“Compare Thailand to countries such as Burma, Cambodia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, etc, and the difference should be quite obvious.”
Not sure comparing Thailand to those countries alleviates poverty in Thailand – so not sure why you would mention them. Nor does it mean that you’ve provided any evidence to back up your statement that there are “very few” poor people in Thailand.
What is your definition of poverty for Thais?
What evidence do you have that “very few” live in poverty?
Thaksin may or may not be corrupt. But the only thing he has been found guilty of so far is counter signing a document for his wife to buy a piece of land.which should not be a criminal case at all.
Your work is appreciated. I notice it repeats the commonly held belief (myth or twisted interpretation?) that the Chinese investor pulled out of the original plan because of the lack of financial feasibility.
My understanding about the situation is that the pullout was due to the refusal of the Lao government to grant the enormous land concession demanded by the Chinese along the full length of the route. Although not basically inconsistent with the frequent explanations of inadequate profit, it seems misleading to not mention that the Chinese initially were motivated by their hoped-for opportunity to subsidize their investment by acquiring all of this real estate in a scheme similar to that used to build most of the transcontinental railroads in North America (and perhaps elsewhere). Perhaps you could correct or clarify?
Iive in the USA. Two things the US fear about Malaysian politics are: the radicalization of Muslim and the instability created by racial and religious tension. The USA is very keen to maintain the status quo in this region.
I have stated “very few”, which does not mean “none”.
Of course there are sectors of the society that are under the absolute poverty line. You have that also in the US – for example.
And yes, it is a well known fact that there are quite a few poverty problems under the stateless population.
Nevertheless – Thailand has made huge advancements in the past 20 or so years. Compare Thailand to countries such as Burma, Cambodia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, etc, and the difference should be quite obvious.
I do not really understand what my personal background has to do with this issue. But for the record i can explain about the “aristocratic Nostitz”:
In modern Germany having an aristocratic title in the name does not mean anything at all anymore. After WW1 the aristocracy has lost all privileges, and while i may have been born into an at the time quite wealthy family, that wealth has all been lost a bit more than ten years ago, and is irrecoverably lost.
These things happen.
And i am struggling.
That is the main reason why i will have to leave Thailand after 20 years as soon as i can sort out the bureaucratic nightmare in front of me so i can bring my family with me to Germany, where we will have to start all over from scratch. Which i hope i can manage to before i run out of the bit of money i inherited from my father as i will be otherwise in deep shit.
Financially my wife and her family will not be of much help, as they belong to those sectors here in Thailand that are within the 8.something percent below the absolute poverty line.
So yes, the “aristocratic Nostitz” has slightly more serious problems than finding a suitable butler for his summer residence…
“Widespread bewilderment” is a result of lack of preparation of coup defence. This topic is extensively covered from a nonviolent action viewpoint by Gene Sharp in “The Anti-Coup.” This is available for free download, as is a version translated into Thai:
Whilst I agree with much of what else the aristocratic Nostitz writes here to claim that poverty isn’t really an issue any more is pretty far out.
In several areas of the country there is still evidence of absolute poverty, particular amongst stateless peoples whilst appalling wealth distribution and lack of welfare provision entrench poverty.
[…] the government arrested prominent youth activist Adam Adli, who had been attending the rallies, for allegedly seditious speech. This week, it arrested other prominent opposition figures. The ruling coalition also has announced […]
My scientific society is also held to ransom by those jerks at Taylor & Francis. It won’t be long before we can get rid of them and they go broke. It’s only academic vanity that’s keeping them going.
No political movement is complete without an anthem or song, like “Internationale” or “We Shall Overcome”. For the “Thai Spring” maybe they should pick a song from The King and I. “Puzzlement’s” my favorite but if that doesn’t work, how about “My Lord and Master” or “I Whistle a Happy Tune” which does have the advantage that it would be easy in terms of most of the anticipated large crowd being able to sing along.
Facebook 
Twitter 
Soundcloud 
Youtube 
Rss
Desiring a pure people’s politics
“Compare Thailand to countries such as Burma, Cambodia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, etc, and the difference should be quite obvious.”
Not sure comparing Thailand to those countries alleviates poverty in Thailand – so not sure why you would mention them. Nor does it mean that you’ve provided any evidence to back up your statement that there are “very few” poor people in Thailand.
What is your definition of poverty for Thais?
What evidence do you have that “very few” live in poverty?
Here’s some World Bank data – http://data.worldbank.org/country/thailand.
Whilst huge advances have been made 13.2% of Thais are still classed as living in poverty.
Or 8.7million.
Is that “very few”?
And why stop there?
Then they came for Adam Adli
[…] Then they came for Adam Adli (asiapacific.anu.edu.au) […]
Desiring a pure people’s politics
Thaksin may or may not be corrupt. But the only thing he has been found guilty of so far is counter signing a document for his wife to buy a piece of land.which should not be a criminal case at all.
Fiscal folly or essential infrastructure
Tristan,
Your work is appreciated. I notice it repeats the commonly held belief (myth or twisted interpretation?) that the Chinese investor pulled out of the original plan because of the lack of financial feasibility.
My understanding about the situation is that the pullout was due to the refusal of the Lao government to grant the enormous land concession demanded by the Chinese along the full length of the route. Although not basically inconsistent with the frequent explanations of inadequate profit, it seems misleading to not mention that the Chinese initially were motivated by their hoped-for opportunity to subsidize their investment by acquiring all of this real estate in a scheme similar to that used to build most of the transcontinental railroads in North America (and perhaps elsewhere). Perhaps you could correct or clarify?
Middle Malaysia has arrived?
Iive in the USA. Two things the US fear about Malaysian politics are: the radicalization of Muslim and the instability created by racial and religious tension. The USA is very keen to maintain the status quo in this region.
Then they came for Adam Adli
[…] …more Then they came for Adam Adli Kia Meng Boon 24 May 2013 – New Mandala […]
Desiring a pure people’s politics
I have stated “very few”, which does not mean “none”.
Of course there are sectors of the society that are under the absolute poverty line. You have that also in the US – for example.
And yes, it is a well known fact that there are quite a few poverty problems under the stateless population.
Nevertheless – Thailand has made huge advancements in the past 20 or so years. Compare Thailand to countries such as Burma, Cambodia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, etc, and the difference should be quite obvious.
I do not really understand what my personal background has to do with this issue. But for the record i can explain about the “aristocratic Nostitz”:
In modern Germany having an aristocratic title in the name does not mean anything at all anymore. After WW1 the aristocracy has lost all privileges, and while i may have been born into an at the time quite wealthy family, that wealth has all been lost a bit more than ten years ago, and is irrecoverably lost.
These things happen.
And i am struggling.
That is the main reason why i will have to leave Thailand after 20 years as soon as i can sort out the bureaucratic nightmare in front of me so i can bring my family with me to Germany, where we will have to start all over from scratch. Which i hope i can manage to before i run out of the bit of money i inherited from my father as i will be otherwise in deep shit.
Financially my wife and her family will not be of much help, as they belong to those sectors here in Thailand that are within the 8.something percent below the absolute poverty line.
So yes, the “aristocratic Nostitz” has slightly more serious problems than finding a suitable butler for his summer residence…
Coups in Southeast Asia and the Pacific
“Widespread bewilderment” is a result of lack of preparation of coup defence. This topic is extensively covered from a nonviolent action viewpoint by Gene Sharp in “The Anti-Coup.” This is available for free download, as is a version translated into Thai:
In addition this post should be read in the light of the recent publication of “Democratisation and Civilan Control in Asia” by Prof Dr Aurel Croissant, Paul Chambers and others.
Desiring a pure people’s politics
“”there are very few “poor” left in Thailand”
By what definition?
Is that relative poverty or absolute?
Whilst I agree with much of what else the aristocratic Nostitz writes here to claim that poverty isn’t really an issue any more is pretty far out.
In several areas of the country there is still evidence of absolute poverty, particular amongst stateless peoples whilst appalling wealth distribution and lack of welfare provision entrench poverty.
Ways of seeing Malaysia – deconstructing demographic violence
A scholarly insight…
Review of Misalliance
This sex affair was also mentioned by Major General Do Mau in his memoir as well.
Then they came for Adam Adli
[…] the government arrested prominent youth activist Adam Adli, who had been attending the rallies, for allegedly seditious speech. This week, it arrested other prominent opposition figures. The ruling coalition also has announced […]
Coups in Southeast Asia and the Pacific
My scientific society is also held to ransom by those jerks at Taylor & Francis. It won’t be long before we can get rid of them and they go broke. It’s only academic vanity that’s keeping them going.
Counting Thailand’s coups
[…] gew├дhlte F├╝hrer ├╝ber ihre illegale Staatsstreiche und “Coup-d’etats” ( http://www.newmandala.org/2011/03/08/counting-thailands-coups/ ) immer wieder vertrieben haben […]
Coups in Southeast Asia and the Pacific
I thought this post would conclude with a special offer to NM readers!
Desiring a pure people’s politics
No political movement is complete without an anthem or song, like “Internationale” or “We Shall Overcome”. For the “Thai Spring” maybe they should pick a song from The King and I. “Puzzlement’s” my favorite but if that doesn’t work, how about “My Lord and Master” or “I Whistle a Happy Tune” which does have the advantage that it would be easy in terms of most of the anticipated large crowd being able to sing along.
Desiring a pure people’s politics
“Down with Cults of Personality” – another possible “Thai Spring” movement slogan for placards and chanting.
Desiring a pure people’s politics
Re: The “Thai Spring”, perhaps the organizing slogan can be, “Royalists of the World Unite”, for placards, chanting by large crowds, etc.
Desiring a pure people’s politics
how ill the thai spring group is:
bangkok pundit: thai spring group open letter….
http://asiancorrespondent.com/108035/thailand-thai-spring-open-letter/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BangkokPundit+%28Bangkok+Pundit%29
Desiring a pure people’s politics
Is Ryan crediting corruption with ‘greasing’ or even easing Japan’s economic and social progress? That’s another silly from you Ryan!