The Thai monarchy being blamed for 18 military coups? Maybe without a King Bhumiphol Thailand would have succumbed to 20 more coups perhaps or descended into a Myanmar or war-torn Vietnam or Cambodia.
Yes – about 50 per cent of the candidates are “new”, but they are not “totally new”.
The terms “newcomers”, “new faces”, and “fresh faces” used by Barisan National refer to candidates who were not field in the last general election. This include candidates (i) who are contesting for the first time (i.e., debutantes [which can be considered as “totally new”]) and (ii) who have previously contested in a general election prior to the last general election (which can be considered as “partially new”).
Alex #15
“I will pray Buddha tonight for my wish become true.” 🙂
Do you believe that upon death Gautama Buddha metamorphosed into an all powerful supernatural deity?
If so, do you believe he now has the ability or inclination to intercede with events at your bidding and distress other individuals at you request?
Does your concept of prayer differ from buddhist teaching (in your opinion?)
In what ways do your believe your beliefs in supernatural/karmic justice differ from those who seem to need 112 to justify their frighteningly similar beliefs.
Or are you employing an anti-establishment irony too subtle for me??
I believe Thailand has completely gotten rid of any official recognition of her ethnic races since 1900.
I think that great King Chula did it. In the process he wasted a few hundred Shans who were hell bent on establishing a Shan State in Northern Thailand.
Since then every human being, including Chinese and Indians and Europeans, living in Thailand is just Thai. What a wise and working idea!
Sai Latt the so-called PhD student from Canada has shown his true colors again on New Mandala.
The stories from the Patriotic Burmese Exiles in Canada are that he works for that notorious Burmese-Canadian Harn Yaungwe (son of late Burma’s first president Saw Shwe Thaik) and the boss of DVB and the founder of EBO (Euro-Burma-Office).
It is now well known in Burma that Harn’s EBO took 50 million-Euros from Saudi Arabia in a deal to push for Rohingyas to be granted Burmese citizenship within five years, and then a separate statehood (Islamic Northern Arakan).
Harn is also working with George Soro’s Open Society to reorganize Burma into a truly-federal state where Burma Proper will be treated as another state like Shan or Karen or Kachin states.
Their ultimate goal is the break-up or Balkanization of Burma as Moe Aung has mentioned so many times here.
We Thai people like to worship and bow to all kinds of things, Buddha statues, elephant statues, rat statues, Shiva statues, Spirit houses filled with all kinds of little statues, zebras, small people, animals, religious figures. We sometimes bow to trees even. To large male erections. We like to crawl on the ground before our King, Queen, their children. We bow to people with more money than ourself. More power. A bigger house. A more beautiful girlfriend. We sometimes bow to farang if they have a lot of money or wear nice clothes or are famous celebrities. Or went to a top university. Sometimes not if we think the farang are poor, uneducated, backpackers, sex tourists or people who don’t take enough showers. It’s not really Hinduism or Buddhism or Animism. It’s just part of Thainess.
This discussion actually had me think: what IF there is an imaginary successor who would really be a good King, and who realises Lese Majeste is such a stupid law, and would want to abolish it…would the Military allow that (imaginary) King to abolish the law? Or…the Army would get rid of that imaginary King and get some royal who is willing to be its puppet to continue puppeteering? What’s you people’s thought on this?
That spirit house are the beliefs by Hinduism mixed with local ghost & spirit beliefs and later mixed with Buddism in south east asia
In thailand we both do the practice of Buddism and Hinduism and almost to say that our practice of buddism will also have practice of hinduism at the same time.
Your right, that even by accepted international benchmarks (e.g. OECD), Malaysia is alright. Besides – Malaysia except for about 10 years (about 2 years just after independence and about 6/7 years in the 90s), have historically always run fiscal deficits and still managed to provide a stable macroeconomic environment for economic growth.
Furthermore, Malaysia is recording decent growth rates, albeit it maybe domestically driven (which contributes to some of the public debt), and also Malaysia is located and integrated into the more dynamic regions of the global economy.
I think Liam’s article is raising the concern of “hidden debts or under-reporting” which maybe problematic (e.g. like Greece) if things go sour for Malaysia (although I really doubt this).
But I am personally worried about three things: (1) Malaysia needs to reduce its subsidies and better target it; (2) Broaden its revenue base; (3) and most of all, I am most worried about the levels of household debt. While the government as sovereigns have the means to address high levels of debt even in fragile situations, households cannot – and that worries me, in a country, where unrest can lead to unnecessary social, economic and political volatility.
I’ve already said whats wrong with it (its an interference designed to obstruct, a referendum is not required, and the referendum rules have been rigged as part of the coup process to help PAD/Democrats do the bidding of a minority)
When I said under the same rules as the 2007 referendum, I meant the same quorum rules (and not the unfair military imposed ones, obviously!).
I basically agree with the process outlined by johninbkk, but in the meantime think the country should revert to the 1997 ‘peoples constitution’, and the title of this thread gives a clue of how it could be done (because thats how it got taken away from the people).
My argument is not a ‘strawman’. I only pointed out what Section 291 says, and passed no judgement on whether it’s the best route to take.
My personal opinion is that Section 291 should be amended to allow for a drafting assembly to write a new constitution. And after one is written, and debated/modified, put to a referendum. It should pass with a super-majority of > 66%, regardless of how many voted. If it doesn’t pass, it should be returned to the assembly for another round.
To hold a referendum before a draft is written would be inviting people to vote on opinions, rumors, and fears/aspirations on what the new Constitution could be – and not what it actually will be.
The current 2007 Constitution is a monstrosity. It’s filled with horrible un-democratic provisions and loops holes, with sections contradicting itself all over – representative of the non-democratic conditions it was written under. It’s 309 Sections. By comparison, the US Constitution only has 24 – why re-invent the wheel?
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Why Thailand needs its kings
The Thai monarchy being blamed for 18 military coups? Maybe without a King Bhumiphol Thailand would have succumbed to 20 more coups perhaps or descended into a Myanmar or war-torn Vietnam or Cambodia.
Thai studies in Sydney
Here: http://www.poricany.cz/cambodia/camb_soubory/Indo_china_1886_big.jpg
Thai studies in Sydney
That’s an interesting old map, Andrew. Could you tell us how old it is, and where it came from?
New faces: better odds or exit strategy?
Hi Sonia Randhawa,
Yes – about 50 per cent of the candidates are “new”, but they are not “totally new”.
The terms “newcomers”, “new faces”, and “fresh faces” used by Barisan National refer to candidates who were not field in the last general election. This include candidates (i) who are contesting for the first time (i.e., debutantes [which can be considered as “totally new”]) and (ii) who have previously contested in a general election prior to the last general election (which can be considered as “partially new”).
I hope that helps.
Why Thailand needs its kings
Andrew.W #12.1
-who does assess the suitability of a king?
The Privy Council?
(according to Handley and wikileaks as I recall)
Thai spirits not welcome in Myanmar
Should credit to original writer “Dawei Watch” .
Thai spirits not welcome in Myanmar
what spirit houses and Nat have to do with Buddhism?
Nothing!
what the Hindu rites of the Thai royal family to do with Buddhism?
Nothing!
What Hinduism has to do with Buddhism?
– Hinduism believes in an eternal soul (atta)
-Buddhism says there is no eternal soul or an “I” (anatta)
Nat and spirit houses have many commonalities – both belief in spirits
New faces: better odds or exit strategy?
Just a question, prompted by Bridget Welsh’s analysis on Mkini – are there really that many more newcomers this time round?
Malaysia GE13 coverage
Al Jazeera has produced this excellent programme, mimicking a town hall debate involving the DAP, UMNO and independent pollster, Merdeka Centre.
http://youtu.be/I_QJy2TK-XA
Interview with Joe Gordon: Lèse majesté and democracy
Alex #15
“I will pray Buddha tonight for my wish become true.” 🙂
Do you believe that upon death Gautama Buddha metamorphosed into an all powerful supernatural deity?
If so, do you believe he now has the ability or inclination to intercede with events at your bidding and distress other individuals at you request?
Does your concept of prayer differ from buddhist teaching (in your opinion?)
In what ways do your believe your beliefs in supernatural/karmic justice differ from those who seem to need 112 to justify their frighteningly similar beliefs.
Or are you employing an anti-establishment irony too subtle for me??
Colonialism and ethnic conflict in Burma
I believe Thailand has completely gotten rid of any official recognition of her ethnic races since 1900.
I think that great King Chula did it. In the process he wasted a few hundred Shans who were hell bent on establishing a Shan State in Northern Thailand.
Since then every human being, including Chinese and Indians and Europeans, living in Thailand is just Thai. What a wise and working idea!
Colonialism and ethnic conflict in Burma
Sai Latt the so-called PhD student from Canada has shown his true colors again on New Mandala.
The stories from the Patriotic Burmese Exiles in Canada are that he works for that notorious Burmese-Canadian Harn Yaungwe (son of late Burma’s first president Saw Shwe Thaik) and the boss of DVB and the founder of EBO (Euro-Burma-Office).
It is now well known in Burma that Harn’s EBO took 50 million-Euros from Saudi Arabia in a deal to push for Rohingyas to be granted Burmese citizenship within five years, and then a separate statehood (Islamic Northern Arakan).
Harn is also working with George Soro’s Open Society to reorganize Burma into a truly-federal state where Burma Proper will be treated as another state like Shan or Karen or Kachin states.
Their ultimate goal is the break-up or Balkanization of Burma as Moe Aung has mentioned so many times here.
Thai spirits not welcome in Myanmar
We Thai people like to worship and bow to all kinds of things, Buddha statues, elephant statues, rat statues, Shiva statues, Spirit houses filled with all kinds of little statues, zebras, small people, animals, religious figures. We sometimes bow to trees even. To large male erections. We like to crawl on the ground before our King, Queen, their children. We bow to people with more money than ourself. More power. A bigger house. A more beautiful girlfriend. We sometimes bow to farang if they have a lot of money or wear nice clothes or are famous celebrities. Or went to a top university. Sometimes not if we think the farang are poor, uneducated, backpackers, sex tourists or people who don’t take enough showers. It’s not really Hinduism or Buddhism or Animism. It’s just part of Thainess.
Interview with Joe Gordon: Lèse majesté and democracy
This discussion actually had me think: what IF there is an imaginary successor who would really be a good King, and who realises Lese Majeste is such a stupid law, and would want to abolish it…would the Military allow that (imaginary) King to abolish the law? Or…the Army would get rid of that imaginary King and get some royal who is willing to be its puppet to continue puppeteering? What’s you people’s thought on this?
Thai spirits not welcome in Myanmar
That spirit house are the beliefs by Hinduism mixed with local ghost & spirit beliefs and later mixed with Buddism in south east asia
In thailand we both do the practice of Buddism and Hinduism and almost to say that our practice of buddism will also have practice of hinduism at the same time.
Malaysia GE13 coverage
Boleh lah…in BolehLand anything can happen.
But will attempt to predict based on the various publicly available surveys and analysis, and my own investigations.
Reducing Malaysia’s debt burden
New Mandala readers may also be interested in this useful FAQ that Nurhisham Hussein had prepared on the Malaysian government debt at his blog.
http://econsmalaysia.blogspot.com.au/p/faq-on-malaysian-government-debt.html
Reducing Malaysia’s debt burden
Hi Hisham,
Your right, that even by accepted international benchmarks (e.g. OECD), Malaysia is alright. Besides – Malaysia except for about 10 years (about 2 years just after independence and about 6/7 years in the 90s), have historically always run fiscal deficits and still managed to provide a stable macroeconomic environment for economic growth.
Furthermore, Malaysia is recording decent growth rates, albeit it maybe domestically driven (which contributes to some of the public debt), and also Malaysia is located and integrated into the more dynamic regions of the global economy.
I think Liam’s article is raising the concern of “hidden debts or under-reporting” which maybe problematic (e.g. like Greece) if things go sour for Malaysia (although I really doubt this).
But I am personally worried about three things: (1) Malaysia needs to reduce its subsidies and better target it; (2) Broaden its revenue base; (3) and most of all, I am most worried about the levels of household debt. While the government as sovereigns have the means to address high levels of debt even in fragile situations, households cannot – and that worries me, in a country, where unrest can lead to unnecessary social, economic and political volatility.
Why Thailand needs its king
I’ve already said whats wrong with it (its an interference designed to obstruct, a referendum is not required, and the referendum rules have been rigged as part of the coup process to help PAD/Democrats do the bidding of a minority)
When I said under the same rules as the 2007 referendum, I meant the same quorum rules (and not the unfair military imposed ones, obviously!).
I basically agree with the process outlined by johninbkk, but in the meantime think the country should revert to the 1997 ‘peoples constitution’, and the title of this thread gives a clue of how it could be done (because thats how it got taken away from the people).
Why Thailand needs its king
My argument is not a ‘strawman’. I only pointed out what Section 291 says, and passed no judgement on whether it’s the best route to take.
My personal opinion is that Section 291 should be amended to allow for a drafting assembly to write a new constitution. And after one is written, and debated/modified, put to a referendum. It should pass with a super-majority of > 66%, regardless of how many voted. If it doesn’t pass, it should be returned to the assembly for another round.
To hold a referendum before a draft is written would be inviting people to vote on opinions, rumors, and fears/aspirations on what the new Constitution could be – and not what it actually will be.
The current 2007 Constitution is a monstrosity. It’s filled with horrible un-democratic provisions and loops holes, with sections contradicting itself all over – representative of the non-democratic conditions it was written under. It’s 309 Sections. By comparison, the US Constitution only has 24 – why re-invent the wheel?