Brit drug baron's luxury life on the run in Thailand - Mirror, February 7, 2010
...Darren Oxley, 42, could have been jailed for at least 10 years for running a multi-million-pound syndicate dealing cocaine and ecstasy - but he skipped bail after he was found guilty.
Bungling police and officials from the Crown Prosecution Service have never made any attempt to extradite him - and he even managed to renew his British passport in Bangkok.
He is now living the high life in Thailand, driving Lamborghinis and Bentleys while running a company building luxury houses...

Said & Done: Portsmouth's fittest owners - Guardian, February 7, 2010
...The fit-and-proper-person test. Owners passed fit by the Premier League to run Portsmouth so far this season:
... Sulaiman al-Fahim – head of troubled property group; frontman for unnamed investors; "close friend" of convicted fraudster and human rights violator Thaksin Shinawatra, and of Piers Morgan...

Maj. Gen. Khattiya's outbursts not the key news of the week - February 6, 2010 Right: From Nation Weekend, February, 2010 The headline reads: Black tigers roar! - bloodshed over the land [Field army soldiers are known as "sons of the Payak (tiger)" or the "black army." The cover refers to the cooperation between Maj. Gen. Khattiya (left) and Gen. Pallop (right). The two recently met Thaksin in Dubai and their involvement, along with Khattiya's statements about assassination of judges involved in prominent cases, has fueled rumors that the lead up to Thaksin asset ruling will be marked by violent events.

The government must certainly be cheered that someone like Khattiya is being seen to lead the Thaksin push... and that, more incredibly, Khattiya appears to be making threats on behalf of Thaksin. His over-the-top remarks have led to a continuous stream of denials and clarifications from other pro-Thaksin figures.

It also drives a wedge between Thaksin and his Peau Thai MPs who remain popular in their districts and are hopeful to be included in a future government. Of course, the spectacle of allowing a personality like Khattiya to engage the government and public could be classic misdirection while the real plans for destabilizing the country are occurring behind-the-scenes.

This leads to the key news of the week. Several readers asked the significance of these articles we posted yesterday:
Chalerm: Row with Sudarat ended - Bangkok Post, February 3, 2010
Chalerm urges unity, blocks out Sudarat - The Nation, February 4, 2010

The articles report on the most telling development of the week. Below is an overly broad and simplified explanation, but is intended to give the essence of the situation:

Almost two years ago it was decided that a broad end game for the political struggle would be to cut Thaksin off from politics, but allow all other politicians back on the playing field. This was with the understanding that even if a Thaksin-sponsored party wins, the military would never allow Thaksin himself to return or to lead.

This strategy has been steadily encouraged, first during the Samak government when a Newin-Samak alliance attempted to purge Thaksin lackeys from the cabinet. However, Samak's disqualification ruined the plan. Next, Newin and his political grouping were lured into a Democrat-led coalition.

Now, Peau Thai members are being wooed behind-the-scenes by other political parties. Even within the Peau Thai Party itself, the tides are shifting with most political factions preferring to maneuver to be part of a future coalition rather than assist in a destabilization of the current governing system.

This explanation is a very broad description of the overriding idea of allowing everyone but Thaksin back into the fold. There have been other behind-the-scenes negotiations and diversions from this plan as well as various groups, parties, and personalities who have worked against the plan for a variety of reasons, but the main thrust has been to wait Thaksin out and slowly co-opt the political groups he formerly led.

The jostling this week between pragmatic Chalerm and Thaksin-diehard Sudarat reflects the reality that Peau Thai may be slipping from Thaksin's control and instead wishes to engage in conventional coalition politics.

The biggest problem will be opposition from the PAD. The PAD has a more uncompromising position that considers Newin's Bhumjaithai and the Peau Thai (even without Thaksin) to be as bad as Thaksin himself and worthy of the same type of protest that was used against Thaksin.]

From Thai Red News, January 29-February 4, 2010
The headline reads: Robbing the nation is not enough - [let us] rob the 76 billion baht of the Shinawatras [too]

More from the Red Shirt publications

Monks declared 'Boycott' against Suu Kyi's brother - Mizzima, February 2, 2010

PM believes formation of People's Army just a scare tactic - TAN, February 4, 2010

Thaksin: First it was non-violence, now it's a people's army - suthichaiyoon.blogspot.com, February 4, 2010

Suthep vows not to tolerate "illegal forces" of red-shirt movement - The Nation, February 4, 2010

February: A month of foul-smelling political revulsion - The Nation, February 4, 2010
...If you want to know who's plotting to throw the country into such a disastrous state of affairs, then find out who would gain most from a nation torn apart by an outbreak of violence that could deteriorate into a civil war...

Chalerm: Row with Sudarat ended - Bangkok Post, February 3, 2010

Chalerm urges unity, blocks out Sudarat - The Nation, February 4, 2010

From Truth Today, January 29-February 2, 2010
The headline reads: Wake up, Thais to oppose the coup
Title at the top reads: Do not fear the coup - Soldiers of the people will betray the aristocrat

[This refers to the rumors floated by both the Red Shirts and picked up by the media that a coup is in the works. The coup would allegedly be accompanied by some sort of revolt by minor army members against their superiors. Both of these scenarios seem unlikely.

A coup would be a major victory for Thaksin. His movement has been agitating for this for years as a way to legitimize more violent rebellion and thus demand pardons for all and create a national reconciliation government. Best of all for him it would taint or forestall the upcoming verdict on his assets. This alone makes it unlikely (or unwise) that the military would wish to hand Thaksin what he wants the most. The military would also be loathe to undertake a coup during the Cobra Gold exercises.

The February 26 assets ruling has been awaited as an event the establishment hopes will finally close the book on Thaksin influence. Considering recent events--Peau Thai interest in the next elections (instead of a Thaksin revolution), Red Shirt pre-announcing tactics for protests that never happen, and extremely small Red Shirt protests that do occur (20-200 people)--there should be every reason for the military to be hopeful and not spoil the moment by playing into Thaksin's hands.

However, the Red Shirts have finally hit upon a good villain in the military after many fruitless months of trying to provoke the Democrats, the Privy Council, and the monarchy. The clumsy attempts of the military to demonstrate support for the Commander-in-Chief while being unable to tamp down coup rumors has shown them to be as politically inept as ever with even mainstream newspapers questioning the army's stance towards a coup.

If no actual coup or violence takes place, it is likely that the Red Shirts will simply find a reason to declare such a takeover has taken place in the background and try to turn people out on the streets to halt the ruling on Thaksin assets. Of course, there are sure to be several more surprises and misdirections before February 26.]

More from the Red Shirt publications

(Source: Board Game News)

King of Siam board game - February 2, 2010
From Board Game Geek: Siam 1874: A power struggle has has broken out. Siam's king has initiated reforms that have resulted in a clash between the Malays, Lao, and Royalists. The appearance of unity, however, must be preserved or the British might move in and make a colony out of Siam. Will the Siamese succeed in this tightrope walk and and maintain the nation of freedom?
Game home page - Online play instructions - Online version of the game - King of Siam board game FAQ

(Photo: www.mrjimonlongboard.blogspot.com)

Mr. Jim on longboard - February 1, 2010
Longboarding through Thailand for charity.

Cashing in on cheap Thai fireworks - New Straits Times, February 1, 2010
Unscrupulous local traders are ignoring the government's ban on the sale of firecrackers and fireworks as they rush to score big profits during festive periods. They are taking advantage of the low prices offered by suppliers in Sungai Golok, Thailand...

23 fishing cats found in Prachuap Khiri Khan - The Nation, February 1, 2010

More bomb sniffer scams - February 1, 2010
Nils reports: Yikes, how many variants/companies exploiting this scam are there?
Apart from ATSC's "ADE651", e-k9's "GT200" and Unival's "HEDD1", there's one more device called "Sniffex." Here is one of many failed tests, filmed by hidden camera, apparently at a trade show.
And: the now banned ADE651 from the UK was sold to the Thai Border Police, in addition to the GT200 sold to the army??? ADE651 Advanced Detection Training in Thailand
The above video was put up by fraudster Jim McCormick himself. (.....note the lovely comments!)
Meanwhile, the ATSC company website is down.

Gandhi ashes scattered off South Africa - AFP, January 31, 2010
[Nothing to do with Thailand, but interesting.]

Thaksin obtained Cambodian citizenship in March 2009 - KhmerIntelligence, February 1, 2010
Thaksin obtained Cambodian citizenship in March 2009 (2) - Thailand's fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra obtained a Cambodian passport in the last week of March 2009. The Royal Decree granting Thaksin Khmer citizenship was signed off by CPP and Senate President Chea Sim in his capacity then as Acting Head of State. King Norodom Sihamoni had been "advised" to unexpectedly but discretely leave Cambodia for France in that last week of March 2009 in order to keep secret the CPP decision to grant Khmer citizenship to Thaksin.

North Korean arms were headed to Iran, Thailand report says - Bloomberg, January 30, 2010
...A copy of the report, obtained from diplomats whose governments hold Security Council seats, said the 40-ton cargo’s destination was Airport Mahrabad in Tehran. It says the plane departed from the North Korean capital of Pyongyang and that the shipper was the Korea Mechanical Industry Co...

(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)

Stop - January 30, 2010
The billboard reads: Stop hurting Thailand by using violence

December 2009 Deep South violence statistics

The rest: Deep South Violence Statistics

Good news for Thai solar industry - renewableenergymagazine.com, January 28, 2010
Plans to build one of the world's largest ever photovoltaic (PV) solar farms near Bangkok (Thailand) has boosted the Thai government's efforts to accelerate the development of a national PV market...
[Thanks to Marc for pointing this out.]

From Not the Nation: Army defends Gt200 scanners as “able to detect money”
Testing shows scanners 100% effective in locating illegal profits for army officers
...“These scanners are the best we have ever used,” said deputy army chief of staff Lt Gen Daopong Rattansuwan. “They immediately pick up kickback opportunities from as far as 10 meters away...”

From Not the Nation: Thai police congratulated for lack of fiery, gruesome mass deaths during holiday

(Source: 2Bangkok.com)

Violence in the family - January, 2010
The billboard reads: Violence in the family - not a personal case, but the case that the society must understand/care about - If [someone committing violence] is seen - committing violence, please inform - with the concern of the Metropolitan Police Headquarters

(Source: Unival Group)

How does the GT200 "work?" - January 29, 2010
[Thanks to Mud for pointing this out.]

From e-k9.net: 4 - How does the GT200 work?
The GT200 works on the principal of dia/para magnetism. All substances carry a magnetic charge that, when stimulated by an impulse of electricity, (static) creates an attraction between the substance being detected and the GT200 unit itself. This is called EMA or Electro Magnetic Attraction.
The simple way to explain this technology is to take an inflated balloon and rub it on your hair. A static charge is being created making that balloon "attract" it to say, a wall. Provided that there is enough charge on that balloon, it will remain "attracted" to the wall for an indefinite amount of time. However, once the "charge" has dissipated, the balloon will then "unattached" between itself and fall to the ground.
What the GT200 is doing is creating an "attraction" between itself and the substance it wants to detect. Through the Substance Sensor Card and the movement of an operator, an attracting field is created in the card reader that, in turn causes the Receiver"s antenna of the GT200 to "lock onto" a signal, indicating the direction in which the substance can be located. When the magnetic signal of the substance that the GT200 is searching for, is located within its detection range, the GT200 receiving antenna will move toward the direction that the substance exist. In essence the GT200 functions like a hyper sensitive receiver.

(Source: Unival Group)

From Unival Group: HEDD1® - Handheld Explosive Detection Device Technology
HEDD1® is setting new standards in handheld explosive detection based on its unique patented Magneto-Electrostatic Detection (MED) method.
HEDD1® forms a modulated Magnetic Field (MMF) that allows detection of all types of commercial and military explosives (TNT, Dynamite, Ammonite & Diesel, PETN, RDX, Gun-powder,Semtex, C4 etc.) including liquid explosives (TATP etc.) within a distance between 2-100 meters behind and through all types of barriers (including concrete, steel etc.).

And a pdf here.

Images of Siamese dance from the past - YouTube, January, 2010

Bangkok visit - Manila Bulletin, January 25, 2010
[Thais and resident foreigners are often surprised to hear how people of neighboring countries see Thailand as an example of an efficient and well-run country. This is particularly true of Indians and Filipinos.]
...The impressive ultra-modern network of skyways has successfully alleviated Bangkok traffic. Notably, there are only a few advertising tarpaulins on these structures. Moreover, Bangkok has retained a “garden city” look as all its 25 parks, main traffic islands, spaces under skyways are well-tended green areas bursting with flowers and decorative plants endemic to Thailand. Many of these botanical marvels are also found in the Philippines but are somewhat ignored.
The common denominator of Asian countries with progressive economies is love of country which means that their movers and shakers have a sense of nation that compel them to uphold national interests. Most Thai leaders are guided by love of country like the Governor of Bangkok, M.R. Sukhumbhand Paribatra, who was a former MP and concurrently head of the BMA; the Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Kasit Piromya, and the various project directors like Dr. Royol Chitadon, director of the Hydro and Agro Informatics Institute...

Capturing Maj. Gen. Kattiya Sawasdiphol - January 22, 2010
The news Thursday night is about the raid on Maj. Gen. Kattiya Sawasdiphol's driver's house that netted war weapons--allegedly related to the grenade attack on Army Headquarters that only came to light in the press today. For now, there are Thai-languages articles on the raid here, here, here, and here

(Photo: krebsonsecurity.com)

Would you have spotted the fraud? - krebsonsecurity.com, January, 2010

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?

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...

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...

Sae Daneg reveals Thaksin's modest mansion in Dubai - December 27, 2009

Saturday's bombing in the Deep South - December 19, 2009

Trail of Thai royalty in Massachusetts 1916-1928 - December 3, 2009

Navin at the Fat Fest - December 5, 2009

Don't miss these photos.

Navin explains: ...It was the 9th Fat Fest this year Nov 7-8 at Munagthongthani. As you may know this is the annual music festival produced by Fat Radio FM 104.5 the festival also includes art and this year they asked me to do a project and the result is a series of billboards 12 meters high and 300 meters long in total!

Earlier from Navin: Navin's Sala

Use of nominee companies to buy property is "against the spirit of the law" - PropertyReport.com, December 3, 2009

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.

(Photo: paknam.com)

Mega Bridge official name: Bhumibol Bridge - paknam.com, October 21, 2009

Also: Mega Bridge construction photos