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New perspectives on mainland Southeast Asia

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Entries Tagged as 'Trans-Border Issues'

Burma sanctions debate simmers

November 23rd, 2009 by Nicholas Farrelly · Add a Comment

The problem is that engagement with Burma has been tried many times before, and always without success. Nor is it the first time the regime has promised to free Suu Kyi, or that Suu Kyi has expressed her willingness to meet the generals. The patterns are all too familiar, the accommodating noises from the generals [...]

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Tags: Aung San Suu Kyi · Burma · Economics · Than Shwe · Trans-Border Issues

Southeast Asia’s REDD alert

November 23rd, 2009 by Huw Slater, Guest Contributor · 2 Comments

This year’s climate change negotiations have been something of a travelling roadshow. There have been UNFCCC talks in Bonn in June and August, the first leaders meeting of the Major Economies Forum (MEF) in L’Aquila, Italy in July, a New York summit convened by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon in September, another MEF meeting in London [...]

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Tags: ASEAN · Economics · Environment · Trans-Border Issues

Games controversies

November 20th, 2009 by Simon Creak, Guest Contributor · 1 Comment

The mounting tension between Thailand and Cambodia is providing a distinctly unfriendly and unneighbourly backdrop for next month’s Southeast Asian Games in Laos, the motto for which is ‘Generosity, Amity, Healthy Lifestyle’ (see the official website here). Of course, this is why the games are so interesting: they provide a celebration of ‘friendship’ and shared [...]

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Tags: ASEAN · Laos · Trans-Border Issues

Sun, sand and SIGINT?

November 20th, 2009 by Nicholas Farrelly · 1 Comment

In the 1990s, China reportedly established a signals intelligence base on Great Coco Island, though it was never confirmed. And now, Burma’s tourism authorities intend to open the islands up to foreign and domestic tour groups with the first ferry of tourists due to sail on Friday…A return ticket price for the first tour has [...]

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Tags: Burma · China · Militaries · Trans-Border Issues

The core pillar

November 10th, 2009 by Nicholas Farrelly · 18 Comments

Thaksin’s interview is a violation of the monarchy, which is the country’s core pillar and a highly respected institution. It is unacceptable and should have never taken place…Thaksin has also chosen to make a move when the entire nation is joining in wishing His Majesty the King a full recovery and good health. I wonder [...]

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Tags: Media · PAD · Royal family · Thailand · Thaksin · Trans-Border Issues

No FEER

October 28th, 2009 by Nicholas Farrelly · 3 Comments

When this correspondent stepped off the plane in the mid-1990s to begin a reporting life in Asia, the Far Eastern Economic Review was the most successful regional current-affairs magazine in the world. In Asia it was revered for the calibre of its reporters, for its analysis of politics and business and, especially, for getting up [...]

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Tags: Media · Trans-Border Issues

Beyond brittle Burma boycotts

October 28th, 2009 by Nicholas Farrelly · 6 Comments

David Scott Mathieson, the Human Rights Watch “Burma-watcher”, has written an essay on Australian approaches to Burma.  From certain perspectives I expect this would be considered a parochial matter. But my sense is that the current debate here in Australia around, crudely, “sanctions” and “engagement” is one that speaks to the wider yearning for a [...]

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Tags: Aung San Suu Kyi · Burma · Economics · Militaries · Than Shwe · Trans-Border Issues

Thai Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn in Australia

October 23rd, 2009 by Nicholas Farrelly · 2 Comments

The National Archives of Australia have substantial holdings on Thai Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn’s years in Australia.  One of the files is “Closed”, some are currently “Withheld pending agency advice” or “Not yet examined”, and others are “Open”.  The archival material covers the Crown Prince’s initial time at the King’s School in Sydney and his training [...]

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Tags: History · Royal family · Thailand · Trans-Border Issues

To be a fly on the wall

October 21st, 2009 by Nicholas Farrelly · Add a Comment

The Asean summit will be the first occasion the Burmese junta’s Prime Minister, Thein Sein, can meet exile Burmese CSOs [Civil Society Organizations]. Thein Sein will meet with nine other Asean leaders on October 23.
Thein Sein threatened to boycott the last Asean meeting if Thailand proposed Burmese exile groups have a representative at the Asean [...]

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Tags: ASEAN · Burma · Militaries · Trans-Border Issues

Professor Dr. Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn Mahidol

October 19th, 2009 by Nicholas Farrelly · 4 Comments

Over at Political Prisoners in Thailand there is a forensic analysis of Princess Chulabhorn Mahidol’s academic career.  The analysis was motivated by the recent award of the Windaus Medal to the princess.  New Mandala readers with interests in academic politics or royal careers will probably find the treatment instructive.

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Tags: Education · Royal family · Thailand · Trans-Border Issues