It’s great to see that Surachai is smiling. And also good to hear his analysis of the situation.
Thanks for giving us this, Jim. And since you are in touch with him and maybe others in his situation, like Somyot, like Darunee, please let him know that people like me are thinking of him. And signing petitions here and there and trying to make people aware of the fundamental injustice that has been given him and all the others who are being squashed and silenced.
It’s not much I know. Signing a petition here and there. But it’s what I can do. And I have to hope it helps.
If one can believe what Hla Oo, who was in Burmese Army fighting the KIA in 1970s, writes one will easily accept KIA is a Terrorist organization.
Blowing up Mandalay-Myitkyinar passenger trains 97 times in last year (killing hundreds of innocent civilian passengers) alone would qualify KIA as a terrorist organization.
The idea of acceptance of one’s position and not striving for change has roots in a predominantly agricultural/feudal, Buddhist society. Most Thais accept their place and work hard enough to get by, and the Thai-Chinese minority, usually raised with different expectations and attitudes, grab the business opportunities.
This is indeed a problem, but monarchy, in its present form, is not the major cause of it. It can be a force for national (and class) cohesion, and there’s no reason for it to negatively impact education.
This letter was written in Lue script.I am studying Anthropology and also interested in Lue historical manuscripts. If you need my help, I can translate them for you. Please contact me by E-Mail.
All of the Ministry of Education’s initiatives to improve education have been miserable failures. After witnessing the system in action for ten years, I would have to say that the biggest impediment is the Thai teachers themselves. They haven’t improved their teaching methods in 60 years, and show no interest in reform. They rely on boring lectures and focus on rote, repetitious learning; refuse to accept questions from students; and are hostile to any introduction of student centered learning. This is true for higher education as well as for K-12 instruction. Social promotion of failing students is the rule nearly universally, so the students have learned that they don’t have to try. Sports days last for entire weeks. For all the money that is spent on promoting English, English language proficiency for Thai public school students is extremely poor, perhaps the worst among the ASEAN countries. The test scores reveal that they don’t do much better in Thai language studies either, nor in Science and Mathematics, and they are especially poor at critical thinking skills. This has bred an outside tutoring system, where the parents of good students send their sons and daughters to after-school classes seven days a week, and the good teachers increasingly are focused on moonlighting work.
In addition, the classroom infrastructure in the public schools is crumbling. The chalkboards and the desks are the same ones that have been used for 50 years. Furthermore, there is no air conditioning, despite global warming and the fact that the plan is to switch the academic calendar to an ASEAN-wide school year that will have students attending school during the hottest two months of the year, April and May.
The top levels of government have not paid attention to this problem. I once asked an expert when the last time was that we had an Education Minister who actually knew and cared what he was doing, and the response was “more than 20 years ago”!
There is already a chronic shortage of competent, trained technical workers who can compete on an international stage (i.e. speak English as the international language of commerce). As Andrew Walker rightly points out, if the problem persists, employers will not be able to find the knowledge-based workforce they need for the creative economy of the future all of the Thai leadership is fond of talking about.
One of the most pernicious and ubiquitous effects of the decadent culture spawned by Thai Royalism is the idea “merit” comes from one’s place/position at birth and from what patrons one has rather than merit coming form hardwork, diligent study, perserverance, etc. Until the present King and all the royalist baggage associated with his reign has disappeared, how will Thailand ever developed a large class of highly educated, motivated, hard-working and industrious people in the manner of South Korea, Taiwan, Japan and the coastal areas of China?
Comments of ‘Aung Moe’ make me to remember Burma’s propaganda machines at work in slow motion.
Decades ago, I, as a young cadre of Burma’s socialist party, was amazed to observe that Karen National Union’s leader who was called by the government as ‘Nga Mya’ (a derogatory term) suddenly changed to ‘General Mya’ in all Government own medias. After the fail secrete negotiation for total surrender of KNU, General Mya was able to retain his former name, Nga Mya or Bo Mya, assisted by the same media. Then came Khun Sa. His fixed name ‘Opium King Khun Sa’ was abruptly changed to ‘U Khun Sa’ (Mr. Khun Sa) when he surrendered to then government.
In broader context, of course all armed organizations including KNU, KIA, Wa State Army etc. were terrorist organizations until 1990s when most of them entered ceasefire agreement with central government. Not surprisingly, these groups became “ethnic armed organizations or peace organizations”. However, KNU, the only remainder among them which failed to kowtow the government was still a terrorist one at that time.
Now, it comes KIA’s turn. Of course, KIA won’t bend their position to the wish of “mother of all terrorists” in Burma. This is scary to some people who in turn trying to justify to call KIA terrorists. But wait, what about if KIA bends their position to the wishes of Burmese nationalists? Would their name be changed overnight into something more favorable? Well … let me just say … I’m tired to open my mouth, Sire.
———————————————
Few months ago, I accidentally read George Orwell’s ‘Shooting an Elephant’. The most attractive part for me was the opening paragraphs, vividly describing how the residents of Moulmein town, essentially the Capital City of Mon State today, hate their colonial masters.
What came into my mind was that those Mon ethnic from Moulmein who hated their European colonial masters so much but submitted themselves to their Burmese brethren wholeheartedly today? What about other ethnics in Burma then and now? They also really disliked being colonial subjects and fought back their masters so hard as describe in Burmese history books only to totally submitting themselves to their Burmese counterpart? Am I so na├пve or missing something?
I had the great honor to work with Khun Pattana on his chapter for an edited collection (Everyday Life in Southeast Asia). I have never worked with an author who was so ego-less. Our suggestions about his chapter (written for an undergraduate audience, e.g., those in university) were always kindly taken. What a gentle soul – and so brilliant. That chapter is one of my absolute favorites and is introducing a new generation to the study of Thai culture. It doesn’t hurt that it’s about boxing … and looks at gender categories from a perspective that is new to so many students (the construction of masculinity, rather than marking femininity). He passing is a loss to all of us who seek to understand SE Asia in its own terms.
[…] calls for their cessation. Australian academic Nicholas Farrelly makes an interesting point in the New Mandala blog: “Parts of the emerging story suggest that within the regime Thein Sein needs to bolster wavering […]
The Chinese PLA general Qi (vice-commander-in-chief) was recently giving “marching orders” to Shwe Mann and Min Aung Hlaing.
See: http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/757143.shtml
The greedy Chinese want everything: Myitsone dam, copper from Letpadaung, jade from Phakant, timber, the gas/oil pipeline, railway line from Kunming to Kyaukphyu right through the heart of Burma (so that the PLA can move in quickly!), Shwe gas, naval base at Kyaukphyu, real estate in Mandalay, Rangoon, Lashio, etc. etc. so they are pressuring the “Tatmadaw”. I don’t think China really cares about ethnic minority groups. Just look at what’s happening to the Tibetans and the Uyghurs (Jingphaws and Wa’s are small fry compared to these bigger ethnic groups in China)
It’s the very poor rural population in Burma especially in the border areas, who are shamelessly exploited by corrupt businesses and brutally oppressed by dirty politics and who do not have a voice (even Suu Kyi is silent!)
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Interview with Surachai Danwattananusorn
It’s great to see that Surachai is smiling. And also good to hear his analysis of the situation.
Thanks for giving us this, Jim. And since you are in touch with him and maybe others in his situation, like Somyot, like Darunee, please let him know that people like me are thinking of him. And signing petitions here and there and trying to make people aware of the fundamental injustice that has been given him and all the others who are being squashed and silenced.
It’s not much I know. Signing a petition here and there. But it’s what I can do. And I have to hope it helps.
The Kachin and war
http://hlaoo1980.blogspot.com/2013/01/kia-terrorist-group-from-burma.html
If one can believe what Hla Oo, who was in Burmese Army fighting the KIA in 1970s, writes one will easily accept KIA is a Terrorist organization.
Blowing up Mandalay-Myitkyinar passenger trains 97 times in last year (killing hundreds of innocent civilian passengers) alone would qualify KIA as a terrorist organization.
Can Thailand escape its middle-income trap?
The idea of acceptance of one’s position and not striving for change has roots in a predominantly agricultural/feudal, Buddhist society. Most Thais accept their place and work hard enough to get by, and the Thai-Chinese minority, usually raised with different expectations and attitudes, grab the business opportunities.
This is indeed a problem, but monarchy, in its present form, is not the major cause of it. It can be a force for national (and class) cohesion, and there’s no reason for it to negatively impact education.
Regional networks and the Shan rebellion
Dear Prof. Andrew Walker
This letter was written in Lue script.I am studying Anthropology and also interested in Lue historical manuscripts. If you need my help, I can translate them for you. Please contact me by E-Mail.
Regional networks and the Shan rebellion
Well, our colleague Jon Fernquist may be able to help. I know he had studied Lue as it is spoken in northern Thailand.
Can Thailand escape its middle-income trap?
All of the Ministry of Education’s initiatives to improve education have been miserable failures. After witnessing the system in action for ten years, I would have to say that the biggest impediment is the Thai teachers themselves. They haven’t improved their teaching methods in 60 years, and show no interest in reform. They rely on boring lectures and focus on rote, repetitious learning; refuse to accept questions from students; and are hostile to any introduction of student centered learning. This is true for higher education as well as for K-12 instruction. Social promotion of failing students is the rule nearly universally, so the students have learned that they don’t have to try. Sports days last for entire weeks. For all the money that is spent on promoting English, English language proficiency for Thai public school students is extremely poor, perhaps the worst among the ASEAN countries. The test scores reveal that they don’t do much better in Thai language studies either, nor in Science and Mathematics, and they are especially poor at critical thinking skills. This has bred an outside tutoring system, where the parents of good students send their sons and daughters to after-school classes seven days a week, and the good teachers increasingly are focused on moonlighting work.
In addition, the classroom infrastructure in the public schools is crumbling. The chalkboards and the desks are the same ones that have been used for 50 years. Furthermore, there is no air conditioning, despite global warming and the fact that the plan is to switch the academic calendar to an ASEAN-wide school year that will have students attending school during the hottest two months of the year, April and May.
The top levels of government have not paid attention to this problem. I once asked an expert when the last time was that we had an Education Minister who actually knew and cared what he was doing, and the response was “more than 20 years ago”!
There is already a chronic shortage of competent, trained technical workers who can compete on an international stage (i.e. speak English as the international language of commerce). As Andrew Walker rightly points out, if the problem persists, employers will not be able to find the knowledge-based workforce they need for the creative economy of the future all of the Thai leadership is fond of talking about.
Can Thailand escape its middle-income trap?
I think Andrew has hit the nail on the head. Yet again the Thai government’s complete failure even to recognise that education is central to so many of its challenges is very depressing. No mention of it in Yingluck’s four national strategies. Does she not read Thai Woman Talks ?
http://thaiwomantalks.com/2012/02/26/the-sorry-state-of-thai-education-part-1-ridiculous-o-net-questions/
Regional networks and the Shan rebellion
Thanks Cliff, he is a “mandarin from Sipsongpanna” writing to Sipsongpanna, so I had assumed it was Lue.
Regional networks and the Shan rebellion
It is definitely not the Burmese script for Shan. Might it be Lue?
Can Thailand escape its middle-income trap?
Go back to your desired country. Never live or stay Thailand any longer, if you are not satisfied
Can Thailand escape its middle-income trap?
One of the most pernicious and ubiquitous effects of the decadent culture spawned by Thai Royalism is the idea “merit” comes from one’s place/position at birth and from what patrons one has rather than merit coming form hardwork, diligent study, perserverance, etc. Until the present King and all the royalist baggage associated with his reign has disappeared, how will Thailand ever developed a large class of highly educated, motivated, hard-working and industrious people in the manner of South Korea, Taiwan, Japan and the coastal areas of China?
The Kachin and war
Comments of ‘Aung Moe’ make me to remember Burma’s propaganda machines at work in slow motion.
Decades ago, I, as a young cadre of Burma’s socialist party, was amazed to observe that Karen National Union’s leader who was called by the government as ‘Nga Mya’ (a derogatory term) suddenly changed to ‘General Mya’ in all Government own medias. After the fail secrete negotiation for total surrender of KNU, General Mya was able to retain his former name, Nga Mya or Bo Mya, assisted by the same media. Then came Khun Sa. His fixed name ‘Opium King Khun Sa’ was abruptly changed to ‘U Khun Sa’ (Mr. Khun Sa) when he surrendered to then government.
In broader context, of course all armed organizations including KNU, KIA, Wa State Army etc. were terrorist organizations until 1990s when most of them entered ceasefire agreement with central government. Not surprisingly, these groups became “ethnic armed organizations or peace organizations”. However, KNU, the only remainder among them which failed to kowtow the government was still a terrorist one at that time.
Now, it comes KIA’s turn. Of course, KIA won’t bend their position to the wish of “mother of all terrorists” in Burma. This is scary to some people who in turn trying to justify to call KIA terrorists. But wait, what about if KIA bends their position to the wishes of Burmese nationalists? Would their name be changed overnight into something more favorable? Well … let me just say … I’m tired to open my mouth, Sire.
———————————————
Few months ago, I accidentally read George Orwell’s ‘Shooting an Elephant’. The most attractive part for me was the opening paragraphs, vividly describing how the residents of Moulmein town, essentially the Capital City of Mon State today, hate their colonial masters.
What came into my mind was that those Mon ethnic from Moulmein who hated their European colonial masters so much but submitted themselves to their Burmese brethren wholeheartedly today? What about other ethnics in Burma then and now? They also really disliked being colonial subjects and fought back their masters so hard as describe in Burmese history books only to totally submitting themselves to their Burmese counterpart? Am I so na├пve or missing something?
Somyot’s trial
The news that Somyot has been sentenced to 10 years imprisonment is in all the world’s newspapers, spreading world-wide disgust for Thai royalism.
BookZone 2.0: Honouring Dr Pattana Kittiarsa
I had the great honor to work with Khun Pattana on his chapter for an edited collection (Everyday Life in Southeast Asia). I have never worked with an author who was so ego-less. Our suggestions about his chapter (written for an undergraduate audience, e.g., those in university) were always kindly taken. What a gentle soul – and so brilliant. That chapter is one of my absolute favorites and is introducing a new generation to the study of Thai culture. It doesn’t hurt that it’s about boxing … and looks at gender categories from a perspective that is new to so many students (the construction of masculinity, rather than marking femininity). He passing is a loss to all of us who seek to understand SE Asia in its own terms.
Review of Buddhist Fury
Can you please provide a citation to where in the vinaya monks are forbidden to touch weapons? I ask this because the connection of Buddhism to the martial arts of East Asia is long and inseparable. Though, I’ll admit that Bodhidharma wasn’t always the most “orthodox” of monks.
Myanmar tourism after the boycott
The report that was mentioned in the article has meanwhile been published and can be downloaded at http://www.ecoburma.com/responsible-tourism-in-myanmar-current-situation-and-challenges
The Kachin and war
[…] calls for their cessation. Australian academic Nicholas Farrelly makes an interesting point in the New Mandala blog: “Parts of the emerging story suggest that within the regime Thein Sein needs to bolster wavering […]
The Kachin and war
The Chinese PLA general Qi (vice-commander-in-chief) was recently giving “marching orders” to Shwe Mann and Min Aung Hlaing.
See: http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/757143.shtml
The greedy Chinese want everything: Myitsone dam, copper from Letpadaung, jade from Phakant, timber, the gas/oil pipeline, railway line from Kunming to Kyaukphyu right through the heart of Burma (so that the PLA can move in quickly!), Shwe gas, naval base at Kyaukphyu, real estate in Mandalay, Rangoon, Lashio, etc. etc. so they are pressuring the “Tatmadaw”. I don’t think China really cares about ethnic minority groups. Just look at what’s happening to the Tibetans and the Uyghurs (Jingphaws and Wa’s are small fry compared to these bigger ethnic groups in China)
It’s the very poor rural population in Burma especially in the border areas, who are shamelessly exploited by corrupt businesses and brutally oppressed by dirty politics and who do not have a voice (even Suu Kyi is silent!)
The Kachin and war
http://www.newmandala.org/2011/02/08/long-shadow-of-war-in-kachin-state/
Just look at the comments there. (especially Hla Oo’s)
KIA has so-far admitted that to kill 10,000 Burmese soldiers last year alone more than 2,700 Kachins had to die.
It seems KIA kill-ratio (Burmese:Kachins) has drastically dropped from 10:1 at late 1980’s to less that 5:1 in 2012.
IMHO late KIA Chairman Maran Brenseng is much, much wiser man than that warmonger General Gam Shaung the KIA present Chief-of-staff.
The Kachin and war
Care to document any of these claims Aung Moe? Tatmawdaw’s atrocities against Kachin civilians are very well documented.
And just for the record are all the monks the military has shot terrorists too?