It seems the Burmese do not care much about sanctions but international scholars are lawyering for them, of course, for their own political agendas. And by the way, shall we stop demonizing China? China is foolish in that it does not put in minimum standards for Chinese goods and investment to protect its reputation. But the fact that it’s foolish doesn’t mean it’s a demon. They do protect their interest like the USA does in a far larger scale.
Sure, lines are blurred at the border. Like any other country, China has multiple power players, not a single monolithic entity. Who’s supplying arms to the Was? Official government? Yunnan government? Or just local businessmen trying to make some money with tacit approval from local officials? Where is the evidence that it’s an official Chinese policy? There is none. China isn’t good and works for self-interest, just like any other country. But it’s not a devil.
What the so-called experts are saying is “protectionism doesn’t work.” “You can survive without trade in the 21st century.” Well, you may look at Haiti. They can’t even grow their own food today. Not necessarily the case before Clinton’s free trade agenda set in. Now, with even talks about importing chicken from Australia, don’t be surprised if Myanmar suffers the same fate as Haiti.
I’m not saying we should be better closed off. But definitely, we do not need to beg Americans to supply them with cheap clothing made from Burmese slave-like labor or jewels mined from hellish working conditions. Even if export-led growth is the best alternative, neither Korea nor China become what they are today by following free trade agenda. The best examples of “free trade works” are second-rate economies. Myanmar will not be a second-rate country.
NO, DASSK rightly got tired of hearing Susan Rice and Samantha Power drone endlessly on about ‘human rights’ and the faux ‘Rohingya’ issue.
Myanmar cannot possibly stabilize and carry out fair negotiations with anyone. As China is seen as the quick fix, and they have been in Myanmar a long time, it is no surprise that their conduct, while totally selfish, works. This accounts for poor US-Myanmar relations. In no way defending China or Russia whatsoever, they do not drone on about (illegal) Bangladeshi Muslims in Myanmar. They don’t care. That is also not to Myanmar’s long term benefit. However, if and until the illegal Bangladeshi migrants are deported back to Sheikh Hasina Wajed and her terrorist nation (where Hindus are routinely massacred), China’s fast talk will remain successful as will the trade deals that ensue.
So what will VichaiN – and other coup apologists here – now say about the exorbitant expense of General Prawit’s trip to Hawaii ? Did n’t Prawit overthrow Yingluck’s democratically elected government, to stop such massive over expenditure, as thus ?
Whatever the precise translation matadunia – Duterte was being not only insulting but downright fascist racist to the President of the United States. Obama’s white mother had the courage to cross racial lines, because of love, at a time of great prejudice. The Catholic Church loves people of all races and colours. Duterte does n’t. He’s gone beyond the pale.
I was in Kuala Lumpur in the summer 1970 as an exchange student from Hong Kong. There was a law prohibiting public assembly which meant more than three people ( I was told) and we could not talk about racial issues in public. What happened was that Malaysian Chinese took me on motorcycle rides and only two of us and we talked about racial issues.
Why only natives to Malaysia can comment? You are not a schizophrenic, can you talk about mental illness? This kind of ethnocentrism is despicable. Speech is open to all, natives or aliens.
No no no. Neither “directness” nor “transparency” will solve the problem. And there is a much easier way with guaranteed effectiveness.
What’s the easiest way to solve the problem? Simple. Making everyone’s tax contribution public. There should a searchable, ranked, database website dedicated to how much tax an individual paid. Searchable by anyone. Why would we do that?
Firstly, paying tax will then come to associate with status. Why people buy expensive cars ? For status. (google handicap’s principle). If we have a website dedicated to all taxes an individual pays, then, the first thing people would do before going on a date is to search her partner’s tax, to gather information about his financial status. No need expensive clothing. Just pay tax!
Secondly, there would be “public policing.” If an rich guy has all luxuries but absent in tax record, a concerned citizen would find out. This will relieve all burden associated with policing all tax incomes. Believe me, Myanmar can increase its revenue by two folds in a few years just by doing creating that database.
Ok ok. Don’t talk about privacy. In the US, people can search tons of public records including court cases, where you lived, who is your family members etc. So a database where people can search anyone’s tax would hardly be a problem.
When the Thai Chinese were ordered to close down their schools and stop speaking their own languages (be it Teochew, Hailam, Cantonese or else) or face expulsion, their fate was sealed. Period.
Do you really think about the things you say Chris? “Anything can happen”? Really”
Go back and read this hilarious collection, beginning with the article, but especially the comments, to see just how much most commentators on the Thai situation are doing nothing more nor less than displaying their wish-fulfillment fantasies and dressing them up as “analysis/prognostication”.
And most of these folks would gladly rag on Thais for using the services of mor doo (either before or after suicide), priding themselves on their realism and rationality.
You know nothing about Malaysia. You are an armchair dilettante, and an awful one. Your comments have been erratic and bizarre. As you are not native to Malaysia, doubtfully native to Earth, please leave analysis of Malaysia to Malaysians, past and present.
Thailand’s hospital-bound King Bhumibol Adulyadej is still being treated for kidney failure although an infection in his lung has eased, the palace said on Saturday (Oct 1), in the latest update on the 88-year-old’s ailing health.
Post-colonial injuries? Is Yulius still blaming others for current problems?
All modern Indonesians were born long after the Dutch left in 1942.
Is that a man wearing a ladies earring in the photo of demonstrators against LGBT?
Not at all Neptunian. I know Malaysia quite well. I’ve just been re-reading the brilliant autobiography of that great British journalist Jon Snow. He reported the murderous hostility by ethnic Malays to predominantly ethnic Chinese Vietnamese boat people landing on the beach of a Malay village. He himself was severely beaten. The ethnic Malay fear of invasion has a very long history. And from their point of view, Islam has given them both the ideological and organisational strength to resist the devastation visited upon, eg., Australia’s Aborigines through FORCED INTER-MARRIAGE, alcohol, etc.
Indonesia is a democratic country by all reports and according to survey data from Pew Research something on the order of 93% of Indonesians reject homosexuality.
This article ignores the possibility that the “political freedom” of the vast majority of Indonesians may actually be finding expression in these anti-LGBT statements by their democratically elected representatives.
How is it that local democratic sovereignty always disappears from these discussions of whatever western “progressives” are celebrating themselves for most recently?
I suppose it must be that the “white man’s burden” is just as onerous and compelling as it has ever been.
When will Indonesians, these “half devil and half child” wards of western liberalism, ever learn, eh?
Facebook 
Twitter 
Soundcloud 
Youtube 
Rss
The US, Myanmar and the dragon in the background
It seems the Burmese do not care much about sanctions but international scholars are lawyering for them, of course, for their own political agendas. And by the way, shall we stop demonizing China? China is foolish in that it does not put in minimum standards for Chinese goods and investment to protect its reputation. But the fact that it’s foolish doesn’t mean it’s a demon. They do protect their interest like the USA does in a far larger scale.
Sure, lines are blurred at the border. Like any other country, China has multiple power players, not a single monolithic entity. Who’s supplying arms to the Was? Official government? Yunnan government? Or just local businessmen trying to make some money with tacit approval from local officials? Where is the evidence that it’s an official Chinese policy? There is none. China isn’t good and works for self-interest, just like any other country. But it’s not a devil.
What the so-called experts are saying is “protectionism doesn’t work.” “You can survive without trade in the 21st century.” Well, you may look at Haiti. They can’t even grow their own food today. Not necessarily the case before Clinton’s free trade agenda set in. Now, with even talks about importing chicken from Australia, don’t be surprised if Myanmar suffers the same fate as Haiti.
I’m not saying we should be better closed off. But definitely, we do not need to beg Americans to supply them with cheap clothing made from Burmese slave-like labor or jewels mined from hellish working conditions. Even if export-led growth is the best alternative, neither Korea nor China become what they are today by following free trade agenda. The best examples of “free trade works” are second-rate economies. Myanmar will not be a second-rate country.
The weakness of the Thai royalists
Wasteful?
A rise in anti-Chinese rhetoric
And when Sino-Thais were once again free to open Chinese schools in Thailand they regained control and unsealed their fate.
The history of Chinese immigration going back hundreds of years in Thailand makes for fascinating reading.
I suggest you try some.
The US, Myanmar and the dragon in the background
NO, DASSK rightly got tired of hearing Susan Rice and Samantha Power drone endlessly on about ‘human rights’ and the faux ‘Rohingya’ issue.
Myanmar cannot possibly stabilize and carry out fair negotiations with anyone. As China is seen as the quick fix, and they have been in Myanmar a long time, it is no surprise that their conduct, while totally selfish, works. This accounts for poor US-Myanmar relations. In no way defending China or Russia whatsoever, they do not drone on about (illegal) Bangladeshi Muslims in Myanmar. They don’t care. That is also not to Myanmar’s long term benefit. However, if and until the illegal Bangladeshi migrants are deported back to Sheikh Hasina Wajed and her terrorist nation (where Hindus are routinely massacred), China’s fast talk will remain successful as will the trade deals that ensue.
The weakness of the Thai royalists
So what will VichaiN – and other coup apologists here – now say about the exorbitant expense of General Prawit’s trip to Hawaii ? Did n’t Prawit overthrow Yingluck’s democratically elected government, to stop such massive over expenditure, as thus ?
How human rights can win Duterte’s war
Whatever the precise translation matadunia – Duterte was being not only insulting but downright fascist racist to the President of the United States. Obama’s white mother had the courage to cross racial lines, because of love, at a time of great prejudice. The Catholic Church loves people of all races and colours. Duterte does n’t. He’s gone beyond the pale.
The weakness of the Thai royalists
So what do YOU predict will happen Michael Wilson ?
A rise in anti-Chinese rhetoric
I was in Kuala Lumpur in the summer 1970 as an exchange student from Hong Kong. There was a law prohibiting public assembly which meant more than three people ( I was told) and we could not talk about racial issues in public. What happened was that Malaysian Chinese took me on motorcycle rides and only two of us and we talked about racial issues.
A rise in anti-Chinese rhetoric
Why only natives to Malaysia can comment? You are not a schizophrenic, can you talk about mental illness? This kind of ethnocentrism is despicable. Speech is open to all, natives or aliens.
A taxing problem
No no no. Neither “directness” nor “transparency” will solve the problem. And there is a much easier way with guaranteed effectiveness.
What’s the easiest way to solve the problem? Simple. Making everyone’s tax contribution public. There should a searchable, ranked, database website dedicated to how much tax an individual paid. Searchable by anyone. Why would we do that?
Firstly, paying tax will then come to associate with status. Why people buy expensive cars ? For status. (google handicap’s principle). If we have a website dedicated to all taxes an individual pays, then, the first thing people would do before going on a date is to search her partner’s tax, to gather information about his financial status. No need expensive clothing. Just pay tax!
Secondly, there would be “public policing.” If an rich guy has all luxuries but absent in tax record, a concerned citizen would find out. This will relieve all burden associated with policing all tax incomes. Believe me, Myanmar can increase its revenue by two folds in a few years just by doing creating that database.
Ok ok. Don’t talk about privacy. In the US, people can search tons of public records including court cases, where you lived, who is your family members etc. So a database where people can search anyone’s tax would hardly be a problem.
A rise in anti-Chinese rhetoric
When the Thai Chinese were ordered to close down their schools and stop speaking their own languages (be it Teochew, Hailam, Cantonese or else) or face expulsion, their fate was sealed. Period.
The weakness of the Thai royalists
For their own sake, not his, they’ll probably keep him alive till he’s in worse shape than Lenin.
The weakness of the Thai royalists
Do you really think about the things you say Chris? “Anything can happen”? Really”
Go back and read this hilarious collection, beginning with the article, but especially the comments, to see just how much most commentators on the Thai situation are doing nothing more nor less than displaying their wish-fulfillment fantasies and dressing them up as “analysis/prognostication”.
And most of these folks would gladly rag on Thais for using the services of mor doo (either before or after suicide), priding themselves on their realism and rationality.
Hilarious.
A rise in anti-Chinese rhetoric
Beale,
You know nothing about Malaysia. You are an armchair dilettante, and an awful one. Your comments have been erratic and bizarre. As you are not native to Malaysia, doubtfully native to Earth, please leave analysis of Malaysia to Malaysians, past and present.
The weakness of the Thai royalists
Thailand’s hospital-bound King Bhumibol Adulyadej is still being treated for kidney failure although an infection in his lung has eased, the palace said on Saturday (Oct 1), in the latest update on the 88-year-old’s ailing health.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/ailing-thai-king-s-lung-infection-eases-kidneys-still-failing/3173140.html
A rise in anti-Chinese rhetoric
How to assimilate without losing one’s foreign identity is a struggle as long as human history. Don’t expect a quick and ready answer.
The war on homosexuality in Indonesia
Post-colonial injuries? Is Yulius still blaming others for current problems?
All modern Indonesians were born long after the Dutch left in 1942.
Is that a man wearing a ladies earring in the photo of demonstrators against LGBT?
The weakness of the Thai royalists
Thailand’s earthquake event is now very near. After which, anything can happen.
A rise in anti-Chinese rhetoric
Not at all Neptunian. I know Malaysia quite well. I’ve just been re-reading the brilliant autobiography of that great British journalist Jon Snow. He reported the murderous hostility by ethnic Malays to predominantly ethnic Chinese Vietnamese boat people landing on the beach of a Malay village. He himself was severely beaten. The ethnic Malay fear of invasion has a very long history. And from their point of view, Islam has given them both the ideological and organisational strength to resist the devastation visited upon, eg., Australia’s Aborigines through FORCED INTER-MARRIAGE, alcohol, etc.
The war on homosexuality in Indonesia
Indonesia is a democratic country by all reports and according to survey data from Pew Research something on the order of 93% of Indonesians reject homosexuality.
This article ignores the possibility that the “political freedom” of the vast majority of Indonesians may actually be finding expression in these anti-LGBT statements by their democratically elected representatives.
How is it that local democratic sovereignty always disappears from these discussions of whatever western “progressives” are celebrating themselves for most recently?
I suppose it must be that the “white man’s burden” is just as onerous and compelling as it has ever been.
When will Indonesians, these “half devil and half child” wards of western liberalism, ever learn, eh?