New Mandala

The National Library of Australia has recently acquired microfilm of the Lao Nhay newspaper (1941 to 1945). Lao Nhay was the first Lao language newspaper (in the first year it was hand written!). It was published fortnightly during WWII with Vichy French support. The historian Soren Ivarsson noted (in 2000) of its significance, “… 1) the historical narrative advanced to [...]

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Phaendin chintanakan (Imagined land: solving southern violence and the state in Thailand) (2008) edited by Chaiwat Sathaanan (ISBN: 9789740200789). This voluminous (596 pages), well researched and  well referenced text is a comprehensive contemporary study of the three southern provinces of Songkla, Narathiwat and Hat Yai. The text includes discussions of national security policy concerning the [...]

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Mong bang mum khong withi chiwit “maeying lao” phan mummong khong  “maeying lao” (Aspects of Lao women’s lives, through their own eyes) (2007) by “Nang Thaenkhun” (ISBN: 9789746722711). The book is a welcome contribution on a neglected topic: a study of family law, with special emphasis on divorce law, in Laos. The author is concerned [...]

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Salawin: Banthuk maenam lae chiwit nai krasae kanplianplaeng (Salween: record of river and life in the current of change) (2008) Montri Chanthawong (ed.) (9789740934). This comprehensive volume offers substantial coverage of issues in the Salween valley of Mae Hong Son province. Fisheries, farming, forestry, hydropower and history are discussed in great detail. The text is [...]

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Pattani prawattisat lae kanmuang nai lok malayu (Patani: history and politics in the Malay world) (2008) by Arifin Binji, Abdulla La Omen, Suhaimi Ismail (อารีฟิน บินจิ, อ.ลออแมน, ซูฮัยมีย์ อิสมาแอล) (ISBN: 9789740973850). This voluminous study charts the history and politics of Pattani from ancient times to the present, including substantial chapters on the Thaksin era. Importantly, [...]

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Samak Sunthonwet: nayokratthamontri khon thi 25 (Samak Sunthonwet: the 25th Prime Minister) (2008) by Thanomsak Chirayusawat (ISBN: 9789747814514). This modest volume provides useful coverage of Samak’s life, up to his current success. It includes some interesting detail on his early life, his professional and private life, the beginning and progress of his political career, and various achievements and [...]

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Kantaengngan kham watthanatham: kansuksa sathanaphap ong khwamru (Cross-cultural marriage: a review of current knowledge) (2007) by Phatcharin Laphanan, Dararat Mettarikanon and Yaowalak Aphichatwanlop (ISBN: 9789747707281). Published by the Center for Research on the Plurality in the Mekong Region (CERP). Although the text is not extensive it contains numerous references to archival and original materials for [...]

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Lan Kham (Golden Zone or Goldleaf) is a new quarterly magazine published privately in Laos by Dokked Publishing. The text is entirely in Lao. It is aimed at a family audience, with content designed to appeal to all ages.
[UPDATE 7 May 2008: The publishers of Lan Kham would like to clarify the meaning of the [...]

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The moon princess (2008) by Sao Sanda (ISBN: 9789749863374, River Books). Sao Sanda is the eldest daughter of Sao Shwe Thaike, the Shan Prince of Yawnghwe. This book contains the author’s recollections of her early life and the history of her country during the mid 20th century. Illustrated with fascinating black and white pictures.
[This post is provided by the [...]

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Chaosua, khunsuk, sakdina, panyachon lae khonsaman (Tycoons, warlords, feudal lords, scholars and common folk) (2007) by Craig J. Reynolds with translation/editing by Waruni Otsatharom (ISBN: 9789747512038). This volume provides translations of selected works from the career of historian Craig Reynolds. The book came out just before the 10th International Conference on Thai Studies, where there were two sessions held to mark [...]

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