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Grouchio posted:Out of curiosity, why exactly is Singapore so against free speech and press? And what can be done in the future to improve such human rights? this is good reading quote:The Chinese and Malay media were slow to adjust to the new realities of a sovereign, multi-racial republic; they sometimes acted with immigrant, diaspora instincts, instead of media with a national vision. As for the English press, The Straits Times made the strategic error of, first, treating the opposition PAP as communist-leaning troublemakers, and then, transferring its headquarters to Kuala Lumpur in preparation for the union with Malaysia. The newspaper’s initial anti-PAP stand and its 13 years in KL, from 1959 to 1972, meant that it could not draw on the prestige of having played a leading role in the country’s early nationalism. The Straits Times is remembered by Lee and the Old Guard as colonially hung-over “birds of passage” who quit when the going got tough. The assessment is unfair, given that even Lee worked hard for merger and shed tears when it did not last. But the paper’s failure to Singaporeanise itself promptly in 1965 shows that it, like the Chinese and Malay press, grossly underestimated the resolve and ability of the PAP to wrest Singapore out of the past and establish it as a modern, developed, multi-racial society. The PAP view of journalists in Singapore is, not unreasonably, that it succeeded in spite of them. Lee said in his memoirs: "My early experience in Singapore and Malaya shaped my views about the claim of the press to be the defender of truth and freedom of speech. The freedom of the press was the freedom of its owners to advance their personal and class interests." note the confluence of old socialist thinking re: foreign class/capitalist interests, and Leninist/centralist attitudes as to how political mandates are produced. This has shifted over time, but in general the Singapore govt tends to emphasize foreign backing. This was true during the late 1980s Francis Seow affair (ie, the question of what, exactly, a US diplomat was up to) and remains true even as recently as the TheRealSingapore website shutdown: quote:The MDA believes this editorial strategy of deceiving readers and doctoring articles was an attempt to increase traffic to TRS, and thus boost advertising revenue. In so doing, TRS, including its two foreign editors, were seeking to profit at the expense of Singapore's public interest and national harmony... as for "what can be done": discourage things that would reinforce the idea that the dissident press is either cynically self-interested from a foreign position of immunity to any consequent social disorder, or straightforwardly incompetent (ie avoid Ngerng-flavoured scandal-mongering). To that end, selective and high-end local publishers are a great advancement.
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Aug 10, 2015 18:11
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Grouchio, heads up before your interview. poo poo done got stirred up in Myanmar. http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/08/1...&_r=0&referrer= Cutting Shwe Mann out of the picture is a clear indicator that the military is not remotely interested in seeing how democracy directs itself. ASSK barred and Shwe Mann deposed as a party leader, cutting him off from power.... I guess they're just looking to reappoint Thein Sein? It's going to be a long road to anything resembling democracy still.
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Aug 13, 2015 17:06
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Interview recieved! 1. How confident are you (and those around you) that Aung Sang Suu Kyi will emerge victorious in the elections this November? ASSK may win in her district but her party may win about 30% - 40% of seats at Parliament. (It is hard to say that she would emerge victorious in the coming election. Vice-chairman of the USDP, current ruling party, and Chairman of Parliament was thrown under house-arrest a couple of days ago as he has been in a very good relation with ASSK.) 2. Who is running against Aung Sang Suu Kyi and her party in these elections? Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) is the largest party. There are about 90 parties going for election. 3. How heavily has the transitory government in Burma censured the media/ free press in recent years? In comparison, to the previous decade? Do you hope that such censorship will be lessened over time? We can say that no censorship except for military-related news. Very much improved compared to the previous decade. No, we don’t hope that such censorship will be lessened over time. 4. Does the influence and international recognition of Aung Sang Suu Kyi appear to overshadow the accomplishments of her colleagues and deputies to you and/or to the Burmese people? Yes, it does. 5. Do you believe that both the Burmese people and the government are aware of how important these elections are as a means of gaining international legitimacy and prestige? Yes, I do. 6. How unstable is the current road to democracy in regards to these elections? Could the military intervene in said elections and desperately cling onto power? Low likely is this? Very unstable. It is very likely that military intervenes in elections and desperately cling onto power. 7. Has Thein Sein done an adequate job at transitioning Burma towards the road to democracy in his tenure? No, he hasn’t done adequately but things get improved, I must say. 8. Do you think Aung Sang Suu Kyi and successive governments would be capable of healing sectarian wounds and resolving issues with Burma’s various minority ethnicities? I’m not sure that ASSK and successive governments would be capable. 9. What immediate policies would you believe that Aung Sang Suu Kyi would tackle first, if victorious? She would focus on economics first for getting foreign investment. 10. Do you think it is possible or necessary for foreign aid to ensure that this transition to democracy runs smoothly? Yes, I do. 11. What are your hopes for the future in Burma generally? I hope to get economic condition and education system better. 12. (Bonus Question) Are you more comfortable with the country’s name being Burma or Myanmar? I’m more comfortable with Myanmar but I don’t mind being called Burma.
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Aug 14, 2015 17:45
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We will be in your news stations today. Very political location and timing. Police were unusually quick to confirm it as a bomb. Not sure which way this points, but the rumor mill is in high gear.
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Aug 17, 2015 14:07
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well it's not going to do tourism any good. I along with every other person have a recent selfie of myself at that spot.
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Aug 17, 2015 14:10
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" Explosion rocks Bangkok commercial hub, killing at least 12 people, reports say -ABC -AU posted:A bomb has exploded outside a Hindu shrine in central Bangkok, killing at least 12 people and wounding scores more, police sources say. Also a Guardian article: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/17/bangkok-rocked-by-explosion-at-busy-road-junction - about the same information, but with map! Also according to bangkok post; EOD police have said the device could of been hidden in a motorcycle, and at least one more device has been found in the area. Edit also: 'Army chief Gen Udomdej Sitabutr: No enforcement of the state of emergency decree in Bangkok' Hopefully this just a one off and doesn't lead to anything escalating.
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Aug 17, 2015 14:58
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I'm not going all Brown Moses here, but from the position of the bomb it must have been in a bicycle or motorbike, or passing by laterally in a larger vehicle. I really couldn't tell, but that area is always packed to the gills with motorbikes thronged at the front of that very busy intersection. The only way to have the blast come from in front of my car was passing the other day. Locally if they are now saying it is an improvised explosive device, but who knows what the hell that means. Stay safe, diaper sniper. As to who did it, the police were very quick to recognize it as a bomb and very quick to comment on everything, but anyone could be involved who knows.
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Aug 17, 2015 16:39
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Apparently one of the devices (undetonated) was attached to a support pillar for the BTS. No one has claimed responsibility yet. Could be extremists, could be in-country separatists over the Redshirt/Yellowshirt hoo-hah. It remains unclear at this point.
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Aug 17, 2015 17:06
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Not to worry, today's ping pong bomb or m79 grenade (who knows?) rolled into the water at Thaksin Pier without causing any harm to anything. That's more like our usual routine here.
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Aug 18, 2015 09:23
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So the Bangkok Police are saying guy is the bomber...
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Aug 18, 2015 17:34
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Sheng-ji Yang posted:So the Bangkok Police are saying guy is the bomber... That's what has been going around, yeah. The Thai internet tabloids thought they had an ID today but that was somewhat exaggerated.
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Aug 18, 2015 17:45
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Sheng-ji Yang posted:So the Bangkok Police are saying guy is the bomber... Guy must be having a lovely week. First he loses his backpack, then he sees on the news that there is a nationwide man hunt after him. Also guy looks like a giant nerd. Is there the a Thailand terrorist group known for being full of nerds?
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Aug 18, 2015 17:52
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Sheng-ji Yang posted:So the Bangkok Police are saying guy is the bomber... Is there any significance that he's wearing a yellow t-shirt? I'm not clued up on this red-shirt/yellow-shirt thing...
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Aug 18, 2015 18:00
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Well the yellow shirts are basically in power so it could be a red shirt trying to be ironic/bad attempt at false flag or, uh, unrelated? He seems to also be wearing yellow wristbands(?) which is sorta weird.
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Aug 18, 2015 18:37
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Sheng-ji Yang posted:Well the yellow shirts are basically in power so it could be a red shirt trying to be ironic/bad attempt at false flag or, uh, unrelated? He seems to also be wearing yellow wristbands(?) which is sorta weird. My guess is to cover up identifying tattoos
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Aug 18, 2015 18:41
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Would it be out of the ordinary for a Muslim man in Thailand to not have a beard? Cause that guy doesn't look like he has one. Possibly circumstantial evidence against their involvement?
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Aug 18, 2015 21:38
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Whole lot of Asian people just plain can't grow beards. Means nothing one way or the other.
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Aug 18, 2015 22:02
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Bangkok Post article here with quotes from the National Police chief, after they dredged up the remnants of the canal bomb: http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/security/659988/sathorn-pier-canal-searched-for-pipe-bomb-remnants One quote I found confusing, where he's talking about the perpetrators re: the Erawan bombing and the failed bridge bombing... quote:Pol Gen Somyot said there were more than one person behind the two bombings and that both Thais and foreign nationals were involved. Anyone know what he means when he says a foreigner couldn't have walked onto the bridge? Is that just a weird translation or Thais being Thais or is there some reason a foreigner couldn't have gone up there?
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Aug 19, 2015 02:44
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Sheng-ji Yang posted:Well the yellow shirts are basically in power so it could be a red shirt trying to be ironic/bad attempt at false flag or, uh, unrelated? He seems to also be wearing yellow wristbands(?) which is sorta weird. Sounds like Thailand may have gotten its first self-radicalizeds with a foreign bombmaker for support. Foreign bombmaker, blowing up a hindu shrine in a touristy area? Sounds like the MO of Al Qaeda or ISIL.
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Aug 19, 2015 07:36
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ReindeerF posted:Not to worry, today's ping pong bomb or m79 grenade (who knows?) rolled into the water at Thaksin Pier without causing any harm to anything. That's kind of amazing. And I wouldn't be all that surprised if the Hindu/Buddhist shrine bombing was some of the southern secessionists having a Bright Idea. Alternatively, could just be a conveniently crowded street location and the shrine thing is just a coincidence. Are there any groups that have made a point of loving with tourism in the past in Thailand? Neither the location nor the target are really the secessionists' historical style, is why I'm hesitant about that theory. Goatse James Bond fucked around with this message at 12:04 on Aug 19, 2015 |
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Aug 19, 2015 11:59
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GreyjoyBastard posted:That's kind of amazing. Wouldn't the secessionists of claimed it though... or any of the other groups that people have named as likely for that matter. Committing a political bombing with out saying why seems so pointless.
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Aug 19, 2015 12:13
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dr_rat posted:Wouldn't the secessionists of claimed it though... or any of the other groups that people have named as likely for that matter. Committing a political bombing with out saying why seems so pointless. That would make the most sense, wouldn't it!
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Aug 19, 2015 13:22
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GreyjoyBastard posted:That would make the most sense, wouldn't it! Stupid world, not always making perfect sense.
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Aug 19, 2015 15:18
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Here's the arrest warrant (not translated) and description of the guy they're looking for now. The reward for information leading to his apprehension has been set at one million baht. There will be interfaith observances at the shrine Friday starting 7am.
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Aug 19, 2015 15:43
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Chantilly Say posted:Here's the arrest warrant (not translated) and description of the guy they're looking for now. Wow, he looks like Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.
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Aug 19, 2015 20:07
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I told you the death penalty wasn't a deterrent!
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Aug 19, 2015 21:28
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Well looks like the next big objective in the War on Terror will be to find and destroy Al-qaeda's Dzhokhar Tsarnaev cloning labs.
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Aug 19, 2015 23:21
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CronoGamer posted:Bangkok Post article here with quotes from the National Police chief, after they dredged up the remnants of the canal bomb: http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/security/659988/sathorn-pier-canal-searched-for-pipe-bomb-remnants The quote above and other statement by Thai police show once again - they literally do not know what they are talking about.
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Aug 20, 2015 09:42
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Positive Optimyst posted:The quote above and other statement by Thai police show once again - they literally do not know what they are talking about.  Is the Thai police force this incompetent because the military would prefer them underfunded?
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Aug 20, 2015 09:45
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This should tell you all you need to know about the Thai police: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Diamond_Affair Basically the Thai Police get a call from Saudi Arabia about a blue diamond stolen and sent to Thailand. The police find the fence, give the Saudis a cheap fake and when the Saudis send a bunch of diplomats to find out what happened they are all murdered in the street 'by Hezbollah'. There is also the story of a police officer who murdered a tourist and got spared the death sentence because he had previously been crowned Policeman Of The Year.
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Aug 20, 2015 09:55
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CeeJee posted:This should tell you all you need to know about the Thai police: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Diamond_Affair
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Aug 20, 2015 10:05
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all of them
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Aug 20, 2015 10:19
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Grouchio posted:Are there any other lovely police forces in Southeast Asia? Are there any countries in SEA not governed by corruption?
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Aug 20, 2015 17:54
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Diet Crack posted:Are there any countries in SEA not governed by corruption? I do wonder how the Philippines and Indonesia will manage to become world-class powers by the end of this century...
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Aug 20, 2015 22:30
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Diet Crack posted:Are there any countries in SEA not governed by corruption? Singapore? Well, aside from the kind of high-level, backscratching corruption that exists in every nation on earth.
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Aug 20, 2015 22:54
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Grouchio posted:..... Most everyone speaks English in the Philippines so that's a headstart.
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Aug 20, 2015 23:01
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E:Wrong thread
CommieGIR fucked around with this message at 04:02 on Aug 21, 2015 |
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Aug 21, 2015 03:36
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CommieGIR posted:North Korea is doing the usual: Wrong thread I think?
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Aug 21, 2015 03:46
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Daduzi posted:Singapore? Well, aside from the kind of high-level, backscratching corruption that exists in every nation on earth. Then Singapore Inc. turns around and invests the profits from the above into selling expensive capital goods/military hardware to regional governments and companies, so they get the corrupt elites coming and going. Meanwhile Singapore's private sector runs on surplus educated youths from around the region who have no avenue for success at home and buy into the Singapore myth of meritocracy. If they're ethnic Chinese they even have a chance of succeeding. Soy Division fucked around with this message at 05:03 on Aug 21, 2015 |
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Aug 21, 2015 04:57
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Gail Wynand posted:Singapore's raison d'être is cashing in on its neighbors' corruption. They have a fancy airline and airport to get you in, casinos for laundering your cash, bank secrecy and a favorable tax regime for stashing it, and high end shopping/restaurants/hotels/investment property for spending it. Kind of like Vegas, except with a way more desirable location. Singapore has a population in the ballpark of Norway or Denmark (~5m), it cannot subsist on the Liechtenstein/Bermuda model of a concentrated financial haven, and in any case Singapore is traditionally resistant to financial liberalization rather, Singapore revolves around value-adding to imports which are then re-exported; this only works because the stuff is being transshipped there anyway. Its prominence can be observed in imports and exports as percentage of GDP (~160%, ~190%), and its dominant trade partners are either Malaysia or EU/US/JP, not its sketchier immediate neighbours I mean, it's not wrong, sketchy cronies from immediate neighbours do put their money in Singapore, but that's not the primary economic activity
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Aug 21, 2015 07:06
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