George Sioris - The Japan Times

Today's print edition

Subscribe for more access

Meta

George Sioris

For George Sioris's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:

COMMENTARY / World

Jun 30, 2002

Tricky laws cap emotional powder keg

CHIANG MAI, Thailand -- After so much controversy surrounding two recent asylum incidents in Beijing, a change of focus may be in order -- from the emotional to the legal dimension. We should begin with the reminder that asylum and inviolability issues, in general, are extremely complicated and can never be analyzed in terms of black and white. We are confronted with an endless variety of circumstances, specific national policies or lack of them, academic bibliographies, ample jurisprudence or litigation with merely the bare fundamentals. Internationally accepted texts provide the necessary legal framework.

COMMENTARY / World

Jun 15, 2002

Developing Asia's publishing industry

CHIANG MAI, Thailand -- A very interesting conference took place earlier last month in Bangkok with the participation of leading publishers from around Asia. As with many such specialized events, its impact mainly reached people in the publishing industry rather than the public at large. But, because of its theme, it also provided food for thought for some government officials directly in touch with this industry.

CULTURE / Books / THE ASIAN BOOKSHELF

May 26, 2002

Where art and religion meet

DANCE OF LIFE: The Mythology, History and Politics of Cambodian Culture, by Julie B. Mehta. Singapore, 2001, 304 pp., $96.15/2,800 baht (cloth) In this beautifully illustrated book on Cambodian classical dance, Julie B. Mehta examines the richness of Khmer culture, the horror of the Pol Pot era and the devastating effect it had on traditional dance, and the rise of a new generation of talented Khmer dancers dedicated to reviving the art form.

COMMENTARY / World

May 11, 2002

Reflecting on the future of Myanmar

CHIANG MAI -- The hopeful news from Myanmar calls for a pause and reflection: What really triggered these happy developments? Which is the most appropriate course for the international community to follow on the strenuous road to a full blossoming of democracy in Myanmar?

COMMENTARY / World

Apr 21, 2002

ASEAN's time to strengthen Indian ties

CHIANG MAI, Thailand -- In a series of previous articles on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, a certain vacuum has been noted: Although this regional organization has managed through the years to establish meaningful connections with various countries of the world, its links with India, have been rather weak. It seems odd to see increasing cooperation between ASEAN and nations or regional groupings far away amid a conspicuous lack of institutional links with a South Asian power representing one-sixth of the planet's population.

COMMENTARY / World

Apr 7, 2002

A special time of hope for a better future

MANILA -- The end of March is a very special time in the Philippines, when ceremonies are held to honor the year's crop of graduates. Having served as commencement speaker at various institutions for the last two years, I have had the opportunity not only to observe the joyful ceremonies closely, but also to reflect on the meaning of such an important transition in young people's lives.

COMMENTARY / World

Mar 16, 2002

Roles of the main Asia-Pacific groups

CHIANG MAI, Thailand -- It may be presumptuous to review Asia-Pacific regional organizations in a single column, but there seems to be so much confusion about them that certain points need to be clarified and properly addressed. The main groups are the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and ASEAN plus 3 (Japan, China, South Korea).

COMMENTARY / World

Mar 3, 2002

ASEAN moves toward antiterror policy

CHIANG MAI, Thailand -- The just concluded meeting of foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, was an important landmark in efforts to give new impetus to this regional organization, particularly in the post-Sept. 11 atmosphere. Several points about the meeting are worth mentioning:

COMMENTARY / World

Feb 22, 2002

Southeast Asia scores its outside players

CHIANG MAI, Thailand -- Three outside players influence, to various degrees, the destiny of Southeast Asia: the United States, Japan and China. Their influences may intensify or wane over a specific period, depending on the prevailing over- all geopolitical and economic framework. How then can we evaluate the situation in the region today? We can start by examining perceptions of each of these players which, rightly or wrongly, appear to be generally held by Southeast Asians.

COMMENTARY / World

Feb 9, 2002

Diplomats: more than traveling salesmen

CHIANG MAI, Thailand -- Recently, the order of a prominent European political leader to his country's ambassadors to begin acting as salesmen made waves all the way to Asia. This is not an isolated case: To various degrees, politicians from Europe to Asia and Oceania are now calling for a new diplomacy that focuses more on economic issues.

COMMENTARY / World

Jan 20, 2002

Ladakh: India's timeless Buddhist jewel

CHIANG MAI, Thailand -- Once again tensions are mounting on the famous Line of Control that separates India and Pakistan. The crisis brings to mind images from an earlier pilgrimage I made to that area when I visited Ladakh, an almost inaccessible region in the state of Jammu and Kashmir that is known as "Indian Tibet."

COMMENTARY / World

Jan 14, 2002

Seniority vs. meritocracy: a middle way

CHIANG MAI, Thailand -- Quite often the terms "seniority" and "meritocracy" are used -- or rather "misused" -- antithetically as if they were in a 16th-century arena of charging helmeted knights, where the space occupied by one is totally denied to the other. In such thinking, the former term is usually associated with conservatism, rigidity and immobility, with perhaps an allowance for experience; while the latter connotes reform, dynamism and vigorous forward movement, with an assured abundance of talent.

COMMENTARY / World

Dec 31, 2001

Fostering a proper ASEAN perspective

CHIANG MAI, Thailand -- During high-level meetings, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, born more than three decades ago, tends to come under criticism, mainly from the international press but sometimes from analysts and academics, as a "talking shop." Even an authority like Samuel Huntington, in his famous "Clash of Civilizations," at first admits to something that applies to several other regional organizations as well -- the problem of "maintaining coherence." He goes on to voice concern about the organization's "slow pace" of progress in many fields, characterizing ASEAN's post-ministerial conferences as merely "for bilateral conversations" and castigating the ASEAN Regional Forum, or ARF, as "a place for collective talk, not collective action."

CULTURE / Books / THE ASIAN BOOKSHELF

Dec 16, 2001

The architect of Burma's freedom

AUNG SAN AND THE STRUGGLE FOR BURMESE INDEPENDENCE, by Angelene Naw. Silkworm Books; Chiang Mai, 2001, 284 pp., 595 baht. (Also available through University of Washington Press, $17.50) Aung San, the pillar of the struggle for Burmese independence and immensely popular during those most turbulent years, is probably proudly watching the equally impressive career of his daughter, Aung San Suu Kyi, from above. The latter's fame has to some extent overshadowed her father's legend, which makes this biography precious in many ways.

COMMENTARY / World

Dec 8, 2001

Defending the Khmer cultural heritage

CHIANG MAI, Thailand -- When discussion involves Cambodia, a natural reaction is to recall horrendous images of ruthless genocide. While this is true, one should nonetheless not exclusively equate this small country with immense suffering and torment. Cambodia is also home to a precious cultural heritage left by a very distinct civilization.

COMMENTARY / World

Aug 28, 2001

Trends in life learning for senior citizens

CHIANG MAI, Thailand -- So much talk about globalization issues nowadays overshadows a couple of other equally important current developments: the longer life span of individuals and their wish to lead a meaningful period of time as silver-haired "senior citizens."

COMMENTARY / World

Jul 22, 2001

Foreign Ministry troubles exact a high toll

CHIANG MAI, Thailand -- It is with hesitation that I write about the current imbroglio involving the Foreign Ministry. First, this is a matter for the Japanese to sort out. Second, suspicions of partiality may arise, given my diplomatic background. But in spite of these valid points, I humbly put forward some thoughts, as I am physically and organically a distant observer, focusing mainly in the area of the image of Japan. I beg forgiveness for any unintentional distortion on my part of the two sides' conflicting positions.

COMMENTARY / World

Jul 14, 2001

Vipassana spirituality a refreshing breeze

BANGKOK -- There was recently a cultural event in Bangkok that deserves to be singled out. It was a special Dhamma talk given by the foremost Vipassana meditation teacher of our times, Satya Narayan Goenka, to a select audience presided over by Princess Galyani, the sister of the King of Thailand.

COMMENTARY / World

Jul 7, 2001

Networking takes root in Asian universities

CHIANG MAI, Thailand -- The magic of the new term "networking" is becoming irresistible. How does it translate when we examine its potential in academia, particularly in the Asia Pacific region?

COMMENTARY / World

Jun 18, 2001

China and ASEAN strive to improve ties

CHIANG MAI, Thailand -- For geographic and historic reasons, China has been and will always be a factor in Southeast Asia. Of course, the reverse is also true. And as emphasis shifts from bilateral relations to multilateral ties, the ASEAN-China dimension assumes a special meaning, whether viewed alone or within the wider ASEAN plus Three (China, Japan, and South Korea) context.

From easily navigable train stations to the helpfulness of its municipal staff, Tokyo has earned high praise for its commitment to accessibility for disabled travelers.

[Rebroadcast] Japan is doing better on accessibility than you may think

Rows of irises resemble a rice field at the Peter Walker-designed Toyota Municipal Museum of Art.

The 'outsiders' creating some of Japan's greenest spaces

By Stephen Mansfield

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Cultural properties:A Fujiya Hotel insider’s view

Cultural properties:A Fujiya Hotel insider’s view

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTS

SUPPLEMENTS BINDER

international-reports