June 25, 2007 • 8:46 pm 0
identification is not the most wanted task. It is much more boring than browsing through customs databases. After the movie had been out for a year or so, I finally make it. *grin* 11 out of 14. It was a big development (from about 8 of 14, and I don’t play this game every month.
If you would like to test recognition skill, go to Lord of War/ Name that Weapon Game
Filed under: non proliferation
June 23, 2007 • 1:05 pm 0
Dear drafters
Could you please reread the news posted in the Nation’s website and explain this?
The Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA) yesterday agreed on a 150-strong Senate of both selected and elected members to replace the Senate of 200 elected senators under the defunct 1997 charter.
Seventy-six senators will be elected, one from each province, while a special ad-hoc panel will pick the remaining 74 members from among experts and well-known figures in various professional fields.
The Senate model proposed by the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) was approved by a narrow margin of 37 votes to 35.
The senator-selection panel will include the president of the Constitution Court, the parliamentary ombudsman, the chairmen of the National Counter Corruption Commission, the State Audit Commission and the Election Commission and two representatives whom the Supreme Court and Supreme Administra-tive Court will each select from outside agencies.
the you guys, you who have voted for the selected versus elected, umm one of you said, according to the news that…
CDC deputy chairman Charan Pakdithanakul defended his panel’s proposal for selected senators, saying the main point was to bring neutral candidates into the Senate who would be unlikely to win seats in an election.
This selected is better than elected after Thaksin era is driving the country into fullscale swing back, dated back to some generaltion ago we used to have apointed senators, lame duck MPs and defunctioned democracy (in a so-called democratic country). This mentality to select someone out of his or her neutrality and pray that s/he will not be corruptible. and that the selector will not abuse the appointment.
Filed under: Political Sciences
June 21, 2007 • 2:56 am 1
I sadly missed world refugee day. I was really planned to do but was interrupted with an urgent need to be there for my best girl friend and after reading several articles to try to help her sorting something out, I reallized it was now three in the afternoon.
Most of peoplewho have read warehousing refugee article would realized that the lives in camp is like being in limbo, but they have a lot of resilience as far as I see. Not many talented people could be “showcased” when officially Thailand do not house “refugees.” It is even a forbidden world when doing interpretion.
Being official refugees are not important as they are being there and wasting their lives away. Many Thais people I worked with complained about growing camp population and that birth control was not sucessfully implemented in camps with catholic ideology. Unfortunately there are several things that they can do.
Most refugees being warehoused are actully will have to stay for a longer term. Those being showcased and selected to live in a more deleveloped third country are likely to be equipped wwith language skills and minimum occupational skills if not professional. Refugees who are former students are likely to be able to continue their lives well in third countries — being exemplified model refugees in most showcases but NOT always.
Those who could not be shortlisted candidates for thord countries resettlement are likely to be villagers who are affected from fighting and had to flee, they might not be ‘political’ active or have industrialized skills unless trained and once being in a camp, their preparation for third countries resettlement is limited. Some could not speak English,some could not go adult schools, some are to busy rearing kids, some are periodically trained some skills that they would soon forget because they could not use those skills in a camp. Some have skills but are domesticated as they are not officially allowed to perform in any ‘profitable’ or commercialized scales. They are not trained to live an everyday lives they would have to face in resettlement. They are less likely to be showcased.
When “skilled” refugees are wanted, the “unskilled” will be in camps as long as they could return home.
Many policies I encountered made me wondered by those authorites do not gove a chance to polish and showcase refugees so more of them can be fit for resettlement. It sounds like a human export, but it is better to let them learn to live normal lives as they will have to do upon ther return or resettlement rather than warehousing them and waste their lives away and not likely to have any future anywhere.
The fear that those refugees will linger if they can speak thai or they can be socialized also prevent them from being in suitable candidates for resettlement and return. They will be warehoused longer. Sadly, this fear also locked up lives to stay in a virtual past that no longer exist in most societies, I fear that what might be a production of the limbo will make them become “unfit” for lives outside the camps. Then they boasted it as a “humanitarian” action.
Filed under: Political Sciences, Security
June 21, 2007 • 2:16 am 0
Last week I really thought a lot about a section in the draft constitution and nationalism at Archanwell’s. Finallly another ETA for an election was reported in the Nation
The election may be held as early as No-vember 25, a Sunday, instead of late De-cember – if the referendum on the new constitution is completed by August 19, Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said yesterday.
The premier assured leading Japanese executives yesterday Thailand would make a “strong return to democracy” within the next six months.
“Thailand will become a leading democratic nation in Asia once again,” he said at a luncheon hosted by the Thai-Japanese Association, at the Dusit Thani Hotel.
The PM’s assurance came amid a gloomy outlook for the former ruling Thai Rak Thai Party. The National Legislative Assembly voted against giving a fast passage for a government-sponsored bill to amend the coup makers’ order that would allow early registration of the disbanded political party in time for a new general election.
Separately, Surayud voiced optimism that the earlier the election happened, the sooner the country could shake off the turmoil plaguing it for almost two years.
He spoke after chairing a meeting with Election Com-mission (EC) chairman Api-chart Sukhagganond and Con-stitution Drafting Assembly (CDA) chairman Noranit Sethabutr.
“This matter in the hands of every Thai citizen, as I have always said, that the people will have to decide for themselves in order to overcome a crisis.”
The referendum, as well
as the revised timetable for
the election, hinges on the
new charter being passed by the CDA before July 6, he said.
In regard to concerns about the draft being rejected by the CDA or at the referendum, Surayud said voters would have the final say on the restoration of democratic rule.
“Thai people will have to make up their minds whether they want what they can see or what is being hidden,” he said, alluding to the fact that the junta would step in to enact a new charter if the CDA or the referendum rejected the draft.
He said his government had no ulterior motive to try to speed up the timetable for the elections, adding that he wanted to see a free and fair balloting to complete the transition back to democracy as soon as possible.
Noranit said all dates relating to the referendum and the elections were still tentative and could be confirmed only after the CDA cast their votes to pass or reject the draft.
If the CDA could vote on the draft by July 6, then preparations for the polls would proceed as planned, he said.
Under the 2006 Interim Constitution, the referendum must take place 45 days after the CDA approves the draft, and the Assembly would have completed drafting organic laws within 45 days also, he said.
The CDA’s term will expire around August 19, the crucial date for either having a draft and organic laws ready for the referendum – or the junta having sole jurisdiction to chart the political system, he said.
Apichart said the EC was ready to organise the election. He said the drafting of organic laws would determine whether newly-registered parties could field electoral candidates.
Under existing rules, electoral candidates must maintain party membership for 90 days before elections, he said.
Apichart said new parties could contest the upcoming elections only if lawmakers agreed to amend the organic laws to lower the membership requirement to 30 days.
Charter writer Somkid Lertpaitoon voiced concern that the revised electoral timetable might impact on the celebrations of His Majesty the King’s birthday. The country might not have a new government in time for the royal celebrations on December 5, he said, arguing for the voting to take place on December 16 – as previously scheduled.
Piyanart Srivalo,
Nerisa Nerykhieo
The Nation
(My emphasis added)
Honestly, if the drafting is in a hectic mode and charter will do anything just to get theconstituion to referendum and there will be a propaganda that Thais should say yes to this constitution no matter what it might impact political systems an our lives to “move on,” it will be a shaky first step. Then we have to learn to walk again.
Honestly, I think the need for democratic government goes beyond finind some entity to be accountable to organisation of the King’s Birthday Celebration.
Filed under: Political Sciences
June 20, 2007 • 12:19 pm 0
From :
Sent : Tuesday, June 19, 2007 8:13 PM
Subject : Cabinet approves security billhttp://www.bangkokpost.net/News/20Jun2007_news03.php
ISOC SWEEPING NEW POWERS
Cabinet approves security bill
POST REPORTERSThe cabinet yesterday approved a draft national security bill which would give sweeping powers to the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) to handle ”new forms of threats” to the country, a cabinet meeting source said. The bill is aimed at enabling Isoc to more efficiently handle acts of sabotage, transnational crime and propaganda.
Article 6 provides for the setting up of a national security committee to be headed by the prime minister, the source said.
The bill also empowers the Isoc chief to implement security measures such as searches without seeking approval from the prime minister.
Proposed by the National Security Council (NSC), the bill is also aimed at accommodating the planned restructuring of Isoc.
The Isoc revamp, to be modelled on the US Department of Homeland Security, is seen by many observers as a move to pave the way for Council for National Security chairman Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkalin to head the restructured agency after he retires as army chief in September.
Gen Sonthi, as the Isoc chief, also attended the cabinet meeting yesterday.
The bill, when enacted, would provide an alternative to the Executive Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situations, which is seen by critics as being too harsh, the source said.
It will go to the Council of State, the government’s legal advisory arm, for fine-tuning before being forwarded to the National Legislative Assembly for deliberation.
NSC secretary-general Prakit Prachonpachanuk said the provisions of the security bill do not overlap the existing emergency decree.
The Office of the Attorney-General, the Council of State and the Justice Ministry jointly drafted the bill, Mr Prakit said.
If this is not a new seed of haltred and despair to reinstate justice upon people, I don;t know what to call. If ISOC remain after an upcoming election, the “chief,” who will be retired later will firmly has his grip on political and administrative power, despite his saying that he is a professional soldier and not into politic. If fully implemented at full scale as requested, the new ISOC will have the power to ” implement security measures such as searches without seeking approval from the prime minister .” They can implemement or invent “emergency situations” and look they are made to tackle propaganda.
Here comes the trickiest part. If suppression of justice is actually one of the factors resulting in upraising and increasing free-willof forced sympathizers in the South, how can this structure, that will lead to arbitary search and implementation of emergency situations (read measures compromising rights and access to justice in non-emergency situation, due processes, etc), fullfil its mission in its name to bring security.
The only one who feel secure could be the coup makers.
Filed under: Security
June 20, 2007 • 12:19 am 0
Have you ever wondered what day we will never read or hear about casualties in the South? I guess this month we will have reports at deepsouthwatch several conferences, talks in Bangkok and seminars. Apart from that, daily reporting of casualties.
I was wondering what would it really be like for an outsider with an interest in the matter. Would I drop out like when following news in Iraq or I will stay with me, because this is Thailand? What I really like about it is we have a growing body knowledge, researches and documentation about what have been goiong on, causes and suggestions.
Then itg would belike a regular newsletters about afghanistan and iraq in my mailbox. I’m taking distance from it.
numb too much … numb.
Filed under: Security
June 18, 2007 • 11:08 pm 0
Clipping http://insidehighered.com/views/2006/01/30/wilson
I just discovered while reading Derrida and Braidotti with my friend that paper and pen (or pencil) is faster than opening a word processor and type up note. Actually I wrote better conclusion on paper, too.
Filed under: cut and paste from somewhere else
June 18, 2007 • 1:10 pm 0
Bangkok Post reportedBurma to hold special gem auction
(Agencies) – Burma is to hold a special gem sale in Rangoon starting on July 4 to boost foreign exchange earnings, the Central Committee for Sponsoring the Special Sale of Gems, Jade and Pearls announced
Domestic gem traders are being urged to display their quality gems, jade and pearls at the special show scheduled for July 4. The foreign exchange proceeds from the sale will be designated as legal export earning, the sponsor said.
It will be held as a “competitive bidding system,” presumably meaning auction.
The country’s special gem sale for both foreign and local gem merchants is the third of its kind introduced four years ago in addition to the annual and mid-year ones.
During the last special gem sale held in June, 2006, nearly 1,500 foreign and local gem traders bid on the available jade, gemstones and pearls.
At the 13-day, 44th annual gems emporium held last March, 3,652 lots of jade, gems and pearl were sold out of nearly 6,000 such lots displayed. They gained a record high 148 million euros ($185 million).
That emporium was attended by 3,421 merchants, 2,000 of them foreign. The foreigners came mostly from China, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Thailand.
Burma began its gem shows in 1964. The mid-year one was first held in 1992 and the special one was introduced three years ago.
Burma, a well-known world producer, is the source of nine gems – ruby, diamond, cat’s eye, emerald, topaz, pearl, sapphire, coral and a variety of garnet tinged with yellow.
To develop the gem mining industry, Burma enacted the New Gemstone Law in 1995, allowing national entrepreneurs to mine, produce, transport and sell finished gemstone and manufactured jewellery at home and abroad.
Since 2000, the Burmese government has become involved in the mining of gems and jade in joint ventures with 10 private companies under a profit-sharing basis.
The military regime will grant 319 new more unexplored jade mining blocks in Kachin state’s Moenyin and Sagaing division’s Khamhti to local entrepreneurs to encourage jade production, according to reports earlier this year.
There are six mining areas in Burma under gem and jade exploration: Mogok, Mongshu, Lonkin/Phakant, Khamhti, Moenyin and Namyar.
Jade sales represent one of Burma’s major foreign exchange sources, the fourth largest export earning sector in the fiscal year 2005-06 with $205.47 million, according to state statistics.
Of the top 10 exporters for 2006-07, dominated by the state sector, the Myanmar Gems Enterprise was third with sales of $296.9 million. Only Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise and the Myanmar Timber Enterprise sold more.
The government’s Central Statisitcal Organisation reported that in fiscal year 2005-06, Burma produced 20,390 tons of jade and 28.458 million carats of gems, including ruby, sapphire, spinel and peridot, as well as 177,692 mommis of pearl. The production in the first half of 2006-07 (April-March) went to 10,388 tons from jade, 10.042 million carats for various gems and 56,607 mommis for pearl.
Burma also is working to establish the first ever gem merchants’ association as part of its bid to enhance the development of the country’s gem mining industry.
The Burmese mining sector, which also includes other minerals such as gold and copper, contributes 0.4 per cent to the national economy.
Filed under: cut and paste from somewhere else, INTERNATIONAL, non proliferation, Security
June 13, 2007 • 6:48 pm 0
The opposing opinions expressed that the interpretion of the “people” covers “Thai nationals.” When talking to the public “people” or the “the people” means “Thai population “— or the people residing in Thailand.
… If the Constitution was drafted to promote national unity, it should extend the protection to Thai population rather than “Thai nationals.
I felt the memberof the Constitution Drafting Committee failed to envision the ethnic tension within the state in the three Southern Provinces.
They also failed to realized that their ideas would make the new Constitution tarnished with nationalism that would contribute to intra state ethnic tension.
If you can read Thai, please give Archan Well’s bloga look on her faithful analysis of nationalism and exclusionism in the constituion. Now this is something totally stary far far away from waht had beem enshrined in the BE ‘ 40. Version. The draft said “ ประชาชนชาวไทยไม่ว่าเหล่ากำเนิดเพศ ศาสนา ย่อมอยู่ในความคุ้มครองรัฐธรรมนูญโดยเสมอกัน ” My Trnslation: “All Thais, regardless of [place] of birth, gender and religion, shall be equally protected under the constitution.”Many people in the Drafting Team are arguing what are “Thais.” However, it is likely that the interpretion will adopt the narrower meaning (e.g. based on nationality, thus “Thais” may only cover Thai nationals.)
The narrower interpretion that people who are entitled to protection under the constitution should only be Thai citizen (narrow meaning of citizen as national+ legal residences) or Thai nationals could endanger the universality of law. It is understandable that people who could have certain protection should “contribute,” through taxation to the country either directly or indirectly. However People who are in Thailand, are not nationals and pay direct or indirect tax do exist such as migrant workers and stateless. Stateless people do pay taxes and they nedd tax receit as one of core evidences to apply for Thai nationality of residency.
They will be held accountable of they murder someone or if they commit a crime. nevertheless, the proposal of the “Thai people” in the new draft constituition excludes these group of people from being included in fundamental rights and responsibilities.
Fundamental assumption of the people who have been drafting a constitution for us is clear, help Thais first then help the others. Probably the other do not what to be helped or rescued, they may only need fundamental guarantee (even in writing) that they are included in the right protection scheme of the country where they live for now– because they are beyond any protection of original states (which may not exist as an official state with capable governing and being governed under international law.)
then they have to deal with the classification of Thais. Who are Thais and who are not. Probably Rancier is right. That is the duty of state-machine.
Filed under: Political Sciences, Security
June 11, 2007 • 7:10 pm 0
Today I attended “Indeterminate Geographies of Political Violence in Southern Thailand” in PhD PROGRAM COLLOQUIUM at Uni. It was interesting but the room is always cold. Yuck. never get used to it after all.
Filed under: Political Sciences
~Meaw & More~ 