2Bangkok is daily Thai news you won't find anywhere else. Since 1999, 2Bangkok has featured background and perspective on local news with summaries of the Thai-language press. These stories are often quite different than ones that appear in English. 2B also has the latest on politics, mass transit, infrastructure, Thai history (such as the Bangkok trams), and updates on gem scam store locations. More...

Who makes 2Bangkok?
Advertise on 2Bangkok


A Decade of Thai Politics

Cheap Bangkok Flights


Firefox extensions that lets you read blocked Wikipedia pages

Bangkok Hotels


2Bangkok archives 1999-2010
Unlocking the Thai world: Thai-language newspaper headlines and editorials - Poojadkuan columns - Editorial cartoon from the southern separatists - Kao Lao cartoons
Politics: High tension in Thailand (2005-2008)

Politics: "Black October 2008" - PAD's "final war" - November 2008 - "Day-D" newspaper front pages -Nov. 29 - Nov. 27-28 - Nov. 26-27 - Nov. 25-26 - End/beginning of government - Lese majeste news 2008-2009

Politics:The 2006 coup - Black May 1992 - Capturing Thaksin Shinawatra

Also: Obama election front pages in the Thai-language press

Security: Troubles in the South
Made-to-order lobbying group - USA for Innovation
The 2B Forum
Register for the forum
   




Politics
Mass Transit
Railways
Bridges
Historical Projects
Communities
More:
 








Chronicle of Thailand
A history of post-World War II Thailand in English.



Best of 2Bangkok 2009
Best of 2Bangkok 2008
Best of 2Bangkok 2007
Best of 2Bangkok 2006
Best of 2Bangkok 2005
Best of 2Bangkok 2004
Best of 2Bangkok 2003
Stephff's cartoons
Stephff's cyclone series
Stephff's Tibet series
Stephff's Burma series
2Bangkok archives 1999-2009
   


ChinaHotelNet.com

End of government/ beginning of government

"Day-D" newspaper front pages
Nov. 29 - Nov. 27-28 -
Nov. 26-27 - Nov. 25-26

High tension in Thailand (2005-2008)

"Black October 2008" - PAD's "final war"

High tension in Thailand - November 2008

Thai Media Project for November 2008

Thai Media Project main page

The 2006 coup - Black May 1992

Also: Obama election front pages in the Thai-language press

2Bangkok archives 1999-2009
   

Sombat Khong Phudee
Quality of well-mannered people - Experience the joyfulness of children who live cultural lives

Navin's Sala

Michael Jackson's death in the Thai-language press

Thai hairstyles

2Bangkok.com is 10 years old
   



 


 

 

 
 


 

Thai Elections - August 29, 2010

Sign up for the 2Bangkok forum

Deep South Violence Statistics

2Bangkok Archives

The Red Shirt publications

Red Shirt protests 2009 - 2010

2005-08: High tension in Thailand

1991 coup - Black May 1992

Red Protests in 2010

May 27-31
May 25-26
May 24
May 22-23
May 21
May 20 - Rama IV Road area
May 20
May 19
May 16-18
May 1-15

April 30 on Silom
April 16-30
Red Shirt graffiti
April 10-15
April 10 newspapers
April 9 newspapers
April 1-9
March
February 19 - Opposing Bangkok Bank





The Red Shirt Siege - Understanding the situation
Is everything in Thailand these days "unprecedented?" - May 24
Divining the plan - May 17
Claims of civil war - May 16
Pantip.com Rajadamneorn forum closed - May 15
Colonel Romklao's revenge - May 14
What to expect from Thaksin's lobbyist Robert Amsterdam - May 13
About the dissolution offer - May 5
Thaksin's odd-sounding interview - May 4
About Thai protests - April 30
PM/C-in-C address and the government's challenge - April 25
Grenades on Silom and an offer of compromise - April 24
Present and Future - April 20
Botched raid and Anupong steps forward - April 17
Understanding what is going on - April 14



Above: Colonel Romklao

 
 
Thursday, September 2, 2010
 
Thailand's wealthiest - Forbes, September 1, 2010
Despite violence and unrest in Thailand, it was a good year for most on our list. Dhanin Chearavanont replaces Chaleo Yoovidhya as the new No. 1, with net worth of $7 billion...

Floored by his prices - Forbes, September 1, 2010
Selling cheap tiles to rural customers has amassed Dynasty Ceramic's Roongroj Saengsastra a $200 million fortune...
 
Thai baht is back in vogue - WSJ, August 31, 2010
The Thai baht, one of Asia's worst-performing currencies in the decade after the 1997-1998 Asian crisis, is making a comeback...
 


(Source: Manager, August 27, 2010)

From Manager, August 27, 2010
Left: The sign on the building reads: SC Park Hotel
The caption reads: Ki [Arisman, hard core UDD leader]’s first show
Right: The sign on the building reads: City Angkor Hotel
The caption reads: ...possibly another round [of the scene] soon

[This refers to the very public escape of Red Shirt leader Arisman from Thai police by climbing down the outside of a hotel earlier this year. Recently it has been alleged that hardcore Red Shirt leaders have been living openly in Cambodia with Arisman having been seen singing karaoke at the City Angkor Hotel in Siam Reap. As Hun Sen appears to be mending fences with the Thai government, it may be that Red Shirt fugitives could become an embarrassment to the Cambodian government or end up being hunted down by Thai agents.]

 
Myanmar's cyber generation boots up for first-time vote - asiaone.com, September 1, 2010
..."Most people in Myanmar are not familiar with voting. We need to have resources and information to vote how we like," says the 30-year-old. Like all those in the country aged under 38, he has never voted before...

Taxes crippling Burmese people, says report - The Irrawaddy, September 1, 2010
...The report, issued in Bangkok on Wednesday by the Network for Human Rights Documentation—Burma (ND-Burma), charged that while the majority of Burma's people live in abject poverty, the military regime and its cronies spend more than 50 percent of the national budget on the military and less than 1.3 percent on health and education combined...

 
Cambodia: Bogus mystic arrested after 'evil mole' sparks nude therapy session - EARTHtimes.org, August 30, 2010
 
 


(Source: Manager, August 7, 2010)

From Manager, August 7, 2010
Left: Mr. Karn... where is he going?
Middle left: He went down to the spot that they are running the MRT project
Middle right: Why does he go there? - To pressure against...
Right: That those people expropriate the large piece of land... [they] must use our cement product [for construction]... our architect for design... must use our product for [construction] material

["SCG" on the building refers to the Siam Cement Group. The cartoon refers to the construction of MRT extension project which expropriated land around the SCG head office. The joke is that the land's value must be offset by the use of SCG products in the construction.]

 


(Source: Khaosod, August 20, 2010)

From Khaosod, August 20, 2010
The words at top: Do not get drunk yet brother
The words above the glass: Card to reduce debt

[This refers to the government’s recently launched project of granting loans to people in debt. The project includes a special card issued to debtors who can withdraw relief cash from ATMs. This is the card to reduce debt that the cartoon refers to. The joke of the cartoon is unclear to us. The scene is a normal one for many Thais who relax by drinking. Is the man at right in a crazed condition due to his debts?]

 
 

Thai teacher caught caning students - UKPA, August 31, 2010

 

From Thai Rath, Cartoon by Zia, August 26, 2010
The caption at top reads: Japanese died here
THe street sign in the background reads: Kok Wua Intersection
The event of laying flowers at the spot was recently conducted by a Japanese representative.
At bottom left the sign being held reads: Here people have died too.
The mouse says: Thai PM neither knows nor sees
The figure on the far right has a box on its head that reads: Neither know nor see
On the figure's robe it reads: Order to disperse the people

[This refers to the death of Japanese journalist Hiroyuki Muramoto who was photographing the nighttime dispersal of Red Shirts in April. It was around this time that it also became apparent that snipers--sympathetic to the Red Shirts and presumably under the command of Sae Daneg--were armed and ready to back up the Red Shirts on the street. Col. Romklao, a known Red Shirt foe, was targeted and killed as well.]

From Matichon Weekend, August 27-September 2, 2010
The headline reads: Who killed 'Hiroyuki' San?

 
Health experts warn of 'stem cell tourism' dangers - MSNBC, August 31, 2010
...In another case, they said, a 46-year-old woman was treated in Thailand for the autoimmune disease lupus. She later developed kidney failure and died from sepsis...
 

In rural Thailand, an unappeased opposition bides its time - NYT, September 1, 2010
...“Even though we know that the government has good policies, we won’t accept it,” said Urai Poulchan, 62, a small-business man. “We want Thaksin back...”

 
Delhi concerned at China's 'interest' in Indian Ocean - Daily Times, September 1, 2010
India on Tuesday said China was demonstrating “more than normal interest” in the Indian Ocean as two Chinese warships made a rare visit to military-ruled Myanmar...
 
Only in Japan, real men go to a hotel with virtual girlfriends - WSJ, August 31, 2010
 

 
 
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
 


(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)

Grenade attack on Channel 11 - August 31, 2010

 

Thailand’s youth troubles - New York Times News Service, August 29, 2010
[This is a must-read article.]
...Fighting between young people is so common here that the police are called about 10 times a day, said Chalerm Phuttaisong, a police officer, who lists alcohol, gambling, teenage sex and a general disrespect for the law as the village’s main problems...

 


(Photo: Komchadluek, August 30, 2010)

The caption reads: Evidence revelation - Puea Thai Spokesperson Prompong Nopparit shows photos claimed to be the event when Constitutional Court officials brought documents related to the Democrat Party dissolution to Nonthaburi MP Tossapol Pengsom, member of the team to fight the party dissolution case, on August 29th, 2010.

Red's seminar attendance kept to 500 - The Nation, August 29, 2010
...Jatuporn claimed a "special power" was interfering with the government, Parliament and courts of justice. He alleged the government had been ordered to massacre the people. He also claimed some MPs had siphoned taxpayers' money to buy MPs so they would defect to their parties. He claimed two Samut Prakan MPs accepted Bt80 million to defect from their party...

 
Wolfhound 'sniffs out' ten contraband cell phones in less than thirty minutes in Thailand high security prison - redOrbit,  August 29, 2010
...Safeguarding this maximum-security prison is considered especially critical to correction officials due to the nature of the population ranging from convicted murders and major narcotics dealers to high-level members of the 'red shirt' protesters...
 


(Source: Khaosod, August 18, 2010)

From Khaosod, August 18, 2010
The word under the Prime Minister owl reads: Budget
[This refers to the highly contentious budget that was recently passed.]

 

Thais aim to revive steel plant in Teesside - FT, August, 2010

 

Bangkok's 'cigarette police' - Bangkok Post, August 29, 2010
...Commonly known as the "cigarette police", the BMA's inspectors, known in Thai as thetsakij, appear to ignore most of the city's litterbugs--a look down any of Bangkok's main roads will reveal piles of garbage--and only catch foreign tourists who drop cigarette butts.
Even the Spectrum team was harassed by the thetsakij as they gathered evidence and conducted interviews with people who had been caught and fined for littering.
In fact, the author if this story had a brush with the thetsakij outside Benjasiri Park--one of the many downtown areas they operate in--which could only be described as an act of intimidation and harassment...

 

NTC anti-collusion rule on 3G bid seen as 'ridiculous' - Bangkok Post, August 29, 2010

 

How I wish Malaysia had such a pathologist - Free Malaysia Today, August 29, 2010
From Lawrence Sii, via e-mail In Malaysia, we have lots of big-mouth politicians but suffer a dearth of professionals like Ms Pornthrip, the real and precious chilli-padi of Thailand...

Beng Hock inquest video transcript - Aliran Online, August 30, 2010
The lawyer for the MACC questions Thai pathologist Dr Pornthip during the inquest into the sudden death of DAP aide Teoh Beng Hock.

 

Thailand: bad records on forced disappearance - The Nation, August 30, 2010

 
Paris Hilton - August 31, 2010

Just to note that there is no escape from news about Paris Hilton--even in Thailand.

At right is the front page of Komchadleuk, August 30, 2010 noting her arrest in Las Vegas.
 
Thai government to issue how-to guide for parents aimed at curbing kids gambling on soccer - Times & Transcript,  August 30, 2010
The Thai government is publishing a new series of parenting brochures that instructs families how to keep their children from gambling on soccer matches, after kids as young as 7 were found betting on the World Cup...
 


(Source: From Manager, August 11, 2010)

From Manager, August 11, 2010
In the cartoon, Hun Sen says: Ki [nickname of Arisman Pongruangrong]... Ramba [Rambo--nickname of Suporn Atthawong]... Do you think Mark [nickname of PM Abhisit] dares to send troops to take back area the 4.6 square kilometers of land?
The word inside the black box reads: Hun Sen must ask the experienced

[In this cartoon Hun Sen asks the radical Red Shirt leaders if THailand will send troops to take back the disputed land around Preah Vihear. We are not quite sure we get the joke here. Why are Ki and Rambo hanging their heads?]

 
Weekend edition, August 28-29, 2010
 

Easy win for Democrats - The Nation, August 30, 2010

Election posters are here: ThaiElections.com

 
Her whirlwind life was one big binge - NY Post, August 28, 2010
...But rather than launch a lucrative career in her two passions, modeling and photography, Nicole John -- the foxy, flirty, 17-year-old daughter of the US ambassador to Thailand -- plunged to her death in Midtown after a final night of extreme partying.
John had a butler at her disposal. She traveled on a whim, and hobnobbed with the most influential people in the world with her diplomat dad and strikingly gorgeous Korean-born mother, a chef and linguist...
 
Bout says MP asked how to take down Thaksin plane - The Nation, August 28, 2010

Secret prison for Viktor Bout? - Voice of Russia, August 26, 2010

Viktor Bout Won’t Go to Trial - robertamsterdam.com, August 27, 2010
 

Myanmar: Regime unveils Burma's first national web portal - The Irrawaddy, August, 2010
[The site was online Friday, but now it seems to be down.]

 

Wired youth forget how to write in China and Japan - breitbart.com, August, 2010

 

As Iran sanctions threaten, Iran sees new friend in Cambodia - The Christian Science Monitor, August 26, 2010
Leaders from Iran and Cambodia met this month in their most senior exchange to date. Some say it is a sign that Iran sanctions are pushing Tehran to develop new trade partners...


Japan team excavates ancient statues in Cambodia - Asia News Network, August 26, 2010
A team of specialists led by the president of Tokyo's Sophia University has excavated the severed upper halves of six Buddhist statues from the Angkor ruins in northwestern Cambodia...


Activists decry court ruling - Phnom Penh Post, August, 2010
...“It’s weakening the message of the judicial system,” she said. “Offenders know this, and it is not enough of a deterrent. If they hurt a child they should spend [many] years in prison...”


'Daughters of Cambodia' Leave Sex Trade for Christ - Christian Broadcasting Network, August, 2010
In Cambodia, 90 percent of prostitutes are sold into the sex industry by their parents. Many of the girls say they feel obligated to stay...

 
Friday, August 27, 2010
 

From Manager, August 11, 2010
The man on the left is saying: Dear Prime Minister... the Cambodian has seized the conflicted land of 4.6 square kilometers already!
The man on the right is saying: Dear Prime Minister... the Cambodian has seized the 4,000 NGV buses already!
The caption at the bottom reads: Cambodia is in every direction

[The man on the right is referring to Bhumjaithai party defacto leader Newin who is fighting hard to get his party's 4000 NGV bus project passed as the Democrats continue to stall the project. This cartoon shows hostility towards Newin who is here derided as being more Khmer than Thai.]

 
The bad news and then the really bad news in Vietnam - phnompenhpost.com, August 23, 2010
...Vietnam’s constitution forbids the existence of any political party except the Communist Party of Vietnam. Keep that in mind when you castigate Myanmar, which may horribly oppress opposition parties, but at least allows them to exist...
 

From Thai Rath, Cartoon by Zia, August 18, 2010
The cartoon headline at top: Slave who is honestly loyal
The road sign reads: The intersection of putting blame for the dead and slandering the living
The letters on the man's coat--DSI--refers to the Department of Special Investigations. The DSI is a special law enforcement agency set up to enforce and prosecute a number of crimes, but in this case is being used to take action against Red Shirt agitators as the regular police were ineffective or unwilling to do so.
The paper on the ground reads: Responds to politicians
The tiny man at bottom right holds a sign that reads: Blood thirsty
At top right, a puppeteer's hand representing the Privy Council again insinuates that all of this is being overseen, if not planned, at very high levels. The words above the arrow read "Soi Dao Mountain" referring to claims of illegal land holdings of Privy Council members.

 

From Not the Nation: Viktor Bout to be extradited by auction

 

Cambodia: Asia’s mini-tiger - blogs.ft.com, August 25, 2010
...According to a UBS note to its clients today, the country is starting to make a roar, albeit small. And when it comes to manufacturing, Cambodia is fast becoming a ‘mini tiger’...

 
Oh, Poor Airport Link - TAN, August 25, 2010
 

China's epic traffic jam 'vanished' - AFP, August 25, 2010

 
Thursday, August 26, 2010
 
The 'impossible' voyage of a Tamil ghost ship - Globe and Mail, August, 2010
...Few of Thailand’s long-term resident Tamils appear to have been aboard the Sun Sea when it sailed. Authorities believe most of the migrants flew in on tourist visas just before the Sun Sea left Songkhla.
When asked why they were going to Thailand, they were told to say “Just to enjoy,” explained another patron at the New Madras Café, which doubles as a hostel for recent Tamil arrivals and is located just two blocks north of the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple, the centre of spiritual life in Bangkok for the predominantly Hindu Tamils. “But they came because they were going to Canada...”
 

From Manager, August 16, 2010
Hun Sen is pointing to fugitive Red Shirt leaders hiding out in Cambodia and saying: That’s it, Mr. Ban Ki Moon, the evidence that Thais invade Cambodia.
The words in the caption at the bottom read: Suspicion of the state of being unable to escape Thailand [meaning something like "the inability of Cambodia to escape Thailand’s influence"]
[The joke of this cartoon is that the hard core Red Shirt leaders continue to hide in Cambodia, such as Arisman, Rambo, Adisorn Piengket, and Jakrapob Penkiar.]

 
Confrontation between Boeung Kak Lake residents and security force in front of Hun Sen's mansion - KI Media, August 24, 2010
 

Cambodia: In Scarred Land, a Haven for Victims of Acid Burns - NYT, August 24, 2010

 
Financier from Thailand's boom years goes on trial - EARTHtimes.org, August 23, 2010
...In addition, Saxena faces up to 20 counts of fraud and embezzlement in the BBC case. Among the charges he faces is that he embezzled 1.6 billion baht (82 million dollars) from the BBC through a fraudulent loan to Citi Trading Company, a Saxena proxy firm. Thai authorities have traced about 65 million dollars in offshore bank accounts belonging to Saxena, including 4 million dollars in Britain, 6.4 million dollars in bank accounts on the island of Guernsey, a British dependency, and 54 million dollars in accounts in Switzerland...
 

Miss Mexico is Miss Universe 2010 - The Nation, August 23, 2010
Jimena Navarrete, 22, of Mexico was crowned Miss Universe 2010 on Tuesday in Las Vegas, Nevada, the U.S. Australia's Jesinta Campbell took the title of Miss Congeniality, while Thailand's Fonthip Watcharatrakul was named Miss Photogenic and won for Best National Costume...

 

On the forum: New rolling stock for the Maeklong Railway

On the forum: More on the Old klong bridge

 

From Komchadluek, August 25, 2010
The headlines read: Thailand reinstates ambassador to Phnom Penh - Cambodia changes [its actions] to depose Maew [Thaksin] from economic advisor position stating a personal problem involved - Cambodia informs Thailand that ‘Maew’ resigns from economic advisor position, revealing the deposition behind the scene involves the loss of the Red Shirts, no expectation for dragging the case further - Meanwhile Abhisit announces to reinstate the relationship - Kasit reinstates ambassador to Phnom Penh, to meet three Thais in Siem Reap on August 26

 
Bt63 billion expansion of Suvarnabhumi Airport approved: Sophon - The Nation, August 24, 2010
 

Ultraviolet light reveals how ancient Greek statues really looked - io9.com, August 20, 2010
[Nothing to do with Thailand, but interesting.]

 
George P. Burdell - Wikipedia, August, 2010
[Nothing to do with Thailand, but interesting.]
 
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
 
Bangkok bounces back - Malaysia Star, August 21, 2010
...“Only four items? There are no ‘Sale’ signs, so how would anyone know?” I queried.
“The prices are displayed clearly and Chanel customers immediately know these are discounted as they are, ahem, lower than what they expect to pay,” replied the languid one...
 

Old klong bridge, Bangkok - Flickr, August, 2010

 

From Manager, August 16, 2010
Top left: Tears coming out because of being begrudged by the pause in the 4,000 public bus project.
Bottom left: Saliva is running because of the thought about the 2011 budget that is going to be passed to the cabinet
At the bottom it reads: For Newin…the saliva is anyhow more important than the tear.

[This refers to Newin Chidchob, a banned politician who nevertheless controls the Bhumjaithai Party. Editorial cartoonists always parody his protruding lower lip. Since betraying the Thaksin-controlled People Power Party and joining the government coalition, this grouping of politicians now known as Bhumjaithai has continually promoted a plan to supply NGV busses to the public. It has been thought that this project was at least one of the prices "paid" to Bhumjaithai for joining the government.
As these sorts of vehicle procurement projects are cash cows riddled with graft and the Democrats do not wish Bhumjaithai to gain any popularity from its implementation, barriers and delays have been put up to prevent the project from going through. This tactic plays off the understanding that Bhumjaithai cannot easily quit the government without triggering a coup and ruining Newin's chances of eventually being PM once his political ban ends.]

From Thai Rath, cartoon by Zia, August 16, 2010
The tied up man is saying: Trampling the dead... slandering the injured.. the order man still has his graceful face [on in society]... the killer is still not arrested
On the tombstone: UDD
The papers in the grave read: Applying the terrorist charge - Applying the arson charge- Applying the murderer charge in 90 deaths - Applying the charge of sabotage
The word on the man’s back: CRES - The Center of Resolutions for Emergency Situations
The word close to three men watching read: Justice - Human Rights Watch - Media
The tiny boy at lower right is holding a sign that reads: Tragedy
At top right, a puppeteer's hand representing the Privy Council again insinuates that all of this is being overseen, if not planned, at very high levels.

 
Coming soon: The Red Shirt publications are back!

And they are every bit as provocative and threatening as ever.

Earlier: The Red Shirt publications
 
The improving situation in the Deep South - Reports from May and June
 

Art Deco Thailand - Preserve Them! - Facebook, August, 2010
Siriwat writes: I am a great fan of your 2bangkok.com site. I have been visiting it nearly everyday since i was sixteen, the days the most of the posts on your site were all about infrastructure such as skytrain and motorway.
Anyhow, I have recently set up a group on facebook.com - 'Art Deco Thailand - Preserve Them' - I would suspect that many of your readers might also be interested in joining the group and contribute much to the preservations of there 'rare' buildings in Thailand. The styles, I presume, was popular when most of Thai people didn't have much, so only a few of them were build and nowadays forgotten. I do hope that they will not be lost forever since there are so many careless people with authority in this country. I would be so kind if you could post a link to the group from your website.

 

History of Thai Prime Ministers - thaigov.go.th, August, 2010
We have pointed out this peculiar page before--particularly the claim that, unlike Phya Manopakorn, Field Marshal Pibul, Seni, Tanin, and Chatichai, who were removed by coup d'etat, Thaksin's term ended due to a "State Administration Assembly September 19, 2006." It has just been updated with more fractured English and the Thai disdain for consistent font types and sizes.

 


(Source: feed-ariyana.com)

Thai "Castration epidemic" - August, 2010
The artist has a misunderstanding of the definition of "castration."


(Source: feed-ariyana.com)

 

Siam, Volume 2 - 1938

 

Bangkok's Art Museum - August 5, 2020

 
"Baby ghosts" for sale - translated and summarized from Komchadluek, July 5, 2010
 
Rajaprasong bombing - July 26, 2010
 

Peau Thai Party exhibition lauding the Red Shirts for resisting the military: "7 Days, 7 Pains of the People"

 

Ch Karnchang wins two Thai rail contracts - Interactive Investor, July 1, 2010
...
The two contracts are part of five contracts for the 27-km (16.8-mile) underground and elevated lines that will stretch from central Hua Lumphong railway station to Bang Khae, in the west of the city, and from Bang Sue in the north to Tha Phra in the west.
Construction is expected to start after the contracts are signed in October, Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) Deputy Governor Chaisit Kururat told reporters.
In early June, a joint venture between China's Sinohydro and Unique Engineering and Sino-Thai each won auctions for the contracts to build the elevated sections of the project.
The government is spending 1.6 trillion baht on infrastructure projects in 2009-2011, including mass transit lines in Bangkok, rural roads and irrigation systems...

 

Twentieth century impressions of Siam: its history, people, commerce, industries, and resources (1908) - archive.org, June, 2010

 

June 24
June 24 is the anniversary of 1932 revolution.

Last days of the absolute monarchy

'Strategic Siam changes its name to Thai' - Life, July 31, 1939

On Wikipedia: Palace revolt of 1912 - Last absolute monarch - Siamese revolution of 1932

Siam tried a people's party - Asia Magazine, Vol. XXXII, Number 9, November, 1932

Pibul-era graphics

 


(Source: Courtesy of Stephff - The Nation)

Stephff offends

Left: The ugly head

Sculpture cartoon causes offence
- The Nation, May 28, 2010
...We demand a public apology from the cartoonist and The Nation. We request that The Nation withdraw the cartoon and publish the apology immediately.

...I am very sorry, I honestly didn't know this was a piece of art.

Below: TV is not for explaining

[Apparently there are some foreign reporters who do not like this one as well.]

Also: Stephff's Gallery Website

Earlier
Takki in Paris
Crackdown - Commitment
Visa run to Redland - 300 -Reds at the hospital
Red Shirts confront the EU
Red Shirts at Soi Cowboy -Fuji - Chemo
Sanuk will prevail - Dark forces at work
Sad Songkran - Grand Hyatt Erawan
Stephff's 2010 Red Shirt Protest series


(Source: Courtesy of Stephff - The Nation)

 
Pee Boon movements - May 26, 2010

Something to add to the Is everything in Thailand these days "unprecedented?" article from Monday...

Angry rural rebellions are also not unprecedented in Thailand. There have been a number of rural rebellions--usually having mystical undertones.

For instance: Pee Boon movements
 
Angels and Devils - Thai Politics from February 1991 to September 1992 - May 22, 2010
Pklykoom writes: Thought it might be worth noting that Murray's book is still available from Orchid Press and have always shown up at the publisher's booth during past book fairs.

Reading list: The impurity of protest
- May 20, 2010

* For those of you would like to know about how present events are just one in a series of mini-civil conflicts that happen in Thailand every 10-15 years, get a copy of Democracy, Shaken and Stirred. This book is most notable to non-Thais for expressing the very Thai sensibility towards protest and politics.

* Also Chronicle of Thailand which is a pictorial history of Thai news since 1946.

* David Murray's Angels and Devils is a very detailed account of the machinations of party politics that surrounded the coup and subsequent events of 1991-1992 gleaned from newspapers. It is kind of a pre-internet version of 2Bangkok.com. It appears to be out of print, but occasionally a copy can be found on ebay.
 

Red Shirt revolutionary threats - May 21, 2010

 

Ploughing Day - May 13, 2008

 

"Illustrated Prophecies" from Asiaweek - May 8, 2010

 

35 years since the fall of Phnom Penh - April 17, 2010

 

Graffiti - April 15, 2010

 
Social security office advise public to carry insurance card during Songkran - TAN, April 14, 2010
The Social Security Office has advised the public to carry their social security cards with them during the Songkran festival so they can be admitted to the nearest hospital, should any accidents occurs...
 

State railway, Bangkok city battle over Green-Line rail ownership - TAN, April 9, 2010

 
Tanayong to buy Bangkok Mass Transit - Wall Street Journal, March 23, 2010
...The deal, if completed, will be considered as a backdoor listing by BTS, whose listing has been pushed back by almost a decade because of unfavorable economic conditions and its own complicated debt structure...
 

Another Thai-themed Nigerian scam letter - March 22, 2010

Text of the letter: Ref, http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/26113/suchart-69-dies-of-cancer
Dear CEO,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
My name is Mrs, Suchart Chaovisith wife of the former Thailand Finance minister, during the ( PM Thaksins ) regime who was forced out from power by the military.
In view of the recent death of my husband as you can read from the bangkokpost news website confirming his death to the public. and Thailand Government. I am very very worry over the political crises, and i have decided to contact you, to help me to move some funds to your country. as my family hope to relocate to your country and go into investment with you in your country.
My daughter or my son will call you , to know when you will fly to meet us in bangkok, for us to conclude on the futher arrangement to transfer the funds to your account in your country for safety investment reasons
My warm regards to you and your family.,as i wait to read from you. Please remember to send me a text message ..
Sincerely,
Mrs ,Suchart Chaovisith,
Email:mrssuchart01@gmail.com
+ 66- 829-720- 225.

 

Mahakan Fort News - Amnesty International, March 16, 2010
...In addition to being an integral piece of the architectural landscape of the Ratanakosin area, the fort is also a key site today in a community’s struggle for survival. The countdown has begun: in another 17 months the people living behind the fort will be forced to leave and their homes destroyed. Where is the justice in this? And have the authorities given any thought to the dignity of the people living there?...

More about the Mahakan Fort community

Also: A walk through the Mahakan Fort community


 

In the past
'A tale of two newspapers'

At one time it was common for the Bangkok Post and Nation to have nearly opposite reporting on the same story. On this page are links to many article, sometimes amusing, that report diametrically opposed facts.

 
Parliament design competition: Stately settings - TAN, March 2, 2010
 

Thailand: The country with a lot of news - February 25, 2010
Compared to other developing countries, Thailand has always had an amazing amount of major political news stories each week. The events of the last few years has only increased this.
Take four years ago in late February 2006: PM close to quitting, Thaksin filing multiple lawsuits against newspaper and political parties for defamation and "obstruction of democracy," Thai press talking about the evil omens of the Thaksin years, government TV reporters fired for interviewing the opposition, and, of course, CNN pondering Thailand's "presidential crisis."

 

Designs for the new parliament design exhibition - February 19, 2010
Andreas writes: The BACC currently has an exhibition on the designs of the new parliament... English - Thai - 2Bangkok forum thread on the topic

 

New riverside park - January 12, 2009
There's a new riverside park under construction at Tha Tien pier (Google Earth Placemark). Anyone know any more details about this?

 
Looking for Bob (Robert) Morris - February 5, 2009
We are looking for Bob (Robert) Morris who contacted us in 2005 about his father who had moved to Bangkok. If anyone has any information on contacting Bob (Robert) Morris, please let us know.


Mass transit index page
With various mass transit schemes being revived, the long moribund mass transit sections of 2Bangkok.com are coming to life again. We have made a new index page to start to organize the news that is slowly coming out.

2Bangkok.com Archives - 1999-2010

Questions from 2Bangkok.com

2Bangkok in Lonely Planet - September 23, 2009
Don reports: The new Lonely Planet Thailand came out last month (13th edition, published August 2009), and 2Bangkok gets two mentions, both of them in the Bangkok section.
Page 107, in the boxed text entitled "The Inside Scoop": Several Bangkok residents, both local and foreign, have taken their experiences to the 'small screen' and maintain blogs and websites about living in Bangkok. Some of the more informative or entertaining include: 
2Bangkok (www.2bangkok.com) News sleuth and history buff follows the city headlines from today and yesterday.
Page 180, in the boxed text entitled "The War on the Gem Scam":Want to know more or want to report a scam? Visit www.2bangkok.com and navigate to the 'Gem Scam' page for five years' worth of tracking the phenomenon, or go to Thai Gem Scams Group (www.geocities.com/thaigemscamgroup) for photos of touts who troll the temples for victims.

 



Copyright 2010 2Bangkok.com - All Rights Reserved.