<p>Renowned historian <a href="http://sydney.edu.au/southeast-asia-centre/thai-studies-2014/speakers.shtml">Thongchai Winichakul</a> gave a stinging critique of the Thai study of history at the opening ceremony of the Southeast Asian Studies Institute at Thammasat University-Rangsit on July 18, 2013.</p> <p>Thongchai blamed the insular Thai-style teaching of history for Thais’ ignorance and unjustified superiority complex in national history and spotty knowledge about their immediate neighbours. He contended that the extreme Thai-centrism in the study of history—the narcissistic attitude about the nature and source of the Thai identity—has been a major factor in the failure of Thai education. He calls for a more self-reflective, critical and integrated way of learning history and building knowledge, that places Thailand as a part of Southeast Asia—not a singular diamond of the region that sparkles only in the Thai mind.</p> <p></p>

<p>I would hate anyone to think this column was kicking a man when he is down, but the administrators of Chulalongkorn University (‘we’re number one in pink’) have once again shown a tenuous grasp of what might constitute education.</p> <p></p>

<p>China has desperately attempted to reinvent its new image in Southeast Asia, a region long considered as the Chinese sphere of influence. As part of this effort, it recently proposed “the Chinese Dream” policy which stressed on China’s peaceful and civilised way to achieve national prosperity, national rejuvenation and the happiness of people in the region.</p> <p></p>

<p>Nothing matches the outrage of the privileged middle class when they think they have a grievance.&nbsp;</p> <p>Can’t cash in your frequent flyer miles for the trip you fancy?&nbsp; A violation of fundamental human rights.&nbsp; No English-language soundtrack for the Thai TV broadcast of the sports programme you’ve been waiting for?&nbsp; Blatant discrimination against the linguistically challenged.&nbsp; All strings pulled and the munchkin still can’t get into the primary school of choice?&nbsp; The end of civilization as we know it.&nbsp;</p> <p></p>

<p>This is Thanthawut’s account of his day of release, originally published&nbsp;<a href="http://blogazine.in.th/blogs/littlevoicefromprisons/post/4240">in Thai</a>&nbsp;on Prachatai on 12 July 2013. He describes the process he went through on the day of his release and his experience of the pardon. This is a story of Thanthawut’s walk through the series of barred, iron doors that led him from inside the walls of the prison to the world of freedom outside.</p> <p></p>

<p>The story is that Somebody Who Shall Be Nameless spread the word that whistleblower Edward Snowden had escaped the transit lounge of Sheremetyevo Airport on board the air force jet used by Bolivian President Evo Morales as a presidential plane. Morales was on his way home from the 2^nd Gas Summit of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum, also attended by such US-friendly states as Iran and Venezuela.</p> <p></p>

<p>The choking haze has revisited Southeast Asia in the past weeks. Impressive skyscrapers in Singapore and Malaysia have been cloaked by haze, a type of pollution which has emerged as a health issue for the two countries, as well as affecting their economy and potentially that of the region. For Singapore, this is not a new problem. Yet this year’s haze has managed to break its own record; it reached the hazardous PSI (pollutant standards index) level of 401 at 12 pm on June 21, the highest ever seen in the city-state. Similarly, the air pollutant index (API) hit 750 in the town of Muar—a 16-year high for Malaysia—in the morning of June 23. The Malaysian prime minister soon signed a declaration of emergency for the affected town.</p> <p></p>

<p style="">&nbsp;</p> <p style=""><strong>Prison visit to Somyot on 27 June 2013</strong></p> <p>Thursday mornings at 08.30 am are when Somyot and I have a regular weekly visit. Iron bars and secure windows keep us apart but can’t separate our souls. I was given Room No. 1, which is the last interview room in the row in Bangkok Remand Prison. Without hesitation, Somyot walked fast and looked straight at me and smiled; his smile made the world so bright and full of hope and peace. I was so relieved to meet him that morning.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Chulalongkorn University has sleepwalked its way into an unfortunate muddle. Five final-year students have just discovered that they failed a first-year course and should no longer be students. By the rules of the university they should have been thrown out 2 years ago.</p> <p></p>

<p>They’re taking over.</p> <p>Let’s just take yesterday’s paper as an example.&nbsp; The headline was the rice mortgage scheme and a second article (of four on the front page) was about the SET.&nbsp; The inside pages have 2 more stories on domestic business matters, one on the maybe-they-will-maybe-they-won’t asbestos ban and another on the luxury car tax fraud.&nbsp; The op-ed page has one piece on the financing of the water management and flood prevention programme, another, subtitled ‘Economics’, questioning Thailand’s claims to be greening the economy and a third on Japan’s ‘Abenomics’ economic revival plan.</p> <p></p>

<p>This website recently reported <a href="http://prachatai.com/english/node/3617">the outstanding work of Rangers Task Force 45 of the 4th Army Region</a>. Based in Ra-ngae District of Narathiwat Province, or smack dab in the middle of bang-bang shoot-shoot territory, this intrepid band of soldiers have made their name not in combatting the insurgency with patrols and checkpoints, nor in hearts-and-minds strategies to win the allegiance of the local population.</p> <p></p>

<div>Andrew MacGregor Marshall recently commented, including the clause, “…what is going on in contemporary Thailand.” It was a good citation to the upheaval taking place at various levels in Thai society as a result of a maturing – albeit hardly mature in the classical sense – segment of Thai society that recognizes the fallacies of the past and the futility of dogmatism. Many of this new group are activists, publicly denouncing what they see as unjust laws and social values not so much out of being “bad Thais” as their detractors would claim but more so being people of frustrated conscience and ideals who have seen the hypocrisy and foolhardiness in established values that promote cyborg allegiance.&nbsp;</div> <p></p>