i think it is a wrong point of reference to say that this is a malay thing. The issue has nothing to do with malay in the first place. We must understand that all words are empty which means its has no essense at all. all this is the play of aggression coming from own’s ego. Blame the ego….
Certainly some potential for tracking holidays if not skiing. Alan Rabinowitz’s adventures in the far north and the Hukawng Valley would seem to indicate that.
On the other hand if big business muscling in into the tiger reserve with a view to “developing” the region is anything to go by, the future of Karen State can’t be better. Peace deals where ‘deals’ is the operative word….kerching! It’s all right for some.
Any “generic causes of poverty” entail a set of deprivations due to circumstances human made or otherwise.
Despite the obvious dogma of Moe and Ohn that the present government “land grabbing” policy is to blame again show the depth of the understanding of poverty in Myanmar.
Ever consider the human made factors that iduce the most include Uncle Crusoe’s ‘useless careless/deprivation policy’?
I’d like to hear from Phornthip Rojanasunant, the forensic examiner who was so prominent after the tsunami, who had a fairly extensive involvement at least on the edges of trying to investigate Somchai’s disappearance after 2006.
Of course all humans are “mutts” but its silly to ignore the obvious genectic differences between, say negros and chinese. I observe the majority of Thai as looking distinct to , say, malay. But of course some will look similiar without any mixing of genes and some will have an admixtrue of genes. Nevertheless its legitmate to have an historical interest in where Thai genes came from without being racist. [email protected]
l m the person who is seeing the effort to save buket kiara here in malaysia personaly…
really salute to aunty lim & her team….
carry on aunty…
God bless you all
Like an artist drawing a picture around a random scratch, the emerging picture of the drift of the thread has very little connection to the original post! An occurrence so common, one wonders whether a real article was needed to start any conversation. Like fish lure!
Arakan thing is definitely not helped by poor local economy but it is a hard sell to argue Arakan is more or less poorer compared to other parts of the country. And being rich sure does not protect a society from racial/ religious violence.
The Rohingya issue does carry many disturbing peculiarities. Biggest one is total lack of reliability of claims and counter claims by all parties involved, local and mostly by the players far from the scene.
There are some sure things. There is palpable and dangerous rise of chauvinism and condemn-able cruelty by sections of Arakanese and Bamar ethnic groups buoyed by the rise of most chauvinistic Sit-tut being unashamedly courted around the world in the face of worse repression of the citizenry around the country. And local Arakanese having to live in physical danger most of the time. Atrocious treatment of the Rohingya populace as they are now. And this i s a place where Rohingya are not only majority but has easy access to co-religious/ blood relatives just across the waters. While the majorities are demonstrably poor, there are people rich enough to bribe the Sit-tut and the administration to get whatever they want or need including passage to the mainland or beyond. And the recurrent accusation of collusion of the aid agencies siding with Rohingya who surely are found among the employees of multinational institutions. And most bizarrely all the pronouncement about the Rohingya by any one, any one at all, may start with any topic or event but always and always and always end up with calling for their citizenship. This is peculiar in the face of the even handedness of the Bamar Sit-tut who are raping, killing and maiming in most cruel acts (although their cheer leaders- the international communities choose to turn a blind eye on these acts) upon the certified citizens of the country Burma. Some 3 millions of those citizenship holding people are slaving in most inhumane and atrocious and exploitative condition around Asia mainly Thailand and Malaysia. How does being a citizen of Burma equate to not being ill-treated -if that is their reasoning- is beyond comprehension. Citizenship and repeatedly citizenship rather than to give food or clothing for example. Or to stop starving the people off to death. That coupled with repeated calls from many quarters with lack of renouncement of a caliphate in the geographic area of a state is the most threatening scenario for the Arakanese and the best recruitment call for Bamar chauvinists.
Current attempts by the international donors treating the locals in discriminating way is like stoking the fire with predictable consequences. As for the military they will simply keep this issue smoldering for their use every now and then when the need arises with other difficulties they are facing around the country as their calculated docile obedience of the masses to the wishes of well captured Aung San Suu Kyi is not happening. And will get worse. Once the Latpadaung report thing comes out white washing the most heinous acts of the Daddy’s Sit-tut, her standing, regardless of more prizes and historic but useless speeches and such BS around the world notwithstanding, will seriously diminish among the populace.
All these issues added with current Chinese arrogance and visible destruction of environment as well as collusion with the ruling authorities for their own benefit, a show down is only a matter of time. Chinese, Rohingya, Sit-tut, people- some reasonable, some extremists with many connected players directly affecting the balance from foreign governments, and international organizations. At the end only the people on the ground suffer. Both sides.
Trafficking of Southeast Asian children as sex slaves has been going on for decades (probably millenia). My father was involved in moving child pornography and children out of Viet Nam for this very purpose. He was above suspicion or investigation because of his high military position. I cannot comment on Somaly Mam’s veracity or motives. I can encourage people to take her cause seriously. Wealthy people want to be able to make a donation and have the problem be solved. Abuse of women and children has multiple causes, among them endemic poverty and lack of education. These two problems alone will take generations to overcome. Large amounts of regular and consistent cash inflow are required for the organizations that are working to address these issues to be able to optimally function. In many ways, it seems like a bottomless eternally money-sucking pit, but the social and cultural attitudes, socioeconomic inequities, and pervasive ignorance that support abuse are well rooted. Go see for yourselves what these people live like. Go smell it, go eat like it, dress like it, sleep like it. Hopefully you will begin to understand the need for and the importance of ongoing deep pocketed giving.
And what do readers think of the Thai spicy food from the Southern parts. I eat mostly nothing else but Thai food, but I won’t touch spicy Southern dishes (the smell alone could literally kill anyone within radious!). But my mother-in-law will try to educate me that in Thailand, the Southern ‘kaengs’ are the best!
Poverty could be a strange Myanmar fruit, but in Thailand poverty is farmed, watered and harvested. Those Thai peasant farmers just keep getting into more and more debts, it seems, the more they farm.
“a powerful proxy for resentments that are hiding just below the surface.”
Nich
A good summation that will tragically suffice for along time to come.
Ever since the advent of civilization the economic and poverty related factors, have the most bearing on the co existence of different races and religion within a geographic area. Among the poor whom are usually less educated paranoia and hysteria can easily be induced that other else where find ridiculous.
Maulamyain as an example where there is enough for all again prove the evil of deprivation that affect the Muslim and Buddhists in Yakhine.
A quagmire all man made by the dead hand of the military elite and the plight of the citizenry set to be guided by the orthodoxy of neoliberalism with its own quicksand of a global crisis built in. Wonderful.
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On the eve of a tourist boom
Sorry, I meant trekking.
For God’s sake?
i think it is a wrong point of reference to say that this is a malay thing. The issue has nothing to do with malay in the first place. We must understand that all words are empty which means its has no essense at all. all this is the play of aggression coming from own’s ego. Blame the ego….
On the eve of a tourist boom
Certainly some potential for tracking holidays if not skiing. Alan Rabinowitz’s adventures in the far north and the Hukawng Valley would seem to indicate that.
On the other hand if big business muscling in into the tiger reserve with a view to “developing” the region is anything to go by, the future of Karen State can’t be better. Peace deals where ‘deals’ is the operative word….kerching! It’s all right for some.
Hundreds of bags of fish
Any “generic causes of poverty” entail a set of deprivations due to circumstances human made or otherwise.
Despite the obvious dogma of Moe and Ohn that the present government “land grabbing” policy is to blame again show the depth of the understanding of poverty in Myanmar.
Ever consider the human made factors that iduce the most include Uncle Crusoe’s ‘useless careless/deprivation policy’?
Saving Bukit Kiara
support the save the mt kiara gathering !!!
Forced disappearance in Southeast Asia
I’d like to hear from Phornthip Rojanasunant, the forensic examiner who was so prominent after the tsunami, who had a fairly extensive involvement at least on the edges of trying to investigate Somchai’s disappearance after 2006.
“Thai culture” in a Western context…
Maybe she gradually turned into a “farang who knows too much” and stopped believing the Land of Smiles/TAT nonsense.
Hundreds of bags of fish
Chance would be a fine thing for the Burmese farmers if they still have any land left to farm. Welcome to the Burmese Way to the New World Order.
Nationalism and genetics: Thai obsession with race
Of course all humans are “mutts” but its silly to ignore the obvious genectic differences between, say negros and chinese. I observe the majority of Thai as looking distinct to , say, malay. But of course some will look similiar without any mixing of genes and some will have an admixtrue of genes. Nevertheless its legitmate to have an historical interest in where Thai genes came from without being racist. [email protected]
Saving Bukit Kiara
l m the person who is seeing the effort to save buket kiara here in malaysia personaly…
really salute to aunty lim & her team….
carry on aunty…
God bless you all
“Thai culture” in a Western context…
So what has become of Thailand Gal? Her last post was 3 years ago, as she was preparing to move to a new apartment. Then nothing.
Gazing into Sittwe prison
Like an artist drawing a picture around a random scratch, the emerging picture of the drift of the thread has very little connection to the original post! An occurrence so common, one wonders whether a real article was needed to start any conversation. Like fish lure!
Arakan thing is definitely not helped by poor local economy but it is a hard sell to argue Arakan is more or less poorer compared to other parts of the country. And being rich sure does not protect a society from racial/ religious violence.
The Rohingya issue does carry many disturbing peculiarities. Biggest one is total lack of reliability of claims and counter claims by all parties involved, local and mostly by the players far from the scene.
There are some sure things. There is palpable and dangerous rise of chauvinism and condemn-able cruelty by sections of Arakanese and Bamar ethnic groups buoyed by the rise of most chauvinistic Sit-tut being unashamedly courted around the world in the face of worse repression of the citizenry around the country. And local Arakanese having to live in physical danger most of the time. Atrocious treatment of the Rohingya populace as they are now. And this i s a place where Rohingya are not only majority but has easy access to co-religious/ blood relatives just across the waters. While the majorities are demonstrably poor, there are people rich enough to bribe the Sit-tut and the administration to get whatever they want or need including passage to the mainland or beyond. And the recurrent accusation of collusion of the aid agencies siding with Rohingya who surely are found among the employees of multinational institutions. And most bizarrely all the pronouncement about the Rohingya by any one, any one at all, may start with any topic or event but always and always and always end up with calling for their citizenship. This is peculiar in the face of the even handedness of the Bamar Sit-tut who are raping, killing and maiming in most cruel acts (although their cheer leaders- the international communities choose to turn a blind eye on these acts) upon the certified citizens of the country Burma. Some 3 millions of those citizenship holding people are slaving in most inhumane and atrocious and exploitative condition around Asia mainly Thailand and Malaysia. How does being a citizen of Burma equate to not being ill-treated -if that is their reasoning- is beyond comprehension. Citizenship and repeatedly citizenship rather than to give food or clothing for example. Or to stop starving the people off to death. That coupled with repeated calls from many quarters with lack of renouncement of a caliphate in the geographic area of a state is the most threatening scenario for the Arakanese and the best recruitment call for Bamar chauvinists.
Current attempts by the international donors treating the locals in discriminating way is like stoking the fire with predictable consequences. As for the military they will simply keep this issue smoldering for their use every now and then when the need arises with other difficulties they are facing around the country as their calculated docile obedience of the masses to the wishes of well captured Aung San Suu Kyi is not happening. And will get worse. Once the Latpadaung report thing comes out white washing the most heinous acts of the Daddy’s Sit-tut, her standing, regardless of more prizes and historic but useless speeches and such BS around the world notwithstanding, will seriously diminish among the populace.
All these issues added with current Chinese arrogance and visible destruction of environment as well as collusion with the ruling authorities for their own benefit, a show down is only a matter of time. Chinese, Rohingya, Sit-tut, people- some reasonable, some extremists with many connected players directly affecting the balance from foreign governments, and international organizations. At the end only the people on the ground suffer. Both sides.
What’s the truth behind Somaly Mam?
Trafficking of Southeast Asian children as sex slaves has been going on for decades (probably millenia). My father was involved in moving child pornography and children out of Viet Nam for this very purpose. He was above suspicion or investigation because of his high military position. I cannot comment on Somaly Mam’s veracity or motives. I can encourage people to take her cause seriously. Wealthy people want to be able to make a donation and have the problem be solved. Abuse of women and children has multiple causes, among them endemic poverty and lack of education. These two problems alone will take generations to overcome. Large amounts of regular and consistent cash inflow are required for the organizations that are working to address these issues to be able to optimally function. In many ways, it seems like a bottomless eternally money-sucking pit, but the social and cultural attitudes, socioeconomic inequities, and pervasive ignorance that support abuse are well rooted. Go see for yourselves what these people live like. Go smell it, go eat like it, dress like it, sleep like it. Hopefully you will begin to understand the need for and the importance of ongoing deep pocketed giving.
Thai food: Universally delicious?
And what do readers think of the Thai spicy food from the Southern parts. I eat mostly nothing else but Thai food, but I won’t touch spicy Southern dishes (the smell alone could literally kill anyone within radious!). But my mother-in-law will try to educate me that in Thailand, the Southern ‘kaengs’ are the best!
Hundreds of bags of fish
Poverty could be a strange Myanmar fruit, but in Thailand poverty is farmed, watered and harvested. Those Thai peasant farmers just keep getting into more and more debts, it seems, the more they farm.
Saving Bukit Kiara
Ah Malaysia
Despite the ongoing fierce competition for dominance in Penang b/t the Muslim Malay and the others (Chinese, Hidus etc)
And the Sarawak/Sabah part which seem to be a completely different Malaysia
This article from which the peninsula part of Malaysia that make the news, must surely aspire every other countries in Asia to wonder.
How can we not be like them?
Thank you Mr Lim for this article, a reminder of the potential that exist among others that Malaysia has achieve and is not looking back.
Hundreds of bags of fish
Poverty must be a strange fruit that grows on a tree, yes? And to think that even a tree needs the soil to grow on.
Hundreds of bags of fish
“a powerful proxy for resentments that are hiding just below the surface.”
Nich
A good summation that will tragically suffice for along time to come.
Ever since the advent of civilization the economic and poverty related factors, have the most bearing on the co existence of different races and religion within a geographic area. Among the poor whom are usually less educated paranoia and hysteria can easily be induced that other else where find ridiculous.
Maulamyain as an example where there is enough for all again prove the evil of deprivation that affect the Muslim and Buddhists in Yakhine.
Gazing into Sittwe prison
A quagmire all man made by the dead hand of the military elite and the plight of the citizenry set to be guided by the orthodoxy of neoliberalism with its own quicksand of a global crisis built in. Wonderful.
Gazing into Sittwe prison
Ko Moe Aung
The reality,a quagmire getting to you yet?
Taste this lingering bile of reality and realize and remember that the citizenry had it much worse than being patronized.
May be the practical citizenry plight might just become the priority over any ideological,or political conviction.