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| Thursday, September 2, 2010 |
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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... |
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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... |
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(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.] |
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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... |
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(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.] |
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(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?] |
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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? |
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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... |
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(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... |
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(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.] |
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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... |
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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. |
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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. |
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(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?] |
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| Weekend edition, August 28-29, 2010 |
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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... |
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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... |
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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.] |
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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... |
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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.
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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’... |
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| Thursday, August 26, 2010 |
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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...” |
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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.] |
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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... |
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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... |
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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 |
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George P. Burdell - Wikipedia, August, 2010
[Nothing to do with Thailand, but interesting.] |
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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... |
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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.
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Coming soon: The Red Shirt publications are back!
And they are every bit as provocative and threatening as ever.
Earlier: The Red Shirt publications |
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| The improving situation in the Deep South - Reports from May and June |
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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.
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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. |
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.jpg)
(Source: feed-ariyana.com)
Thai "Castration epidemic" - August, 2010
The artist has a misunderstanding of the definition of "castration."
.jpg)
(Source: feed-ariyana.com)
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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... |
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(Source: Courtesy of Stephff - The Nation)
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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.]
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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. |
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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... |
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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. |
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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
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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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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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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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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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