Here is one of a genuinely selfless idealist that can transform Myanmar in it next phase of transformation.
May there be more of ‘her’ then those who sell BMW without even willing to pick up the broken pieces of lives from the devastation of the useless careless past.
‘Anything or anyone but this government’ is pretty patronizing, don’t you think? Certainly a better and truly patriotic one for a minimum.
However constantly you hark back to the country’s past, you simply have to deal with the reality of today’s interconnected world with all the HR and Eco even if it is little more than window dressing in the end to fit in with the bottom line which remains money making, market share and profits. Why do you reckon the entire consistent resource grabbing market snatching history of the West should be any different despite a different historical setting? It either makes a beeline where possible or go in a roundabout way through ‘freedom and democracy’ stops to get where it wants.
Burma is a great deal more complicated than Thailand in its ethnic composition and history. There is no reset or restart button available. You need to rewrite the programme, not dwell on its imperial past, and without seriously trying to end the civil war by realistic political means there is no way we are going to move forward as a nation. Your useless careless west is not only ready to lift your hated sanctions, something you share with the military rulers, but raring to go in with its business class chomping at the bit.
Your much lauded middle class will be more than happy for the scraps thrown from the lord’s table where the military, its cronies and foreign buddies sit, and the civil war will carry on smouldering and flaring up in turns forever. And the West? What’s a little local difficulty be it Christian, Muslim or Buddhist for that matter? It would be in perfect agreement with your economic determinism. Why let it get in the way of good business? That I repeat is the bottom line as far as you and your useless careless west are concerned.
Re: Tocharian – Thailand Gal lives in an Alternative Version of Thailand where there is no large-scale human trafficking, no Burmese girls tied up and raped 20 times a day in lo-end brothels in Ranong where they service the Thai fishing fleet, no Generals/Police/Hospital administrators involved in the world’s largest volume meth/yaba business, no rapacious billionaires and Royals squeezing every last cent from the rest of the population, no Ratchada Sex Industry servicing millions of Thai males per year, no near total absence of Rule of Law and Justice for anyone except the highest level, no military and judical coups which regularly disenfranchise half the population.
For Thailand Gal, its the Land of Smiles with docile happy peasants and workers, everybody smiling and bowing, harmonious social relationships, a nice place for her to take photos of sunsets over the Mekong and Andaman Sea, get afternoon foot massages, eat nice meals for 50 baht and stay in hotels for 10 dollars a day.
In this day and age of global trade and 3D printing it’s not that difficult to “carve out personalised bits and pieces” from an “alien culture” to “create a life-style” that appears “exotic and harmonious”.
I was told that some GI’s got “addicted” to fish sauce during the Vietnam war and I am sure that some Asians are “addicted” to “Wagner’s Nibelungen” or even “bagpipes and Haggis”. It’s all about individual choices and not about “comparative cultural anthropology”, in my opinion, but if you want to see some of the murky sides of Thai “society”, you can read this recent article in “The Economist”: http://www.economist.com/news/asia/21572800-long-standing-worker-abuses-get-some-serious-attention-deadly-cocktail
(perhaps, I should have said at the beginning “in this day and age of global human trafficking” LOL)
“Let’s just ignore the small matter of ongoing land grabs, environmental devastation, civil war, persecution of the minorities and so forth. All in good time, eh? What’s another half century?”
Accepting “Free Trade predating Free World” contradict the HR and Eco related standard imposed on the present administration.
A standard that no other countries has to
live up to under ‘normal’ circumstances.
Even the Norwegian government can see this fact, a country with strong HR standing, of course to the chagrin of DVB and your ilk.
Exposing yet once again ‘anything or anyone but this government’ attitude of yours and DVB!
Ko Moe Aung
Do you deny this ongoing lifting of sanctions benefit the long suffering of the citizenry more?
A possibility denied that will have seen more middle class 3 decades ago?
As for the “civil war” Myanmar NEVER EVER has a “reset button” like the Thai on similar ethnic strives with the Shan, the Karen and the Mon etc. That is not even counting the historical Chinese Factors that U Nu has to deal with.
This article in New Mandala just indicate a tip of the iceberg what Thai got away with.
Therefore a Thailand sans Shan problems today in the 3 Chiangs (Chiang Rai Chiang Mai and Chiang Khong).
All without any useless careless West even protesting.
Leaving Keng Tung once claim by the Thai as Chiang Tung with the continuing SSA problem.
Reset Button?
A wishful fantasy button once pushed will make Myanmar ‘without the goad in decades of useless careless policy imposed by the West, preceded by the unending and sustain curses of colonial legacy.
And now we have some disappearances in Laos. Sombath Somphone really was not an “activist”, but his low-key activities have been seen as a threat to agencies, foreign and domestic, who want to implement projects that are involved in land confiscation (or land grabs). Will we ever see Sombath again?
Keep these names and people in the eye of the public.
Yes NT that was bizarre wasn’t it, the Thai court ruling that ‘the riots’ during the Reds rampage was not the primary cause of the Central World’s fire. If it was not the riots, if it was not arson, then perhaps some people who were not wearing Red shirts were just cooking and accidentally caused the fire?
Your comment that the court ruled the fire was not caused by the red shirts in regard to the Central claim made on its insurance company is not correct.
The court ruled the fire was not the result of “terrorism”, but rather “rioting by the red shirts”.
I don’t think that lets them off the hook at all.
This ruling was more about a “definition” for making a determination on a legal commercial matter – not a much broader matter.
It may be eventually the “real culprits” are found and the Red Shirts are to be found not guilty of this crime. But, bending the truth like you have done is not in anybody’s interest.
The above forum should make an effort to invite former Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra. Free of politics and having declared his intention to continue ‘public service’ even in absentia, and with lots of free time presumably, he may be swayed to attend. Thaksin also had openly and publicly declared that he has strong information, while he was then Thai PM when Somchai disappeared, as to what truly really happened to Somchai Neelaphaijit.
There is NO way to resolve the divide, except to give the heavily pro-Thaksin regions greater autonomy, under a federal – or even confederal – system. But scant hope of that, given all the broken promises, over decades, for real de-centralisation – and the fact that former PM Anand’s proposal for mild and moderate de-centralisation, has disappeared almost without trace.
As aforementioned Free Trade predates Free World by centuries so yes, there’s hope according to your sage economic determinism. Let’s just ignore the small matter of ongoing land grabs, environmental devastation, civil war, persecution of the minorities and so forth. All in good time, eh? What’s another half century?
Vichai N: Despite your claim, Jatuporn/Nathawut/Thida never rode in the same motorcade with Yingluck/Pongsapat during any election campaign. Nathawut did appear in the stage to help Pongsapat’s campaign.
Sukhumband won the recent election certainly not because of his past work performance (even the Democrat party’s secretary general Chalermchai opposed his nomination and decided not to attend any election campaign). Sukhumband won just because his party successfully used the “smear” tactic against Pongsapat by linking him with Thaksin and red shirts’ burning of the city in May 2010. But only yesterday, the court issued a ruling that Central World’s fire at 6 pm on 19 May 2010 was not caused by the red shirts, who already left the area earlier.
Let us put this present unprecedented ongoing situation in Myanmar into historical perspectives among other asian countries.
Taiwan:
1)Under Generalissimo Chiang Kai shek (KMT), the period under marshall law/no Rule of law (Rol) lasted longer than anywhere in hisory with Madame Chiang notorious pandering enjoy US support from ~1943.
2) Did not have armed ethnic strife after the initial massacre by the KMT of the native Taiwanese.
3) The country did not acquire a resemblance to democratic system of government/Rol until the late 90’s, a near half a century of blind/unquestioned support.
Similarly the Phillipines, S. Korea and even Vietnam can be examples of economic growth shaping the politcal changes. Only the last country suffered the wrath of the West, that show progress with normalization of relation with the West and same argument can be made on China today.
N. Korea has turned from bad to worst the only coutry still sanctioned and the West unrealistic/laughable hope of a N.Korean uprising to replace the Kims.
Economic growth will drive political reform in Myanmar as in other asian countries historical examples period.
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Interview with Myanmar labour activist Su Su Nway
Here is one of a genuinely selfless idealist that can transform Myanmar in it next phase of transformation.
May there be more of ‘her’ then those who sell BMW without even willing to pick up the broken pieces of lives from the devastation of the useless careless past.
Gazing into Sittwe prison
‘Anything or anyone but this government’ is pretty patronizing, don’t you think? Certainly a better and truly patriotic one for a minimum.
However constantly you hark back to the country’s past, you simply have to deal with the reality of today’s interconnected world with all the HR and Eco even if it is little more than window dressing in the end to fit in with the bottom line which remains money making, market share and profits. Why do you reckon the entire consistent resource grabbing market snatching history of the West should be any different despite a different historical setting? It either makes a beeline where possible or go in a roundabout way through ‘freedom and democracy’ stops to get where it wants.
Burma is a great deal more complicated than Thailand in its ethnic composition and history. There is no reset or restart button available. You need to rewrite the programme, not dwell on its imperial past, and without seriously trying to end the civil war by realistic political means there is no way we are going to move forward as a nation. Your useless careless west is not only ready to lift your hated sanctions, something you share with the military rulers, but raring to go in with its business class chomping at the bit.
Your much lauded middle class will be more than happy for the scraps thrown from the lord’s table where the military, its cronies and foreign buddies sit, and the civil war will carry on smouldering and flaring up in turns forever. And the West? What’s a little local difficulty be it Christian, Muslim or Buddhist for that matter? It would be in perfect agreement with your economic determinism. Why let it get in the way of good business? That I repeat is the bottom line as far as you and your useless careless west are concerned.
“Thai culture” in a Western context…
Ann
A good reality check.
I might add the relentless discrimination of the hill tribes whose children are ashamed to be id as such.
The ‘why’ of these ugly social injustices exist because as you mentioned, it ‘can’.
Let be skeptical but not cynical.
After all similar social ills exist against the women and children even in the West even with the existence of criminal laws.
Interview with Myanmar labour activist Su Su Nway
Hear, hear!
Interview with Myanmar labour activist Su Su Nway
It is good to hear another story of a person NOT selling out and fighting back.
“Thai culture” in a Western context…
Re: Tocharian – Thailand Gal lives in an Alternative Version of Thailand where there is no large-scale human trafficking, no Burmese girls tied up and raped 20 times a day in lo-end brothels in Ranong where they service the Thai fishing fleet, no Generals/Police/Hospital administrators involved in the world’s largest volume meth/yaba business, no rapacious billionaires and Royals squeezing every last cent from the rest of the population, no Ratchada Sex Industry servicing millions of Thai males per year, no near total absence of Rule of Law and Justice for anyone except the highest level, no military and judical coups which regularly disenfranchise half the population.
For Thailand Gal, its the Land of Smiles with docile happy peasants and workers, everybody smiling and bowing, harmonious social relationships, a nice place for her to take photos of sunsets over the Mekong and Andaman Sea, get afternoon foot massages, eat nice meals for 50 baht and stay in hotels for 10 dollars a day.
“Thai culture” in a Western context…
In this day and age of global trade and 3D printing it’s not that difficult to “carve out personalised bits and pieces” from an “alien culture” to “create a life-style” that appears “exotic and harmonious”.
I was told that some GI’s got “addicted” to fish sauce during the Vietnam war and I am sure that some Asians are “addicted” to “Wagner’s Nibelungen” or even “bagpipes and Haggis”. It’s all about individual choices and not about “comparative cultural anthropology”, in my opinion, but if you want to see some of the murky sides of Thai “society”, you can read this recent article in “The Economist”:
http://www.economist.com/news/asia/21572800-long-standing-worker-abuses-get-some-serious-attention-deadly-cocktail
(perhaps, I should have said at the beginning “in this day and age of global human trafficking” LOL)
Gazing into Sittwe prison
“Let’s just ignore the small matter of ongoing land grabs, environmental devastation, civil war, persecution of the minorities and so forth. All in good time, eh? What’s another half century?”
Accepting “Free Trade predating Free World” contradict the HR and Eco related standard imposed on the present administration.
A standard that no other countries has to
live up to under ‘normal’ circumstances.
http://www.dvb.no/news/norway-slammed-for-silence-on-%E2%80%98stateless%E2%80%99-rohingya/26703
Even the Norwegian government can see this fact, a country with strong HR standing, of course to the chagrin of DVB and your ilk.
Exposing yet once again ‘anything or anyone but this government’ attitude of yours and DVB!
Ko Moe Aung
Do you deny this ongoing lifting of sanctions benefit the long suffering of the citizenry more?
A possibility denied that will have seen more middle class 3 decades ago?
As for the “civil war” Myanmar NEVER EVER has a “reset button” like the Thai on similar ethnic strives with the Shan, the Karen and the Mon etc. That is not even counting the historical Chinese Factors that U Nu has to deal with.
http://www.newmandala.org/2013/02/05/siamese-atrocities-in-chiang-kham/
This article in New Mandala just indicate a tip of the iceberg what Thai got away with.
Therefore a Thailand sans Shan problems today in the 3 Chiangs (Chiang Rai Chiang Mai and Chiang Khong).
All without any useless careless West even protesting.
Leaving Keng Tung once claim by the Thai as Chiang Tung with the continuing SSA problem.
Reset Button?
A wishful fantasy button once pushed will make Myanmar ‘without the goad in decades of useless careless policy imposed by the West, preceded by the unending and sustain curses of colonial legacy.
Forced disappearance in Southeast Asia
And now we have some disappearances in Laos. Sombath Somphone really was not an “activist”, but his low-key activities have been seen as a threat to agencies, foreign and domestic, who want to implement projects that are involved in land confiscation (or land grabs). Will we ever see Sombath again?
Keep these names and people in the eye of the public.
When Thaksin comes home
Yes NT that was bizarre wasn’t it, the Thai court ruling that ‘the riots’ during the Reds rampage was not the primary cause of the Central World’s fire. If it was not the riots, if it was not arson, then perhaps some people who were not wearing Red shirts were just cooking and accidentally caused the fire?
When Thaksin comes home
I should add it is the ruling I mention above I am referring to. If there is another ruling please tell.
When Thaksin comes home
Your comment that the court ruled the fire was not caused by the red shirts in regard to the Central claim made on its insurance company is not correct.
The court ruled the fire was not the result of “terrorism”, but rather “rioting by the red shirts”.
I don’t think that lets them off the hook at all.
This ruling was more about a “definition” for making a determination on a legal commercial matter – not a much broader matter.
It may be eventually the “real culprits” are found and the Red Shirts are to be found not guilty of this crime. But, bending the truth like you have done is not in anybody’s interest.
Forced disappearance in Southeast Asia
The above forum should make an effort to invite former Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra. Free of politics and having declared his intention to continue ‘public service’ even in absentia, and with lots of free time presumably, he may be swayed to attend. Thaksin also had openly and publicly declared that he has strong information, while he was then Thai PM when Somchai disappeared, as to what truly really happened to Somchai Neelaphaijit.
When Thaksin comes home
There is NO way to resolve the divide, except to give the heavily pro-Thaksin regions greater autonomy, under a federal – or even confederal – system. But scant hope of that, given all the broken promises, over decades, for real de-centralisation – and the fact that former PM Anand’s proposal for mild and moderate de-centralisation, has disappeared almost without trace.
Gazing into Sittwe prison
As aforementioned Free Trade predates Free World by centuries so yes, there’s hope according to your sage economic determinism. Let’s just ignore the small matter of ongoing land grabs, environmental devastation, civil war, persecution of the minorities and so forth. All in good time, eh? What’s another half century?
Forced disappearance in Southeast Asia
Thank you Tyrell for keeping Khun Somchai’s name alive.
Will the discussion go up on YouTube?
Islamic education’s desperate plight
What is the language of instruction at the pondoks? Thai?Arabic? Yawee?
When Thaksin comes home
Vichai N: Despite your claim, Jatuporn/Nathawut/Thida never rode in the same motorcade with Yingluck/Pongsapat during any election campaign. Nathawut did appear in the stage to help Pongsapat’s campaign.
When Thaksin comes home
Sukhumband won the recent election certainly not because of his past work performance (even the Democrat party’s secretary general Chalermchai opposed his nomination and decided not to attend any election campaign). Sukhumband won just because his party successfully used the “smear” tactic against Pongsapat by linking him with Thaksin and red shirts’ burning of the city in May 2010. But only yesterday, the court issued a ruling that Central World’s fire at 6 pm on 19 May 2010 was not caused by the red shirts, who already left the area earlier.
Gazing into Sittwe prison
Let us put this present unprecedented ongoing situation in Myanmar into historical perspectives among other asian countries.
Taiwan:
1)Under Generalissimo Chiang Kai shek (KMT), the period under marshall law/no Rule of law (Rol) lasted longer than anywhere in hisory with Madame Chiang notorious pandering enjoy US support from ~1943.
2) Did not have armed ethnic strife after the initial massacre by the KMT of the native Taiwanese.
3) The country did not acquire a resemblance to democratic system of government/Rol until the late 90’s, a near half a century of blind/unquestioned support.
Similarly the Phillipines, S. Korea and even Vietnam can be examples of economic growth shaping the politcal changes. Only the last country suffered the wrath of the West, that show progress with normalization of relation with the West and same argument can be made on China today.
N. Korea has turned from bad to worst the only coutry still sanctioned and the West unrealistic/laughable hope of a N.Korean uprising to replace the Kims.
Economic growth will drive political reform in Myanmar as in other asian countries historical examples period.