New Mandala

Over the coming months, New Mandala plans to publish a series of interviews with academics, activists and writers who contribute to major debates in mainland Southeast Asian Studies.  These interviews are designed to probe the experiences, arguments and ideas that have helped shape the field.
The first in New Mandala’s series of discussions with prominent personalities is with Georgetown [...]

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In mid 1994 my wife and I set off north on the road that ran between Houayxai and Luang Namtha (northern Laos). Our objective was modest. We wanted to go to a weekly market held in a village just an hour or so along the road. The trip was uneventful. An hour was optimistic, but [...]

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There are rumours circulating in cyberspace that the health of Thailand’s crown prince, Vajiralongkorn, may have deteriorated significantly during a trip to Europe. Do any New Mandala readers have informed comment to make on this?
UPDATE 1: I have been told that press have been invited to a “public” event (at a Bangkok university – perhaps Kasetsart?) [...]

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Over the weekend two Bangkok-resident colleagues sent me images of the cover of the draft constitution that they had received in their letter boxes in the run-up to the referendum. You can’t judge a constitution by its cover, but the two seemed to be identical … except for one minor detail. Are there any other colours [...]

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New Mandala has received the following information from a reader in Thailand.  When asked about the 2007 constitutional referendum, they replied:�
In fact, if I were to comment publicly, technically speaking I would be breaking the law. We recently received a directive from the Commision for Higher Education passing on the guidelines approved by the Cabinet re. forbidding state [...]

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This post is part of New Mandala’s month-long feature on Thailand’s 2007 constitution referendum.�
In Chachoengsao, things are still very quiet.
I have not seen any banners or billboards pointing to the upcoming referendum. From public appearances, one would never know that there will be a referendum on August 19. In the office of the editor of a local [...]

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Events overnight in Bangkok are an indication of the difficulties faced by those who have pressed Thailand’s political “reset” button. Introducing a glossy new draft constitution does not erase the harsh realities that lie just beneath the surface – a democratically elected, but flawed, government has been forcibly overthrown and a much lauded, but flawed, constitution has [...]

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From Kon Thai UK I have received word that this Sunday there will be two Thai festivals held in the United Kingdom.  I imagine that New Mandala readers in proximity to these events may well want to go along.  The details follow:
Thai Candle Procession Manchester
The Festival of Thai culture & Food on 22nd July 2007 [...]

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New Mandala readers who are following arguments about Thailand’s military backed constitution may find much food for thought in a recent article by Thongchai Winichakul.  It has been published by Krungthep Turakij and is available from their website.
Thongchai begins by reflecting that “most people are probably getting bored with politics…” and ends with cautionary words about the implications [...]

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The latest issue of article 2, published by the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) in conjunction with Human Rights SOLIDARITY, a publication of the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), is now available. The issue includes a series of articles on “Thailand’s struggle for constitutional survival.” And the issue also includes a “Transcript of conversation between [...]

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