New Mandala

[Here is a short opinion piece sent to New Mandala by Marc Askew of the University of Melbourne. Marc is currently in Pattani.]
Last week’s press hoo ha about the recently released Human Rights Watch report on the southern violence (No One is Safe) says very little that is new, but much about how the press creates a [...]

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The Asian Human Rights Commission released a statement today on the escalating protests in Burma:
To the surprise of many, the protests against sharp fuel rises in Burma have continued for a second week, despite constant arrests and harassment of demonstrators and their leaders by plain-clothed police, government officials and gangs of thugs mobilised for the purpose, [...]

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I meant to say something about this earlier but didn’t have the time then. I’m normally a big fan of Pasuk and Baker’s work. But there were a few points in Pasuk’s “Thai Politics Beyond 2006 Coup” published in The Bangkok Post on 31st July which I have to say really irritated me. Because the article [...]

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New Mandala readers in Canberra may be interested in a workshop that the ANU is hosting tomorrow (30 August, 9.30-12.30 AM)  on Global Investment and Community Transformation in Laos. There will be three presentations on international involvement in forest management, plantations and hydropower in Laos. Full details are available here. Previous New Mandala discussions on these issues are [...]

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Some New Mandala readers will be interested to learn that two United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship leaders will be speaking at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand on Wednesday.  The details are:�
Democracy and Patronage in Thailand, a talk by Jakrapob Penkair and Ajarn Worapol Promigbatur followed by a discussion  (8:00 pm)
The energetic Jakrapob Penkair, [...]

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New Mandala readers are invited to contribute information, analysis and opinion on new People Power Party leader Samak Sundaravej. From my brief research there’s not a lot available in terms of a comprehensive English-language profile of Samak. Let’s see if we can build one here.

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In his 60-year reign, His Majesty has not deviated from that pledge and has indeed earned the love, admiration, and trust of his people in a manner that cannot be fully comprehended by foreigners.
The significance of his reign relates to three main themes: the well-being of his subjects, the security and stability of his nation, [...]

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The Royal Thai Army has formed a new Thahan Phran (or Ranger) regiment for special duties in Chiang Saen, Chiang Khong and Wiang Kaen districts along the Mekong River in Chiang Rai province. The regiment has a skull and dagger insignia, and is responsible for curbing human trafficking and other illegal movements across the Mekong [...]

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Today’s Nation online leads with this breaking story:
HM the King said that his favorite dog, Khun Tongdaeng, is still alive and well.  The King expressed surprises at a widespread rumour that Khun Tongdaeng, is dead.  “How can some people say that (Khun Tongdaeng) is dead. She is now nine-year old and still alive and well. She [...]

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Yesterday I attended the National Thai Studies Centre’s sufficiency “discussion” on the current political situation in Thailand. As noted in previous posts the panellists for the discussion were the members of a Thai government public relations team coordinated by the Prime Minister’s Office. There were four speakers – Surat Horachaikul, Charas Suwanmala, , Somchai Homlaor [...]

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