There is no Crown Prince in Bhutan at this moment. We have the 5th King of Bhutan His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuk.
Long live HM the 4th and 5th Kings of Bhutan.
The “white knight” theory is particularly appropriate for Thai intellectuals (OK, at least the posters on this website): a concept that, along with the Holy Grail belongs in the early middle ages, reinvented for the 21st century. Whereas I thought Thailand was only 300 years behind the developed world, nganadit and friends want Thailand to go back 800 years. Well, what can we say, but another advertisement for the wisdom gained from a Thai university education. You guys obviously missed Monty Python.
Another contribution to the TLC list from Mike Montesano:
Biff,
You are very kind. Actually, my understanding of Bunchu is not nearly so thorough as I should like. For now, my focus remains on his role in energizing the BAAC, as this relates very directly to changes in commercial banking in provincial Thailand, one of my main research interests. Certainly, the party line on the BAAC\’s borrowers groups always implied a sense of \”ownership\” … A good part of this story was actually pretty well documented some two decades ago in a large project
on rural credit undertaken at TDRI and Thammast with the leadership of Ammar Siamwalla, Niphon Phuaphongsakon, Choemsak Pinthong, and Prayong Nettayarak. And I am working on a book chapter that revisits the story. For me, the fascinating part of it all in the present context is that, Bunchu\’s epic role in helping Chin Sophonphanit and Prasit Kanchanawat turn the Bangkok Bank into the single greatest institution in post-1945 Thai capitalism notwithstanding, he–like Prasit–was an old-time (Hailam, I think!) leftist. In English, Kasian Tejapira touches on this in his book on Thai Communism. And the speeches cited in that bio of
Bunchu that I noted in my original response to Bob Albritton are, in this context, very impressive. With Thai progressives for some years now allergic to participation in party politics and with the resultant tragic concession of their natural constituency to the likes of Thaksin, figures like Bunchu, the late Bunsanong, and the Isan MPs that you discussed in your classic Cornell data paper of four decades ago really, really bear remembering today. And do keep us posted on work coming out of your 2005 return to Sarakham.
[…] Further to our recent story about land and displacement in Cambodia, an Australian ABC television report on the issue is available on Youtube. Thanks to Maylee for the link. […]
[…] My last post dealt with the rise and fall of the Mekong border ports in Chiang Khong. I mentioned that with changes in port regulation, there has been an emergence of a new type of local agent – the customs broker – working to facilitate the new regime of border trade. The role of these brokers seems to be increasing as more regulations are implemented. […]
I don’t read Thongchai as conflicted. You can — indeed you have to — talk about Thaksin’s outrages and still reject the coup. Reading Thongchai’s writings, there is no angst (that pitiful, fake angst of Sonthi Limthongkul) but anger. Also, Johpa, according to the U Wisconsin website, Thongchai’s Southeast Asian studies department invited handly to speak in September before the coup. That doesn’t sound like someone who doesn’t like the book. Maybe Thongchai just means it isn’t heavily connected to theory like his own books.
Khun Chang Khun Paen is great. It gives a rare glimpse of siamese life in early-mid Ayuddhya period (warfare with Chiangmai, before burmese entered the scene). Don’t the political incorrectness offend you though. The sensibilities of people are different in those days. it is what it is.
Most sensible people would be conflicted by the coup.
Of those who accept the coup, I am sure most wish Thaksin would have left in another way.
I wonder how many of those who are still against this coup, are conflicted by Thaksin?
Or do they just accept that because he was elected he could do what he wanted?
It would appear that Thongchai is as conflicted by the coup as are many Thais I meet, as if there is this national embarassment that nobody could find a way to remove the man who would not play by the rules, Thaksin, other than that most traditional of Thai ways, a Royally supported military coup. The angst is palpable whether talking to Thai friends, listening to Sondhi L talk, or even just reading Nicholas’s review of the recent Thongchai lecture.
Yes, the dig at the Handley book is a bit surprising. I am just over half way through the read, and the book is most definitely an academic tome. In my most humble opinion, if Handley is a former journalist then I strongly suspect he has some very frustrated Thai academics behind him using him as a ghostwriter for their own feelings. Regardless, the timing of his book against the background of the recent coup makes it required reading. Is it fate or insider information that gave Handley such fortuitous timing?
As for the Akha up north, they have long been on the bottom of the pecking order, even amongst, I am ashamed to say, their fellow highland groups. The BPP, and provincial governors, and just about everyone else have abused them for at least the past 25 years that I have had close friends, including Akha, up in the northern hills. I have seen their possesions and crops confiscated by neighboring village militias. And I have seen them being incorrectly blamed for all sorts woes ranging from deforestation to the shootings that used to occur to the tourists on the long-tail boats going down the Kok River back in the 1980s. (It was a Lisu who was actually involved in one “accidental” death as he told me over Thai whiskey: “The dumb Farang stood up to take a picture when I only wanted to scare the boatman over to the river bank with a few gunshots.”
Also note that the preferred language for references in the English language Wikipedia is english. Non english references can be used, but are frowned upon.
And don’t bother looking at the Thai language Wikipedia – most articles I’ve seen are a mess. Too many kids writing articles on anime characters and too little interest in writing solid referenced articles on politics, science, and history. Or compare this article with this one.
During these dark days for Thai academia, when university rectors and professors accept lucratively paid positions in rubber-stamp legislative councils appointed by military juntas, “public intellectuals” write columns legitimizing dictatorships, and political scientists airbrush the monarchy out of Thailand’s political history, occasionally there are shafts of light. Check out this penetrating analysis of the “October Generation’s” betrayal of their ideals by Thammasat economist, Phichit Likhitkitsombun, posted on Prachatai (http://www.prachatai.com/05web/th/home/page2.php?mod=mod_ptcms&ContentID=6252&SystemModuleKey=HilightNews&System_Session_Language=Thai), which in a short time has become the most stimulating website for informed discussion of the coup and the royalist regime.
It is well worth a read by fans of New Mandala, with a couple of exceptions: Vichai, who, we know, only needs his information from the 8 o’clock royal news and TIME magazine; and nganadit, who admits to being too lazy to read. It’s a pity, because Likhit gives good descriptions of these characters’ worldview.
By the way, if ever there was an argument for the de-bureaucratization (р╕нр╕нр╕Бр╕Щр╕нр╕Бр╕гр╕░р╕Ър╕Ъ) of Thai universities, currently being resisted tooth and nail by the academics, the response of the universities to the coup is a perfect reason.
Oh you disappoint me Patiwat, after such a promising start. When pushed to show some moral courage after being “lumped” into the anti-royalist corner along with the Republican bogeyman you fall back on the hoary, “I’m a Thai so don’t accuse me of disloyalty to my king”. Given the intellectual shallowness of Nganadit’s postings I am surprised you even feel the necessity to defend yourself. If you don’t have the courage to wear it you ought to get rid of that pretentious name.
[…] Don t be afraid to ask me anything, or to ask anything in Laos: there is nothing to be afraid of. He was happy to tell me these stories of reunification and reconciliation: the enemy had through this process become friend . … – more – […]
>Lots of people like to take the snapshot approach on an institution
>and ignore the historical context
Yes, that’s a problem. The sources for many topics of importance in contemporary Thai political economy may just not exist even in the Thai language.
I’ll have to take a day off work and rummage around Chula’s libraries a bit. Government intervention in agricultural markets like rice and sugar, for instance, is another topic I’d like to get a handle on.
Maybe I should wait for Republican to reply then I can respond to both Anon’s and Republican’s nonsense (once it comes) at the same time. Because I suspect Republican will be as ridiculous as Anon anyway.
[…] I did not see any bookshops even though Pakse is the second biggest city in Laos (I might be wrong here, perhaps Luangphrabang is the second biggest? Anyway, it is a big city.). There were, however, some books in the market in amongst … – more – […]
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Siam Rumoured: the Thongchai lecture in London
No, you misrepresent me. I didn’t denigrate your education as incomplete, I denigrated it as not having begun.
King Jigme in the Oxford story
There is no Crown Prince in Bhutan at this moment. We have the 5th King of Bhutan His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuk.
Long live HM the 4th and 5th Kings of Bhutan.
Against the grain?
The “white knight” theory is particularly appropriate for Thai intellectuals (OK, at least the posters on this website): a concept that, along with the Holy Grail belongs in the early middle ages, reinvented for the 21st century. Whereas I thought Thailand was only 300 years behind the developed world, nganadit and friends want Thailand to go back 800 years. Well, what can we say, but another advertisement for the wisdom gained from a Thai university education. You guys obviously missed Monty Python.
Siam Rumoured: the Thongchai lecture in London
Is that it Republican? You cannot articulate? And you go on to denigrate my education as incomplete because I won’t read one Handley fiction book.
But I already explained to you that Japanese comics are more entertaining, didn’t I?
You are malicious Republican truly malicious . . . and that is NOT fiction.
Pro-poor programs
Another contribution to the TLC list from Mike Montesano:
Biff,
You are very kind. Actually, my understanding of Bunchu is not nearly so thorough as I should like. For now, my focus remains on his role in energizing the BAAC, as this relates very directly to changes in commercial banking in provincial Thailand, one of my main research interests. Certainly, the party line on the BAAC\’s borrowers groups always implied a sense of \”ownership\” … A good part of this story was actually pretty well documented some two decades ago in a large project
on rural credit undertaken at TDRI and Thammast with the leadership of Ammar Siamwalla, Niphon Phuaphongsakon, Choemsak Pinthong, and Prayong Nettayarak. And I am working on a book chapter that revisits the story. For me, the fascinating part of it all in the present context is that, Bunchu\’s epic role in helping Chin Sophonphanit and Prasit Kanchanawat turn the Bangkok Bank into the single greatest institution in post-1945 Thai capitalism notwithstanding, he–like Prasit–was an old-time (Hailam, I think!) leftist. In English, Kasian Tejapira touches on this in his book on Thai Communism. And the speeches cited in that bio of
Bunchu that I noted in my original response to Bob Albritton are, in this context, very impressive. With Thai progressives for some years now allergic to participation in party politics and with the resultant tragic concession of their natural constituency to the likes of Thaksin, figures like Bunchu, the late Bunsanong, and the Isan MPs that you discussed in your classic Cornell data paper of four decades ago really, really bear remembering today. And do keep us posted on work coming out of your 2005 return to Sarakham.
Mike
Displaced
[…] Further to our recent story about land and displacement in Cambodia, an Australian ABC television report on the issue is available on Youtube. Thanks to Maylee for the link. […]
Golden Boat update 1
[…] Go to Golden Boat update 1, update 2 and update 3. […]
Golden Boat update 3: the rise of a new port
[…] My last post dealt with the rise and fall of the Mekong border ports in Chiang Khong. I mentioned that with changes in port regulation, there has been an emergence of a new type of local agent – the customs broker – working to facilitate the new regime of border trade. The role of these brokers seems to be increasing as more regulations are implemented. […]
Siam Rumoured: the Thongchai lecture in London
I don’t read Thongchai as conflicted. You can — indeed you have to — talk about Thaksin’s outrages and still reject the coup. Reading Thongchai’s writings, there is no angst (that pitiful, fake angst of Sonthi Limthongkul) but anger. Also, Johpa, according to the U Wisconsin website, Thongchai’s Southeast Asian studies department invited handly to speak in September before the coup. That doesn’t sound like someone who doesn’t like the book. Maybe Thongchai just means it isn’t heavily connected to theory like his own books.
“A classic love triangle”
Khun Chang Khun Paen is great. It gives a rare glimpse of siamese life in early-mid Ayuddhya period (warfare with Chiangmai, before burmese entered the scene). Don’t the political incorrectness offend you though. The sensibilities of people are different in those days. it is what it is.
Siam Rumoured: the Thongchai lecture in London
Most sensible people would be conflicted by the coup.
Of those who accept the coup, I am sure most wish Thaksin would have left in another way.
I wonder how many of those who are still against this coup, are conflicted by Thaksin?
Or do they just accept that because he was elected he could do what he wanted?
Siam Rumoured: the Thongchai lecture in London
It would appear that Thongchai is as conflicted by the coup as are many Thais I meet, as if there is this national embarassment that nobody could find a way to remove the man who would not play by the rules, Thaksin, other than that most traditional of Thai ways, a Royally supported military coup. The angst is palpable whether talking to Thai friends, listening to Sondhi L talk, or even just reading Nicholas’s review of the recent Thongchai lecture.
Yes, the dig at the Handley book is a bit surprising. I am just over half way through the read, and the book is most definitely an academic tome. In my most humble opinion, if Handley is a former journalist then I strongly suspect he has some very frustrated Thai academics behind him using him as a ghostwriter for their own feelings. Regardless, the timing of his book against the background of the recent coup makes it required reading. Is it fate or insider information that gave Handley such fortuitous timing?
As for the Akha up north, they have long been on the bottom of the pecking order, even amongst, I am ashamed to say, their fellow highland groups. The BPP, and provincial governors, and just about everyone else have abused them for at least the past 25 years that I have had close friends, including Akha, up in the northern hills. I have seen their possesions and crops confiscated by neighboring village militias. And I have seen them being incorrectly blamed for all sorts woes ranging from deforestation to the shootings that used to occur to the tourists on the long-tail boats going down the Kok River back in the 1980s. (It was a Lisu who was actually involved in one “accidental” death as he told me over Thai whiskey: “The dumb Farang stood up to take a picture when I only wanted to scare the boatman over to the river bank with a few gunshots.”
“A classic love triangle”
Also note that the preferred language for references in the English language Wikipedia is english. Non english references can be used, but are frowned upon.
And don’t bother looking at the Thai language Wikipedia – most articles I’ve seen are a mess. Too many kids writing articles on anime characters and too little interest in writing solid referenced articles on politics, science, and history. Or compare this article with this one.
Siam Rumoured: the Thongchai lecture in London
During these dark days for Thai academia, when university rectors and professors accept lucratively paid positions in rubber-stamp legislative councils appointed by military juntas, “public intellectuals” write columns legitimizing dictatorships, and political scientists airbrush the monarchy out of Thailand’s political history, occasionally there are shafts of light. Check out this penetrating analysis of the “October Generation’s” betrayal of their ideals by Thammasat economist, Phichit Likhitkitsombun, posted on Prachatai (http://www.prachatai.com/05web/th/home/page2.php?mod=mod_ptcms&ContentID=6252&SystemModuleKey=HilightNews&System_Session_Language=Thai), which in a short time has become the most stimulating website for informed discussion of the coup and the royalist regime.
It is well worth a read by fans of New Mandala, with a couple of exceptions: Vichai, who, we know, only needs his information from the 8 o’clock royal news and TIME magazine; and nganadit, who admits to being too lazy to read. It’s a pity, because Likhit gives good descriptions of these characters’ worldview.
By the way, if ever there was an argument for the de-bureaucratization (р╕нр╕нр╕Бр╕Щр╕нр╕Бр╕гр╕░р╕Ър╕Ъ) of Thai universities, currently being resisted tooth and nail by the academics, the response of the universities to the coup is a perfect reason.
Against the grain?
Oh you disappoint me Patiwat, after such a promising start. When pushed to show some moral courage after being “lumped” into the anti-royalist corner along with the Republican bogeyman you fall back on the hoary, “I’m a Thai so don’t accuse me of disloyalty to my king”. Given the intellectual shallowness of Nganadit’s postings I am surprised you even feel the necessity to defend yourself. If you don’t have the courage to wear it you ought to get rid of that pretentious name.
Siam Rumoured: the Thongchai lecture in London
You don’t want to be educated Vichai. If you did you would read Handley.
Seminar: tool of oppression or reunification?
[…] Don t be afraid to ask me anything, or to ask anything in Laos: there is nothing to be afraid of. He was happy to tell me these stories of reunification and reconciliation: the enemy had through this process become friend . … – more – […]
“A classic love triangle”
>Lots of people like to take the snapshot approach on an institution
>and ignore the historical context
Yes, that’s a problem. The sources for many topics of importance in contemporary Thai political economy may just not exist even in the Thai language.
I’ll have to take a day off work and rummage around Chula’s libraries a bit. Government intervention in agricultural markets like rice and sugar, for instance, is another topic I’d like to get a handle on.
Thanks for your feedback.
Siam Rumoured: the Thongchai lecture in London
Maybe I should wait for Republican to reply then I can respond to both Anon’s and Republican’s nonsense (once it comes) at the same time. Because I suspect Republican will be as ridiculous as Anon anyway.
Khon Lao don’t like reading?
[…] I did not see any bookshops even though Pakse is the second biggest city in Laos (I might be wrong here, perhaps Luangphrabang is the second biggest? Anyway, it is a big city.). There were, however, some books in the market in amongst … – more – […]