Thailand Warned To Adapt To 'Post-Ayutthaya' Myanmar

[webfact]

Thailand warned to adapt to 'post-Ayutthaya' Myanmar

Supalak Ganjanakhundee

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thailand needs to wake up if it does not want to be left behind as Myanmar opens up to reform and broadens its engagement with the international community, a Chulalongkorn University seminar was told yesterday.

"Shall we cast off the old paradigm on Myanmar that we have stayed with since Ayutthaya?" asked Tanit Sorat, vice chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries and one of the panellists.

"It is not a poor country any more, and it is not our enemy any more, but Myanmar is a potential economic power."

Myanmar is situated at a strategic point and interfaces with many regional logistics networks such as the South-South Corridor linking with India, the East-West Corridor linking with the rest of mainland Southeast Asia and the North-South Corridor linking with China, Tanit said.

"All roads now are leading to only one destination - Myanmar," he added.

Myanmar is in the genuine and irreversible process of reform in terms of politics and economics, said Sunait Chutintaranond, director of the university's Institute of Asian Studies.

The changes in the country are very dynamic, he said.

The Myanmar military knows it would have to pay a very high cost if it reversed the process towards reform. The cost would be absolutely higher than what the military paid after the 1988 suppression, the prominent historian added.

Myanmar will become a playground for all countries after it opens up and interacts with the outside world, said Pornpimol Trichot, a senior researcher at the institute.

Thailand lost its leading position in Myanmar when China began to dominate this neighbouring country in the 1990s, she said. China is now the top investor there while Thailand is No 2. China also has political, strategic and security interests in Myanmar.

The Thai government should facilitate the entry of Thai businesses to Myanmar through extensive knowledge, connections and back-up, she added.

Sutapa Amornvivat, chief economist at Siam Commercial Bank, said doing business in Myanmar called for accurate risk-return analysis, since the country remained a high risk because of its political instability. Conflicts with minorities are still far from over.

"One of our customers could not operate an investment project located in a state near the border of Myanmar and Thailand because of the political conflict between the Myanmar government and armed ethnic groups," she said.

Academic Sunait said the ethnic-minority issue was one of the challenges Myanmar had to deal with. The reform movement would not be successful if it failed to allocate rights for natural-resource management to the minorities.

Many ethnic groups have fought for autonomy for decades. If Myanmar fails to deliver some authority and allocate resources to them, reconciliation will not happen, he said.

Another challenge for Myanmar is how to bridge the development gap between the rich and poor. Fast reform and development of the economy could put pressure on people who might not be able to catch up. The reform process should be able to balance all dimensions - economic stability, human security and environmental integrity, Sunait said.

-- The Nation 2012-05-09

[SomTumTiger]

I won't worry about the "Economic Power" of Burma until they can manage to keep their lights on for a full 24 hours.

[Unkomoncents]

How many allies does Thailand have? The Kingdom is proof that arrogance and hypocrisy have costs. Openness to Myanmar is essential to Thailand's development, should the former country's government succeed in its reform aims. It's premature to assume that Burma is a real opportunity, as that country is well known for arbitrary seizures of property and assets. Nevertheless, Thailand is in decline and has been for nearly a decade. The country is so uncompetitive that the only interested investment party is Japan's economic development fund.

[MaxLee]

How many allies does Thailand have? The Kingdom is proof that arrogance and hypocrisy have costs. Openness to Myanmar is essential to Thailand's development, should the former country's government succeed in its reform aims. It's premature to assume that Burma is a real opportunity, as that country is well known for arbitrary seizures of property and assets. Nevertheless, Thailand is in decline and has been for nearly a decade. The country is so uncompetitive that the only interested investment party is Japan's economic development fund.

Very soon Thai companies' "cheap laborers will return home" making life of those companies much harder to employ "cheap illegal worker" in the inflated, more expensive becoming Thai economy....

[Unkomoncents]

How many allies does Thailand have? The Kingdom is proof that arrogance and hypocrisy have costs. Openness to Myanmar is essential to Thailand's development, should the former country's government succeed in its reform aims. It's premature to assume that Burma is a real opportunity, as that country is well known for arbitrary seizures of property and assets. Nevertheless, Thailand is in decline and has been for nearly a decade. The country is so uncompetitive that the only interested investment party is Japan's economic development fund.

Very soon Thai companies' "cheap laborers will return home" making life of those companies much harder to employ "cheap illegal worker" in the inflated, more expensive becoming Thai economy....

True...I know of one factory owner in Phuket who has already had problems hiring cheap Burmese labor.

Edited May 9, 2012 by Unkomoncents

[jonclark]

How many allies does Thailand have? The Kingdom is proof that arrogance and hypocrisy have costs. Openness to Myanmar is essential to Thailand's development, should the former country's government succeed in its reform aims. It's premature to assume that Burma is a real opportunity, as that country is well known for arbitrary seizures of property and assets. Nevertheless, Thailand is in decline and has been for nearly a decade. The country is so uncompetitive that the only interested investment party is Japan's economic development fund.

Very soon Thai companies' "cheap laborers will return home" making life of those companies much harder to employ "cheap illegal worker" in the inflated, more expensive becoming Thai economy....

Good on them Thailand exploits a large % foreigners. Only recently the Phuket governor banned a Burmese music concert as he thought they would fight amongst themselves (like the animals they are??)and told workers to be at home by 8 o'clock.

Maybe Thais will become Myanmar cheap illegal workforce? Now that would be a turn around.

[sparebox2]

Myanmar is a poor country, and the enemy of Thailand.

Thai have been taught of this, often recited by Thai school student, for centuries.

Go watch the film "The King and I" (original version by the bald guy UB), it even mention in it. Oops, I forgot, it is ban in Thailand, possible because it King was played by a bald Farang guy.

[KhaoNiaw]

Go watch the film "The King and I" (original version by the bald guy UB), it even mention in it. Oops, I forgot, it is ban in Thailand, possible because it King was played by a bald Farang guy.

It's not banned in Thailand. The first time I ever saw the film was on TV in Thailand.

[animatic]

How many allies does Thailand have? The Kingdom is proof that arrogance and hypocrisy have costs. Openness to Myanmar is essential to Thailand's development, should the former country's government succeed in its reform aims. It's premature to assume that Burma is a real opportunity, as that country is well known for arbitrary seizures of property and assets. Nevertheless, Thailand is in decline and has been for nearly a decade. The country is so uncompetitive that the only interested investment party is Japan's economic development fund.

But it is not too soon to try and eradicate the school fed dogma and nationalist claptrap about Burma / Myanmar that most Thais are fed. Sorry the war was 250+ years ago... get over it.

This will be a generation in the undoing at least, and by the time Myanmar is reaching the dawn of it's potential, Thailand will likely still be thinking of it as .the invader on Elephant back, here to steal it's women and culture...

Edited May 9, 2012 by animatic

[h90]

How many allies does Thailand have? The Kingdom is proof that arrogance and hypocrisy have costs. Openness to Myanmar is essential to Thailand's development, should the former country's government succeed in its reform aims. It's premature to assume that Burma is a real opportunity, as that country is well known for arbitrary seizures of property and assets. Nevertheless, Thailand is in decline and has been for nearly a decade. The country is so uncompetitive that the only interested investment party is Japan's economic development fund.

Very soon Thai companies' "cheap laborers will return home" making life of those companies much harder to employ "cheap illegal worker" in the inflated, more expensive becoming Thai economy....

True...I know of one factory owner in Phuket who has already had problems hiring cheap Burmese labor.

But reading the European news....Soon they can hire cheap Greek and Spanish labor...

[Payboy]

How many allies does Thailand have? The Kingdom is proof that arrogance and hypocrisy have costs. Openness to Myanmar is essential to Thailand's development, should the former country's government succeed in its reform aims. It's premature to assume that Burma is a real opportunity, as that country is well known for arbitrary seizures of property and assets. Nevertheless, Thailand is in decline and has been for nearly a decade. The country is so uncompetitive that the only interested investment party is Japan's economic development fund.

Very soon Thai companies' "cheap laborers will return home" making life of those companies much harder to employ "cheap illegal worker" in the inflated, more expensive becoming Thai economy....

True...I know of one factory owner in Phuket who has already had problems hiring cheap Burmese labor.

But reading the European news....Soon they can hire cheap Greek and Spanish labor...

And don't forget the Farangsay are coming.

[geriatrickid]

How many allies does Thailand have? The Kingdom is proof that arrogance and hypocrisy have costs. Openness to Myanmar is essential to Thailand's development, should the former country's government succeed in its reform aims. It's premature to assume that Burma is a real opportunity, as that country is well known for arbitrary seizures of property and assets. Nevertheless, Thailand is in decline and has been for nearly a decade. The country is so uncompetitive that the only interested investment party is Japan's economic development fund.

Very soon Thai companies' "cheap laborers will return home" making life of those companies much harder to employ "cheap illegal worker" in the inflated, more expensive becoming Thai economy....

True...I know of one factory owner in Phuket who has already had problems hiring cheap Burmese labor.

That might be due to the low wages offered, poor working conditions, high cost of living and constant harrassment and extortion by Thais.

My Thai friend is subject to those same high costs and salary cap to the point he doesn't give a sh*t about his employer anymore.

[sparebox2]

Go watch the film "The King and I" (original version by the bald guy UB), it even mention in it. Oops, I forgot, it is ban in Thailand, possible because it King was played by a bald Farang guy.

It's not banned in Thailand. The first time I ever saw the film was on TV in Thailand.

100% confirm banned in Thailand. This link from the UK confirm it:

http://www.guardian....tory-king-and-i

"Mongkut puts his hand on Anna's waist, but that's the extent of it. Nevertheless, the suggestive implication is one reason why this version of The King and I has been banned in Thailand."

Also here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Leonowens

http://www.funtrivia.com/en/Movies/King-and-I-The-6556.html

You may watch on a TV in Thailand, via a VCD/DVD/VHS you smuggle in, perhaps.

Edited May 9, 2012 by sparebox2

[KhaoNiaw]

Go watch the film "The King and I" (original version by the bald guy UB), it even mention in it. Oops, I forgot, it is ban in Thailand, possible because it King was played by a bald Farang guy.

It's not banned in Thailand. The first time I ever saw the film was on TV in Thailand.

100% confirm banned in Thailand. This link from the UK confirm it:

http://www.guardian....tory-king-and-i

"Mongkut puts his hand on Anna's waist, but that's the extent of it. Nevertheless, the suggestive implication is one reason why this version of The King and I has been banned in Thailand."

Also here:

http://en.wikipedia..../Anna_Leonowens

http://www.funtrivia...I-The-6556.html

You may watch on a TV in Thailand, via a VCD/DVD/VHS you smuggle in, perhaps.

No, I watched it on UBC or whatever its original incarnation was called. A long time ago, but nonetheless the film was shown openly on a public TV channel.

There are so many 'commonly known' ideas about what is banned in Thailand, when a lot of it is actually self-censorship by media rather than any official ban.

[daninthai]

How many allies does Thailand have? The Kingdom is proof that arrogance and hypocrisy have costs. Openness to Myanmar is essential to Thailand's development, should the former country's government succeed in its reform aims. It's premature to assume that Burma is a real opportunity, as that country is well known for arbitrary seizures of property and assets. Nevertheless, Thailand is in decline and has been for nearly a decade. The country is so uncompetitive that the only interested investment party is Japan's economic development fund.

Very soon Thai companies' "cheap laborers will return home" making life of those companies much harder to employ "cheap illegal worker" in the inflated, more expensive becoming Thai economy....

It's the Thai companies that employ cheap (and often illegal) Burmese labourers. The Japanese companies (and other foreign companies, at least those mostly found in industrial areas) hire Thais.

[zydeco]

Actually, there are two roads into Southeast Asia. The newest one, yes, is leading to Myanmar. But the other one leads to Vietnam. A minor foot trail does lead to Malaysia.

[moe666]

How many allies does Thailand have? The Kingdom is proof that arrogance and hypocrisy have costs. Openness to Myanmar is essential to Thailand's development, should the former country's government succeed in its reform aims. It's premature to assume that Burma is a real opportunity, as that country is well known for arbitrary seizures of property and assets. Nevertheless, Thailand is in decline and has been for nearly a decade. The country is so uncompetitive that the only interested investment party is Japan's economic development fund.

Very soon Thai companies' "cheap laborers will return home" making life of those companies much harder to employ "cheap illegal worker" in the inflated, more expensive becoming Thai economy....

True...I know of one factory owner in Phuket who has already had problems hiring cheap Burmese labor.

But reading the European news....Soon they can hire cheap Greek and Spanish labor...

Nah, there too lazy

[Payboy]

Actually, there are two roads into Southeast Asia. The newest one, yes, is leading to Myanmar. But the other one leads to Vietnam. A minor foot trail does lead to Malaysia.

Hey, don't understimate the important role played by that shed on the jungle track where everyone goes to get ther rocks off.

Edited May 9, 2012 by Payboy

[ianf]

I have a young Burmese maid. All the Thai people I know warn me that she will lie, steal and so on. "Don't trust her!" My trust for Thai people went a long time ago when my ex wife Ami stole money, lied and cheated her way through our relationship. She is a high performing academic and civil engineer. Currently head of internatonal relations at a well-known hospital in this city. So who should I trust? I can tell you 100% that I'd put my money on my Burmese maid 100 times before any Thai person, my trust has thus been eroded. Many Thais are extremely racist towards foreigners and especially thouse from Burma. I hate racism, thanks.

[Mosha]

I won't worry about the "Economic Power" of Burma until they can manage to keep their lights on for a full 24 hours.

...and Thailand can? Not where I live they can't. Rainy season power cuts can be a daily occurance.

[mca]

^^ I think the dishonesty lies with your ex-wife and not "any Thai person" don't you? My MIL had a Burmese maid who was caught with her hand in the cookie jar as it were. None of the Thai maids she employed previously were caught thieving. Am I to deduce from this one incident that it make all Burmese people bent? Hardly.

Edited May 9, 2012 by mca

[sparebox2]

^^ I think the dishonesty lies with your ex-wife and not "any Thai person" don't you? My MIL had a Burmese maid who was caught with her hand in the cookie jar as it were. None of the Thai maids she employed previously were caught thieving. Am I to deduce from this one incident that I should trust a Thai over any Burmese person? Hardly.

If you fed her well, she won't need the cookie would she.

Next time, offer her some fresh milk too.

[mca]

^ You're not very good at this are you mate?

[swillowbee]

Thai economy is 60%+ dependent on export manufacturing ... cheap labor ... Phue Thai's 300 baht minimum wage will accelerate the exodus of manufacturing elsewhere, leaving an untrained, uneducated, unskilled workforce unprepared to do anything else (except go back to being farmers) ... Myanmar will sweep Thai manufacturing ... this could be a dramatic change in fortunes.

Thai economy is 7%+ dependent on tourism ... Myanmar has all the natural spendor Thailand had 30+ years ago (but has since systematically spoiled) ... all Myanmar needs is direct flights to by-pass Bangkok's stranglehold on the gateway position to access ... that will come.

Thailand rose to world's #1 rice exporter ... it replaced Myanmar as the former world's #1 rice exporter ... except for capital, all the agricultural infrastructure that made Myanmar #1 is still there ... the Phue Thai government is now just decimating the Thai rice industry, while new investment is queueing to pour into Myanmar ... a good bet that Myanmar will again rise to world prominence in rice exports, at Thailand's expense.

Thailand's natural resources are now virtually plundered (except for national parks, now being rendered by Thailand's notorious corruption) ... Myanmar is rich in natural resources, and is a net exporter of natural gas and electricity ... not that they are likely to husband their resources, Myanmar's economy will have 30 years supply of minerals, timber, natural gas, etc. to drive it's rise.

Thailand has a workforce that is marginally English-speaking and notoriously poor work ethics ... Myanmar has a large percentage of English speakers and a workforce that is hungry and willing even to work under slave conditions for punishing Thais families and companies.

While Myanmar's success is still premature (political uncertainty remains), that Thailand is clearly being marginalized by the rest of the world and left behind is not. Thailand's inability to see what is happening around them, or their incapability to do anything about it will not serve them well as Myanmar rises.

Edited May 9, 2012 by swillowbee

[BigJohnnyBKK]

Myanmar is the enemy of Thailand.

Thai have been taught of this, often recited by Thai school student, for centuries.

Are you claiming that is actually true, or do you agree that it's <deleted>?

Go watch the film "The King and I" (original version by the bald guy UB), it even mention in it. Oops, I forgot, it is ban in Thailand, possible because it King was played by a bald Farang guy.

More likely because it makes fun of that character, unwilling to believe her map is accurate because it shows Thailand as being small and unimportant in the world.

It's not banned in Thailand. The first time I ever saw the film was on TV in Thailand.

It is banned in Thailand.

No, I watched it on UBC or whatever its original incarnation was called. A long time ago, but nonetheless the film was shown openly on a public TV channel.

There are so many 'commonly known' ideas about what is banned in Thailand, when a lot of it is actually self-censorship by media rather than any official ban.

Then it was either heavily edited, or sneaked in past the censors. Was it under Thaksin, and did/does he or his family's empire have an interest in UBC maybe? I would have thought we'd have heard about it, since it would support the "Thaksin is anti monarchy" theories of the opposition.

And note that nearly all media sources in Thailand are owned by government-related or allied organizations including the military.

There is no freedom of press here, especially in foreign-language media, "self-censorship" is not such when it is done under threat of punishment by authorities, only when it's done to suit the preferences of the private owner or management.

[harryfrompattaya]

Myanmar is a poor country, and the enemy of Thailand.

Thai have been taught of this, often recited by Thai school student, for centuries.

Go watch the film "The King and I" (original version by the bald guy UB), it even mention in it. Oops, I forgot, it is ban in Thailand, possible because it King was played by a bald Farang guy.

Hollywood got you bald Farang guy. was half HI SO Chinese

[Mosha]

Myanmar is a poor country, and the enemy of Thailand.

Thai have been taught of this, often recited by Thai school student, for centuries.

Go watch the film "The King and I" (original version by the bald guy UB), it even mention in it. Oops, I forgot, it is ban in Thailand, possible because it King was played by a bald Farang guy.

Hollywood got you bald Farang guy. was half HI SO Chinese

If you are talking of Yul http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yul_Brynner

[BrianCR]

Go watch the film "The King and I" (original version by the bald guy UB), it even mention in it. Oops, I forgot, it is ban in Thailand, possible because it King was played by a bald Farang guy.

It's not banned in Thailand. The first time I ever saw the film was on TV in Thailand.

What are you taking? It has been banned since it was first released! You may also remember that they refused permission to film another version a few years ago! The film was subsequently filmed in Malaysia

[BrianCR]

^^ I think the dishonesty lies with your ex-wife and not "any Thai person" don't you? My MIL had a Burmese maid who was caught with her hand in the cookie jar as it were. None of the Thai maids she employed previously were caught thieving. Am I to deduce from this one incident that it make all Burmese people bent? Hardly.

Agree, no one Nationality can be completely good or bad and I think that someone must be a little bananas to judge a nationality by the actions of one or a few people!