2BANGKOK.COM'S NEWS AND VIEWS DECEMBER 2004 News and views archives - since 1999 Search this site N. Korea's Trade With Thailand Expands 22.6 PCT In Jan-Oct - Asia Pulse, December 6, 2004 Other recent article of note EDITORIAL: A bad omen for human rights - The Nation, December 10, 2004 [The Nation laments another four years of Thaksin...] ...Extra-judicial killings are all right as long as the government says they are necessary, like they were in the “war against drugs”. It is okay to violate the human rights of drug suspects because they are not part of mainstream society. Not surprisingly, this methodology spread fast to the southern provinces... The continuing crisis in the South inspired the government to try to introduce new decrees to increase state power, notably for the police to arrest, detain and question anyone suspected of involvement with terrorism. Given the government’s dismal history of abuse of power, only the insane would continue to accept this kind of behaviour. On the occasion of Constitution Day and Human Rights Day, it is important to recall the lawyer Somchai Neelaphaijit, who was kidnapped in March and is still unaccounted for. It is widely believed that he was killed shortly after being kidnapped by men in uniform. His case serves as a barometer of the sorrowful state of human rights and the rule of law in Thailand. Somchai was courageous and outspoken when it came to publicising allegations of police violations made by his clients, who had been arrested on charges of having links to the regional terrorist group Jemaah Islamiyah... Corruption now 'worst in century' - Bangkok Post, December 10, 2004 [While corruption is prevalent and has taken on new forms under Thaksin's tenure, it is certainly political hyperbole to claim it is the worst or most serious in a century.] Corruption is now the "most serious in a century" under the Thaksin Shinawatra administration, with complex policy-related graft and equal benefit sharing among business groups owned by 10 families, a local anti-corruption network alleged yesterday. The allegations were made at a seminar organised by the network yesterday at Thammasat University to mark International Anti-Corruption Day. Network members claimed there were irregularities in the granting of a 270-billion-baht Laem Chabang port concession to a private firm, the Board of Investment's tax exemption for a satellite operator partially owned by the Shinawatra family's Shin Corp, and the Export-Import Bank's granting of a 600-million-baht soft loan to Burma's telephone and internet projects which later went to a supplier from Shin Corp... It all began with the monopolisation of political, financial and state powers by the "Thaksin regime", which allowed business groups owned by 10 families to win all state bids and projects, he alleged... Cold public response to India-ASEAN rallyists in Thailand - PTI news, December 9, 2004 The exotic locations and a party atmosphere may have made Thailand the first choice of many Indian tourists, but the participants of the first India-ASEAN car rally were surely disappointed by the "cold" response given by the people here. The rallyist, who received vociforous applause wherever they traveled in their endeavour to build poeple-to-people contact, could hardly find anyone acknowledging their second arrival in this fast-paced country... Thai senators and exiles discuss Burma - The Irrawaddy, December 9, 2004 Several Thai senators and Burmese dissidents in exile discussed political developments in Burma and the plight of detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi at a meeting in Bangkok on Wednesday. The meeting was intended to send a message to Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on the eve of his visit to Rangoon on Thursday to attend the World Buddhist Summit... Why the court acquitted Prasong of charges that he defamed eight "majority" Constitution Court judges - The Nation, December 03, 2004 This is widely reported, but the The Nation has an insightful rundown (at the bottom of the page) of the reasoning for the ruling. Shenzhen Western Corridor - December 13, 2004 A friend in Hong Kong sent in the following amazing photos: Just a few shots of the Shenzhen Western Corridor from Hong Kong to China that we are working on. All of it is over water. Recent stories of note February 6 tipped as compromise election date - The Nation, December 4, 2004 ...February 6, a Sunday, is likely to be chosen as the new election date following a compromise between the government and the Election Commission, coalition and opposition lawmakers said yesterday... Flyover projects put on hold - Bangkok Post, December 3, 2004 The planned construction of flyovers at Ekkachai, Kasemrat and Kluay Namthai intersections has been put on hold for another year. The decision by the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning is seen as a compromise between the city administration, which wants the projects scrapped, and the Transport Ministry, which favours the projects... Earlier: City hall overruled on flyovers - Bangkok Post, November 30, 2004 The Transport Ministry has overruled city hall's decision not to build three flyovers at intersections in the Bang Bon and Rama IV areas. The overpasses were planned at Ekkachai-Bang Bon-Bang Khun Thien, Rama IV-Kasemrat-Sukhumvit 26 and Rama IV-Sukhumvit 42 intersections... However, Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit said a meeting yesterday insisted the flyovers were essential for long-term traffic planning, especially as Rama IV would become a main route connecting the city and Suvarnabhumi Airport... The Bangkok Metopolitan Administration is under the control of the opposition Democrat party and Mr Suriya is secretary-general of the ruling Thai Rak Thai party. What goes down must come up - Bangkok Post, December 3, 2004 ...Thailand was the world's third and Asia's top performing emerging stock market in 2003, up 140% in dollar terms... Yet this year it has been the loser and disappointed many investors, the SET off 15% making it the worst performing equity market in the world, even while Indonesia (+39%), Malaysia (+14%) and Singapore (+15%) have risen... Wisarut points out these interesting links: Ban Bu and Bangkok Noy Railway Station during WWII from the old local people - the day when the first bomb hit the Bangkok Noy Railway station 60 years ago on November 29, 1944 - Manager Daily, November 29, 2004 Desktop wallpaper of cellular transmission towers - December 3, 2004 Nothing to do with Thailand, but interesting. The 'blog' revolution sweeps across China - New Scientist, December 3, 2004 Gigapxl - December 3, 2004 Nils points out an interesting site: Have a look at this: Gigapxl. Make sure to check out the image gallery! Amazing. Interesting vehicles - December 2, 2004 Nils writes: Just stumbled about this travel photo page in German. Two things that I thought you would find interesting here. Photo of a public bus in Sichuan Province, China. The black thing on the roof is the gas tank! The author writes that the gas is a byproduct of the 2000 year old salt mining activities in the area, thus they are using it to propel the public buses in the cities of Zigong and Yibin. Vehicles in Cuba 1 - 2 - 3 I especially like this picture. And he writes these are nicknamed "Two Camels": public buses in Havana. Thai Flying Club movie website - November 30, 2004 Online cartoon: Thailand Sets the Tone in ASEAN Meeting - The Irrawaddy, November 29, 2004 Beijing airport to be world's biggest - The Telegraph, November 29, 2004 A new airport being built by the Chinese government in time for the 2008 Beijing Olympics will be the world's biggest and be "truly awesome", according to its British architect, Lord Foster. In further evidence of the Chinese obsession with building bigger, faster and higher than any other country, the plans for Beijing Airport will outdo both the current biggest, Hong Kong's, and Heathrow, which is set to double in size when Terminal 5 is finished. It will also take less than three years to complete, Lord Foster said. That compares with Terminal 5, which was put before a public inquiry in 1995 and approved in 2001 but which is not expected to open until 2008...