The ones who really deserve to be shot, without due process (to hell with constitutional rights) are the big time narco lords — usually big politicians, military generals and high ranking police officers.
This piece is missing an essential link: not one word about Suthep Thaungsuban’s PDRC, which is why the military cannot arrest the real culpits (and given the unmentionable who is playing the pipe for these thugs to act). This is typical of PDRC’s startegy as we saw some years earlier, negotiating power with the regime; readers need to look for answers to the Prem/Surayaud faction, and then ask who has the capacity and the reason? No, the culprits are not to be found among continually harrassed, repressed red interests, though the fascistic state is using the bombings as an excuse for wide-scale arrests and persecution of pro-democracy individuals (the latest, 17 persons, many in their sixties/seventies from across the country). It should be remembered that these kind of small scale terrorist acts can be readily contracted out. It would not be hard to find out who was behind the bombings (which is why smart[er] police getting too close, suddenly get trasferred by their military-police bosses). I’ll wager a dollar to a doughnut that the real culprits will never be identified…
Another attempt which fails to tell Thais what to do now. For those voting to accept the extra question, monitor closely what they are about to do with the draft. In general, Thais should continue to observe further developments closely and see for themselves how their decision is affecting the country and whether they can or should do something about it.
This is a new breed of leaders that the world needs , people whose priority is in doing the right things and being Morally Correct rather then Politically Correct. Someone that believes that ” Prevention is Better Then trying to find a cure” and where Protection of the Innocent is a Priority to Human Rights for Criminals. This is Democracy in its best form as he was voted in by the people and for the people and he made his agenda known while he was running for elections.
Thaksin Shinawatra should absolutely return to Thailand, I agree Chris L. because he has nothing to hide, he is NOT guilty of anything, he had never been corrupt, and he was the most honest and dedicated Prime Minister that Thailand was so lucky to have had. A champion of Thai democracy and a champion of the Thai poor, please come back Thaksin . . .
The Thai government should look to history and countries elsewhere to see how rebellions were amicably put away with minimum violence and relative peace.
No opposition allowed , campaigning for the NO vote was illegal , overseas citizens excluded from the polls , and a complete lack of information to allow an informed decision by the general population casts doubt on the validity . In addition there are no detailed results released .
Thailand may or may not be the hot-bed for breeding terrorism and exporting it to other countries. When religion, ethnic issues and discontent get mixed together, they provide the explosives not easy to temper with. The military government may have to have a lot of headaches and pain.
I have Iwan. I am not running for office in Indonesia. You seemed to miss the point. Almost every Indonesian can claim minority or special status and that very same Indonesian, with some notable exceptions-Jokowi being one I think- can also claim massive corruption or human rights abuses. I can just as easily ask you to write a comment. I have written about 40 in the last two years, of which say 60-65 % have been published, which (fair or not fair) does get my point across. Engaging in the Indonesian National Pastime of deflection and disingenuousness does not help.
Leif,
You are right that a study this short, and by someone with few language skills and not much knowledge about the situation in the area more generally, should not be taken as more than something to start a conversation. The problem is that this study was taken much more seriously than that, and it had the effect of justifying what is now well-known to have been a really destructive project. Even the project developers now acknowledge that there were a lot of serious impacts that were not initially anticipated, although in my view they should have been. It would have been reasonable to have suggested some possible ideas for future consideration, but the language in the report was much more authoritative and confident than should have been the case for an anthropologist. Ultimately, I believe that the report was not written in a responsible way. There was enough known at the time (I was living in Laos at the time) to have warranted much more caution on the part of the author. As academics, we need to take the implicit authority granted to us much more seriously. When connected with development projects that have the potential to change thousands of lives in very serious ways, we need be especially cautious. The author of this report was not.
It’s almost 10 years since Thaksin was removed by the coup in 2006. No corruption has yet been found. During his years the economy was growing fast. Poverty decreased and 100% of the population got access to free health care. Despite this, the budget surpluses remained large and the national debt decreased from ~60% to ~40% of GDP. Corruption was going down according to Transparency International.
The war on drugs was bad, but there are little documentation available about what actually happened. Anyway, it had support from the people of Bangkok.
It’s amazing how much damage a political mud campaign can do to a person.
I am still scratching my head what Duterte could gain by championing Ferdinand Marcos and wanting to give Marcos a “hero’s” burial . . . except maybe the Marcos family had bribed Duterte with tons of pesos/dollars.
[…] In 2014, for example, Jokowi outsourced important campaign tasks from party networks and clientelistic success teams to so-called volunteers (relawan). The volunteers added previously unseen forms of collective action to the traditional campaign repertoire of Indonesian elections. While parties became increasingly sidelined during these campaigns, volunteer activism morphed into broad electoral movements that blended elements of social movements “from below” with features of political movements strategically created “from above”. These movements not only shaped the campaigns through their creativity and enthusiasm but also emerged as important new avenues for fundraising. […]
I would be very careful to discuss any meaning and reason why people vote for or against the draft. The result has surprised most, partly because some provinces voted in favour, partly because some voted against. One reason might be that the people deceided based on their own opinions, neither due to the propaganda from the bureaucracy and military, nor from the statements of the politicians and activists. Perhaps people were simply fed up with the constitution writing etc. and wanted to have clearer perspectives. Some empirical research would be interesting.
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Duterte a law unto himself
The ones who really deserve to be shot, without due process (to hell with constitutional rights) are the big time narco lords — usually big politicians, military generals and high ranking police officers.
A new breed of terror in Thailand
This piece is missing an essential link: not one word about Suthep Thaungsuban’s PDRC, which is why the military cannot arrest the real culpits (and given the unmentionable who is playing the pipe for these thugs to act). This is typical of PDRC’s startegy as we saw some years earlier, negotiating power with the regime; readers need to look for answers to the Prem/Surayaud faction, and then ask who has the capacity and the reason? No, the culprits are not to be found among continually harrassed, repressed red interests, though the fascistic state is using the bombings as an excuse for wide-scale arrests and persecution of pro-democracy individuals (the latest, 17 persons, many in their sixties/seventies from across the country). It should be remembered that these kind of small scale terrorist acts can be readily contracted out. It would not be hard to find out who was behind the bombings (which is why smart[er] police getting too close, suddenly get trasferred by their military-police bosses). I’ll wager a dollar to a doughnut that the real culprits will never be identified…
A vague vote and uncertain future
Another attempt which fails to tell Thais what to do now. For those voting to accept the extra question, monitor closely what they are about to do with the draft. In general, Thais should continue to observe further developments closely and see for themselves how their decision is affecting the country and whether they can or should do something about it.
Duterte a law unto himself
This is a new breed of leaders that the world needs , people whose priority is in doing the right things and being Morally Correct rather then Politically Correct. Someone that believes that ” Prevention is Better Then trying to find a cure” and where Protection of the Innocent is a Priority to Human Rights for Criminals. This is Democracy in its best form as he was voted in by the people and for the people and he made his agenda known while he was running for elections.
A vague vote and uncertain future
Thaksin Shinawatra should absolutely return to Thailand, I agree Chris L. because he has nothing to hide, he is NOT guilty of anything, he had never been corrupt, and he was the most honest and dedicated Prime Minister that Thailand was so lucky to have had. A champion of Thai democracy and a champion of the Thai poor, please come back Thaksin . . .
I really mean it ….. (chuckle)
A new breed of terror in Thailand
The Thai government should look to history and countries elsewhere to see how rebellions were amicably put away with minimum violence and relative peace.
A vague vote and uncertain future
No opposition allowed , campaigning for the NO vote was illegal , overseas citizens excluded from the polls , and a complete lack of information to allow an informed decision by the general population casts doubt on the validity . In addition there are no detailed results released .
A new breed of terror in Thailand
yes , despite the Junta’s best efforts to direct attention elsewhere , the Southern Violence is gaining attention as the source .
A new breed of terror in Thailand
Thailand may or may not be the hot-bed for breeding terrorism and exporting it to other countries. When religion, ethnic issues and discontent get mixed together, they provide the explosives not easy to temper with. The military government may have to have a lot of headaches and pain.
A new breed of terror in Thailand
My my – the “southern insurgents” DO seem to be extending their reach a VERY, very long way !!http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/crime/1065137/three-bomb-like-devices-found-in-chachoengsao
Wiranto: war criminal or political moderate?
I have Iwan. I am not running for office in Indonesia. You seemed to miss the point. Almost every Indonesian can claim minority or special status and that very same Indonesian, with some notable exceptions-Jokowi being one I think- can also claim massive corruption or human rights abuses. I can just as easily ask you to write a comment. I have written about 40 in the last two years, of which say 60-65 % have been published, which (fair or not fair) does get my point across. Engaging in the Indonesian National Pastime of deflection and disingenuousness does not help.
Anthropology and the Lao hydropower industry
Leif,
You are right that a study this short, and by someone with few language skills and not much knowledge about the situation in the area more generally, should not be taken as more than something to start a conversation. The problem is that this study was taken much more seriously than that, and it had the effect of justifying what is now well-known to have been a really destructive project. Even the project developers now acknowledge that there were a lot of serious impacts that were not initially anticipated, although in my view they should have been. It would have been reasonable to have suggested some possible ideas for future consideration, but the language in the report was much more authoritative and confident than should have been the case for an anthropologist. Ultimately, I believe that the report was not written in a responsible way. There was enough known at the time (I was living in Laos at the time) to have warranted much more caution on the part of the author. As academics, we need to take the implicit authority granted to us much more seriously. When connected with development projects that have the potential to change thousands of lives in very serious ways, we need be especially cautious. The author of this report was not.
A vague vote and uncertain future
It’s almost 10 years since Thaksin was removed by the coup in 2006. No corruption has yet been found. During his years the economy was growing fast. Poverty decreased and 100% of the population got access to free health care. Despite this, the budget surpluses remained large and the national debt decreased from ~60% to ~40% of GDP. Corruption was going down according to Transparency International.
The war on drugs was bad, but there are little documentation available about what actually happened. Anyway, it had support from the people of Bangkok.
It’s amazing how much damage a political mud campaign can do to a person.
Duterte a law unto himself
I am still scratching my head what Duterte could gain by championing Ferdinand Marcos and wanting to give Marcos a “hero’s” burial . . . except maybe the Marcos family had bribed Duterte with tons of pesos/dollars.
Wiranto: war criminal or political moderate?
You seem to have all the answers. What would you do if you were in Wiranto position? Go to New Mandala and a write a post
Wiranto: war criminal or political moderate?
General Benny Moerdani: War Criminal or religious minority ? Let’s come up with all 5 billion permutations of whom is what in Indonesia.
Malaysia-US and Malaysia-China relations
you have not given the answer you have only tell about the relations of Malaysia with china and USA you should tell that who has a stronger bond .
A vague vote and uncertain future
Yes, hrk, I heartily agree,
It’s almost as if your take on democracy involves a certain amount of respect for and trust in the “demos”.
How unusual on NM!
Campaign finance, strategy and accountability
[…] In 2014, for example, Jokowi outsourced important campaign tasks from party networks and clientelistic success teams to so-called volunteers (relawan). The volunteers added previously unseen forms of collective action to the traditional campaign repertoire of Indonesian elections. While parties became increasingly sidelined during these campaigns, volunteer activism morphed into broad electoral movements that blended elements of social movements “from below” with features of political movements strategically created “from above”. These movements not only shaped the campaigns through their creativity and enthusiasm but also emerged as important new avenues for fundraising. […]
A vague vote and uncertain future
I would be very careful to discuss any meaning and reason why people vote for or against the draft. The result has surprised most, partly because some provinces voted in favour, partly because some voted against. One reason might be that the people deceided based on their own opinions, neither due to the propaganda from the bureaucracy and military, nor from the statements of the politicians and activists. Perhaps people were simply fed up with the constitution writing etc. and wanted to have clearer perspectives. Some empirical research would be interesting.