Can’t help but think the whole thing is tongue-in-cheek. Saw the headline & nearly fell over laughing. (and I do speak and read the language so know what many, many people think.
Ian I think the answer to your bigger question is ‘no’. Jokowi’s position is looking more secure now than it did two years ago.
I think Jokowi’s intensified networking with the military, Prabowo and others in recent weeks is not for personal preservation but to shore up nationalist spirit in the face of current unrest (which will probably dissipate after the Jakarta elections).
Nurmantyo seems to have the skills to go far in politics after his military career but in the current jostling amongst elites he seems to be playing a reactive role rather than an instigating role.
What a difference 1 year made. Kudos again to Mr Tonkin whose, unswerving yet correct views were unjustly labeled as “junta apologist’s”. is now enforced by an American academic, from New York, openly.
The gripe is why does it take the west that wrong for so long to realize the throw away the key policy, while Vietnam as an example persist.
Obama may yet have the last laugh in Cuba just like in Myanmar. Otherwise engagement with the Kim and Ayatollah will bare no fruit at least the Kim.
Thank you, Derek, for mentioning my book (published last year), which indeed makes the argument that sanctions did not work in Myanmar. It also corrects the misapprehension that US policy change was eventually what spurred, or at least contributed (“aided” as Professor Early puts it), to change in Myanmar. If that was true, how can we explain the fact that the regime announced a 7-step ‘roadmap to democracy’ in 2003? And reconvened the National Convention from 2004-2007? And held a constitutional referendum in 2008? And planned elections thereafter? This was all before Obama’s so-called “pivot” to Asia. The truth is that the regime followed its own timetable, advancing not because it felt externally secure but because it felt internally secure, having crushed the NLD outside of Yangon and having gained far more power and leverage over the country’s ethnic-minority rebels than any Burmese government had achieved since independence. These domestic dynamics gave it the power and confidence to dictate the timing and nature of the transition, on its own terms. Unfortunately, too many Westerners instinctively seek to understand political outomes in developing countries as being somehow driven by Western agency. The argument for engagement is simply the liberal version of this, a nicer alternative to the hawkish approach of confrontation. But it is equally flawed in exaggerating the extent of external leverage over domestic political change. The truth is that nothing the US did had very much influence over political developments in Myanmar. But that is a much harder pill to swallow.
Thai people outside Thailand tell the truth. I have heard many stories from Thai people about this man in private. Print the truth in the newspapers or Facebook and you go to jail.
Minor bibliographic correction for those interested in following your trail of references.
Todd Lewis is the author of the essay, “Buddhism and Shamanism” which you refer to in your post but do not list in your references. Walter and Fridman are the editors of the volume, “Shamanism: An Encyclopedia of World Beliefs, Practices and Culture,” in which that essay appears.
Completely incompetent and deceptive writing. The author does not even mention that massive amounts of money were extorted from a credit union, a type of currently unregulated financial institution, by a former Dhammakaya official, already convicted and serving time, and then handed over as massive donations to Dhammakaya, resulting in the collapse of the financial institution, the credit union, i.e. bank failure, not just “fraud” or a “scandal”.
It is actually the high status of the monk that has prevented and continues to prevent, in an almost comic fashion (failed ultimatums followed by solemn declarations that “we’ll get him in three months” or when the statue of limitations runs out), to prevent his questioning or arrest up to this point. Basic news and current event literacy, not constitutional law or pontifications on the destiny of a whole country and society is what is needed here. Political polarization has made people unable to read and analyze the news objectively.
So Christian Kachin, Muslim Rohingya, the Chin, maybe Buddhist. The Rohingya have been said to head for Malaysia as it is Muslim, however, not sure how logical it is, I suppose they don’t get pork while in jail/detention.
Yes, you would still be held liable. The amount of donation was really odd, not million, but several millions or possibly billions. Dhammachayo refused to cooperate with the police nor return the money. The first act was the obstruction of justice while the second act made him a suspected accomplice. Even if he was not an accomplice, he would still be charged with receiving money acquired by a crime.
Ralph Kramden – Wissana Nanuam, Bangkok Post’s military reporter comes from an EXTREMELY high Thai family, with very strong military connections. Her reports are top-rate excellent, because she’s protected, and knows how to play the game. The Thai military is far from being a monolith. They’re very factionalised. But the overwhelming majority of them know that they have to keep farang informed about the very, very different Thai system. This is their bread and butter – and Wissana Nanuam’s oeuvre.
Phra Dhammachaiyo hasn’t actually been charged with a crime, he has been asked to accompany investigators to informally answer questions relating to the case. In any event it is a civil matter, usually resolved by sending a lawyer. The attempt to capture him is therefore about Thai politics not Thai law. Unsurprisingly, he prefers not to get into an army ambulance full of commandos just as Julian Assange prefers not to get into a Swedish military transport.
Jokowi following South Korea’s Japan-derived development variant model ? With a difference – Japan already had HUGE zaibatsu conglomerates. South Korea had smaller chaebol. Both needed HUGE State support for economic lift-off.
Srirasmi’s father and mother were jailed, but I believe it was an uncle who got the 31 years.
Another blog asked why it was the Bangkok Post’s military reporter writing these quite over the top stories. My guess is that she’s just passing on the military’ preferred “story” on the new king.
In any case, that interim is now scrubbed from the history books. The junta has backdated his ascension to the throne to Oct. 13, the day of his father’s passing, in keeping with the principle of, Le roi est mort, vive le roi. Vajiralongkorn cannot turn back the clock on his own indiscretions so easily. The future, however, is his to write.
Shane Tarr – have you ever noticed similarities between Irish and Thai sense of humour ? A very strong, rich vein of ironic ” oh well, such is life”, seems to flow through both.
Could you please answer the question why the facts, as even you know them, are not reported in the Thai press? This is not about morality but about the truth.
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Mahathir no solution for Malaysia’s mess
Philemon you are dreaming
Henry VIII of Thailand
Can’t help but think the whole thing is tongue-in-cheek. Saw the headline & nearly fell over laughing. (and I do speak and read the language so know what many, many people think.
‘Proxyphobia’ in Indonesia
Ian I think the answer to your bigger question is ‘no’. Jokowi’s position is looking more secure now than it did two years ago.
I think Jokowi’s intensified networking with the military, Prabowo and others in recent weeks is not for personal preservation but to shore up nationalist spirit in the face of current unrest (which will probably dissipate after the Jakarta elections).
Nurmantyo seems to have the skills to go far in politics after his military career but in the current jostling amongst elites he seems to be playing a reactive role rather than an instigating role.
Busting the myth that Myanmar is a sanctions success story
What a difference 1 year made. Kudos again to Mr Tonkin whose, unswerving yet correct views were unjustly labeled as “junta apologist’s”. is now enforced by an American academic, from New York, openly.
The gripe is why does it take the west that wrong for so long to realize the throw away the key policy, while Vietnam as an example persist.
Obama may yet have the last laugh in Cuba just like in Myanmar. Otherwise engagement with the Kim and Ayatollah will bare no fruit at least the Kim.
Busting the myth that Myanmar is a sanctions success story
Thank you, Derek, for mentioning my book (published last year), which indeed makes the argument that sanctions did not work in Myanmar. It also corrects the misapprehension that US policy change was eventually what spurred, or at least contributed (“aided” as Professor Early puts it), to change in Myanmar. If that was true, how can we explain the fact that the regime announced a 7-step ‘roadmap to democracy’ in 2003? And reconvened the National Convention from 2004-2007? And held a constitutional referendum in 2008? And planned elections thereafter? This was all before Obama’s so-called “pivot” to Asia. The truth is that the regime followed its own timetable, advancing not because it felt externally secure but because it felt internally secure, having crushed the NLD outside of Yangon and having gained far more power and leverage over the country’s ethnic-minority rebels than any Burmese government had achieved since independence. These domestic dynamics gave it the power and confidence to dictate the timing and nature of the transition, on its own terms. Unfortunately, too many Westerners instinctively seek to understand political outomes in developing countries as being somehow driven by Western agency. The argument for engagement is simply the liberal version of this, a nicer alternative to the hawkish approach of confrontation. But it is equally flawed in exaggerating the extent of external leverage over domestic political change. The truth is that nothing the US did had very much influence over political developments in Myanmar. But that is a much harder pill to swallow.
Henry VIII of Thailand
Thai people outside Thailand tell the truth. I have heard many stories from Thai people about this man in private. Print the truth in the newspapers or Facebook and you go to jail.
A festival of the deprecated spirit lords of Burma
Minor bibliographic correction for those interested in following your trail of references.
Todd Lewis is the author of the essay, “Buddhism and Shamanism” which you refer to in your post but do not list in your references. Walter and Fridman are the editors of the volume, “Shamanism: An Encyclopedia of World Beliefs, Practices and Culture,” in which that essay appears.
Can Thailand tolerate more than one form of Buddhism?
Completely incompetent and deceptive writing. The author does not even mention that massive amounts of money were extorted from a credit union, a type of currently unregulated financial institution, by a former Dhammakaya official, already convicted and serving time, and then handed over as massive donations to Dhammakaya, resulting in the collapse of the financial institution, the credit union, i.e. bank failure, not just “fraud” or a “scandal”.
It is actually the high status of the monk that has prevented and continues to prevent, in an almost comic fashion (failed ultimatums followed by solemn declarations that “we’ll get him in three months” or when the statue of limitations runs out), to prevent his questioning or arrest up to this point. Basic news and current event literacy, not constitutional law or pontifications on the destiny of a whole country and society is what is needed here. Political polarization has made people unable to read and analyze the news objectively.
‘We are surviving without a dream’
So Christian Kachin, Muslim Rohingya, the Chin, maybe Buddhist. The Rohingya have been said to head for Malaysia as it is Muslim, however, not sure how logical it is, I suppose they don’t get pork while in jail/detention.
Can Thailand tolerate more than one form of Buddhism?
Yes, you would still be held liable. The amount of donation was really odd, not million, but several millions or possibly billions. Dhammachayo refused to cooperate with the police nor return the money. The first act was the obstruction of justice while the second act made him a suspected accomplice. Even if he was not an accomplice, he would still be charged with receiving money acquired by a crime.
Henry VIII of Thailand
Ralph Kramden – Wissana Nanuam, Bangkok Post’s military reporter comes from an EXTREMELY high Thai family, with very strong military connections. Her reports are top-rate excellent, because she’s protected, and knows how to play the game. The Thai military is far from being a monolith. They’re very factionalised. But the overwhelming majority of them know that they have to keep farang informed about the very, very different Thai system. This is their bread and butter – and Wissana Nanuam’s oeuvre.
Can Thailand tolerate more than one form of Buddhism?
Phra Dhammachaiyo hasn’t actually been charged with a crime, he has been asked to accompany investigators to informally answer questions relating to the case. In any event it is a civil matter, usually resolved by sending a lawyer. The attempt to capture him is therefore about Thai politics not Thai law. Unsurprisingly, he prefers not to get into an army ambulance full of commandos just as Julian Assange prefers not to get into a Swedish military transport.
Henry VIII of Thailand
most understand that the Thai’s are only fooling themselves …………..
Jokowi wakes up the leviathan
Jokowi following South Korea’s Japan-derived development variant model ? With a difference – Japan already had HUGE zaibatsu conglomerates. South Korea had smaller chaebol. Both needed HUGE State support for economic lift-off.
Henry VIII of Thailand
You are NOT Thai, how can you say this if you are Thai – do you want people to be in prison all the life.
Henry VIII of Thailand
Srirasmi’s father and mother were jailed, but I believe it was an uncle who got the 31 years.
Another blog asked why it was the Bangkok Post’s military reporter writing these quite over the top stories. My guess is that she’s just passing on the military’ preferred “story” on the new king.
Mourning and the Thai interregnum
In any case, that interim is now scrubbed from the history books. The junta has backdated his ascension to the throne to Oct. 13, the day of his father’s passing, in keeping with the principle of, Le roi est mort, vive le roi. Vajiralongkorn cannot turn back the clock on his own indiscretions so easily. The future, however, is his to write.
http://time.com/4587099/thailand-king-bhumibol-adulyadej-maha-vajiralongkorn-crown-property-bureau/
What next for the theatrics of Thailand?
Andrew MacGregor Marshall : “laws were made for men, not men for laws”.
What next for the theatrics of Thailand?
Shane Tarr – have you ever noticed similarities between Irish and Thai sense of humour ? A very strong, rich vein of ironic ” oh well, such is life”, seems to flow through both.
Henry VIII of Thailand
Could you please answer the question why the facts, as even you know them, are not reported in the Thai press? This is not about morality but about the truth.