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2BANGKOK.COM'S
NEWS AND VIEWS
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER
2003
APEC 2003 news has been moved here.
The
hate Tata club - The Nation, October
11, 2003
Interesting article about why Thais hate Tata Young...
Yet the depressing part about the Tata controversy is that
she finally broke down and apologised for announcing her relationship
with Paradorn... Tata said "this man is mine" and she
got chopped to pieces, by a society that cheers when a soap heroine
is raped by the hero to underline his "love" for her.
Fireballs in the foreign press
- October 11, 2003
Thanks to Rapee for finding these fireball articles in the foreign
press: Aljazeera
network & Australian
ABC news
The
news from 30 years ago - The Nation,
October 11, 2003
A reminder to keep following The Nation's daily review
of news from 30 years ago: Thousands of students from other
education institutions were daring and simply quit classes to
join the protesters. The colleges included Prasarnmitr College
of Education, Baan Somdej Teachers Training College, Thon Buri
Teachers Training College, Phra Chom Klao College of Technology
and Ramkhamhaeng University....
A Daily News columnist pen-named Nui Bangkokthian suggested that
Thais might conclude after the regime had taken this action that:
"Students are still young and it's better that they not meddle
in politics. They should let adults handle it while they concentrate
on their studies so they will have secure jobs afterward. And
that should be it."
October's
'forgotten' victims remembered - The
Nation, October 6, 2003
Today (October 6, 2003) marks the 27th anniversary of
the October 6, 1976 massacre of 46 students and the arrest of
more than 3,000 others at Thammasat University, an event that
has not been properly recognised and whose lessons have not been
fully learned, according to many who were involved in it, as well
as students of the history of the era...
With many participants unwilling to talk or write fully and openly
for fear of repercussions, two contradictory versions of the incident
persist.
The pro-democracy movement remembers October 6 as a tragic day
when unarmed students protesting at the return of former dictator
Thanom Kittikachorn, who had been ousted three|years earlier,
were brutally massacred by right-wing mobs armed with war weapons
including grenades, machine-guns and handheld anti-tank rockets
as a pretext|for the military to stage a coup d'etat to overthrow|the
government of MR Seni Pramoj.
The version propagated by the right-wing government that took
power had it that the students had been armed communists, including
some Vietnamese infiltrators, whose aim had been to overthrow
the monarchy. This allegedly prompted angry mobs - not police
- to kill students.
"It is regrettable that despite the efforts of police to
save them, four students were lynched. Some police brutality has
been alleged, but in reality most of the police. . . restrained
themselves," reads the official "Facts of the Incident
on 6 October, 1976", published in English by the National
Administrative Reform Council in October 1976, immediately after
the incident.
Shinawatra
grooming himself for south-east Asia leadership: observers
- Correspondents Report, October 5, 2003
PETER LLOYD: ...Unflattering comparisons have been made to
Italy’s Silvio Berlusconi and his controlling ways and Dr
Mahathir authoritarian style, but Mr Thaksin insists he’s
neither.
THAKSIN SHINAWATRA: I have the Parliament, the check and balance
system, don’t worry I can be dictator, I cannot. The system
cannot allow, even if you want to, you cannot. (laughter from
audience) But this does not mean that I want to. (laughter from
audience)
PETER LLOYD: However, there is one aspect of the Mahathir way
that Thaksin espouses, the placing of economic development ahead
of freewheeling political liberties.
THAKSIN SHINAWATRA: I'm aggressive, that's my style. We don't
have economy of scale, so we need economy of speed.
Twilight
of the Dictator - The Nation, October
3, 2003
Today, younger members of the Kittikachorn family strive for
what they say is justice for their grandfather. They have grown
up learning a different version of the October 14 history in which
their grandfather was innocent and did not order the shooting
and violent crackdown on demonstrators.
The family's version is that Thanom, then prime minister and supreme
commander of the armed forces, didn't order the suppression but
gave orders "not to suppress" the protesters on that
day...
"The field marshal isn't the kind of person who can easily
destroy other people's life. He is a religious man," adds
Suvit. "My father's government was not that of a dictator,"
Songsuda continues. "Apart from the fact that he was from
the military and was not elected, he did not rule like a dictator.
And at home, he never acts like a dictator. He never forces us
to do anything."
CIA,
Thai agencies unite against terrorism -
Financial Review, October 3, 2003
The Thai government, which has often asserted that Thailand
is free of terrorists, has never publicly acknowledged the existence
of the CTIC...
Senior Thai security officials said the impetus to establish the
CTIC came in early 2001, after they received reports from their
US counterparts that suspected terrorists with links to al-Qaeda
were using Thailand as a transit and meeting place...
Maintaining Thailand's neutral image was part of a deliberate
effort to lure terrorism plotters to Thai soil, said regional
security officials familiar with the situation.
If Thailand could preserve the perception among suspected terrorists
that the country was a safe place to meet and relax, then the
CTIC and CIA could monitor their movements without raising suspicion.
October 6 website -
October 3, 2003
In case you missed it, Bangkok Post pointed out this website--www.2519.net--in
an article yesterday ('New website gives gruesome details of October
6 bloodbath,' Bangkok Post, October 2, 2003).
A
conflict of interest? Well, ‘mai pen rai’! -
The Nation, October 2, 2003
If you were wondering why fighting corruption in Thailand has
been such an uphill task, wonder no more. A good number of Thais
don't even consider "conflict of interest" as a serious
offence in this country. A little-known seminar held recently
by the Civil Service Commission produced a highly significant
research paper, which concluded that there was a very low level
of interest among Thais on this issue "because it is seen
as a Western value".
Silom
elephant art - September 30, 2003
Still no security for
user info at the Bangkok Post website -
October 4, 2003
What do these people have in common?
Alexander Manson, Anotai Adulbhan, Jim Bevan-Jones, Anyarad Asawarungchai,
Sukontip Hongthong, Krisda Phatcharoen, Sumontha Hongthong, Chuchart
Wattasirichai, David Greer, Hideo Arai, Tim Swift, Komsan Jandamit,
Peder Jorgensen, Gerhard Kocmann, Kevin Tung, Haruka Makara, Maricar
Rano, Mely Anthony, Mukhom Wongthes, Naranart Phuangkanok, Nimit
Wongjariyakul, Pramote Phasayadet, Steve Vincent, Duan Somsak,
Surapon Vatanavigkit, Piyalak Pitayapibulphong, and Wiramon Masukh
They all signed up at the new Bangkok Post archive search
and the Post has left all their personal details exposed
on the web (addresses and email addresses).
We first reported on this lack of basic security last week (Bangkok
Post moving to pay-per-article - September 27, 2003).
Asia
looks to Hong Kong for railway inspiration
- Lateline News, September 27, 2003
Hong Kong's Mass Transit Railway Corp (MTR) funds new line
extensions and stations by buying 50-year leases on land around
its network from the government and tenders it at a profit to
developers to build shopping centres, offices and flats. Property
investors, including Hong Kong's Sun Hung Kai Properties, the
Singapore Government Investment Corp and Bank of China, either
pay the MTR up front, share profits or share ownership of buildings.
Bangkok Post moving
to pay-per-article - September 27, 2003
We were the first to report last month that Post Books was ceasing
operation at the end of October. We have now learned that Bangkok
Post is porting its online database of past articles into
a pay-per-view system.
The front end of this system is already visible on their new
search page, but past articles are still free at this point.
This new system requires online signup. As usual, do not trust
your personal data to websites in Thailand. Despite their prominent
privacy notice, the Post left names, addresses, phone numbers,
and email addresses of those who signed up clearly visible on
the internet. For instance, the first three people to sign up
were: Hing Wan/David Kwok and Kansak
Wattasirichai from Bangkok, and Naranart
Phuangkanok from Tokyo (we have held
back their other personal details).
UPDATE: The new search page has already been removed and
replaced with the old one.
The Nation advises
foreigners to obtain visas illegally
- September 27, 2003
We had promised ourselves not to link to thaivisa.com again (since
they copied our site), but today they do have a good
comment on an article from The Nation that advised
foreigners to use an illegal method to obtain visas. From
The Nation article: Courier it and your passport,
along with a bank-issued cheque, have a beer, and in a week or
so, back comes your passport and a shiny new one-year, multiple-entry
visa . . . hooray!
(Photo: 2Bangkok.com) |
No Ploenchit
Fair this year - September 26,
2003
Don Entz reports: Ploenchit Fair's been canceled this
year! It is not only terrorist worries, but also the lady
who has regularly been its organizer is not here this year
and the Thai government charged totally outrageous fees
for electricity and other items at their new location these
past couple of years...It has been an annual event since
when? The 1950's, I think.
Update: The British Chamber of Commerce says
it has not been canceled, but they are not having it this
year and it will be postponed until next November. (!)
Skytrain moth
- September 27, 2003
A yellow moth takes refuge on the Skytrain platform during
a rainstorm last night.
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River
gives terrorist access to Thailand
- AP, September 25, 2003
Despite PM Thaksin's hopes that the press would quiet down
over terror threats in Thailand, this story is being carries
in dozens of major papers around the world today: The
porous border along the Golok River shows why Thailand is
a terrorist hideout, where fake documents and passports
are big business and people don't question strangers.
Robot legs -
September 24, 2003
A young inventor (right) makes an adjustment to a set of
robot legs at Thailand Science-Tech 2003 which opens today
at Impact Convention Centre at Muang Thong Thani and runs
until October 5. The glowing Taiwanese "Frankenfish"
are supposed to be featured, but we did not spot them.
Work
permit rules to change again - Phuket Gazette,
September 23, 2003
However, Phuket Gazette sometimes gets these stories
wrong... |
(Photo: 2Bangkok.com) |
(Photo: 2Bangkok.com) |
Zuellig building
- September 23, 2003
The Zuellig building on Silom is being refurbished. The
unusual permanent shutters on all the windows are being
removed.
Notice the tiny Thai letters (below) spelling out "Zuellig"
just to the left of the "Z." To avoid high taxes,
English signs must have the Thai equivalent written somewhere,
but this is the smallest one we have seen. More about these
rules for signs is on this
page. |
(Photo: 2Bangkok.com) |
Today
30 years ago - The Nation, September 21, 2003
News from 30 years ago: The Nation newspaper's front-page on
September 21 reports widespread rumours circulating among Thai
men in the north that young foreign women dressed in hippie attire
are offering their own brand of love in and around Chiang Mai
- and it certainly isn't free love... The paper went on to quote
the "love rate" as ranging between a hefty Bt200 and
Bt500, depending on the length of the "love" before
adding that the response among Chiang Mai men is "enthusiastic".
If you broke the law back in 1973, you risked having the prime
minister on your case - personally judging and sentencing you,
as four military conscription officers discovered to their cost.
Page four of The Nation reports that Prime Minister Field Marshal
Thanom Kittikachorn exercised his "absolute power" under
Article 17 of the Revolutionary Decree.
The decree allowed the prime minister to summarily convict and
sentence any citizen. Thanom handed down jail terms to four officers
in Ayutthaya.
Bangkok
police thwart plot on El Al - report
- Jerusalem Post, September 24, 2003
Thailand's police thwarted an al-Qaida plot to attack Israeli
passengers inside Bangkok International Airport and also down
an El Al passenger plane taking off or landing from the same airport,
Channel 2 news reported Tuesday evening... According to the TV
report, the attack was meant to take place in the very near future,
and the man arrested is more than likely an al-Qaida operative.
Also Al-Qaeda
'plotted El Al attack' - NEWS.com.au, September 24,
2003
Reviewing
Car Free Day - The Nation, September 24, 2003
The upshot of Car Free Day is that air quality improved a little,
although the number of cars on Bangkok's four main roads was about
the same as any other day, organisers said yesterday. However,
the number of people using the Skytrain rocketed by almost 70,000.
Also: Motorists
shun car-free days as traffic volumes stay constant - Bangkok
Post, September 24, 2003
Reforms
would end out-of-court deals
- Bangkok Post, September 24, 2003
Violators of copyright laws will no longer be able to negotiate
out-of-court settlements if a draft amendment to the 1994 Copyright
Act goes through...
Copyright owners have been accused of having a preference for
reaching out-of-court settlements in order to obtain quick compensation
from violators.
" It seems like some copyright owners have exploited police
officers," Pol Gen Sant Sarutanont, the national police chief,
said recently.
The article forgets to mention the reason most IP cases in Thailand
are settled out of court is that the court gets to take 50% of
settlements!
Earthquake
cracks walls of Bangkok high-rise - The
Nation, September 23, 2003
"They are all soft cracks and won't affect the building's
structural integrity," city and building inspectors said
after their quick examination of the premises yesterday morning.
(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)
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Thai mailboxes
- September 22, 2003
Small models of Thai mailboxes over the years. Left to
right: mailboxes from 1883, 1911, 1926, 1953, and 1973.
Thailand
jails 15 Britons sold bogus visas
- Telegraph, September 20, 2003
...They were arrested as they tried to leave the
country when immigration authorities noticed counterfeit
stamps in their passports. Each had to raise £4,600
bail, their passports have been confiscated and they
cannot leave Thailand until their cases come to court...
Relatives of the tourists say they are innocent victims
of fraud, who paid £26 each for visa extensions
at outlets they believed were legitimate.
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Who owns what
- September 20, 2003
Brooker Group has published the 5th edition of The Thai Business
Groups. It is 60,000 baht, but they do list the 150
top Thai families/business groups online. There is one free
sample online of the Sophanpanich
family. Brooker's list
of the top 150 Thai families/business groups they cover in their
book.
A tale
of two newspapers: Ratchadamnoen plans
- September 20, 2003
For once, the Bangkok Post trumps The Nation with
a critical story. The Nation quotes "city planners"
as saying "Community leaders have accepted a plan to transform
Rajdamnoen Avenue into a commercial and cultural street"
while the Post gets a different story from the leaders
themselves. Notice that the street name is spelled differently
in both papers: Rajdamnoen and Ratchadamnoen.
BTW: We have been asked
why we do not have more "Tale of two newspapers"
stories comparing English and Thai language papers like
we used to. The reason is that the English-language papers
are just not covering controversial business news anymore.
For instance, the Skytrain in bankruptcy court and political
vendettas behind Skytrain extension approvals are just not
being mentioned at all in the English-language press.
Rajdamnoen
to get Bt9-bn facelift - The Nation, September
20, 2003
Planners also want to reduce traffic flows in the area
to expand the footpath and create two rows of trees. The
area will be accessible by the new subway system. City planners
are hoping to transform Rajdamnoen Avenue into a world-class
walking street like the Champs Elysees in Paris. |
Ratchadamnoen
plan raises concern - Bangkok
Post, September 20, 2003
Prasert Lerdthanapong, chairman of Praeng Puthorn community,
one of 21 communities affected by the plan, said the 13-billion-baht
project caused residents to feel insecure about housing...
"The National Economic and Social Development Board
(NESDB) and consultants keep telling us that the project
would create job opportunities and local people are welcome
to set up their businesses along the avenue once the work
is finished.
"But in reality we have to see how many local people
could afford the new rents which could go up to 10,000 baht
a month compared to the present monthly rate of 400-800
baht,'' Mr Prasert said.
...Terdkiat Sakdicumduang, an adviser for the Thai City
Planners Society who conducted the study, said an underground
walkway under the Democracy Monument was also planned. |
Hambali's
inside info - New York Times,
September 20, 2003
The Nation today is quoting a New York Times story
on Hambali's terrorism plans for Bangkok. Here's a link to the
actual New
York Times article: Based on what was learned from
Mr. Isamuddin's interrogation, a couple of airlines flying into
Bangkok's airport last month altered their flight schedules
at the last minute, one senior official said.
Photos from the top of the Italthai Tower
- September 21, 2003
Nils Rennenberg sent in some photos taken from the top of Italthai
Tower on New Phetburi Road (approximately 160 m above ground).
Above is a view toward the east with the end of the RCA area,
Hopewell pillars, and New Petchburi Road. Below is the gigantic
subway depot at Huaykwang.
Below: Nils also sent in this ground-level
photo of abandoned
Hopewell pillars over Klongtan Station.
Lightning from last night
- September 16, 2003
Last night from 10:45-11:15pm, a big thunderstorm swept
through Bangkok. Here's a big strike from about 11pm.
Frankenfish
coming to town - Bangkok
Post, September 17, 2003
Twenty of the fluorescent fish, a thumb-sized, green
and red species with black stripes on its body, are due
in Thailand on Sept 23, one day before the opening of the
12-day Science and Technology exhibition at the Impact Convention
Centre. The fish was developed by Singapore researchers
who inserted genes for green and red fluorescent proteins--derived
from jellyfish--into zebra fish, which are normally black
and white. |
(Photo: 2Bangkok.com) |
All
the details on this year's Car Free Day
- September 16, 2003
Thanks to Khun Orapan for passing this info to us: According
to the World Car Free Day on September 22, 2003 the Pollution
Control Department in conjunction with government and private
agencies will organise an activity to enhance energy saving
and reduce air pollution. The main purpose of a Car Free Day
is to persuade people to use more public transport e.g. bus,
SkyTrain, train or car pool instead of driving.
The Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Company Limited (BTSC),
The State Railway of Thailand and Bangkok Mass Transit Authority
are participating in this significant day by offering special
bonuses.
The SkyTrain will give an exclusive discount on all trips at
fixed fares of 10 baht through Silom and Sukhumvit Lines on
September 21-22, 2003, and they will adjust the time table of
trains in peak hours both in the morning and evening. For more
information please call BTS Hotline at Tel. 2617 – 7141-2.
The State Railway of Thailand will add more commuter trains,which
carry passengers to the city centre between 06.00-09.00 a.m.
and 16.00-19.00 hrs., on Northern and Eastern routes on September
21-22, 2003. For more information please call Tel. 1690.
Bangkok Mass Transit Authority will increase bus frequency between
06.00-09.00 a.m. and 16.00 – 19.00 hrs. On September 21-22,
2003. In addition there will be a 10, 15 and 20% discount on
daily, weekly and monthly tickets respectively. Please call
Tel. 184 for more information.
To highlight this major event there will be a two-day celebration
and exhibition held on September 20-21, 2003 at Maboonkrong
Centre , ground floor featuring City Night Bike Tours by Bangkok
Bicycles Friendship Association. Also scheduled are a variety
of entertainment such as a concert from Kasetsart University,
a fashion show, games etc.
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Prapat Panyachartrak
will preside over the opening Car Free Day Activity at Maboonkrong
on Saturday September 20, 2003 at 5.00 p.m. A press conference
to report the results of energy savings, mass transit usage,
Bangkok traffic and air pollution will be held on the following
day (September 23rd ) at the Pollution Control Department.
Urbana
Langsuan - The Nation, September
15, 2003
Nexus Property, which is the consultant for developer Siamphan
Enterprise, aims to make the spectacular high-rise architecture
at Urbana Langsuan – with its wave-like walls – quite
a sight to behold.
Anti-drug poster
- September 13, 2003
This poster (right) has appeared in many buildings around
town. It says "Do not think about, sell or be involved
in drugs. Everyone should realize this is what the nation
wants."
A
scramble in Bangkok for a $10 million reward
- New York Times, September 13, 2003
The capture of a senior figure in al-Qaeda near Bangkok
last month has set off a mad and, some say, unseemly
scramble. Thai police, military and intelligence units
have all approached the US embassy with their hands
out, asking for a share of the reward for the capture
of Hambali...
Washington's generosity is causing headaches for the
CIA. There are intense rivalries and jealousies between
the Thai police, military and intelligence units. Often
they refuse to share intelligence information, and one
unit would not take kindly to another getting more of
the reward money, one Western diplomat said...
But one Western official was somewhat amused at the
notion that reward money should be paid to any Thai
government agency involved in Hambali's capture. The
operation was carried out essentially by the CIA, the
official said, echoing what US and Australian officials
have said previously. To avoid jeopardizing the arrest
mission, the Thai police were not even made aware of
it until the last minute, American officials said.
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(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)
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Delhi-Hanoi
rail route? - September 13, 2003
India is considering a project to build a rail route connecting
New Delhi with the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi, Indian Prime
Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee said at a three-day ASEAN-India
business conference closed on September 6.
|
Stories about Jantharubeksa Golf Course
Airport golf course security
- December 23, 2003
A reader reports: ...a friend and I played golf on
the airport course this morning. At the outer gate a military
guard wearing an M-16 waved us through without so much
as an ID check. The sign at the golf course says "No
Weapons."
Bangkok airport arms itself for APEC -
channelnewsasia.com, October 5, 2003
We promised no more unsafe airport stories, but this one
does have a good enumeration of the issues that have been
raised: He said the frontline security system at Don
Muang is poor, with passengers allowed to breeze through
immigration and into a cavernous duty-free hall without
going through a metal detector. Easy vehicular access
right up to the front doors of passenger terminals was
also a concern.
Other risks at the airport, one of Asia's busiest, include
an antiquated baggage security system that sends screened
baggage back into the temporary possession of passengers
before they check in...
"We feel that the golf course is a huge security
risk for this airport. We have been asking for a number
of years that it be closed," said a spokesman for
the Board of Airline Representatives, which counts 65
carriers as members in Bangkok. "It is a shame the
people of Thailand can not recognize the danger of having
a golf course between the two runways of a major international
airport."
Thailand has debated closing the course for years, and
has shut it down during October due to APEC, but Pricha
said Thai Airways has been told the air force will reopen
the course after the summit.
No more dangerous airport stories?
- October 1, 2003
Thanks to all those who are pointing out the "dangerous
Bangkok airport" stories in the press. However, we
are really interested in being the first to broach stories
not appearing in the local press. On June 4 we were the
first to point out international concerns
about the airport and the airport golf course in particular.
Now that these things appear in all the papers daily,
there is probably no need to keep repeating them here...
No
golfing at airport during Apec meet - The Nation,
September 24, 2003
The Air Force's Kantarat Golf Course at Bangkok International
Airport will be out of bounds to players, even to officer
members, for all of next month.
"This shutdown does not mean that we admit that the
golf course poses a security risk to the airport,"
Air Vice Marshall Sumet Phomanee said yesterday, adding
that the move was also not a response to any specific
threat...
The 47-year-old private golf course is reserved exclusively
for members and their guests. It is separated from the
runways by a five-meter-wide ditch and protected by 24-hour
checks.
We received many reports in the past that anyone can
golf there for a 400 baht fee.
PM slams report on airport security
- The Nation, September 12, 2003
Finally, local papers mention security concerns caused
by the airport golf course. 2B first mentioned this on
June 4, 2003 (Closing the "dangerous"
Don Muang airport golf course):
Thaksin said the analyst had no solid knowledge of
the airport and had dreamed up his assessment from his
imagination...
Despite the PM's remarks, senior Thai security officials
told The Nation that they agreed with Skilbeck's assessment
of security arrangements at the airport.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, they said the golf
course near the runway and the parking lots underneath
the international terminals were easily accessible and
included few security checkpoints.
Golf carts were forced to give way to incoming planes,
they said, and golfers had to virtually cross the taxiway
to complete their round of golf.
Experts
warn of missile risk at Bangkok airport
- The Nation, September 5, 2003
2Bangkok.com first reported this on June 4, 2003 (Closing
the "dangerous" Don Muang airport golf course).
And today The Nation has an
article that interestingly enough does not point out
why the airport is considered a risk--the military's golf
course that snakes around the runways.
The Nation: Terrorism experts in Australia and
the United States claim Bangkok has a "high-risk"
airport and that there is a credible threat to passenger
aircraft from surface-to-air missiles.... "Particularly
because of the amount of arms that are trafficked through
Thailand, I would say Bangkok is probably the airport
I would have greatest concern about in Southeast Asia,"
Dr Williams was quoted saying.
Playing the Don Muang
airport golf course - June 4,
2004
We received several emails about the Don Muang golf course.
This account is typical: I've played the airport course.
Three fellow farangs and I took a cab, drove in, unloaded
our big golf bags, paid our Bt400 each, and got down to
business. No bag search, no military ID, no gate even
that I recall (it was at least a year ago). The only security
was a wooden sign bearing the words "No Photography."
We took a picture of it. We also smacked a couple balls
down the tarmac just to see how far they would roll. I
remember my friend watching an approaching 747 and saying
"That would be the daily Swiss Air from Geneva."
I pulled my 5-iron out and mock-aimed it at the landing
plane. This was the summer before September 11. Yeah,
you could say the security was "not good."
Closing the "dangerous" Don
Muang airport golf course - June
4, 2003
At a U.S. State Department briefing for expats in Bangkok
in February 2003, the subject of Don Muang Airport's "dangerous
golf course" was discussed. The golf course that
snakes around the runways is thought to be one of the
worst security risks in Asian airports since it offers
an opportunity for terrorists to possibly hit planes head
on with rocket propelled grenades.
(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)
Above: Golfers on the airport
golf course |
Although the golf course is supposedly
for the military, US officials said the security at
the course was "not good." Other sources
have indicated that the golf course may finally be
closed after the annual military reshuffle in October.
It is believed that PM Thaksin's cousin, Gen Chaisith
Shinawatra will be appointed army commander, when
current commander General Somdhat Attanand will likely
be elevated to supreme commander replacing General
Surayud Chulanont. |
|
Thaksin
pushes for Asean visa - Bru Direct, September
13, 2003
The multi-country Southeast Asian visa has been brought up again:
Many member countries in the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (Asean) have expressed interest in Prime Minister Thaksin
Shinawatra's idea of banding together to issue joint visas,
a Foreign Ministry spokesman revealed Thursday... However, it
would be less wide-ranging than the (EU)European Union's Schengen
visa, as while travellers would not have to request separate
visas, they would still be required to go through immigration
controls as they moved between the participating countries.
Bangkok
pollution skyrockets - Reuters,
September 11, 2003
Pollution in Bangkok has soared to twice the safety level
as Thailand's robust economic growth spurred rapid car sales
over the past two years, Thai officials said on Thursday...
"Bangkok traffic has become much more congested while the
level of air pollution is skyrocketing beyond the safety limit,"
Supat Wangwongwatana of the Department of Pollution Control
told reporters. He gave no comparative figures. Supat said the
latest survey, done last year, showed the particle level on
Sukhumvit Road -- the city's busiest thoroughfare -- was 250
microgrammes per cubic metre, more than double the 120 microgrammes
considered harmful to people.
'Open
Skies' agreement between U.S. and Thailand
- September 11, 2003
UPS today extended its congratulations to the governments
of the United States and Thailand for successfully negotiating
an agreement that extends "open skies" authority to
American and Thai air express and cargo carriers. The agreement
eliminates restrictions on how often carriers can fly, the kind
of aircraft they can use and the prices they can charge for
their services.
Plenty of local news
Reshuffling
the police - Bangkok Post,
September 10, 2003
The police reshuffle taking effect next month proves beyond
a doubt who rules the roost at the Royal Thai Police Office.
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is the de facto police chief;
Pol Gen Sant Sarutanont, the nominal head, had very few of his
favourites placed in key postings.
'Young Turk' kills himself - in the Nation
and the Bangkok
Post, September 11, 2003 Col Prachak Sawangchit,
a veteran coup plotter, political daredevil and decorated Army
officer, died yesterday of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to
the head. He was 66.
Redevelopment
plan for Thai embassy - Bangkok Post, September
11, 2003
Anyone who has ever been to the Thai Embassy in Singapore is
usually surprised to find it in one of the prime locations on
Orchard Road. For years people have wondered why there was not
an attempt to redevelop the site. Last week, the Thai Prime
Minister, an astute businessman, took one look at the site and
revived the idea of developing the area: Foreign Minister
Surakiart Sathirathai said the embassy--rambling old colonial
housing and an office building in a large compound--was an eyesore.
But it was in a prime area on Orchard road, a main shopping
centre. Former Thai envoy to Singapore, Asada Jayanama, who
was posted there from 1989-90, ordered a feasibility study into
putting up a 24-floor building... Proposals include a shopping
centre to promote goods made by small and medium sized enterprises,
including the one tambon-one product scheme, and tourism, or
swapping it for another area.
The Moon
and Mars - September 9, 2003
Mars is still shining brightly... Last night at 8:20pm,
the Moon and Mars appeared side by side in an otherwise
starless sky.
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(Photo: 2Bangkok.com) |
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Newspaper inserts
- September 8, 2003
Inserts or promotional supplements are a common staple of
local newspapers. Typically they are filled with congratulation
notices paid for by companies that are connected with the
subject in some way. These glossy inserts are also produced
to celebrate the birthdays of the King and Queen.
Here is an interesting insert celebrating the national day
of Libya that was delivered with the Bangkok Post
on September 1, 2003. The bottom left page has photos from
the "Man-made
river project--a massive irrigation scheme that some
Western governments have claimed could also be used to move
troops undetected or store arms.
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Argentina's Antarctica
- September 8, 2003
Nothing to do with Thailand, but interesting... Musing about promotional
inserts (above) reminded us of an interesting national day insert
for Argentina in the mid-1990s that showed a map of Argentina which
included a large chunk of Antarctica as part of its territory.
Thanks to Carleton Cole for finding the following interesting
info about both Argentina and Chile's attempts to claim ownership
of some of Antarctica: Both Chile and Argentina have gone to
great lengths to make their claims in Antarctica part of their national
territory. While there has been no recognition of these claims by
any other sovereign state, both countries have great nationalistic
pride in these claims. In August of 1973, an Argentine cabinet meeting
was held in the area claimed by Argentina. Chile's president Pinochet
spent a week in Antarctica in 1977 which caused Argentina to devise
the boldest plans for claiming sovereignty. In the fall of 1978,
a pregnant Argentine woman was send to live in Antarctica and in
Jan. 1979, Emile Marco Palma was the first child born in Antarctica.
Following the pattern in colonialism as seen in North America, Emile
takes his place in history along side Virginia Dare. The Argentines
followed with a wedding in Feb. 1979. Both countries have maintained
colonies of civilian dependents living year round at their bases
and tourism from bases both in Chile and Argentina has grown significantly
in the last decades.
Centuries-old
stone set in controversy - The Nation,
September 8, 2003
Good run-down of theories on the stone: "I am certain that
if the King Rama IV was alive he would love to see such a debate.
He would not want future generations of his people trapped in old
historical theories," he said.
'Hugging
ground?' - Bangkok Post, September
8, 2003
Today, young Akha sought other ways to relax such as television
and karaoke, he said. But ``Laan Sao Kawd'' appears in research,
songs, websites and printed information relating to Akha people...
Speaking through an interpreter, Mr Por-je said women-hugging grounds
had never existed in Akha culture. "We have a recreational
ground called ``Dae Kong'' (a travelling place for the community,
in Akha language) where villagers, in full traditional dress, gathered
at night to perform traditional song and dance.
Motorists
warned: Stay with cars at breakdown, garages -
Bangkok Post, September 8, 2003
Pol Col Thitirat Nonghanpitak, deputy commander of the Highway
Police, said his unit received many complaints from car owners victimised
on highways, especially on the Phahon Yothin highway between Rangsit
and Saraburi and on the Rama II highway from Dao Khanong to Pak
Tho in Ratchaburi.
Linux
just a cover for piracy? - Asia Computer Weekly,
September 8, 2003
A report it released on Aug 18 said that much of Linux’s
success in Thailand is due to its use as a cover for software piracy.
"Gartner believes that most of the Linux shipments will eventually
have illegal copies of Windows installed—a fact that makes
Linux’s seeming dominance of this market somewhat misleading,"
the report stated.
Principal analyst Martin Gilliland, one of the report’s authors,
went so far to say that more than 90% of the country’s ICT
PC computers that ship with pre-installed Linux is likely to have
pirate copies of Windows within 30 days of delivery.
More plagiarism
- September 7, 2003
Pandas
on the way - MCOT, September 6, 2003
Xuang Xuang, a four year-old male, and Li Huay, a female and
a relative baby at only two years of age, are due to take up their
new home in a special enclosure at Chiang Mai Zoo on 13 October
although the exact date of travel has yet to be finalised.
Plant
more trees in city, urges academic - Bangkok
Post, August 23, 2003
Thanks to Nils Rennenberg for pointing this out: Bangkok was
lagging behind other cities in the region in term of public green
areas. The Thai capital had only 1.46 square metres per head, while
Singapore had 10.90 sq m and Kuala Lumpur 2.96 sq m.... However,
he said, public parks in Bangkok were full of decorative plants
which were 10 times more expensive than big trees but not as effective
in term of carbon dioxide reduction.
Dangers
of local hosting - September 6, 2003
Wise
Thai investors learn just to follow their leader
- Financial Times, September 5, 2003
Thai stockbrokers have even identified a "Thaksin premium"
to describe the fact that companies connected with the country's
powerful prime minister tend to trade on higher multiples than their
peers - as much as 10 per cent in price/ earnings terms... "You
can't judge Thaksin by ordinary standards. Like Malaysia's Mahathir
Mohamad, he will do whatever he thinks is required to get to where
he wants to go," argues Andy Yates who follows Thailand for
Hong Kong-based fund manager ADM Capital. "The trick is to
go with the flow. His cabinet is stuffed with people who made money
on the stock market and know how it works." Conversely, long
established pillars of the Thai business community are losing power.
The influence of the surviving commercial banks has waned since
the 1997 currency crash, amidst a feeling that the premier feels
little empathy for mere loan providers compared with "real"
businesses.
The
Sukhothai stone - The Nation, September
6, 2003
This is a long-standing controversy lightly touched upon in the
local press: whether the famous King Ramkhamhaeng tablet is genuine:
Cabinet secretary-general Bowornsak Uwanno said historians should
not try to discredit the inscription stone as it was a symbol of
Thai nationhood. "Some academic topics should not be debated
just for the argument sake. The inscription stone is almost a revered
object for Thais," he said.
Fascinating
stats on car usage - September 4, 2003
The ministry said over 1.224 billion commuters had travelled
on Bangkok's mass-transport system in 1997 but that number had fallen
to 938 million in 2001.
Over the same period, bus commuters fell from 12.6 million to 10.8
million and train commuters from 64.9 million in 1997 to 56.7 million
in 2001.
In contrast, the number of passenger cars has increased significantly.
In 1997 there were 1.8 million registered cars in Bangkok. This
figure rose to 2.6 million in 2001.
Car-Free
Times - September 4, 2003
Interesting resource dreaming of cities without cars. Worthwile
just for the photo of 'rush-hour' in Santarém, Portugal.
Chicago by air
- September 4, 2003
A desktop image for you from 2Bangkok.com. A thumbnail is here.
The full size image is 1.50MB.
The
child virgin goddess - Reuters, September
3, 2003
News from our neighbors: The tradition of worshiping an ordinary
girl as the source of supreme power has endured in the world's only
Hindu kingdom... Critics argue it is cruel to take a child from
her parents, deny her a childhood and then toss her back unprepared
to handle the realities of life. As a goddess, Rashmilla lived a
life of extreme privilege in an ornate cloister, but also a life
of isolation. She could leave her palace only a few times a year
to be wheeled through the capital on a chariot pulled by devotees.
And she could never visit her home and her family.
Chuwit rides the Skytrain
- September 2, 2003
AP reports typhoon hitting Thailand
- September 2, 2003
Check out this headline from AP: Fast-Moving
Typhoon Dujuan Hits Thailand. But the article itself is about
Taiwan.
Submedia
- September 1, 2003
...new technology that creates mini-movies that appear to float
in the darkness outside the train windows... It has no moving parts
or flashing lights... As the train speeds past, the passengers inside
the train see images that appear to move. The train must be moving
at least three miles an hour for the animation effect...
Post Books to cease operations
- September 1, 2003
2Bangkok.com has confirmed that Post Books, the book publishing
wing of the Bangkok Post, will cease operations at the end
of October, 2003.
First
stirrings of a passive population - The
Nation, September 1, 2003
This is great stuff which is apparently going to be in The Nation
every day: Starting today, The Nation will revisit daily events
leading up to October 14, 1973, one of the most important days in
modern Thai history...
The salary of the Prime Minister at that time was Bt120,000 and
the population was 39 million. Local newspapers still referred to
Thais of Chinese ancestry as Khon Chine, while Thailand was trying
to resume diplomatic relations with Red China after US President
Nixon decided to befriend the Maoist state...
"Thailand has for millennia practised feudalism and it was
only abolished 40 years ago," said Prapas at the time. "The
attachment to old traditions remains strong and it's still in the
people's blood. Villagers who go to district offices still feel
hesitant about taking a seat [on the chairs] that was provided.
And even university lecturers still feel kraeng jai and dare not
ask questions even though they may want to."
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