Regarding Andrew’s aversion to the toleration of intolerance. I refer to his decision not to attend the 11th International Conference of Thai Studies held in Bangkok July 2011. His excuse was that it had been made pretty clear to him that his presence in Thailand was not welcome.
Perhaps in the interests of openness he could let us know who said what to him to cause him to succumb to this intolerance?
On further reflection, I remain astonished by the fact that Andrew Walker made no public comment condemning the 11-year jail sentence for Somyot, but has leapt to the defense of the bruised egos of the FCCT board after they suffered the indignity of some critical remarks on my website.
Does anybody understand what his tolerance/intolerance trope actually means? I am just a humble journalist rather than a professor but I remain baffled.
I think he is saying that we should be intolerant of people who are intolerant of tolerance of intolerance (i.e me) and tolerant of people who are tolerant of intolerance (ie the FCCT board).
But any clarification from somebody more intelligent than me would be greatly appreciated.
The issue here is not tolerance, but a resort to semantics to escape professional responsibility. Foreign journalists can’t escape their obligation to defend free speech by calling themselves a “club”, any more that Thai journalists can escape their duties by calling themselves an association. Shame on the journalist who considered the aggressive defense of free speech against lese majeste as a form of intolerant “fundamentalism.”
A general dismissal of the FCCT is cleary not merited ( AM himself encouraged people to go to this)but this article makes no sense regarding the core of what AM says.
What other “morally deirable” way is there to point out that the FCCT is contradicting its own website statement and its past precedents? Nirmal may or may not be a good journalist but AM points out that he is shirking these issues and settling for deciding the FCCT is a club and in doing so sticking his head in the sand.
You are for the dreadful LM laws, or not? That is the simple question every journalist should think about. Jim Pollard’s statement that Somyot is not a desireable case (not exact words) is absolute rubbish. Whatever the politics of all the individuals of LM abuses is of no real importance. I personally disagree with some of the victims views.However, I am opposed in principal as well as practice of the use of LM as a tool of state oppression.
It may be an extraordinary complex issue for Andrew Walker, But then as an academic it is his duty to make everything more complicated than they really are. One point about the panel to discuss, can’t the FCCT get an intelligent pro LM speaker as Dr Tul cannot argue intelligently. Then perhaps can anyone defend the indefensable?
I’m glad that Andrew has joined this important debate, but I fear he has completely missed the point.
I am not an anti-royalist fundamentalist, but as a journalist I believe that we have a fundamental duty to tell the truth, and not knowingly omit or distort essential information. Most foreign journalists in Thailand are knowingly self-censoring themselves to an ever-growing degree, and refusing to acknowledge this openly.
I don’t think this is an ethical way for journalists to behave – if they routinely adopt stringent self-censorship, the least they can do is say so in their articles.
I also think the FCCT’s failure to criticize Somyot’s 11-year jail sentence was quite simply indefensible. There are indeed many ways to tackle repression, but for journalists to stop standing up for the rights of other journalists is not one of them.
Finally, I’d be interested to see what Andrew thinks of Jim Pollard’s rather less adept defense of the FCCT’s inaction:
I’ve not met Andrew but I know he is a man of principle because unlike the spineless corporate media journalists who have never spoken truth to power in their entire careeers, I note Andrew resigned his position to take a position on information sharing that cost money, reputation and personal travel freedom.
Allow me to quote journalist Gary Webb who blew the whistle on CIA drug trafficking on global scale.
“If we had met five years ago, you wouldn’t have found a more staunch defender of the newspaper industry than me … I was winning awards, getting raises, lecturing college classes, appearing on TV shows, and judging journalism contests. So how could I possibly agree with people like Noam Chomsky and Ben Bagdikian, who were claiming the system didn’t work, that it was steered by powerful special interests and corporations, and existed to protect the power elite? And then I wrote some stories that made me realize how sadly misplaced my bliss had been. The reason I’d enjoyed such smooth sailing for so long hadn’t been, as I’d assumed, because I was careful and diligent and good at my job … The truth was that, in all those years, I hadn’t written anything important enough to suppress… ”
[…] or not this is enough is another question (for some it is not, but then again never will be) – but it also begs the question that if a statement by the FCCT was made, it would be […]
I agree with you that the FCCT has been pretty good on providing a form for LM. Providing a platform for Sukunya is great. However, Marshall’s point seems to relate to the FCCT not following its own claims about freedom of expression. There seems a rather large gap between that position and actual practice on this case.
Well AW AM does have a point about the collusion and self censorship of journalists, not to mention Western academics whose careers are made of being experts about Thai injustice but do not have to pay the price snug in their university offices, on the other hand AW is right about the FCCT providing a space for critical discussion of LM .
Well, Ohn, everything’s going according to El Supremo’s plan, so rest assured.
Nich, ever wondered whom the NDSC (kar lon) really answer to? Reckon “This is Burma and it will be quite unlike any land you know about” still applies?
A very informative interview indeed. A charismatic monarch, he may seems to be. Unfortunately, with one wrong move(not sided with the American) changed entirely the fate of this charming(?)king. But that had nothing to do with the faith of the poor Cambodians.
“Some of those you deride most consistently are some of those who have at least sought out a more positive path – and put something on the line to achieve it.”
Here lies the problem.
“Positive” is the real issue.Not so long ago, even the Kachins, already dead and about to die now, would have agreed with that”positive” thingy.
The real advantage of the ruling thugs is that there are differential effects on different strata of the populace and people feel the elephant in different ways. And the opinion makers of the world, which ostensibly includes you personally along with various government officials and international operators, some of whom at least would fully recognise the fake nature of the “Reform” but -yes, in my own interpretation, ig-Noble-ly- pull ranks to support or fool the Burmese public to make them believe the changes are “Real”. As that is where their own interest lies. Why would the Australian and UK government officials feel they had to repeat they believed in Thein Sein and the reform when their press appearance was ostensibly for “educational aids”? All at a time the largest, most brutal in all counts, war using air force is put upon people of their very own country. A fact simply and blithely ignored by all. Please tell me all those governments are not monitoring the developments and planning contingency alternatives in case Laiza does not fall by the rainy season or the KIA leadership is still not bought off like Mutu Sae Po? What are they waiting for tacitly endorsing the most chilling civilian killings even if Aung San Suu Kyi is so rotten herself to endorse it as well , one wonders. (Evil prospers when good men do nothing. Not that I personally believe they- all inclusive- are good men or women.)
It is perfectly significant that people in Burma are now seeing the world’s pin up girl Aung San Suu Kyi as at least dubious character as seen in various cartoons appearing daily. ( Here please monitor that horrendous Facebook of the Burmese participants.)
The spontaneous and leaderless funeral cortege of U Paing Lu (88 year of age) and U Hnan Phyu (88 year of age) are simple and crude but powerful reminders that the people you might describe as striving with positive attitude are regarded by the people in trouble as simply turn coats.
And I for the record did not deride them. I denounce and condemn them. They make people suffer more immeasurably by colluding with the military which is stronger and more solid and more corrupt now than ever was. And more crafty. And devious as usual.
Lies always show. People are now openly talking about these lies now.
There will be a time when a critical mass does realise.
Yet the success of the odious military thug’s plans depends not on any of these people or any of these acts and facts, but how rapidly the international corporations can corrupt the public of Burma and make them covetous – main difference between the resistant Kachin populace and more tortured and suppressed but more covetous Karen populace.
Before long, Buddhist youths of Burma will prolifically start to knife someone happily for a pair of Nike or blue hair dye or a high heel. Then and only then the irreversible conquest will be complete.
Time will tell. I guess I wish I was half as confident as you…
There is flux, uncertainty and change. Things are unpredictable and don’t always fit the templates we hope to impose.
Some of those you deride most consistently are some of those who have at least sought out a more positive path — and put something on the line to achieve it.
Are they there yet? No. Is there some remarkably positive movement? I see it with my own eyes, right now. Do I think the war in Kachin State is a disaster that will have costs far beyond those that anybody today cares to register? Yes, I do.
But from where I sit, which this afternoon is a useful vantage, there are too many contradictions to endorse your great confidence that “nothing…is changed”.
….. “We certainly believe, in the diplomatic community, that Sombath Somphone has been detained by a branch of the Lao security services. And it is embarrassing for the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”
The EU is scheduled to hold a formal human rights dialogue with the Lao government on Monday, where the issue of Mr Sombath will again figure.
“We will not forget him,” the diplomatic source said.”
Where goes this Thamada Gyi U Thein Sein is sooo good and is leading the New Burma, sorry, Myanmar to great heights line? Rotten at the heart, eh? It was a hard read this article as the usual Rose Garden talk is decidedly absent.
Well. may be people should stop really being intentionally or unintentionally schizophrenic with tow separate governments pretension- one with great reformed and therefore deserved of “support” and “investments”- good ones of course as the whole blooming world is so, so altruistic- and there is another one that is an – er.. enigma?
Look Nich, nothing, repeat nothing, is changed. Thein Sein if someone has some brain with memory would remember is put there by Than Shwe. Not by that fake woman Aung San Suu Kyi or any of the “international” pressure. What is happening is exactly as the old man wants. Thein Sein dare not even look Than Shwe’s good-for-nothing grandson into the eye let alone formulate any plan of his own outside of the a little larger circle they are now allowed to move about.
For those “technology”, “investments” and probably moist importantly recognition as “equals”, Than Shwe was prepared to pull back their own devious and irrational excesses. That’s all. It is like the complaining donkey having to carry one more stone each time a protest is lodged that when the stones were taken away one after another, it feels grateful. Fact is, there should not have been these bloody stones put on in the first place. And there is no reason to rejoice getting them off either.
Liaza is a fixed plain town surrounded by mountains. Any idiot would admit taking that town with overwhelming force is no military prowess.
But greedy and immoral is the international community is -not a single murmur of objection for massively destructive manufactured “civil” war in Syria and will not be when that formula is used yet again in Iran next- they simply cannot have another Rwanda/ Srebrenica/ East Timor/ Campuchea so fresh after the well celebrated -sick,sick,sick- Mullaitivu massacre.
And even with Jew joining the fray, the KIA leadership unlike Mutu Sae Po is not easy to buy out whatever the reason or whatever they have done before.
It is so sad to be academic to take detailed notes of all the BS frothing out of the like regular liar like Thein Sein about this and that orders. Please don’t tell me you are still expecting Thein Sein giving all the students in Burma- sorry Myanmar- a laptop each! It may now proved to be useful as they most school age children are finding hard to eke out ONE meal a day foraging in urban land around all these literary festivals and very Burmese -sorry- Myanmarese_ New Year day celebrations.
Of course the world has to pretend that Thein Sein is New and Improved version and there is Democracy and all that as it suits them- Australia included. But there reality is the Burmese- BURMESE- public is not so dumb to fall for all those hoolabaloo the the West’s pin-up girl stars seems to be getting fainter as time goes by, what with Rohingya, Latpadaung, and all the industrial disputes she studiously ignored or sided with the oppressors.
In tow months, rain will make sure KIA’s newest recruit can pick out any of the Burmese youth gang pressed in the forces at the mountain tops. If the KIA leadership are not sufficiently bribed and the “war” goes on- alas, the planes (reportedly pilot-ted by Russian and Chinese) may be not so useful by then either. What then for great- in pathetic way- Min Aung Hlaing. What then for who ever appoints him in this place? Even the Burmese may see their sons are missing at some point.
But KIA doing urban terrorism as you were painfully trying to hide while suggesting, that will not happen. Even if there are cornered. Even if they have to die. There are people with principles and there are people with No principles like Aung San Suu Kyi.
It is OK to be raped/conquered/colonized for 120 years as long as the rapist provide an advancement in standard of living to the raped victims for 120 years, eh!
“The older generation of Burmese talked about the good old days because improvement in infrastructure, along with law and order, peace in the land, now enabled trade and commerce to flourish.”
The British accomplished these, among which through:
1)Indiscriminate use of armed forces and denigration at every turn that will justify ICC involvement nowadays
2)Division among Brothers.
Notwithstanding recognizing 120 years of colonial era is the 2nd longest era of undisturbed transformation of Myanmar that is still reverberating to present day.
Anything the Colonial British did is undoubtedly to enrich the British Empire.
Everything else that has happened, purportedly good for Myanmar the colony is coincidental.
A closest potential being ‘Thailand like in destiny’, w/o being raped, defending colonial accomplishment/legacy, is rather miasmic.
Ko Moe Aung
“The Western sanctions on Burma pale in comparison to the economic blockade on Cuba and North Korea,”
A doltish and callous at best unconscionable statement at the worst.
A blind eye to the iniquities of the West that knowingly subject an innocent 50 million citizenry to heart breaking sufferings while the government has done NOTHING close to provoking the West in any respect compared to Cuba or N.Korea.
“This essentially colonial function of pacifying the natives is now left to the native rulers as far as possible in the New World Order, and that’s exactly what’s going on in Kachin State just to return to topic.”
Are you in support of this military government means of ‘pacification’, a looming tragedy in Laiza, that is surly setting up for next round of brothers against brothers violence?
Hey John let me know if you encounter any impartial truth on your planet! All truth is partial and value laden, one takes sides and judges to impose ones truth. Get real
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Tolerating intolerance
Regarding Andrew’s aversion to the toleration of intolerance. I refer to his decision not to attend the 11th International Conference of Thai Studies held in Bangkok July 2011. His excuse was that it had been made pretty clear to him that his presence in Thailand was not welcome.
Perhaps in the interests of openness he could let us know who said what to him to cause him to succumb to this intolerance?
Tolerating intolerance
On further reflection, I remain astonished by the fact that Andrew Walker made no public comment condemning the 11-year jail sentence for Somyot, but has leapt to the defense of the bruised egos of the FCCT board after they suffered the indignity of some critical remarks on my website.
Does anybody understand what his tolerance/intolerance trope actually means? I am just a humble journalist rather than a professor but I remain baffled.
I think he is saying that we should be intolerant of people who are intolerant of tolerance of intolerance (i.e me) and tolerant of people who are tolerant of intolerance (ie the FCCT board).
But any clarification from somebody more intelligent than me would be greatly appreciated.
Tolerating intolerance
The issue here is not tolerance, but a resort to semantics to escape professional responsibility. Foreign journalists can’t escape their obligation to defend free speech by calling themselves a “club”, any more that Thai journalists can escape their duties by calling themselves an association. Shame on the journalist who considered the aggressive defense of free speech against lese majeste as a form of intolerant “fundamentalism.”
Tolerating intolerance
Seems to be more the intolerance of toleration. Anyway, for an article on the latest event on lese majesty at the FCCT, see http://bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/334000/somyot-case-stirs-fiery-emotional-talk-on-lese-majeste-enforcement
Tolerating intolerance
A general dismissal of the FCCT is cleary not merited ( AM himself encouraged people to go to this)but this article makes no sense regarding the core of what AM says.
What other “morally deirable” way is there to point out that the FCCT is contradicting its own website statement and its past precedents? Nirmal may or may not be a good journalist but AM points out that he is shirking these issues and settling for deciding the FCCT is a club and in doing so sticking his head in the sand.
Tolerating intolerance
You are for the dreadful LM laws, or not? That is the simple question every journalist should think about. Jim Pollard’s statement that Somyot is not a desireable case (not exact words) is absolute rubbish. Whatever the politics of all the individuals of LM abuses is of no real importance. I personally disagree with some of the victims views.However, I am opposed in principal as well as practice of the use of LM as a tool of state oppression.
It may be an extraordinary complex issue for Andrew Walker, But then as an academic it is his duty to make everything more complicated than they really are. One point about the panel to discuss, can’t the FCCT get an intelligent pro LM speaker as Dr Tul cannot argue intelligently. Then perhaps can anyone defend the indefensable?
Tolerating intolerance
I’m glad that Andrew has joined this important debate, but I fear he has completely missed the point.
I am not an anti-royalist fundamentalist, but as a journalist I believe that we have a fundamental duty to tell the truth, and not knowingly omit or distort essential information. Most foreign journalists in Thailand are knowingly self-censoring themselves to an ever-growing degree, and refusing to acknowledge this openly.
I don’t think this is an ethical way for journalists to behave – if they routinely adopt stringent self-censorship, the least they can do is say so in their articles.
I also think the FCCT’s failure to criticize Somyot’s 11-year jail sentence was quite simply indefensible. There are indeed many ways to tackle repression, but for journalists to stop standing up for the rights of other journalists is not one of them.
Finally, I’d be interested to see what Andrew thinks of Jim Pollard’s rather less adept defense of the FCCT’s inaction:
http://www.zenjournalist.org/2013/02/02/the-foreign-media-are-failing-thailand-the-fcct-responds/
Best wishes
Andrew MacGregor Marshall
Tolerating intolerance
I’ve not met Andrew but I know he is a man of principle because unlike the spineless corporate media journalists who have never spoken truth to power in their entire careeers, I note Andrew resigned his position to take a position on information sharing that cost money, reputation and personal travel freedom.
Allow me to quote journalist Gary Webb who blew the whistle on CIA drug trafficking on global scale.
“If we had met five years ago, you wouldn’t have found a more staunch defender of the newspaper industry than me … I was winning awards, getting raises, lecturing college classes, appearing on TV shows, and judging journalism contests. So how could I possibly agree with people like Noam Chomsky and Ben Bagdikian, who were claiming the system didn’t work, that it was steered by powerful special interests and corporations, and existed to protect the power elite? And then I wrote some stories that made me realize how sadly misplaced my bliss had been. The reason I’d enjoyed such smooth sailing for so long hadn’t been, as I’d assumed, because I was careful and diligent and good at my job … The truth was that, in all those years, I hadn’t written anything important enough to suppress… ”
–Gary Webb was murdered by the CIA
Tolerating intolerance
[…] or not this is enough is another question (for some it is not, but then again never will be) – but it also begs the question that if a statement by the FCCT was made, it would be […]
Tolerating intolerance
I agree with you that the FCCT has been pretty good on providing a form for LM. Providing a platform for Sukunya is great. However, Marshall’s point seems to relate to the FCCT not following its own claims about freedom of expression. There seems a rather large gap between that position and actual practice on this case.
Tolerating intolerance
I’d like to hear more from Jim Pollard 🙂
Tolerating intolerance
Well AW AM does have a point about the collusion and self censorship of journalists, not to mention Western academics whose careers are made of being experts about Thai injustice but do not have to pay the price snug in their university offices, on the other hand AW is right about the FCCT providing a space for critical discussion of LM .
The Kachin and war
Thanks to plan B for repeating after me.
Well, Ohn, everything’s going according to El Supremo’s plan, so rest assured.
Nich, ever wondered whom the NDSC (kar lon) really answer to? Reckon “This is Burma and it will be quite unlike any land you know about” still applies?
ASSK simply reminds me of Anteaus and Gaia. Hercules? Not her.
Norodom Sihanouk’s wonderful, horrible life
A very informative interview indeed. A charismatic monarch, he may seems to be. Unfortunately, with one wrong move(not sided with the American) changed entirely the fate of this charming(?)king. But that had nothing to do with the faith of the poor Cambodians.
The Kachin and war
Thanks a lot for the points Nich, truly.
“Some of those you deride most consistently are some of those who have at least sought out a more positive path – and put something on the line to achieve it.”
Here lies the problem.
“Positive” is the real issue.Not so long ago, even the Kachins, already dead and about to die now, would have agreed with that”positive” thingy.
The real advantage of the ruling thugs is that there are differential effects on different strata of the populace and people feel the elephant in different ways. And the opinion makers of the world, which ostensibly includes you personally along with various government officials and international operators, some of whom at least would fully recognise the fake nature of the “Reform” but -yes, in my own interpretation, ig-Noble-ly- pull ranks to support or fool the Burmese public to make them believe the changes are “Real”. As that is where their own interest lies. Why would the Australian and UK government officials feel they had to repeat they believed in Thein Sein and the reform when their press appearance was ostensibly for “educational aids”? All at a time the largest, most brutal in all counts, war using air force is put upon people of their very own country. A fact simply and blithely ignored by all. Please tell me all those governments are not monitoring the developments and planning contingency alternatives in case Laiza does not fall by the rainy season or the KIA leadership is still not bought off like Mutu Sae Po? What are they waiting for tacitly endorsing the most chilling civilian killings even if Aung San Suu Kyi is so rotten herself to endorse it as well , one wonders. (Evil prospers when good men do nothing. Not that I personally believe they- all inclusive- are good men or women.)
It is perfectly significant that people in Burma are now seeing the world’s pin up girl Aung San Suu Kyi as at least dubious character as seen in various cartoons appearing daily. ( Here please monitor that horrendous Facebook of the Burmese participants.)
The spontaneous and leaderless funeral cortege of U Paing Lu (88 year of age) and U Hnan Phyu (88 year of age) are simple and crude but powerful reminders that the people you might describe as striving with positive attitude are regarded by the people in trouble as simply turn coats.
And I for the record did not deride them. I denounce and condemn them. They make people suffer more immeasurably by colluding with the military which is stronger and more solid and more corrupt now than ever was. And more crafty. And devious as usual.
Lies always show. People are now openly talking about these lies now.
There will be a time when a critical mass does realise.
Yet the success of the odious military thug’s plans depends not on any of these people or any of these acts and facts, but how rapidly the international corporations can corrupt the public of Burma and make them covetous – main difference between the resistant Kachin populace and more tortured and suppressed but more covetous Karen populace.
Before long, Buddhist youths of Burma will prolifically start to knife someone happily for a pair of Nike or blue hair dye or a high heel. Then and only then the irreversible conquest will be complete.
The Kachin and war
Thanks Ohn,
Time will tell. I guess I wish I was half as confident as you…
There is flux, uncertainty and change. Things are unpredictable and don’t always fit the templates we hope to impose.
Some of those you deride most consistently are some of those who have at least sought out a more positive path — and put something on the line to achieve it.
Are they there yet? No. Is there some remarkably positive movement? I see it with my own eyes, right now. Do I think the war in Kachin State is a disaster that will have costs far beyond those that anybody today cares to register? Yes, I do.
But from where I sit, which this afternoon is a useful vantage, there are too many contradictions to endorse your great confidence that “nothing…is changed”.
If only it were so black and white.
Best wishes to all,
Nich
Distressing developments in Laos
….. “We certainly believe, in the diplomatic community, that Sombath Somphone has been detained by a branch of the Lao security services. And it is embarrassing for the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”
The EU is scheduled to hold a formal human rights dialogue with the Lao government on Monday, where the issue of Mr Sombath will again figure.
“We will not forget him,” the diplomatic source said.”
———-
http://www.straitstimes.com/the-big-story/asia-report/laos/story/eu-steps-pressure-laos-over-activists-disappearance-20130201
“EU steps up pressure on Laos over activist’s disappearance”
The Kachin and war
Jeez Nich!
Where goes this Thamada Gyi U Thein Sein is sooo good and is leading the New Burma, sorry, Myanmar to great heights line? Rotten at the heart, eh? It was a hard read this article as the usual Rose Garden talk is decidedly absent.
Well. may be people should stop really being intentionally or unintentionally schizophrenic with tow separate governments pretension- one with great reformed and therefore deserved of “support” and “investments”- good ones of course as the whole blooming world is so, so altruistic- and there is another one that is an – er.. enigma?
Look Nich, nothing, repeat nothing, is changed. Thein Sein if someone has some brain with memory would remember is put there by Than Shwe. Not by that fake woman Aung San Suu Kyi or any of the “international” pressure. What is happening is exactly as the old man wants. Thein Sein dare not even look Than Shwe’s good-for-nothing grandson into the eye let alone formulate any plan of his own outside of the a little larger circle they are now allowed to move about.
For those “technology”, “investments” and probably moist importantly recognition as “equals”, Than Shwe was prepared to pull back their own devious and irrational excesses. That’s all. It is like the complaining donkey having to carry one more stone each time a protest is lodged that when the stones were taken away one after another, it feels grateful. Fact is, there should not have been these bloody stones put on in the first place. And there is no reason to rejoice getting them off either.
Liaza is a fixed plain town surrounded by mountains. Any idiot would admit taking that town with overwhelming force is no military prowess.
But greedy and immoral is the international community is -not a single murmur of objection for massively destructive manufactured “civil” war in Syria and will not be when that formula is used yet again in Iran next- they simply cannot have another Rwanda/ Srebrenica/ East Timor/ Campuchea so fresh after the well celebrated -sick,sick,sick- Mullaitivu massacre.
And even with Jew joining the fray, the KIA leadership unlike Mutu Sae Po is not easy to buy out whatever the reason or whatever they have done before.
It is so sad to be academic to take detailed notes of all the BS frothing out of the like regular liar like Thein Sein about this and that orders. Please don’t tell me you are still expecting Thein Sein giving all the students in Burma- sorry Myanmar- a laptop each! It may now proved to be useful as they most school age children are finding hard to eke out ONE meal a day foraging in urban land around all these literary festivals and very Burmese -sorry- Myanmarese_ New Year day celebrations.
Of course the world has to pretend that Thein Sein is New and Improved version and there is Democracy and all that as it suits them- Australia included. But there reality is the Burmese- BURMESE- public is not so dumb to fall for all those hoolabaloo the the West’s pin-up girl stars seems to be getting fainter as time goes by, what with Rohingya, Latpadaung, and all the industrial disputes she studiously ignored or sided with the oppressors.
In tow months, rain will make sure KIA’s newest recruit can pick out any of the Burmese youth gang pressed in the forces at the mountain tops. If the KIA leadership are not sufficiently bribed and the “war” goes on- alas, the planes (reportedly pilot-ted by Russian and Chinese) may be not so useful by then either. What then for great- in pathetic way- Min Aung Hlaing. What then for who ever appoints him in this place? Even the Burmese may see their sons are missing at some point.
But KIA doing urban terrorism as you were painfully trying to hide while suggesting, that will not happen. Even if there are cornered. Even if they have to die. There are people with principles and there are people with No principles like Aung San Suu Kyi.
The Kachin and war
Hmm,
It is OK to be raped/conquered/colonized for 120 years as long as the rapist provide an advancement in standard of living to the raped victims for 120 years, eh!
“The older generation of Burmese talked about the good old days because improvement in infrastructure, along with law and order, peace in the land, now enabled trade and commerce to flourish.”
The British accomplished these, among which through:
1)Indiscriminate use of armed forces and denigration at every turn that will justify ICC involvement nowadays
2)Division among Brothers.
Notwithstanding recognizing 120 years of colonial era is the 2nd longest era of undisturbed transformation of Myanmar that is still reverberating to present day.
Anything the Colonial British did is undoubtedly to enrich the British Empire.
Everything else that has happened, purportedly good for Myanmar the colony is coincidental.
A closest potential being ‘Thailand like in destiny’, w/o being raped, defending colonial accomplishment/legacy, is rather miasmic.
Ko Moe Aung
“The Western sanctions on Burma pale in comparison to the economic blockade on Cuba and North Korea,”
A doltish and callous at best unconscionable statement at the worst.
A blind eye to the iniquities of the West that knowingly subject an innocent 50 million citizenry to heart breaking sufferings while the government has done NOTHING close to provoking the West in any respect compared to Cuba or N.Korea.
“This essentially colonial function of pacifying the natives is now left to the native rulers as far as possible in the New World Order, and that’s exactly what’s going on in Kachin State just to return to topic.”
Are you in support of this military government means of ‘pacification’, a looming tragedy in Laiza, that is surly setting up for next round of brothers against brothers violence?
Bhumibol, Obama, Yingluck
Hey John let me know if you encounter any impartial truth on your planet! All truth is partial and value laden, one takes sides and judges to impose ones truth. Get real