Martial Law in Thailand continues to choke-off dissent and cover-up the past

Posted on July 17, 2010 at 9:17 am in

The worst part of censorshipselling news

  • Thai Academics Shut Down

    Thai academics are being intimidated out of speaking
    out on a large scale, according to University World
    News, a London-based publication for academics. In
    an article by Yojana Sharma, published on July 11, the
    publication said that “broadcasting freely is no longer a
    simple and safe matter since the government
    crackdown against Red Shirt protesters in May.”
    “When Thai newspapers quote English-language newspapers they distort the news. I explained to my listeners that
    Thai newspapers don’t give the right translations,” said Suda Rangkupan, a lecturer in linguistics at Bangkok’s
    Chulalongkorn University.
    “Government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn described Red Shirt broadcasters as a “threat to national security”. But Suda said only the radio stations that supported the democracy movements were closed whereas those run by the pro-government Yellow Shirts were still open even though they were also community radio
    stations. » The full Asia Sentinel article – Written by Yojana Sharma – Published July 12,2010

  • Bangkok: International Media under Fire

    Although nearly a month has passed since the Thai
    government forcefully ended the Bangkok protests by
    the Red Shirt followers of deposed Premier Thaksin
    Shinawatra, the conflict persists. Now the Thai
    authorities and segments of Thai society have opened
    up a new flank. They are on a collision course with the
    foreign media.» The full Asia Sentinel article -
    Written by Haseenah Koyakutty – Published June 15,2010

  • Protest by disabled vendors dispersed
    A protesting group of 200 disabled lottery vendors – including a number of blind sellers – gathering yesterday near the Government House were dispersed by police under the state of emergency, although their demonstration was peaceful. » The full Nation article – Published on June 9, 2010
    Protest by disabled vendors dispersed Image source
  • May 18 | Thai Media joins government in spreading hate –
    (International Herald Tribune) – A constant crawl at the bottom of television screens, which started running in March on two government-owned stations, makes the case that “malevolent” protesters are hurting the country and should go home. And an advertisement implores, “Thais should love each other because we all live in the same country.”
    “The Thai people love peace but when we go to war, we are not fearful,” read one of the dozens of messages exhorting people to oppose the protest movement that has paralyzed parts of Bangkok for more than seven weeks.
    At the same time the government has shut down an opposition television station and at least 420 Web sites affiliated with the red shirt movement.
    Officials are also accusing red shirts of trying to overthrow the monarchy, an incendiary charge that protest leaders reject. » The full International Herald Tribune article By By Thomas Fuller.

Fighting intolerance image source Tolerance.org

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To the Rescue! – Learn first aid responses to a variety of emergency scenarios

Posted on July 11, 2010 at 9:23 am in
Act F.A.S.T.
  • FACE
    Ask the person to smile.
    Does one side of the face droop? 
  • ARMS
    Ask the person to raise both arms.
    Does one arm drift downward?
  • SPEECH
    Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence.
    Are the words slurred?  Can he/she repeat the sentence correctly?
  • TIME
    If the person shows any of these symptoms, time is important. 
    Call 911 or get to the hospital fast. Brain cells are dying.
    More from – Stroke.org

    • Warning signs of a stroke Image source

CPR Saves Lives Image source

“The thing that’s killing people is inaction,” said Dr. Michael Sayre of Ohio State University, who headed the association’s team that drafted the new recommendations.
Sayre said people not trained in CPR should do two things when they encounter an adult who has suddenly collapsed: first, call emergency services; and second, begin pushing “hard and fast” in the center of the person’s chest.
This is necessary to maintain vital blood flow, according to experts. Chest compressions should continue until emergency medical services responders arrive, Sayre said. Read Article » By Will Dunham – Reuters

  • The New York Times – Learning Network – Understanding Medical Responses to Emergencies –
    Overview | Students review their understanding of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. They then learn about other types of medical responses to common emergency situations and evaluate the importance of CPR. Go to this Health and Science Lesson.
  • The New York Times – Learning Network – To the Rescue! –
    Overview | Students learn about the trial of an automated cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) machine. They then investigate and role play first aid responses to a variety of emergency scenarios. Go to this Health and Science Lesson.

Tibetans lose interest in playing by China’s rules and Bejiing is striking back

Posted on July 2, 2010 at 3:58 am in

Even prominent figures are taking a stand and Bejiing is striking back

BEIJING — Karma Samdrup and his two younger brothers were the kind of Tibetans who put the Chinese Communist Party at ease. Vaunted environmentalists, they were pillars of their community who steered clear of politics. Even better, Mr. Samdrup had become a rich philanthropist and planned to donate part of his immense Tibetan art collection to a state-run museum…. (continued after the picture)

Playing by China's rules
Karma Samdrup, shown in December 2008, is a wealthy Tibetan who prospered within the Chinese system. In a sign that Mr. Samdrup’s case has reached the highest echelons of power, the two books about him were recently banned by government censors in Beijing. » image source.

Mr. Pu says the legal process against his client has been flawed. He was not allowed to see Mr. Samdrup for six months, and it was only on the eve of the trial that the two were allowed to meet. Their entire 30-minute exchange, he said, was videotaped by the police, making a frank exchange nearly impossible.
During the hearing on Tuesday, according to the lawyer, Mr. Samdrup pleaded not guilty and told the court his interrogation had been accompanied by daily beatings from the police and fellow prisoners. He also said he was drugged with a substance that made his eyes and ears bleed, all part of an effort to force him to sign a confession. His wife estimates he lost at least 40 pounds in custody.
Although the trial is closed to the public, Ms. Woeser said many Tibetans were nervously awaiting news of the proceedings, which continued Wednesday.
“People are very angry, but they are also afraid,” she said. “The feeling is that if someone as influential as Karma can be taken down, none of us is safe.” » The full New York Times article – By Andrew Jacobs – Published: June 23, 2010.

  • The New York Times – Learning Network – The Torture Question –
    Overview | Students will research the recent history of torture in the U.S., examine opinions about whether torture is ever justified, and engage in a debate on the issue. Go to this Law and Society Lesson. Related background on: Torture in China
  • The New York Times – Learning Network – Splitting the Motherland? –
    Overview | Students learn about the issues surrounding Tibet’s struggle for independence since China’s invasion in 1950. They then write dialogues discussing the issue from opposing points of view. Go to this ESL, Law and Society Lesson.

Bet on Private Sector for Recovery Could Prove Risky

Posted on July 1, 2010 at 9:10 am in

The world’s rich countries are now conducting a dangerous experiment.

They are repeating an economic policy out of the 1930s
— starting to cut spending and raise taxes before a recovery is
assured — and hoping today’s situation is different enough to assure
a different outcome.
The parallels to 1937 are not reassuring. From 1933 to 1937, the United States economy
expanded more than 40 percent, even surpassing its 1929 high. But the recovery was still
not durable enough to survive Roosevelt’s spending cuts and new Social Security tax. In
1938, the economy shrank 3.4 percent, and unemployment spiked.
We are left to hope that we have absorbed just enough of the 1930s lesson. » The full New York Times article – By David Leonhardt – Published: June 29, 2010.

Its a puzzle Image source

  • The New York Times – Learning Network – Examining Key World Economies and Comparing Their Current Volatility -
    Overview | Students review key economic terms and ideas necessary for understanding world economies. They then research the economies of countries in the Group of 8 (20) and present how their economies have changed over the past five years and how the relationships among these countries affect each other in light of world events. Go to this Economy and Society Lesson.
  • The New York Times – Learning Network – A Plan for Recovery-
    Overview | Students examine the “who, what, where, when, why and how” of the proposed stimulus plan for the U.S. economy; they then write their own proposal outlining how stimulus funds might benefit their community. Go to this Economy and Society Lesson.
  • The New York Times – Learning Network – Comparing the 1929 Stock Market Crash to Today’s Wall Street Crisis –
    Overview | Students use resources from The New York Times to compare the circumstances under which the Great Depression came about to the circumstances of the current economic crisis. Go to this Economy and Society Lesson.

Drip by drip, discontent is revealed – - Compare and Contrast: Iran and Thailand

Posted on June 12, 2010 at 1:37 am in

Iran

Across Iran, Anger Lies Behind Face of Calm

A medical school professor recently picked up a green marker to write notes on a white board for his students, and then with a smile chose another color, saying he might otherwise be arrested for using green, the color of the political opposition.
The vanguard of the new political elite is now the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, which oversees Iran’s nuclear and missile programs and has extended its control over the economy and the machinery of state. It has improved its ability to control the street, to monitor electronic communications and keep tabs on university campuses, and its alumni head the government’s security organs. » The full New York Times article – By Will Yong and Michael Slackman – Published: June 11, 2010

Iran protest AFP/File

The security services made clear in the days leading to the anniversary that anyone taking to the streets would be dealt with harshly. On Friday, people in Tehran reported receiving a threatening text message on their cellphones.
“Dear citizen, you have been tricked by the foreign media and you are working on their behalf,” the message read. “If you do this again, you will be dealt with according to Islamic law.”
The people are more aware than before, but they stay quiet on fear of death,” said an 80-year-old woman as she sat in her kitchen frying onions for a rice dish. “They have killed so many of the young and the well intentioned. Even the shah did not kill like this. They rule the people at the tip of a spear, but the people don’t want them anymore.” » The full New York Times article – By Will Yong and Michael Slackman – Published: June 11, 2010

Thailand

Thailand’s martial law will continue for another three months, Abhisit’s military-backed government decided

“The government’s use of terrorism charges to go after Red Shirt leaders, as well as Thaksin, is inappropriate for what was mostly a peaceful political movement that did not target civilians,” said the Belgium-based International Crisis Group on July 5.
The emergency decree, described by the ICG as “draconian,” conveniently also “grants officials immunity from prosecution,” the ICG said. » The full Asia Sentinel article – By Richard S. Ehrlich – July 8, 2010

‣ Would Abhisit’s party, which hasn’t won a nationwide poll since 1992, be in power if their “yellow shirted” supporters had not hijacked the airports and held them hostage for 8 days in 2008 stranding hundreds of thousands of travelers?

Ousting Abhisit May Not End Protests Over ‘Autocratic Rulers’

The current constitution, written after the 2006 coup, set up a Senate in which almost half the members are appointed. It also offered amnesty for generals such as Army Chief Anupong Paojinda, who helped oust Thaksin and (was) calling for parliament to be dissolved.
“Abhisit may resign or dissolve parliament, but that doesn’t necessarily get us anywhere,” said Prudhisan Jumbala, a lecturer at Bangkok’s Chulalongkorn University. “Nobody can implement the rule of law without the cooperation of society, and neither side trusts the authority of the state.”
The conflict underpins a split within Thailand’s 67 million people over the extent to which the country’s leaders should be elected. » The full Bloomberg article – By Daniel Ten Kate.

Police expect 80,000 protesters

  • A Learning Foundation Lesson – Similarities and differences between Iran and Thailand – Go to this ESL Compare and Contrast Lesson.
  • The New York Times - Learning Network – The Political is Personal –
    Overview | Students explore their own personal political philosophies by identifying events, people and experiences that have helped shape their beliefs and writing an essay. Go to this Building Society and ESL Lesson.
  • The New York Times - Learning Network – Democracy in Action –
    Overview | Students consider words that reflect their knowledge and opinions about democracy. They then work in groups to research countries that have recently transitioned to democratic forms of government. Their learning is further enhanced by reflecting on what has transpired in these countries to date. Go to this Building Society and Law Lesson.

China Bans Court Evidence Gained Through Torture

Posted on June 9, 2010 at 8:22 am in

BEIJING — The new regulations were issued weeks after the authorities conceded that the confession used to erroneously convict a farmer for a murder was based on torture. The case came to light only after the supposed victim turned up alive and the defendant had spent 10 years in prison. It has provoked national outrage.
Several lawyers said that they were curious to see the extent to which the regulations would be carried out, pointing out that China often fails to abide by its own rules and regulations.
The larger problem, legal experts say, is the disconnect between China’s stated desire for the rule of law and the Communist Party’s insistence that the judicial system serve the party. » The full New York Times article – By Andrew Jacobs – Published: May 31, 2010.

Capital Punishment

  • The New York Times – Learning Network – The Torture Question –
    Overview | Students will research the recent history of torture in the U.S., examine opinions about whether torture is ever justified, and engage in a debate on the issue. Go to this Law and Society Lesson.
  • The New York Times – Learning Network – A Question of Punishment –
    Overview | Students examine their own understanding of capital punishment as well as the recent reversal by some conservative politicians in their public stance on the death penalty. Through discussion and research, students explore the nuances of the debate surrounding capital punishment. Go to this Law and Society Lesson.
  • The New York Times – Learning Network – Science in the Court Room –
    Overview | Students reflect on their opinions about the use of DNA databases in criminal investigations. They then generate a list of questions they have about DNA and its importance, prepare and give brief presentations, and then further discuss their positions on how DNA information should be collected and used by police. Go to this Law and Society Lesson.

Afghan Enclave Offers Model to Rebuild, and Rebuff Taliban

Posted on June 6, 2010 at 8:12 am in

Singapore (Reuters) – June 6, 2010 –
The international community needs to start providing more economic and social assistance to Afghanistan to ensure the nation can function on its own, Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Sergei Ivanov, said on Sunday.
“One thing is clear, a lot should be done in just starting very primitive social economic life in Afghanistan. If we don’t do that, any military presence will be in vain,” Ivanov told the Shangri-La Dialogue. » The full Reuters article – By Harry Suhartono and Nopporn Wong-Anan.

In our Posts – 2009 – Jurm was tormented by warlords in the 1990s, and though it never fell to the Taliban, the presence of the central government, even today, is barely felt. The idea to change that was simple: people elected the most trusted villagers, and the government in Kabul, helped by foreign donors, gave them direct grants — money to build things like water systems and girls’ schools for themselves.

girl's school Jurm Afganistan
Original image source » Holly Pickett for The New York Times
Villagers and development workers had to persuade a local mullah to get a girls’ school built in the Jurm District of Afghanistan.

But forcing conditions would have violated a basic principle of the approach: never start a project that is not backed by all members of the community, or it will fail.
“People have to be mentally ready,” said Akhtar Iqbal, Aga Khan’s director in Badakhshan. If they are not, the school or clinic will languish unused, a frequent problem with large-scale development efforts.
Today, many people have water taps, fields grow wheat and it is no longer considered shameful for a woman to go to a doctor. The full New York Times article » By Sabrina Tavernise.

  • The New York Times – Learning Network – Guns, Butter or Both? Debating Troops vs. Development in Afghanistan -
    Overview | What actions can help mend and secure the situation in the war-torn nation of Afghanistan? In this lesson, students consider a proposal to build more schools in Afghanistan rather than sending more troops to secure the struggling nation, then conduct research and present their policy recommendations in a debate. Go to this Building Society Lesson.
  • World Wise School – Perceptions – This activity is designed to help students understand that perceptions are influenced by personal experience and taste as well as cultural background. Go to Building Society Lesson Worksheet.
  • The New York Times – Learning Network – Exploring the Intersection of Religion and Modernity -
    Overview: Students examine the ways in which various religious faiths have responded to social, ideological, and technological changes in ‘modern’ times. Go to this Building Society Lesson.

In our Posts – 2008 – Thaksin gives up on getting justice in Thailand

Posted on June 3, 2010 at 9:00 am in

Thaksin Shinawatra

Thailand – The former prime minister of Thailand, Thaksin Shinawatra, skipped a court appearance Monday and announced he was seeking refuge in London, leaving behind more than $2 billion frozen by the generals who ousted him from power two years ago.
He said that in Thailand he had been the victim of a “political assassination” and said that his enemies had used dictatorial powers to persecute his family. “My family and I were continually treated unfairly, without justice or truth,” he said. » in this New York Times article – By Thomas Fuller – Published: August 11, 2008.
Update | Thailand’s Political Drama Continues – Interview from The Asia Sentinel.

Zardari Zardari Image source

Pakistan – Asif Ali Zardari, the widower of the slain opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, now sits at the pinnacle of Pakistani politics. It is a startling comeback for a man who, though never convicted here, spent 11 years in jail here on corruption and murder charges as one of Pakistan’s most ostracized figures.
Zardari’s sudden revival is a reminder of how Pakistan has veered between military rule and civilian governments that have been dogged by allegations of corruption, and how those cases can be prosecuted — or wiped away — depending on the political wind.
“They always come to me through legality,” Zardari said. “They always have a legal reason. After all, Christ was tried. It is not that they didn’t give him a trial. They did. How good the trial was, that is another thing.”
» The full New York Times Article – By Jane Perlez – Published: Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Damaged Thailand using martial law to cover-up the past and dictate the future

Posted on May 14, 2010 at 2:54 am in

Thailand’s martial law will continue for another three months, Abhisit’s military-backed government decided

Thailand’s army-backed government is now wielding overwhelming surveillance, imprisonment, censorship and other “state of emergency” powers across much of this Buddhist-majority Southeast Asian nation. The United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship, commonly known as the Red Shirts, acknowledge that they have been strangled and are struggling to stay alive. Thousands of cameras are to be installed all over Bangkok, making it probably the most heavily surveilled city in Asia.
“The government’s use of terrorism charges to go after Red Shirt leaders, as well as Thaksin, is inappropriate for what was mostly a peaceful political movement that did not target civilians,” said the Belgium-based International Crisis Group on July 5.
The emergency decree, described by the ICG as “draconian,” conveniently also “grants officials immunity from prosecution,” the ICG said. » The full Asia Sentinel article – By Richard S. Ehrlich – July 8, 2010

Thai military assault in Bangkok

Looking back:

Would Abhisit’s party, which hasn’t won a nationwide poll since 1992, be in power if their “yellow shirted” supporters had not hijacked the airports and held them hostage for 8 days in 2008 stranding hundreds of thousands of travelers?
None of the “yellow shirts” have been convicted for shutting down the airports, nor have inquiries been made to identify and take action against their financial backers. The cable station they use was not closed nor have any of their print publications been banned, whereas persistent and vengeful government attacks have blocked or closed down communications of those that oppose the current government.

BBC News, Bangkok -

The government continues to demonise the red-shirts as “terrorists”, or mere followers of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Prof Thitinan Pongsudhirak believes it is too late for Mr Abhisit. “He had his chance last year and has not been able to get the job done. In fact he has further alienated the reds,” the political scientist from Chulalongkorn University said.
Those fearful of further violence argue that Thai society is more divided now than it was two months ago, because the protests lasted so long, and the denouement was so violent. » The full BBC article – By Vaudine England.

  • The Learning Foundation – Who chooses the way a country is governed? –
    “It’s my country – I can do what I want!” – A Simplified Mock Trial Lesson Plan.
  • The Learning Foundation – Making Good Laws: “Is the Thai Constitution credible?” -
    Go to this Building a Healthy Society and Law Lesson.
  • The New York Times - Learning Network – Democracy in Action –
    Overview | Students consider words that reflect their knowledge and opinions about democracy. They then work in groups to research countries that have recently transitioned to democratic forms of government. Their learning is further enhanced by reflecting on what has transpired in these countries to date. Go to this Building Society and Law Lesson.
  • The New York Times - Learning Network – The Political is Personal –
    Overview | Students explore their own personal political philosophies by identifying events, people and experiences that have helped shape their beliefs and writing an essay. Go to this Building Society and ESL Lesson.

Martial Law defines “democracy” in Thailand

Posted on April 23, 2010 at 2:54 am in

The Thai Justice system Asia Sentinel Thai coup(AFP)

Defining “democracy” in Thailand background:

‣ Before the military was unleashed – Thailand’s prime minister Abhisit speaking in a televised interview with army chief Anupong Paochinda in a show of solidarity with the military, flatly rejected a red shirt offer to call elections in 30 days and hold a vote 60 days later. He said: “There must not be a precedent that allows intimidation to bring about political change” » The full Reuters article – By Jason Szep.

‣ Would Abhisit’s party, which hasn’t won a nationwide poll since 1992, be in power if their “yellow shirted” supporters had not hijacked the airports and held them hostage for 8 days in 2008 stranding hundreds of thousands of travelers?

‣ None of the yellow shirts have been convicted for shutting down the airport, including Kasit Piromya, the current foreign minister who took part and reportedly said the protest was “a lot of fun.” » The full New York Times article. By Thomas Fuller.

‣ Abhisit’s Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban says (the 8 day) blockade of the two airports last year “caused no damage to aviation” so charges are baseless. » The full Bangkok Post article..

‣ Is Thai law biased? » Thai Supreme Court rulings are based on the military created constitution.
‣ Giles Ungpakorn, is now in England after the current government filed Lèse-Majesté charges against him.
He said, “The drafters will claim they are following the policies of the palace, but it’s much more complicated than that, …. Moreover, the monarchy is just one institution. There are 65 million other people in Thailand who deserve an equal say in how the country is run.” The (18th) Thai Constitution has a problem right from the start,… Giving power to unelected civil servants who tend to be very conservative is a step backwards.” » The full Asia Sentinel article – By Daniel Ten Kate.

Thailand’s martial law will continue for another three months, Abhisit’s military-backed government decided

Thailand’s army-backed government is now wielding overwhelming surveillance, imprisonment, censorship and other “state of emergency” powers across much of this Buddhist-majority Southeast Asian nation. The United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship, commonly known as the Red Shirts, acknowledge that they have been strangled and are struggling to stay alive. Thousands of cameras are to be installed all over Bangkok, making it probably the most heavily surveilled city in Asia.
“The government’s use of terrorism charges to go after Red Shirt leaders, as well as Thaksin, is inappropriate for what was mostly a peaceful political movement that did not target civilians,” said the Belgium-based International Crisis Group on July 5.
The emergency decree, described by the ICG as “draconian,” conveniently also” grants officials immunity from prosecution,” the ICG said. » The full Asia Sentinel article – By Richard S. Ehrlich – July 8, 2010

  • WWS – World Wise School – The Blind Men and the Elephant -
    Overview | Students will develop sensitivity to others’ points of view.
    – Students will understand the importance of having as much information as possible before coming to conclusions. Go to this Building Society Lesson Worksheet.
  • The Learning Foundation – Making Good Laws: “Is the Thai Constitution credible?” -
    Go to this Building a Healthy Society and Law Lesson.
  • The New York Times – Learning Network – Democracy in Action -
    Overview | Students consider words that reflect their knowledge and opinions about democracy. Go to this Building a Healthy Society and ESL Lesson.
  • The New York Times – Learning Network – Examining Military Coups Around the World -
    Overview | Students consider military coups and their aftermaths, research famous coups… illustrating those events, and write letters from the perspectives of ousted leaders examined during class. Go to this Law and Society Lesson.

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