I'm sad to hear of Mr Greste's imprisonment. It appears very unfair. One of the charges seems to be past links to an outlawed organisation, support for an outlawed organisation (The Muslim Brotherhood). As the Muslim Brotherhood was the democratically elected government of Egypt prior to the military take over, it would appear that anyone who voted for the previous government or interviewed them, or spoke with them when they were legal and proper was in fact supporting a now outlawed organisation...
Tuesday, 21 January 2014
Monday, 20 January 2014
Thailand: Why it matters, Present Troubles, and Pressure and Prognosis
Why Thailand Matters
Nice people, 70 million. Unique culture. 900 year direct Monarchic Society. A Real Kingdom.
World's largest Rice Exporter.
2nd largest economy in SE Asia.
Present Troubles: (Bangkok and North)
A war between New Capitalism and Old Capitalism, a battle between City and Country.
A war between two families using the people to fight the battles.
South:
A separatist movement wishing to become part of Malaysia...a ten year war already.
Pressures: Fuel.
The country has got by very well on very cheap under-the-counter fuel, oil and gas, from Myanmar for decades now. Thailand runs on cheap oil and gas. Myanmar, as it reforms itself, can now sell its oil and gas at world prices, thus the economy of Thailand, now, because of the opening up of Myanmar, is suffering a lot and will suffer more in terms of price of production of...everything.
Sad Prognosis:
Civil War, separation of the state into 3 disparate entities. Very bad for the people, very bad for the poor of the world in terms of an escalating rice price. Very unstable for SE Asia.
Happy Prognosis: Resolution using remarkable and unique well honed Thai methodologies of dispute settlement and social inclusion, requiring some redistribution of money.
Nice people, 70 million. Unique culture. 900 year direct Monarchic Society. A Real Kingdom.
World's largest Rice Exporter.
2nd largest economy in SE Asia.
Present Troubles: (Bangkok and North)
A war between New Capitalism and Old Capitalism, a battle between City and Country.
A war between two families using the people to fight the battles.
South:
A separatist movement wishing to become part of Malaysia...a ten year war already.
Pressures: Fuel.
The country has got by very well on very cheap under-the-counter fuel, oil and gas, from Myanmar for decades now. Thailand runs on cheap oil and gas. Myanmar, as it reforms itself, can now sell its oil and gas at world prices, thus the economy of Thailand, now, because of the opening up of Myanmar, is suffering a lot and will suffer more in terms of price of production of...everything.
Sad Prognosis:
Civil War, separation of the state into 3 disparate entities. Very bad for the people, very bad for the poor of the world in terms of an escalating rice price. Very unstable for SE Asia.
Happy Prognosis: Resolution using remarkable and unique well honed Thai methodologies of dispute settlement and social inclusion, requiring some redistribution of money.
I appreciate having some letters published in Nation and the Bangkok Post regarding my concerns for Thailand but with the latest death and injuries I believe it is best now to stop with the letters and just to hope that there will be no more deaths or injuries. Best wishes to Thailand. My wishes and prayers are with you.
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