2BANGKOK.COM'S NEWS AND VIEWS JULY 2004 News and views archives - since 1999 Search this site Bad traffic today - July 30, 2004 Expect heavy traffic today as this is a 'triple witching hour' day for traffic: a Friday, the last working day of the month (thus a payday), and the last day before a long weekend (Monday is a holiday). The first 2Bangkok.com meeting Nils has a short report about the first 2Bangkok.com meeting which was held last night. Orangutan boxing banned at animal park - Seizure order for Safari World's apes - Bangkok Post, August 4, 2004 ...The unusually high number of 110 orangutans at the park have raised suspicions many may have been smuggled from Malaysia or Indonesia, the last two places where these endangered animals still live in the wild. The zoo was accused of smuggling early this year and last week Taiwanese wildlife experts called for a boycott by Taiwanese tourists... Earlier: Boycott demanded as orangutans put in the ring for boxing bouts - AFP, July 29, 2004 ...The operators of the Safari World animal park say the fights -- which start with the Rocky movie theme and include chimpanzees wearing bikinis carrying cards with the bout number -- are choreographed and that no animal is harmed. But animal rights groups said the apes were being exploited for easy profits and they were destined for a short and miserable existence after their days in the ring were over. ...The demands are growing for an end to the animal brawling, with Taiwanese animal activists also calling on tourists to boycott the safari park... China covets Burmese forests - The Irrawaddy, July 27, 2004 Forests in a critical watershed for the Salween and Irrawaddy rivers, along the China-Burma border, are in danger of disappearing because of corrupt deals brokered between wealthy Chinese businessmen, Burma's ruling military junta and cash-strapped armed Burmese insurgent groups... Paradise postponed as terror stalks a peace-loving nation - The Australian, July 29, 2004 An Australian view of what is going on in the South... Siam Centre renovation - July 28, 2004 Siam Centre all set to receive Bt300m facelift - The Nation, July 28, 2004 Siam Centre, situated at the heart of Bangkok's most vibrant shopping area, is to undergo a massive Bt300 million renovation to attract more high-profile... Siam Centre revamp to sport Japanese flair - Bangkok Post, July 28, 2004 Siam Piwat Co is planning a 300-million-baht facelift to give its 33-year-old Siam Centre a look reminiscent of Tokyo's bustling Shinjuku district to appeal to teenage shoppers... It will be the third major renovation for one of Bangkok's most popular shopping centres. The first was undertaken in 1991 and the second in 1997... French 'Spiderman' scales Jakarta highrise - July 25, 2005 We wonder when he will get to Bangkok... India 'to build biggest Buddha' - BBC, July 13, 2004 ...The bronze statue is planned to be more than 150m tall, double the height of the 8th Century Tang dynasty Buddha in south-west China... Local officials say it will be the world's biggest statue and that a 17-storey temple building with huge prayer halls will be housed inside it. However, in the United States, plans are underway to build a statue in Houston, Texas, called The Spirit of Houston, that would be even higher.... Also: More about the Spirit of Houston statue (includes renderings) Computer reconstruction of Prasat Phimai - July 26, 2004 It looks like a little Angkor Wat. Bus/train hybrid - Slashdot, July 24, 2004 "...The innovative vehicle will run on road as well as rail. It is as applicable to freight as to passenger transport. Branch-line infrastructure costs could be at least halved because signalling and points could be largely, if not totally, made redundant." Thai kickboxing film Ong Bak - BoingBoing.net, July 24, 2004 Lots of links to foreign distribution info about Ong Bak. Farangs seem to love it! Three Gorges website - July 24, 2004 NSS points out: The Three Gorge Dams The real Bangkok Hilton - BBC, July 24, 2004 Thanks to Don Entz for this link: ...Imprisoned for drug smuggling, his voice shook as he explained how he will only find out when he is to be executed two hours beforehand. "I have no clue when I will die," Amporn said, "they could inject me today or tomorrow. All my life I hated drugs more than anything, I never thought that I would be arrested because of them. "I told my kids don't touch them, don't get close to them, I hate them. I admitted I was guilty, why has society punished me so harshly? Why don't they give me another chance? I never committed a crime before." Harsh sentences for drug smugglers are popular in Thailand. In the Thai press - July 24, 2004 Something about Metro Life Shopping Bangkok Subway (in Thai) Songkhla Lake Tunnel - July 23, 2004 Nils found this interesting proposal on the Yee Associates Website: Songkhla Lake Tunnel proposal from 1998. Bridge Climb in Sydney - July 23, 2004 Accident on Sathorn - July 21, 2004 Monday morning a motorcyclist was killed on Sathorn Road. A group of photographers from the Thai dailies waited two hours for the coroner to arrive and uncover the body so they could get a photograph. They all had digital cameras attached to laptops (no doubt wirelessly connected to HQ). However, this accident did not make it into any of the papers--there was a more poignant (or ghoulish) accident photo that ran the next day of a woman stroking her dead boyfriend's face (ThaiRath had the best version of this). In case you are interested, 2Bangkok.com has a photo (non-bloody) of the swarm of police, ambulance workers, and photographers gathering around the body as the medical examiner arrives. Notice the white lines that were drawn around the fallen motorcycle. Samak legacy: an ideal boss or TV chef? Leaves office with unfinished business - Bangkok Post, July 27, 2004 ... His absence during difficult times--such as floods, fires and other crises--disillusioned many people, including his supporters. Mr Samak's old-fashioned style of management set him against civic groups and activists who advocate public participation, from the very start. But he was praised by many city officials as an ideal boss who treated them with respect. As governor he received full cooperation from city officials when he launched city hall's one-stop service at all district offices. The service was billed as his major achievement... These incomplete initiatives include a plan to extend the mass transit network to cover Samut Prakan, Thon Buri and Don Muang, a planned underground parking lot at Sanam Luang and a housing project for low-income people in Klong Toey. His plan to tear down old buildings in Tha Tian area to open visual space hit a snag when it failed to get the approval of the landlord, the Crown Property Bureau. His corn-cob apartment scheme, aimed at middle-income people, is pretty much a flop with only one project implemented, in Ramkhamhaeng area... The real power is in the hands of the central government, the lecturer said. ``To be fair, I guess other governors may not be able to do any better than Mr Samak under the present circumstances,'' she said... Portraits of Thai kickboxers, by Siege - July 26, 2004 Which new President: Does it matter? - Jakarta Post, July 28, 2004 ... In this matter, the experience of Thailand's prime minister, Thaksin, is instructive. Replacing prime ministers who closely followed IMF reform prescriptions, Thaksin has not only instituted a more nationalist economic policy but has directly confronted the power of regional political and business interests in the parliament. He built a national political party to bypass regional power brokers and put in place a new social contract at the grass roots level that linked centralized, national power with the sources of votes through grants to villages, new health policies and other populist policies. Money politics was re-centralized... But there are important differences with the Thai case. Most important, Thaksin's agenda is directly to establish the political ascendance of national business through the Thai Rat Thai party. It is backed by a powerful and wealthy set of interests. By contrast, neither Golkar nor PDI in Indonesia constitute a cohesive set of interests. Nor do they represent the center against the regions. Rather, they represent long strands of political alliance that extend down into the regions and provinces and include complex business and political elites. Business today in Indonesia may fund politics but is entirely incapable of organizing a party in their interests to capture power... More on Thirayuth's criticism of the government - July 29, 2004 THAI TALK: When Thirayuth (frog) does a Thaksin (frogleap) - The Nation, July 29, 2004 ...Convince us, sir, that you aren’t a “Monstrous Baby” that kills its own father. Tell us how you won’t do away with the checks and balances incorporated in the 1997 “reform” Constitution. Prove, sir, that the TRT-style of electoral democracy isn’t just aimed at institutionalising an authoritarian political culture... THIRAYUTH REPORT: Have a look who’s being rude now - The Nation, July 29, 2004 The “monster” has reacted, and, surprisingly, very nicely. “Take it easy. Take it easy,” Thaksin Shinawatra said as he beamed in front of reporters who had braced for another noholdsbarred tirade from the “ultrasensitive” prime minister. “Nobody in this world is perfect. Nobody is flawless. And nobody is so perfectly bad that there’s no goodness left in him,” he added. ...“He’s cute. The other ‘regulars’ come out many times a year, but he does it only once a year,” said the man Thirayuth described as Thai democracy’s worst nightmare. The prime minister calls his leading critics his “regular clients”... “The only little complaint I have is he’s a bit mean to me as he doesn’t see any good in my government. It’s easy to talk like that, but let’s wait until the people speak out. Let the election results do the talking.” ...A Thaksin outburst had been widely expected. Last year, when Thirayuth issued his traditional annual “report”, the prime minister blew his top... Thaksin calm as critic rages - PM lauds Thirayuth for rarely lashing out - Bangkok Post, July 29, 2004 ... Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra controlled his anger and responded gently to scathing criticisms of his Thai Rak Thai party by academic Thirayuth Boonmi. Instead of heatedly lashing out as he usually does when criticised, Mr Thaksin, who earlier this week said he has ``learned to let go'', said the public will be the one to judge him... Earlier: Bashing TRT - July 28, 2004 Whether his prediction of a slide of TRT is premature or not, a new report by Thirayuth has certainly caught the imagination of the Thai press (both in English and Thai). The Post reports about the report while The Nation runs a translation of the report. THIRAYUTH STRIKES AGAIN: ‘Monster’ jibe rocks PM & 'Save democracy, vote against Thai Rak Thai' - The Nation, July 28, 2004 Thais love coining new words and word play in general. The Nation also has a glossary of the words coined by Thirayuth in his report: Monstrous baby, GMO politics, Thaksinocrony, Synergy, synmoney, synsavoury, Benja (five) corruption, SML & T, Popu-marketing. Notable items from The Nation and Post - July 26, 2004 Bangkok Governor registration starts today/MPs present themselves to Thaksin as a gift - Bangkok Post, July 26, 2004 Two interesting political events are scheduled to take place today, and they will be covered extensively by the local media. The first is the registration of candidates for the Aug 29 Bangkok governor's election. Registration is open till Friday. In the other, unorthodox, event, a group of 21 MPs who defected en masse on Friday from the Chart Thai party to the ruling Thai Rak Thai party are to present themselves as a special birthday ``gift'' to Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who turns 55... At least 10 people have announced their formal intention to contest the governor's election. Among them are Pavena Hongsakula, Apirak Kosayothin, Chuwit Kamolvisit, Chalerm Yubamrung, Mana Mahasuveerachai, Thawatchai Sajjakul, Karoon Chandrangsu, Peerapong Thanompongphan and Wuthipong Priabjareeyawat. Those yet to announce their candidacies include former governor Bhichit Rattakul, who reportedly has the backing of Thai Rak Thai, and Kobsak Chutikul, a Chart Thai party list MP... For the time being, and in the foreseeable future, it seems all roads lead to Thai Rak Thai. It looks to be only a matter of time before Mr Thaksin realises his ambition, which is a single party government with complete control over the parliament. Antiques impounded - Bangkok Post, July 26, 2004 ...Pol Col Tara Punasri, deputy commander of the police registration division, said although most of the products were fake, the law required a licence even for the sale of fake antiques. Offenders face fines of 2,000-5,000 baht. A few antique Buddha images were found at some of the shops. The raid came after a number of antiques, including fakes, were seized by customs officers from departing tourists at Don Muang airport recently. The story of Golden Gate Plaza - Bangkok Post, July 26, 2004 The 18-storey plaza-cum-condominium project in Bangkok's Pratunam area was begun by Golden Gate Plaza Co Ltd, a wholly owned Golden Land subsidiary, in 1995. It was managed by Golden Land and Vikorn Srivikorn, a member of the family that controlled the parent firm, was the project manager. The subsidiary at the time had registered capital of 10 million baht while Golden Land was capitalised at 750 million... However, Golden Gate Plaza went out of business after the 1997 crash and the project remains suspended to this day, though almost 80% of the work had been done... Purported royal letter up for online auction - The Nation, July 26, 2004 ...The one-page letter, initially listed for US$550 (Bt22,569), shows the letterhead seal bearing King Chulalongkorn's initials under the royal crown, as well as his purported handwriting and signature. ...A professional collector of items related to King Rama V, who requested anonymity, said that he doubted the letter's authenticity as there were plenty of fake items on auction websites. "Basically, websites are not a place for real collectors…. No one could verify the items' authenticity out there," he said. He added that such letters were common among collectors and an authentic King Rama V letter with similar content had been sold for less than Bt12,300. Chiang Mai getting ugly - The Irrawaddy, July 24, 2004 ...The meeting was prompted by an article in the March edition of National Geographic Traveler magazine that rated two prominent Thai tourist destinations—Chiang Mai and Phuket—as “Getting Ugly”. A scoreboard of destinations around the world was put together by the magazine and a team of graduate student from Leeds Metropolitan University in the UK. ...Professor Duongchan Apavatjrut, secretary-general of the Urban Development Institute Forum and a researcher at the Social Research Institute told the audience that earlier proposals to make changes in Chiang Mai were largely futile. She said she would rather suggest specific changes to be made than discuss abstract big-picture concepts that are generally ignored by the city’s administrators. The deputy governor of Chiang Mai Province, the city mayor and the city district chiefs left the auditorium as soon each finished speaking and did not wait around to listen to anyone else’s thoughts. She advised them to take down all the major advertising boards that stand atop the roofs of condominiums and office buildings, reasoning that most of them are flashy, cheap and painted in lurid colors, and so detract from the beauty of Chiang Mai’s ancient temples. Her second proposal was that a number of buildings in the city painted inappropriate colors be required to be repainted to blend in with their environs. Professor Duongchan noted that Kyoto city ordered McDonald’s to change its logo color from the usual gaudy yellow and red to brown and green in order to preserve the metropolis’s historic district. She also suggested that flower pots along the pavement be removed as they blocked pedestrian traffic. Professor Duongchan furthermore claimed that Chiang Mai International Airport was too close to the city, causing traffic jams and noise pollution. Associate Professor Thanet Charoenmuang, a political scientist at Chiang Mai University complained that it was unlikely that the seminar would count for much as many of the prominent administrators—the deputy governor of Chiang Mai Province, the city mayor and the city district chiefs—left the auditorium as soon as each finished speaking and did not wait around to listen to anyone else’s thoughts. In any case, none of the local government officials accepted that there was any justification for the National Geographic Traveler’s low ranking of Chiang Mai. His closing comments at the seminar were that Chiang Mai is developing in a “Bangkok mold”—a primary city taking all the infrastructure, facilities and major universities for itself while leaving neighboring centers such as Lamphun, Lamphang and Chiang Rai underdeveloped... What the Myanmar press thinks of US sanctions - The Irrawaddy, July 23, 2004 ... Today’s article, written by Aung Moe San, was published in both the Myanma Alin and Kyemon newspapers on Thursday. It called the American sanctions a foreign policy publicity stunt aimed at winning support for President Bush and incumbent senators before the US elections in November. The article also accused Washington of attempting to make Burma its client-state. The sanctions are misguided, the article charged, because Asian countries, including those from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, continue to trade with the military regime in Rangoon. Sanctions are also contrary to American efforts to promote market economies around the world, the article added. It also pointed out that while the US censures Burma, it is simultaneously boosting economic ties with China, a communist state which runs a “socialist economy”... Links from the TNA: Fans at funerals/Alcohol ban? Public urged to use decorated electric fans as funeral wreaths - TNA, July 23, 2004 A campaign to encourage people to use electric fans decorated with flowers as funeral wreaths should be stepped up, according to senior government officials. The Bangkok City Clerk, Khun Ying Nathanon Thavisin told TNA that using electric fans decorated with dried or paper flowers as funeral wreaths could help reduce the city’s volume of garbages, and could save money. An electric fan can be an expression of love and friendship, it can also show respect at a funeral, she said... However, Khun Ying Nathanon said, she was not launching a campaign against the florists. She merely wanted to give consumers more options, she said. Public campaign on ban of alcohol during Buddhist Lent - TNA, July 22, 2004 A campaign has been launched to encourage the general public to refrain from consuming alcohol during the forthcoming Buddhist Lent. The campaign is scheduled to kick off on 1 August, the start of the three-month Buddhist Lent, with a declaration promoting a nationwide ban on alcohol over the whole Lent period... Meanwhile, a recent survey found that the public overwhelming supported the campaign. More than 90 percent of those interviewed agreed that people should be encouraged to refrain from alcohol consumption during the Buddhist Lent and other significant occasions The ABAC poll was conducted by the Assumption University. Southern land bridge project gets go-ahead - TNA, July 21, 2004 The government has announced plans to proceed with the construction of the so-called Land Bridge Project in southern Thailand. The 28-billion-baht project, includes building a 250-kilometre oil pipeline from Phang Nga to Nakorn Si Thammarat in the South. An oil refinery plant will also be built by 2010... Once completed, the Land Bridge Project will become an alternative route for the transportation of oil from the Middle East to northern Asia... Work on the project will start soon now that the cabinet has given the scheme the green light.