Green shoots? -- pick of the fortnight

• Asia Sentinel has a slightly more positive round-up of recent events in Thailand than many I’ve seen lately (9 Mar). The report concludes: “There is plenty to be concerned about. Eventually, the harshness of the lese majeste laws, the military’s dominance of the political process and concerns that somehow the government will engineer Thaksin’s return could trigger more of the kind of trouble that has characterized far too much of the country’s political sphere. The mai pen rai (Don’t worry, it’s okay) attitude that characterizes the country, to take the easy option and ignore problems, could once again result in lack of will to put flood control infrastructure in place. But the feeling is that for now, mai pen rai will prevail despite the gradual disintegration of the arrangements that have kept Thai politics relatively stable since the 2011 election. Thailand needs it.”
• A New York Times report notes that Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi is increasingly “being asked to propose solutions to her country’s woes rather than merely lament them” (7 Mar). Fears are being expressed that she will tarnish her reputation in the rough-and-tumble of day-to-day politics. But as I’ve observed before, this is a trade-off that all SEA’s activists have had to come to terms with. It’s never an easy choice or combination. But we need good people who can build as well as good people who can scourge.
• Still on Myanmar, Nicolas Farrelly (8 Mar) notes that this is not the time to be watching “for unambiguous signs that change is irreversible and that the military has surrendered political power for good”. Rather, he warns: “Instead of a final resolution of Burma’s problems it is conceivable that changes will remain incremental, erratic and somewhat opaque… Meanwhile there is much to be gained by increasing our awareness of the changes that are occurring and by accepting Burma’s new government as a normal part of the Southeast Asian political landscape. This is the time when Burmese authorities, businesses and individuals are actively seeking partners from around the world to assist with the challenges ahead. There are still reasons to doubt and fret, but the time is ripe for action and involvement.” Hear, hear...
• Malaysia has been rated “the safest country in Southeast Asia and 19th in the world” (8 Mar). This is interesting, because it certainly doesn’t square with the many, many warnings I’ve been given by concerned locals since moving to Malaysia in November last year… Is the discrepancy just due to a perception lag, or to something more complex?
• The website for the upcoming ASEAN Civil Society Conference/ASEAN People’s Forum is here. This will be one to watch in terms of gauging the nature of Cambodia’s ASEAN chairmanship.
• “Singapore will be contributing $50 million over the next four years to an Asean initiative to narrow the divide within the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean)…The amount will be given from this year till 2015, and will bring Singapore's total contribution to IAI [Initiative for ASEAN Integration] to $170 million [6 Mar]”. And – Singapore’s domestic workers are to be given a day off.
• The election season is underway in Timor Leste. There are useful backgrounders here and here.