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.]
A visit to the government fair
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