Bama Army is stupidly brave in dealing with insurgencies. Now they are waging the most expensive war in its own history against the Kachin Independence Army. Within a short period of times the Bama army lost more than ten thousands. They are using most of its combat forces just in the Kachin State.
Since, December 2012, they use air strikes to take over some hill tops around Laiza. They keep using air strikes to Pang Wa area even after President Sein’s truce on Jan 19. KIA claimed that almost 2,000 Bama soldiers died in that location since last six months. How long Bama Army will let its troops being killed without being informed their families members. KIA seem not to be smashed in the near future even though its headquarters fall. China still wants to keep it.
If Bama Army keep the same tactic to solve its ethnic problem as waging war against Kachin, they have to face another war with Wa, which is heavily armed by Chinese.
KIA is coward. While army had stopped offensives and taken only defensive positions the whole of last year (just because of Thein Sein’s order) they ambushed small army columns and raided small army and police outposts.
In the process KIA killed more than 5,000 Burmese. (KIA proudly declared at least 10,000.)
The worst is frequently attacking Mandalay-Myitkyinar trains the only viable link between Kachin Land and Burma proper.
Now they are crying wolf after Burmese army captures all the hills around Laiza and seriously threatening their existence.
KIA is terrorists and they have been sending bomber teams to Burma and blowing up innocent civilians for many decades since 1962. They are now even sending children-suicide-bombers to Naypyidaw.
Burmese army has justification and will and resources to smash the KIA out of their miserable existence.
But don’t worry. KIA will survive as long as China allows them to exist on the borderline just as a leverage in Chin’s dealing with recalcitrant Burmese generals.
This is all about antagonizing China. I predicted sectarian and political division the day John McCain and Diane Feinstein turned up in Myanmar. Hey. I was right. Luck or analysis?
More than any manau, this war seems to have united the Kachin people in a way they haven’t been in the past. The Burmese military may win the battle of Laiza only to lose the broader political war.
The Chinese are starting to make noises about the fighting. They nominally support the Kachins, but as yet haven’t started arming them in a big way.
Interestingly enough, the Chinese are arming the UWSA in a really big way, and as a not so subtle slap at the tatmadaw. They just delivered quite a few armored vehicles to the UWSA, as well as arms and munitions. And the Shan stand to benefit from this largesse as well.
Now that the Burmese govt is climbing into bed with the U.S., the Chinese are starting to show their displeasure.
With the ISA gone, this has become a reality and I believe it will continue. To an extend, the ruling government under Najib has to be given credit for opening this new era for Malaysians.
However, Malaysians in general do not generally like demonstrations except in times like this when they feel that they have to do something about their future.
[…] pour l’amélioration pour tous du monde dans lequel nous vivons.Dans un article du New Mandala, Simon Creak et Keith Barney se demandent si la disparition de Sombath est liée ├а son engagement […]
I remember meeting Khun Pattana in Khon Kaen and having a delighful chat about “morlum sing” and his thinking about modernity and magic. A really astute and nice guy. He and his intellectual contribution will be greatly missed
I take offense of the last sentance that Buddhists know nothing of what Buddha said other than hair relics..
As a Buddhist without knowing too much I know the following was taught by Buddha.
1) Respect women and they are not slaves of men. Thats not the case with all religions
2) Be kind to animals. I see in some religions, animals are killed for fun in religious festivals.
3) Tolerate other faiths.
Buddhism is essentially banned in middle east countries. Thats not the case in Buddhist countries.
I agree I could be the same person if I was a Christian. But Christians today got a lot from Buddhism. Good nature of Christians today is due to mainly Buddhist concepts spreading thru the western world. at least thats what I believe
Khun Mazard I find your appeal to facts very interesting and naive. As for Jati Jerryson and I are following Tambiah, Christine Gray and David Streckfuss well known amatuers in the field! Please for arguments and reason not emotivist and opinioned twaddle
” … and a fair (rice) price for their efforts …” is Rock’s golden wish for the Thai peasants.
Good grief Rock! Don’t you realize that’s what the whole world is wishing for? But too bad (but good for consumers) … ‘the market dictates and the market is not usually fair’.
Define “fair price” anyway. By the law of economics, competition quickly grows in skewedly inefficiently priced products (agricultural or otherwise) to make them ‘fairer’ (meaning not overly remunerative).
What I have learned about Thai villagers is how well they cope with very little they have..a pity people who have a lot still think they need more…this is a world problem ..
Jayzee summed it up well .. the villagers need water/elect/gas/healthcare kept at low rates and a fair rice price for their efforts then Thailand will benefit.
The new generations should then have a chance.
I like the following extract: “The problem with this mythic Buddhism is that its dark side is ignored: extreme phenomena such as monks with guns, “soldier-monks”, militarized temples, Buddhist militia.” I have heard that some monks who used to be soldiers or policemen sometimes hid their guns under the yellow robes. In the Buddhist vinaya forbids monks to touch any types of weapons. The penalty is to do the so-called the Apattiyo not the P─Бr─Бjika, being the gravest of the monastic offences, admits of no remedies or atonements. However, monks with guns in the South is just the way of protecting themselves.
Those who profess to know the benefit of the bridge have not an iota of knowledge of the plight of one of the world most poor Laotians across Chiang Khong, along Mekong river.
The years of similar neglect due to incessant anti communist warfare resulting in poverty have reduced this area almost back to pre WWII in existence.
Nowadays the unheard of Iodine deficiency induced, a treatment take for granted, abundance of these condition say it all.
This bridge will facilitate at the minimum to the Laotian across Mekong a chance to survive “goiter” that plague whole villages, a tip of the iceberg of poverty indicating wretched poverty.
Armchair environmental critics need to walk a mile in the shoes/flip flop of the villagers b/f jumping into near racist comments of this project.
The work of Sombath Somphone is well-known across southeast Asia, but his disappearance in Laos on December 15 is a mystery.
It was Sombath’s development work and help to poor farmers that won him one of Asia’s most prestigious civil service awards. Laos authorities told Sombath’s wife that they don’t have him; they say he might have been kidnapped for personal or business conflicts, and an investigation is underway.
The disappearance of a noted social activist is tainted with the suspicion that the authorities have silenced him due to his opposition to dam construction and other projects
It is almost clear that the disappearance last month of Sombath Somphone, a respected Lao civil society leader, after he was stopped at a police station, was not an accident. The manner in which the authorities in Vientiane have responded to enquiries into the matter has also raised the possibility of the complicity of local officials in his alleged kidnapping.
Laos must come clean on the whereabouts of Sombath. Otherwise the country’s reputation and standing in the international community will suffer, especially after the successful hosting of the high-profile Asia-Europe Summit last year. Sombath’s supporters throughout Southeast Asia and other regions have demanded that the Lao government provide more information. Even former Thai prime minister Anand Panyarachun, who seldom makes any comment on a personal level, has appealed to Vientiane to investigate Sombath’s case.
Sombath’s friends have set up social media networks to monitor the situation. Some of his supporters believe he is still alive, but with no information forthcoming more than a month since he was last seen, many others believe his life is in jeopardy.
So far, the Lao government has said little about Sombath, apart from asserting that he may have been involved in a personal dispute. That is its standard official rebuttal to any question about dubious action. As a Magsaysay Award laureate, Sombath has been given recognition for his work in training Lao people on issues related to agriculture and development.
With the kind of economic development that the Communist Party of Laos has chosen to focus on, rapid growth in extractive industries such as timber and minerals has been given top priority. Ongoing dam construction has caused repeated concern about the relocation of villagers and long-term destruction of the environment and traditional ways of life.
Laos is still an oppressive society. It is more open than before, but still closed in comparison with neighbouring Thailand, Cambodia and even Myanmar. So far, its authoritarian government has escaped criticism because it has successfully hidden under the cloak of Asean since it joined the grouping in 1997. Laos has also been lucky due to its landlocked geographical location, allowing the regime to continue with its archaic style of governance.
After the Cold War, Laos was quite isolated for a long period. Two years ago, with the full cooperation of the Thai government, against the demands of the international community, Lao Hmong refugees were sent back to Laos unwillingly. This only helped Laos and Thailand to improve their “national security”. Since then, Laos has trained its officials to track internal players from non-government, or rather non-party, sectors. Anybody who does not follow the party line is punished or reprimanded for “anti-social behaviour”.
At this time, pending further investigation, Sombath’s colleagues and friends believe that his disappearance and alleged kidnapping by the authorities could be linked to his opposition to the Sayaboury Dam’s construction and other environmental issues.
Sombath’s whereabouts will remain a big issue and the Lao government has to be held accountable. Asean must take up this matter, especially the Asean Inter-governmental Commission on Human Rights, which recently issued its much-heralded Declaration of Asean Human Rights. His disappearance looks more and more like a blatant display of political arrogance and central control inside Laos. Increasingly in the new regional landscape, such an authoritarian system is no longer acceptable.
Facebook 
Twitter 
Soundcloud 
Youtube 
Rss
The Kachin and war
Bama Army is stupidly brave in dealing with insurgencies. Now they are waging the most expensive war in its own history against the Kachin Independence Army. Within a short period of times the Bama army lost more than ten thousands. They are using most of its combat forces just in the Kachin State.
Since, December 2012, they use air strikes to take over some hill tops around Laiza. They keep using air strikes to Pang Wa area even after President Sein’s truce on Jan 19. KIA claimed that almost 2,000 Bama soldiers died in that location since last six months. How long Bama Army will let its troops being killed without being informed their families members. KIA seem not to be smashed in the near future even though its headquarters fall. China still wants to keep it.
If Bama Army keep the same tactic to solve its ethnic problem as waging war against Kachin, they have to face another war with Wa, which is heavily armed by Chinese.
Regional networks and the Shan rebellion
What language is that letter written in?
It doesn’t look like Lanna or any other language I’m familiar with.
The Kachin and war
KIA is coward. While army had stopped offensives and taken only defensive positions the whole of last year (just because of Thein Sein’s order) they ambushed small army columns and raided small army and police outposts.
In the process KIA killed more than 5,000 Burmese. (KIA proudly declared at least 10,000.)
The worst is frequently attacking Mandalay-Myitkyinar trains the only viable link between Kachin Land and Burma proper.
Now they are crying wolf after Burmese army captures all the hills around Laiza and seriously threatening their existence.
KIA is terrorists and they have been sending bomber teams to Burma and blowing up innocent civilians for many decades since 1962. They are now even sending children-suicide-bombers to Naypyidaw.
Burmese army has justification and will and resources to smash the KIA out of their miserable existence.
But don’t worry. KIA will survive as long as China allows them to exist on the borderline just as a leverage in Chin’s dealing with recalcitrant Burmese generals.
The Kachin and war
This is all about antagonizing China. I predicted sectarian and political division the day John McCain and Diane Feinstein turned up in Myanmar. Hey. I was right. Luck or analysis?
The Kachin and war
More than any manau, this war seems to have united the Kachin people in a way they haven’t been in the past. The Burmese military may win the battle of Laiza only to lose the broader political war.
The Kachin and war
The Chinese are starting to make noises about the fighting. They nominally support the Kachins, but as yet haven’t started arming them in a big way.
Interestingly enough, the Chinese are arming the UWSA in a really big way, and as a not so subtle slap at the tatmadaw. They just delivered quite a few armored vehicles to the UWSA, as well as arms and munitions. And the Shan stand to benefit from this largesse as well.
Now that the Burmese govt is climbing into bed with the U.S., the Chinese are starting to show their displeasure.
KL112 and a new Malaysian identity?
With the ISA gone, this has become a reality and I believe it will continue. To an extend, the ruling government under Najib has to be given credit for opening this new era for Malaysians.
However, Malaysians in general do not generally like demonstrations except in times like this when they feel that they have to do something about their future.
Bhumibol, Obama, Yingluck
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBxV62ZLoTo
One of the show.
Distressing developments in Laos
[…] pour l’amélioration pour tous du monde dans lequel nous vivons.Dans un article du New Mandala, Simon Creak et Keith Barney se demandent si la disparition de Sombath est liée ├а son engagement […]
BookZone 2.0: Honouring Dr Pattana Kittiarsa
I remember meeting Khun Pattana in Khon Kaen and having a delighful chat about “morlum sing” and his thinking about modernity and magic. A really astute and nice guy. He and his intellectual contribution will be greatly missed
The Buddha was bald
I take offense of the last sentance that Buddhists know nothing of what Buddha said other than hair relics..
As a Buddhist without knowing too much I know the following was taught by Buddha.
1) Respect women and they are not slaves of men. Thats not the case with all religions
2) Be kind to animals. I see in some religions, animals are killed for fun in religious festivals.
3) Tolerate other faiths.
Buddhism is essentially banned in middle east countries. Thats not the case in Buddhist countries.
I agree I could be the same person if I was a Christian. But Christians today got a lot from Buddhism. Good nature of Christians today is due to mainly Buddhist concepts spreading thru the western world. at least thats what I believe
Review of Buddhist Fury
Khun Mazard I find your appeal to facts very interesting and naive. As for Jati Jerryson and I are following Tambiah, Christine Gray and David Streckfuss well known amatuers in the field! Please for arguments and reason not emotivist and opinioned twaddle
Review of Buddhist Fury
Does he know what he is talking about.
Chris Baker on Thailand’s Political Peasants
” … and a fair (rice) price for their efforts …” is Rock’s golden wish for the Thai peasants.
Good grief Rock! Don’t you realize that’s what the whole world is wishing for? But too bad (but good for consumers) … ‘the market dictates and the market is not usually fair’.
Define “fair price” anyway. By the law of economics, competition quickly grows in skewedly inefficiently priced products (agricultural or otherwise) to make them ‘fairer’ (meaning not overly remunerative).
Chris Baker on Thailand’s Political Peasants
What I have learned about Thai villagers is how well they cope with very little they have..a pity people who have a lot still think they need more…this is a world problem ..
Jayzee summed it up well .. the villagers need water/elect/gas/healthcare kept at low rates and a fair rice price for their efforts then Thailand will benefit.
The new generations should then have a chance.
Review of Buddhist Fury
I like the following extract: “The problem with this mythic Buddhism is that its dark side is ignored: extreme phenomena such as monks with guns, “soldier-monks”, militarized temples, Buddhist militia.” I have heard that some monks who used to be soldiers or policemen sometimes hid their guns under the yellow robes. In the Buddhist vinaya forbids monks to touch any types of weapons. The penalty is to do the so-called the Apattiyo not the P─Бr─Бjika, being the gravest of the monastic offences, admits of no remedies or atonements. However, monks with guns in the South is just the way of protecting themselves.
Mekong bridge at Chiang Khong
Those who profess to know the benefit of the bridge have not an iota of knowledge of the plight of one of the world most poor Laotians across Chiang Khong, along Mekong river.
The years of similar neglect due to incessant anti communist warfare resulting in poverty have reduced this area almost back to pre WWII in existence.
Nowadays the unheard of Iodine deficiency induced, a treatment take for granted, abundance of these condition say it all.
This bridge will facilitate at the minimum to the Laotian across Mekong a chance to survive “goiter” that plague whole villages, a tip of the iceberg of poverty indicating wretched poverty.
Armchair environmental critics need to walk a mile in the shoes/flip flop of the villagers b/f jumping into near racist comments of this project.
Domesticating royal power
Does anyone know what happened to Thai E-news blog? Hope it is not removed by ICT.
Distressing developments in Laos
Al Jazeera (Video)
“Well-known aid worker disappears in Laos”
http://www.aljazeera.com/video/asia-pacific/2013/01/201311524739516994.html
The work of Sombath Somphone is well-known across southeast Asia, but his disappearance in Laos on December 15 is a mystery.
It was Sombath’s development work and help to poor farmers that won him one of Asia’s most prestigious civil service awards. Laos authorities told Sombath’s wife that they don’t have him; they say he might have been kidnapped for personal or business conflicts, and an investigation is underway.
Al Jazeera’s Scott Heidler reports from Bangkok.
Distressing developments in Laos
EDITORIAL – Laos must tell the truth about Sombath’s fate
The Nation (Thailand) January 15, 2013
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Laos-must-tell-the-truth-about-Sombaths-fate-30197883.html
The disappearance of a noted social activist is tainted with the suspicion that the authorities have silenced him due to his opposition to dam construction and other projects
It is almost clear that the disappearance last month of Sombath Somphone, a respected Lao civil society leader, after he was stopped at a police station, was not an accident. The manner in which the authorities in Vientiane have responded to enquiries into the matter has also raised the possibility of the complicity of local officials in his alleged kidnapping.
Laos must come clean on the whereabouts of Sombath. Otherwise the country’s reputation and standing in the international community will suffer, especially after the successful hosting of the high-profile Asia-Europe Summit last year. Sombath’s supporters throughout Southeast Asia and other regions have demanded that the Lao government provide more information. Even former Thai prime minister Anand Panyarachun, who seldom makes any comment on a personal level, has appealed to Vientiane to investigate Sombath’s case.
Sombath’s friends have set up social media networks to monitor the situation. Some of his supporters believe he is still alive, but with no information forthcoming more than a month since he was last seen, many others believe his life is in jeopardy.
So far, the Lao government has said little about Sombath, apart from asserting that he may have been involved in a personal dispute. That is its standard official rebuttal to any question about dubious action. As a Magsaysay Award laureate, Sombath has been given recognition for his work in training Lao people on issues related to agriculture and development.
With the kind of economic development that the Communist Party of Laos has chosen to focus on, rapid growth in extractive industries such as timber and minerals has been given top priority. Ongoing dam construction has caused repeated concern about the relocation of villagers and long-term destruction of the environment and traditional ways of life.
Laos is still an oppressive society. It is more open than before, but still closed in comparison with neighbouring Thailand, Cambodia and even Myanmar. So far, its authoritarian government has escaped criticism because it has successfully hidden under the cloak of Asean since it joined the grouping in 1997. Laos has also been lucky due to its landlocked geographical location, allowing the regime to continue with its archaic style of governance.
After the Cold War, Laos was quite isolated for a long period. Two years ago, with the full cooperation of the Thai government, against the demands of the international community, Lao Hmong refugees were sent back to Laos unwillingly. This only helped Laos and Thailand to improve their “national security”. Since then, Laos has trained its officials to track internal players from non-government, or rather non-party, sectors. Anybody who does not follow the party line is punished or reprimanded for “anti-social behaviour”.
At this time, pending further investigation, Sombath’s colleagues and friends believe that his disappearance and alleged kidnapping by the authorities could be linked to his opposition to the Sayaboury Dam’s construction and other environmental issues.
Sombath’s whereabouts will remain a big issue and the Lao government has to be held accountable. Asean must take up this matter, especially the Asean Inter-governmental Commission on Human Rights, which recently issued its much-heralded Declaration of Asean Human Rights. His disappearance looks more and more like a blatant display of political arrogance and central control inside Laos. Increasingly in the new regional landscape, such an authoritarian system is no longer acceptable.
—