News and Views - December 2007 Above: Front pages of the December 5, 2007 editions of Matichon, Daily News, Komchadluek. The Komchadluek headline reads: The Supreme patriarch of the Buddhist faith praises the King: "(He) wins the hearts of people in the world" King calls for unity, use of bio-fuels - Bangkok Post, December 4, 2007 ...This year's speech began humourously, with the king admonishing his 2-year-old grandson Dipangkorn Rasmijoti - the son of Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn - for talking during the ceremony. "He is like his father. He talks a lot," the King said of his grandson's interruptions. The king used his recent hospitalization and difficulties walking to urge Thais to work together for the sake of the nation. "My legs don't walk in union. I was saying the other day that the military and civilians need to be united. If we are not united, the country will face disaster..." On a serious note, King Bhumibol used his birthday eve speech to admonish the navy for recently expressing the wish to buy a submarine, noting that submarines were unsuitable for Thailand. The Gulf of Thailand is a notoriously shallow body of water... "No booze, sex on Thai king's birthday" - Jakarta Post, December 4, 2007 (Photo: Graham) Honoring the King - December 5, 2007 Thanks to Graham for sending some scenes from the ceremonies to honor the King's birthday in Tak Fa, Nakon Sawan. (Photo: Graham) (Photo: Graham) (Photo: Graham) (Photo: 2Bangkok.com) Air-con paddy wagon - December 1, 2007 Above is a new air-con Thai police paddy wagon. Below is the old, open-air wagon and a photo of the interior with a handcuff dangling from the bars. (Photo: 2Bangkok.com) (Photo: 2Bangkok.com) One Night in Bangkok Shows the Folly of Bali - Bloomberg, December, 2007 ...A recent UN report thickened the plot for officials in Bangkok. It found that Thailand's per capita carbon emissions stood at 4.2 tons a year, higher than China (3.8 tons), Indonesia (1.7 tons), and India (1.2 tons)... Minister: novels to be rated - The Nation, December 11, 2007 ...Following the ministry's plan for book ratings - especially for romantic and translated novels - as proposed by the Publishers and Booksellers Association of Thailand (PUBAT), many public members posted their concerns that love scenes in books might be cut and placed their objections on www.m-culture.co.th... (Photo: 2Bangkok.com) BMA jungle - December 11, 2007 The plaza in front of the BMA building is being transformed into a temporary jungle (above). There are no signs explaining why this is being done, but public spaces like this are often rendered unavailable to protests or public gatherings during sensitive times. The plaza was last used on November 30 for the TRT executives' rally. (Photo: 2Bangkok.com) Above and left: On the east side of the BMA plaza are official candidate records from every province for the public to inspect. (Photo: 2Bangkok.com) Thai goalposts keep moving - SMH, December 8, 2007 To see the more bizarre extension of Thailand's current election campaign you need to browse a few websites like goal.com, aimed at fans of soccer's English Premier League. There you will read that the deputy head of the Democrat Party, Apirak Kosayodhin, who is also Governor of Bangkok, last month signed a deal with Everton for its players and coaches to train a squad of young players at the Bangkok Football Academy. This was to counter the kudos gained in soccer-mad Thailand by the exiled political rival of the Democrats, the ousted prime minister and billionaire Thaksin Shinawatra, with his recent purchase of Manchester City, followed by the club's recruitment of three Thai players and its announcement of plans to open football academies in Thailand... Why Thailand's king is so revered - BBC News, December 8, 2007 The BBC's Jonathan Head looks at the decades-long popularity of Thailand's King Bhumibol, who is celebrating his 80th birthday... "Bare Back Tour 5" - December 11, 2007 (Photo: 2Bangkok.com) Thai souvenirs land Liesl in court - Stuff.co.nz, December, 2007 Books, socks, toothbrush, a pair of Thai knives... oops. The $10 knives mistakenly packed in a Dunedin student's hand luggage saw her standing trial... Japanese 'Leaving Thailand For Viet Nam' - Sin Chew Jit Poh, December 6, 2007 ...Some core industries including electronics and automobiles have pointed out that production costs in Viet Nam are now much cheaper than in Thailand. The economy there has also been vibrant for years due to strong domestic demand. The United Nations has noted that Viet Nam is becoming of the world's best countries for investment along with China, Russia, Brazil, India and the United States. Japanese companies are primarily concerned about political stability when making an investment decision, so they see Viet Nam as a good place to go, Kato said... Free version of The Nation - December 13, 2007 In this era of severe downsizing of traditional newspapers in the face of online offerings, a giveaway for the "young generation" does not bode well for the viability of English-language Thai news. It is likely we are seeing the beginning of the end of The Nation Group's English-language presence. First English freesheet to be launched - The Nation, December 13, 2007 The compact-sized XPress will immediately become the country's largest English language daily newspaper when it debuts in March as a freesheet, Thanachai Theerapatvong, chairman of publisher Nation Multimedia Group Plc, said Wednesday... Kyoto 10th anniversary / Bangkok sinking - AOL News Newsbloggers, December, 2007 [Right after Thai-Blogs.com had a story on the partially submerged wat on the Gulf of Thailand, many mainstream news organizations suddenly had stories on the wat.] The last great air link becomes reality - theage, December 12, 2007 [Thanks to Danny for pointing this out.] Locals, soldiers and vets join hunt for gaur - Bangkok Post, December 12, 2007 Sea Games: PSTM president banned from Thailand - The New Straits Times, December 6, 2007 Malaysian Sepak Takraw Association (PSTM) president Datuk Ahmad Ismail claims he has been banned from coming to Thailand to give moral support to other teams... The Irrawaddy: All the news that Burma deems unfit to print - Christian Science Monitor, December, 2007 NLA wants to build new Parliament in Nonthaburi - The Nation, December 6, 2007 Thailand's 'Doctor Death' transforms police work - ABC, December 3, 2007 ...A cancer survivor, she has fought death one-on-one, and has battled the country's male-dominated criminal justice establishment, which has been quick to belittle one of the most powerful women in the profession. The outspoken doctor frequently appears in the media to challenge autopsy findings by police, who control all aspects of criminal investigation in Thailand. As a result, she has become a prime target for harassment, bullying and lawsuits. "Police ... they don't like me. They say bad things about me, like, I'm not a good doctor, or I steal money. Because they see me as a threat undermining their power," she said... After China, Vietnam Will Be World's Factory - Bloomberg, December 6, 2007 Chased from streets, Myanmar monks get out message on video - AFP, December 5, 2007 ...Unable to speak directly to their followers in public, two senior monks -- Nyanissara and Kawvida -- have recorded their sermons on a video disc titled "The end of sinful people". In the sermon, they discuss the legend of a ruthless emperor who violated the teachings of the Lord Buddha, which resulted in him, and his followers, being sent to hell... Illicit sex bad for health - The Star, December 3, 2007 Out of 5,529 heart attack deaths in Asia, 34 happened during sex. Of that number, 27 were having illicit sex, reported Berita Minggu on Sunday... Light shed on rapid HIV deaths in India and Thailand - SciDev.net, December 3, 2007 Thailand abandons managed baht exchange rate-paper - Reuters, December 3, 2007 Thailand has quietly abandoned the managed floating exchange rate of the baht it adopted in 1997 and reverted to the old system of a basket of currencies... Or not... We're still using float, BOT claims - The Nation, December 5, 2007 For now, the Bank of Thailand's senior director Pongpen Ruengvirayudh is denying the central bank has quietly abandoned the managed float system in favour of a basket of currencies to curb the baht's rise... A harsh new film law - The Nation, November 29, 2007 Vietnam's Internet decade brings hopes, problems for dissidents - AFP, December 2, 2007 "I love Smart Head" - December 3, 2007 On Rama IV Road are a series of signs reading "I love fit shape," "I love sushi," and "I love good taste." But the most amusing is "I love Smart Head." And here is the company's amusing website: Prantalay (Photo: 2Bangkok.com) Holly Deane-Johns back after seven years in Thai jail hell - PerthNew, December, 2007 ...In other correspondence, she wrote of the horrors of life in a Thai jail. "You live like an animal here,'' she said. "You just don't live like people here. "Sometimes all the water is turned off in the prison, everywhere. You can wait 20 minutes when you are desperate to go to the toilet. "Drinking water sometimes has lice and pubic hairs in it.'' Deane-Johns' release has divided West Australians, with many saying she should serve out her sentence in Thailand... Alarm bells ring for scammers - Malaysia Star, December 9, 2007 ...Easy Network Marketing, which appeared at a trade exhibition at Muang Thong Thani’s Impact Arena, launched a rice seed scheme. People were told if they invested Bt1,200 to buy 35 kilos of rice, they would get half the money back in five days. Within 30 days, it was promised they would get the principal back. From then on, he or she would begin to see monthly profits. Hundreds of people fell for this rice seed scheme, which soon raised some Bt1 billion in cash. It was a similar story with Bangkok Noodles. People were told to invest Bt45,000 in the company and you will get two big pots for making noodles. And over the next 10 months, you will see returns of Bt10,000 a month. People invested in this scheme without having to sell real noodles. Actually, there were no Bangkok Noodles for anybody to buy and eat. It was simply a fictitious noodle scheme, which, again, relied on the cash contributions from latecomers to finance the profits of the early birds... Thailand, big pharma wrangle over cancer drugs - Reuters, December 18, 2007 Thailand is still talking to three major drug firms about cutting the price of certain cancer drugs but might make the medicines itself if it does not receive adequate discounts, a top health official said on Tuesday... Looking for people prepared to take responsibility - translated and summarized from Matichon, December 17, 2007 The Supreme Court’s final judgment on the PTT Privatization case on December 14 was to the effect that the Cabinet and PTT PLC should work together to facilitate the return of those landholdings expropriated by PTT during its privatization process. The judgment also withdrew PTT’s automatic right to use the said landholdings for both the continuing use of its current oil & gas pipelines, and the construction of further pipelines. The landholdings and existing pipelines will now be returned to the control of the Ministry of Finance (MOF). Ms. Rosana Tositrakul, a leading member of the Foundation for Consumers organization that brought the case to court, commented that the Supreme Court decision was a victory for Thai people as a whole. However, the Supreme Court rejected the plaintiff’s request that sought the revocation of two Royal Decrees that were enacted to govern PTT’s privatization process. Most people are delighted with the Supreme Court’s judgment. In the wake of this judgment, the Surayud Government must now enter into negotiations with the Ministry of Energy, the MOF and PTT executives to find the best way for the expropriated landholdings and pipelines to be returned to MOF control. This judgment should be a lesson to all those engaged in Civil Service administration that they should not engage in the privatization of State Enterprises (SEs) without first consulting public opinion. Those who pressed hard for PTT’s privatization should be prepared to take full responsibility for the negative effects that have accrued from their lack of attention to public opinion. Homicide time is approaching. Get ready to kill people innocently! - translated and summarized from Phujatkan, December 13, 2007 The columnist said Gen. Krit Siwara told him that we would see Thai people killing each other without any punishments like the October 14 incident some day. The killing will be a result of political failure and selfishness of a leader who lets innocent people die so that he could survive. Gen. Krit was named army chief shortly before the October 14 incident. He did not obey his commander who told him to suppress the students with force. Gen. Krit said Thailand would face another coup because (1) Thailand’s political system is not good enough; (2) we don’t have good politicians; and (3) we don’t have a good leader. Until now, Thai people still do not understand each other. The three problems Gen. Krit once mentioned still exist. The columnist is afraid there would be another October 14 incident some day. The 111 call for all sides to abide by the outcome - The Nation, December 19, 2007 Interesting that their website, secondclass111.com, was registered with no valid data in the whois: Registrant :      secondclass111.com abc@def.com +66.11111111      -      secondclass111      Bangkok Bangkok TH 10000 Domain Name: SECONDCLASS111.COM {secondclass111.com } Registration Date : 2007-11-19 Expiration Date : 2008-11-19 Last update :2007-11-20 14:32:37 Domain Name Server:      ns1.dns-diy.net           ns2.dns-diy.net      Administrator:      secondclass111 abc@def.com +66.11111111      -      secondclass111      Bangkok Bangkok TH 10000 Technical Contact:      secondclass111 abc@def.com +66.11111111      -      secondclass111      Bangkok Bangkok TH 10000 Billing Contact:      secondclass111 abc@def.com +66.11111111      -      secondclass111      Bangkok Bangkok TH 10000 "A STAR IS BORN" - The Nation, December 18, 2007 HIlarious "article" from The Nation touting their new free newspaper... ... Sutassanee Kunpalin, Korn Narongdej, Chailadol Chokwattana and Changnoi Kulchorn na Ayutthaya, who are typical of the readers the new paper is targeting, were enthusiastic not just about the format, but the entire concept, declaring XPRESS "their thing" for its treatment of the news and ability to fit in with their fast-paced ultra-mobile lifestyle... (Photo: 2Bangkok.com) (Photo: 2Bangkok.com) Be Smile Dental Clinic - December 20, 2007 BRT construction sign on Narwathiwat Road - December 20, 2007 Left: BRT construction site is 500 meters away. Please drive carefully. US couple arrested in Bangok Film Festival graft probe: justice - AFP, December 19, 2007 A Los Angeles-based businessman and his wife have been arrested for paying 1.7 million dollars in bribes to a Thailand government official for the right to manage the Bangkok International Film Festival, the Justice Department said Tuesday... Nation Group no longer organise Bangkok Film Festival - The Nation, December 19, 2007 (Photo: Graham) Thailand's Magic Hill - December 19, 2007 Graham sends these photos of the gravity-defying "Magic Hill" outside Mae Sot. (Photo: Graham) Bangkok Post, largest English newspaper in Thailand, chooses Violet Technology from Agfa for CtP and screening - La Société, December 12, 2007 PM rules out election day - The Nation, December 20, 2007 [Oddly mistitled article!] Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont Thursday ruled out delay of the Sunday election. He said so far nothing warranted the postponement of the election. The future of the past - Following up on Por Intarapalit's vision of Bangkok in 2007 - Bangkok Post, December 20, 2007 ...In the sky, several cars were flying past the 'Patcharaporn' house at rather low levels. There were propellers on their roofs. Sports or private monoplanes flew in scatters here and there not unlike birds. All of a sudden, everybody sighted a huge train, with two tram-like carriages joined together, running at no less than 60-kilometres-per-hour on tracks about ten metres above Sukhumvit Road. From the 'Patcharaporn' house, one could see skyscrapers with at least 20 to 80 stories, the top floors rising into the thick clouds. Fluttering from the top of each building was the tri-coloured national flag. The crowds on Sukhumvit bustled by in a hurry, men in their suits and women in their one-piece outfits. The people of Bangkok looked not so different from the Europeans or Americans. Nikorn asked his son in a hoarse, shaky voice... "Tell me, Nop, is this Bangkok or Paris? How come all these cars and planes are flying like dragon-flies?" "This is Bangkok, Father. This is Bangkok of 2007." Pai Su Anakhot (Toward the Future), Por Intarapalit, 1967. ...What were the attractions? - Places, language, food, dress code, commercial billboards, greeting by handshakes and even boxing had literally become Americanised - "except for the presence of national flags, everything looks like New York ... which meant Thailand must have progressed rapidly, to become the world's superpower, on the same par as America." - Every cabinet minister, "even the one overseeing the ministry of defense", was a civilian. "They served the country diligently, and there was absolutely no corruption." - Every Thai citizen was well-educated - the two taxi drivers hired by the Samgler gang had university degrees in architecture and engineering; Bangkok boasted about 200 universities and no fewer than 5,000 primary and secondary schools did not charge for tuition, stationery or uniforms (a precise prediction of today's politicians' election gimmicks). - Traffic problems in Bangkok were nonexistent. - The Thai currency had the same value as the US dollar! - The Thai economy was rock-solid: Rich oil fields had been discovered and Thailand suddenly became industrialised, producing and exporting everything from clothes to cars, planes and battleships. Heavy machinery was exported to China while China sent agricultural products and hordes of tourists in return. Also, Bangkok no longer had small-scale businesses or street peddlers that would allow developed nations to look down on it... And a link to the pdf of the Thai-language book is on the forum. Thai president already gone - translated and summarized from Phujadkan, December 14, 2007 [Phujadkan has been featuring a series of strident editorials over the last couple of weeks...] The columnist criticizes some political movement to destroy Thailand’s Monarchy and set up a presidential system. In the past years, activities have been run to make the idea come true. The government, the police and the military announce that they agree with the public that they resent this. They even ran a coup to eliminate those mean people who want to set up a new political system in Thailand. However, the coup is only a big lie. They ran the coup to benefit themselves. No one really does anything to ease corruption and the betrayal of the Royal Family. The columnist believes that all sacred things in the Kingdom will protect Thailand’s Monarchy and those evil people will not be able to achieve their goal. Book Review: A Broad Abroad In Thailand - An Expat’s Misadventures In The Land Of Smiles by Dodie Cross - December, 2007 ...It doesn’t take our adventurous author long to discover that the ‘land of smiles’ may well be full of smiles, but the company compound where everyone must live is anything but Eden. A repressive management, or to be exact the managers wife, has created her own version of hell on Earth. Endless lists of rules and regulations, the company not only owns the employees, but their wives and families as well.  Must attend meetings, shopping trips, card games, and parties are all part of the social calendar... 125 Years of Thai Postal Services - December 18, 2007 Nils writes: I think these cutesy cards sent to all households by Thai Post should be mentioned on 2B.... It reads something like: Happy New Year 2008 125 Years of Thai Postal Services Let us wish happiness to Thai people Thank you from our hearts Thai Post.... for Thai people Discipline needed in politics - translated and summarized from Krungthep Turakit, December 8, 2007 I would like to comment on Thai politicians - and especially on the numerous occasions on which they have not conducted their political strategies in a well-disciplined manner. I raise this subject because of the case of Matchima Thipataya Party leader Prachai Leophairatana, who recently received an unsuspended one-month jail sentence. Prachai’s conviction [on contempt of court charges] resulted from comments he made on a publicly-distributed VCD.  On the VCD, Prachai criticized the same court for their earlier judgment that he had been involved in corrupt practices - while he was in charge of TPI Polene PLC. The December 23 General Election will hopefully usher in a new type of politics, in which the law of Thailand is treated with supreme respect by each member of its society. Buying weapons under the ‘sufficiency’ principle - translated and summarized from Matichon, December 8, 2007 HM the King delivered his annual ‘Birthday Speech’ on December 4, His audience consisted of high-ranking government officials, cabinet members, National Legislative Assembly members, parliamentary candidates and selected members of the general public. His Majesty talked extensively about the ethical procurement of military weapons under his self-proclaimed ‘sufficiency’ principle. His Majesty also touched on the various secrets and scandals, of the nation’s armed forces, that have been widely-rumored in the past. He noted that such rumors often made people wonder if there would always be a political dimension to the nation’s arms procurement. All senior military officers should realize that it is necessary for them to carry out arms procurement from other countries, in a way that does not cheat the nation. Ill-considered military purchases could also jeopardize the country’s security. ADB approves largest-ever project loan for billion-dollar highway linking Ha Noi, Kunming - ADB, December 14, 2007 The Asian Development Bank is providing loans totaling US$1.1 billion to Viet Nam for the construction of a modern 244 kilometer highway stretching from suburban Ha Noi to Lao Cai, on Viet Nam's border with the People's Republic of China (PRC).  It is the biggest single project financing in ADB's history... Bangkok hospital breaks rules of medical diagnosis - Mathaba, December, 2007 ...The director of the hospital, Professor Emeritus Teerachai Chantarojanasiri who was copied in on the correspondence, apparently agrees that a diagnosis can be given for the simple condition of "dizziness" without the fully compus mentus patient having complained of any of the symptoms of dizziness, nor displaying any of the symptoms, and without even being tested for symptoms... 'I'm saving Thailand's gay history' - Financial Times, December, 2007 Hasn’t really quit politics! - translated and summarized from Thai Rath, December 13, 2007 Several political parties have cast doubt on former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s frequent claims that he has actually quit politics. This doubt is fueling concerns that there might be considerable political problems in the run-up to the upcoming election. Since his September 18 ouster in 2006, Thaksin’s words have always seemed to be in stark contrast to his actual actions. He has continued to attack the interim government and the Council for National Security at every opportunity. An election campaign VCD for the People Power Party (PPP) has recently been launched. At one part during the video, the commentary runs: “Let us all gather together to set up a new party called the People Power Party. You, the public, understand us. And you already know how much we are under attack”. This VCD is making many people wonder whether Thaksin Shinawatra is actually one of the founders of the PPP – and especially since this would be a transgression of the law. If Thaksin had really quit politics, the political problems in the current election run-up would undoubtedly be less severe - and the upcoming election would stand a much better chance of returning peace to the country. Law should be respected - translated and summarized from Thai Rath, December 10, 2007 Regarding a VCD, currently in circulation, which carries a number of political commentaries by deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The VCD has been distributed nationwide, in order to convey a positive image of the People Power Party to the electorate. I would like to comment on this matter with regard to our nation’s democratic system, in which the Constitution and its principles are supposed to be highly-respected by its citizenry. The Election Commission has already warned that the distribution of this VCD might be in breach of electoral law, and has even launched an investigation of the matter. I believe that former executives of the disbanded Thai Rak Thai party should hastily reconsider their current lack of respect for both the Constitutional Court verdict, that banned them from politics, and the new constitution itself. Thailand's No. 1 deadbeat eyes top job - CNN Money, December 12, 2007 Thailand's Prachai Leophairatana was the undisputed bad boy of the Asian financial crisis. When the baht dove in 1997, his debt soared, transforming the company he founded, Thai Petrochemical Industries, into Southeast Asia's biggest corporate deadbeat when it defaulted on $4.2 billion in loans to Thai and foreign banks... Bangkok Airways Boeing 717 heads for desert storage in USA - Flight International, December 12, 2007 Editorial: Reconciliation in the midst of conflict - translated and summarized from Krungthep Turakit, December 11, 2007 Regarding deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s suggestion that a government of national unity should be set up after the General Election to bring about a spirit of political conciliation. The public reaction to the ousted PM’s suggestion was not particularly favorable. I believe this negative feedback is a part of the current fall from popular grace of the ‘old power’, as a result of the widespread perception that it was nepotistic. Many vote-buying allegations also surround both former members of the disbanded Thai Rak Thai party and the deposed prime minister himself. The only thing that might lead to genuine political reconciliation is for politicians to make a real effort to regain the general public’s trust. La Palma elects Thai-American mayor - KTVN Reno, December 21, 2007 Thai American G. Henry Charoen is the new mayor of the tiny Orange County community of La Palma. Charoen is believed to be the nation's first Thai-American to lead a city... Ghostly goings on - Phuket Gazette, December 20, 2007 ...A number of villages in the district began ramping up anti-ghost measures after residents had been having dreams that people born on Tuesdays and Wednesdays would be taken by the dreaded phi pop. Bangkok bombshell - Times of India, December 22, 2007 Thai-American pop sensation Tata Young wooed India with her oomph in Dhoom. American actress Ali Larter was paired up with Salman Khan for Marigold. And now we have Lena, a Thai TV presenter who will make her Bollywood debut in Nagesh Kukunoor’s Bombay to Bangkok... CIA chief to drag White House into torture cover-up storm - Sunday Times, December 23, 2007 ...The tapes recorded the interrogations of Abu Zubaydah and Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, two suspected Al-Qaeda leaders, over hundreds of hours while they were held in secret “ghost” prisons. According to testimony from a former CIA officer, Zubaydah was subjected to waterboarding, a form of torture that simulates drowning, and “broke” after 35 seconds. He is believed to have been interrogated in Thailand. The tapes were destroyed in 2005. Both men are now held in Guantanamo Bay... STEALTH STRIKE on SOI 3 - Bangkok Post, December 23, 2007 ...They (the gang members) are the biggest problem for us and a burden on Thailand. Many live here illegally," said the Pol Maj-Gen. "In the past, the drug trade was controlled by Thai pushers who sold to foreigners, but right now it is the other way around. People from West African countries sell cocaine, marijuana and crystal methamphetamine, widely known as 'ice', to Thais. In fact, they sell it to everyone, including some of the Middle Easterners who stay in large numbers on Soi 3..." The Nation tribute - December 28, 2007 Update:The Nation wrote and explained the material was placed online mistakenly and kindly requested that we remove this from 2Bangkok.com. So, to be a good neighbor, we removed the info in question... This is reminiscent of the "The CNN.com incident" when prewritten obituaries of living people where exposed online. (Photo: 2Bangkok.com) "I AM 6000 baht short..." - December 27, 2007 This oddly grim and slightly too old grifter is pulling a traditional scam that allegedly is quite profitable. The photo was taken outside of MBK. His sign reads: I am 6000 baht short to go back home HOLLAND. Can you help me? Then it lists suggestions for donations: 20, 50, 100, 500 , 1000 baht, etc. A thread on this photo is here. Online New Year traffic reports - The Nation, December 27, 2007 ...To get traffic information, they can access http://traffic.thai.net and see the density of traffic shown in red, yellow or green. ...They just have to download the software from http://map.longdo.com/m and install it in their phone to see the overall traffic map and check traffic status and accident information while on the move via the phone's GPRS network... Bangkok New Year's Countdown: Hands Bangkok Countdown 2008 - December 31, 2007 BTW: The crush of the crowd in front of Central World Plaza gets worse every year with little improvement in crowd control. Hopefully this situation will be improved. Another charming "Engrish" headline: "Top military commanders thumping in defiant of reprisals" - The Nation, December 27, 2007 Don’t just be a ‘paper tiger’! - translated and summarized from Thai Rath, December 24, 2007 The Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC) has admitted that the organization was not in a position to issue ‘red cards’ to parliamentary candidates in advance of the December 23 General Election. He also said that it had been impossible to mount investigations into electoral malpractice in such a short space of time, and that far more evidence was needed before red cards could be issued against erring politicians. This columnist believes, however, that the EC has had plenty of time to investigate electoral malpractice and to initiate legal proceedings against the lawbreakers. In the wake of this election, the EC will now have a full thirty days to decide whether candidates will receive yellow or red cards. The commission must act decisively if it wishes to be seen as having fulfilled its most important allocated role. I would like to warn the EC that it is in danger of being perceived as a ‘paper tiger’. Commission’s yellow cards and red cards could prevent another coup - translated and summarized from Komchadluek, December 25, 2007 If the September 19 coup was a school examination, members of the coup would not pass the exam. The interim government does not seem to have any achievements. Some people therefore miss the previous premier [Thaksin]. People are wondering if the army will allow old power clique to regain its power. High-ranking military officials like Gen. Sonthi Boonyaratglin and army chief Gen. Anupong Phaochinda have not said much about this. Supreme commander Gen. Boonsang Niampradit said he would accept if the People Power Party does form the government. The yellow cards and red cards to be rightfully issued by the Election Commission will ban candidates who offer money to voters. They could also prevent another coup that might be staged. Defense Minister Gen. Boonrawd Somtas wants everybody to follow rules in a bid to prevent turmoil. We [the authors] expect the Election Commission to issue at least 25 yellow and red cards. That would make the forming of the new government easier. We are just wondering if the party will simply accept that. [If the People Power Party would accept being pushed out of forming a government because of excessive red cards.] Thai generals in fear after tycoon's victory - Times Online, December 29, 2007 Manchester City's chairman, the ousted Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, will face arrest on criminal charges if he returns home, despite a stunning election success by his political allies last week... Sixty years after independence, Myanmar remembers in secret - AFP, January 2, 2008 ...Even the military leadership remembers Aung San's sacrifice on the anniversary of their deaths, which is called Martyrs' Day. But since his daughter achieved prominence during a 1988 pro-democracy uprising, few people are willing to mention Aung San in public for fear of angering the junta and its ubiquitous informers. "We never forget our independence leader. He's always in our hearts and minds. People just dare not to show their love openly because they don't want any problems," Khin, a 30-year-old company staffer, told AFP... Fall of Arakanese sovereignty honored in Denmark, Thailand, and Malaysia - Narinjara News, January 2, 2008 Wrong tags - January 3, 2008 This is one of a number of wrongly tagged articles about Pakistan--possibly because Pakistan also has a PPP--the "Pakistan People's Party." Thailand: How Did Bhutto Die? - ANN, December 30, 2007 BANGKOK, THAILAND: Jehadi groups on Saturday (29 Dec) said they had no link with Benazir Bhutto’s assassination and dismissed government claims that a leader of pro-Taliban force was behind the suicide attack on the slained former prime minister and Pakistani opposition leader... Thai student mugged by teenage gang - Scotsman, December 26, 2007 Orange bats? - The Nation, December, 2007 Local villagers show colourful bats they found in Chachoensao's Muang district on Tuesday. Iraqi team irritated by national anthem mix-up - Reuters, December 22, 2007 ...Asian Cup holders Iraq were confused and annoyed when they were made to listen to the wrong national anthem before their opening match of the King's Cup tournament in Thailand on Saturday... 2000 tigers possible in Thailand, study says - Science Daily, December, 2007 Thailand's Western Forest Complex -- a 6,900 square mile (18,000 square kilometers) network of parks and wildlife reserves -- can potentially support some 2,000 tigers... Thailand to grant citizenship to 353,000 people - Straits Times, December 21, 2007 Thailand will grant citizenship to 353,000 people, mostly hill tribesmen living in the country's north bordering Myanmar and Laos, coup leader General Sonthi Boonyaratglin said on Friday... (Photo: 2Bangkok.com) "Get happiness, get a Sanwa" - December 22, 2007 Help us win half of the seats... - December 22, 2007 Thai ex-PM said to end exile Feb. 14 - AP, December 21, 2007 What were the best movies in Thailand this year? - Cinematical, December 29, 2007 Thailand's ambush gangs worry New Year travellers - Earthtimes, December 30, 2007 The Thai Yankee - MySinchew, December 30, 2007 ...Then he embraced his mother Yome, a tanned Thai lady from whom Damon inherited his cheekbones. “She is very fast. Now you know why I am fast,” Damon proudly said of Yome, who was an athlete when she was young...