Asia with sizable Muslim population.
This protagonist has yet to see any prose on the conflicts b/t the Muslims and the Buddhists by you and your ilk to make the concern for Myanmar genuine.
I am indebted to many people who have made Pattana’s last paper (presented in Japan and Germany in 2012) possible to be published on New Mandala. My sincere thanks go to Ajaan Mike (Michael Montesano), Peter Vail, Nich (Nicholas Farrelly) and Andrew Walker for their kind help and effort. Thank you, New Mandala, for being a great venue where Pattana’s academic colleagues from around the world will find his Postumous paper which I hope you find it useful. THANK YOU. “Rungnapa Kitiarsa” (October 3rd, 2013)
Inspiring!! Is Mr. Creator willing to share his secret for “free” or for a “fee?” The Thai’s economy is still kicking thanks to cheap money from the Central bank. Business can easily be had if you are a Thai. And a person with the connections, the know-how, and the wherewithal takes all; – while the lower rung of society doesn’t even know where to start-. The lady featured here in this article is lucky to have support and wherewithal to start up her own business –a bright spot in the Thai’s economy.
Here is the comment I wrote in The Economist in 2010:
“My main concern is the rampant corruption (bribery and nepotism) and coercion (intimidation and oppression) in Burma, which is exacerbated by selfish Chinese greed to control Burma and its natural resources. Controlling access to the Bay of Bengal (string of pearls strategy) is a “core interest of China” according to Peking’s Orwellian vocabulary.(Orwell used to live in Burma!)
The burmese generals (just like Hun Sen!) were heavily bullied and bribed by the Chinese. Unless there is a return of moral values, I do not see any chance for universal values like democracy and human rights (words that Peking hates) ever to take hold in Burma. Well it’s looks like a feeding frenzy is breaking out now for the noveau-riche in Burma. Most of these new “business people” are of course, well connected to the top military generals (and ex-generals) and includes thousands of recent Chinese immigrants. You can probably buy a Burmese ID on the Chinese side of the border for less than 500 yuan (and perhaps a burmese bride for about 5000 Yuan?) The border regions are full of greedy illegal smugglers, gun-runners, drug dealers, gamblers, human-traffickers, etc. It doesn’t even matter whether they are junta forces or “ethnic rebel armies”. All these things are not only condoned but supported by Big Brother China and Singapore, where the generals and their cronies like Tay Za, Zaw zaw, Serge Poon, Stephen Lo (son of the infamous heroin Chinese drug-chieftain Lo Hsinghan Lo) stack their money away. Well it’s obvious, China views Burma as a “natural resource rich colony with geostrategic value”. They are damming all the rivers for electricity, laying gas/oil pipelines, logging the pristine forests, mining copper and jade (Jiabao Wen’s wife Peilei Zhang was quite crazy about jade from Burma!) setting up seaports and naval bases in Burma, etc. etc.
Burma is still a feudal oligarchy (remember Suu Kyi is the daughter of the founder of the modern burmese army!), stuck in the dark middle ages. Burmese society have a strong sense of hierarchy (suck up to the people above you and bully the people beneath you!) and is based on medieval notions of patronage and appanage. It would be very difficult for true democracy to take root in Burma, unless there is a “French Revolution” of sorts. For the past 50 years or so, the military has been the way to power and wealth in Burma. Intellectuals have little chance to succeed in Burma and so many of them have left the country. The Chinese know that and that’s why they supported and bribed Than Shwe and his cronies. They also know how to divide and conquer the different ethnic groups, following Sun Tzu’s advice in “The Art of War”: Let the barbarians fight each other! The Chinese funded UWSA (United States Wa Army) is 30,000 man strong heavily armed (Chinese attack helicopters!). What about China’s non-interference policy? Oh well Burma is not a sovereign country more like a Chinese vassal state.
I would love to see a viable economic development for the really poor rural farmers, who from the majority and the backbone of the country and a sustainable use of the natural resources for the benefit of the indigenous population instead of indiscriminate logging, damming and mining for the benefit of the few but basically to serve the “Great Chinese Economic Leap Forward”. Burma is rapidly losing it’s beautiful natural landscape and it’s traditional way of life”
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Chin Peng, an obituary
If Chin Peng had come to power, Malaysia would have become a disaster. Anyway, like Ho Chi Minh, Chin Peng lacked any developmental vision for Malaysia. Yes, he was a fighter against the British yet, as an individual, egotistical and opportunistic (which sounds like some Malaysian leaders, past and present). His continued struggle into the 1980s was a reflection of his ego and his
desire to lead Malaysia, which thankfully he
never did.
“Having met Chin Peng, no doubt in his twilight years when he appeared as everyone’s favourite grandfather, I am convinced that had Tunku agreed to permit the MCP and Chin Peng to participate in Malaya’s general elections, the first one held in 1959, and had MCP been elected, and had Chin Peng come to power, he would have voluntarily relinquished power if MCP had subsequently been defeated in the polls…”
Thomas naturally has a bias having been Chin Peng’s lawyer and confidant. I could not disagree more with these comments and I do not believe Chin Peng would have come to power; neither the British nor the Tunku
would have allowed it and their assessment
of Chin Peng (the British that is) was
correct.
Chin Peng, an obituary
There are some excellent documentaries on this subject on Youtube. The British were brutal in expelling the communists. Neither side comes out looking pretty.
Singapore’s insatiable hunger for sand
Sea life is being destroyed and peoples lives ruined and because they are poor its not news
Chin Peng, an obituary
[…] READ MORE HERE […]
Kareoke and opportunity?
While i agree with most points of the article, especially that the discussion has to be moved beyond the trafficking and sex tourism stereotypes. The motivations and social environments in the different SEA nations vary considerably, due to wide cultural and economical differences.
I can only comment on a few points here on Thailand, as i have worked on this subject in Thailand more intensely than in other SEA countries.
The point brought up about affordability of rooms for their own solitude is emotive, but not entirely correct. Many women and men by choice prefer to rent rooms with friends/relatives from their villages as this reminds them of the more communal lifestyle back home. The concept of solitude is quite often here not as desirable as in western societies.
Another point is that the argument of poverty driven prostitution and lack of opportunities in Thailand’s North and Northeast is not entirely correct anymore. Things have changed considerably, and there are many opportunities to acquire skills. Factory work is also quite easy to get in Bangkok and surrounding industrial centers.
I believe there are more contributing factors rooted more in culture than economics. If you look at villages in provinces of Roi Et and Udon Thani, for example, “prostitution” has turned into a regular profession, with far more diverse aspects as migrating to red light districts in tourist spots, or even in foreign countries such as Switzerland and Singapore. There is a booming industry, for example, of getting married to older westerners, driven by internet chat rooms or personal recommendation.
Educational levels and skill sets of young rural Thais are far higher than just a generation ago. Most are now internet experienced, and have Mor 3 or Mor 6 certificates, which would enable them to get “normal” work quite easily. It is not too difficult to earn at least 15 000 baht a month or more nowadays in factory jobs.
While without doubt both men and women sex workers often have self esteem issues, and social pressure of “providing for the parents” – who at times do not really need this provision anymore, there is also a lifestyle choice involved which can be summarized with the under Thai prostitutes infamous term “kin – kee – bee – non” (eat – shit – fuck – sleep).
Also drugs should not solely be seen as a way to compensate self esteem issue, but are often a conscious lifestyle choice. It’s not that a sex worker’s life in the industry began when they decided to enter the bar, but already long before in their villages and communities, where sex and drugs and all that is quite prevalent as well.
I don’t have the final answer on this complex, the past 20 odd years have taught me that far more diverse factors are involved than just economics and lack of opportunity.
Chin Peng, an obituary
Chin Peng remains a disputed figure in Malaysian history. The first half, where he fought against the Japanese is undisputed and for that he was recognized and rewarded. However his struggle against the British and subsequently against the independent Malayan government remains somewhat problematic. If given the chance, I would have liked to ask him one question, knowing that the MCP was not going to win the war, why continue an arm struggle until the late 1980’s? Would it have not been better to simply put down arms? The war was lost. His reply would have help me at least understand this man. Perhaps Peter Cohen is right, he is an egoistical person, or simply incredibly idealistic and naive.
Up-market food stalls
Guest – well said. A very apt summary. As for the ‘lower rung’ I suspect they won’t be joining the ‘avant garde’ (WTF) any time soon, just continuing on down in the dung.
Chin Peng, an obituary
Tommy Thomas, a Malaysian constitutional expert and also Chin Peng’s lawyer in his unsuccessful bid to return to Malaysia, had this to say:
Extremism in the name of Islam and Malaysian Muslims
To be sure, the Malaysian government’s operational actions against Islamic “extremists” and “radicals” are but one dimension of a complex relationship between religion, the state, and Malaysian society today. At the same time that the government is identifying and clamping down on extremists and radicals… the regime has encouraged, facilitated, and enhanced the role of the Islamic religious establishment in Malaysian society, the judiciary, and public life in general… [T]he regime has permitted–indeed, facilitated–a remarkable degree of penetration by the conservative Muslim clergy of the institutions of the state.
For jihadi militants, Malaysia was a land of opportunity but not where militants could enjoy tacit government sponsorship or a safe sanctuary. What Malaysia had to offer the Al Qaeda network was its climate of politicised Islam within a Muslim-majority population, its visa-free immigration to citizens of Islamic countries, its excellent worldwide communication linkages, and its advanced banking system that included a well-developed sector of Islamic banks.
Agree completely. Guess how many Iranians and Pakistanis live in Malaysia (with or without valid student visas) ? Malaysia is a sieve and a sponge and has a dichotomous policy regarding individual acts of terrorism committed by Malaysian (which it tries to prevent) and widespread extremism a la Ibrahim Ali among the poorly-educated Malays who would rather (following Mahathir’s example) scapegoat Chinese and Indians (and foreigners and Jews) for all their problems rather than engage in self-reflection (which is rather rare among Malaysians anyway).
Chin Peng, an obituary
I think Tony Reid fails to comment on Chin Peng’s enormous ego and conceit. I believe that Peng was a ‘mini-Mao’ in the sense that he did not devolve authority and insisted on all decision making. The MCP lasted because of Chin Peng’s popularity with indigent Chinese mine workers but failed to attract any real Malay support which would have been essential for Peng’s goals to have had any chance of success.
Despite his outward charm, Chin Peng was no hero.
“Without our struggle, I don’t think the British would grant independence to Malaya..”
I don’t agree. The British were going to leave sooner or later, and not because of Chin Peng. The British saw that the Malay aristocracy was malleable and made great use of this. This led to eventual home rule under the Tunku.
Malaysia’s refusal to grant Chin Peng a visa to return can be argued from both sides.
Peter Cohen
Myanmar could learn from Germany
A German/European/Western Model to Myanmar quagmire!
At best make for a good academic paper at the worst re-energize those who regard ‘the West as the patron of Democracy’ and thus justify any approach to achieving a Democratic Myanmar through any means.
Including the useless careless policy.
Kareoke and opportunity?
Fantastic work! We need more nuanced research such as this. Check out my work in Cambodia, where the situation is very similar. I just wrote a book about it titled Sex, Love and Money in Cambodia, and have stories in Southeast Asia Globe Magazine and Phnom Penh Post talking about professional girlfriends in the hostess bars.
Heidi Hoefinger
Myanmar could learn from Germany
Come on, Mr Dom. Citing “research” undertaken by Prof Selway will convince no one interested in the real world of anything. Ever. Save that rot for gatherings of fools at APSA.
Myanmar could learn from Germany
The German system is not exactly the way it is described in the article. You have two votes: die zweite Stimme (second vote) is what really matters even to the extent of having ├Ьberhangsmandate. This is for the Bundestag. Bundesrat is a different thing altogether. They are not elected directly but are representatives from the L├дnder.
Myanmar could learn from Germany
Joel Selway has done some research on this. I think his conclusion was that it wouldn’t make much difference in Myanmar or might actually be harmful.
Adjusting to Myanmar’s reform mood
Perhaps these religious mobs in Burma are incited to achieve something more political (perhaps even geo-political). The US is trying to “pivot” towards Burma (with hugs and kisses for Suu Kyi) and Peking doesn’t like that at all because it wants to keep Burma as an obedient vassal state (as it was under the previous junta) and there are a lot of Chinese-bribed ex-junta generals
(“hardliners”) who can manipulate public sentiment through Buddhist organisations like the 969 using Muslims and Rohingyas as convenient scapegoats. I don’t think the Muslims in Meikhtila and Rakhaing State
will be allowed back into their destroyed neighbourhoods. It would be interesting to see who would move in and buy up property in those “ethnically cleansed” areas. Most probably Chinese-backed business people and “developers”. This would be a good indicator for what really is behind all of this apparent religious fanaticism. Kyaukphyu,
Sandoway, Meikhtila and Lashio, where the major anti-Muslim violence happened, all
lie strategically along the Chinese gas/oil pipeline and the planned accompanying railway from Yunnan to the Bay of Bengal, where the Chinese are building deep-sea ports and naval bases. For Peking it’s all about “Lebensraum” and the “string-of-pearls-strategy”, access to the Bay of
Bengal. Burma is a juicy plum in Peking’s eyes both for natural resources and also as a fertile place for Chinese settlements (remember China has a surplus of Y-chromosomes). Besides, if you checked the
Facebook page of the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar (although Facebook is forbidden in China!) before they deleted them, you will find many pictures of the Chinese
ambassador mingling with both Chinese and Buddhist monks and also some big “religious festival” about China giving Burma a replica of a tooth relic from Buddha (although China doesn’t particularly like Tibetan Buddhist monks or Uyghur Muslims). Go figure!
Adjusting to Myanmar’s reform mood
If I should use the same criteria applied, here to all the “useless careless policy of the west”, by most westerners, you will certainly be institutionalized for ‘paranoia’.
Dx: ‘The Chinese are coming’
True the Chinese has been taking over within (in major cities) and without (border town) for the past centuries,and especially so during last 3 decades of useless careless policy period by the west, yet to see any Burmese culture being affected, eroded purposely like the Muslim everywhere else insist on.
In fact the Chinese has not only serve themselves but also lifted up locals through assimilation and work, another fact diametrically opposed to the Muslim community which only promote fellow Muslim and Islamic culture while DISDAINFUL of the Buddhists believes.
As for the destruction of environment anyone with 1/2 a brain will see the Halted Myintsoe dam and the recent copper mine incident as clearly as the Generals and it cronies are in charge again.
Given the choice of a relationship with the west to balance China influence, these will all rectified itself as long as the West do not again use nefarious meaningless terms such as ‘Democracy’ or worst ‘Human rights’ in stead of “FREEDOM” and “UNJUSTIFIABLE POVERTY” when dealing with Myanmar and it ruling Generals.
The thread from outside is not the WA, who may be well armed by the Chinese but rather the clash b/t Islam and Buddhism as seen by conflicts everywhere within South East Asia with sizable Muslim population.
This protagonist has yet to see any prose on the conflicts b/t the Muslims and the Buddhists by you and your ilk to make the concern for Myanmar genuine.
Pattana Kitiarsa on Thai boxing
I am indebted to many people who have made Pattana’s last paper (presented in Japan and Germany in 2012) possible to be published on New Mandala. My sincere thanks go to Ajaan Mike (Michael Montesano), Peter Vail, Nich (Nicholas Farrelly) and Andrew Walker for their kind help and effort. Thank you, New Mandala, for being a great venue where Pattana’s academic colleagues from around the world will find his Postumous paper which I hope you find it useful. THANK YOU. “Rungnapa Kitiarsa” (October 3rd, 2013)
Up-market food stalls
Inspiring!! Is Mr. Creator willing to share his secret for “free” or for a “fee?” The Thai’s economy is still kicking thanks to cheap money from the Central bank. Business can easily be had if you are a Thai. And a person with the connections, the know-how, and the wherewithal takes all; – while the lower rung of society doesn’t even know where to start-. The lady featured here in this article is lucky to have support and wherewithal to start up her own business –a bright spot in the Thai’s economy.
Adjusting to Myanmar’s reform mood
Here is the comment I wrote in The Economist in 2010:
“My main concern is the rampant corruption (bribery and nepotism) and coercion (intimidation and oppression) in Burma, which is exacerbated by selfish Chinese greed to control Burma and its natural resources. Controlling access to the Bay of Bengal (string of pearls strategy) is a “core interest of China” according to Peking’s Orwellian vocabulary.(Orwell used to live in Burma!)
The burmese generals (just like Hun Sen!) were heavily bullied and bribed by the Chinese. Unless there is a return of moral values, I do not see any chance for universal values like democracy and human rights (words that Peking hates) ever to take hold in Burma. Well it’s looks like a feeding frenzy is breaking out now for the noveau-riche in Burma. Most of these new “business people” are of course, well connected to the top military generals (and ex-generals) and includes thousands of recent Chinese immigrants. You can probably buy a Burmese ID on the Chinese side of the border for less than 500 yuan (and perhaps a burmese bride for about 5000 Yuan?) The border regions are full of greedy illegal smugglers, gun-runners, drug dealers, gamblers, human-traffickers, etc. It doesn’t even matter whether they are junta forces or “ethnic rebel armies”. All these things are not only condoned but supported by Big Brother China and Singapore, where the generals and their cronies like Tay Za, Zaw zaw, Serge Poon, Stephen Lo (son of the infamous heroin Chinese drug-chieftain Lo Hsinghan Lo) stack their money away. Well it’s obvious, China views Burma as a “natural resource rich colony with geostrategic value”. They are damming all the rivers for electricity, laying gas/oil pipelines, logging the pristine forests, mining copper and jade (Jiabao Wen’s wife Peilei Zhang was quite crazy about jade from Burma!) setting up seaports and naval bases in Burma, etc. etc.
Burma is still a feudal oligarchy (remember Suu Kyi is the daughter of the founder of the modern burmese army!), stuck in the dark middle ages. Burmese society have a strong sense of hierarchy (suck up to the people above you and bully the people beneath you!) and is based on medieval notions of patronage and appanage. It would be very difficult for true democracy to take root in Burma, unless there is a “French Revolution” of sorts. For the past 50 years or so, the military has been the way to power and wealth in Burma. Intellectuals have little chance to succeed in Burma and so many of them have left the country. The Chinese know that and that’s why they supported and bribed Than Shwe and his cronies. They also know how to divide and conquer the different ethnic groups, following Sun Tzu’s advice in “The Art of War”: Let the barbarians fight each other! The Chinese funded UWSA (United States Wa Army) is 30,000 man strong heavily armed (Chinese attack helicopters!). What about China’s non-interference policy? Oh well Burma is not a sovereign country more like a Chinese vassal state.
I would love to see a viable economic development for the really poor rural farmers, who from the majority and the backbone of the country and a sustainable use of the natural resources for the benefit of the indigenous population instead of indiscriminate logging, damming and mining for the benefit of the few but basically to serve the “Great Chinese Economic Leap Forward”. Burma is rapidly losing it’s beautiful natural landscape and it’s traditional way of life”