let me share with you my personal story, Dear sis Lynette Ong.
During my teenager years where the internet was not existed, you know that teenagers would chat any topic among friends, although we know nothing about politics, there was a chatting between us about How good IF Sarawak did not ‘join’ Malaysia. Just imagine simple minded teenagers would have that ‘same’ feeling among us. And to my surprise when I found out there are so many having similar thinking when interacting with Sarawakian folks online. yes, of cos, there also many out there having the same view like yours and, those who are supporting the political parties from Malaya, i.e. Pakatan Rakyat.
When exchanging views or sometimes lead to heated argument, they have little point to rebut when ‘hard facts’ are exposed.
On Independence,the Federal Constitution had Laid the Foundation with a Set MALAYSIAN MOSIAC .
The Mosaic, admist some imperfections, are Cohesively Binded in the Elements of Social, Cultural, (including Race, Religions and Historical Values) and Environmental Fabrics in a Fixed Dominant Proportions with Small Variations of Minors and Queers ….From which the Surface of the Mosaic Can Shine with Added Value on Polishing.
But under the Disguise of Personal Agendas(as in the Case of the UmnuBaruputeras) Race , Religion and (Homo and Gender )Sexuality Issues are Drumed Up to Justify for the Applications and Injections of Marginalised and Discriminating Policies, the Mosaic will Disintegrate from its Original Form.
The Result is Sustaining of Power that is Enslaving the Rakyat who will Continue to Lose their Empowerments Unsuspectingly. That Should Not Allow to Pass.
Working to Improve the Shines in the Malaysian Mosaic is the Future for a Better, Brighter and Cohesive Malaysia in Posterity.
Like tocharian I did enjoy The King and I better and watched it many times. The Thai may feel differently.
You would expect a Eurocentric approach I guess. Birthdays were not normally celebrated in Burma except for old abbots, historic personages and fashionable Westernised Rangoonites until the Chinese began to commercialise it like Valentine’s Day more recently. Good or bad it makes money for the Chinese as toch would agree.
The Lady regrettably let those brave monks down at the first opportunity at Letpadaung.
Beyond Rangoon was well received too. Rambo is just Rambo, pure escapism and fun. Hopefully we won’t be seeing the making of a film like the Killing Fields.
So what next? The Lady, the Speaker and the President? Or The Year of Living Dangerously II?
Curious that they don’t trust her while she has spent the last so many years of freedom to promote the “people” she does represent, herself.
There is though “democracy” of sorts where not only your “hill tribes” but the kalars as well as poor peasants (only food producers feeding the whole country including the Awizi-going thugs and their own torturers – in practice as these words are written and read- for millennium) are all laid on the ground for the corporations to walk over.
The very people she does represent are the multinational companies and their agents like say Carr, or Cameron or Obama, and the conglomerates’ loaning (loan sharking) arms, IMF and WB with sister regional banks.
Yet that does not seem to stop the country’s “elites” to join her to facilitate the entry of those to destroy the last pristine land on earth along with the hitherto peaceful and un-covetous society.
The usage of the term “The Lady” just like the woman herself is the pure fabricated invention. I personally have never ever heard that expression used at all among real Burmese populace. It must possibly be used by the minority “elites” of the country just the same like saying “mingalabar”. No one ever says so in Burma among the ordinary Burmese (real majority). Or “Happy Birthday, mum!”.
It does seem that the “mingalabar” saying crowd who even “wai” to each other as they are so modern and progressive are the ones with desperate longing for the McDoanld shops their Amay Suu is helping to get in and are in full support of her way of letting all the international conglomerates to take whatever they want even if it would be the ruin of the lives of thousands -now and several millions in due course- of people.
Already many of the thousands from the villages that horridly named Nay Pyi Daw ” Abode of Than Shwe” replaced (Kyat Paye Asoya Site) have become Pharthe in Kyaukthepaik, Mandalay, Muse and beyond. Their sisters in Latpadaung would certainly follow now with the blessing of their Amay Suu siding with the Chinese, ultimate slap in the face.
It is curious that Master (as in Master of something) Corbin did not find any reference at all about Latpadaung, a fundamental and potentially explosive current about town, in his what surely must be longest list of reference to words ratio in the history of this website. Whereas he did find scores of Muslim issue in tune with large number of people around the world being lyrical about it even though everyone stops short at that. Being lyrical and then that’s it really.
Few nick picking here about the article itself. Aung San was not betrayed by his guards and callously gunned down. That happened to Indira Ghandhi in 1984. U Saw and four others were hanged for the crime. Only guard involved was Yebaw Ko Htwe, a Muslim, an aide to Cabinet minister Sayar U Razak , a Muslim. He was killed by the youngest member of the hit squad on the way out in the stairs.
And taking some opinion about the film from sequestered exiles from Burma in foreign land hardly reflects the opinion of the Burmese populace about the film. If one were to walk around in towns across the land that movie is surely not in conversation and would not get 1% of interest as crappiest Korean soap garners.
Yet as your subject is famous and important, the analysis becomes important just as the film is.
That film being a propaganda does not require any reference, as all films are. Like the Kite runner, made to disparage the Muslim clerics, and cowboys-good, Indians-bad, and so on.
Here it is more obvious. After all people like Aung San Suu Kyi, Mandela, Havel, etc are intentionally chosen, cultivated, groomed and polished in carefully choreographed (one can even see the rotation list of “world leaders” rushing in to pay obeisance to her) way for their use by the promoters. All have been proven to be useful and worth the “investment”.
But than again is this particular one getting a bit shaky and unreliable all too prematurely?
Would the incessant and intensive and dramatic promotion of 2015 election because there is “democracy” ( That “Fake election” and “Elaborate charade” of your reference 14 were long forgotten- Winston Smith style) and “change” of the crappy cowardly lines called Nargis Constitution to suit her will be enough to fool the Burmese populace any longer?
It does appear that more people are killed, more people are evicted off their own land, more people are starving and more violent crimes are being committed daily in Burma since she (Chair of Law and Order or something like that) came out than before in spite of shameless super-spins in all print media, and governmental and international organisational declarations of shameless words.
What if the majority people of Burma are not as dumb as one would hope? Or more importantly not as covetous even with their own ex-pat communities joining the fray?
“What kind of political figures do you want to solve the nation’s problems? If you say
that for the nation to survive they must be pure from the beginning and not have
done anything at all, then they have to administer the country and solve the nation’s
problems without any experience. For that you pass one kind of [anti-corruption]
law. But if you say the people to administer the country must have experience and
abilities like the criteria used by companies when selecting a company president–
namely knowledge, ability and experience–then the law must be of another type. So
to write a law, we must ask what kind of political figures are wanted.”
Interesting happenings in moderate, tolerant and progressive Malaysia:
ALOR STAR: RELIGIOUS teachers and Muslim non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have commended and fully support the state government’s decision to declare Shia teachings as deviant.
They welcomed Menteri Besar Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir’s firm stand to ban Shia teachings as they posed a serious threat to the community here.
They said it was about time the state gazetted the anti-Shia enactment so that the authorities would have more bite to carry out enforcement against those who try to spread the teachings in the state.
Mad Daud Abdul Rahman from Baling said Shia followers were out to confuse the Sunni Muslims. “They tend to add and subtract at their own free will even the number of prophets,” said Mad Daud.
These things are more likely to be built under Thaksin influenced governments than under Democrat governments. Bangkok has a BTS, Metro, and new Airport (examples). Compare that with Hopewell. Not to say the PPT is corruption free.
Sadly, there is so much money at stake, I feel that before the end and the period when disbursements are to be made of the fund, the Democrats and provincial godfathers cum politicians, will create a ‘crisis’ to drive PT from the reigns of government so they can get their cut. Add in a few paid off members that splinter from PT in renegade factions and well back to 2006.
It seems that Pua Thai is allowed to occupy the offices, but not to rule the country.
Speaking of Burma, Aung San, the national(istic) super-hero of Burma (assassinated in 1947), the father of Aung San Suu Kyi, the (ex-)”democracy icon”, was trained by the Japanese and fought on the side of the Japanese Imperial Army. Aung San was also involved in the founding of the Burmese Communist Party. Go figure! Burmese “heroes” don’t have to stick to any principles or perhaps Politics and Power make strange bedfellows.
True. Away from this thread’s trend of Thai’s being possibly naive about the true monstrosity of those named individuals and taking solace and admiring in power figures, one can also look at relationship of the degree of publicity and, as if countable, degree of monstrosity.
If bigger killing is “badder” than less number, your Mao stumps the rest of the gang. Yet one never, never, never sees or meets or reads about a single human being appalled by it.
Accepting all those killed by Mao were just (JUST) Chinese, and furthermore “unimportant” people (would surely have been human) making their deaths from murder and starvation less cringing, there is also the problem of Winston-Smith-ques designer “history” and intense indoctrination not that terribly different from L’Oreal commercials.
People borne and sent to school in post-war Germany (regardless of racial origin) would perhaps be forever self-analyzing and being cautious and would be less likely to be anti-Zionist, for example. (Be sure to note anti-Zionist is BY NO MEANS anti-Semitic.) In the same vein, one would likely not encounter a repentant Japanese especially in buoyant Abe leadership.
Such things are important not because any worshiping of Hitler-ism would ever likely lead to massive and systematic pogrom and “elimination” by Thai against a particular group of people as seen in current Burma, but because the modern day Winston-Smith-ism is covering up deaths of human millions times the Auschwitz and in worse circumstances seen across the globe in the Middle-East, South America and Africa and indeed in the U S of A.
People living inside the world of Trueman Show would never realize their situation. That is the majority.
Not to be forgotten is the present Head of the Thailand Privy Council and Thailand’s primo royalist, Prem, as a young Lieutenant in the Thai Army enthusiastically and willingly fighting alongside the Japanese Imperial Army in Burma.
Let us not forget that Thailand signed an alliance with Japan, member of the Tripartite Pact along with the Third Reich. They also declared war on Britain and the USA.
I have just hosted two international students for two months – both Thai females, and recent law graduates.
In discussions over dinner I ascertained that neither were aware that there had been a civil war in the USA. This cropped up after I observed that many major democracies had not established themselves until after a civil conflict.
Neither were aware that Thailand had declared war on both the UK & USA – though the Thai ambassador at the time never officially communicated that fact to the US government.
Both had ‘heard’ of Hitler, but didn’t know what a concentration camp was, and had never heard of Auschwitz. They had not really made the connection between the swastika, SS uniform (very smart – designed by Hugo Boss, I added – ah yes, heard of him)) & the Nazi regime. I don’t think they’re is too much joined up thinking going on here, and it is of little interest to them.
As a former lecturer at a US university, I was intrigued to know if they had ever argued or disagreed with one of their teachers. The size of their eyes indicated that such a situation arising was unthinkable. They were equally shocked to learn that, as a lecturer, I would be disappointed not to be challenged by students from time to time.
From that point on, they relaxed and felt comfortable expressing themselves openly. They were both astute, observant & perceptive. Delighful company. They also accepted that they were unlikely to be comfortable having similar conversations on returning to Thailand.
[…] the state” – this phrase is how the resistance movement is formally described in the consensus document that marked the start of the current peace […]
The threat of violence no longer applies to the Chinese Malaysians. UMNO elites share common interest with the Chinese in the economy. Socially, the Chinese are protected by the Malays who live, work and play in the same venue. They might not share tables, but they eat in the same restaurant!
The Chinese have long overcome the grips of LAO in the form of NEP and others. Thus, they have relatively high social mobility and suffer much less intra-ethnic inequality.
Unfortunately, this article aptly applies to the Malays, Indians, and more acutely the Bumiputera of Sabah and Sarawak.
Only when enough of them join the Chinese to form the political corner stone for real and meaningful reforms, Malaysia has a fighting chance to achieve equality and become a high-income economy.
Not all Malays are Muslims. Some are agnostic, atheist, free thinker, Christian, Hindu, Buddhist. The Government does not recognize this. Muslim apostates are persecuted severely including physical abuse, imprisonment, death threats, penalty, cannot marry or risk their children taken away by the social welfare.
“Lest We Forget”
Whilst I understand the superficial argument that young thai people are not aware of European history (litmus test: how many European students are aware of Asian history?)Anyone with cultural sensitivities who has spent more than a month in the kingdom will realise that the culture and political history leans toward fascism and an admiration for absolutist rulers. Those of us who read up a bit know of the origins and politics that produced the “modern” military and police force and the fetish for tight boots, jodphurs, brown uniforms and big hats.
Most of the thai gun owners, soldiers and policemen I know have an admiration for all things Hitler on the History Channel. The US Military come a close second but their uniforms are not so cool are they.
It all comes down to having sharp uniforms with a threatening, empowering image. Phao and Pibulsongkram loved it and there has been no political or educational will to change it.
That said, Thailand is not the only country in Asia or indeed the world to embrace the image. Rather naively however, the show no embarassment about embracing it. Fascism and Nationalism are useful tools if you are bought up to perceive external threats everywhere. Sadly with polarised politics there is little middle ground so we have “Fascist Yellow”, “Communist Red” and “whose side are you on then?
The Hitler/Nazi phenomenon is not just in Thailand or India but is widespread throughout the world. Here in Australia, I regularly see Nazi swastikas and other paraphernalia available for sale. I am hopeful that many people, both here (and in Thailand or wherever else), aren’t neo Nazis or Nazi sympathisers. Rather these people are displaying their ignorance of the true facts surrounding the atrocities committed by the Nazi regime before and during WWII. Perhaps I am being be a naive in this regard. As for the economic successes of the Nazi regime, surely they must be offset by the destruction visited upon Germany during WWII. There are plenty of other economic success stories in the post WWII period, many in countries that didin’t resort to the fascist activities of the Nazi regime. As an aside, wasn’t the swastika adapted from or very similar to a Hindu/Buddhist symbol?
I have recently (a week ago) moved to Bangkok for work.
For a while now I have been thinking about going back to school. (I have an MA in Economics) My idea was to apply for a program in Finance, MIF…as I think I would like to get involved with Project Finance or Risk Management in the future and an MIF could be useful for a career change.
Initially I was not thinking about studying in Bangkok..for the reasons – or prejudice if you wish – mentioned above. However, I dont know how long I will be staying here (a year or two?) maybe in this time I could finish the courses, and as I work for a bank here, I could get practical on the job learning opportunity combined with it.
So I looked online, and I found a few options.
1. Mahidol offers a program Management in Finance
2. Thammasat offers an MIF (seems more detailed with some financial modelling as well)
3. Chula – wont open the site but heard that they have an MIF as well
Do you have any experience with these institutions?
I looked up the CFA program site and they named 2 partner institutions in Thailand
NIDA and Sasin.
Sasin seems very expensive (for a school I have never heard of)
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Sarawak’s “Independence Day”
let me share with you my personal story, Dear sis Lynette Ong.
During my teenager years where the internet was not existed, you know that teenagers would chat any topic among friends, although we know nothing about politics, there was a chatting between us about How good IF Sarawak did not ‘join’ Malaysia. Just imagine simple minded teenagers would have that ‘same’ feeling among us. And to my surprise when I found out there are so many having similar thinking when interacting with Sarawakian folks online. yes, of cos, there also many out there having the same view like yours and, those who are supporting the political parties from Malaya, i.e. Pakatan Rakyat.
When exchanging views or sometimes lead to heated argument, they have little point to rebut when ‘hard facts’ are exposed.
you are welcomed to find out more in our group for more ‘facts’. https://www.facebook.com/groups/SarawakSovereigntyMovement/
cheers~~
Best Wishes
Beng Kor
Queering Malaysian cohesiveness
On Independence,the Federal Constitution had Laid the Foundation with a Set MALAYSIAN MOSIAC .
The Mosaic, admist some imperfections, are Cohesively Binded in the Elements of Social, Cultural, (including Race, Religions and Historical Values) and Environmental Fabrics in a Fixed Dominant Proportions with Small Variations of Minors and Queers ….From which the Surface of the Mosaic Can Shine with Added Value on Polishing.
But under the Disguise of Personal Agendas(as in the Case of the UmnuBaruputeras) Race , Religion and (Homo and Gender )Sexuality Issues are Drumed Up to Justify for the Applications and Injections of Marginalised and Discriminating Policies, the Mosaic will Disintegrate from its Original Form.
The Result is Sustaining of Power that is Enslaving the Rakyat who will Continue to Lose their Empowerments Unsuspectingly. That Should Not Allow to Pass.
Working to Improve the Shines in the Malaysian Mosaic is the Future for a Better, Brighter and Cohesive Malaysia in Posterity.
Lets Ponder Seriously and Make it Happen .
Just a lady – Part II
Like tocharian I did enjoy The King and I better and watched it many times. The Thai may feel differently.
You would expect a Eurocentric approach I guess. Birthdays were not normally celebrated in Burma except for old abbots, historic personages and fashionable Westernised Rangoonites until the Chinese began to commercialise it like Valentine’s Day more recently. Good or bad it makes money for the Chinese as toch would agree.
The Lady regrettably let those brave monks down at the first opportunity at Letpadaung.
Beyond Rangoon was well received too. Rambo is just Rambo, pure escapism and fun. Hopefully we won’t be seeing the making of a film like the Killing Fields.
So what next? The Lady, the Speaker and the President? Or The Year of Living Dangerously II?
Just a Lady – Part I
Curious that they don’t trust her while she has spent the last so many years of freedom to promote the “people” she does represent, herself.
There is though “democracy” of sorts where not only your “hill tribes” but the kalars as well as poor peasants (only food producers feeding the whole country including the Awizi-going thugs and their own torturers – in practice as these words are written and read- for millennium) are all laid on the ground for the corporations to walk over.
The very people she does represent are the multinational companies and their agents like say Carr, or Cameron or Obama, and the conglomerates’ loaning (loan sharking) arms, IMF and WB with sister regional banks.
Yet that does not seem to stop the country’s “elites” to join her to facilitate the entry of those to destroy the last pristine land on earth along with the hitherto peaceful and un-covetous society.
The usage of the term “The Lady” just like the woman herself is the pure fabricated invention. I personally have never ever heard that expression used at all among real Burmese populace. It must possibly be used by the minority “elites” of the country just the same like saying “mingalabar”. No one ever says so in Burma among the ordinary Burmese (real majority). Or “Happy Birthday, mum!”.
It does seem that the “mingalabar” saying crowd who even “wai” to each other as they are so modern and progressive are the ones with desperate longing for the McDoanld shops their Amay Suu is helping to get in and are in full support of her way of letting all the international conglomerates to take whatever they want even if it would be the ruin of the lives of thousands -now and several millions in due course- of people.
Already many of the thousands from the villages that horridly named Nay Pyi Daw ” Abode of Than Shwe” replaced (Kyat Paye Asoya Site) have become Pharthe in Kyaukthepaik, Mandalay, Muse and beyond. Their sisters in Latpadaung would certainly follow now with the blessing of their Amay Suu siding with the Chinese, ultimate slap in the face.
It is curious that Master (as in Master of something) Corbin did not find any reference at all about Latpadaung, a fundamental and potentially explosive current about town, in his what surely must be longest list of reference to words ratio in the history of this website. Whereas he did find scores of Muslim issue in tune with large number of people around the world being lyrical about it even though everyone stops short at that. Being lyrical and then that’s it really.
Few nick picking here about the article itself. Aung San was not betrayed by his guards and callously gunned down. That happened to Indira Ghandhi in 1984. U Saw and four others were hanged for the crime. Only guard involved was Yebaw Ko Htwe, a Muslim, an aide to Cabinet minister Sayar U Razak , a Muslim. He was killed by the youngest member of the hit squad on the way out in the stairs.
And taking some opinion about the film from sequestered exiles from Burma in foreign land hardly reflects the opinion of the Burmese populace about the film. If one were to walk around in towns across the land that movie is surely not in conversation and would not get 1% of interest as crappiest Korean soap garners.
Yet as your subject is famous and important, the analysis becomes important just as the film is.
That film being a propaganda does not require any reference, as all films are. Like the Kite runner, made to disparage the Muslim clerics, and cowboys-good, Indians-bad, and so on.
Here it is more obvious. After all people like Aung San Suu Kyi, Mandela, Havel, etc are intentionally chosen, cultivated, groomed and polished in carefully choreographed (one can even see the rotation list of “world leaders” rushing in to pay obeisance to her) way for their use by the promoters. All have been proven to be useful and worth the “investment”.
But than again is this particular one getting a bit shaky and unreliable all too prematurely?
Would the incessant and intensive and dramatic promotion of 2015 election because there is “democracy” ( That “Fake election” and “Elaborate charade” of your reference 14 were long forgotten- Winston Smith style) and “change” of the crappy cowardly lines called Nargis Constitution to suit her will be enough to fool the Burmese populace any longer?
It does appear that more people are killed, more people are evicted off their own land, more people are starving and more violent crimes are being committed daily in Burma since she (Chair of Law and Order or something like that) came out than before in spite of shameless super-spins in all print media, and governmental and international organisational declarations of shameless words.
What if the majority people of Burma are not as dumb as one would hope? Or more importantly not as covetous even with their own ex-pat communities joining the fray?
The cost of clean politics
“What kind of political figures do you want to solve the nation’s problems? If you say
that for the nation to survive they must be pure from the beginning and not have
done anything at all, then they have to administer the country and solve the nation’s
problems without any experience. For that you pass one kind of [anti-corruption]
law. But if you say the people to administer the country must have experience and
abilities like the criteria used by companies when selecting a company president–
namely knowledge, ability and experience–then the law must be of another type. So
to write a law, we must ask what kind of political figures are wanted.”
– Thaksin Shinawatra, 2001
The cost of clean politics
thailands central bank backs yinglucks 2 trillion bath infrastructure spending….
thai intel news: http://thaishortnews.wordpress.com/2013/08/01/thailands-central-bank-backs-yinglucks-2-trillion-baht-infrastructure-spending/
Constructing the deviant ‘other’ – religious traditionalism in contemporary Malaysia
Interesting happenings in moderate, tolerant and progressive Malaysia:
Read more: Kedah praised for Shia teachings ban – General – New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/nation/general/kedah-praised-for-shia-teachings-ban-1.322881#ixzz2aghYiWqX
The cost of clean politics
These things are more likely to be built under Thaksin influenced governments than under Democrat governments. Bangkok has a BTS, Metro, and new Airport (examples). Compare that with Hopewell. Not to say the PPT is corruption free.
Sadly, there is so much money at stake, I feel that before the end and the period when disbursements are to be made of the fund, the Democrats and provincial godfathers cum politicians, will create a ‘crisis’ to drive PT from the reigns of government so they can get their cut. Add in a few paid off members that splinter from PT in renegade factions and well back to 2006.
It seems that Pua Thai is allowed to occupy the offices, but not to rule the country.
Hitler again
Speaking of Burma, Aung San, the national(istic) super-hero of Burma (assassinated in 1947), the father of Aung San Suu Kyi, the (ex-)”democracy icon”, was trained by the Japanese and fought on the side of the Japanese Imperial Army. Aung San was also involved in the founding of the Burmese Communist Party. Go figure! Burmese “heroes” don’t have to stick to any principles or perhaps Politics and Power make strange bedfellows.
Hitler again
True. Away from this thread’s trend of Thai’s being possibly naive about the true monstrosity of those named individuals and taking solace and admiring in power figures, one can also look at relationship of the degree of publicity and, as if countable, degree of monstrosity.
If bigger killing is “badder” than less number, your Mao stumps the rest of the gang. Yet one never, never, never sees or meets or reads about a single human being appalled by it.
Accepting all those killed by Mao were just (JUST) Chinese, and furthermore “unimportant” people (would surely have been human) making their deaths from murder and starvation less cringing, there is also the problem of Winston-Smith-ques designer “history” and intense indoctrination not that terribly different from L’Oreal commercials.
People borne and sent to school in post-war Germany (regardless of racial origin) would perhaps be forever self-analyzing and being cautious and would be less likely to be anti-Zionist, for example. (Be sure to note anti-Zionist is BY NO MEANS anti-Semitic.) In the same vein, one would likely not encounter a repentant Japanese especially in buoyant Abe leadership.
Such things are important not because any worshiping of Hitler-ism would ever likely lead to massive and systematic pogrom and “elimination” by Thai against a particular group of people as seen in current Burma, but because the modern day Winston-Smith-ism is covering up deaths of human millions times the Auschwitz and in worse circumstances seen across the globe in the Middle-East, South America and Africa and indeed in the U S of A.
People living inside the world of Trueman Show would never realize their situation. That is the majority.
Hitler again
Not to be forgotten is the present Head of the Thailand Privy Council and Thailand’s primo royalist, Prem, as a young Lieutenant in the Thai Army enthusiastically and willingly fighting alongside the Japanese Imperial Army in Burma.
Sarawak’s “Independence Day”
http://www.sarawakreport.org/
The only liberty and freedom of Sarawak is from the Taib family. Other then that its worse then the british colonial.
Hitler again
Let us not forget that Thailand signed an alliance with Japan, member of the Tripartite Pact along with the Third Reich. They also declared war on Britain and the USA.
Hitler again
I have just hosted two international students for two months – both Thai females, and recent law graduates.
In discussions over dinner I ascertained that neither were aware that there had been a civil war in the USA. This cropped up after I observed that many major democracies had not established themselves until after a civil conflict.
Neither were aware that Thailand had declared war on both the UK & USA – though the Thai ambassador at the time never officially communicated that fact to the US government.
Both had ‘heard’ of Hitler, but didn’t know what a concentration camp was, and had never heard of Auschwitz. They had not really made the connection between the swastika, SS uniform (very smart – designed by Hugo Boss, I added – ah yes, heard of him)) & the Nazi regime. I don’t think they’re is too much joined up thinking going on here, and it is of little interest to them.
As a former lecturer at a US university, I was intrigued to know if they had ever argued or disagreed with one of their teachers. The size of their eyes indicated that such a situation arising was unthinkable. They were equally shocked to learn that, as a lecturer, I would be disappointed not to be challenged by students from time to time.
From that point on, they relaxed and felt comfortable expressing themselves openly. They were both astute, observant & perceptive. Delighful company. They also accepted that they were unlikely to be comfortable having similar conversations on returning to Thailand.
The KL process
[…] the state” – this phrase is how the resistance movement is formally described in the consensus document that marked the start of the current peace […]
Rakyat left behind
The threat of violence no longer applies to the Chinese Malaysians. UMNO elites share common interest with the Chinese in the economy. Socially, the Chinese are protected by the Malays who live, work and play in the same venue. They might not share tables, but they eat in the same restaurant!
The Chinese have long overcome the grips of LAO in the form of NEP and others. Thus, they have relatively high social mobility and suffer much less intra-ethnic inequality.
Unfortunately, this article aptly applies to the Malays, Indians, and more acutely the Bumiputera of Sabah and Sarawak.
Only when enough of them join the Chinese to form the political corner stone for real and meaningful reforms, Malaysia has a fighting chance to achieve equality and become a high-income economy.
For God’s sake?
Not all Malays are Muslims. Some are agnostic, atheist, free thinker, Christian, Hindu, Buddhist. The Government does not recognize this. Muslim apostates are persecuted severely including physical abuse, imprisonment, death threats, penalty, cannot marry or risk their children taken away by the social welfare.
Hitler again
“Lest We Forget”
Whilst I understand the superficial argument that young thai people are not aware of European history (litmus test: how many European students are aware of Asian history?)Anyone with cultural sensitivities who has spent more than a month in the kingdom will realise that the culture and political history leans toward fascism and an admiration for absolutist rulers. Those of us who read up a bit know of the origins and politics that produced the “modern” military and police force and the fetish for tight boots, jodphurs, brown uniforms and big hats.
Most of the thai gun owners, soldiers and policemen I know have an admiration for all things Hitler on the History Channel. The US Military come a close second but their uniforms are not so cool are they.
It all comes down to having sharp uniforms with a threatening, empowering image. Phao and Pibulsongkram loved it and there has been no political or educational will to change it.
That said, Thailand is not the only country in Asia or indeed the world to embrace the image. Rather naively however, the show no embarassment about embracing it. Fascism and Nationalism are useful tools if you are bought up to perceive external threats everywhere. Sadly with polarised politics there is little middle ground so we have “Fascist Yellow”, “Communist Red” and “whose side are you on then?
Hitler again
The Hitler/Nazi phenomenon is not just in Thailand or India but is widespread throughout the world. Here in Australia, I regularly see Nazi swastikas and other paraphernalia available for sale. I am hopeful that many people, both here (and in Thailand or wherever else), aren’t neo Nazis or Nazi sympathisers. Rather these people are displaying their ignorance of the true facts surrounding the atrocities committed by the Nazi regime before and during WWII. Perhaps I am being be a naive in this regard. As for the economic successes of the Nazi regime, surely they must be offset by the destruction visited upon Germany during WWII. There are plenty of other economic success stories in the post WWII period, many in countries that didin’t resort to the fascist activities of the Nazi regime. As an aside, wasn’t the swastika adapted from or very similar to a Hindu/Buddhist symbol?
University rankings from Chula’s perspective
Hi Guys,
I have recently (a week ago) moved to Bangkok for work.
For a while now I have been thinking about going back to school. (I have an MA in Economics) My idea was to apply for a program in Finance, MIF…as I think I would like to get involved with Project Finance or Risk Management in the future and an MIF could be useful for a career change.
Initially I was not thinking about studying in Bangkok..for the reasons – or prejudice if you wish – mentioned above. However, I dont know how long I will be staying here (a year or two?) maybe in this time I could finish the courses, and as I work for a bank here, I could get practical on the job learning opportunity combined with it.
So I looked online, and I found a few options.
1. Mahidol offers a program Management in Finance
2. Thammasat offers an MIF (seems more detailed with some financial modelling as well)
3. Chula – wont open the site but heard that they have an MIF as well
Do you have any experience with these institutions?
I looked up the CFA program site and they named 2 partner institutions in Thailand
NIDA and Sasin.
Sasin seems very expensive (for a school I have never heard of)
Any advice that you could give me?
Thank you all for your time