2BANGKOK.COM'S NEWS AND VIEWS NOVEMBER 2004 News and views archives - since 1999 Search this site Election day to be brought forward ‘for national benefit’ -TNA, November 28, 2004 Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra announced yesterday that he had proposed bringing forward the date of the next general election in order to prevent ‘political games’ which were serving to bruise the nation... Special report: Labour conference - by Asiper, November 26, 2004 A seminar on “New dimension of Thai Labour “ was held at at Miracle Grand Convention Hall on November 14, 2004. It was organized by the Labour Commission, House of Representatives, the Social Security office, the Chamber of Commerce of Thailand, the Industrial Congress of Thailand, the Bank Congress of Thailand and labour organizations. All of them talked about Globalization, WTO and FTA--forces that cannot be resisted. Thailand has to concentrate on product quality for competition, but workers cannot be neglected. They must have good quality of life also. Workers will be happy if they have good security. Everybody have to learn from the news information. Employees and government must think and cooperate with employers. The government should have a policy to protect people moving from rural areas to the city and pay more attention to unemployment security. Only one female worker representative, Wilaiwan Saetea, said the workers are still violated. For example, women workers who get pregnant will be laid off. Some factories do not pay workers the minimum wage. There is also sexual harassment at the workplace. Privatization should be stopped. Women should have the opportunity to participate in every sector of work and there should be a child care center in the factory. She asks that TRT fulfill these demands. Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra came to give a speech in the afternoon at the conference because he has a meeting in the morning at parliament to make merit. After his speech, some workers gave him folded origami papers for the southern people. The PM said now it will be more than 62 million birds to be dropped on December 5. Wilaiwan Saetea, chairperson of the Women Worker Unity Group, asked him to fulfill the Thai Rak Thai party promise of child care centers for women worker in the workplace. Thaksin gave her the hope and told her to survey how many places they want , where to set it up, and if they should have a baby sitter or nursemaid. If they can give him the information, he said he will create it. British Embassy to sell land in Bangkok - UPI, November 25, 2004 The British government is going ahead with a major redevelopment of its Bangkok embassy and will be selling a huge chunk of its prime land. Ambassador David Fall said the plans to sell four acres of the present 12-acre site were "an open secret," even though there has been no formal announcement and the deal is waiting for the go-ahead from London, Business Day reported Thursday. The scheme could be delayed or even postponed by the softness in the Bangkok property market or by the firmness of sterling. In the meantime, a London firm has been commissioned to design new housing to accommodate embassy staff who would be displaced by the sale. The British Embassy, then a legation, moved to its present site in 1926, when it was a remote, rural spot. A statue of Queen Victoria moved from the old legation was the first structure on the new site. During World War II, the statue of Queen Victoria was boarded up, but the Japanese occupiers provided a peephole so that the old queen would not be too upset. The British legation became an embassy in 1947. "Winds calm" at Ko Samui? - November 26, 2004 Cormac Bracken writes: I've always suspected that most of the online weather reports for Thailand are never updated, and just have a vague summary of that season's weather. "Mostly sunny" in the dry season, "mostly cloudy with some showers" in the wet season. As Typhoon Muifa lashes the Gulf of Thailand on the afternoon of November 25, 2005, here are the online weather reports: CNN's forecast for Ko Samui at 5:22 pm (below right): Mostly Cloudy, Wind: SW at 6 mph (10 km/h) Weather Underground's widely syndicated report on Ko Samui at 6:41pm (left): Chance of T-Storms... Wind: Calm, Wind Gust Yahoo/Intellicast (below left): Scattered showers and thunderstorms. High around 85F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Thai Media urged to be sensitive when reporting on 'AIDS' - TNA, November 26, 2004 A leading Thai senator has urged the local media not to refer to AIDS as 'fatal', or use other negative terms in their coverage of the problem. The sentator, Jon Ungpakorn, said this was necessary in order to improve the image of HIV/AIDS patients, and prevent the public being discouraged from associating with them. Mr. Jon also called for the use of 'neutral anti-AIDS campaigns' and for the virus not to be always refered to as the syndrome, 'doomed to death'. He also urged the media not to label AIDS patients as 'victims'... '64 kilometers of tunnel sitting 50 meters beneath the surface' - November 23, 2004 Via BoingBoing: The G-Cans Project is a massive project, begun 12 years ago, to build infrastructure for preventing overflow of the major rivers and waterways spidering the city (A serious problem for Tokyo during rainy-season and typhoon season). The underground waterway is the largest in the world and sports five 32m diameter, 65m deep concrete containment silos which are connected by 64 kilometers of tunnel sitting 50 meters beneath the surface... Japanese-language site Who's who in Communist China: Daily lists new 'princelings' - World Tribune, November 24, 2004 [Like Thailand, China has 'lucky' offspring of politicians who win lucrative contracts and high positions.] A Hong Kong newspaper has identified scores of "princelings" — the offspring of high-ranking officials in China — who benefit in business and government through their connections particularly in go-go Shanghai and the seat of power in Beijing. ...The report, however, omits the family of Chinese President Hu Jintao, his wife Liu Yongqing and their son and daughter. The connections of Hu and his family are considered state secrets. However, the list includes nearly 200 people, including Vice President Zeng Qinghong, who is the son of senior party statesman and former Interior Minister Zeng Shan. Many of the junior Zeng's brothers and sisters currently hold important posts in the Chinese military. They include Zeng Qingyang, director of the History Department of the Academy of Military Sciences; Zeng Qingyuan, deputy director of the Logistics Department of the PLA Air Force; and Zeng Haisheng, Zeng Qinghong's younger sister, deputy director of the General Office of the PLA General Staff Headquarters. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao also has two children who are in business. Wen Jiabao's son, Wen Yunsong, is now chairman of Beijing Unihub Company. His daughter is Wen Ruchun; and Wen Jiabao's son-in-law, Xu Ming, is chairman of Dalian Baode Group. Deng Xiaoping has two sons in important positions, including Deng Pufang, president of the Chinese Federation for the Deng Zhifang and president of the Sifang Group. The eldest daughter of the late Deng is Deng Lin, a member of the Chinese Artists' Association. Another daughter, Deng Nan, is vice minister of the Ministry of Science and Technology. Road deaths - November 22, 2004 News of this report is in every news outlet today, but the neat thing about the internet is that one does not have to depend on the media to filter info anymore--it is easy to see and read the actual report (there is also a link to an in-depth pdf at the bottom of the page).   Police Reported Estimated Annual Economic Losses   Deaths Injuries Deaths Injuries US$ Million % of Thailand 13,116 69,313 13,116 1,529,034 3,000 2.10 Motorcycles (percentage of vehicle fleet, 2003) - Thailand: 70.9% On the forums - November 23, 2004 Wisarut points out some interesting threads on the Thai-language forums. * Debate on origami cranes for southern provinces * MOD cooperating with Datuk Nideh Waba for southern peace * Criticism of origami cranes to the South * Activist condemning the surge of nationalism as "Right kill Left" with reciprocal responses to those activists as "the Old Communists" * Farmers from all region of Thailand are going to the South to help the Southerners farm * Democrat condemning TRT for 5 evils * Those traitors are going to ask the UN to destroy our Motherland * Debate on the new generation of Thai Muslims * Warning about another wave of violence from Satun senator * Shiekul Islam approving the origami cranes for the South * Shiekul Islam approving the origami cranes for the South (2) * Luangpoo Buddha Issara asking to extinguish the southern flame * Senator Jon Ungbhakorn's criticism of Right-leaning media * The reaction to police who shot two agitators in the South * Supreme Commander worrying about the new generation on the southern insurgency issue * Bush approving Premier Thaksin's measures for the southern insurgency On the forums - November 22, 2004 Wisarut points out some interesting threads on the Thai-language forums. * Thai who live abroad want to land at Suvannabhum Airport * The Muslim Youth viewpoints on Southern Insurgency * Debate on whether Premier Thaksin could finish all 7 lines of Mass Transit system by the end of 2009 * Debate on whether Premier Thaksin could finish NBIA on schedule * Opposition to UN Intervention on the Southern Insurgency (and here) 60-metre-tall ferris wheel set to open near Bangkok - The Nation, November 23, 2004 ...The 60-metre-high Ferris wheel with 42 air-conditioned cars – one of which is a karaoke box – is part of the UK-based company’s mobile fun park that will open its doors to the public tomorrow until February 14, 2005. Two million visitors are expected to enjoy the park’s 42 rides and 46 games spread over a 40-rai area near Muang Thong Thani’s vast lake... Chaiyasit gives the wai a miss - The Nation, November 23, 2004 ...Normally, right after receiving awards, recipients show their gratitude by waiing. But before they could put their hands together to perform the gesture, Chaiyasit extended his right hand. What could that mean, but that Chaiyasit wanted to shake hands? So they did. There are two possible reasons why they shook hands. Chaiyasit might have been trying to avoid offending those Muslims who greet and show gratitude in a different way. Or perhaps he simply thought that using one hand was more convenient than using two and that shaking hands is a more universal non-verbal greeting. Thailand tourism campaign announced - The Washington Times, November 20, 2004 The Tourism Authority of Thailand has made "Happiness on Earth" its marketing campaign, with the theme "Every Hour in Thailand is Happy Hour." ...Jutamas Siriwan, TAT governor, told reporters. "This time we have been more careful in choosing the words for this campaign, unlike 'Amazing Thailand,' which can carry both positive and negative connotation, we're sure that 'happiness' can only have a positive effect." Kim portraits still up, irate North Korea insists - Agence France-Presse, November 20, 2004 ..."It is nothing but a stupid and ridiculous act, just like trying to remove the sun from the sky. The adoration for the leader originated from people's life; it will never change." ...South Korea's Yonhap news agency said the order to remove the pictures was issued by Mr. Kim himself, who was concerned that he "has been lifted too high."... Earlier: Removal of Kim Jong Il’s pictures from public places in North Korea - Donga, November 16, 2004 Is the lottery rigged? - The Nation, November 20, 2004 ...The government's "on-the-ground" lotto scheme has been controversial from the very beginning. Conservatives, including the prime minister's former mentor Chamlong Srimuang, have raised sharp moral questions, but the government has managed to scrape through by using funds generated by the project to, for example, support education. With Thai people firmly addicted to underground lotteries, which sucked hundreds of billions of baht into the illegal economy annually, the government's initiative initially did not sound that bad. But legalised gambling is one thing, and state-sanctioned rigging is quite another... About Thai women A female monk takes on Thailand's clergy - The Age, November 17, 2004 A lone female monk has riled the religious hierarchy by waging a fight for ordination of women... 'Miss Spinster Thailand' and proud of it - New York Times, November 20, 2004 ...Unmarried by choice, Miss Saovapa, 38, and a growing number of successful professional women like her are challenging not only the traditional imperative of marriage and family but also what they see as the delicate egos of Thai men. "Sometimes they like to tease me," she said. They say she is too choosy and too proud. But they keep their nervous distance. They are not sure how to behave around a woman who does not seem to need them... Benjakitti Water Park - New green area in centre of Bangkok on old TTM land - Bangkok Post, November 18, 2004 All 430 rai of the Thailand Tobacco Monopoly (TTM) land between Sukhumvit and Rama IV roads, near Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre, will be turned into a public park... Mr Varathep promised the entire scheme would be completed as planned, allaying concern the land could be leased out to the private sector. "Don't worry. This government will turn another 300 rai into a forest park right after the TTM factories move out,'' he said. All five TTM factories, warehouses and buildings will be demolished and replaced with trees. Only two buildings--the TTM hospital and the 46-year-old TTM office--will be spared. Guess where U.S. students are going? - November 19, 2004 Cormac Bracken writes: Never mind India, notice that Thailand is number 3 in Asia: A number of American students are going abroad for higher studies and India is the fifth most attractive country in Asia for them, a new report has found. Since 1991-92, the number of students studying abroad for credit has more than doubled from 71,154 to 174,629, according to the Open Doors 2004 report, an annual report on international academic mobility released by the Institute of International Education. India with 703 pupils was the fifth country in Asia to attract American students in 2002-03 after Japan (3,457), China (2,493), Thailand (794) and Korea (739), it said... (Hindustan Times, November, 2004) Samak's development plans being reversed - November 15, 2004 The new Bangkok administration is quickly reversing many controversial city development decisions made by former Governor Samak: Bangkok's art museum - project revived - Past articles Removal of the Ta Tien community - 'likely to be scrapped' - Past articles Underground car park at Sanam Luang - canceled - Past articles Turning Ratchadamnoen Avenue into the "Champs-Elysees of Thailand" - to be reviewed - Past articles Removal of the Department of Internal Trade building and creation of a park - to be reviewed Sensing this change of sentiment, Mahakan Fort residents are also repetitioning the city to halt their eviction (Past articles). There is no word yet about the Soi Leunrit community or the Pak Klong Market. BMA set to save Ta Tien from Samak mall threat - The Nation, November 14, 2004 The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration is likely to scrap a plan by former governor Samak Sundaravej to demolish old buildings in the TA Tien area and replace them with a shopping mall, a city executive said yesterday... A source in the City Planning Department said the TA Tien land belonged to the Crown Property Bureau, which recently helped the BMA set up a committee to reconsider every project initiated during the controversial tenure of the former Bangkok governor... New plea for Mahakan - City hall asked not to evict residents - Bangkok Post, November 14, 2004 Housing activists will ask the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration to spare Mahakan Fort residents in Phra Nakhon district, allowing them to stay on under a land-sharing scheme. Pratin Wekhakayanon, chairwoman of the Four Regions Slum Network, said the Mahakan Fort case was one of four pilot projects to be considered by a joint committee on housing problems set up recently by Governor Apirak Kosayodhin... The wat of antique cars - Electric New Paper, November 15, 2004 Templese are where Thai Buddhists go to in search of a new life. But at one quirky temple in Bangkok, it is also a place where old, discarded cars get a new lease of life... Also: The wat's website Two weeks too late? - The Epoch Times, November 17, 2004 Here is a peculiar article on Thai politics that was about two weeks out of date on the day it was posted. World's largest sleeping Buddha - China Daily, November 14, 2004 Sculptors work on world's largest sleeping Buddha statue Wednesday in Yiyang County of East China's Jiangxi Province. The gigantic rock work, whose construction started on May 1st,2002, measures 68-meter-high and 416-meter-long... Shanghai: Where Blade Runner meets Las Vegas - The Guardian, November 8, 2004 Thanks to Nils for pointing out this article: ...China currently consumes 40% of the world's concrete and 90% of its steel. Much of that is suspended above the heads of Shanghai's pedestrians. At one point in the mid-90s, one quarter of the world's construction cranes were at work there... The Korat Post - November 13, 2004 Did you know the Northeast has an English-language news monthly? India-Asean rally will put Asian Highway to the test - The Straits Times, November 9, 2004 ...The 1,400km trilateral highway will link India with Thailand and Myanmar, and eventually with Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. The Asian Highway will eventually make it possible to drive a goods truck from Vientiane in landlocked Laos, or from Chiang Mai in Thailand, due west to India's north-east - with a link north to Kunming in China... A tale of two newspapers: The government fair - November 8, 2004 Typically in "A tale of two newspapers" 2Bangkok.com shows the differences in the English-language dailies, but today we are highlighting a nearly identical run of facts, quotes and details. Major parts of both articles in the Post and Nation are translated from this Thai-language article in Matichon or this article in ThaiPost (both have the same interview with a 'Mrs. Nakorn Saetang'). The Post translation turns out a bit more negative. The Nation saves its negative comments for a separate thesaurus-emptying editorial (see below). Buses throng to TRT fair from all over People get money, food and transport to attend - Bangkok Post, November 6, 2004 ...About 500 buses were lined up in the car park at Impact Arena, one of the country's leading trade exhibition and concert venues. One visitor, Nakhon sae Tang who travelled from Khon Kaen, said that she was told to get on the bus by an MP. "I don't know the details of the fair. I'll check it out once I'm in. All I know is that there are lots of free stuff,'' she said. Mrs Nakhon did not know if she would come back. ``It depends on if the MP provides transportation. And I'll have to see if I'm free to come again,'' she said. A visitor from Buri Ram said that people from every district there were invited to come to the fair. He said those from Muang district received 1,000 baht each while those from other districts received about 300-400 baht each to come to the fair. He said two buses brought people from each district, but six buses were used in Muang district. "We left at 10pm on Friday and stopped at gas stations and waited for each other. We had plenty of food and drinks all the way to Bangkok. We sang karaoke too." A group of housewives from nearby Ayutthaya said that they were approached by a village head to visit the fair. ``He invited me to get on a bus to Muang Thong Thani, and said that the prime minister would be giving away facial cream. If he really does, I'd like to have some,'' said one member of the group. GOVERNMENT EXHIBITION: TRT dishes out goodies to tempt voters - The Nation, November 6, 2004 ...About 500 buses had taken thousands of visitors from various provinces to the venue at Muang Thong Thani. Nakhon Saetang of Khon Kaen said her local MP urged her to make the trip. "I had no idea what the event would be like but was told there would be a lot of hand-outs. I've never seen this kind of event from any government. It's like a temple fair with a lot of gifts," she said. A visitor from Buri Ram said residents were given Bt300-Bt1,000 each to travel to the event, all from the coffers of the Buri Ram provincial administrative organisation. A housewife from Ayutthaya province said a community leader told her to visit the exhibition. "I don't mind having a face-lift cream as a gift," she said... The Nation editorial: With guile and cunning, assisted by a well-oiled propaganda machine, his party’s well-funded campaign-managers are fine-tuning pork-barrel rituals into a national exhibition of success concerning the way in which the chief executive has been running the country. From yesterday to Wednesday the government is putting on a big show for prospective voters, who consist of downtrodden and gullible grass-roots citizens being herded together from all over the country by party MPs and strategists, so that they will understand that Thai Rak Thai is to rule the country for four more years... Of course, Thai Rak Thai will mobilise a team of celebrity figures and smooth talkers who could make snake-oil salesmen green with envy, what with their jaundiced eyes in the art of spin and propaganda messages... A visit to the government fair - November 8, 2004 Wisarut visited the “From Grassroots to Taproots” fair and reports: TRT members have recruited thousands of local folks and students from the rural areas to travel to Bangkok to see Premier Thaksin's exhibit “From Grassroots to Taproots”--with free meals and transportation. This causes editors from ThaiPost, The Nation, Kom Chad Luek, Matichon, Naew Nah, etc. to write very satirical comments on this project. Premier Thaksin's “From Grassroots to Taproots” (Hall 1-8) and Governor Aphirak's "The Best of Bangkok" (Hall 9-10) are featured at the fair. Governor Aphirak's "The Best of Bangkok" shows a cutting edge by promising many green trees right from the orchards around Bangkok eastern suburbs and spas along with massages around Bangkok to help people relax. No security with metal doors will be needed. However, PM Thaksin's “From Grassroots to Taproots” has the cutting edge in that it speaks the same language as most rural folks well as the urban people can relate to. This creates a powerful psychological effect. ...[The fair had a section with] the list of crisis in each year from 2001-2004 that Premier Thaksin has faced. It was presented with a nationalistic tone which pleases rural folks as well as the silent majority in urban areas. When both the silent majority and rural folks talk the same language, NGOs and intellectuals become frightened that the masses will turn against them. However, the Southern insurgency is not in the list since it is not finished yet... There is also a large model of seven mass transits lines around Bangkok to be implemented in six years. Of interest to 2Bangkok.com readers are details of a river connection mentioned in an event brochure: Traffic solutions for Bangkok and vicinity Water Transportation: 1) New development enabling Sathorn Pier to connect with other transportation systems such as buses [currently, the bus stop nearest to Sathorn Pier is too far away], Skytrain, and Subway [via a joint smart card system] 2) Improve services of the existing canal routes - Saen Saeb route (Phan Fah Bridge - Pratoonam - Bang Kapi - Wat Sribunruen) - Memorial Bridge - Phet Kasem 26 (via Phaseecharoen Canal) - Sathorn - Dao Khanong - Sathorn - Klong Toei [long tail boats along Chao Phraya River] [Note: Chaophraya Express is not mentioned.] 3) New canal routes - Wat Sribunruen - Minburi [revival of the defunct route] - Dao Khanong - Wat Singh [This route helps to promote Wat Sai Floating Market and connection with Maeklong Railway] - Lad Pho Canal - Klong Toei [Lad Pho Canal is another shortcut in addition to Lad Luang Canal in Phra Padaeng] - Sathorn - Lad Pho Canal - Phra Padaeng - Pak Nam - Ying Charoen Market (Saphan Mai) - Ram Khamhaeng [This partial revival of the old route along Lad Phrao Canal but with the new terminal at Ram Khamhaeng, but it would be a lot better if they could find a way to go along Phra Khanong Canal to end up at Chao Phraya unless Phra Khanaong watergate has been closed for river traffic or the route to Hua Takhe along Prawet Burirom Canal. The best deal of all might be to dig a deep and wide canal linking the moat around Suvannabhum Airport with Prawet Burirom Canal to allow the boat traffic to transport goods from/to the airport as well as for flood control. Boat services need fuel subsidies to keep the system running. No boat service to Sanphawut Pier at Bang Na other than Navy Boat service between RTN HQ and Sanphawut Pier for Navy personnel due to poor bus connections. Only private buses come to Sanphawut Pier with irregular schedules.] 'Tiny Taiwan' - November 11, 2004 Conor Bracken writes: CNN.com is featuring a travel article about Chinese food, especially breakfast food, in Taiwan: “One great place to sample Chinese breakfast food is Taiwan. The tiny leaf-shaped island off China's southern coast is one of the world's best places for fantastic Chinese food. And the cooking starts at sunrise on almost every block in residential areas in the island's densely populated cities.” I guess it’s helpful to learn that good Chinese food can be found in China of all places. However I’m not sure if “tiny” is quite the best word to describe the 36,000 square kilometers which make up the world’s 28th largest island. Sure does look small on that world map when compared to the US of A.