On preservation of Nepal's traditional culture

Can the Nepali republic preserve and protect the nation' s traditional culture ? Judging from the historical experiences of America, Russia, China, France, India, Germany, Iran, Koreas and Indonesia, it is not a question at all . The culture of a society is preserved by its people who can also reform it by discarding bad elements like foot -binding and also posturing oneself slavishly in front of another human being. All modern societies have made performance of human sacrifice, an once respectable ' traditional culture ' in ancient societies , criminal.

Occurance of natural disasters in Nepal's past

Occurance of natural disasters in Nepal's past

Natural disasters did happen in Nepal even during feudal times in the past when monarchs reigned. The new republic may also have to face those tragedies again although it is hoped not. Contrary to claims of charlatanical characters in different forms , the occurance of natural disasters has no corelations with political systems and even religions.

Nepali nation celebrates second Republic Day

Nepali nation celebrates second Republic Day

Yesterday, Nepal commemorated its second Republic Day and averted a political crisis. Since the abolition of the once deified monarchy two years ago, no paranormal or supranatural phenomenon displaying any signs, or conveying any messages of heavenly displeasure or anger in Nepal has been reported by any creditable channel of information. Its ex-'god'-king Gyanendra is now living as a real human being on earth. Gyanendra is definitely more fortunate than Louis XVI and Nicholas II and he and his children and gradchildren should always be grateful to the magnanimity, mercy and compassion of the broad Nepali masses.

Nepal's ex-king struggles with power outages

Deposed Thai PM speaks to media in Australia

Accused by the 'Yellow' government in Bangkok for "terrorism", ex-PM Thaksin spoke yesterday to Lateline , a programme of the Australian Broadcasting Corportation (ABC) . According to Thaksin, the violence which occured recently in Bangkok was a "professionally done" set-up. The identity of the shadowy and armed 'Black Shirts' is now a subject of speculation among many observers and also analysts of the unrest. Most observers and analysts opine that, like it or hate it, the political situations in Thailand would remain unstable for years to come as the Buddhist-predominant country is pretty deeply divided or fragmented. The protracted crisis in Thailand can be traced back to 2006 when the popularly and constitutionally elected Thaksin government was ousted in a military coup backed by civilian royalists known as 'Yellow Shirts'.

Deposed Thai PM now wanted for "terrorism"

Happy Wesak Day greetings from Clare Street

Clare Street would like to wish all readers who follow the teachings of Gautama in their journey to attain Buddhahoods a Happy Wesak Day.

Nepal's ex-king struggles with power outages

Nepal' s former 'god'-king Gyanendra has now found it difficult to live with frequent (electrical ) power outages in his impoverished country. Nepal, one of the extremely poor countries in the world on earth, was declared a republic on 28 May, 2008, without opposition or resistance of the Nepali military. India, the spiritual homeland of Hinduism that is still a large Hindu-predominant country, proudly proclaimed itself a secular republic three years after it's independence from colonial rule. With the sole exception of tiny Bhutan, all other post-colonial nations in South Asia, viz . India, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Maldives are now republics and no restorationist movement is known.

65th anniversary of Indonesian republicanism

Deposed Thai PM now wanted for "terrorism"

Mr. Thaksin Shinawatra, the democratically elected Prime Minister of Thailand from 2001 to 2006 who was overthrown in a military -staged coup, is now wanted by the ' Yellow ' government for allegedly being a "terrorist". Ex-PM Thaksin was also a policeman-turned-businessman who was convicted by a Thai court for corruption after his ouster and part of his assets has been frozen. Contrary to public perception, the richest leader in Thailand isn' t Thaksin, but King Bhumipol Adulyadej whose ' deafening silence ' on the protracted crisis in his own country has been noted by many observers as well as analysts of Thai politics.

'Red' opposition to persist in Thai parliament

'Red' opposition to persist in Thai parliament

'Red' Opposition leaders in Thailand has reportedly sought to censure the Abhisit government for mishandling the protest in Bangkok . The 'Yellow' government of Abhisit is believed to be military -backed, and serves or functions to buffer royalist elites against the ' Red' masses. The ' Yellow Shirts ' also resorted to street demonstrations and public gatherings to confront as well as pressure the governments of Samak Sundaravej and also Somchai Wongsawat, who were close to Thaksin. Well-known incidents staged by the 'Yellow Shirts' include the massive gathering at the compound of the Government House in Bangkok and prolonged as well as disorderly occupation of civilian airports in 2008.

Political situation in Thailand remains in flux

Political situation in Thailand remains in flux

From the political development in Thailand since the outster of ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra in 2006 , it is abundantly clear that the system of parliamentary democracy is still weak in relation to the institutions of monarchy and military which have also developed a certain degree of civilian support in the Thai society- in the form of the "Yellow Shirts". However, it is also highly self-evident that the status quo of political power distribution has become unacceptable to more and more Thais as the mammoth 'Red Shirts' rally in Bangkok has convincingly shown. Seen in this perspective , the political situation in Thailand is in flux.

Kingly factors in uncertain future of Thailand

Kingly factors in unsettled future of Thailand

According to a news feature in The Independent newspaper in Britain, the richest leader in the world is Thailand' s King Bhumibol Adulyadej, whose only son and the crown prince Maha Vajiralongkorn is, to put it mildly, controversial for his personal lifestyle - even among a section of the ruling elites in the predominantly Buddhist kingdom. However, the crown prince' s connection with and influence in the Thai military establishment is believed to be strong as he is also militarily trained.

Future of Thailand to be determined by Thais

Future of Thailand to be determined by Thais

The future of Thailand is, ultimately, in the hands of the Thai people. Indeed, it has arrived at a cross road in the history of its nationhood. Friends and neighbours can only hope or wish Thailand well from afar. Clare Street would also like to sincerely urge all parties to the conflict to ensure that all journalists can perform their duty in safe condition.

Unfortunate events in Bangkok heartbreaking

Unfortunate events in Bangkok heartbreaking

I have been following fairly closely news reports as well as analyses of the unfortunate events in Bangkok. It is certainly very heartbreaking. From my own observations, social peace and also political stability in Thailand can only be fully restored if and when the structural problem of region - as well as class -based inequality is effectively addressed. The socio -economic disparity between metropolitan Bangkok on one hand and the northern, north-eastern and southern parts of Thailand on the other is evident, while sharpening class-conscious discontents within Bangkok itself is also obvious from a sociological observation. Of course, an end to the current disorders in Bangkok is a necessary pre-condition for the structural question to be addressed by all sides.

Full & clear video of Red Square parade 2010

A full and clear video recording of the Red Square parade on 9 May to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany by the heroic Red Army and partisans is now available in the cyberspace. The weather in Moscow was evidently fine for the spectacular display that serves, inter alia, to restore an undeniable fact of WWII history.

Weather fine for victory party on Red Square

Weather fine for victory party on Red Square

The colourful parade held on the Red Square in Moscow to remember and commemorate the historic victory of the Great Patriotic War has ended. The weather was reportedly fine and the crowd, fairly festive. The hammer-and-sickle red flag was saluted as the banner of victory. Chancellor Angela Merkel represented the new and reunited Germany.

China & Israel thank Soviet Red Army in WWII

China & Israel thank Soviet Red Army in WWII

On the eve of the 65th anniversary of the truly historic victory of the Great Patriotic War, both China and Israel express their gratitude to the Soviet fighters in WWII, who sacrificed so much for world peace. American, British and French soldiers will also join the parade on the Red Square in Moscow later to celebrate the defeat of Nazi Germany.

Eternal glory to Red fighters for world peace

Eternal glory to Red fighters for world peace

May the sun shine on clear sky on 9 May over the Red Square. May all the brave and heroic souls rest in everlasting peace and eternal glory. The Great Patriotic War fought by the Soviet Red Army and Partisans was indeed of vital importance to the global struggle against fascism.

WWII allies to honour Red fighters in Moscow

WWII allies to honour Red fighters in Moscow

The United States, Britain and France are sending official delegations to Moscow to commemorate the victory of the Great Patriotic War at the Red Square. President Hu Jintao will head China's delegation. The USSR supported the Chinese people in their war of resistance against the invasion and occupation of Japan, which began on 7th July, 1937.

Russia to commemorate USSR victory in WWII

Russia to commemorate USSR victory in WWII

Russia will hold a grand military parade in Moscow on coming Sunday to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the truly historic victory of the Great Patriotic War against the invasion of Nazi Germany in WW II. 8,860,000 Red Army fighters were martyred and 20 million lives of all ethnic affiliations in the then Soviet Union died in heroic defiance. After four months of intense street-to-street and building-by-building urban fighting, Berlin was liberated by the Red Army on 2 May , 1945.

Reading Nikolai Ostrovsky' s novel once again

DPM Muhyiddin on English education for M'sia

To be very frank, I do share DPM Muhyiddin Yassin' s essential points on teaching and learning English. Languages, including Malay, Tamil, Hindi and Chinese, are best taught and/or learned with love and fun. Insulting peoples who are not English-educated in the neo-colonial or Orientalist tradition, like ' historian ' Dr. Khoo Kay Kim often does, is counterproductive to the national effort to promote English language.

Singaporean rediscovery of value in Mandarin

Exploring USA's policy & strategy on Myanmar

Recently, I interviewed Associate Professor Jatswan S. Sidhu with the University of Malaya on America's foreign policy as well as strategy on Myanmar/Burma, based on an Asia Society task force report released in March. The problem of Myanmar/Burma is actually rather nuanced.