God has given us the day, we can use it as we like. We can waste it, or grow in its light and be of service to others. But what we do on the day is important, as we have exchanged a day of our life for it. When tomorrow come,today will be gone. I hope I will not regret for the price I paid for the day.
Life is beautiful, together let us make each of our life, and other people's life more beautiful...
Justin Yifu Lin served as the Chief Economist and Senior
Vice President of the World Bank from June 2008 to June 1, 2012. Mr. Lin is the
World Bank’s first chief economist from a developing country.
Prior to joining the Bank, Mr. Lin served for 15 years as
Founding Director and Professor of the China Centre for Economic Research
(CCER) at Peking University.
Mr. Lin received his PhD in economics from the University of
Chicago in 1986 and is the author of 18 books, including The China Miracle:
Development Strategy and Economic Reform and Economic Development and
Transition: Thought, Strategy, and Viability. He has published more than 100
articles in refereed international journals and collected volumes on history,
development, and transition. In 2007, he gave the Marshall Lectures at
Cambridge; and in 2011, the Simon Kuznets Lecture at Yale and the UNU Wider
Annual Lecture in Mozambique, the first ever to be held in a developing
country.
Justin Yifu Lin was a deputy of China’s People’s Congress,
Vice Chairman of Committee for Economic Affairs of Chinese People’s Political
Consultation Conference and Vice Chairman of the All-China Federation of
Industry and Commerce. He served on several national and international
committees, leading groups, and councils on development policy, technology, and
environment including: the UN Millennium Task Force on Hunger; the Eminent
Persons Group of the Asian Development Bank; the National Committee on United
States-China Relations; the Global Agenda Council on the International Monetary
System; Reinventing Bretton Woods Committee; and the Hong Kong-U.S. Business
Council.
He was awarded the 1993 and 2001 Sun Yefang Prize (the
highest honour for economists in China), the 1993 Policy Article Prize of
Centre for International Food and Agricultural Policy at University of
Minnesota, the 1997 Sir John Crawford Award of the Australian Agricultural and
Resource Economics Society, the 1999 Best Article Prize of the Australian
Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, the Citation Classic Award in
2000 (by Social Science Citation Index) and honorary doctoral degrees from
Universite D’Auvergne, Fordham University, Nottingham University and City
University of Hong Kong. Most recently, he was awarded the Professional Achievement
Award by the University of Chicago Alumni Association. He is a Fellow of the
Academy of Sciences for the Developing World and a Corresponding Fellow of the
British Academy.
(source: world bank)
He may be part of
the economic success of China....he is Chinese chief Economist..the
founder of China Center for Economic Research, CCER(中国经济研究中心). It is an
economics think tank in Peking University, China. It was opened in
August 1994, and is directed by Justin Yifu Lin.
The most important decision is to know when to exercise
right when the time is ripe. Even people think you are the odd one, and others may think that
you are stupid, but you know that what is the right decision....and he make all Chinese proud for his achievement, China mainland or Taiwan...
Aung San Suu Ky may have won the election, we are happy for her. But the fight for Burma is still not over. The journey for Burma is still a long way.
Is there any member of JUNTA, still not happy with the change, are they willing to give up their power? or are they taking off their uniform to consolidate their riches and other powers to establish a new power base to control the new government in the coming new Burma? We have yet to see the collective voices for them to support the new government.....
How about the minority and the Panglong Agreement? will the new government still accept the agreement with the minority or a new development be planned for the new Burma, so that the minority can fully engaged and with fairness and justice? This will be a time bomb for the new democracy, will the minority accept the new government and their policies? or will they still fighting for a separate way?
The victory is not only for Aung San Suu Ky, she is just a leader of the movement. There are many people who fight like her, but the names are not give due publicity like Aung San Suu Ky. There are many heroes from different political platforms, and will they come to agreement for the new Burma?
Remember Adam Baba, and other reporters who were attacked by followers linked to the ruling party. Salute to all reporters for their professionalism in covering the event.
A fight broke out as Penang Chief Minister, Lim Guan Eng walked down from the stage to meet Anti Lynas Save Malaysia supporters after his speech to about 500 people at Speakers Corner, Esplanade, Penang, this evening.
The person injured is a reporter by the name of Adam Baba who was treated at the General Hospital for head and hand injuries.
Video by Jimmy Leow, Citizen Journalist (CJ.MY)
The peaceful anti Lynas rally in Penang to support the Kuantan people in their movement to stop the Lynas building rare earth processing plant in Kuantan. The said plant will be the world largest, and the output will place them as largest in the rare earth global market, able to challenge the leadership of China. But the said plant was not able to provide a solution for disposal of radioactive waste.
A bigger Anti Lynas Rally was held in Kuantan on the same day 26-2-2012 , but held earlier. Kuantan rally was held peacefully. For your information, Penang state was ruled by opposition party. The opposing group who support Lynas, was from NGO who support the ruling party and the youth group of ruling party. The use of violence to a peaceful people rally was a mockery to democracy of Malaysia.
Remember Adam Baba(the reporter), remember Kuantan's Lynas Processing Plant, Malaysia...remember ugly incident at Anti Lynas Rally in Penang, Malaysia.
Shame to democracy in Malaysia, this time demon really go crazy....
Let the people and the world know the true face of democracy in Malaysia
The Adam Emmenecker sandwich at Jethro's BBQ is the largest in Des Moines. Named after the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year for 2008 this colossal sandwich is one serious player. It has become so popular at Jethro's that there is now a challenge to eat it if you dare. If you can tackle it within 15 minutes you will be properly recognized at Jethro's as a MVP and make the Wall of Fame. However, if you do try it and don't finish, you'll be relegated to the Wall of Shame.
Adam Emmenecker sandwich has been nominated as the Greatest Sports Sandwich in America for ESPN's FANWICH contest on Facebook. Show America that the Adam Emmenecker sandwich is worthy of this national recognition by logging on to Facebook and voting for your favorite BBQ restaurant and our infamous sandwich which is named after former Drake Bulldog basketball star, Adam Emmenecker.
The Missouri Valley Conference Most Valuable Player of 2008 loves this sandwich. It's big... "really big..." just like all of those "really big" shots Adam sank in the Bulldogs' magical MVC Championship Season of 2008. Start with our huge pork tenderloin, add our Angus steak burger, top it with slabs of Texas brisket, apple wood bacon & fried cheese, finished with buffalo chicken tenders. We smother this mountain with melted cheddar cheese, and white cheddar sauce, serve it with your choice of side. This could hurt you! A sandwich fit for the MVP.
Japan denied the ugly killings of Imperial Japanese Army on the Nanking massacre, and blind to what happen in the past. The people who have suffered in WW2 will remember WW2 and cruel killings of the IJA during the war and during their occupation. The people all over the world who suffered during WW2 will speak for the victims of the Nanking massacre, the killings may not call Nanking massacre, there are many monuments all over the world still remind us of the cruelty of IJA in WW2.
Let them forget about their military extremism, we will not forget.....all peaceful people in the world will not forget the WW2 and IJA...
KEP, a small seaside town in Cambodia standstill to remind us the evil of Khmer Rouge Genocide. Another ugly face of war and communist fanatic, just like the military extremists of IJA....
http://www.rustycompass.com In the early 1960s, Cambodia's Norodom Sihanouk presided over a kingdom at peace. Its elites travelled to the seaside town of Kep for weekends of high living and gambling at the town's casino. Kep was the grooviest beach town in South East Asia and a homegrown architectural style of remarkable ambition was celebrated there.
By 1970, Cambodia's efforts to keep out of the ever encroaching conflict next door in Vietnam, had failed. The Khmer Rouge was gaining territory throughout the country. Kep's brief period in the sun was over.
While travellers to Phnom Penh's Tuol Sleng museum get a sense of the sheer brutality of the Khmer Rouge, Kep's story is more subtle but no less powerful. This small town does not show the faces of the victims of the Khmer Rouge. Instead, the ruined buildings of Kep intimate a time of confidence and rich cultural aspiration that was comprehensively demolished with Pol Pot's rise.
The owners of Kep's mansions either fled Cambodia or died at the hands of the Khmer Rouge. Cambodia still reels from the impact of the Khmer Rouge genocide. The virtual annihilation of an entire class of professionals, academics, artists and leaders will take generations to heal. Their ghosts lurk in the ruins of Kep.
In this rustycompass.com Insights video, we meet with Dr Jean Michel Filippi and discover more about Cambodia's other ruins
The environmentalists dirty little secret, the mining of all the rare earth elements that are required for the "green" technologies are very polluting in getting them out of the ground and into a usable state.
Rare Earth Metals aren't as widely know as oil for example. But they'll soon become pretty notorious. These minerals are essential part of almost every technological device on the market today, like cell phones, cameras, HYBRID CARS, wind turbines and even military devices. The fact that China currently produces 97% of the world's supply, the results of exports halt will be disastrous.
Meanwhile, rare earth ore-rich USA only has several development stage companies, trying to deal with that problem:
Greenland Minerals and Energy Ltd. PINK:GDLNF Molycorp, Inc NASDAQ:MCP Rare Element Resources Ltd. NYSE:REE Medallion Resources Ltd. PINK:MLLOF Ucore Rare Metals, Inc. PINK:UURAF
While the government takes the usual stance: postpone taking precautions, until the situation becomes unbearable.
China's rising global role, increasing assertiveness and upcoming leadership transition may pose significant challenges for the next U.S. president, says Elizabeth C. Economy, CFR's C.V. Starr Senior Fellow and Director for Asia Studies. "China is increasingly shaping the world in which we live," Economy says. As a result, U.S.-China relations will no longer be focused exclusively on trade, Taiwan, and human rights. The next president will have to work with China on "virtually every global challenge," she says, including Iran, North Korea, global financial regulation, and climate change.
U.S. officials will have to take account of China's newly assertive posture, regionally and globally, she says. "China's leaders no longer simply want to export their goods and services; they want to export their culture, their values, and ideals," Economy says. "And the next president of the United States is going to have to think about how to deal with not an emerging power, but a global power."
This video is part of Campaign 2012, a series of video briefings on the top foreign policy issues debated in the run-up to the 2012 elections.
Do you know in theory Asian or Non -USA sponsored person cannot be a President of World Bank.
The World Bank The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes. The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty. According to the World Bank's Articles of Agreement (As amended effective 16 February 1989) all of its decisions must be guided by a commitment to promote foreign investment, international trade and facilitate capital investment.
The World Bank comprises only two institutions: the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA), whereas the latter incorporates these two in addition to three more: International Finance Corporation (IFC), Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), and International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).
The World Bank is one of five institutions created at the Bretton Woods Conference in 1944. The other financial institution is The International Monetary Fund(IMF), a related institution. Delegates from many countries attended the Bretton Woods Conference, and the most powerful countries in attendance were the United States and United Kingdom, which dominated negotiations. Although both are based in Washington, D.C.(USA), the World Bank is, by custom, headed by an American, while the IMF is led by a European.
The President of the Bank, currently Robert B. Zoellick, is responsible for chairing the meetings of the Boards of Directors and for overall management of the Bank. Traditionally, the Bank President has always been a US citizen nominated by the United States, the largest shareholder in the bank. The nominee is subject to confirmation by the Board of Executive Directors, to serve for a five-year, renewable term.
The Executive Directors, representing the Bank's member countries, make up the Board of Directors, usually meeting twice a week to oversee activities such as the approval of loans and guarantees, new policies, the administrative budget, country assistance strategies and borrowing and financing decisions.
The Vice Presidents of the Bank are its principal managers, in charge of regions, sectors, networks and functions. There are 24 Vice-Presidents, three Senior Vice Presidents and two Executive Vice Presidents.
One of the strongest criticisms of the World Bank has been the way in which it is governed. While the World Bank represents 186 countries, it is run by a small number of economically powerful countries. These countries choose the leadership and senior management of the World Bank, and so their interests dominate the bank.
Criteria to be President of World Bank
World Bank President Robert Zoellick said he will step down on 30th June 2012 and Washington pledged to name a replacement candidate within weeks for a job that has always gone to an American.
Under the Bank’s Articles, the President of the World Bank is chief of the operating staff of the Bank and conducts, under the direction of the Executive Directors, the ordinary business of the Bank. The President is also responsible for the organization, appointment and dismissal of the officers and staff, subject to the general control of the Executive Directors. The President, officers and staff of the Bank, in the discharge of their offices, owe their duty entirely to the Bank and to no other authority.
The President of the World Bank is ex officio chair of the Board of the Executive Directors of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA). The President is also ex officio chair of the Board of Directors of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), and the Administrative Council of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). (source: world Bank)
In 2011, the Board of Executive Directors approved the process for selection of the President. It reconfirmed the importance of a merit-based and transparent process with all Executive Directors able to nominate and then consider all candidates The Executive Directors agreed that candidates should meet the following criteria:
• a proven track record of leadership; • experience of managing large organizations with international exposure, and a familiarity with the public sector; • the ability to articulate a clear vision of the World Bank Group’s development mission; • a firm commitment to and appreciation for multilateral cooperation; and, • effective and diplomatic communication skills, impartiality and objectivity in the performance of the responsibilities of the position.
(source: world Bank)
Emerging market and developing countries have campaigned hard in recent years to break Europe's grip on the top position at the International Monetary Fund and the United States' hold on the presidency of the World Bank.
Officials from large emerging economies like Brazil said on Wednesday the selection process for Zoellick's successor should be based on qualifications and not nationality.
"There is no reason for the president of the World Bank to have a specific nationality," Brazilian Finance Minister Guido Mantega told reporters in Brasilia.
The Obama administration said it would open the process to competition, marking the first time it has shown willingness to loosen its grip on the world's top development lender.
Zoellick took the reins at the Bank in 2007 after a staff revolt pushed out Paul Wolfowitz, and he moved quickly to return the institution's focus to alleviating poverty.
Developing countries have for years pressed for a greater voice in leading global financial institutions and are likely to stress the importance of a competitive process, but the United States is still widely expected to retain its hold on the job.
(source: yahoo news)
For your information in global politic, there was no democratic right. The rich and powerful determine the global games, including world financial institution.
There was a informal agreement:
Although the president is formally appointed by the bank's member nations, a decades-old agreement - which also allows major European powers to choose the head of the IMF - gives the United States the role of naming the World Bank chief.
Look at the voting power of the member countries as reported by wikipedia;
n 2010, voting powers at the World Bank were revised to increase the voice of developing countries, notably China. The countries with most voting power are now the United States (15.85%), Japan (6.84%), China (4.42%), Germany (4.00%), the United Kingdom (3.75%), France (3.75%), India (2.91%), Russia (2.77%), Saudi Arabia (2.77%) and Italy (2.64%). Under the changes, known as 'Voice Reform – Phase 2', countries other than China that saw significant gains included South Korea, Turkey, Mexico, Singapore, Greece, Brazil, India, and Spain. Most developed countries' voting power was reduced, along with a few poor countries such as Nigeria. The voting powers of the United States, Russia and Saudi Arabia were unchanged.
USA has 15.85% of voting power, the largest voting power. Japan is the next country with the largest voting power, 6.84%. USA is the majority. World Bank is controlled by the largest of the donor countries – such as the United States and Japan. They own the largest share of the organization, and therefore have the most votes. Is USA the main donor country now?....
Is it democracy that the western democracy advocate nations practices all this while. How about the chances of Asian, African and South American to hold the post for the world organization? No wonder USA had been manipulated the world financial system all this while in the past.....nobody able to challenge what is their views in the global financial system....
There was discrimination in world body, where no open competition for the world financial top post, a monopoly by USA and its European allies, for IMF and World Bank top post....
Where is the human right?.....another hypocrisy of the democracy and human right advocates of western world... not the fittest person(best person) that lead the world financial institution. It must be an American or European. A mockery on the free competition, non-discrimination, anti-monopoly,human right, democracy, that they advocate....
The next President of the world bank is going to be another USA candidate, despite their dismay of the Wall Street, New York and the poor financial performance of USA....can they able to take the world financial body to the next era?....or just merely to serve their country(USA)'s financial interest, that is to solve their current financial problems... there will be conflict of interest without element of independence. How about the interest of other countries, who have suffered from their Wall Street disaster?.....
Is there fair and equal opportunity in the world body for all capable candidates from other member countries to be the President of World Bank? Is there candidates from countries with better financial performance than USA, who are better person than candidate from USA?. The best person should be the one selected by the member countries for the top job of World Bank, USA or Non-USA countries, there should not be monopoly and discrimination.
World Bank is set up to provide fund for the world's poorest countries, but due to the informal discriminatory agreement of President appointment, a non-democratic appointment, will it be that World Bank ultimately only serving the interest of rich nations? Some analysis shows that the World Bank has increased poverty and been detrimental to the environment, public health and cultural diversity. Some critics also claim that the World Bank has consistently pushed a neoliberal agenda, imposing policies on developing countries which have been damaging, destructive and anti-developmental(source: wikipedia). Because the President of World Bank will need to also serve the needs of USA's global strategy and national interest, there will be conflict of interest and lost the element of independence as a President of world financial institution. He is USA nominated President, may not be the actual person nominated by the majority, non-American member countries, especially the poor countries who their helps are urgently needed.
I was just ponder, and will USA appointed President without free competition for the best man select for the top job, lead us to another financial disaster?....
Further readings:
1. World Bank Official website, http://www.worldbank.org/ 2. World Bank President Zoellick to Step Down June 30th, http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/NEWS/0,,contentMDK:23118403~pagePK:64257043~piPK:437376~theSitePK:4607,00.html 3. Selection of the President of the World Bank Group, http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/NEWS/0,,contentMDK:23120984~pagePK:64257043~piPK:437376~theSitePK:4607,00.html
Confucius(Chinese: 孔子/孔夫子), literally "Master Kong",(traditionally b 28 September 551 BC – d 479 BC)was a Chinese thinker and social philosopher of the Spring and Autumn Period.
The philosophy of Confucius emphasized personal and governmental morality, correctness of social relationships, justice and sincerity. These values gained prominence in China over other doctrines, such as Legalism (法家) or Taoism (道家) during the Han Dynasty(206 BC – AD 220). Confucius' thoughts have been developed into a system of philosophy known as Confucianism (儒家).
Confucius was born in 551 BC, in the Spring and Autumn Period, at the beginning of the Hundred Schools of Thought philosophical movement. Confucius was born in or near the city of Qufu (曲阜), in the Chinese State of Lu (魯) (now part of Shandong Province).
Do you know Ho Chi Minh had been to Thailand and Malaysia?...as a representative of the Comintern in Southeast Asia.
Ho Chi Minh had many names and aliases
Ho's given name at birth was Nguyen Tat Thanh. He also had another name - Nguyen Van Ba. Ho used this name when he worked as a steward in a ship, the La Touche Treville, on his overseas trip from Saigon to Marseilles, France. He changed back to Nguyen Tat Thanh after his arrival in France. Ho has been known by many aliases. His first alias, second well-known after Ho Chi Minh, was Nguyen Ai Quoc. Ho dropped the name Nguyen Ai Quoc after betraying Phan Boi Chau's whereabouts to the French authorities for Hong Kong $10,000. Phan Boi Chau was an independent fighter against the French. He was known as Lý Thuy in China. Ho also had ten other aliases such as: Ly Thuy, Vuong, Tran, etc. However, those names were not very well-known.
Ho Chi Minh or Nguyễn Sinh Cung was born in 1890 in Hoàng Trù Village, Nam Dan district, Nghe An Province,Vietnam( it was called Annam), his mother(Hoang Thi Loan,1868–1901)’s hometown. His father is Nguyen Sinh Sac. His name was later changed to Nguyen tat Thanh on his tenth birthday. From 1895, he grew up in his paternal hometown of Kim Liên Village, Nam Đàn District, Nghệ An Province, Vietnam. He had three siblings: his sister Bạch Liên (or Nguyễn Thị Thanh), a clerk in the French Army; his brother Nguyễn Sinh Khiêm (or Nguyễn Tất Đạt), a geomancer and traditional herbalist; and another brother (Nguyễn Sinh Nhuận) who died in his infancy. As a young child, Nguyễn studied with his father before more formal classes with a scholar named Vuong Thuc Do. Nguyễn quickly mastered Chinese writing, a requisite for any serious study of Confucianism, while honing his colloquial Vietnamese writing. In addition to his studious endeavors, he was fond of adventure, loved to fly kites and go fishing. Following Confucian tradition, at the age of 10, his father gave him a new name: Nguyễn Tất Thành, “Nguyễn the Accomplished”.
Nguyễn’s father, Nguyễn Sinh Sắc, was a Confucian scholar, a teacher on a small scale, and later an imperial magistrate in the small remote district of Binh Khe (Qui Nhơn). He was demoted for abuse of power after an influential local figure died several days after receiving 100 strokes of the cane as punishment. In deference to his father, Nguyễn received a French education, attended lycée in Huế, the alma mater of his later disciples, Phạm Văn Đồng and Võ Nguyên Giáp. He later left his studies and chose to teach at Dục Thanh school in Phan Thiết.
In 1911, Nguyen went to Saigon. He applied to a school to learn to be a mechanic, in order to get in touch with modern technology. He didn't stay long, Nguyen decided to go to France to see the new world. At the age of 21, Nguyen Tat Thanh left Vietnam for 10 years, and changed his name again to Van Ba.
USA 1912-1913 In 1912, working as the cook’s helper on a French steamer, Nguyễn traveled to the United States. From 1912 to 1913, he lived in New York (Harlem) and Boston, where he worked as a baker at the Parker House Hotel(now Omni Parker House Hotel, Boston). Among a series of menial jobs, he also has claimed to have worked for a wealthy family in Brooklyn between 1917 and 1918 and for General Motors as a line manager. It is believed that, while in the United States, he made contact with Korean nationalists, an experience that developed his political outlook.
England 1913-1919 At various points between 1913 and 1919, Nguyễn lived in West Ealing, west London, and later in Crouch End, Hornsey, north London. He is reported to have worked as a cleaner and dishwasher in the kitchen at the Drayton Court Hotel in 1914, on The Avenue, West Ealing. It is claimed that Nguyễn trained as a pastry chef under the legendary French master, Escoffier, at the Carlton Hotel in the Haymarket, Westminster, but there is no evidence to support this. However, the wall of New Zealand House, home of the New Zealand High Commission, which now stands on the site of the Carlton Hotel, displays a blue plaque, stating that Nguyễn worked there in 1913 as a waiter. Nguyễn was also a regular visitor to Chelsea FC during his stay in West London.
France 1919-1923 From 1919–1923, while living in France, Nguyễn Sinh Cung began to approach the idea of communism, through his friend and Socialist Party of France comrade Marcel Cachin(1869-1958). Cung claimed to have arrived in Paris from London in 1917, but French police only have documents of his arrival in June 1919.
Ho Chi Minh,was living in Paris and working as a kitchen assistant at the Hotel Ritz, Paris.
1919 Following World War I, The Paris Peace Conference opened on 18 January 1919 and ended on 21 January 1920 with the inaugural General Assembly of the League of Nations. It took place in Paris and involved diplomats from more than 32 countries and nationalities, including U.S. President Thomas Woodrow Wilson who stayed in Paris for 6 months. Under the name of Nguyễn Ái Quốc (“Nguyễn the Patriot”),Ho Chi Minh petitioned for recognition of the civil rights of the Vietnamese people in French Indochina to the Western powers at the Versailles Peace Conference, but was ignored. Citing the language and the spirit of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, Nguyễn petitioned U.S. President Thomas Woodrow Wilson for help to remove the French from Vietnam and replace them with a new, nationalist government. While he was unable to obtain consideration at Versailles, the failed effort had the effect of further radicalizing Nguyễn, while at the same time making him a national hero of the anti-colonial movement at home in Vietnam. President Thomas Woodrow Wilson, a strong advocate for League of Nations,was awarded the 1919 Nobel Peace Prize. Nguyễn Ái Quốc become a communist, and started Indo-China War against France and later Vietnam War with USA...
1920 The Tours Congress was the 18th National Congress of the French Section of the Workers' International, or SFIO, which took place in Tours on 25—30 December 1920. During the Congress, the majority voted to join the communist Third International and create the French Section of the Communist International(SFIC), which became the Parti Communiste Français (French Communist Party)(PCF)in 1921. Nguyen Ai Quoc, was present at the congress and made a speech decrying the exploitation of the French colonies, and supporting the proposal to join the Third International. Nguyễn Ái Quốc, together with his friend Marcel Cachin(1869-1958), they become the founding member of the Parti Communiste Français (French Communist Party)(PCF).
In May 1922, Nguyễn wrote an article for a French magazine criticizing the use of English words by French sportswriters. The article implores Prime Minister Raymond Poincaré to outlaw such Franglais as le manager, le round and le knock-out. While living in Paris, he had a relationship with dressmaker Marie Brière
Moscow 1923-1924
In 1923, Nguyễn left Paris for Moscow, where he was employed by the Comintern(Communist International) or Third International(1919–1943), studied at the Communist University of the Toilers of the East. He participated in the Fifth Comintern Congress held at Moscow from June 17 - July 8, 1924, and also urged the Comintern to actively promote revolution in Asia.
China 1924-1927
Arrived in Canton (present-day Guangzhou), China, in November 1924. Not initially having any official role, he quickly made contacts, including with Mikhail Borodin, the Comintern representative to Sun Yat-sen's government. There is little evidence for his being a deputy of Borodin. He was also however representative of Peasant International. He went to work at the Soviet news agency in Guangzhou, also working on the formation of a Vietnamese revolutionary party, and education of Vietnamese elites in Marxism-Leninism. His pseudonym of the time was Ly Thuy.
In June 1925, Hoàng Văn Chí said that Nguyễn had betrayed Phan Bội Châu, the head of a rival revolutionary faction, to French police in Shanghai for 100,000 piastres. Nguyễn later claimed that he did this because he expected Chau’s trial to stir up anti-French resentment and because he needed the money to establish a communist organization. But in Ho Chi Minh: A life, Duikers denied this hypothesis. Other sources claim that Nguyen Thuong Hien was responsible for Chau's capture. Châu never denounced Nguyễn.
During 1925-26 he organized 'Youth Education Classes' and occasionally gave lectures at the Whampoa Military Academy on the revolutionary movement in Indochina. Ho had also arranged for some members of the Revolutionary Youth League to attend China's Whampoa Military Academy. After Sun Yat-Sen's death in March 1925, Chiang Kai-Shek took power, and initially cooperated with the Communists but later arrested Soviet advisors at the Whampoa Military Academy in March 1926. Borodin accepted a reduced Communist role in the KMT when its Executive Committee met in May.
According to Duiker, he lived with and married a Chinese woman, Tăng Tuyết Minh (曾雪明, Zeng Xueming), on 18 October 1926. When his comrades objected to the match, he told them, “I will get married despite your disapproval because I need a woman to teach me the language and keep house.” She was 21 and he was 36. They married in the same place where Zhou Enlai had married earlier and then lived together at the residence of Comintern agent Mikhail Borodin
In 1927 the communists were expelled from Guangzhou in April, following a coup by Chinese Nationalist leader Chiang Kai-shek. Ho left Canton again in April 1927 and fled to Hong Kong in May. Pursued by British authorities, he went to Soviet Far East headquarters in Vladivostok, and then moved to Moscow. The initial plan was for him to move to Siam as a base for organizing Indochinese Communism, but, instead, spent time in various European cities.
Moscow & Paris 1927
Ho spent some of the summer of 1927 recuperating from tuberculosis in the Crimea, before returning to Paris once more in November.
Thailand 1928 -1929
In 1928, he traveled to Brussels and Paris, then Siam (now Thailand), where he spent two years as a representative of the Comintern in Southeast Asia(replacing Tan Malaka). Ho Chi Minh was later appointed to head the Communist International's Southeast Asia branch and he served as Moscow's agent in this capacity from March 1930 to June 1931. His followers remained in South China.
He then returned to Asia by way of Brussels, Berlin, Switzerland, and Italy, from where he took a ship to Bangkok, Thailand, where he arrived in July 1928. Assuming the identity Father Chin, he moved to northern Siam late in the year; the French lost track of him. On 29 October 1929, the Imperial Court in Vinh (Nghe An Province, Annam) sentenced Nguyen Ai Quoc (Ho Chi Minh) sentenced him in absentia to death, for plotting revolution in Annam.
He remained in Thailand, Ho Chi Minh resided at Ban Nachok, a small village on the road between the airbase and Nakhon Phanom. This place has high concentration of Vietnamese, especially Catholic. Both his home and a new modern museum are now open to the public. Nakhon Phanom (Thai: นครพนม) is one of the north-eastern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are (from south clockwise) Mukdahan, Sakon Nakhon and Bueng Kan. To the north-east it borders Khammouan of Laos. Ho Chi Mihn Museum tells us that Uncle Ho arrived at the house in 1923 and stayed for 7 years until 1931. However all biographies of Ho Chi Mihn say he only lived in the village between 1928 and 1929, which is more reliable fit to historical events, as Ho was actively involved in formation of CPV and MCP only in early 1930.
Ho Chi Minh departed from Canton in April or May 1927 and was incommunicado with the Vietnamese movement. The Central Committee of Thanh Nien called a National Congress of the organization, slated to begin on May Day of 1929. This gathering, held 1–9 May 1929 and attended by 17 delegates from each of the three main administrative districts of Vietnam, plus Hong Kong and Siam, would prove the occasion for a split between those who placed primary emphasis on the so-called "national question" (independence from colonialism) and those who sought a more radical movement placing emphasis on social revolution. Ho Chi Minh was not in attendance, still missing from the scene.
The end of 1929, he went to China. He changed his name to Sung Man Cho(宋文初). In December 1929, he went to Hong Kong and stayed as representative of the Communist International.
In an October 27 message, the Comintern, asked Ho, then in Siam, to bring the three groups together in a Hong Kong meeting. Ho Chi Minh, back in direct activity in the Vietnamese movement, was responsible for brokering the peace between the warring factions as well as writing the initial manifesto and statement of tactics of the group. The two warring offspring of Thanh Nien(Vietnamese Revolutionary Youth Association)established by Nguyen Sinh Cung(Ho Chi Minh)in 1925, joined with individual members of a third Marxist group founded by Phan Boi Chau at a "Unification Conference" held in Hong Kong from 3–7 February 1930. The new party was named the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV). It was formed on 3 February 1930. Ho presided over the formation of the Vietnamese Communist Party (Viet Nam Cong San Dang). At the Comintern's request, the name was changed later that year at the first Party Plenum to the Indochinese Communist Party, thus reclaiming the name of the first party of that named founded in 1929. A Comintern representative, however, told that none of the Vietnamese organizations would be recognized until the Comintern decided they were unified. Until then, the Chinese Communist Party would direct the Vietnamese groups. Finally, the Indochinese Communist Party was recognized on February 18, 1930.
In 1922 the CCP opened a clandestine office in Singapore which sowed the seed for the South Seas Communist Party (or Nanyang Communist Party). This party was mainly active in the Dutch East Indies and French Indo-China. In Singapore its work centred on the trades unions. After their 1925 uprising failed, many Indonesian Communists took refuge in Singapore, and engaged in political work there under the auspices of the Third Communist International. (Note: Communist Party of Indonesia is the oldest in Asia, formed in 1920, Tan Malaka was the first representative of Comintern in South East Asia in 1923). In 1925, the South Seas Communist Party was formed out of CPC exile units in South-East Asia. SSCP functioned as a preliminary organization before national CPs were formed. The Singapore-based South Seas Communist Party, was organized in 1928, was concerned with establishing communism among the overseas Chinese, including those living in Thailand. Through its efforts, the first Communist Party in Thailand was formed in 1929. But until the mid-1930's, Communist activities were generally confined to discussions of ideology and organization. The period in Thailad, Ho was not active in helping to organize national Communist Parties in South East Asia until 1930, not even Thai communism. He only concentrate on Vietnamese movement.
On 30th April 1930, Ho Chi Minh traveled from Singapore to Malaya as representative of Comintern, attended the formation of Communist Party of Malaya(CPM)in the rubber estate in Johore. The South Seas Communist Party was dissolved and replaced by the newly formed Communist Party of Malaya. He left for Singapore immediately after the ceremony.
Hong Kong(1929-1933) In June 1931 Ho was arrested in Hong Kong by British police and remained in prison until his release in 1933. This resulted in one of the leading case in Hong Kong,Sung Man Cho Vs. The Superintendent of Prisons. Ho Chi Minh’s habeas corpus case was tried in Hong Kong Supreme Court and appealed to the Privy Councel, the highest court in the British Empire. Habeas corpus, an ancient and fundamental principle of British law, is a prerogative writ used to challenge the validity of a person’s detention either in official custody (e.g when held pending a deportation or extradition) or in private hands.
In June 1931, Ho Chi Minh travelled to Hong Kong to attend a meeting for leftist patriots. Tipped off by the French, on June 6, 1931, the British authorities in Hong Kong arrested Ho Chi Minh, whom they planned to deport on a French ship. That deportation would have assured Ho Chi Minh's death. A legal battle followed, with British lawyer Francis Loseby(1883-1967) representing Ho, who claimed he was a Chinese national, Sung Man Cho(宋文初). The prominent coverage in Hong Kong's English-language press of the case Sung Man Cho Vs. The Superintendent of Prisons, because it challenged the power of the British Hong Kong governor. British authorities never realized they had captured a Comintern (Communist International) revolutionary actively organizing in one of their own colonies, Malaysia. Ho Chi Minh lost his case in the Hong Kong Supreme Court. The Hong Kong governor was about to deport Ho Chi Minh to French Indochina on a French ship – essentially a death sentence. Ho Chi Minh's lawyers appealed on his behalf to the Privy Council, the British Empire's highest court. Two London lawyers – Denis Noel Pritt (1887-1972) for Ho Chi Minh and Sir Stafford Cripps (1889-1952) for the Crown – settled the case out of court in summer of 1932.
Nguyen Ai Quoc, with the help of British solicitor Francis Loseby(1883-1967), masqueraded as a wealthy Chinese merchant before boarding a boat leaving Hong Kong for Vladivostok. Francis Loseby came to Ho Chi Minh's aid. He disguised Ho Chi Minh in a wealthy Chinese merchant's brocade gown and turban. Loseby's Chinese law clerk posed as a secretary for the "distinguished merchant." On January 22, 1933, after Ho Chi Minh's ship had left Hong Kong Harbour, the assistant superintendent of the Hong Kong Police accompanied two "belated passengers" by private launch to their reserved, first-class cabin. The two "merchants" arrived in Port Xiamen (Amoy) in time to enjoy Tet (Lunar New Year) 1933, the Year of the Water Rooster. From there, Ho Chi Minh traveled on to Vladivostok and then to Moscow. Francis Loseby, the British solicitor, and Denis Noel Pritt, the British barrister, both together had saved Ho Chi Minh's life in Hong Kong...not forgetting Sir Stafford Cripps – a socialist, a member of the leftist Fabian Society, an activist for Indian independence, and the opposing lawyer who represented the British Empire, without him an out of court settlement will be difficult....through them, a new history for Vietnam was created ....
Moscow, 1933-1938 To reduce French pressure for extradition, it was announced in 1932 that Nguyễn Ái Quốc had died. The British quietly released him in January 1933.
He then made his way back to Milan, Italy, where he served in a restaurant, Trattoria della Pesa restaurant. The restaurant is now a traditional Lombard-cuisine temple and harbors a portrait of Ho Chi Minh on the wall of its main dining hall. He then moved to the Soviet Union, where he spent several more years recovering from tuberculosis. Ho spent much of the years studying and teaching at the Lenin Institute, Moscow.
He begin to use Ho Chih Minh as his name
In 1938, he returned to China,reported together with General Ye Jianying(叶剑英) and served as an adviser with Chinese Communist armed forces, which later forced China’s government to the island of Taiwan. From 1938, Nguyễn Ái Quốc began regularly using the name "Hồ Chí Minh", a Vietnamese name combining a common Vietnamese surname (Hồ, 胡) with a given name meaning "enlightened will" (from Sino-Vietnamese 志明; Chí meaning 'will' (or spirit), and Minh meaning 'light'). Some scholar suspected that the name was for remembrance of his Chinese wife, Zeng Xueming(曾雪明). Noted the similar character Ming/Minh(明), Chih Minh(志明), the will to remember Ming(Zeng Xueming). Ho Chi Minh is a Chinese name, not a typical Vietnamese name.
In January 1941, Ho entered Vietnam for the first time in 30 years and organized the Vietnam Doc Lap Dong Minh Hoi (League for the Independence of Vietnam), or Viet Minh. A liberation zone was established near the border with China, from which the Viet Minh worked to muster the discontent of urban nationalists and the rural poor into a unified movement for the liberation of Vietnam.
While in southern China (1942) to meet with Zhou Enlai and Chinese Communist Party officials, Ho was arrested on 27-8-1942 in Guangxi by the Chinese nationalist government of Chiang Kai-sheh and imprisoned for two years. He was released in Sept 1943 in Liuzhou(柳州), Guangxi. In September 1944 Ho was allowed to return to Vietnam with a guerrilla force of 18 men trained and armed by the Chinese.
Ho Chi Minh led the Việt Minh independence movement from 1941 onward, establishing the communist-governed Democratic Republic of Vietnam in 1945 and defeating the French Union in 1954 at Điện Biên Phủ. He officially stepped down from power in 1955 due to his health, but remained to be a highly visible figurehead and inspiration for Vietnamese fighting for his cause — a united, independent Vietnam — until his death. Saigon, the capital of Republic of Vietnam, after the war, was renamed Ho Chi Minh City in his honor.
(source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ho_Chi_Minh with some changes)
Some authors were amazed at the multiple personality of Ho Chi Minh, and suspected there may be two personality for historical Ho Chih Minh. This added more mystery to the historical figure.
A Taiwan scholar said that from 1890-1932, Ho Chi Minh was Vietnamese communist Nguyen Ai Quoc(阮愛國), but he died in 1933. From 1933-1969, he was Taiwanese communist Wu Chee Chang(胡集璋).
From the personality of Ho Chi Minh, I remember Lai Teck of MCP. He was also agent of Comintern. He also used multiple names, Lai Tek, Loi Tak, Lee Soong,Wong Kim Geok, Chang Hung, and Mr. Wrigh. He was also having multiple personality. His background was also a mystery, similar to Ho Chi Minh. HO Chi Minh formed Malaya Communist Party on 30-4-1930. Lai Teck arrived in Malaya in 1934, Ho Chi Ming was released from Hong Kong in 1933 and reported went to Europe and only returned to China in 1938 with the new name Ho Chi Ming......Lai Teik was the Secretary General of Malayan Communist Party in 1938....
Did Lai Teck know Ho Chi Minh? Is there any relationship between Lai Teik and Ho Chi Minh?.....or Taiwanese Wu Chee Chang(胡集璋)...or is Lai Teik also Wu Chee Chang or ......
Lai Teck Lai Teck was a leader of the Communist Party of Malaya and Malayan People's Anti-Japanese Army. A Vietnamese of mixed Sino-Vietnamese descent, Lai Teck was known to have reached Malaya and Singapore in 1934 and joined the Malayan Communist Party and became its Secretary-General in 1938. Lai Teck was a shadowy character whose real name and background are unknown. According to his successor, Chin Peng. Lai Teck had served the French as a spy in Indo-China but been uncovered. It was subsequently alleged that he was recruited by the British security services and brought to Singapore to infiltrate the CPM. At this he was highly successful, and by using the British police to pick off his rivals within the Party he rose through the hierarchy and attained the Party leadership (Secretary General) in April 1939. Perhaps because of this, he steered the Party on a course of non-confrontation with the British and wholly embraced the Communist International's new line of cooperation with the United States and the Western European powers against Nazi Germany and Japan. Although many of the CPM's top personnel managed to flee Singapore before it fell, Lai Teck did not and was picked up in a Japanese sweep shortly after. Although most communists were executed by the Japanese, Lai Teck walked free a few days later. Based on later evidence, including documents in Japanese archives, it now appears most likely that Lai Teck saved his life by promising to act as a Japanese agent.
On 1 September 1942, more than 100 senior CPM and MPAJA members gathered at the Batu Caves just north of Kuala Lumpur for a secret conference. The Japanese, however, had been tipped off and staged a surprise raid at dawn. In the ensuing lopsided skirmish most of the CPM and MPAJA high command were destroyed. Lai Teck, who should have been at the meeting, wasn't. Subsequently he claimed that he had been unable to attend because his car broke down.
In 1946, faint rumors which had been circulating within the party about disloyalty on the part of Lai Teck began to receive more substantiation. This was exacerbated by the restlessness of the rank and file, especially the younger members, who favoured radical action. Lai Teck was removed from some sensitive posts, and an investigation was begun into his activities. A full meeting of the Central Executive Committee was scheduled for 6 March 1947 at which the complaints against Lai Teck were to be aired in his presence. Lai Teck did not attend but instead absconded with the bulk of the Party's funds, hiding first in Singapore, then going to Hong Kong and later Thailand. Lai Teck was killed in Bangkok some time in 1947 when Thai Communists tried to capture him. That happen after dissolution of Comintern in 1943.
China and Comintern 1935 During the Long March, the CPC party leadership re-examined its policy in Zunyi (January 1935). Mao Zedong blamed the CPC's failure to ignite a revolution on their decision to blindly follow the Comintern's instructions, which did not take into account the reality of Chinese conditions. During the heated debate, Zhou Enlai unexpectedly accepted the criticism and sided with Mao. Otto Braun was dismissed from his position as the CPC's military commander.
After they resettled in Yanan, the native Chinese Communists, such as Mao and Zhu De, became the real powers in the CPC rather than the foreign Communists supplied by the Comintern. Those Chinese Communists who were loyal to the Comintern, such as a group called the 28 Bolsheviks, fell from all of the most important positions within the CPC. Zhou Enlai became an assistant to Mao in political affairs, such as the pursuit of the United Front and diplomacy. By this time, the Comintern and the Soviet Union could no longer control the CPC. The Comintern continued to give advice, but much of it was simply ignored. The CPC was now a truly Chinese entity, much as the Bolshevik Party had been a truly Russian one.
Ho Chi Minh was close friend of CPC, was Comintern still having influence on Ho Chi Minh?....Ho Chi Minh was in China again in 1938, after the split of China with Comintern. That was also in 1938, Lai Teik become the Secretary General of CPM.
In 19 December 1946, Hồ Chí Minh, representing his government,declared war against the France Union, marked the beginning of the Indochina War. Lai Teik was captured and killed in 1947 in Bangkok. Ho Chi Minh become a national hero, Lai Teik become a traitor....
We at least now know some background of Ho Chi Minh, but until today nobody know the background of Lai Teik.....
No matter who was Ho Chi Minh, who was Lai Teik?.....they were communists, agents of Comintern(1919-1943)......they were the change agents for the communist international......does it matter if they are real......they are proxy of Comintern....they had lost their personal identity to their political belief - communism.......
The reality is who was their ultimate master?......
Further reading:
1. Ho Chi Mihn’s House in Thailand, http://www.thai-blogs.com/2011/01/29/ho-chi-mihns-house-in-thailand/ 2. 曾雪明, http://baike.baidu.com/view/3045785.htm 3. Ho chi Minh - The Man & The Myth - 1 -9, youtube 4. Ho Chi Minh, http://en.citizendium.org/wiki/Ho_Chi_Minh 5. My previous blog, Vietnamese in Thailand, dated Monday, December 28, 2009, http://teochiewkia.blogspot.com/2009/12/vietnamese-in-thailand_28.html 6. 越南國父胡志明是台灣人胡集璋？,http://www.hi-on.org.tw/bulletins.jsp?b_ID=90048 7. 胡志明, http://v.ifeng.com/special/renwupu/huzhiming/index.shtml 8. 胡志明生平考 ,http://tw.myblog.yahoo.com/hgfds198/ 9. Lai Teck – the traitor of all traitors , http://web1.iseas.edu.sg/?p=1799 10.Cheating death and saving a nation, by Lady Borton, http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/Sunday/Features/212075/Cheating-death-and-saving-a-nation.html
A huge rally is to be held in Kuantan, Pahang, from 10am on Feb 26 to press for the "termination" of the Lynas Advanced Materials Plant project in the nearby industrial area of Gebeng.
The Himpunan Hijau 2.0 will be a continuation of the first Himpunan Hijau on Oct 9 last year, where a coalition of environmental NGOs led a 2,000-strong anti-Lynas rally by a Kuantan beach.
This time, the one-and-half-hour rally will be at the Kuantan municipal field, where participants are expected to pray, sing songs, recite poems and read out a seven-point demand called "Aspirations of the People".
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/187610
Further reading:
1. Kuantan people will win, says anti-Lynas campaigner ,http://hornbillunleashed.wordpress.com/2011/10/13/24338/
(The campaign against the radioactivity risk of the Lynas rare earth refinery in Gebeng, near Kuantan, will eventually be successful, according to Prof Tan Ka Kheng, a distinguished environmental activist. Tan has a doctorate in a chemical engineering from the University of Cambridge. He did his research in physical chemistry after being released from the Internal Security Act. He had been the first of 106 prisoners of conscience imprisoned during the ‘Operation Lalang’ crackdown on NGOs and opposition politicians in 1987.
What was his offence against former premier Mahathir, leading to his detention without trial a quarter of a century ago? As vice-president of the Environmental Protection Society of Malaysia (EPSM), Tan had led an effective resistance movement against the notorious radioactive Asian Rare Earth (ARE) refinery in Perak. Lynas now claims radioactive thorium concentrations in the rare earth ores it is planning to ship to Gebeng will be lower than they were in Bukit Merah, and will therefore be safe. Tan dismisses such claims: “There is no such thing as a safe level of radiation… they are playing around with people’s lives.”)
Prof Tak was actively involved in Asian Rare Earth (ARE) refinery issue in Perak, and he was imprisoned for the involvement under Operation Lalang. He understand Lynas issue in Kuantan much better than any of us...
2. Papan(甲板), Perak , dated Friday, July 16, 2010, http://teochiewkia.blogspot.com/2010/07/papan.html
(One of the first detainee was Tan KK , who was Vice President of the Environmental Protection Society of Malaysia. He had the unwelcome privilege of being the first ISA detainee to be arrested under ‘Operation Lalang’ in 1987.)
Jalan Sultan(in China town), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, might be given way to LRT, all the near by streets, buildings,activities,priceless heritages then will be disappeared for ever!
17-9-2011
Thousands gathered at Dataran Merdeka yesterday(17-9-2011) to stage a display of unity, in celebration of the nation's progress in its 54 years of independence and 47 years of union with Sabah and Sarawak.
However, as dusk crept on, only a few streets away, a very different group of people gathered; not to celebrate the city's towering skyscrappers, but a humble national heritage in existence long before independence.
The cultural event held in conjunction with the mid-autumn festival, was entitled 'Safeguarding Jalan Petaling' but attention also shifted to Jalan Sultan as the buildings there face the looming danger of acquisition.
The organisers, the Kuala Lumpur-Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH) and art activists believe that Jalan Sultan should be preserved together with Jalan Petaling as integral parts of Chinatown.
"Many people have a sense of belonging to Jalan Petaling because it is the Malaysian Chinese experience and even later on other races also began to reside here... We believe that Jalan Petaling, Jalan Sultan and Kuala Lumpur's heritage buildings must be preserved," said KLSCAH president Tan Yew Sing.
17-10-2011 Some 60 artists and heritage conservationists responded to the call to turn a dilapidated wall at Jalan Sultan, Kuala Lumpur on Saturday into a colourful mural, to help raise awareness on heritage preservation.
Full story: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/176080
5-2-2012
The "LAST" of Chinese New Year Celebration? [ 5th of February, Light The Street of Century-old Jalan Sultan! ]
On January 23rd, 2012.. while Malaysian Chinese eagerly welcoming the arrival of the Year of Dragon (壬辰龙年), pleasantly learning the news of additional inclusion to the National Cultural Heritage List, namely Penang's "Giant Flags Procession" and Johor Bahru Old Temple's Chingay.
City folks in Kuala Lumpur's oldest century-living heritage street - namely Jalan Sultan, however are facing heartbreaking moments, receiving probably the "LAST" of Chinese New Year celebration. Until a week before the Chinese New Year, owners in Jalan Sultan suddenly received the final notice from the Land Office stating clearly that if the owners did not sign an agreement before 30th of January (9th day of CNY) , Land Acquisition Act will be imposed and the construction of the proposed MRT line will be bulldozed through.. hence the lost of the century-old street in the history of Greater Kuala Lumpur.
On 5th of February 2012 (Sunday 8:00pm), we sincerely invite you to come and light the street of century-old Jalan Sultan bring hope and courage to the people of this street, including those dedicated friends in culture, heritage & arts......SUPPORT the people's choice of re-alignment (to Jln Pudu / Tun Tan Cheng Lock) ... OBJECT Land Acquisition (OLA)!!! SAVE KL Heritage!
Further readings:
1. Jalan Sultan: Losing heritage over development, http://www.thesundaily.my /news/109459 2. Some 30 buildings to make way for MRT tunnel (Update), http://www.thesundaily.my/news/108754 3. MRT Jalan Sultan land acquisition – who is telling the truth: Chua Soi Lek, Hamid Albar or Idris Jala?, http://blog.limkitsiang.com/2011/08/26/mrt-jalan-sultan-land-acquisition-%E2%80%93-who-is-telling-the-truth-chua-soi-lek-hamid-albar-or-idris-jala/
Today's Egypt is not ancient Egypt, the early Egypt civilization had been lost in history. The modern people of Egypt is highly arablized, they called themselves Egyptian Arabs. The Great Sphinx and the Pyramids of Giza are the monument remained in earth to remind us of the early Egyptian Civilization.
Egyptian had lost their identity through time, now they are Arab
May be the Coptic people is considered the only living heritage who may traced their root to the Egyptian civilization. Coptic Christian is now only 9% of total population today, in their own native land. Like Arab Christian, they are leaving their home land....under political and social pressure....
Li Na made a dramatic comeback in the semifinals of the Apia International Sydney, beating Petra Kvitova 1-6 7-5 6-2.
Azarenka, the No. 3 seed, won 1-6 6-3 6-2 over Radwanska, in another semi-final.
Li Na will meet Azarenka in the final on Friday 13 January 2012.
The Sydney International (formerly known as the New South Wales Open, with various title sponsors), sponsored as the Apia International Sydney as of 2012, is a professional tennis tournament in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The tournament is played annually at the Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre in Homebush. It is one of the oldest tennis tournaments in the world, dating to 1885.
Li Na was 2011 Women's singles Champion
Updates:15-1-2012
Victoria Azarenka has taken the Apia International Sydney title from Li Na — literally. The No. 3 seed took out the defending champ in a match that featured extraordinary tennis, winning 6-2 1-6 6-3 in front of a spirited Ken Rosewall Arena crowd. Azarenka is one of the noisiest players on tour — who grunted her way to the 95 decibel mark during her semi-final run to Wimbledon in 2011. Despite the great week, Li drops from No. 5 to No. 6 in the world rankings because she failed to defend her title points from 2011. Samantha Stosur moves to No. 5.
(source: extract from http://www.apiainternational.com.au/2012/01/azarenka-takes-title-from-li)
But Li Na still played good tennis despite the loss. Hope that she will be going for another Asian record to be the first Asian to win Australia Open next week...
Taiwan President election is on. The election for the 13th-term President and Vice-President of the Republic of China (第十三任中華民國總統副總統選舉) will be held in the Free Area of the Republic of China (ROC) on January 14, 2012. The election will be held together with legislative elections. It will be the fifth direct election for the President of the Republic of China.
Kuomintang(中國國民黨)
Kuomintang(中國國民黨) or KMT's Incumbent President Ma Ying-jeou(馬英九)is standing for re-election.Vice President Vincent Siew Wan-chang(蕭萬長)chose not to run for a second term, and on 19 June 2011 President Ma selected Premier Wu Den-yih(吳敦義)as his running mate.
The Kuomintang of China(KMT), sometimes romanized as Guomindang and translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party is a founding and ruling political party of the Republic of China (ROC). Its guiding ideology is the Three Principles of the People, espoused by Sun Yat-sen.The Kuomintang traces its ideological and organizational roots to the work of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, a proponent of Chinese nationalism, who founded Revive China Society in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1894. In 1905, Sun joined forces with other anti-monarchist societies in Tokyo to form the Tongmenghui or the Revolutionary Alliance, a group committed to the overthrow of the Qing Dynasty and the establishment of a republican government. The KMT was founded by Song Jiaoren and Sun Yat-sen shortly after the Xinhai Revolution. Later led by Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, it ruled much of China from 1928 until its retreat to Taiwan in 1949 after being defeated by the Communist Party of China (CPC) during the Chinese Civil War. There, the KMT controlled the government under a single-party state until reforms in the late 1970s through the 1990s loosened its grip on power.
Together with the People First Party and Chinese New Party, the KMT forms what is known as the Taiwanese Pan-Blue coalition, which supports eventual unification with the mainland. However, the KMT has been forced to moderate its stance by advocating the political and legal status quo of modern Taiwan. The KMT accepts a "One China Principle" - it officially considers that there is only one China and that the Republic of China (not the People's Republic of China) is its legitimate government. However, since 2008, in order to ease tensions with the People's Republic of China, the KMT endorses the "three nos" policy as defined by Ma Ying-jeou - no unification, no independence and no use of force.
Ma is facing a tough challenge as James Soong Chu-yu(宋楚瑜) is also going for the President election, both are from Pan - Blue Coalition. Soong will be spoiling his chances. His victory card is not KMT, but his wife Christine Chow Ma or Chow Mei-ching( 酷酷嫂- 周美青). Based on party line, he is facing dangerous task, especially from the young voters and female voters. His main opponent is a strong woman , chances to be the first female President of Taiwan. It will attract some female voters for the sake of that. Christine Chow will attract some woman votes and family votes for Ma. Some said it is actually the election of Christine Chow Ma and Tsai Ing-wen(蔡英文), despite Christine Chow is not actively in politic. But her popularity among the Taiwanese is a pulling force, especially voters who see strong family as a determination to gauge on character of a candidate. Ma definitely has a plus point, as Tsai Ing-wen is not married. Ma may not be a perfect President, but his tenure was renowned for political stability and peace, that is the environment desired under the current global scenario, which will enhance Taiwan's economic development with mainland China and the world.
Not only for Taiwan, for Cross-Strait relationship, for East Asia, and for the world.
這一票，為我們自己
Democratic Progressive Party(民主進步黨)
Candidates for the DPP(Democratic Progressive Party, 民主進步黨) is Tsai Ing-wen(蔡英文), DDP secretary-general Su Jia-chyuan(蘇嘉全)is her running mate.
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP; 民主進步黨) is a political party in the Republic of China on Taiwan, and the dominant party in the Pan-Green Coalition. Founded in 1986, DPP is the first meaningful opposition party in Taiwan. It has traditionally been associated with strong advocacy of human rights and a distinct Taiwanese identity, including promotion of de jure Taiwan independence.The DPP won the presidency with the election of Chen Shui-bian in March 2000, ending more than half a century of KMT rule in Taiwan. In 2004, President Chen Shui-bian(陳水扁) was re-elected by a narrow margin following a controversial assassination attempt on him and the Vice President Annette Lu only hours before the election. He was convicted, along with his wife Wu Shu-chen, on two bribery charges, he is currently serving a 19-year sentence in the Taipei Prison, reduced from a life sentence in prison. Supporters have insisted that his trial have been unfair and politically motivated, a retribution from the Kuomintang against his years in power. But today he or commonly known as A-Bian (阿扁), is a liability to the party.
Tsai Ing-wen(蔡英文)is not experience as President, her capability is an unknown factor. Her experience as minister was also not strong. She was Minister of the Mainland Affairs Counci from l May 20, 2000 – May 20, 2004 and Vice Premier of the Republic of China from January 25, 2006 – May 21, 2007.
She announced she needs coalition government to rule Taiwan if she won, her cabinet may included members from other political parties in Taiwan. Will the government be stable? as Taiwan has no political history for such government. Still remember when President-elect Ah Bian on March 29, 2000,appointed Mr. Tang Fei(唐飛) as premier to head the new cabinet. With his wide-ranging military and overseas assignments, Mr. Tang has extensive administrative experience and an international outlook, which has promoted relations with other countries and will be necessary for the new cabinet. On October 3, 2000, Mr. Tang resigned from his post amid nuclear power row over Taiwan's energy policy. His appointment last only for a short term, from May 20, 2000 – October 6, 2000, not even for a full year. Can Tsai's new cabinet last if she is elected?....
The ruling Kuomintang has alleged that Tsai approved government investment in Yu Chang Biologics Co. when she was vice premier in early 2007 with the full knowledge that she would leave the Cabinet and chair the company later in the year. Tsai has denied the allegations, saying she did not manage the government investment and was only invited to chair Yu Chang by prominent scientists after she left the Cabinet."
Former President Lee Teng Hui(李登輝), the father of Taiwan independence support Tsai Ing-wen. But Lee's support has no additional effect, as his supporters are already strongly behind Tsai as critical mass.
(His support just remind Taiwan that Lee is forever for Taiwan independence even until his last breath, just like Ah Bian, the one who he supported, who cry for his political stance in a funeral of his mother in law. They are Taiwan independent hard core. Lee can betray his party who nourished him to be President to support Ah Bian, betray his motherland for independence and cultural proximity to Japan, what he had done for Taiwan......the best political drama for Oscar, for personal agenda. It looks just like Chiang Kai-sheh, best actor to do anything for personal ambition....)
「公平正義鋪滿台灣」 Tsai Ing-wen(蔡英文)
Fairness and Justice for Taiwan, and the first female President for Taiwan....
同願-台灣第一女總統
People First Party(親民黨)
Another candidate is PFP(People First Party, 親民黨) chairman James Soong Chu-yu(宋楚瑜), who was a former KMT member. Soong chose National Taiwan University professor emeritus Lin Ruey-shiung(林瑞雄), a career scientist and academic with no political experience, to be his running mate.The PFP was founded by James Soong and his supporters after his failed independent bid for the presidency in 2000. Soong is currently the chairman and dominates much of its politics. The chances for the candidate is slim, it is more a personal agenda for Song, the last for his ambition to become a President. It will spoil the chances of Ma Ying-jeou. PFP run will split the Pan-Blue Coalition vote and hand a winnable election to the DPP. If he is serious on Pan - Blue Coalition, he should not has run for the President election.
It was a repeat of 2000 President election, when he won 36.8% votes, KMT's Lien Chan won 23.1%, Chen Shui-bian won narrowly with 39.3%. Otherwise Lien Chan should had won the 2000 President election if not because of Soong. The total votes for Pan-Blue Coalition was 59.9%, much higher than Chen Shui-bian's 39.3%. However, the votes expectation will be lower this time, but he will be a king maker, as the votes to him will adversely affected Ma Ying-jeou and Pan - Blue Coalition's chances. If that happen, it will seriously affected Soong's reputation in Taiwan's political history. Soong is actually gamble on his political reputation, the result of the 2012 President election will determine what he will stand in history....
酷酷嫂- 周美青(Christine Chow Ma or Chow Mei-ching) , 中华民国第12任总统马英九的妻子，中华民国第一夫人
Chow was born in Hong Kong in 1952. She graduated from Taipei First Girls' High School and received her bachelor of laws degree from National Chengchi University and a master of laws (LL.M.) degree from New York University Law School.
Chow was a high-school classmate of Ma Ying-jeou's sister. Chow and Ma married in New York. She worked as a research assistant, an assistant librarian, and even as maître d’hôtel at a Chinese restaurant to support her husband through Harvard Law School [3] They have two daughters, Lesley (Ma Wei-chung, 馬唯中) and Kelly (Ma Yuan-chung, 馬元中). Lesley (Ma Wei-chung, 馬唯中) was born in 1980 in New York when Ma was attending Harvard; she completed her undergraduate work at Harvard University and is currently a graduate student at New York University. Younger daughter Kelly (Ma Yuan-chung, 馬元中), was born in Taiwan and is currently pursuing her undergraduate studies at Brown University in Rhode Island. Both Lesley and Kelly currently reside in the U.S.
Mrs. Ma was employed at the Mega International Commercial Bank in Taiwan in its legal department. After Ma Ying-jeou won the 2008 presidential election, she had initially said that she will continue her professional work. At the time, the only change she has made to her lifestyle was taking a chauffeured ride to work instead of public transportation.
In a change of course, President Ma, in a 15 July 2008 CNN interview, stated that his wife will resign her post at the bank to avoid any conflicts of interest or arouse suspicions during his presidency. Her resignation marked a major change for the career-oriented First Lady.
Chow is known for staying out of the political limelight and has rarely joined officials' wives at social or official functions in the past. Chow has stated that she will not fulfill "traditional" first lady responsibilities (no former first ladies held an active occupation); she has, however, said that she will fill in on meeting and greeting dignitaries if she has the time.
Chow is described as down-to-earth and assertive while sometimes lacking social and political tact. She once answered a reporter's question regarding her husband's shortcomings saying, "Whatever weak points husbands have, he has them all.".
Voting for Ma Ying-jeou is voting for Christine Chow Ma or Chow Mei-ching(酷酷嫂)...
馬英九周美青 為台灣祈福
External Factors
The two main external factors for any Taiwan President election, are China factor and USA factor.
Taiwan may say it is now a democratic, but still relatively short, and the system may be heavily influence by the businesses, secret society, KMT bureaucracy, corruptions, which tainted their democracy development. But this is the only factor that the Taiwanese is proud of in their justification for independence. Taiwan's democracy is tainted with foreign support, from USA and Japan. China is an important factor in their President election.
China factor
China is no longer the same as when Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek retreat to Taiwan in 1949. Today, China is an economically strong country. China(中国), officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is the most populous state in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens.Since the introduction of market-based economic reforms in 1978, China has become the world's fastest-growing major economy,and the world's largest exporter and second-largest importer of goods. It is the world's second-largest economy, after the United States, by both nominal GDP and purchasing power parity (PPP). On per capita terms, China ranked 90th by nominal GDP and 91st by GDP (PPP) in 2011, according to the IMF. China is a recognized nuclear weapons state and has the world's largest standing army, with the second-largest defense budget. In 2003, China became the third nation in the world, after the former Soviet Union and the United States, to independently launch a successful manned space mission. China has been characterized as a potential superpower by a number of academics,military analysts,and public policy and economics analysts.
Although a middle-income country by Western standards, the PRC's rapid growth has pulled hundreds of millions of its people out of poverty since 1978. Today, about 10% of the Chinese population live below the poverty line of US$1 per day (down from 64% in 1978), while life expectancy has increased to 73 years. More than 93% of the population is literate, compared to only 20% in 1950. Urban unemployment in China reportedly declined to 4% by the end of 2007, although true overall unemployment may be as high as 10%.
China's middle-class population (defined as those with annual income of at least US$17,000) has reached more than 100 million as of 2011, while the number of super-rich individuals worth more than 10 million yuan (US$1.5 million) is estimated to be 825,000, according to Hurun Report. Based on the Hurun rich list, the number of US dollar billionaires in China doubled from 130 in 2009 to 271 in 2010, giving China the world's second-highest number of billionaires. China's retail market was worth RMB 8.9 trillion (US$1.302 trillion) in 2007, and is growing at 16.8% annually. China is also now the world's second-largest consumer of luxury goods behind Japan, with 27.5% of the global share.
(source: wikipedia)
No mater what is your political stance, historically Taiwan is part of China, Republic of China. Today, despite the retreat of KMT to Taiwan in 1949, Taiwan still part of People Republic of China. The main threat from Taiwan is the Taiwan independence. China is no longer a weak country, economically she is strong. Regular weekend direct, cross-strait charter flights between mainland China and Taiwan, under three links policy (三通) resumed on July 4, 2008 for the first time since 1950. Taiwan now is having mass flow of Chinese tourists to the island, and import of their agricultural products, Taiwan's investment in mainland China is subtabtial. The cross- strait relationship(海峡两岸关系)now is stable, it is beneficial to both China and Taiwan economy and its people. There are government and private engagement and dialogue between China and Taiwan. The Strait relationship is moving in positive way.
This trend may not be happy to everybody, but it cannot deny that it facilitate political stability and promote closer economic development and stability in the region of East Asia.
The result of the President election 2012, has impact to the Cross- Strait Relationship. Taiwan cannot go alone. There is too much inter-government and cross- strait interaction now. So any campaign that China's reaction is not important for future of Taiwan is day dreaming and short sighted....stable cross- strait relationship is important to future of Taiwan.
But Taiwan politic is sensitive to the voices from China, any indication of support to any candidates will have negative effect on the candidates chances. China now learn to remain silence towards Taiwan President election. China is not neutral, she strongly support Ma for the status quo, for stability of Cross-Strait relationship, for political stability of East Asia, and for hope of unification of China with Taiwan in future.....
Taiwan just cannot ignore China now.....
USA factor
On international relationship, Taiwan is politically and military influenced by USA and Japan. Ironically, in Sept 2011, two rival camps of next President Election 2012 visited USA in their promotion campaign. President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九)'s KMT team and defended his top election campaign aide King Pu-tsung’s (金溥聰) trip to the US as an opportunity to promote Taiwanese policies in the US.Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) US visit has apparently boosted her support rate. From their activities in USA it is clearly revealed the USA foreign policy on strait relationship is not straight forward, but critical for both camps, with hidden strategic move best know to them. Why must Taiwan professed as either a part of China or independent Taiwan, visited to USA for their support? This revealed Taiwan democracy is fake, Taiwan still need USA for military and political support to survive, both candidates know the games....
At one side USA only recognize People Republic of China as legitimate government for China, at the same time supplies arms to Taiwan, recognize as part of China by USA. The reason given was:
"Obama administration for telling US Congress on Wednesday that it plans a US$5.3 billion (S$6.83 billion) upgrade of Taiwan's F-16 fighter fleet. The US offer - which includes sales of advanced air-to-air missiles, laser- and GPS-guided bombs and radars -Washington says it wants Beijing and Taipei to determine their future peacefully, and that it is obliged by US law to help the island defend itself. Taiwan said the upgrade of the F-16s would contribute to regional peace by improving its defense capability in the face of what it called a continued threat from China."
What is USA(an outsider) action to supply arms to Taiwan, a part of China in the face of threat from their own government(as recognized by USA in one China policy), is clear cut interference of internal affairs of China. In military or international law, an unfriendly act, which can provoke war. The excuses by Obama' administration was "wants Beijing and Taipei to determine their future "peacefully", and that it is obliged by US law to help the island defend itself". What a hypocrisy, by supplying arms, the Taiwan issue can solved peacefully, why not Obama as Nobel Peace Prize winner, be a peace maker and call for peaceful negotiation for unification(instead of supply arms)???
Logically, USA's hypocrisy was diplomatically supported one China policy, militarily support Taiwan's defense(part of China), indirectly revealed actually USA support war between mainland China and Taiwan. It is just like saying I recognize USA as one nation, but I supply arms to Hawaii independent movement to fight Obama's central government...what a silly and cunning strategy, USA is using.... but they gained strategic advantage economically and militarily over East Asia. this is especially so when USA is facing economic decline, war or arms sales is the last resort to boost their economy. But unfortunately their allies, Europe faced similar economic problems and has wake up against unnecessary war. USA must find other way to boost its arms industry as war become difficult with less allies, strait relationship is the cash cow.
The potential hot spots under USA global strategy, for 2012 may be Iran, Korea & East Asia, Burma and South China Sea. Looking at their activities, USA may be created another bamboo curtain or wall to contain China. Taiwan will always be their chess. I do no think they are happy with any sign of Chinese unification. That means they will lost Taiwan, and solely depended on Japan and South Korea. Burma however is their potential card, another one is India and perhaps Vietnam.
USA is also facing President Election in the 2012. China remained one of the political agenda for President candidates. 2012 may not be peaceful year for the world, Taiwan President election is important for global politic, especially strait relationship.
Without the support of USA, can Taiwan go for independence alone? a question to be ponder....
Other factor, Japan
Another external factor is Japan, China's neighbour, linked to USA by The Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the United States and Japan (日本国とアメリカ合衆国との間の相互協力及び安全保障条約 Nippon-koku to Amerika-gasshūkoku to no Aida no Sōgo Kyōryoku oyobi Anzen Hoshō Jōyaku). Its defense, like USA perceived China as threat, revealed in their defense white paper. Japan is waiting for the timing, the right time to gain their political benefits....they played their strategy similarly on Strait relationship, never call for peaceful unification solution as neighbor....
Japan however is good neighbor of Taiwan due to historical factor. Unlike former President Lee Teng Hui(李登輝)'s reign, the impart is neutral whether Ma or Tsai.
In conclusion, as an outsider, if you ask me if I am a Taiwanese, who should I vote? It depend whether the voter is looking at the big environment or local or small environment. If I look inward toward local environment, and look narrowly to Taiwanese independence , Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) will be the choice. but if I look at the bigger picture, Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) will be the choice. The game for James Soong Chu-yu(宋楚瑜)was over, he has no chance. My card is on Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九)....and the vote for Christine Chow Mei-ching(周美青)......
However the election result will be close, it can go either way....
Further readings
1. Taiwan Inc. Backs Ma Re-Election in Push for China Business, http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-10/taiwan-inc-backs-ma-re-election-bid-in-push-for-china-business.html 2. US moves raise suspicions that it is favoring incumbent in Taiwan presidential election, http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia-pacific/us-moves-raise-suspicions-that-it-is-favoring-incumbent-in-taiwan-presidential-election/2012/01/01/gIQAJQ8fTP_story.html 3. Taiwan's Ma sets course for "10 golden years", http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/05/us-taiwan-election-ma-idUSTRE80409L20120105 4. Taiwan presidential candidates focus on economy, not China, http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-taiwan-elections-20120113,0,5607495.story?track=rss 5. Former Taiwan President Lee Backs Opposition’s Tsai Before Vote, http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-01-11/former-taiwan-president-lee-backs-opposition-s-tsai-before-vote.html 6. 想起的豈只是宇昌, http://tw.news.yahoo.com/blogs/society-watch/想起的豈只是宇昌 (國光石化」是近20年，石化業最重大的投資計劃。是蘇貞昌、蔡英文在行政院正副院長時強力通過，去年竟然又強力否決，最後，馬英九出面善後，主動喊停。馬英九政府只是延續蘇蔡政策，竟然也會被打得裡外不是人。夠笨。但這個過程裡，真的看到了政客們「巧言令色」的嘴臉。但是，停就停了。石化業的「專業哀鳴」在政治正確下的聲浪中，被淹沒了。我同情他們被政客玩弄的苦楚，無能為力. .....重述這一段沒多久前的荒謬公衛史，我可以想像綠營必然重彈老調，說「人民有知的權利」。這是廢話。人民當然有知的權利。我只是想問：為什麼從國際跨海而來的宇昌是「寶」？為什麼從台灣走向國際，取得國際認証的國光卻是「草」？....當然，現在更不會有人告訴你：同樣是生技，差點被民進黨搞死的，不只是現在生死未卜的宇昌，還有當時政黨輪替前的國光)
Note: Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) won the Taiwan President election 2012. Congratulation.