zefty great comment

please don’t forget the sacrifices of 1988 student demonstrations as well as 1974 or 1975.

The article says: “We aspire to certain ideals – but we have to be tempered by the realities of the ground.”

I would say, instead, that the economic aspirations of this country cannot continually over-ride the ideals many people hold dear but are denied – dignity, respect and justice.

It is not an issue of ‘pragmatism’ versus ‘principles’, which is a false binary. There are principles which guide such ‘pragmatic’ choices too – the principles of greed and profit-before-people, for example.

Let us not continue to rationalize, excuse (much less HONOR) despotic and oppressive leadership and instead ask ourselves: what principles do we really wish to see in practice and how do we ensure that our leaders demonstrate such values?

The moral dilemma then, is not one as easily posed by the writer. Though the article poses the inherent problematic position, it is one far more nuanced than it is supposed. This does not mean however, that we approve of the flower naming. Firstly, does it achieve its aim? And secondly, does it actually further the relationship that ultimately cannot continue on this basis (made plain by comments from Singapore and ASEAN?) It is obvious that the flower naming only delays the inevitable. Engagement on an economic level then must take real roots, and we must distinguish between engagement and on principled stands that mean nothing if we are to hold onto positions that say we should not even be dealing with these people.

that day he ask singaporean to join him to jog.

this is very special.

i wonder if he visit toc or not?

Sir if you see my comment can you please leave a comment here as well?

if you really got visit toc and saw this but never reply, it is also ok because nobody knows.

maybe only heaven or jbj will know.

but after i saw that newspaper report that you invite people to jog using facebook,
i really feel that you will surely do much much better in the next election really.

if singapore can bet on election results like england i will bet 10K for you to win big.

congrates to you Sir.

very sorry if i say anything wrong to offend you.

please make sure you can make me wear, eat, live and travel normal can already.

i cannot control how much your salary is.

but please just let me have a few peanuts.

thank you.

Maintaining economic relationship does not mean our leaders should go overboard to honour Thein Sein. It says a lot about our leaders.
Because none of the other ASEAN leaders and China see it fit to do so.

Especially for those who called for the severance of ties between both countries, I hope they know what it means to them, that it is beyond just a making a stand.

Idealism must be preserved, but it needs a different approach.

As for an ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism, it is likely to be ineffective unless it can compel Member States to resolve their problems, and involves Rights Defenders from all countries, especially countries like Vietnam and Myanmar. I wish that ASEAN had pressured Myanmar into allowing its own Human Rights Activists to attend the forum on the formation of the Human Rights Mechanism, instead of bowing to pressure.

A Human Rights Mechanism cannot be successful unless it is permitted to interfere in a country’s Domestic Affairs. It cannot possibly adopt a policy of Non-Interference. Or else it just comes another voice that is easily suppressed.

In Zimbabwe at least Mugabe shares power with the opposition. In Iran they at least hold periodic elections and protect the rights of their minorities, including Jews.

Arguably only the Burmese junta willfully disregards international law on the scale of North Korea.

Argue on the effectiveness of engaging Burma vis a vis sanctions or isolation. But to let the status quo stand where Singapore and ASEAN just pay lip service to the abuses of the junta does nothing for the Burmese in the long run. Though we would have made a quick buck of it.

Sadly, the PAP government has close ties with Burma and proping up the regime by having trade. The most disgraceful thing is to tarnish the name of Singapore by naming an orchid after one of the junta leaders.

The PAP ministers don’t think much of it because they are motivated by money.

Pragmatic engagement of Burma is probably the best way to further human rights coverage, rather than shaming the Junta. Perhaps it is in both countries’ long term interests that Burma should be socialised into respecting global human rights, through ASEAN.

without the returns from this kind of investment, how can his salary be funded?

the funny thing is, where did the initial idealism of the saf scholar go?

in the gahmen’s eyes, pragmatism is the moral principle. look how he just brushed concerns about the casino away, despite having held a strong stance against it years before. knowing that we needed a new source of revenue, the moral implications were easily overridden by the highest one of all: pragmatism.