I went to look at Pol Pot’s house in Anlong Veng a few years ago, because I was studying historic house museums/sites. I felt like a vulture; my driver just shook his head when I asked him about his feeling for the place. The empty house (actually 2 houses) is utterly uninterpreted and communicated no mystical spirit of place to me. The (inexpert) sum of my own knowledge of the KR made me sick in the gut. Maybe the people of Cambodia can use this place for education and reconciliation? Personally, I would burn it down and bugger the material ‘heritage’.
And the idea of attempting to “professionalize “blogging to curtail the spread of fake news or rumour-mongering, is just a crazy idea. Why, many seem to be confused between journalism and blogging in the Philippines. The press is labelled biased by the state. And now, an attempt to control blogging by boxing it into a profession, which it is not, is happening. Seems more like we are increasingly treading the path towards greater authoritarianism.
Interesting that the South China Morning Post headline on “How the SAS raised the ghosts of Indonesia’s brutal past” mentions neither the SAS or ghosts in the actual story.
We’ve held a vote and agreed that Indonesia should be dissolved and administrated by China after its assets are sold and divided among other nations. How do you feel about the sovereignty of Indonesia being decided by other nations? Why do you think West Papua’s sovereignty is a matter for you or people other than West Papua to vote on?
History has shown us that this type of repressive, brutal, undemocratic regime will not last long. This illegitimate regime, took power via a coup, of which Thailand has become well known for. It is downright deplorable what is taking place in Thailand today. I am not surprised since it became quite obvious that this May 22 coup, would be very different from all the others. They are so insecure, going after someone like Jatuphat (Pai), not to mention many others who have found themselves in “hot water” and subsequently, punished, or jailed for that matter.
As a Thai living in the USA, I am so glad I don’t live there anymore, but am deeply concerned by all that has transpired, esp. since Prayuth and his cronies took over, threw out the people’s constitution and used illegitimate means to suppress the will of the majority of Thai people and concocted their own constitution, to fool the world and show that there is some semblance of democracy.
It will only get worse before it gets better, as we reflect on the past. The Thai people can only take so much and it is already a known fact that people are getting fed up with this regime, that has done nothing substantial, except to put their boss on the throne. Their allegiance is not to the 60 plus millionThais, but to their demi-god, the new king, who they prostrate themselves before him every day.
It will only serve to vilify and anger the Thai people, who’s are being made subservient to the whims of a few, and will compel them to rise up and speak up and take back power from these corrupt military stooges. Sadly, another chapter of innocent Thai blood will be shed and the same cycle will start over again, as Thai history has shown us.
One wishes that the reviewer had elaborated on the significance of William Sullivan’s status as a sometime protégé of of Gov. Harriman, instead of just mentioning it in passing. (And “North Vietnamese”?! Who uses this term in 2017, anyway?)
The US basically committed War Crimes in Laos, including indiscriminate bombings of civilians. I have been in Laos many times, including 2 times to the Plain of Jars at Phonsavanh and the surrounding Area. The cemetary in the City has a memorial stele honoring Chinese military volunteers who died there.
Does this book explain why the Pathet Lao eventually won ? Of course they were labelled “communist” – but “Pathet” actually translates as Nation, or Country. They were first and foremost nationalists. I hope Kurlantzick’s book makes some effort to address, explain, and correct America’s collosall, catastrophic misunderstanding of what was ACTUALLY happening in Laos.
It’s not about that little extra payment from medical but being a student that study in my government school, people with red IC needs to pay 200 monthly whereas people with yellow IC gets a monthly allowance of 140 for Pre-national diploma student and 210 for national diploma.
What are you talking about? This article could be summarized into one sentence “Chinese Bruneiens who have lived multiple generations inside this country, from the time even before independence, are yet to be recognized as citizens and are instead treated as second-class citizens.” As for leaving the country, that is exactly what A LOT of them are doing, and I don’t know if that is a good thing.
My wife just got her brunei citizenship after 20 years of marriage with a Bruneian, she had not felt the pressure when she was permanent resident for many years living in this country. She became permanent resident after 5 years of marriage. permanent resident she got the benefit medical, permanent resident has two pay $2 more to register to see a doctor, that bit extra did not worry her. Eventually the permanent residents will get their citizenship, if they apply for it and patience in waiting, in my wife case it was 15 years waiting.Her original country asked a lot of questions, there a few years waiting of getting approval. If permanent resident are migrating today it is because of hard to find jobs in this country right now, I am also thinking that my children should one day have to look for job globally and if they want to migrate it is ok with me, for job reason only. Life in Brunei is comfortable for me a man of 62 years, we get over 60 allowance of $250 which is good enough to eat in foot stall. For $4, I can eat fish curry, vegetable, rice, a canned drink.
As a foreigner living in Thailand, for the first time in my life I am experiencing exactly what this article is describing. I must carefully weigh my words and be careful of the opinions I express. An element of fear has crept into my Thinking and actions. I have no idea where the boundaries are, so I reduce my boundaries substantially to avoid any possibility of official repercussion or reprisal. Add to this the very real xenophobia displayed in Thailand, manifested in part by the immediate rejection of any statements or opinions that could in any way be seen as a criticism of Thailand or Thai customs or circumstances, and I have very much learned to keep my opinions to myself, expressed only behind closed doors. Thereby is created an ‘underground’ movement which is what the junta is desparately trying to quell.
Bojonegoro is indeed an exception, rather than the rule. But the Open Government Initiative does have its impacts on the supply side of transparency. My concern is the weak presence of civil society outside of Java and the main provinces in Indonesia. Without them any government-led initiative will be ineffective as there are no users of this ‘openness’.. Thanks for commenting Fred
“Confused”? I won’t be so charitable.
No, this ‘book’ is nothing more than yet another commercialized PhD thesis. Whose author is desperately trying to use it in order to obtain tenure somewhere or another.
To promote the “thesis”, if you can call it that, that prior to the late 1960’s, the CIA was a run-of-the-mill intelligence service takes chutzpah, but that doesn’t stop it being balderdash, and demonstrably so.
As others above have pointed out, there is a long list of very hot, very militarized operations in the CIA’s canon, long before Laos was a twinkle in the eye of Langley:
1948, Italy, the CIA in league with their clients the mafia, subvert the Italian election and ensure Christian Democrat rule for most of the next forty years, and the rampant corruption, political violence – including the death of at least one PM (OK< PM in waiting) in Aldo Moro, that thus ensued
late 1940 – the present?, CIA sponsored Operation Galdio – we still don't know the true depth and scope of this "stay behind" programme, but what has been revealed makes the WiKi Leaks stuff seem tame
1953, Iran (Persia) – CIA sponsored coup against the democratically elected government of Mohammad Mossadegh
1954, Guatemala – CIA sponsored coup against the democratically elected government of Jacobo Arbenz
and on and on, and on………..
The idea that one day in the mid 1960's this up-to-now quiet, retiring, office wallah suddenly discovered (in the unlikely backwater of Laos of all places) his inner Chuck Norris is not only fanciful, it simply doesn't accord with the facts.
Sadly, this is yet another example of modern academia. All self promotion and precious little original research and intellectual substance.
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Anlong Veng calling
I went to look at Pol Pot’s house in Anlong Veng a few years ago, because I was studying historic house museums/sites. I felt like a vulture; my driver just shook his head when I asked him about his feeling for the place. The empty house (actually 2 houses) is utterly uninterpreted and communicated no mystical spirit of place to me. The (inexpert) sum of my own knowledge of the KR made me sick in the gut. Maybe the people of Cambodia can use this place for education and reconciliation? Personally, I would burn it down and bugger the material ‘heritage’.
The changing power of rumours
And the idea of attempting to “professionalize “blogging to curtail the spread of fake news or rumour-mongering, is just a crazy idea. Why, many seem to be confused between journalism and blogging in the Philippines. The press is labelled biased by the state. And now, an attempt to control blogging by boxing it into a profession, which it is not, is happening. Seems more like we are increasingly treading the path towards greater authoritarianism.
A matter of principles
Interesting that the South China Morning Post headline on “How the SAS raised the ghosts of Indonesia’s brutal past” mentions neither the SAS or ghosts in the actual story.
The West Papua wrecking ball?
We’ve held a vote and agreed that Indonesia should be dissolved and administrated by China after its assets are sold and divided among other nations. How do you feel about the sovereignty of Indonesia being decided by other nations? Why do you think West Papua’s sovereignty is a matter for you or people other than West Papua to vote on?
Loneliness and love under Thailand’s junta
History has shown us that this type of repressive, brutal, undemocratic regime will not last long. This illegitimate regime, took power via a coup, of which Thailand has become well known for. It is downright deplorable what is taking place in Thailand today. I am not surprised since it became quite obvious that this May 22 coup, would be very different from all the others. They are so insecure, going after someone like Jatuphat (Pai), not to mention many others who have found themselves in “hot water” and subsequently, punished, or jailed for that matter.
As a Thai living in the USA, I am so glad I don’t live there anymore, but am deeply concerned by all that has transpired, esp. since Prayuth and his cronies took over, threw out the people’s constitution and used illegitimate means to suppress the will of the majority of Thai people and concocted their own constitution, to fool the world and show that there is some semblance of democracy.
It will only get worse before it gets better, as we reflect on the past. The Thai people can only take so much and it is already a known fact that people are getting fed up with this regime, that has done nothing substantial, except to put their boss on the throne. Their allegiance is not to the 60 plus millionThais, but to their demi-god, the new king, who they prostrate themselves before him every day.
It will only serve to vilify and anger the Thai people, who’s are being made subservient to the whims of a few, and will compel them to rise up and speak up and take back power from these corrupt military stooges. Sadly, another chapter of innocent Thai blood will be shed and the same cycle will start over again, as Thai history has shown us.
Anlong Veng calling
I wonder if Cambodians will ever manage to show some gratitude to Vietnam for the invasion which actually ended the genocidal period.
Lifting the shadows on a secret war
One wishes that the reviewer had elaborated on the significance of William Sullivan’s status as a sometime protégé of of Gov. Harriman, instead of just mentioning it in passing. (And “North Vietnamese”?! Who uses this term in 2017, anyway?)
Lifting the shadows on a secret war
The book addresses said crimes at length.
Lifting the shadows on a secret war
The US basically committed War Crimes in Laos, including indiscriminate bombings of civilians. I have been in Laos many times, including 2 times to the Plain of Jars at Phonsavanh and the surrounding Area. The cemetary in the City has a memorial stele honoring Chinese military volunteers who died there.
Lifting the shadows on a secret war
Does this book explain why the Pathet Lao eventually won ? Of course they were labelled “communist” – but “Pathet” actually translates as Nation, or Country. They were first and foremost nationalists. I hope Kurlantzick’s book makes some effort to address, explain, and correct America’s collosall, catastrophic misunderstanding of what was ACTUALLY happening in Laos.
Brunei’s stateless left in a state of confusion
It’s not about that little extra payment from medical but being a student that study in my government school, people with red IC needs to pay 200 monthly whereas people with yellow IC gets a monthly allowance of 140 for Pre-national diploma student and 210 for national diploma.
Loneliness and love under Thailand’s junta
Just to suggest “as Eoseewong poignantly notes . . .” should be “as Nidhi poignantly notes”, in conformity with standard Thai practice.
Brunei’s stateless left in a state of confusion
What are you talking about? This article could be summarized into one sentence “Chinese Bruneiens who have lived multiple generations inside this country, from the time even before independence, are yet to be recognized as citizens and are instead treated as second-class citizens.” As for leaving the country, that is exactly what A LOT of them are doing, and I don’t know if that is a good thing.
Decades of denial as Rohingya genocide continues
Falang = Tocharian , S. Park!?
Brunei’s stateless left in a state of confusion
My wife just got her brunei citizenship after 20 years of marriage with a Bruneian, she had not felt the pressure when she was permanent resident for many years living in this country. She became permanent resident after 5 years of marriage. permanent resident she got the benefit medical, permanent resident has two pay $2 more to register to see a doctor, that bit extra did not worry her. Eventually the permanent residents will get their citizenship, if they apply for it and patience in waiting, in my wife case it was 15 years waiting.Her original country asked a lot of questions, there a few years waiting of getting approval. If permanent resident are migrating today it is because of hard to find jobs in this country right now, I am also thinking that my children should one day have to look for job globally and if they want to migrate it is ok with me, for job reason only. Life in Brunei is comfortable for me a man of 62 years, we get over 60 allowance of $250 which is good enough to eat in foot stall. For $4, I can eat fish curry, vegetable, rice, a canned drink.
Decades of denial as Rohingya genocide continues
A soldier slits a baby’s throat for crying out for his mother’s milk.
Soldiers stomp on the stomach of a mother while she is in labour and then burn down her family home.
Mass rapes, murders, forced disappearances, beatings and families locked in torched houses and burnt alive.
Entire villages, mosques, shops, and schools destroyed.
A United Nations report released on February 3 documented atrocities in Myanmar’s western Rakhine State ( http://www.theage.com.au/world/united-nations-reports-horrors-inflicted-on-rohingya-in-myanmars-rakhine-state-20170204-gu5po5.html ) that it said “very likely” amount to crimes against humanity.
http://www.theage.com.au/world/australia-must-speak-up-about-myanmars-devastating-cruelty-to-rohingya-20170207-gu7wev.html
Loneliness and love under Thailand’s junta
As a foreigner living in Thailand, for the first time in my life I am experiencing exactly what this article is describing. I must carefully weigh my words and be careful of the opinions I express. An element of fear has crept into my Thinking and actions. I have no idea where the boundaries are, so I reduce my boundaries substantially to avoid any possibility of official repercussion or reprisal. Add to this the very real xenophobia displayed in Thailand, manifested in part by the immediate rejection of any statements or opinions that could in any way be seen as a criticism of Thailand or Thai customs or circumstances, and I have very much learned to keep my opinions to myself, expressed only behind closed doors. Thereby is created an ‘underground’ movement which is what the junta is desparately trying to quell.
A great place to have a war
Grumpy and devastating. I love it!
Technology and transformed governance in Indonesia
Bojonegoro is indeed an exception, rather than the rule. But the Open Government Initiative does have its impacts on the supply side of transparency. My concern is the weak presence of civil society outside of Java and the main provinces in Indonesia. Without them any government-led initiative will be ineffective as there are no users of this ‘openness’.. Thanks for commenting Fred
A great place to have a war
“Confused”? I won’t be so charitable.
No, this ‘book’ is nothing more than yet another commercialized PhD thesis. Whose author is desperately trying to use it in order to obtain tenure somewhere or another.
To promote the “thesis”, if you can call it that, that prior to the late 1960’s, the CIA was a run-of-the-mill intelligence service takes chutzpah, but that doesn’t stop it being balderdash, and demonstrably so.
As others above have pointed out, there is a long list of very hot, very militarized operations in the CIA’s canon, long before Laos was a twinkle in the eye of Langley:
1948, Italy, the CIA in league with their clients the mafia, subvert the Italian election and ensure Christian Democrat rule for most of the next forty years, and the rampant corruption, political violence – including the death of at least one PM (OK< PM in waiting) in Aldo Moro, that thus ensued
late 1940 – the present?, CIA sponsored Operation Galdio – we still don't know the true depth and scope of this "stay behind" programme, but what has been revealed makes the WiKi Leaks stuff seem tame
1953, Iran (Persia) – CIA sponsored coup against the democratically elected government of Mohammad Mossadegh
1954, Guatemala – CIA sponsored coup against the democratically elected government of Jacobo Arbenz
and on and on, and on………..
The idea that one day in the mid 1960's this up-to-now quiet, retiring, office wallah suddenly discovered (in the unlikely backwater of Laos of all places) his inner Chuck Norris is not only fanciful, it simply doesn't accord with the facts.
Sadly, this is yet another example of modern academia. All self promotion and precious little original research and intellectual substance.