Brevity is commendable and and indeed if it comes from RNEngland less is bliss!
And on the subject of brevity and lese majesty are the Reds suddenly short for words and even shorter for sction in their demand for its reform? Brevity or ennui or something else?
It may well be that Malaysia’s 13th General Elections, will cited as a case note by any political science student researching on whether politics, more than anything else is the cause of ethnic tension.
Failing which there is the option for Ripley’s Believe it or Not, to document on the way in which, the ruling politicians in Malaysia are able to turn on the communal weapon whenever they need it without worrying about the consequences of turning it off.
Frankly, this Elections, will show clearly how effective manipulating religion, race and economic disparity can be, to translate voter anxiety, insecurity and prejudices into votes for any irresponsible political party needing to win at all cost.
On the issue of election irregularities, history has shown those minions entrusted to carry the dastardly deeds to stuff ballot boxes and buying of votes; do not suffer an attack of conscience or a divine instruction to repent. The only choice left is to hope against hope that some sense of ethics and fair play would prevail.
Does the author really think using tax payer’s money to buy multimillion condos etc as classy… and the “rakyat” (citizens)is told they have to fight that because the citizens are of a lower class?
Sometimes I wonder at the quality of these so called analyst – maybe they just want to sound “classy” using words that sounds BIG!
I apologise to Thaifarang and everybody for the tortured brevity of my post (#26). Others can work out whether Thaifarang’s claim (#27) not to be a royalist is credible, given his other posts (#24, #25).
I sometimes use the word “feudalism” loosely to emphasise the violence and sheer primitivism of the absolutist régime that is a constant threat to Thai democratic reformers.
I read this interview before but it’s quite interesting to read it again!
I might not agree with everything that Michael Aung-Thwin says but I find his books and his (somewhat controversial) ideas about Burmese history rather refreshing and definitely more original than that dilettante copy-cat Thant Myint-U (with a famous grandpa). In Burma it’s all about name-dropping and “who’s your daddy?” amongst the ruling upper-class oligarchy and those are the ones who are “fond of” including their (grand-)daddy’s name in their name. Than Shwe’s father must have been a nobody! Speaking of grandpas, some of my ancestors I believe, came from somewhere around Pyinmana so of course I agree with Michael Aung-Thwin that Naypyitaw lies in the heartland of the country. Besides the ancient Pyu city of Beikthano is not too far away from that area and speaking of “name-dropping” I have met the late U Aung Thaw (a well-known archaeologist who dug up Beikthano during the 50’s and the 60’s) but the Wikipedia article about Beikthano doesn’t even refer to him anymore (Thant Myint-U’s name shows up everywhere of course) Aung Thaw must be turning in his grave LOL
That Burmese left-wing intellectuals including the writer Bamaw Tin Aung you referred to were one of the main reasons we Burmese had suffered miserably for more than 40 years under the consecutive Socialist governments run by U Nu – Kyaw Nyein first and later that scum Ne Win!
Please do not bring them ghosts-past back to remind us of bad old days. I beg of you, please!
I am not a feudalist or even a royalist,nor IMO opinion does my post indicate that. However,I do suspect that even if I were, I would still be unable to make sense of the comment by R.N. England. who appears sadly bereft of the ability (his name notwithstanding) to write plain English.
What is disobedience and apathy to a feudalist like Thaifarang, is, to a constitutionalist, the wisdom and courage to put laws framed by the people’s elected representatives above those individuals who are trying to control him through the fraud and thuggery of feudalism.
You have to ask what good ASEAN could actually do. As your fourth paragraph suggests, its involvement could actually escalate the problem by regionalising it, bringing in new actors and even more complex dynamics. That is not always the best approach to conflict resolution. We should not assume that multilateral approaches are always better than bilateral ones.
Not least unlimited rants of a certain Don Quixote tilting at windmills. It’s the careless useless west and the old colonial legacy. The half century military misrule is merely a direct result of it and a distraction.
Thanks for the interesting piece. Unfortunately, Vietnam is much underrepresented on New Mandala and elsewhere. In this context, the panel on constitutionalism in SEA at the upcoming EuroSEAS conference includes two presenters from Vietnam.
BTW growing up in Australia, I saw how civil disobedience/apathy reached a tipping point when the people who didn’t stand for the royal anthem at the cinema outnumbered those who did, and the anthem was eventually withdrawn to save the crown further embarrassment. Trying to enforce such compliance would be very difficult and counter productive anyway.
Interesting discussion – I haven’t visited this sight for a couple of years as it did seem to be rather divisive, if not pro-red.
Clearly the ‘barramee’ of whoever eventually succeeds King Bhumipol will be much, much less, and the new political reality will be accommodated. As for Thaksin, a moderate red supporter from Khon Kaen (Red country)told me during a public discussion that 80% of perople there are only along for the ride with Thaksin. IMO Thaksin’s easy ride will continue until the Democrats get rid of the dead wood in the party and the youthful core of Abhisit, Korn, Apiluk & Co. can thoroughly overhaul the party platform. Until then, with the support of the Reds, the pre-eminence of Thaksin’s corrupt party machine will continue.
More half truths to again discredit the prof, an earliest proponent of engagement, that you Never agree with.
New Mandala, unlike BBC (not to mention DVB) and such is still the most objective site that allow unlimited venting of Moe-Ohn woes,without failing to highlight Myanmar citizenry plight.
At New Mandala one cannot find any record of your personal complaint against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi when ‘the shoe was on the other foot’ i.e
1)when her advocacy were then against only SPDC without any regards for the citizenry,
2)the 2 decades long useless careless policy of the West. Callously subjecting the citizenry to continuing poverty as well as present quagmires.
DASSK has now learned how hard it is to be a part of the establishment/Hlutthaw that has to deal with the left over quagmires of Colonial legacy as well as the useless careless policy, and still be popular.
What kind of analyst says that BN’s greatest asset is its power sharing. There is no powersharing right now there is just patronage. MCA and MIC get crapped on daily by UMNO but they just take it, not because of power sharing. Because they have no real choice. Malaysian public intellectuals, in the interest of being neutral and impartial, say the most naive things.
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Domesticating royal power
Brevity is commendable and and indeed if it comes from RNEngland less is bliss!
And on the subject of brevity and lese majesty are the Reds suddenly short for words and even shorter for sction in their demand for its reform? Brevity or ennui or something else?
Is Malaysia’s electoral system ready for GE13
It may well be that Malaysia’s 13th General Elections, will cited as a case note by any political science student researching on whether politics, more than anything else is the cause of ethnic tension.
Failing which there is the option for Ripley’s Believe it or Not, to document on the way in which, the ruling politicians in Malaysia are able to turn on the communal weapon whenever they need it without worrying about the consequences of turning it off.
Frankly, this Elections, will show clearly how effective manipulating religion, race and economic disparity can be, to translate voter anxiety, insecurity and prejudices into votes for any irresponsible political party needing to win at all cost.
On the issue of election irregularities, history has shown those minions entrusted to carry the dastardly deeds to stuff ballot boxes and buying of votes; do not suffer an attack of conscience or a divine instruction to repent. The only choice left is to hope against hope that some sense of ethics and fair play would prevail.
Interview with Professor Michael Aung-Thwin
Ko Aung Moe
Do not forget how Tin Pe a committed commie screwed the economy up during BSPP.
Aung Gyi his historical nemesis was trying hard to prevent another repeat during the beginning of NLD from coming under similar fate.
GE13 Malaysia – Farish Noor
“Subaltern class war”? Really
Does the author really think using tax payer’s money to buy multimillion condos etc as classy… and the “rakyat” (citizens)is told they have to fight that because the citizens are of a lower class?
Sometimes I wonder at the quality of these so called analyst – maybe they just want to sound “classy” using words that sounds BIG!
Interview with Professor Michael Aung-Thwin
Illusions, illusions…like the beckoning mirage of 2015.
Nazi = National Socialist German Worker’s Party
Please do not insult Bamaw Tin Aung’s memory even by mentioning his name in the same sentence as these political gangsters.
Domesticating royal power
I apologise to Thaifarang and everybody for the tortured brevity of my post (#26). Others can work out whether Thaifarang’s claim (#27) not to be a royalist is credible, given his other posts (#24, #25).
I sometimes use the word “feudalism” loosely to emphasise the violence and sheer primitivism of the absolutist régime that is a constant threat to Thai democratic reformers.
Interview with Professor Michael Aung-Thwin
I read this interview before but it’s quite interesting to read it again!
I might not agree with everything that Michael Aung-Thwin says but I find his books and his (somewhat controversial) ideas about Burmese history rather refreshing and definitely more original than that dilettante copy-cat Thant Myint-U (with a famous grandpa). In Burma it’s all about name-dropping and “who’s your daddy?” amongst the ruling upper-class oligarchy and those are the ones who are “fond of” including their (grand-)daddy’s name in their name. Than Shwe’s father must have been a nobody! Speaking of grandpas, some of my ancestors I believe, came from somewhere around Pyinmana so of course I agree with Michael Aung-Thwin that Naypyitaw lies in the heartland of the country. Besides the ancient Pyu city of Beikthano is not too far away from that area and speaking of “name-dropping” I have met the late U Aung Thaw (a well-known archaeologist who dug up Beikthano during the 50’s and the 60’s) but the Wikipedia article about Beikthano doesn’t even refer to him anymore (Thant Myint-U’s name shows up everywhere of course) Aung Thaw must be turning in his grave LOL
Interview with Professor Michael Aung-Thwin
Stephen,
That Burmese left-wing intellectuals including the writer Bamaw Tin Aung you referred to were one of the main reasons we Burmese had suffered miserably for more than 40 years under the consecutive Socialist governments run by U Nu – Kyaw Nyein first and later that scum Ne Win!
Please do not bring them ghosts-past back to remind us of bad old days. I beg of you, please!
Domesticating royal power
I am not a feudalist or even a royalist,nor IMO opinion does my post indicate that. However,I do suspect that even if I were, I would still be unable to make sense of the comment by R.N. England. who appears sadly bereft of the ability (his name notwithstanding) to write plain English.
ASEAN non-interference and the Sabah conflict
A well written an informative article!
Domesticating royal power
What is disobedience and apathy to a feudalist like Thaifarang, is, to a constitutionalist, the wisdom and courage to put laws framed by the people’s elected representatives above those individuals who are trying to control him through the fraud and thuggery of feudalism.
ASEAN non-interference and the Sabah conflict
You have to ask what good ASEAN could actually do. As your fourth paragraph suggests, its involvement could actually escalate the problem by regionalising it, bringing in new actors and even more complex dynamics. That is not always the best approach to conflict resolution. We should not assume that multilateral approaches are always better than bilateral ones.
Interview with Professor Michael Aung-Thwin
Thanks are then due to the Woe Diarrhea Receptacle. Thanks.
Interview with Professor Michael Aung-Thwin
Not least unlimited rants of a certain Don Quixote tilting at windmills. It’s the careless useless west and the old colonial legacy. The half century military misrule is merely a direct result of it and a distraction.
Sadhu, sadhu, sadhu.
Impatience in Viet Nam
Thanks for the interesting piece. Unfortunately, Vietnam is much underrepresented on New Mandala and elsewhere. In this context, the panel on constitutionalism in SEA at the upcoming EuroSEAS conference includes two presenters from Vietnam.
Domesticating royal power
BTW growing up in Australia, I saw how civil disobedience/apathy reached a tipping point when the people who didn’t stand for the royal anthem at the cinema outnumbered those who did, and the anthem was eventually withdrawn to save the crown further embarrassment. Trying to enforce such compliance would be very difficult and counter productive anyway.
Domesticating royal power
Interesting discussion – I haven’t visited this sight for a couple of years as it did seem to be rather divisive, if not pro-red.
Clearly the ‘barramee’ of whoever eventually succeeds King Bhumipol will be much, much less, and the new political reality will be accommodated. As for Thaksin, a moderate red supporter from Khon Kaen (Red country)told me during a public discussion that 80% of perople there are only along for the ride with Thaksin. IMO Thaksin’s easy ride will continue until the Democrats get rid of the dead wood in the party and the youthful core of Abhisit, Korn, Apiluk & Co. can thoroughly overhaul the party platform. Until then, with the support of the Reds, the pre-eminence of Thaksin’s corrupt party machine will continue.
Interview with Professor Michael Aung-Thwin
Ko Moe Aung
More half truths to again discredit the prof, an earliest proponent of engagement, that you Never agree with.
New Mandala, unlike BBC (not to mention DVB) and such is still the most objective site that allow unlimited venting of Moe-Ohn woes,without failing to highlight Myanmar citizenry plight.
Dhammapada 4.7
Interview with Professor Michael Aung-Thwin
@#26
Living up to your nom de guerre?
At New Mandala one cannot find any record of your personal complaint against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi when ‘the shoe was on the other foot’ i.e
1)when her advocacy were then against only SPDC without any regards for the citizenry,
2)the 2 decades long useless careless policy of the West. Callously subjecting the citizenry to continuing poverty as well as present quagmires.
DASSK has now learned how hard it is to be a part of the establishment/Hlutthaw that has to deal with the left over quagmires of Colonial legacy as well as the useless careless policy, and still be popular.
http://www.mizzima.com/news/world/9094-suu-kyi-oxford-debate-sensationalized-by-student-paper.html
Then again Oxford is again proof of the quintessential chauvinistic English establishment that is perpetually blind to the quagmires of Colonization.
GE13 Malaysia – Farish Noor
What kind of analyst says that BN’s greatest asset is its power sharing. There is no powersharing right now there is just patronage. MCA and MIC get crapped on daily by UMNO but they just take it, not because of power sharing. Because they have no real choice. Malaysian public intellectuals, in the interest of being neutral and impartial, say the most naive things.