Re:Jacques de Goldfiem eye on Asia (1 viewing) (1) Guest
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TOPIC: Re:Jacques de Goldfiem eye on Asia
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Jacques (Moderator)
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Re:Jacques de Goldfiem eye on Asia 3 Months, 4 Weeks ago
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12 September 2008
To see my last paper, click on End on the page line
Lucian Pye died on September 5. He has been, after Jacques Guillermaz, one of my masters when I was a young sinologist
“As a Sinologist, Pye advised the U.S. State Department and the National Security Council and was considered a peer of the great China experts of his generation. Pye was a leader of the National Committee on United States-China Relations when it laid the groundwork for the U.S. table tennis team to visit China in 1971, and he later served as acting chairman.
He advised Democratic presidential candidates, including John F. Kennedy, urging a muscular foreign policy.
But Pye was first and foremost an intellectual who wrote or edited 25 books and led his profession as president of the American Political Science Association in 1988-89. He was among the pioneers in the 1950s and '60s in developing theories about how poor nations develop politically. In contrast to political scientists who seek universal, overarching explanations, he delved into the vagaries of cultures, countries and peoples in search of more individualized interpretations”
See the full obituary published in the International Herald Tribunehttp://www.iht.com/articles/2008/09/12/america/obits.php
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Jacques (Moderator)
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Re:Jacques de Goldfiem eye on Asia 3 Months, 3 Weeks ago
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18 September 2008
Who is Thailand’s new helmsman ? Thaksin or Somchai ?
Today, Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej officially endorsed the premiership of Somchai Wongsawat. Somchai is the fourth prime minister in two years, and, given the country's continuing instability, some analysts expect his tenure to be short.
The ruling People's Power Party and its governing coalition hold 306 of the lower house's 480 seats and Somchai won 298 votes, while opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva took 163 votes.
The new prime minister, 61, has long experience as a judge and senior bureaucrat, but he has a big handicap : his marriage to Thaksin's younger sister, Yaowapa Wongsawasdi, which is likely to ensure that protests by anti-government activists who have occupied the prime minister's compound for more than three weeks will continue.
The anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) – a pressure group of royalists, businessmen and union activists – had opposed Samak's leadership, accusing him of being a Thaksin puppet. So to see his brother-in-law succeeding Samak is like a provocation. "He might have a gentlemanly nature, a soft-spoken style, and he might have a better reputation than anyone else," said a spokesman for the protesters, Somsak Kosaisuk, referring to other members of the governing party. "But blood is thicker than water."
Worse, Somchai's wife is politically close to her brother; she was one of 111 Thaksin-linked politicians banned from politics for five years in 2007 on grounds of electoral fraud by Thaksin's party, which was shut down.
But what is now the power of Thaksin from his London exile ? "I think that his impact and influence within the PPP are still considerable," said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a leading political analyst with Chulalongkorn University, "but nowhere near what they used to be." Others say that passing time and shifting alliances may weaken Thaksin's political influence. His funds are shrinking, with $2 billion in assets frozen by the courts, and the corruption cases he faces could put him in jail if he returns. In anyway, a lot of the PPP members of parliament have made their choice after telephone call with Thaksin.
Despite his close connections to Thaksin, Somchai is deemed a compromiser who is best suited among the PPP candidates to smooth over Thailand's political crisis. So… wait and see
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Jacques (Moderator)
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Re:Jacques de Goldfiem eye on Asia 2 Months, 3 Weeks ago
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15 October 2008
To whom belongs the disputed temple Preah Vihear between Thailand and Cambodia ?
Today, Thai and Cambodian soldiers exchanged fires and two Cambodian soldiers have been killed while ten thai soldiers have been captured by the Cambodian forces.
It is clear that this temple belongs to Cambodia. It has been constructed during the reigns of the Khmer kings Suryavarm I and II and is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva.
In the 1904 Franco-Siamese boundary treaty, it was put on the Cambodian side, but occupied by the Siamese after the 1954 French defeat. But, on June 15, 1962, the International Court of Justice, decided that it was on the Cambodian side of the border. http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/index.php?sum=284&code=ct&p1=3&p2=3&
case=45&k=46&p3=5
Even the Thai daily web newspaper Prachatai admit that the temple belongs to Cambodia http://www.prachatai.com/english/news.php?id=690 http://www.prachatai.com/english/news.php?id=686
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Jacques (Moderator)
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Re:Jacques de Goldfiem eye on Asia 2 Months, 2 Weeks ago
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21 October 2008
THAILAND IS GOING BAD
After the September 2006 military coup, with the royal approval, who ousted the corrupted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the democracy was restored by the 23 December 2007 General Election in which the PPP won 228 seats, sufficient to win the election ahead of the Democrat Party but short of the 241 seats needed for a majority of the 480-seat house, but it was able to form a six-party coalition. The problem is that the PPP had become the party of Thaksin supporters, and on 28 January 2008, Samak Sundaravej, chairman of the PPP was elected Prime Minister.
The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) who by street demonstrations got the ousting of Thaksin and the intervention of the army, restarted its demonstration, this time again Samak, considered as the Thaksin puppet, in May
On June PAD and supporters made through police blockades and successfully gathered in front of Government House, an effort to pressure the government to resign and reached critical level in late August when Government House and several ministries were seized. A state of emergency was declared in Bangkok on 2 September.
On September 9, 2008, ruling on complaints by Senators and the Election Commission received in the summer of 2008, the Constitutional Court removed Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej from office because he had inappropriately been involved in commercial enterprises, taking part in a TV cooking show.
After the PPP unsuccessful bid to rename Samak as prime minister, on September 17, Somchai Wongsawat was ratified by the National Assembly as new prime minister. But that was not to calm down the situation because Somchai is the Thaksin's brother-in-law.
Thousands of PAD forces soon surrounded Parliament to prevent the Somchai government from announcing its policies to the legislature within 15 days of swearing in, as mandated by the Constitution. The PAD closed off the building with razor wire and steel barricades.
On October 7, police loudspeaker lorries issued a warning that the PAD should disperse as they would be attacked, and teargas would be fired. PAD forces did not disperse and soon after, police shot a barrage of teargas grenades and clashed with protestors, some of whom were armed with guns, machetes, steel pikes, petrol bombs, and improvised explosive devices. Clashes continued into the night. Some 500 people were injured, some ones badly and two persons were reported to be killed.
The question was : what is the attitude of the royal court and the army on that situation ? The answer from the monarch came on October 13, when, in a rare appearance, the Queen Sirikit presided over the cremation of Angkana, 28, who died when police dispersed anti-government protesters near Parliament. she praised her as a "good girl" and "protector of the monarchy and the country" and was accompanied by Princess Chulabhorn Valayalaksana and Army chief General Anupong Paochinda. In addition, the latter, on October 17, has indicated that Somchai Wongsawat should step down to take responsibility for the violent clashes between police and anti-government protesters in Bangkok.
The following day, Thailand's Police General Salang Bunnag revived his threat to "retake" Government House from the anti-government protesters, saying that his planned operation would begin after a religious ceremony to be held nearby on October 22
The Thai press is divided. As The Nation is balancing on the PAD side, the Bangkok Post looks to be on the government side, calling the protests "unjustified, unnecessary, provocative and illegal," adding in an editorial, "If the PAD really wants to bring down the government, it should do so through the Parliament."
That rises my personal problem. In one way I don’t like to see relatives and friends of Thaksin Shinawatra acting as his puppets, but on the other side, the PPP and his government are legitimate, elected in free elections, even there was some rigging votes. So, what a solution for Thailand problem ?
In addition see the comment of excellent and Asia Observer friend journalist John Le Fevre (Photo-journ)http://photojourn.wordpress.com/2008/10/20/thailand-political-crisis-
worsens-further-bloodshed-forecast/
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Jacques (Moderator)
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Re:Jacques de Goldfiem eye on Asia 2 Months, 1 Week ago
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2 November 2008
At last, the European Parliament Sakharov freedom of thought prize is given to a Chinese
On October 23, 2008, bravely, just one day before the opening of the Asia Europe meeting (Asem) and despite the Chinese threats, the European Parliament's Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought has been awarded this year to Chinese political activist Hu Jia, The prize ceremony will take place in Strasbourg on 17 December but without the winner
Hu Jia is a prominent human rights activist and dissident in the People's Republic of China. He has embraced a wide range of causes, including environmental issues, HIV/AIDS advocacy and a call for an official enquiry into the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre. He has also acted as a coordinator of the "barefoot lawers movement".
Mr Pöttering said: "By awarding the Sakharov Prize to Hu Jia, the European Parliament firmly and resolutely acknowledges the daily struggle for freedom of all Chinese human rights defenders."
In addition, what is a strong symbol is that it happened for the 20th anniversary of Sakharov Prize named in honor of the Soviet physicist and political dissident Andrei Sakharov. It has been awarded by the European Parliament every year since 1988 to individuals or organizations who have made an important contribution to the fight for human rights or democracy. This year's prize, consisting of a certificate and a check for €50,000, will be awarded in Strasbourg on 17 December, but Hu Jia will not be there.
I remember that in 1999, the Nobel Prize was supposed to be given to the most mafous Chinese dissident Wei Jingsheng, twice condemned to 14 years in jail. Because the strong pressure of the Chinese government on the Swedish government, he did not got it. The following year, the Nobel Prize committee took a revenge by giving the literature prize to a Chinese, the first one for a Chinese writer, but one living in exile in France where he got French citizenship in 1988, Gao Xinjiang.
To please to the Chinese government, French president avoided to meet the Dalai Lama when he came in France, but before, Germany chancellor Merken did it. That din’t changed the high economic level between China and Germany
Hu Jia
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Jacques (Moderator)
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Re:Jacques de Goldfiem eye on Asia 2 Months ago
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9 November 2008
I will not cry for the Bali bombers execution
The bodies of three of the Bali bombers have been buried in their home villages in Indonesia after they were executed by firing squad. The attack made 202 victims. The men had been executed by firing squad along with fellow bomber Imam Samudra shortly after midnight, on Saturday November 8, 2008, on a prison island off southern Java, claiming to want to die as "martyrs" and having shown no remorse for the attacks.
They were members of the Jemaah Islamiyah regional terror group blamed for a series of attacks around the region, part of a "holy war" to create an Islamic caliphate spanning much of Southeast Asia.
Hundred of Indonesian spilled onto the streets for the funerals. The crowds clashed with police, calling for Jihad. Hardliner cleric Abu Bakar Bashir, suspected to be the Jemaah Islamiyah brains and who was jailed on a conspiracy charge related to the bombings before being released in 2006 attended one of the ceremonies
The bombers said they launched the attacks against packed nightclubs on the resort island of Bali -- killing 202 people, mostly foreign tourists -- to defend Islam from Western aggression and avenge US action in Afghanistan and Iraq.
But what have these innocent people killed in the attack to do with their problem? They just came here to enjoy sun and beach in Bali. The Islamists, are right when they condemn the killing of civilians by US troops in Afghanistan. So how they can be proud of the killing of innocent tourists?
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Jacques (Moderator)
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Re:Jacques de Goldfiem eye on Asia 1 Month, 3 Weeks ago
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To see my last post, go to the bottom of this page
12 November 2008
Crazy Burmese generals
Nay Phone Latt, a young blogger who has been held since 29 January in Insein prison, was facing a possibly seven-year sentence after new charges were brought against him on 7 July under the article 5 (j) of the 1950 Emergency Provision Act, article 505 (b) of the criminal code (which punishes defaming the state) and article 33 (a) of the Electronic Act. He was originally charged under article 32 (b) of the Video Act, which would have limited his maximum detention to six months
The new charges were approved by a special court in Insein prison, where his lawyer has never been allowed to see him since his arrest. Another court appearance was scheduled for 16 July, but Nay Phone Latt told his mother it has been postponed. Meanwhile, he has contracted an eye problem but the prison authorities are not letting him see a doctor
A year after thousands of monks took to the streets of Burma’s towns and cities to protest against the tyrannical rule of the Military Junta were broadcast across the world via the internet, the Junta has shown that it will not tolerate any semblance of critical opinion being voiced over the World Wide Web.
Finely Nay Phone Latt has been sentenced to a total of twenty years and six months for possession of a banned video and having a blog to express his concerns about the increasingly difficulty of Burmese people to voice their opinions since the protests last year
Nay Latt’s mother wasn’t allowed into the courtroom to see her son get sentenced. The blogger’s lawyer was himself jailed for criticizing the special court’s procedures
These Burmese generals are crazy. If the sentence for writing a blog is more than twenty years in jail, what could be the one for rapists, killers… and corrupted generals ?
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Jacques (Moderator)
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Re:Jacques de Goldfiem eye on Asia 1 Month, 3 Weeks ago
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16 November 2008
On Chen Shui-bian arrest
I have been very shocked to see the former Taiwan president, Chen Shui-bian, taken in handcuffs from the prosecutors' office to the Taipei district court.
The former Taiwanese president Chen Shui-bian has been formally arrested over money-laundering and corruption allegations which he has described as political persecution.
Taipei's district court ordered his detention on suspected corruption, bribery, forgery, money laundering and illegal possession of state assets. "The court, after questioning the suspect, believes the suspected crimes to be severe," it added in a statement. "And there are enough facts to believe there was buried evidence, fabrication, altered evidence and conspiracy among suspects or witnesses."
The 57-year-old former president denies all charges.
The prosecutor's office said Chen could be held indefinitely before charges are filed, but there was no intention to delay. The first three charges carry minimum prison sentences of five years on each count.
Members of Chen's family and former aides are also under investigation. Chen led the country from 2000 until spring this year, when his pro-independence Democratic People's party suffered a landslide defeat at the hands of the Nationalists.
Members of Chen's family are suspected of sending at least $30.4m to Japan, the United States, the Cayman Islands, Singapore and Switzerland, among other places, local media have reported.
Prosecutors said they wanted to determine whether the funds were donations left over from political campaigns - as Chen says - or whether bribery might have been involved.
I don’t know if Chen Shui-bian and his family used this money for themselves or if it was a part of the dollar-fight against China to buy diplomatic links with small countries. The court will say. But he is not a dangerous gangster. So it was possible to charge him with no arrest and any case with no handcuffs
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Jacques (Moderator)
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Re:Jacques de Goldfiem eye on Asia 1 Month, 1 Week ago
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25 November 2008
Today is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
What will be the fate of this young Afghan girl, so happy today ?
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Asia Observer picture on Flickr
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Jacques (Moderator)
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Re:Jacques de Goldfiem eye on Asia 1 Month, 1 Week ago
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3 December 2008
On Mumbai attacks
I think that the Indian government is wrong in involving the Pakistan’s governement in the terrible attacks in Mumbai. You know that he a very little control in some parts of its country and that it cannot to be responsible of what do everyone of its citizen.
It is like after the September 11 attack in the United States. All, except one of the attackers, where from Saudi Arabia. The US authorities did not accused this country to have organized the attack
In another way, It is stupid, has we can read in Asia Observer forums that the Mossad is implicated in the Mumbai terrorist attacks. This disinformation action is contradicted by the fact that the Jew Center in Mumbai has been attacked and several people killed. What could be the interest of Israel give an help to islamist terrorists who want Israel to be destroyed ?
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