2BANGKOK.COM'S NEWS AND VIEWS NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2003 News and views archives - since 1999 Search this site 7:42pm, New Year's Eve, Bangkok 2003 Review: Thailand rises up - December 31, 2003 (Photo: 2Bangkok.com) The Moon/Venus pairing on Christmas Day at Samet Island - December 25, 2003 Even in this photo "the old Moon in the young Moon’s arms" is visible. This is when the full globe of the Moon can be seen with the typically darkened area glowing bluish-gray. This is caused by earthshine--light reflected off the Earth to the Moon. The holiday season in Bangkok - December 23, 2003 Right: Entrance to State Tower (formerly RCK Tower) Below: From FLE Thailand's offices on the 33rd floor of the State Tower Also: On top of the RCK/State Tower (Photo: FLE Thailand) (Photo: FLE Thailand) New Year to see first Mekong river descent - Asia Travel Tips, December 31, 2003 The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is encouraging travel, tourism and media organisations to consider supporting and sponsoring the Mekong First Descent Project (MFDP) -- an attempt to kayak the full length of the Mekong River, from Tibet to the South China Sea in March-April 2004... The Slave Master and his Ua Athorn buddies - The Nation, December 30, 2003 The Nation continues their excellent coverage of local politics with this article, which also gives an insight into Thai humor which often relies on word-play and sound-alike words. For instance: Interior Minister Wan Muhamad Noor Matha was dubbed "Broken Horn" because his name rhymes with the word for a rhinoceros' horn. Billed as a law-and-order man, his horn appears broken judging from the recurring violence in the South. Also: Ridicule once a year is ok: Thaksin - The Nation, December 31, 2003 Thailand on verge of 'First World' status - Bangkok Post, December 27, 2003 Addressing Thai Rak Thai MPs at a party seminar yesterday, Dr Somkid said 2004 would be a "golden year" for Thailand to move up on par with economically advanced countries in the region such as Singapore, Korea and Taiwan. What's really visible from 'space' - December 30, 2003 Nils points out this link: ...this clears up some misconceptions, but unfortunately won't bring an end to that overused and silly expression perpetuated by the media: "so big it can be seen from space" From where in space? Using what equipment? I think you once mentioned the Palm Islands in the UAE on 2B. Usually in such a project, the developers and/or media will scream out in their ignorance and sensationalism: "it's soooo huge it can be seen from space (like only the Chinese Wall before)", and the general public is very much impressed. But nonsense. What does this less than exact expression want to tell us, anyway? First of all, where is "in space"? On a satellite, space station, the moon? OK, let's assume an orbit around the earth, maybe 400-700 km high. Then of course many more man-made features than the Chinese Wall can be seen, even more so when you have a binocular, a tele lens or the sophisticated scanner system of an earth observation satellite (we are talking about resolutions down to the range of 10s of centimeters here!). But even with the NAKED EYE you can detect surprising details, as described in the before-mentioned article. More on 'Gassed in Thailand' - December 30, 2003 On December 26, we pointed out the peculiar 'Gassed in Thailand' article (Newlyweds gassed and robbed in Thailand - New Zealand Herald, by Louisa Cleave, December 26, 2003). On December 29, The Nation ran the same article (Couple still scarred by wedding in Thailand - The Nation, December 29, 2003), but in a slightly edited form, omitting such quotes as: "They feared speaking out about the situation while still in Thailand, and now want to warn other travellers." It is an interesting example of how local papers sometimes rely on foreign papers for local news. Earlier: Gassed in Thailand? - New Zealand Herald, December 26, 2003 This is weird: ...They recalled coughing and spluttering, which they later learned was probably caused by sleeping gas pumped into the bus... Credit card records show that while they were marrying the robbers were spending $5000 on washing machines and televisions in Bangkok department stores... "We were deliberately deceived. The police never had any intention of investigating the case even though we strongly wanted the case investigated." Purachai as PM? - The Nation, December 28, 2003 “Let’s draft Purachai as leader of a new party!” This suggestion was heard in some quarters. He appears a possible choice since his political future has become uncertain. After being moved from interior to justice – where he rubbed somebody who must be reckoned at the ministry the wrong way – he was shifted to an obscure place among several Thaksin deputies at Government House, with unsung assignments. ...There are hard-core members of the now defunct Palang Dharma Party who will back him. Political campaign funds can come from anonymous contributors who want to see Thaksin face a formidable challenge. It would be nice if the Democrat, Chat Thai and Chat Pattana parties would join hands and declare their support for Purachai as prime minister. Tourism in India vs Thailand - Hindustan Times, December 25, 2003 Recently, the tourist traffic to India has increased by 16 per cent. But it’s still puzzling why so few people come to India as compared to countries in South East Asia. Barely 3 million tourists arrive annually here. By contrast, Thailand and Malaysia are able to attract at least three times more tourists. We should try to double the flow of tourists because the benefits from tourism — apart from earning foreign exchange — are many.... Thailand booms - Inter Press Service, December 25, 2003 The signs are everywhere, on the streets and shopping malls to the stock market and the conference halls: Thailand is on a roll. There is little mystery as to who is receiving bouquets for guiding the country toward this spirit of good cheer - Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra... Ex-Thai Premier Kriangsak dies at age 87 - Newsday, December 24, 2003 Kriangsak Chomanan, an army general who became prime minister in 1977 through a series of coups before helping steer Thailand to democracy, died Tuesday. He was 87... In September 1978, he issued an amnesty for the "Bangkok 18" left-wing students and labor activists jailed in connection with the 1976 crackdown. He also initiated an amnesty program for former members of the Communist Party of Thailand, a reconciliation policy that eventually helped quash its insurgency. As he adapted to his civilian post, Kriangsak was often photographed with his trademark pipe, and, in evening hours, a snifter of brandy. Thai Film Festival! The Siamese Renaissance to open the festival - December 22, 2003 The 2004 Bangkok International Film Festival (BKKIFF) has announced its roster of more than 100 films... Karen new year celebrated in Thailand - Democratic Voice of Burma, Norway, December 24, 2003 Exiled Karen nationals in Bangkok gathered at a University on 21 December to celebrate the Karen New Year which falls on 23 December... Some Thailand-born Karen went to the celebration but the majority of the celebrants were exiled Burmese Karen. The celebration is a way of retaining Karen traditions and the celebrants took part in traditional skills, dancing and sport competitions. At the same time, many exiled Karen were unable to join the celebration for fear of arrests by the Thai authority. ‘If we were allowed to celebrate the New Year freely in our homeland, we would be feeling happier,’ said Mahn Myo Myint, an organiser with a sigh. What's going through the minds of crazy motorcyclists? - December 24, 2003 Effect of motorcycle rider education on changes in risk behaviours and motorcycle-related injuries in rural Thailand (PDF) Bangkok 2485 The Musical - December 22, 2003 This looks interesting: ...an new exciting stage entertainment by Takolkiat Virawan, Bangkok 2485 The Musical. Featuring beautiful music and scenery of Thai society in 1940’s [1942], this romantic comedy performed by Mos Patiparn, Annita Pongsong, and many leading actors. It is somewhat amusing to see a musical harking back nostalgically to the days when Japanese occupied Thailand and Allied bombs were falling on Bangkok. Boston's 'Big Dig' project opens - AP, December 20, 2003 The article has links to photos of the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge which looks similar to the Rama 8 Bridge. Five years late and billions of dollars over cost, a tunnel routing Interstate 93 under downtown Boston finally opened Saturday, replacing the hulking elevated highway that has marred the landscape for more than four decades. Latest on TRF and NRCT - January 22, 2004 Latest inside info: High academics are still recommending that TRF (Thai Research Fund) not be merged with NRCT (National Research Council of Thailand) or that NRCT be recreated outside the civil service with a separate entity be created for coordinating everything. Politicians and other big men have been lobbying Thaksin about how bad TRF is because those big men would have to depend on TRF to fund their pet projects or pet people. NRCT will do that for politicians, but TRF will not. Probably there is an element of trying to keep TRF from being to sure of themselves and too independent--to make them realize that politicians are ultimately the bosses. More on the NESDB - December 20, 2003 For whatever reason, quite a few people are interested in the coming change at NESDB. Suthichai Yoon wrote an editorial (End of NESDB's role: should we laugh or cry?, The Nation, December 11, 2003) complaining about the impending change. Porametee Vimolsiri, Executive Director of Macroeconomic Office, NESDB, wrote a rebuttal to to this editorial (Khun Suthichai Yoon: Neither laugh nor cry, The Nation, December 20, 2003 ). This is the kind of thing The Nation has been asking for--a dialogue with those it criticizes instead of pressure to stop its criticizing. Porametee writes: On Friday, in the article "End of NESDB's Role: Should we laugh or cry?" you bemoaned the changing role of NESDB based on the new administrative framework... Is it possible for the politicians to have total control of planning and to write whatever they wish into the new plan? I believe, despite the half-baked political system you have described, it is not so easy nowadays to write a poor or devious national plan which the people and international investors cannot spot. Earlier: Who will fund research - December 17, 2003 This info was passed to us by a concerned reader: The end of independence in many things... The Nation newspaper published an article (End of NESDB's role: should we laugh or cry? The Nation, December 11, 2003). It says that, on the basis of a government draft to be finalised next January, the Thai Research Fund will be probably dissolved and pass under the direct control of a new unified centralized research agency led by the Government through the people now at the NRCT (National Research Council of Thailand). ...as far as I know (but I might be wrong!) it has always been in practice impossible (for individual researchers without direct links to the Ministries) to get grants under the (five years!) plans of the NRCT [the five-year plans are also to be eliminated]... it seems that, also for Thailand, the end of independent funding for research has finally arrived! FYI, NRCT (National Research Council of Thailand) is known for being very bureaucratic, riddled with favoritism, with poor quality control, and outdated in general. Pure civil service mind. In contrast, TRF funds based on output in terms of patents or international journal articles, in any field, so in that sense is strictly accountable. Local press reports end of Trink column - December 19, 2003 Weeks after it was widely reported and discussed on the internet (Stickman was the first to report it on November 30), the local press belatedly notes that Thailand's most famous frang, Bernard Trink, will end his weekly column this month. The article notes an archive to Trink columns from 1996, which has been rendered useless since Bangkok Post has changed their archiving system and broken all links yet again. Earlier: End of Trink - December 3, 2003 Don Entz alerts us to Stickman's news item about Bernard Trink's legendary column finally being dropped from the Bangkok Post on December 31. It has been a long tenure for the Trink Page--from a two-page column 30 years ago in the defunct Bangkok World that recommended specific prostitutes to today's column where Trink is reduced to printing email urban legends and discussing food prices with, as the New York Times famously put it, 'nixonian seriousness.' Thai Lord of the Rings ladies - The Nation, December 19, 2003 For two Thai women, the "Rings" trilogy has already changed their lives. And here's the Thai website with info on the elvish languages. 'Secret' air traffic control contract? - December 20, 2003 Khmer Intelligence reports: KI has obtained a copy of a secret "Contract to Build, Cooperate and Transfer of Air Traffic Control System" signed on 19 January 2001 by Hun Sen's top adviser Sok An on behalf of the Cambodian government, and... (the) Samart Corp. of Thailand. The contract and subsequent supplemental agreements indicate that Samart has installed "goods and/or materials with the value of USD 5,000,000 in order to improve the performance of the system and the quality of the air traffic control services." Regarding revenue sharing, Samart is entitled to 70 percent of the "overflight services fees" and 50 percent of the revenues from "air navigation services for landing and takeoff"... Therefore, over USD 12 million are collected every year, compared to an initial investment of only USD 5 million. Malaysia rail delay - December 19, 2003 News from our neighbors: Malaysia rail delay may hurt investment-analysts Malaysia's delay of a $3.8 billion rail project may sully its reputation as it seeks private investment to fuel economic growth, economists and analysts said on Monday as the decision again depressed share prices. Malaysia delays rail project indefinitely Malaysia has decided to postpone indefinitely a $3.8 billion double-track rail project that is part of a planned trans-Asia link between Singapore and China, a government minister said on Wednesday. Latest for Suam Lum - December 18, 2003 The longest railway tunnel in the world - December 18, 2003 Nils reports: Here's another amazing construction project which you might have heard about (I once saw a documentary on German TV about it): The longest railway tunnel in the world through the Gotthard Massif of the Swiss Alps between Erstfeld and Bodio (AlpTransit; AKA Gotthard Base Tunnel or NEAT - Neue Eisenbahn-Alpentransversale, New Railway Crossing of the Alps). Length: 57 km Highest point: 550 m Rock cover: up to 2300 m End of excavation work scheduled for 2009 Begin of rail operations: 2011 (another document says 2014?) With trains reaching speeds up to 250 kph, it will cut the travel time between Zurich and Milano from 4 hrs 15 min to 2 hrs 10 min. Their website It has some nice photos and also animated graphics about the building progress (only in German language) for the project (click on "detailed view of the building progress") and for the 5 sub-sections: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 In the graphics, red colour means "tunneling (=excavation) work completed", green means "tunneling and tunnel construction work completed." Don't let tots watch TV, doctors warn - Bangkok Post, December 16, 2003 Just an amusing article destined for 'weird news' columns: Parents have been warned not to let children under two years old watch television, as that could affect brain growth... Somsak Lohlekha, president of the Royal College of Pediatricians, said watching TV could narrow down the functioning of a child's brain by making their growing nerve cells inactive. Malaysia builds its own skytrain - December 15, 2003 Ijud pointed out on the forum a story about a new skytrain in Kuala Lumpur built with local technology (or at least without direct supervision by foreign mega-firms). We wonder how this achievement will influence Thai decision makers. PM Thaksin pays attention to what Malaysia is doing and something like this will not be missed. Ideas of 'using local technology' have been talked about in Thailand for years, but what always results is a mega contract to a Western supplier (sometimes in combination with a local conglomerate). With the planned massive increase in mass transit routes planned in coming years, it might be the right time to really use local technology from beginning to end. (Photo: 2Bangkok.com) Hazy, windy, cool - December 21, 2003 Bangkok skies are hazy brown, but there is a stiff, cool wind that that makes it quite pleasant... Land & Houses chairman tops Thailand's rich list - Business Times, December 16, 2003 Anant Asavabhokhin, chairman of Land & Houses Pcl, is Thailand's richest stockholder for the second consecutive year, thanks to a housing boom that boosted equity investments in his company, Money & Banking magazine said. How many years do you have to work to buy a copy of WinXP? - December 16, 2003 A table showing how many years an average person in different countries would have to work to buy a copy of Windows. They obviously have not heard about this: Windows global pricing cracked by Thailand - CnetAsia, August 22, 2003 How a simple welfare scheme in a Southeast Asian country could tweak the nose of the world's largest software company... Purachai book 'outrages' TRT faithful - The Nation, December 18, 2003Thaksin and the TRT party place great importance on toeing the line, so this recent book by straight-talking Purachai seems to end his run for Bangkok Governor: "I have found with regret that my friend Thaksin is not a man of his word," Purachai said, noting that he lost both his interior and justice positions without prior warning. In another extract, Purchai faulted top Justice Ministry bureaucrats for trying to manipulate budgetary allocations. "I was promptly moved out of the Justice Ministry before I could solve the mystery of how a Bt2-billion budget could be reduced to Bt900 million after I had questioned the process," he said. 295 workers strike Nasawat Apparel factory - WSWS, December 17, 2003 On November 16 this year, 15 women workers attempted to escape from the factory. The manager sent his “security men” to catch them and bring them back. The manager then arranged for the police to come to the factory at night and they threatened and harassed the women into submission. Malaysian villagers claim sighting of UFO - AFP, December 18, 2003 News from our neighbors: An unidentified flying object was sighted hovering over a quiet village in northern Kedah state near the Thai border, the second such sighting there in two years, a report says. Saddam in Thailand? - December 16, 2003 Sources have long contended that most high level prisoners from Afghanistan and Iraq were first interrogated in Thailand (Thai officials deny this). Thus, rumors started to swirl as Saddam's capture was announced that Saddam himself was either on his way to Thailand or was already here. On Sunday night, the Associated Press reported that Saddam had been moved out of Iraq. CNN reported that Saddam was in Qatar, but the next day this was denied. This is the usual pattern: 'sources' tell various news outlets about the whereabouts of a high-ranking POWs and then the next day this is matter-of-factly denied. Also: Saddam Whereabouts Still a Mystery, Reuters UPDATE December 18, 2003: CNN is now quoting Iraqi officials as saying Saddam is still in Iraq and has never left... Thailand from Space - December 16, 2003 More satellite photos of Thailand. Thailand's nude beach? - December 16, 2003 Leela Beach? (Photo: 2Bangkok.com) Two signs - December 15, 2003 Left: Sign on Phra Athit Road: "Dangerous curve - scene of many accidents." While this photo was being taken a car collided with a motorcycle on the curve. Right: In case you have not noticed, the subway station exterior signage has been installed. More on the Bangkok Subway. Thai babies selling well in Malaysia - Bangkok Post, December 15, 2003 Just a bizarre headline from the Post. The headline does not really fit the article and sounds like it was composed by a sarcastic foreigner wishing to impart some editorial feeling to the story. (Photo: 2Bangkok.com) Samak: Just shoot bothersome jumbos - Bangkok Post, December 15, 2003 Governor Samak Sundaravej: "I would like to ask the prime minister if we could shoot the beasts if they are brought into Bangkok, so the mahouts would not dare to do so again," he said. Mr Samak once proposed the government seize and retrain the animals for release into the wild. Despite the scoffing tone of the headline and the article, both of Samak's solutions do make sense. The elephants and mahouts are bankrolled by influential investors in the northeast. Any solution that does not involve the mahouts losing the animals forever will not deter others from traveling to Bangkok to beg. Redevelopment for Chinatown - Xinhuanet, December 11, 2003 ...The first project will involve a revamp of the Klong Lot area from Dinso Road to the Interior Ministry. The second will see the revival of the historic area around the Golden Mount, with more convenient and safer facilities to allow tourists to view historic sites and the demolition of buildings which spoil the view. The third project will see an overhaul of the famous Khao San Road tourist area, from Tha Prachan to Pak Klong Talat - a pet project of Bangkok Governor Samak Sundaravej... The fourth project involves the beautification of Bang Khun Thien beach through the construction of wooden walkways, in the hopes of boosting eco-tourism. The fifth project will turn the old Arun Amarit Road into a pedestrian walkway with colored cement, trees and electric lights. However, the most ambitious project involves the redevelopment of the Sampeng area, known as the capital's Chinatown, said the official. He added that pavements will be given a new look to allow shoppers to make their purchases in the areas' warren of alleyways more easily, while the area will also get new lighting and tap water pipes. It is hoped that the Sampeng redevelopment project will see the complete modernization of the Rattanakosin-era area. National Discovery Museum - Bangkok Post, December 10, 2003 A working group is due to finalise the theme for the planned National Discovery Museum today... Several sites have been proposed for the building, including state railway land on Phahon Yothin road, the Thailand Tobacco Monopoly, near the national cultural centre, and the present Defence Ministry headquarters, which will be moved to Nonthaburi in four years. Red durian from Sabah - December 11, 2003 Jieng forwarded this photo of red durian from Sabah. Sabahtourism.com explains: One unique variety has red flesh, and lacks the distinctive fragrance of the durian. This red durian is - sacrilege to durian elsewhere - fried with onions and chili and served as a side dish or sambal. (Photo: unknown--via email) PM mixes business and politics - Far Eastern Economic Review, December 11, 2003 Far Eastern Economic Review 'troublemaker' Shawn W. Crispin writes about the blurring of the line between government and business. Civic group in bid to save historic building - Bangkok Post, December 8, 2003 The Bang Lamphu Civic Group plans to step up calls for government permission to renovate the historic Kurusapha printing house into a community museum, and culture and arts centre... Comprising two buildings on a 1-rai plot next to Santi Chaiprakan Park, on Phra Athit Road, the printing house has been marked for demolition by the Committee for the Conservation of Rattanakosin and Old Towns. The Nation on the defensive - The Nation, December 8, 2003 Note this unusual and highly defensive editorial from The Nation. This is a change of tone as The Nation typically has been 'on the attack' editorially when dealing with the government. This probably indicates the increased pressure The Nation is under to censor itself: ...as The Nation has told members of Thaksin’s inner circle on several occasions, reporters at this newspaper select, write and file their stories without prodding in one direction or the other from management. Our newsroom is a liberal and open environment in which to work, and reporters are free to draw their own conclusions from the different types of people they meet in pursuit of stories. Editors merely help them to articulate their ideas. Members of the Cabinet and the TRT are always told to give us a call whenever they think we have reported something unfairly or inaccurately. The press cannot help but make mistakes at times. We do our very best to ensure accuracy, but we cannot censor stories or comments from individual members of Thai society as long as they are within legal boundaries. We can, however, guarantee that we do our utmost to be fair at all times, and will publish corrections of any mistakes we are proved to have made. Strangely, though, few members of the government choose to participate in the open relationship we encourage. Instead, they monitor us on their own, accumulating what they believe to be a damning number of biased reports against the government. Their emotions build up and their self-serving arguments about intentionally biased reporting become real in their minds... King Bhumibol Adulyadej Square - December 6, 2003 Carleton Cole wrote an interesting article about a public square in the U.S. honoring HM The King (New sign unveiled in HM's US birthplace, December 5, 2003, The Nation): Unveiled on November 18, the monument consists of a bronze plaque atop a marker of pink granite from nearby Vermont state that was chosen to match existing granite columns at the entrance to nearby John F Kennedy Park. Three days later a more visible black sign with white letters was unveiled near the monument, replacing a smaller bronze sign that was difficult to read. Carleton sent the photo and design graphic below to give an idea what the square is like (the captions are his as well). (Photo: KTBF) Left: King of Thailand Birthplace Foundation (KTBF) President Cholthanee Koerojna and KTBF members Chalermpol and Muntana Intha, the architect couple who designed and partly financed the new commemorative memorial at King Bhumibol Adulyadej Square. The sign in the background above the streetlight is the old one that has been replaced by the monument plus a new bigger sign. Right: Pranissa Boonkhom's draft of the renovation that took place in the square. KTBF further explains: The landscape is designed by Halvorson, Co. The sketch is done by the Thai woman, Pranissa Boonkhom, a Harvard University School of Design graduate who now works for this company. Pranissa is a daughter of the former Dean of the Architect School, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok in Thailand. This dean was also Charles's classmate. The City of Cambridge contracted this company to design and include the King Bhumibol Adulyadej Sqaure in that landscape. This landscape project is in the citywide landscape development in the near future. In the design, you will see another matching granite column on the same side on the right. There are two matching columns across the street on the Harvard Square Hotel at the cross walk entrance. Full-sized image (73kb) (Photo: KTBF) Some background on Sok Yoeun - December 5, 2003 Here is the Asian Human Rights Commission's urgent appeal and Amnesty International Australia's background on the case. Earlier: Saving Sok Yoeun and What's behind the Sok Yoeun case? Monkey hospital news carried around the world - December 4, 2003 Just to note this Bangkok Post story about a monkey hospital opening has been carried around the world's. Ananova, Yahoo News, NEWS.com.au, San Jose Mercury News, Newsday, USA Today, ABC News, Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Rocky Mount Telegram, and Local6.com ware all carrying it within about 9 hours of the story's release on wire services. This fits into 2B's thoughts that Thai domestic news is not often a carried internationally except if it is about sex, traffic jams, elephants, or monkeys. Earlier: Thai breast news goes worldwide End of Trink - December 3, 2003 Don Entz alerts us to Stickman's news item about Bernard Trink's legendary column finally being dropped from the Bangkok Post on December 31. It has been a long tenure for the Trink Page--from a two-page column 30 years ago in the defunct Bangkok World that recommended specific prostitutes to today's column where Trink is reduced to printing email urban legends and discussing food prices with, as the New York Times famously put it, 'nixonian seriousness.' Latest urban legend - December 2,2003 Latest Thai urban legend going around via email says not to answer a call from this number 01-433-3801, because your pin code might be stolen. Photos from Bangkok University - December 1, 2003 Pascal writes: You might find these photos useful. They are taken from the 16th floor of the Bangkok University building which is in Klong Toey, right next to the cargo entrance of the Bangkok port. Thai / Cambodian Border History 1953 to 1999 - November 21, 2003 Website with an interesting history of the Thai-Cambodian border in modern times. Story behind the 'curse' - December 3, 2003 Wire reports are carrying the story of the German tourist cursed by picking up a shard from a temple (such as in the Sydney Morning Herald, 'Curse of the emerald shard', December 1, 2003). It is reported as another completely true, but weird, story from Thailand. It is interesting to note that the Thai-language press treats this as more of a publicity stunt and The Nation, as usual, gives some further background: The leader of a tour guide association yesterday said that tour guides were not to blame. Authorities normally treated fragments chipped off historical structures as scrap, said Thailand Guide Association president Charupol Ruengkate. He did not think it was illegal or immoral to pick up a glass fragment from the ground, Charupol said. If the German tourist had not picked up the glass shard, it would have been thrown away, he added. "I do believe the story, but I don't understand what the TAT's purpose is in disclosing the information," he said. ('German tourist picks up bad karma' Dec 01,2003). Animation Festival - December 3, 2003 We just received this press release: The Ministry of Information and Communication Technology and Software Industry Promotion Agency (Public Organization) are organizing "Thailand Animation and Multimedia 2004" which hosts "Animation Festival", cartoon and animation contest, and would like to invite you all to test your right side of brain and stand a chance to win a great prize. If you make the cut, you may get a chance to learn more about animation from renowned professionals. Thailand's south under extremist pressure - December 2, 2003 Assessment of the security situation in the south from the American Foreign Policy Council (dated October 1 ,2003): The Thai government is under increasing pressure to deal with Muslim extremists, especially members of the al Qaeda-related Jemaah Islamiah (JI) network, who use southern Thailand as a safe haven, reports Anthony Davis in Jane's Intelligence Review. However, the Thai government fears a popular backlash in the Muslim-dominated area, which is closer to the Malaysian border than Bangkok, and where government control is weak and criminality is historically rampant. Thai authorities gained international acclaim for their August 2003 arrest of JI terror mastermind Hambali. The arrest was made in the non-Muslim town of Ayutthya, north of Bangkok. Thailand's Muslim population, who are predominantly ethnic Malays, are concentrated in the south, comprising 10 percent of Thailand's 61 million population. Many Muslims see their community as a target of discrimination by Thailand's majority Buddhist population [which includes most police], and fear that they will become a target of convenience in the U.S.-led war on terrorism. A growing number of Thai Muslims have adopted the strictly orthodox Salafi teaching and Wahhabi doctrines imported from the Middle East. If the terrorists succeeded in Thailand... - The Nation, November 28, 2003 Special Branch officer Police Colonel Pirapong Duang-amporn suggested the country would have experienced one of its most disastrous days in modern history... At least Thailand has a constitution... - November 26, 2003 News from our neighbors: The Irrawaddy has an interesting chronology of Myanmar's attempts to organize a new constitution that was started in 1992. The chronology contains event after event like this: Oct 15, 1993—Twelve political activists are arrested for speaking out about the National Convention. In 1994, the military charges another man, Dr Aung Khin Sint, an NLD MP, for distributing leaflets critical of the Convention. He later received a 20-year prison term. (Photo: www.pasci.org) PETA protest last month - November 25, 2003 Recently 2Bangkok.com mentioned the protests staged recently in Bangkok by Greenpeace. Pascal reminds us of a protest by PETA last month (Animal rights group takes KFC protest to Thailand, AFP, October 23, 2003). In the past, foreign 'meddling' in businesses in Thailand has not been tolerated. It will be interesting to see if the proactive Thaksin administration takes a position on the these foreign pressure groups. Left: Pascal's photo of a foreigner outside of a KFC on Silom, holding a sign (in English) that reads "KFC tortures chickens." Researchers try to save world's largest catfish - November 24, 2003 More data, including Hogan's, have shown that its numbers fell by at least 80 percent over the last 13 years, a "pretty massive decline" that prompted the critically endangered classification in the group's latest list released Nov. 18... Reason for the wildlife crackdown - The Nation, November 23, 2003 2Bangkok.com has been mentioning the reason for the wildlife trade crackdown for one year and now here it is finally in the local papers: Sawek said the raid was intended to stamp out the trafficking of protected species ahead of the upcoming conservation conference. The CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) conference will be hosted by Thailand next year. Glowing fish are first genetically engineered pets - November 24, 2003 Slashdot has collected a bunch of links about the GM glowing fish... Thailand shocks Afghan doctors - AsiaTimes, 2003 ...However, while the representatives from East Timor and Sri Lanka appeared fairly sedate during the tour, the Afghan doctors expressed intense culture shock - often surprising the media and their hosts. ...while traveling together in a separate mini van or eating after a seminar, the five men from Afghanistan often regaled one another about social behavior in Thailand, where, unlike Islamic Afghanistan, women do not wear the all-encompassing cloth burqas. The five Afghan doctors commonly cited Islam as the reason the infection rate is low in their relatively isolated country compared with bustling, Buddhist-majority Thailand. "It is because of the religion, because in Afghanistan all people are Muslim, and Islam does not accept things like Thailand," Dr Baz Mohammad Shirzad, Jalalabad-based deputy director of Afghanistan's Eastern Region Health Directorate, said in a taped interview. "Islam says, 'You have a wife and must be honest to the wife.' Islam does not accept sex like Thailand's people," Shirzad said... "Afghanistan's people, if they know about a woman having sex with another [man] who is not her husband, they suggest killing her," said Shafiqullah Shahim, the Kabul-based Health Ministry's national HIV/AIDS control program officer... Thai breast news goes worldwide - November 24, 2003 Thai domestic news is not often a carried internationally except if it is about sex, traffic jams, elephants, or monkeys. Any story about these subjects is immediately broadcast throughout the world. Thus, it is no surprise that last week's debate over whether the breasts of fashion models should be visible (Bangkok is trying to promote itself as a fashion capital) and the sensational Thai Rath story about nipple stickers (implying that good girls will start using them--as opposed to just fashion models and sex workers) were eagerly reported internationally. Here are some examples. Most are from wire stories, but it does show the kind of news the international media is eager to print about Thailand. Models expose breasts, sparking Thai furore - Straits Times, Singapore Exposing breasts in Fashion show sparks controversy in Thailand - Xinhua, China Thailand raps Elle magazine over bare-breasted fashion show - Asia Pacific Media Network Nipple clampdown - News24, South Africa Ministry raps bare-breasted fashion show - Hindustan Times, India Nipple clampdown in Thailand - Ananova, UK Thailand raps Elle magazine - The Statesman, India Exposing breasts in Fashion show sparks controversy in Thailand - People's Daily, China Thailand raps Elle magazine over bare-breasted fashion show - South China Morning Post, Hong Kong Chang Noi gives some interesting history on this today: The 'un-Thai' nipple crisis: ...Take the current TV series "Sai Lohit", set in the final days of the Ayutthaya period. The costuming is splendid, and its exoticness lays a quiet claim to authenticity. The bare torsos of the males, resplendent with tattoos, might be close to historical accuracy. But to render the females authentic would mean cropping their hair short, blackening their teeth, and leaving their breasts exposed... Chang Noi is the pseudonym of someone at The Nation (not to hard to guess who if you are familiar with the personalities there). This person's website is here. Selling a Thai style - The Star, November 21, 2003 Make no mistake, high-octane Thai action-thriller Ong Bak is certainly making waves with audiences worldwide, even attracting the attention and praise of renowned French director Luc Besson. GMOs exposed in Thailand - Greenpeace, November 21, 2003 ”Thailand and other Asian countries increasingly risk to become the dumping ground of GMOs that are rejected by Europe. growing of GE crops are banned in Thailand for a good reason, and we should not encourage the growing of GE crops elsewhere by allowing imports from the US and Argentina.” Earlier: Anti-GMO protest staged around cargo vessel in Thailand - Xinhuanet, November 20, 2003 Greenpeace seems to have become quite active in Thailand recently. Earlier this month an anti-GMO banner was hung over a billboard in Bangkok. Now: Seven Greenpeace members wrote large anti-genetically modified organism (GMO) signs with white paint on each side of the pink hulk of a Argentina cargo ship, named MV Poseidon, which anchored on the sea of Thailand Gulf, some 120 kilometers southeast of Bangkok. More about Kempinski - November 21, 2003 We received 10 emails asking if there was a mistake in an article 2Bangkok.com linked to yesterday stating "Kempinski... is today owned by the Crown Property Bureau of Thailand." No mistake. In 1996, Dusit Thani Hotel Group bought the Kempinski hotel chain for $165 million along with Siam Sindhorn investment group. One of Siam Sindhorn's major owners is the Crown Property Bureau. At the time, such an acquisition was viewed with great pride as Thai companies were moving out of Thai markets and wheeling and dealing internationally. Unfortunately Dusit was sliding to the bottom of a dire profit slump and in 1997 Dusit sold its share of Kempinski to Siam Sindhorn Co Ltd. Thus today the chain is controlled by the Crown Property Bureau. Others were wondering if they had heard another entity was supposed to have won the hotel rights. No, what they are thinking about is the construction contract. Natural Park land will build the hotel (Natural Park lands Siam Paragon hotel, November 6, 2003) while Kempinski will operate it (Kempinski tipped to run new hotel - The Nation, November 5, 2003). More on the Paragon and the Siam Intercontinental Hotel BTW: This reminds of an amusing incident in the past of the subway construction. Immediately after the Dusit profit slump in 1996, the owners of Dusit went on Quixotic crusade to reroute the billion dollar subway system so their parking garage would not be closed down. It was notable for the various threats Dusit made to thrown their considerable weight around to get their way. Will Bangkok's venerable Dusit Thani close?, AsiaWeek: ...Chanut may have a trump card: allegations that the contract cost was inflated by bribes, commonplace in Thai public projects. "There are questions over this that I don't want foreigners to know -- I am proud of being Thai," says Chanut. But even if she names names, it may not be enough to save her famous hotel. In the end, the station and route was built and today the Dusit has an even more prime location with subway entrances just a few meters from their front doors. Where to get Pen-Ek DVDs? - November 20, 2003 Pen-Ek Ratanaruang is a sophisticated director who makes quirky, often surrealistic films about modern Thai people living isolated lives in the big city. Most of his work is internationally acclaimed, which means it is usually not popular with Thai audiences. JF asks where to get DVDs of Pen-Ek Ratanaruang movies (genuine copies, if possible), especially Last Life in the Universe and Monrak Transistor: JF writes: I did a survey just now. I walked and checked all the pirated DVD shops on Silom from Rama IV until the Christian hospital (on the Patpong side only). My findings: -The worst answer: I waited for almost 10 minutes without the shop owners paying attention to me while they were selling to a Montana guy buying a truck load of DVDs. I walked away. -The best answer: Will be available next week. -The average answer: What is that movie? It's Thai movie? What's the name in Thai? Guess that it's a case of a good movie released at the wrong place, wrong time... On the Last Life website you can download nice wallpapers... BTW: Here's an interview 2Bangkok.com did with Pen-Ek when he was having his first local success with the film Fun Bar Karaoke. Appeal of the rare - November 16, 2003 Fascinating stuff: Why are we attracted not only to the biggest version of almost anything but also to the smallest, the weirdest, the first, the last, or the only?... Consider the archetypal way the hyena hunts. It provokes a bunch of zebras into running and picks out the one that’s different—the slowest. Predators have what psychologists call a search image for the outlier. A number of decades back, a researcher in the Serengeti was trying to study the individual behavior of wildebeests. The problem was to recognize individuals—wildebeests all look alike. The researcher hit upon a clever idea: to tear around the savanna in a jeep fast enough to get close to a wildebeest, and using a paintbrush attached to a long pole, splatter paint on one of the animal’s haunches, leaving a unique and random pattern. What the researcher discovered, to his dismay, was that each splattered wildebeest soon became a target of predators. It’s called the oddity effect. A predator has to be good at picking out the old and the weak or, with no additional information to go on, the different. As any butterfly collector can tell you, it is easier to net a yellow butterfly in a swarm of brown ones than to get a single brown one... ...if you control something large that is famously, magnetically rare and you toss away half of it for a quick profit, the remaining half becomes twice as valuable. Gay pride parade yesterday - November 15, 2003 We forgot to mention the gay pride parade that was held downtown yesterday that is always heavily covered by the world press. Our blurb about it from last year pretty much says it all: About the Gay Pride parade - On November 17 at 5pm, Silom Road will witness the annual Gay Pride Parade. This parade always results in lots of coverage around the world. 2B has been told by several journalists that much of the coverage of the parade is done by reporters who do not even attend the event. This is because generic descriptions of the parade are a perfect lead-in to breezy ruminations on Thais' easy-going attitudes to sex. These types of articles are a staple of Weird News columns and bring lots of hits to newspaper websites. Mekong giant catfish now "critically endangered" - November 18, 2003 Southeast Asia's Mekong giant catfish joined the critically endangered list this year. The fish is one of the largest freshwater fish in the world and can grow up to 10ft long and weigh 300kg (660 pounds). Its numbers have declined by 80% over 13 years as overfishing, habitat loss and dam construction affected breeding. Restoring order to city a daunting task - Bangkok Post, November 15, 2003 Nils points out this editorial about the challenges of a new Bangkok governor: ...traffic-clogged, maze-like streets with a profusion of shopping malls without adequate parking and the continuing destruction and abuse of the environment. Instead of urban landscaping and public parks, we have endless rows of ugly shophouses and towering concrete monstrosities trapping hot and polluted air and dwarfing backlots on which slums are sprouting. The laws governing city planning are complex, contradictory and administered by agencies that do not always liaise with each other. This is evident in the frenzy of building construction going on, with huge condominiums being built in narrow sois without any provision for an infrastructure to cater for them... It seems that when building contractors decide to do things their way without getting all the official permits, the bureaucracy appears to work to their advantage and no one seems to have the authority to order them to call an immediate halt... Harrass the Nigerian scammers - November 18, 2003 Slashdot.org points out: "The site author, and several other contributors, have taken to responding to the scammers, using obviously fake names and so forth, and then string the scammer along for as long as possible. In many cases they get the scammer to pose for a photograph! Amazingly the scammers are just as gullible and greedy as their typical victims, and fall for the most obvious ruses hook, line, and sinker. 419eater welcomes contributors, so if you ever wanted to get your sweet revenge on these low-lives, here's a channel for you." John Travolta's house - November 18, 2003 This incredible photo has been circulating the net by email for about a week, but here is the article that goes with it. This is like those 'world of the future' articles from the 1950s that envisioned everyone flying to work... 3D London tube maps - November 18, 2003 BoingBoing.net points out: Amazing 3D London tube maps! Super luxury train to the north-- only USD $1,250 - November 18, 2003 Luxury train operator Orient-Express is to feature a new 'Thai Explorer' itinerary in northern Thailand in its Eastern & Oriental Express programme for 2004... The new route which is Bangkok - Ayutthaya - Chiang Mai - Lampang - Kanchanaburi (River Kwai) - Bangkok... Prices start at US$1,250 per person based on two adults sharing a Pullman compartment (inclusive of all meals on board and off train guided tours). Outrage over budget airline - Straits Times, November 18, 2003 Long a sacred cow that proud Thais were taught to support, Thai Airways, as well as other recent start-ups, are being sidelined as Thaksin forms a new airline: ...'This is unacceptable, it's tantamount to sabotage,' said Mr Udom Tantiprasongchai, president of low-cost Orient Thai Airlines which is at risk of being swept aside by AirAsia. 'It's a farce - no other country in the world would invite foreign airlines to operate domestic routes. The air traffic rights should be preserved for local operators,' he told AFP. ...Thai Airways, criticised by Mr Thaksin as lumbering and slow to innovate, is also planning to enter the budget airline business with Sky Asia. End of independence - The Nation, November 17, 2003 Without mentioning it is talking about itself, The Nation laments the impending end of its independent voice: ...Unfortunately, publicly listed media establishments are most vulnerable to hostile acts from outside. Under business pressure to perform better in the market, either from the shareholders or from personal ambition, the management teams have to improve profitability. New investors are unavoidable. But enlightened investors must be distinguished from bogus ones acting on the behalf of others. Ironically, family-owned newspapers, which used to be blamed for supporting dictators, today have more room to manoeuvre than public companies. When they change colour the readers easily notice because no corporate culture is at play. Sad but true, Thailand does not have a paper owned wholly by journalists who can determine their own future. ...As the mainstream media wither, alternative media such as community newspapers may be the way forward. Such papers in provincial areas that can report on and analyse national and local politics could survive with sufficient community support. Online newspapers could be new outlets too, but they would need sufficient online readers with a new habit. What will be the future of the Thai media, say, in the next few years? If the current leader stays as long as he says and this trend continues, the media will move towards a hybrid of tighter state and self control through voluntary submission in exchange for economic incentives, overt or discreet... And another Nation article highly critical of Thaksin. There has been a flurry of these articles in The Nation recently. It is almost as if this is a last hurrah for this kind of writing. It does also mention something we have long been mentioning on 2Bangkok.com--that the current state of affairs is due to the 1997 constitution which was designed to eliminate minor political parties and result in a majority government with real power: Ironically, the 1997 ‘People’s Constitution’ has enabled one man to achieve unprecedented power over government. No one thought that the electoral system that was so carefully devised by the framers of the current Constitution could have produced a prime minister with virtually absolute power to dominate Parliament, the bureaucracy and independent watchdogs. Contrast The Nation's coverage with the Bangkok Post's leading story today (PM's goal seen as too ambitious). It is a story criticizing Thaksin for being too noble and ambitious in his attempts to eradicate poverty in six years: Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's bid to eradicate poverty is laudable, but the government's ability to do it in six years is doubtful, say academics. Earlier: Purchase of NMG shares worries media group - The Nation, November 13, 2003 Five days after the Post reported it, The Nation chimes in on its new ownership: A nongovernment organisation on media freedom and reform will today issue a statement of concern over the recent acquisition of large amounts of Nation Multimedia Group shares by relatives of a powerful figure in the ruling Thai Rak Thai Party... “We’re afraid the Nation Group will end up like iTV if Thai Rak Thai people own the firm,” said Campaign member Supinya Klangnarong... Several years ago television station iTV was renowned for its hard criticism and scrutiny of all political issues, no matter whether they involved the government or the opposition. But when Shin Corp, owned by Thaksin’s family, took over the station in 2000, its staff started to complain that they were being blocked from reporting stories damaging to the image of Thaksin’s TRT party. Some editors and reporters were forced to leave. Others quit, saying they couldn’t do their work because of the constant interference. Earlier: The Nation's 'independent' voice in jeopardy? - Bangkok Post, November 9, 2003 ...Buying by Jungrungreangkit family members, whose main business interests are in auto parts, has continued throughout the year... Overall, the Jungrungreangkit family currently holds 19.1% in NMG, the largest single voting bloc in the company. According to the SET, NMG chairman Thanachai Thirapatanawong held an 8.72% stake as of late August, with Suthichai Yoon another 8.19%... Mr Suriya, (Transport Secretary and) also secretary-general of the majority Thai Rak Thai party, denied any involvement in the NMG investment, saying only that it was made by his relatives purely for commercial reasons... Police in craven rush to register sex workers - The Nation, November 15, 2003 Another blistering Nation editorial: ...Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, has already decided on this issue. The so-called public hearing, like others that have been held before on similar controversial issues, will be nothing more than a ritual ceremony to justify a policy that has been already made... While the idea of registering sex workers has not yet been fully debated, with opinions and contributions from the sex workers themselves, the police are racing against time to make sure that they won't disappoint their master... Cheap airlines - November 15, 2003 In case you hadn't heard, Don Entz points out: A low-frills airline will start in Thailand next month, maybe two of them. Flights to Chiang Mai and other domestic destinations for less than 1000 baht! Foot and mouth disease in Prachuap Khiri Khan - chinaview, November 15, 2003 All districts, except two, in the Thai province of Prachuap Khiri Khan have been declared as animal epidemic areas, as a large number of cattle in the areas are suffering from the foot and mouth disease, according to a senior livestock official. Robot Hall of Fame - November 15, 2003 Nils writes: You once mentioned the ABU Robocon, so I gather you might like this: Carnegie Mellon Robot Hall of Fame. The first 4 inductees are here. Who will be next? My choice would be the Terminator... Thai PCs shipping with licenced Windows at all-time low - Linuxinsider, November 13, 2003 To prevent Linux from running away with Thailand's subsidized "people's PC project," Microsoft has dropped the price of its Windows and Office packages from nearly US$600 to $37. Other Asian countries are lining up to duplicate the Thai program. As a result of the events in Thailand, analysts have begun to predict the end of Microsoft's long-standing "one-price-fits-all-markets policy." Significantly, first-time PC users in Thailand are finding the Linux Thai Language Edition easier to master than Windows. 7-Eleven plans major expansion - November 13, 2003 Believe it or not, among the top ten questions we are asked at 2Bangkok.com is 'how many 7-Eleven's are there in Thailand?': ...7-Eleven plans to open 320 new stores in 2004 with an investment of Bt900m, reported Dow Jones International News. The company plans to open a further 320 new stores the following year, with a total chain of 3,000 stores targeted in 2005. World's tallest building for Bangkok? - November 12, 2003 Tamil Tigers overstay Thai welcome - Asia Times, November 11, 2003 Within the space of three weeks, Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels have earned unflattering stripes in Thailand, a country they once roamed freely in search of weapons for their separatist struggle... Skyscraper cone - November 7, 2003 One of several sky-scraper ice cream cone photos being emailed around the web. It appears to be from Taiwan. Anyone have any idea where these photos come from? (Photo: unknown) Thaksin says finance minister his likely successor - The Star, November 8, 2003 Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said Saturday he will not stay in office beyond two terms, and will likely hand over the reins to his deputy, Somkid Jatusripitak, describing him as an uncut diamond... Thaksin told reporters that there would be no need for him to stay in office at the end of his second term as he would have taken care of all economic problems by then. "I expect that there will be no more challenging problems for me,'' Thaksin said. (Photo: 2Bangkok.com) Fire extinguisher balls - November 7, 2003 Left: The award-winning Thai fire extinguisher balls on display at the "Life and Living 2003" exhibition at the Impact Convention Center, Muangthong Thani. More on the traffic light switcher - November 7, 2003 Slashdot has another thread on the traffic light switcher--this time about attempts to ban it. Earlier: Control traffic lights yourself - October 27, 2003 Slashdot has a thread about MIRT--an infrared device that allows drivers to change traffic lights themselves. We wonder if these work in Bangkok? British gangsters of Pattaya - The Nation, November 7, 2003 Another unflattering article about Pattaya titled 'Murder beach.' We suspect we will hear officials either denying this or even claiming it is fabricated: The case has set alarm bells ringing not least because of fears that the beach resort of Pattaya may be taking over from Spain’s Costa del Sol as the new safe haven for British criminals abroad. Protest - a new book by Manit Sriwanichpoom US said to supply missiles to Bangkok - Washington Times, November 4, 2003 The United States is supplying Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs) to Thailand because of "an imminent threat" posed by Russian rockets offered to China and Malaysia, according to weapons monitors. Highrise rankings - October 24, 2003 Nils points out: Of course you know skyscrapers.com and mentioned it on your site several times already, but did you see these statistics? A "Skyline Ranking" based not only on the number of highrises, but also how many storeys they have, with Bangkok ranked 5th worldwide, only behind Hongkong, New York, Chicago and Singapore! A list simply based on the number of highrises, for the Asian continent, with Bangkok ranked 5th. The same worldwide, with Bangkok ranked 12th; and a ranking based on the number of highrises per population (with Bangkok not in the top 25). Of course the results are derived from the skyscrapers.com database, i.e. they can only consider what has been entered there - and for Asia, more data is missing than for Europe and North America! (But undoubtedly, HK is THE world skyscraper city.) Five dancers bear their breasts after their boss wins four million baht in the lottery - translated and summarized by Wisarut Bholsithi from Thairath Daily, November 8, 2003 [Here it is by popular demand--the original article from last week's controversy. Thanks to Wisarut for translating it.] On November 3, at 8pm at Ban Nong Phong Lek, Moo 10, Sar See Mum Commune, Kamphaengsaen, Nakhon Pathom, Sia Dam (Mr. Toemsak Pitithanasarnsombut), a boxing promoter and his friend won 4 million baht in the lotto (438 -> 3 upper numbers). So Sia Dam and his friends have paid appreciation. He got Abbot Poon of Wat Phai Lom of Nakhon Pathom and he paid appreciation to a takhian tree by offering a pig head, fruit, and running a cinema for local people for three days. However, at 1:30am, there were five women wearing only bikinis dancing around the takhian tree while local people were watching cinema. Such a strip dance wrecked havoc at the cinema as there was a big stampede by the male locals who nearly grabbed those girls. After finishing the strip dance, the ladies left in a van. After asking temple boys, they said the girls were dancers from Bangkok who won the two number lotto and make a pledge with the takhian tree that they would strip dance before the tree if they did win the lotto. Otherwise they would face a curse from the takhian tree. However, Mr Jirawat Sasomsub, the landlord who owns the land the takhian tree in on and is the owner of Watsaduphan Thurakij Co.Ltd. said he and his workers will move the takhian logs near the takhian tree to Wat Phai Lom and invite the abbot to exorcise the spirits in the takhian log to follow the abbot--otherwise, he cannot live in peace. Commentary by Wisarut: Note that a high quality newspaper like Matichon Daily has made a very different report. Matichon reported that the dancers feel shocked their photo was taken without permission and that local news reporters from Thairath may have fooled them into doing such a thing. These photos could be part of a big blackmail scheme... There were several incidents around midnight (20-30 years ago) in which young and beautiful ladies (Thai and farang) strip danced in front of Thao Mahaphrom shrine at Rat Prasong Intersection. More recently, there have also been videos of strip dances given as a way to pay tribute to Thao Mahaphraom. Earlier: More on the tree dancers - November 9, 2003 Nils points out: Here's the pic and article in Thai Rath about the "half-nude tree dancers" Earlier: Naked tree dancers in Thai Rath - The Nation, November 7, 2003 You may have seen more people huddled around newsstands than usual yesterday. What they were looking at was photos of nude dancers on the front page of Thai Rath. These photos boiled into such a big controversy that even the English-language press commented on them--unusual since the sometimes crazy news carried by the Thai-language press is usually not mentioned in the in English-language press. Anyway we are sure to see this story featured in Weird News columns around the world: Thai Rath has initiated an internal investigation into a sensational story, filed by its provincial correspondent, about five young women dancing half-nude to thank a "haunted" tree for helping them win a lottery. Amnesty denounces 'murder spree' in Thai war on drugs - Financial Times, November 5, 2003 Amnesty International has accused Thailand's Thai Rak Thai (Thais love Thais) government of bullying its critics and ignoring abuses against the vulnerable, allowing security forces and the well-connected to act with impunity. Business is politics - The Nation, November 5, 2003 Interesting article tying together the 1991 coup, today's Yukos scandal in Russia, and the ascendancy of Thaksin: Whatever the case, the morbid business-political foundation of the Thai economy was never seriously threatened despite the drafting of the new Constitution. Businesses still have to pay state officials and ministers to get things done and to finance politicians for protection. There came a point where it was cheaper for enterprising and ambitious businessmen to enter politics themselves. Business in politics merely took a different form and allowed for a tycoon such as Thaksin Shinawatra to launch a successful political party which is well equipped with modern financial and information management. Public park at the Tobacco Monopoly - November 4, 2003 (Photo: 2Bangkok.com) Wisarut explains: This is the project to create a new public park from the area of the Thai Tobacco Monopoly around Lek Ratchada, near Queen Sirikit National Convention Center-- handled by the 1st Army Region--for the 6th Cycle Jubilee of Queen Sirikit. No word on the "world's fifth tallest tower" once touted for the site. As Governor Samak, who promoted the tower, has vowed not to do anything else in his final year of office, the tower is likely a dead project. Monorail at Muang Thong Thani? - Bangkok Post, November 4, 2003 The Post has a mention of a monorail in Bangkok Land's future plans: The hotel and recreation zone, with a tunnel and a monorail linking them to the exhibition areas, will become a new magnet complementing Impact Muang Thong Thani, dubbed Asia's biggest exhibition centre. Note that the acronym for Bangkok Land is 'BLAND.' Why the cleanup? - November 3, 2003 The Post reports: Mr Thanit said there were ``countless'' stalls at Chatuchak trading in creatures ranging from turtles and snakes, to monkeys and hornbills. Small birds, such as kingfishers, fetched at least 1,000 baht. There have also been daily raids on homes over the last few days with the goal to declare Thailand free of the illegal wildlife trade by the end of the year. Why the sudden cleanup? Over the last year there as been a concerted effort to eliminate open trade in endangered animals and other animal parts (like ivory). This is because on October 2-14, 2004, CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) world conference will be held in Bangkok. We are kind of surprised this is never mentioned in news reports. Your Sunday cloud pic - November 4, 2003 Some people really love their clouds. When 2B did not post our usual cloud photo on Sunday, many readers wrote in demanding one! We did happen to take a good cloud photo last Sunday and here it is... (Photo: 2Bangkok.com) Above: Looking west from the Fortune Town parking structure. More on the Thaksin and Al-Fayed connection - November 1, 2003 There must be something controversial in this Nation article, because they try to make it clear it comes from The Guardian, not The Nation. Anyway, there's some info on how Thaksin and Al-Fayed met: Many have wondered how the Eqyptian (sic) -born proprietor of the world's best known department store, Harrods of Knightbridge, came to know the billionaire prime minister. About a year after the 1997 economic crisis, a little known petroleum exploration company, called Harrods Energy, was looking for work in the Gulf of Thailand. The then Industry Minister, Suwat Liptapanlop, asked Dr Surakiart Sathirathai, to handle the request. Harrods Energy got its exploration license and spent a couple of years drilling in vain off the Prachuap Khiri Khan coast. In the meantime, Surakiart dabbled in the new politics of Thai Rak Thai, as Suwat's Chat Pattana Party waned. Surakiart introduced Thaksin to Al Fayed, and the two of them hit it off. Earlier: On October 30, 2003, 2Bangkok.com ran this: Thaksin and Al-Fayed You have probably seen the recent articles about the Prime Minster wanting to buy Fulham football club: Thai premier Thaksin mulls purchase of Fulham football club - Channel News Asia, October 29, 2003 It was still unclear how Thaksin and Al Fayed became acquainted. The Egyptian, who owns luxurious Harrods Department Store in London, visited Thailand in March 2000 at the invitation of Thaksin, who was standing to become prime minister. & Al Fayed: Fulham is not for sale - The Nation, October 29, 2003 Mohamed Al Fayed is an interesting personality. He is the father of Dodi Al-Fayed who died in the car crash with Princess Diana. He owns Harrods, the Ritz Hotel in Paris, and other premiere properties. He has a cool personal website (there are not many older rich people who understand how to use the web). The connection he has with Thailand is that Al Fayed's brother-in-law is arms merchant and wheeler-deeler Adnan Khashoggi, who was at one time one of Thailand's most wanted men. He was wanted along with Rakesh Saxena for being involved in the collapse of the Bangkok Bank of Commerce in 1996. Khashoggi now resides in Saudi Arabia beyond the reach of Thai law. Charoen in hotel expansion overdrive - Bangkok Post, November 1, 2003 Mr Charoen's real-estate portfolio already includes North Park with the Rajpruek Golf and Sports Club in Bang Khen, Empire Tower on Sathon Road, and Pantip Plaza on Phetchaburi Road.