 |
Loading
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Follow @2Bangkok Like 2Bangkok.com on Facebook |
 |
 |
|
|
21 Years Ago: Scrapping the Bangkok Land Skytrain
From Komchadluek, May 2, 2013
Thaksin (as Hitler): Remember!! What we are doing now is called… Democracy.
[Refers to the pro-Thaksin insisting that reform of national constitution is aimed at increasing democracy while his opponents contend the amendments are aimed at a pardon or amnesty for Thaksin and eventual total power.]
Ten Years Ago: The gangs that control motorcycle taxis
From Manager, May 6, 2013
Thaksin’s son Paanthongthae Shinawatra: It’s you, Dad. You always complain that you’ve been floating for a long time. So now they kick us in to join you.
Caption: The whole family may soon reunite.
[From left: The big woman in red is Yaowapha Wongsawat, sister of Thaksin and wife of former premier Somchai Wongsawat (she is riding on shoulders): Front from left: Premier Yingluck Shinawatra, sister of Thaksin; Paanthongthae, son of Thaksin; Thaksin Shinawatra; and Khunying Pojjaman Na Pompet, former wife of Thaksin. This contends (or wishes) that the Shinawatra political clique, which has controlled three political parties and the subsequent government they formed are again facing political exile over legal roadblocks to constitutional amendments and amnesty that would allow Thaksin to return.]
Thai slowdown will give banks a bad hangover – Reuters, May 21, 2013
…It’s time the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, which for the last two years has stuffed money into people’s pockets by purchasing rice from farmers at inflated prices and offering generous subsidies to first-time car buyers, got serious about financial stability. To start with, that means easing up on the central bank.
Thailand urged to explore edible insect market to cope with global food demands – AP, May, 2013
…The United Nations’ Food and Agricultural Organization released a study and handbook Tuesday on what they call ‘six-legged livestock’ — edible bugs and worms that can help meet global food demand that is expected to grow 60 percent by 2050. The agency says they provide a rich source of protein, vitamins and minerals…
From Thairath, 2001
Cartoon title: Security zone… against mouthing
On backs of the press from left: News; newspaper
[This refers to the increasingly haughtily attitude Thaksin had to being questioned bythe press: Thaksin surprises reporters with X sign]
Seven Years Ago: A tale of two newspapers: Thaksin puts the heat on community radio
Thailand’s US$12b water management programme faces criticisms – channelnewsasia.com, May 21, 2013
…Critics said the plan could irrevocably change vast areas of Thai farmland.
Sasin Chalermlarp, secretary-general of the Seubnakasathien Foundation, said: “Water management is a massive undertaking, since we are talking about the alteration of the biodiversity in a vast area of the central plain (of Thailand), which has been transformed from natural fields to urban areas without any guidance.”
The Thai government said assessments are being done, along with the bidding and planning, rather than before the start of the projects, as is standard practice…
Amnesty bill to reignite tensions in Thailand – SMH, May 21, 2013
…‘‘Let the innocent people be exonerated. There is no problem if redshirt leaders and I are not included (in the bill),’’ he said in a Skype address to the crowd.
But in another Skype message to supporters a few days earlier Mr Thaksin, who is believed to be closely involved in government decision-making from his base in Dubai, made clear he wanted to come home.
‘‘I am still drifting in the sea. Do not let me drift too long. It is cold and I want to come home,’’ he said…
Cambodians gather at ‘Day of Anger’ ceremony to mourn victims of genocidal Khmer Rouge regime – WP, May 21, 2013
University students armed with mock guns and knives re-created the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge on Monday for the official annual ceremony honoring victims of the 1970s communist regime, blamed for the deaths of about 1.7 million of their countrymen.
At the Choeung Ek killing field, now a memorial filled with victims’ skulls and mass graves, arts students clad in black pretended to gun down innocents and beat women with rifle butts as more than 1,000 people watched, many of them in tears…
Musicians rebuild Cambodia’s lost ancient harp – abc.net.au, May 21, 2013
A Cambodian composer has revealed the sound of an ancient harp which has gone unheard for more than eight centuries…
From Thairath, May 9, 2013
On back of the hooded figure: Order to suppress the people; 100 dead bodies
In the hooded figure’s hands: Statement in response to the Premier’s speech of the anti-democracy group who supports a coup
In hands of globe: The Premier’s speech on the truth in Thailand presented in Mongolia
Cartoon title: Ha ha! It’s not the same as what I learned… Ha ha!
Phi Nooring: Thinking that he read a comic book.
Mouse: Can only fool the fools.
[This refers to the speech the PM gave on Mongolia extolling Red Shirts who “fought back for their freedom.”]
Lawyer suffers heart attack during trial involving Thaksin Shinawatra money in Dubai’s highest court – Gulf News, May 20, 2013
…Prosecutors charged K.K. of convincing the former Thai premiere to open an account in his name and transfer the money to avoid it being seized by European authorities due to the political tensions that Shinawatra faced in Thailand.
The former premiere did so after agreeing to be commissioned to run the account, but the defendant, according to prosecutors, deposited the money into his personal account…
Three Years Ago: When the Red Shirts Leaders Accepted the Offer of Dissolution and Announced an End to their Rally
Last Year: Thaksin: Let’s put unity before justice
From Thairath, March 5, 2013
Cartoon title: Pride and trap
Sign in hands of man standing in front of the tank: Sloppy Constitution Judges
On shirts of protesters: Kor.Wor.Por. [People Radio for Democracy Group]
A protester: Just give them a lesson, brothers.
On the ground: Court jurisdiction
Phi Nooring: Peaceful protest
Mouse: Don’t trust the armor.
[reference is to a sub-group of the Red Shirt movement who protested against the constitution court for two weeks demanding that all nine constitution judges resign]
From Thairath, May 1, 2013
Cartoon title: A proof of flowers and guns
From left, in Lt. Gen. Paradon Pattanathabutr’s hands: NSC, negotiating to put out fire in the South: understand, reach out, develop [NSC stands for National Security Council. Lt. Gen Paradon is the Council's secretary.]
In Pol. Col. Thavi Sodsong’s hands: SBPAC [SBPAC stands for the Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre. Pol.Col. Thavi is the center'a secretary.]
In the hands of insurgents: Restore peace and happiness to the three Southern provinces
On shirt of insurgent at right: Terrorizing
Phi Nooring: Stop hurting each other.
Mouse: Restore the Southern way of living.
From Thairath, April 26, 2013
Left: Prepare teargas to end a mob. This time it will be a heavy crackdown.
Middle: Isn’t it for the Red Shirt protest impeding the Constitution Court?
Right: No, but the intelligence agency said that Seh Ai will set up a mob again.
[Refers to the protest of the Red Shirts to pressure the Constitution Court. The Police are ridiculed as being the same side as the Red Shirts. Seh Ai is alias name of Gen. Boonlert Kaewprasit, a leader of Pitak Siam Group. He called for an anti-government protest in November 2012 that was met with a heavy police response and the use of teargas to break up the protest.]
(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)
Above: End of the rally – 14:22, May 19, 2010 – Multiple fires started as the government spokesman announces an end to the rally. (These were tire fires in the street that started simultaneously after the government announcement.)
(Source: TPBS screen grab)
Above: TPBS is showing a montage of riot images set to John Lennon’s Imagine. There were similar videos show on Thai TV after the 1992 Black May incident.
News from that day: Red Protests – May 19, 2010
Two days before it was clear the final countdown had begun: 2Bangkok Situation Update: Divining the plan – May 17, 2011
Slain Italian Photographer’s Last Photos Unveiled – KhaoSod, May 19, 2013
…As Fabio′s camera was stolen in the confusion after he was shot on 19 May 2010, these were strictly the last photos taken by the photographer. The ′last picture′ retrieved, taken on 18 May, shows a group of Redshirts cowering behind barricades made of car tires…
From Manager, May 9, 2013
The ICT Minister: Let it be damned… This is my chance. I have have to lick her up.
Caption: Some pet animal… and its loyalty beyond its own life
[The man is ICT Minister L.Cdr. Anudit Nakhonthap. The reference is to his claim the government could censor defamatory criticism of the prime minister online. Here he is portrayed as a monitor lizard which is considered insulting.]
Eight Years Ago: Thaksin’s World – Coming full circle from Black May
Nothing is as damning as our political system’s pathetic response to the Suvarnabhumi Airport bribery scandal. The government is blaming the media for “ruining” the country’s reputation…
11 Years Ago: Politics in the Age of Thaksin
Chiang Mai reds’ strange concept of democracy – Bangkok Post, May 17, 2013
…Rak Chiang Mai 51 means business for anyone who dares to challenge them. Not even the police want to have trouble with them. The following are some examples of the group’s infamous track record, which may have slipped the memory of most people in Bangkok and elsewhere – but not in Chiang Mai.
In 2008, the group raided a community radio station of the People’s Alliance for Democracy and clashed with PAD supporters. The father of the owner of the station was beaten to death.
On Jan 23, 2009, the red-shirts raided a monastery of the Santi Asoke sect in Chiang Mai on the thinly-veiled pretext of searching for illegal material. Simultaneously, in nearby Lampang, a few hundred red-shirts entered the Regent Resort hotel to look for Chaiwat Sinsuwong, a PAD leader, who was reported to be chairing a seminar there.
In February 2009, the group used force and intimidation to break up the Gay Pride parade to highlight the HIV/Aids problem in the northern capital on the ridiculous grounds that the parade would ruin the tourism industry there.
In July 2009, the group laid siege to Wiang Ping hospital, where then public health minister Wittaya Kaewparadai was visiting it. The minister had to flee through the back door…
Thai raid on fishing operation frees dozens of enslaved migrants – dvb.no, May 16, 2013
…“They were sold to the fishing boats by their ‘job broker’ and forced to repay the money [paid to the trafficker] with their labour – they were not allowed to leave the boats…”
Seven Years Ago: “The Da Vinci Code” can be shown uncut
From Manager, May 2, 2013
Caption: Cool way to survive from being drowned for someone [Thaksin].
[This cartoon shows former PM Thaksin Shinawatra using the Red Shirts to serve his own benefit. In Thai, to call someone a buffalo is a strong insult meaning they are very stupid.]
