There is no necessity that Cambodia should evolve or develop into a liberal democracy. It has never been liberal and follows its nationalist and ‘Buddhist Socialist’ political imaginations and cultures.Moral condemnation does get us far in understanding the complexity.
A most reasonable article somewhat stained by some seemingly anti-colonial sentiments that are rather mean-minded and unnecessary. It could be said that the British and the Dutch (and indeed the French in Cambodia: ref Angkor Wat) showed much more interest in preserving the cultural, religious and architectural heritage of these countries than did the locals. Why denigrate those efforts as if they were some sort of strategy to impose stricter colonial rule. Perhaps the Europeans ‘provided managerial authority) because they could and were competent, and the local Javanese did not because they could not. I find Susie Protschky’s comments to be sour history.
Australia continually meets the call for assistance in helping developing nations achieve their security objectives. In the late Eighties, Australia’s standing and good relationships were arguably adversely affected by the actions of Dr Mahatir, in the South East Asian region. In actively recognising the contribution of Australian Army Rifle Company Butterworth troops, it can be argued that Australia acted effectively to contribute to the security of Malaysia. This would be a positive step to assist in current efforts to rebuild relationships with Malaysia.
I don’t recall Gareth Evans showing anything like the same concern for East Timor human rights and democracy, or opposition to dictatorship
(eg. of Indonesia’s President Suharto), when Gareth was Australia’s Foreign Minister.
[…] Gareth Evans on confronting Hun Sen On 9 March, the ANU played host to Cambodia on the Brink, a public conference at which scholars, activists, and political leaders assessed where Cambodian politics are headed after Hun Sen’s recent crackdown. — New Mandala […]
For prominent conscientious Cambodians the situation Gareth Evans describes is the ruination of their lifetime’s work. For the 20 years I have been involved in Cambodia there was always hope. Every setback – and there were far too many – seemed to have an opportunity just around the corner to maintain that hope. This is not the case with the current crackdown. It was obvious to me in 2014 that the ruling CPP party had decided as it could not win elections fairly then it had no choice but to “detect, disrupt and destroy” all forms of opposition – the main CNRP political party; all branches of Civil Society (NGOs, Trade Unions, independent Press & Media) and latterly even foreigners who have contributed to the country’s development and recovery that it claims as solely its achievement. http://anorthumbrianabroad.blogspot.co.uk/2018/02/your-mission-is-over-you-go.html
Hi Nick, very good piece and this “National races’ or taingyintha” is the political fault line not just for Rohingya but also for other ethnic minority. State sanctioned and institutionalised national racial line enforced which ethnic minority could be marginalised, ignore and discriminate. If you are not one of the national races, you are alien and unwelcome. As you put it rightly, some one may be a citizen of Myanmar, but it can not be equate with national races. This means that even if Rohingya are a citizen of Myanmar, they will still face substantial discrimination by Burmese majority at every turn, in education, social services, health care and many other state provided services. In 2001, I came down from frontier Chin state to Rangoon. Several of my friends and I caught train on Mandalay to Rangoon and I was taken aback and felt horrible when I saw Burmese public treatment of color in this case Rohingya. They just call them “gala” the term is insulting to me. They are human being. It is the same in Rangoon metropolitan bus rides.
Some Chinese and Indians may hold Myanmar citizenship, but they will always be second class citizen never ever equate to National race.
Thank for the article.
[…] raped, tortured and killed in what Human Rights Watch has declared as “ethnic cleansing” by the Buddhist nationalist-influenced security forces of the government. The Burmese leader and Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi has been […]
[…] jail term and whipping. A fatwa that exists since 1983 prohibits sex change operations, which are understood as unnatural modifications to the human body. The Ministry of Islamic Development or JAKIM […]
I am so sorry I am only seeing this now. Joel was my tutor at UCL in 79/80 and he was that exceptionally rare teacher who really taught me me how to think. I was lucky to have been referred to him by my undergrad tutor at the Sorbonne. It was an experience that has made a real difference in my life to this day. I shall remember him often.
[…] Linking theory and practice The Role of Mutual Respect in Improving Cambodia-Thailand Relations Cambodian youth: shaping relations with Vietnam ASEAN at 50: Challenges and Opportunities for Cambodia MA thesis: Communicative Language Teaching […]
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Lee Morgenbesser on Hun Sen
Great discussion. Well done New Mandala.
Brunei’s stateless left in a state of confusion
[…] are over 20,000 stateless people living in Brunei. Despite having lived the kingdom for generations, many ethnic Chinese residents are denied […]
From battlefield to marketplace on the Thai–Myanmar border
CBO = “Community-based organisation”
From battlefield to marketplace on the Thai–Myanmar border
What’s “CBO”
Gareth Evans on confronting Hun Sen
There is no necessity that Cambodia should evolve or develop into a liberal democracy. It has never been liberal and follows its nationalist and ‘Buddhist Socialist’ political imaginations and cultures.Moral condemnation does get us far in understanding the complexity.
Performing Heritage (or, Making Temples Great Again)
A most reasonable article somewhat stained by some seemingly anti-colonial sentiments that are rather mean-minded and unnecessary. It could be said that the British and the Dutch (and indeed the French in Cambodia: ref Angkor Wat) showed much more interest in preserving the cultural, religious and architectural heritage of these countries than did the locals. Why denigrate those efforts as if they were some sort of strategy to impose stricter colonial rule. Perhaps the Europeans ‘provided managerial authority) because they could and were competent, and the local Javanese did not because they could not. I find Susie Protschky’s comments to be sour history.
Singapore’s mystifying political succession
[…] http://www.newmandala.org/singapores-mystifying-political-succession/ […]
Australia-Malaysia relations
Australia continually meets the call for assistance in helping developing nations achieve their security objectives. In the late Eighties, Australia’s standing and good relationships were arguably adversely affected by the actions of Dr Mahatir, in the South East Asian region. In actively recognising the contribution of Australian Army Rifle Company Butterworth troops, it can be argued that Australia acted effectively to contribute to the security of Malaysia. This would be a positive step to assist in current efforts to rebuild relationships with Malaysia.
Gareth Evans on confronting Hun Sen
I don’t recall Gareth Evans showing anything like the same concern for East Timor human rights and democracy, or opposition to dictatorship
(eg. of Indonesia’s President Suharto), when Gareth was Australia’s Foreign Minister.
Gareth Evans on confronting Hun Sen
[…] – new mandala: Gareth Evans on confronting Hun Sen […]
Gareth Evans on confronting Hun Sen
[…] Gareth Evans on confronting Hun Sen On 9 March, the ANU played host to Cambodia on the Brink, a public conference at which scholars, activists, and political leaders assessed where Cambodian politics are headed after Hun Sen’s recent crackdown. — New Mandala […]
Gareth Evans on confronting Hun Sen
For prominent conscientious Cambodians the situation Gareth Evans describes is the ruination of their lifetime’s work. For the 20 years I have been involved in Cambodia there was always hope. Every setback – and there were far too many – seemed to have an opportunity just around the corner to maintain that hope. This is not the case with the current crackdown. It was obvious to me in 2014 that the ruling CPP party had decided as it could not win elections fairly then it had no choice but to “detect, disrupt and destroy” all forms of opposition – the main CNRP political party; all branches of Civil Society (NGOs, Trade Unions, independent Press & Media) and latterly even foreigners who have contributed to the country’s development and recovery that it claims as solely its achievement. http://anorthumbrianabroad.blogspot.co.uk/2018/02/your-mission-is-over-you-go.html
How Myanmar’s ‘national races’ trumped citizenship
Hi Nick, very good piece and this “National races’ or taingyintha” is the political fault line not just for Rohingya but also for other ethnic minority. State sanctioned and institutionalised national racial line enforced which ethnic minority could be marginalised, ignore and discriminate. If you are not one of the national races, you are alien and unwelcome. As you put it rightly, some one may be a citizen of Myanmar, but it can not be equate with national races. This means that even if Rohingya are a citizen of Myanmar, they will still face substantial discrimination by Burmese majority at every turn, in education, social services, health care and many other state provided services. In 2001, I came down from frontier Chin state to Rangoon. Several of my friends and I caught train on Mandalay to Rangoon and I was taken aback and felt horrible when I saw Burmese public treatment of color in this case Rohingya. They just call them “gala” the term is insulting to me. They are human being. It is the same in Rangoon metropolitan bus rides.
Some Chinese and Indians may hold Myanmar citizenship, but they will always be second class citizen never ever equate to National race.
Thank for the article.
The threat of Myanmar’s extremist monks
[…] raped, tortured and killed in what Human Rights Watch has declared as “ethnic cleansing” by the Buddhist nationalist-influenced security forces of the government. The Burmese leader and Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi has been […]
Tackling sex re-assignment surgery in Malaysia
[…] jail term and whipping. A fatwa that exists since 1983 prohibits sex change operations, which are understood as unnatural modifications to the human body. The Ministry of Islamic Development or JAKIM […]
Confronting ‘Chinese privilege’ in Singapore
[…] Hydar Saharudin. 2016. Confronting ‘Chinese privilege’ in Singapore. New Mandala, http://www.newmandala.org/brief-history-chinese-privilege-singapore/. […]
Indonesia’s Constitutional Court and public opinion
[…] Nardi, Indonesia’s Constitutional Court and Public Opinion, New […]
Remembering Professor Joel S. Kahn
I am so sorry I am only seeing this now. Joel was my tutor at UCL in 79/80 and he was that exceptionally rare teacher who really taught me me how to think. I was lucky to have been referred to him by my undergrad tutor at the Sorbonne. It was an experience that has made a real difference in my life to this day. I shall remember him often.
Cambodian youth: shaping relations with Vietnam
[…] Linking theory and practice The Role of Mutual Respect in Improving Cambodia-Thailand Relations Cambodian youth: shaping relations with Vietnam ASEAN at 50: Challenges and Opportunities for Cambodia MA thesis: Communicative Language Teaching […]
Indonesia’s Constitutional Court and public opinion
As a once-upon-a-time Americanist, I’m reminded of the “Switch in Time that Saved Nine”
https://www.sporcle.com/blog/2017/05/switch-in-time-that-saved-nine/
A more recent analysis is
https://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2015/07/06/is-the-supreme-court-too-powerful/the-supreme-court-is-most-powerful-when-it-follows-public-opinion