Politics
BANGKOK, Thailand -- When a $10 million U.S.-built surveillance blimp for hunting southern Islamist guerrillas spectacularly crashed during the prime minister's visit, it symbolized another military failure against insurgents who are now assassinating more teachers.
"This war is not over," boasted leaflets distributed in the region allegedly by Muslim rebels during Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's visit on Dec. 13.
"Do not count the teachers' corpses just yet," the leaflets warned.
More than 5,000 people on all sides have been killed in the south during the past nine years, including more than 157 teachers.
The mostly Buddhist teachers are targeted because Islamists reject the government's curriculum which pushes integration with Buddhist-majority Thailand, use of Thai language, a sanitized history of the region's rebellion, and other classes.
The guerrillas recently escalated their assassination of teachers, prompting more than 1,200 southern schools to shut down on Dec. 13-14, to protest the lack of security.
"This war is not over," boasted leaflets distributed in the region allegedly by Muslim rebels during Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's visit on Dec. 13.
"Do not count the teachers' corpses just yet," the leaflets warned.
More than 5,000 people on all sides have been killed in the south during the past nine years, including more than 157 teachers.
The mostly Buddhist teachers are targeted because Islamists reject the government's curriculum which pushes integration with Buddhist-majority Thailand, use of Thai language, a sanitized history of the region's rebellion, and other classes.
The guerrillas recently escalated their assassination of teachers, prompting more than 1,200 southern schools to shut down on Dec. 13-14, to protest the lack of security.
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Four days after U.S. President Barack Obama praised Thailand's democracy, the government clamped parts of Bangkok under an Internal Security Act on Thursday (November 22), because "violence may be used" by protesters during their upcoming rally to demand an immediate coup.
"If a large number of people are mobilized by incitement, led by those who seek to overthrow an elected government and democratic rule -- [action] which is against the Constitution -- and there is evidence that violence may be used to achieve those ends, then this is a case of national security," Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra told the nation in a televised broadcast.
The Internal Security Act (ISA) "will be effective from November 22 to 30, 2012," Mrs. Yingluck said on Thursday evening.
A new "Law and Order Administrative Center, under the command of the Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police," will coordinate control, she said.
Thousands of anti-riot police and other security forces were rushing to Bangkok to control the anti-government demonstration.
"If a large number of people are mobilized by incitement, led by those who seek to overthrow an elected government and democratic rule -- [action] which is against the Constitution -- and there is evidence that violence may be used to achieve those ends, then this is a case of national security," Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra told the nation in a televised broadcast.
The Internal Security Act (ISA) "will be effective from November 22 to 30, 2012," Mrs. Yingluck said on Thursday evening.
A new "Law and Order Administrative Center, under the command of the Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police," will coordinate control, she said.
Thousands of anti-riot police and other security forces were rushing to Bangkok to control the anti-government demonstration.
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Afghanistan's Taliban "obviously" could "explore" the possibility of turning Gen. David Patraeus's adultery into anti-American propaganda, but "there are probably other issues that they could focus on, besides the Petraeus matter," U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Thursday (November 15).
Asked if he was concerned about the Taliban creating propaganda from the extramarital affair by former CIA director Gen. Petraeus, who previously led U.S. and coalition forces in Afghanistan, Mr. Panetta replied:
"Obviously, you are never quite sure what the Taliban may or may not use for propaganda purposes, to try to advance their cause.
"Obviously, this is a possible area for them to explore but I think frankly that, you know, that if they want to have an impact, there are probably other issues that they could focus on, besides the Petraeus matter," Mr. Panetta said.
The Taliban consider adultery as a violation of Islam's sharia law, punishable by death.
Afghanistan's Taliban publicly executed suspect men and women, including death by stoning, during their 1996-2001 regime which was toppled by a U.S. invasion.
Asked if he was concerned about the Taliban creating propaganda from the extramarital affair by former CIA director Gen. Petraeus, who previously led U.S. and coalition forces in Afghanistan, Mr. Panetta replied:
"Obviously, you are never quite sure what the Taliban may or may not use for propaganda purposes, to try to advance their cause.
"Obviously, this is a possible area for them to explore but I think frankly that, you know, that if they want to have an impact, there are probably other issues that they could focus on, besides the Petraeus matter," Mr. Panetta said.
The Taliban consider adultery as a violation of Islam's sharia law, punishable by death.
Afghanistan's Taliban publicly executed suspect men and women, including death by stoning, during their 1996-2001 regime which was toppled by a U.S. invasion.
Israel's military has in recent days attacked the Gaza strip with drones and F-16s, and has apparently been preparing for a possible ground war. Israel is using weaponry provided by the United States at the expense to U.S. taxpayers of $3 billion per year. Veterans For Peace member Doug Rawlings adresses the following statement to members of the Israeli military:
BANGKOK, Thailand -- U.S. President Barack Obama's paternal grandfather arrived in Burma during World War Two as a Kenyan cook in Britain's colonial army, fighting Japanese invaders in horrific jungle conditions.
Today, people in Myanmar -- the country formerly known as Burma -- anxiously await the president's arrival during his Asia tour from Nov. 17 to Nov. 20 which also includes visits to Thailand and Cambodia.
Earlier U.S. involvement in the Buddhist-majority nation included visits by three Americans whose careers included the presidency.
But Mr. Obama will be the first to arrive as president in mainland Southeast Asia's biggest country.
He is proud of his ancestor's footsteps.
"Mr. Obama's grandfather, Hussein Onyango Obama, served in Burma during World War Two with the 11th East Africa Division of the King's African Rifles," said Thant Myint-U on his Facebook page.
(Facebook)
Today, people in Myanmar -- the country formerly known as Burma -- anxiously await the president's arrival during his Asia tour from Nov. 17 to Nov. 20 which also includes visits to Thailand and Cambodia.
Earlier U.S. involvement in the Buddhist-majority nation included visits by three Americans whose careers included the presidency.
But Mr. Obama will be the first to arrive as president in mainland Southeast Asia's biggest country.
He is proud of his ancestor's footsteps.
"Mr. Obama's grandfather, Hussein Onyango Obama, served in Burma during World War Two with the 11th East Africa Division of the King's African Rifles," said Thant Myint-U on his Facebook page.
(Facebook)
On October 10th, Yekaterina Samutsevich was freed from prison on appeal. She is one of the three members of the Russian band Pussy Riot who was convicted of hooliganism on August 17th and initially handed a two-year prison sentence for performing a profanity-laden “Punk Prayer” inside Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. According to The Guardian, security camera footage proving that Samutsevich was prevented from joining the others during the performance secured the new ruling. The appeals of Samutsevich’s bandmates Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alyokhina were struck down and their sentence is being upheld.
Yekaterina Samutsevich discusses her jailed bandmates in this AFP video.
Yekaterina Samutsevich discusses her jailed bandmates in this AFP video.
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Thailand's popularly elected, pro-U.S. government suffered a rude wake-up when thousands of people gathered on Sunday (October 28) demanding the military stage an immediate coup.
"I would love to see a coup, because I know this puppet government is here to rob the country," said retired Gen. Boonlert Kaewprasit, the self-declared leader of a new, attractive, anti-government group called Pitak Siam, or Protecting Siam.
Siam is Thailand's pre-1939 name, and is often used for nostalgic, commerical or other reasons.
"If I had the power, a coup would have been staged by now," said Gen. Boonlert, 69, while calling for the protest which was held in Bangkok's prestigious Royal Turf Club stadium.
With his slick black, front-wave hairstyle and frequent big grin, Gen. Boonlert is suddenly the jittery government's newest enemy.
He projects himself as a defender of the nation and its monarchy, and has powerful connections among politicians who opposed Thailand's elected governments in the past.
"I would love to see a coup, because I know this puppet government is here to rob the country," said retired Gen. Boonlert Kaewprasit, the self-declared leader of a new, attractive, anti-government group called Pitak Siam, or Protecting Siam.
Siam is Thailand's pre-1939 name, and is often used for nostalgic, commerical or other reasons.
"If I had the power, a coup would have been staged by now," said Gen. Boonlert, 69, while calling for the protest which was held in Bangkok's prestigious Royal Turf Club stadium.
With his slick black, front-wave hairstyle and frequent big grin, Gen. Boonlert is suddenly the jittery government's newest enemy.
He projects himself as a defender of the nation and its monarchy, and has powerful connections among politicians who opposed Thailand's elected governments in the past.
BANGKOK, Thailand -- The death of Cambodia's Norodom Sihanouk on Monday (Oct. 15) in Beijing symbolized how China had sheltered him in a mansion with personal medical, diplomatic and financial assistance throughout much of his often bloody reign.
Beijing benefitted, especially during the 1970s and 1980s, from its supportive relationship with Sihanouk. But his death at age 89 will not slow China's current rapidly expanding political and economic influence in Cambodia.
Prime Minister Hun Sen, meanwhile, will no longer have to engage in a convoluted relationship with Sihanouk, and may be able to similarly increase his authoritarian power in Cambodia.
Hun Sen has ruled for 27 years, and could benefit by regaling the late Sihanouk with respect during the upcoming funeral and afterwards, while muting details of Sihanouk's treacherous past.
"China enjoyed a degree of appreciation from many Cambodians through its long association with Sihanouk," said Rich Garella in an e-mail interview hours after Sihanouk's death.
Beijing benefitted, especially during the 1970s and 1980s, from its supportive relationship with Sihanouk. But his death at age 89 will not slow China's current rapidly expanding political and economic influence in Cambodia.
Prime Minister Hun Sen, meanwhile, will no longer have to engage in a convoluted relationship with Sihanouk, and may be able to similarly increase his authoritarian power in Cambodia.
Hun Sen has ruled for 27 years, and could benefit by regaling the late Sihanouk with respect during the upcoming funeral and afterwards, while muting details of Sihanouk's treacherous past.
"China enjoyed a degree of appreciation from many Cambodians through its long association with Sihanouk," said Rich Garella in an e-mail interview hours after Sihanouk's death.
The Columbus Free Press hosted a multigenerational gathering of Central Ohio-based activists on Oct 13 where Cheri Honkala said the Democrats have “thrown us down the stairs so many times” that ceasing our support for them is long overdue.
Honkala, who has traveled as an activist with the Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign and as a Green Party candidate, said people in communities around the country are going to make changes.
“It’s going to happen, but we want to make sure it’s the right kind of change.”
She said she was surprised when Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein phoned her to ask that she be her running mate. But Honkala said her background complements Stein’s.
“She’s from Harvard and I’m from the school of hard knocks.”
Honkala has been arrested about 200 times as a result of her work as an activist.
“If you think you’ve done too many things to keep you from running for pubic office, think again, because I’ve done it all,” said Honkala half-jokingly.
Before ending her talk, she said, “thank you to everyone in this room who is working hard to make the world a better place.”
Honkala, who has traveled as an activist with the Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign and as a Green Party candidate, said people in communities around the country are going to make changes.
“It’s going to happen, but we want to make sure it’s the right kind of change.”
She said she was surprised when Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein phoned her to ask that she be her running mate. But Honkala said her background complements Stein’s.
“She’s from Harvard and I’m from the school of hard knocks.”
Honkala has been arrested about 200 times as a result of her work as an activist.
“If you think you’ve done too many things to keep you from running for pubic office, think again, because I’ve done it all,” said Honkala half-jokingly.
Before ending her talk, she said, “thank you to everyone in this room who is working hard to make the world a better place.”