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What it was like to be there...
Our annual collection of the biggest news, most popular stories, and interesting links of 2008 Left: Young Samak |
Sombat Khong Phudee |
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Thaksin's foundation - November 18, 2008 Circa-1939 Pibul-era cartoon describing the new revenue system |
Last days of the absolute monarchy - June 24, 2008 |
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Vatana's escape - July 14, 2008 Above is a diagram from Daily News showing the escape route of politician Vatana Asavahame. Cambodia is a place where money talks and there is no repatriation treaty with Thailand, and thus it is the refuge of choice for high profile Thai fugitives. Previously Duangchalerm Yoobamrung and Chon Buri don Kamnan Poh fled to Cambodia to escape court cases. Vatana (often spelled "Watana" or "Wattana") has held top posts in governments of the past and is part of the Asavahame clan prominent in Samut Prakarn politics. Once the leader of the Rassadorn Party, his star has fallen in recent years with election losses and continuous court cases over fraud, election irregularities, land encroachment, etc. although at present he is chief advisor of the Puea Pandin Party. Like Chalerm Yoobamrung, Vatana also has unruly family members--his son Chonsawas was accused of assaulting a police officer at a traffic stop in 2007. An earlier thread on the family is here. |
10 things you should know about narcotics - July 5, 2008 |
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 (Photo: 2Bangkok.com) |
 (Photo: 2Bangkok.com) Marketing vs reality views of Sanam Luang - September 27, 2008 |
Obama election front pages in the Thai-language press End of government/beginning of government |
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On the forum: Bangkok Governors of the past Left: PAD men in custody after the unsuccessful pre-dawn raid on NBT studios on Viphavadi-Rangsit Road. Bangkok Governor election posters - 2009 |
From Phujatkhan, September 4, 2008 - PM Samak signing the Emergency Degree with the blood of the deceased protester.