Thank you for this insightful article! One of the best contributions to that topic since it concerns the economic factors often not taken into account. Whereas many only highlight the issue of pluralism vs. reactionary Islamism, issues like elite politics and contradictions within Indonesian capitalism fall short.
The aust media have framed this misleadingly. Do Bali, manado, Ntt, Papua elect muslim governors? Nope. What hypocrisy. Manado at a pinch may elect a chinese christian, the others wouldnt. Bali elect a muslim governor? Would pdip even dare to put one up as a candidate? Oh jeez don’t make me laugh.
Unlike the recent jakarta election these non muslim majority provinces don’t need overt anti Muslim campaigns. The systemic sectarianism is all handled quietly, implicitly.
Now, let’s see Bali take the high moral ground and elect a Muslim governor.
How stupid is pdip. They could have run horses for courses, chosen a Muslim instead of ahok and would probably have won. Instead they’ve just handed prabowo the presidency. Stupid deserves to lose.
On 19 April 2017, Pol Gen Srivara Ransibrahmanakul, the Deputy chief of the Royal Thai Police (RTP), revealed that the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) filed a complaint against Watana Muangsook, a politician from Pheu Thai Party, for breaching the Computer Crime Act.
The TCSD accused him of posting false information on Facebook that the 1932 Revolution plaque is a ‘national heritage’ in order to call for people to demand its return, adding that the post might also incite chaos.
No, the REAL issue has not changed – it’s all about jockeying for power and influence (and hence increased affluence) amongst the same small elite that has been there since the Suharto era – Prabowo (Suharto’s son-in-law) & his brother Hashim, the property mafia, etc. As usual, as throughout history, the “poor” get used as tools in these struggles but gain little, if anything. The shame this time is the way the race/religion card was played (although that’s been going on in Jakarta for hundreds of years) – is it the end of Pancasila?
Jakarta gubernatorial election has shown the quality and maturity of democracy. Not only by the Jakartans, but also by the people of Indonesia, since the election took a lot of attention from all elements of the nation.
I’m of of those jakarta’s middle class.
Some of my friends change their decision to Anies in hope for more affordable housing and better economy. #jktproblem
Chris, I’m never sure how seriously to take your comments, although you are certainly prolific. The new plaque is now protected by a special fence with royal insignia, which should remove any lingering doubt about who was responsible.
That’ very ture . I am Thai who knew most of Thai king behave but I fear to speak out this topic in the public speaking even mentioned his name I still in fear. Thanks pavin to speak this out to the world on to know.
At last the REAL issues are being addressed. Most of the anti-Ahok movement is NOT about Islamic extremism. It is about the way Ahok has rode roughshod over the poor.
Until and unless the majority (race) decide that dictatorship is detrimental to Malaysia change will come. Unfortunately, the carrots placed before the majority is attractive enough to disenfranchise the other races, and support an illiberal democracy. Malaysia is sliding down that slippery slope when the RAHMAN house collapses when it becomes unsustainable.
Andrew MacGregor Marshall – you’ve got NO PROOF whatsoever that Vajiralongkorn had ANYTHING whatsoever to do with that icon’s removal. There could be any number of players here, playing out any number of strategies, scams, schemes, scenarios, etc. Analysis from you would be more interesting than hot-off-your-head declarative statements.
The Cocos Malays of Cocos Keeling Islands were not exactly of Malaysian or Malayan descent. They were slaves or workers of Alexander Hare, an Englishman, and a rich merchant at that time. They were made up of many races and predominantly Indonesian but the common ground was that most of them spoke Malay, including Hare because Malay was the lingua franca of trading during those times.
Hare brought the slaves to Cocos Island in 1826 when he later decided to settle there. His intentions were to get back all his estates that he lost in Java. To the slaves or what are known as Cocos Malays now, that was a form of forced migration because it wasn’t up to them whether they wanted to settle on the island or not. I think, given the choice, most of them would like to get back to their homes in Indonesia, Malaya, South Africa, PNG and so on. But they had to stay on, later ruled ‘feudalistically’ by the Clunies-Ross tribe for 144 years, who claimed themselves akin to ‘Rajahs’.
So, the Cocos Malays are a race by themselves – forced by circumstances.
The Cocos Malays of Sabah is the result of another forced migration imposed on the Cocos islanders. This time was due to overpopulation and the threat of starvation due to the effects of WWII. All in all about half of the islanders migrated to many parts of North Borneo, Singapore and Christmas Island between 1948-1951. There they had to work very hard in plantations owned by the British in an environment so alien and hostile to what they were used to. Many died from jungle related diseases and their lives were so tough and tragic.
But they persevered. They are Malaysians now. When Sabah joined Malaysia in 1963 they were naturalised as one of Sabah’s numerous ethnicities. The Cocos Malays of Sabah know their roots and they are preserving most of the cultures and ways although some of them have never returned and the new generations have never been to Cocos Keeling Island, but they are proudly Cocos Malays.
So the idea of “Right of Return” was never up for discussion.
A while back I recognised that the new boy had a choice. Either he would forge his own reputation in the face of the dismal one he has created at the moment, and would provide a contrast with his wretched father insofar as pretending to foster democracy and in fact, pretending to give a rat’s ass about the Thai people in general, which was all smoke and mirrors to conceal the real motivation of restoring the wealth of the absolute monarchy (successful) and then restoring to actual absolute monarchy (unsuccessful but still trying).
It seems he chose to continue as his father has started, and the replacement of the plaque in BKK is a signal of just that to my mind.
If right, then I have a very dismal assessment of the outcome, which I believe will surely result in a civil war followed by the abolition of the monarchy in Thailand. I personally would not want to see this, I would prefer to see a more enlightened monarchy but that would require the armed forces, police and all courts to be mercilessly reformed.
If the old soothsayer’s prediction of there being no Rama 10 is to be fulfilled, then this has to reach a tipping point by the end of this year. Happy to wait and see. I’d be interested to avoid having to run the gauntlet of ridicule and scorn from some of our more scholarly brothers and sisters though, and AMM may well have a different (and probably better) assessment, – he is normally more on signal than I am, I only have only a few arcane tools at my disposal than he has, and they can be unreliable.
Thanks to professor Pavin for this excellent article that shows the sad situation endured today by the Thai people . It is my strong wish to return to my beloved Thailand some day, as soon as the Thai people frees itself from the chains of the Royalist-Military dictatorship and ushers a new and free Thai Democratic Republic !
in removing the historic plate { Khana Ratsadon’s mark, a metal pin which was embedded on the street at the Roya Plaza by the Khana Ratsadon (the People’s Party), who led the forced-change from absolute monarchy to constitutional monarchy on 24 June 1932.} , the junta has proven itself to be no better than the Taliban destroying Buddhist statues .
Sirindhorn is fine. She has no interest in provoking her brother. Andrew was way off when he suggested in his book that she would flee for her life (to China supposedly!) if her brother became King.
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Jakarta: inequality and the poverty of elite pluralism
Thank you for this insightful article! One of the best contributions to that topic since it concerns the economic factors often not taken into account. Whereas many only highlight the issue of pluralism vs. reactionary Islamism, issues like elite politics and contradictions within Indonesian capitalism fall short.
Kingdom of fear (and favour)
Andrew – I did not know that the plaque had been replaced with those Royal insignia you say.
Jakarta: inequality and the poverty of elite pluralism
The aust media have framed this misleadingly. Do Bali, manado, Ntt, Papua elect muslim governors? Nope. What hypocrisy. Manado at a pinch may elect a chinese christian, the others wouldnt. Bali elect a muslim governor? Would pdip even dare to put one up as a candidate? Oh jeez don’t make me laugh.
Unlike the recent jakarta election these non muslim majority provinces don’t need overt anti Muslim campaigns. The systemic sectarianism is all handled quietly, implicitly.
Now, let’s see Bali take the high moral ground and elect a Muslim governor.
How stupid is pdip. They could have run horses for courses, chosen a Muslim instead of ahok and would probably have won. Instead they’ve just handed prabowo the presidency. Stupid deserves to lose.
Kingdom of fear (and favour)
On 19 April 2017, Pol Gen Srivara Ransibrahmanakul, the Deputy chief of the Royal Thai Police (RTP), revealed that the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) filed a complaint against Watana Muangsook, a politician from Pheu Thai Party, for breaching the Computer Crime Act.
The TCSD accused him of posting false information on Facebook that the 1932 Revolution plaque is a ‘national heritage’ in order to call for people to demand its return, adding that the post might also incite chaos.
http://prachatai.org/english/node/7086
Jakarta: inequality and the poverty of elite pluralism
No, the REAL issue has not changed – it’s all about jockeying for power and influence (and hence increased affluence) amongst the same small elite that has been there since the Suharto era – Prabowo (Suharto’s son-in-law) & his brother Hashim, the property mafia, etc. As usual, as throughout history, the “poor” get used as tools in these struggles but gain little, if anything. The shame this time is the way the race/religion card was played (although that’s been going on in Jakarta for hundreds of years) – is it the end of Pancasila?
Jakarta: inequality and the poverty of elite pluralism
Jakarta gubernatorial election has shown the quality and maturity of democracy. Not only by the Jakartans, but also by the people of Indonesia, since the election took a lot of attention from all elements of the nation.
Jakarta: inequality and the poverty of elite pluralism
I’m of of those jakarta’s middle class.
Some of my friends change their decision to Anies in hope for more affordable housing and better economy. #jktproblem
Kingdom of fear (and favour)
Chris, I’m never sure how seriously to take your comments, although you are certainly prolific. The new plaque is now protected by a special fence with royal insignia, which should remove any lingering doubt about who was responsible.
Kingdom of fear (and favour)
That’ very ture . I am Thai who knew most of Thai king behave but I fear to speak out this topic in the public speaking even mentioned his name I still in fear. Thanks pavin to speak this out to the world on to know.
Jakarta: inequality and the poverty of elite pluralism
At last the REAL issues are being addressed. Most of the anti-Ahok movement is NOT about Islamic extremism. It is about the way Ahok has rode roughshod over the poor.
Kingdom of fear (and favour)
Pavin has a letter published in the Washington Post April 19 : Why Thailand’s military is trying to erase me from the Internet – https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/democracy-post/wp/2017/04/19/why-thailands-military-is-trying-to-erase-me-from-the-internet/#comments
Jakarta: inequality and the poverty of elite pluralism
Another angle of analysis..
Making enemies out of friends
At long last – a NM article looking at Jokowi, from the perspective of the poor !!
Malaysia’s electoral reform: more important than ever
Until and unless the majority (race) decide that dictatorship is detrimental to Malaysia change will come. Unfortunately, the carrots placed before the majority is attractive enough to disenfranchise the other races, and support an illiberal democracy. Malaysia is sliding down that slippery slope when the RAHMAN house collapses when it becomes unsustainable.
Kingdom of fear (and favour)
Andrew MacGregor Marshall – you’ve got NO PROOF whatsoever that Vajiralongkorn had ANYTHING whatsoever to do with that icon’s removal. There could be any number of players here, playing out any number of strategies, scams, schemes, scenarios, etc. Analysis from you would be more interesting than hot-off-your-head declarative statements.
Australia’s Malay population
The Cocos Malays of Cocos Keeling Islands were not exactly of Malaysian or Malayan descent. They were slaves or workers of Alexander Hare, an Englishman, and a rich merchant at that time. They were made up of many races and predominantly Indonesian but the common ground was that most of them spoke Malay, including Hare because Malay was the lingua franca of trading during those times.
Hare brought the slaves to Cocos Island in 1826 when he later decided to settle there. His intentions were to get back all his estates that he lost in Java. To the slaves or what are known as Cocos Malays now, that was a form of forced migration because it wasn’t up to them whether they wanted to settle on the island or not. I think, given the choice, most of them would like to get back to their homes in Indonesia, Malaya, South Africa, PNG and so on. But they had to stay on, later ruled ‘feudalistically’ by the Clunies-Ross tribe for 144 years, who claimed themselves akin to ‘Rajahs’.
So, the Cocos Malays are a race by themselves – forced by circumstances.
The Cocos Malays of Sabah is the result of another forced migration imposed on the Cocos islanders. This time was due to overpopulation and the threat of starvation due to the effects of WWII. All in all about half of the islanders migrated to many parts of North Borneo, Singapore and Christmas Island between 1948-1951. There they had to work very hard in plantations owned by the British in an environment so alien and hostile to what they were used to. Many died from jungle related diseases and their lives were so tough and tragic.
But they persevered. They are Malaysians now. When Sabah joined Malaysia in 1963 they were naturalised as one of Sabah’s numerous ethnicities. The Cocos Malays of Sabah know their roots and they are preserving most of the cultures and ways although some of them have never returned and the new generations have never been to Cocos Keeling Island, but they are proudly Cocos Malays.
So the idea of “Right of Return” was never up for discussion.
Kingdom of fear (and favour)
A while back I recognised that the new boy had a choice. Either he would forge his own reputation in the face of the dismal one he has created at the moment, and would provide a contrast with his wretched father insofar as pretending to foster democracy and in fact, pretending to give a rat’s ass about the Thai people in general, which was all smoke and mirrors to conceal the real motivation of restoring the wealth of the absolute monarchy (successful) and then restoring to actual absolute monarchy (unsuccessful but still trying).
It seems he chose to continue as his father has started, and the replacement of the plaque in BKK is a signal of just that to my mind.
If right, then I have a very dismal assessment of the outcome, which I believe will surely result in a civil war followed by the abolition of the monarchy in Thailand. I personally would not want to see this, I would prefer to see a more enlightened monarchy but that would require the armed forces, police and all courts to be mercilessly reformed.
If the old soothsayer’s prediction of there being no Rama 10 is to be fulfilled, then this has to reach a tipping point by the end of this year. Happy to wait and see. I’d be interested to avoid having to run the gauntlet of ridicule and scorn from some of our more scholarly brothers and sisters though, and AMM may well have a different (and probably better) assessment, – he is normally more on signal than I am, I only have only a few arcane tools at my disposal than he has, and they can be unreliable.
I guess all will become clear in time.
Kingdom of fear (and favour)
Thanks to professor Pavin for this excellent article that shows the sad situation endured today by the Thai people . It is my strong wish to return to my beloved Thailand some day, as soon as the Thai people frees itself from the chains of the Royalist-Military dictatorship and ushers a new and free Thai Democratic Republic !
Kingdom of fear (and favour)
in removing the historic plate { Khana Ratsadon’s mark, a metal pin which was embedded on the street at the Roya Plaza by the Khana Ratsadon (the People’s Party), who led the forced-change from absolute monarchy to constitutional monarchy on 24 June 1932.} , the junta has proven itself to be no better than the Taliban destroying Buddhist statues .
Kingdom of fear (and favour)
Sirindhorn is fine. She has no interest in provoking her brother. Andrew was way off when he suggested in his book that she would flee for her life (to China supposedly!) if her brother became King.