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Weekend edition, March 13-14, 2010
2Bangkok will again be monitoring the situation around the clock and updating as necessary. |
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Thaksin insists he's in Europe, not Cambodia - The Nation, March 14, 2010
FM: Thaksin asked to leave UAE - Bangkok Post, March 13, 2010
...“High ranking government official of the UAE had confirmed that the fugitive ex-premier has been asked to leave UAE for having violated an agreement that he will not use the country as base for his political activities”, assistant to the foreign affairs minister Phanich Wikitseth said on Saturday afternoon... |
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"Two Siamese friends" - March 13, 2010 |
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Win a Bangkok trip to celebrate birthday - Times Online, March 11, 2010
...Bangkok is such a vibrant city full of contrasts, and, of course the winners may even want to explore further by visiting some of our wonderful beach resorts. But if they opt to remain just in Bangkok, I am sure they will have a wonderful time...” |
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Above: From Voice of Taksin, March 1-16, 2010
The caption reads: Special campaign to greet the coup festival - Cheer up, Thaksin! – Do not throw more than 2 bottles a day!
[Employing Molotov cocktails has been often mentioned in Red Shirt speeches. Men carrying Molotov cocktails were a prominent feature of the April, 2009 rioting.
In this cartoon, imagery and advertising slogans from a popular energy drink are used along with the warning on the bottle advises not to drink more than two bottles per day.]
From Truth Today, March 9-11, 2010
The headline reads: Topple the aristocrat… release Thailand!?!”
[Meaning that if the aristocrat's influence is eliminated, Thailand will be returned to the people.]
More from the Red Shirt publications |
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From Not the Nation: Colored-shirt wearing ants convinced they make difference in Thai politics
...DAAD leader Jatuporn Promphan did his best to support the illusion of importance, stating on People Channel TV that, “No amount of vested interest, no number of army guns can stop the will of the Thai people,” while not mentioning Thaksin’s courting of Newin Chidchob and Barnhard Silapa-archa to abandon the Democrat coalition in exchange for more lucrative cabinet posts... |
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Highway 7 to open by month’s end - Pattaya Mail, March, 2010
The entirety of the Chonburi-Pattaya Motorway will open before the end of March, marking the end of a four-year project to relieve traffic congestion and create a convenient link between Pattaya and Bangkok International Airport....The entirety of the Chonburi-Pattaya Motorway will open before the end of March, marking the end of a four-year project to relieve traffic congestion and create a convenient link between Pattaya and Bangkok International Airport... |
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From Komchadluek, March 11, 2010
THe caption reads: Ready to tackle - The iron stands are being placed at the traffic booth in the Wong Wien Yai circle area in preparation for the Red Shirt gathering on March 12. The area is set as the hosting area of red shirt activities and the stage for the UDD speeches. |
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U.S. Embassy statement: Statement on Planned Political Demonstrations
Thailand is a close friend and ally of the United States.
And as a long-time friend, we are closely watching the current situation in Thailand. The United States believes that differences should be addressed through Thailand’s democratic institutions and not through violence.
Peaceful demonstrations are a hallmark of a democratic society. We call on protesters and their leaders to forswear the use of violence and to exercise their right to assemble and protest peacefully, in accordance with the law. We also encourage the Royal Thai Government to exercise appropriate restraint. |
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From Voice of Taksin, Column: Special Interview by Chanathip Choomkasien, March 1-16, 2010
The headline reads: The Dharma flag of the red shirt people - Dr. Phra Maha Chow Tassaneeyo
Earlier: Ordaining 100,000 monks - March 2, 2010
From Truth Today, March 3-8, 2010
The headline reads:
12 March at 12.00 o’clock - moving force [moving the reds] nationwide - toppling the aristocrat backed government
Headline at top right reads:
Who is the owner of this bomb? - the red shirt people?, the yellow shirt people?, the third party? or the government itself [?] Page 18 [referring to the bank bombings]
More from the Red Shirt publications |
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UDD threatens to stay beyond Mar 14 - Bangkok Post, March 11, 2010
...On Monday, Mar 15, the red shirts, whose number was expected to exceed one million, would scatter all over Bangkok at various spots.
Mr Nathawut said if the government still did not bow to the demand, the red shirts would step up pressure to higher levels with new, undisclosed tactics... |
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Groups call on red shirts to not be violent - The Nation, March 11, 2010
...Meanwhile, a new group led by Sari Ongsomwang called "People Who Do Not Accept Civil War", issued a statement calling on the government and protesters to adhere to peaceful means.
She also asked protesters to not shutdown the capital as this may inconvenience those needing immediate medical attention. Sari also encouraged the protesters to not arm themselves with cans of petrol.
...In related news, a group called Bangkokians has started an e-mail campaign calling on residents to show their resistance to the red-shirt protest by pressing on their car horns for one minute after the 6pm every evening from Thursday until the rally ends... |
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Abhisit can't afford to make any mistakes - Bangkok Post, March 11, 2010
...After that, they will topple the "amataya", the elite group of people whom they believe are controlling the government from behind the scenes, particularly Privy Council president Gen Prem Tinsulanonda whom the red shirts view as the man behind the forming of the current coalition government.
The prospect of the red march turning nasty has become clearer now that former PM Thaksin Shinawatra has asked his former wife Khunying Potjaman na Pombejra and children to go overseas. His reasoning is the government could take his family hostage in exchange for the red shirts dispersing. This action, however, is a repeat of what he did before the red-shirt rally turned riotous during Songkran last year... |
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Red shirts vow to bring a million to Bangkok - The Nation, March 11, 2010
...The red shirts did not attempt to blow up gas tankers and use violence against Bangkok residents during the April mayhem last year, he said.
"The government is using this as propaganda to turn Bangkok residents against the red-shirt rally," he said...
"By noon of March 14, one million red-shirted people will be in Bangkok," he added...
The past "Million Man March" claims |
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From Vote, Column: Cartoon by Kosin, March, 2010
Red Shirt leader Jatuporn Prompan is saying: That "M" costs 79… this "G" costs 200… how they have [good] quality?! [This plays on the names of the M79 grenades used in recent attacks and G200 bomb detectors.]
The word on the banner in the back reads: Fight to become rich
The word on the black bag reads: Poop [referring to repeated incidents of excrement being through at the PM's house.]
[This cartoon makes fun of the Red movement for allegedly fighting for Thaksin's assets.] |
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(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)
In the past
The "threatening billboard": Here and here |
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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. |
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Plea for Peace - The Nation on Facebook
...We invite our friends to send in your statement, photo or graphic - whatever represents your idea to promote peace ahead of the red-shirted rally. Any idea is welcome. We may select some to publish in The Nation... |
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On the forum: 33 dangerous spots during Bloody March
[As a disclaimer, it should be noted that before all of the potential Red Shirt protests there has been a concerted effort to demonize their activities. On the other hand, the Red Shirts have certainly adopted a belligerent and controversial tone and caution must be followed considering the events of last April.] |
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THAILAND: Migrant worker law hits hurdle as 500,000 ‘disappear’ - IPS, March 8, 2010
Thailand’s labour ministry is on the hunt for half a million migrant workers from neighbouring Burma who have gone underground rather than join a new foreign workers’ programme, one that some critics have described as a "confusing" initiative... |
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Drug use in Thailand increases alarmingly - thai-blogs.com, March 9, 2010
With the cheap and easy availability of yaba drugs (amphetamines), Thailand is starting to see a rapid increase of drug addicts. Helping to fuel this addiction are large numbers of young small time drug dealers who are in it for the quick financial awards. This blog is an inside look at the life of Thai drug dealers... |
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From Voice of Taksin, Column: Compass, March 1-16, 2010
The headline reads: The red coup of France 1848, part 3: the temporary government
[Another in a series of articles about overthrowing French royalty. Here about people rising up to force the last French king to abdicate.]
From Thai Red News, March 5-11, 2010
The main headline reads: Aristocrat robs Thaksin - 46 billion - Thais cannot accept [the alleged robbery]
More from the Red Shirt publications |
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| Wednesday, March 10, 2010 |
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Dry river - Komchadluek, March 8, 2010
The caption to the graphic reads: The critical situation of the Mekong River - the condition of the Mekong at the Ban Pakhuaykha in Tambon Natarn, Natarn district in Ubonratchathanee Province, expected that many water irrigation stations in the Northeast region will be defunct [temporary defunct due to the lack of water] in April. As reported on March 3rd.
The red letter on the map graphic shows the dry areas of the river. The four provinces next to the red circles are Chiangrai, Nongkai, Nakorn Panhom and Ubonratchathanee.
The four red arrows at the top indicate the point where dams were constructed by the Chinese government.
The headline reads: The shallow Mekong - damaging the transportation business valued at 100 million - the critical Mekong River, transportation by water in Chiangrai is severely impacted - Boats cannot pass - Commodities valued at 100 million are damaged - Illegal drugs flow - Condemning China for constructing reservoirs without concern for other countries adding amphetamines and marijuana prepared ready for smuggling
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In the past
Above: From Manager, December 25, 2006 - Leave the space
Thaksin says to Chaowalit Yongjaiyut: Pa [Pa Prem] is biased. He loves younger brothers [other top military figures] more than you. Come to be in my group and attack them.
More on the Thai Media Project |
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Thailand's blue diamond heist: Still a sore point - Time, March 7, 2010
...Despite the deaths, the police tried to return the gems that weren't yet sold by Kriangkrai in an official visit to Saudi Arabia, hoping this would end the scandal. It didn't take long, however, for Saudi Arabia to claim that most of the returned goods were imitation baubles. To add insult to injury, local press reported rumors of photos of the wives of bureaucrats wearing new diamond necklaces at a charity gala, ones awfully similar to ones taken from the Saudi royalty... |
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Somali pirates free Thai fishing boat for ransom - People's Daily, March 7, 2010
..."EU NAVFOR can confirm that early this morning a Thailand flagged fishing vessel was released by pirates from the port of Heradeere after the payment of a ransom," it said in a statement without revealing the amount of the ransom... |
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From Krungthep Turakit, undated.
The title reads: Krungthep Turakit: special issuance - The record of the historic lawsuit - The asset confiscation of Thaksin - 46.373 billion baht - The end of the beginning - Political business of the Shinawatra
[This publication has the full court verdict as well as other background of the Thaksin assets case.]
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The Pata gorilla - Komchadluek, March 5, 2010
The headline reads: The Social Network people muster up - pushing ahead PATA [the Department Store] to return freedom [to] King Kong [a guerilla kept at the Pata Department Store] - The
Social Network pushes PATA to prepare a proper place [for the guerilla] and to return freedom to the guerilla, whereas the department store says it take better care [of the animal], adding that the guerilla’s sneezing even worried the staff and [PATA] prepares to discuss with the “Khao din” [Dusit Zoo] about reproduction…page 14”
[Recently, a forwarded email showing the despondent-looking gorilla was circulated and generated worry among the public and media about the well-being of the ape. The animal lovers claim that the guerilla at the department store’s zoo is suffering from the living condition at the enclosure and the lack of animal pals.]
The Nation had a story
about the gorilla-keeper defending the conditions the gorilla is kept in:
BUA NOI, THE GORILLA - I love the gorillas more than my children, says zoo carer
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Oarfish omen spells earthquake disaster for Japan - Telegraph, March 4, 2010
Japan is bracing itself after dozens of rare giant oarfish - traditionally the harbinger of a powerful earthquake - have been washed ashore or caught in fishermen's nets... |
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| Weekend edition, March 6-7, 2010 |
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In the past
Above: Pojaman and Thaksin remain -
from Poojadkuan, Na Ban Bangkae by Buncha/Kamin, August 21, 2007
The caption reads: After the referendum, we know that they are still in these areas.
[This refers to the stunning results of the constitutional referendum in 2007.] |
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CSD HQ under UDD seige - Bangkok Post, March 7, 2010
Police arrest Youtuber K Thong - The Nation, March 7, 2010
...Khattiya was giving an interview to reporters and was about to leave the CSD compound when CSD deputy commander Colonel Sanit Mahathaworn, backed by commandos, asked to search the van, which carried a military licence plate, while acting on a tip-off that Phornwat was inside.
Phornwat was found sitting on the back row holding a newspaper up to cover his face, along with four pistols and more than 50 bullets and a knife... |
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(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)
This billboard on Phisanulok Road reads: Delivering happiness to “Father” [the King] with a smile -
Begin today at www.weloveking.org |
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(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)
This billboard on Phisanulok Road reads: Before the country is damaged… help stop the violence! The “good awareness for Thai harmony” project |
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What things (allegedly) cost: March 12: 'most worrying day' - The Nation, March 5, 2010
...Meanwhile, Democrat MPs estimated that it would cost the red shirts about Bt70 million a day to hold their major rally in Bangkok, a Government House source said yesterday.
A group of Democrat MPs met Deputy Premier Suthep at Government House yesterday to discuss preparations for the rally. The Democrats estimated that given the fact each Pheu Thai MP was expected to hire 200 pickup trucks to carry people joining the rally at Bt3,000-Bt3,500 for each vehicle, as well as Bt300 in daily allowance for each participant, it would cost Bt70 million a day to hold the rally, according to the source. |
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Dusit Poll: Lesson learned from the assets confiscation case- Dusit Poll, translated from Thai, March 5, 2010
The "Dusit Poll" team of the Suan Dusit Rajabhat University conducted an in-depth Interview with respondents who are residents in Bangkok and the metropolitan area and who are interested in the news about the asset confiscation of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The poll relies on the random method that poll answerers are from various professions... |
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Politics, scandal fuel purge of Pattaya police ranks - PattayaMail.com, February 26-March 4, 2010
...He appears, though, to be a victim of the ongoing scandal over position-buying in the Royal Thai Police. Noppadon’s critics claim he paid 10 million baht to leave his Chonburi Provincial Police command early to take over the Pattaya station. Noppadon denies the allegations, saying he was asked to head the Pattaya station due to his strong crime-suppression performance in Chonburi.
But even the country’s highest-ranking police officials are now saying publicly that position-buying has long been practiced, with officers making deals with politicians to secure the most-lucrative jobs. Former Royal Thai Police Chief Sombat Amornwiwat told the media Feb. 18 it was “more than certain” that police paid off politicians to secure their jobs and that the process “can never be stopped” unless a reform plan proposed by current Democrat Party leaders is enacted... |
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Myanmar: The coming cyber war - The Irrawaddy, March, 2010
...But behind the scenes of Burma’s largest IT forum, those in power were planning a division of IT spoils, while at the same time establishing national security protocols and centralizing governmental surveillance of the Internet... |
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Why Thailand still uses discredited bomb detectors -
Christian Science Monitor, March 1, 2010
...Thai courts don’t admit GT200 readings as evidence in criminal cases. But the military has used them widely to identify suspects in the south who are then “invited” for questioning under emergency laws, says Sunai Pasuk, a Thai researcher for Human Rights Watch. The group has documented torture and other forms of abuse in military custody... |
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AdFest cancels Thailand show due to political unrest -
AdAge.com, March 1, 2010
Thanks to Thailand's stormy political outlook, which could easily turn violent, AdFest has cancelled this month's festival, one of Asia's top annual gatherings for the ad industry, but hopes to reschedule the event in May... |
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SKorea to fund Angkor road - Straits Times, March 1, 2010
South Korea has provided US$9.2 million (S$12.9 million) to Cambodia to build a new road that will circle the famed Angkor temple complex and reduce traffic in the area, officials said Monday. The 21-kilometer road will be closed to trucks to reduce pollution, noise and vibrations that could damage the ancient ruins... |
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Muaythai as Olympic sport - March 3, 2010
From a press release: His Excellency General Pichitr Kullavanijaya, Privy Councillor to HM the King and President of the WMC Advisory Board and General Chettha Thanajaro, President of the WMC would like to respectfully invite you to the Muaythai Towards the Olympics presentation.
Where: Bu-Nga Ballroom, 3rd Floor, Radisson SAS Hotel, Rama 9 Rd.
When: 10th March 2010 @ 13.00 – 16.00
...2006 was a very important year for muaythai as it was voted by overwhelming majority into the world sport community (GAISF/SportAccord) and now sits on the same table as sports such as football (FIFA), basketball (FIBA) and so on.
Muaythai also has been included into the upcoming Beijing SportAccord Combat games under patronage of the IOC.
The World Muaythai Council (WMC), established under the directive of the Royal Thai government and the International Federation of Muaythai Amateur (IFMA), have joined forces together with their 125 member countries to take muaythai to the highest level, the IOC.
The principles of the Olympic movement are to blend education, physical activity and culture, all of which are present in muaythai.
To take muaythai to the IOC, a campaign will be launched in the motherland of the sport, which must be jointly supported by both governmental and private sectors... |
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From Krungtep Turakit, October 4, 2006
Worms leave the dead body of Thaksin. The worms carry flags identifying the factions leaving TRT: Chonburi group, Black Wizard group, Wang Payanak. On the right is Wang Namyom faction saying "Hey, let's rush away."
At the bottom is says: The party ends, the parasites rush away!!
Dead dog cartoons from 2006
Several months after the 2006 coup it looked like that major political factions that had been absorbed into the Thai Rak Thai Party over the years were looking around for new political homes. Several political cartoonists played on this theme. However, by December, Thaksin had pulled the diverse coalition together and a began delivering a stinging series
of attacks on the junta.
Thairath, cartoon by Zeer, October 5, 2006
The cartoon’s title: The sick dog and the jumping lice!
On the wall is a picture of Thaksin holding the sign with the message: Resigning from the party leader post
The words over the dog’s head: Dissolving the party
A boy in the doorway wears a shirts that reads: We love HM King
Manager, October 18, 2006, Leave the space by Buncha/Kamin
The bottom right reads: The difference between a human's flea and a dog’s flea
[The man is Jaturon Chaisaeng, caretaker TRT leader. The meaning is that a dog's flea leaves a dead animal and Jaturon has stubbornly stuck to defending Thaksin.]
More cartoons and news from around this time here and here. |
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Alert - Malaysia: Newspaper faces harassment, possible legal action over editorial on caning - CIJ/IFEX, February 25 2010
The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) is concerned that "The Star" newspaper is being issued a show-cause letter by the Ministry of Home Affairs, following police reports lodged against the daily over the publication of a column questioning the caning of three Muslim women. CIJ calls on the Home Ministry to retract the show-cause letter and for the police reports to be withdrawn; the media's role to provide opinion on current issues must be respected... |
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| Weekend edition, February 27-28, 2010 |
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In the past
Premature headlines: April 4, 2006
English-language newspaper headlines from April 6, 2006. It soon became clear that Thaksin actually did not quit at all, but intended to continue to head the government in the lead-up to an election. |
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(Photo: Jromerz)
Bomb scare at Victory Monument - February 28, 2010
From the forum: Today at Victory Monument the police have closed off the entire area in front of Rachawithi Hospital --- Someone left a large black suitcase at one of the seating shelters.. There are hundreds of people standing on the walkway under the skytrain watching the proceedings, lots of police, military police, bomb squad members around the entire perimeter area, and some reporters taking pictures. As of 1 PM the suitcase was still in the same place.
(Photo: Jromerz)
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(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)
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"I am really a man" - February 23, 2010
Billboard about a stage production about the gay life.
At the top of the billboard: Only the one time when you dare say you love someone, your life will change - [list of the actors in the show] Somchai Khemklad, Thitinan Suwansak, Day Freeman, Samat Chaisuwan, Dr. Sari Wongmonta, Chalit Fuangar-rom, Marut Sarowart and Wasan Uttamayothin -
The drama on stage by Dr. Seri Wongmonta - "I am really a man," performed at the Aksara theater at the King Power.
This advertises a drama directed by Dr. Seri Wongmontha based on a film he wrote (left). |
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Enstrom sells helicopters to Thai army - UpperMichigansSource.com, February 25, 2010
Enstrom Helicopter Corporation in Menominee has announced a deal to sell 16 helicopters to the Royal Thai Army.... |
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From Vote, February, 2010
The headlines on the cover reads: In depth and confidential - Watch the 10 days after the asset freeze, beware of the third hand’s attempt to turn the situation - Thaksin’s plan to take over the town - to put an end to the war on judgment day - assailing four battle fields on February 26
[This would have been the perfect plan: have a huge demonstration the week before the verdict with a censure debate at the same time. However, the prerequisite for all of this, the censure debate, proved impossible to organize because of power plays within the Peau Thai. Even a censure debate next month will not likely unseat the government and this probably leads many Peau Thai members to desire to wait out events and be part of a future government (or even another party) rather than participate in events to destabilize the government now.] |
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Above: Komchadluek, February 27, 2010
Below: Krungthepturakit, February 26, 2010
And from Not the Nation: ‘Nation’ Seeks Font Size Big Enough For Final, Final Showdown To End All Showdowns Headline
...Shouting across the newsroom, he ordered his graphic designers to find an even bigger font. “What do you mean 108 is the limit?” he said. “This is much bigger than the 108 size font. There is no 110 or even 112? This is a huge story. I want the headline right across front page top to bottom…whole headline. Can we run the paper horizontally?”...
[Both Komchadluek and Krungthepturakit a publications from the Nation Multimedia Group.]
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Bangkok holidays: Thailand's charming city that oozes kindness -
Daily Mail, February 24, 2010
...On our first morning, I forgot to remove my credit card from a hole-in-the-wall machine and went on my way.
Minutes later, two teenagers sprinted after me, one brandishing my piece of plastic as though it were the key to life. In London, I would have been the one doing the sprinting to prevent the finders-keepers brigade from cleaning up... |
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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." |
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Miss Bangkok - Lust in Translation - TMZ.com, February, 2010
Americans certainly didn't invent prostitution in SE Asia and probably not that saying, which I think is a translation of what they would say in their own... |
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Suvarnabhumi ranked 24th in poll - Bangkok Post, February 22, 2010
Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) management are scratching their heads as to why Suvarnabhumi Airport failed to secure a top spot as one of the world's best in the latest polling... |
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In the past
"The stompings" - There was a lot of weird political news in 2006. In the waning days of the Thai Rak Thai government in August 2006, Thaksin took to traveling in Bangkok with dozens of plainclothes men who would attack and kick people who shouted abuse at the PM in public. Oddly enough, these men all wore identical white shoes.
Matichon's weekly news magazine at the time (right) was headlined with the bloody face of one of those attacked and the headline "October 6 Paragon." This was a reference to the October 6, 1976 massacres when right-wing groups attacked anti-government protestors.
More news from this time is here. Also note the Thai Rak Thai Party plan to bring one million people into Bangkok to support Thaksin. |
(Source: Matichon, August, 2006) |
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Sae Daeng threats - February 16, 2010
Maj. Gen. Khattiya's (Sae Daneg's) threats against the Prime Minster's family and the cabinet have caused even Thaksin's lawyer to speak up.
From the Post:
...Mr Noppadon also said he would like to say on behalf of Thaksin that army specialist Maj-Gen Khattiya Sawasdipol should not use the former prime minister's name in conducting his activities, because this could cause misunderstanding and send out wrong signals... |
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Siam's little image problem - The Nation, February 16, 2010
[More than one person has mentioned the pollyannaish opinions in this piece, particularly in light of the events of recent years. A thread on this here.]
..."It is a sensible, harmonious, calm, peaceful and respectful country driven by humanity and a soulfulness, unlike any other place in the world..." |
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(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)
In the past
Voting booth during the elections of 2006. This election was designed to return Thaksin to legitimacy, but was marred by irregularities such as redesigning the ballot to favor the TRT, hiring minor parties to participate to break the opposition boycott, and here, repositioning the booths outward so the voter's choice could easily be seen. |
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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? |
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Stigmatized in the Deep South - January 9, 2010
From an email forwarded from friend living near the Inkayuthaboriharn military camp in Pattani who was accused by the military of being an insurgent:
I do not want to talk about the painful memory any longer because it brings the feeling that I do not want to think about. Talking about it makes me feel the pain every time... I hope that the story that I tell will be one of the solution for state authority... I accept that the operation of the authority as I told is not the state policy to solve the problem and bring peace.
However, I want to raise the question asking high ranked authority and the state policy controller whether they have explored seriously about how operational officials perform their work. Do they follow the declared policy?
Today the word “suspected” was put on my face for the rest of my life [the military questioned him and suspects him of being involved]. Every time that the violent situation occurred in this area, I will be one who was brought into investigation questioning my involvement. I have to live in society with the suspected charge of bombing and shooting despite that I am proved I was not involved in the incident.
I feel that I was put into the new world by the state authority and they indirectly kill me... and the government itself narrows my living space. Today no one dare associate with me like before, merely because I was stigmatized as militant... |
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Malaysians falling prey to Bangkok gems scam -
Bernama, December 31, 2009
...He said the group members, some of whom he claimed were off-duty policemen, normally preyed on tourists at popular spots like the Grand Palace, Siam Square, Central World, Pratunam, Wat Pho and Khaosan Road.
A spokesman of the Thai Tourist Police said the number of reports of such scam had dropped in recent years, and added that most of the victims were from France, Australia, Israel, as well as Japan, Singapore and Malaysia... |
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In the past
Right: The patsy presented to the public as the December 31, 2006 new year's bomber. Briefings to embassies at the time emphasized that the bombings were related to the south and that the case was solved.
To the Thai public, the police claimed the bombings had nothing to do with the south.
The entire investigation was quietly "stopped" in early 2008 with the police claiming they had failed to find any clues at all.
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(Source: Daily News)
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More old Bangkok photos - Pantip.com, November 30, 2009
Many, many old photos of Bangkok on this Pantip thread. About a third of these photos are from 2Bangkok, but there are plenty of others you probably have not seen before.
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All 2Bangkok.com rail fans will be interested in this: Railway Hall of Fame faces uncertain future - Bangkok Post, October 21, 2009
...His sadness is caused by the Hall of Fame's uncertain future as the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), owner of the land where the museum is situated, wants to take back the plot of land and turn it into a dog park, to be run by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.
It is understood that he is to leave the plot of land right away...
Earlier: Thai Railway Hall of Fame |
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"Illustrated Prophecies" from Asiaweek - July 11, 2009
Anyone recall the "Illustrated Prophecies" cartoons from the defunct Asiaweek magazine? Are they available anywhere? Who was the artist? |
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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. |
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Postcards anyone? - December 10, 2009
2Bangkok Editor Ron Morris notes: I am working on a book project that will feature many vintage Thai postcards. We are looking for collectors who have original postcards of Thailand or Thai subjects (not scans or graphics only) for inclusion and credit in the book. If you, or anyone you know, has material like this and would like to participate in the project, please let me know. |
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