Thailand Voice

Burma watchers should be urged to study the election laws exceedingly carefully rather than automatically reacting with condemnation. The popular media have already asserted that the law is a “ mockery of democracy ”, however, only portions of the law have been released, and it is expected that Naypyidaw will continue to… Read full story >>>

With the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival going on, festival director Chi-hui Yang is interviewed by New America Media. They ask him: What’s next for Asian film? They also get his answer on what happened to Asian films at the Oscars , but more importantly, what’s he … Read full story >>>

This weekend the only topic in Thailand is the big rally of the red shirts protesting against the government, so I can’t resist and post something vaguely related to the political troubles in Thailand of the last 4 years. Last week the website 2bangkok.com… Read full story >>>

The SET was up 0.7% on news that pro-democracy supporters were about to set forth on the campaign to bring down the tyrannical , unelected, military-supported and deeply-hated Abhisit regime – OK, let’s not have any more stupid stories (yes… Read full story >>>

Hannah Arendt observed in On Revolution that it is when revolutionaries focus on one goal (freedom from oppression or freedom from poverty) that a revolution is likely to be successful. So, she argues that the American Revolution was successful because it was able to focus on the political aspect since the country itself was … Read full story >>>

Seth Mydans in the NYT on this weekend’s red shirt protests: While pledging nonviolence, protest leaders say they will gather hundreds of thousands of mostly rural supporters for mass rallies and blockades of government offices, starting on Friday and building over the following days.Thousands of buses, trucks and … Read full story >>>

Today saw DTAC offically launched the Apple iPhone for its network in Thailand ( as blogged last month ) rivalling True, the operator that previously enjoyed iPhone exclusivity. Sadly I wasn’t there ( invite in the post? ) and there no press release on the… Read full story >>>

Quick note — this NYT story does a good job of surveying the scene ahead of the upcoming red shirt protests, which are due to start tomorrow (Fri. the 12th) here in Bangkok. I will, as ever, be blogging here and posting snippets on Twitter . If you … Read full story >>>

Again… the good old tactic of hot and cold… The premier ensured the public that his government will by all means do nothing to intensify the situation, saying he never rules out his resignation or the House dissolution, but the decision will be made upon national interest. “I will… Read full story >>>

A popular recreation for Thai people at the seaside is playing on a Banana Boat like this one. The whole family jump on the back wearing life vests. They are then towed up and down the beach front by a …

A fisherman works on his fish farm on a partially dry reservoir on the Mekong River during a drought affecting the Thai-Lao border area of Wiang Kaen district, Chiang Rai province, north of Bangkok March 11, 2010. Severe drought has hit Southeast Asian…

pol·y·glot [pol-ee-glot] –adjective- able to speak or write several languages; multilingual. Lately I’ve noticed a trend in language blogs and articles pertaining to learning languages where the emphasis in learning is placed on time more so than skill sets or fundamentals. This … Read full story >>>

Starting Wednesday night, a total of 50,000 soldiers, police, civilians and volunters had been deployed for peace-keeping operations. They include 30,000 troops. He said they are not equipped with weapons, but have protective gear. Members of the peace-keeping forces have a clear authentication tag, he said. Only a… Read full story >>>

  For several weeks now, I've been scouring certain neighborhoods in Bangkok for space for my bar. Ducking into narrow alleyways and dodging motorbikes and cars that squeeze through the streets. Wondering if people would stop there for a drink, or buzz on by. I've come across forgotten go-go bars and … Read full story >>>

I have devoted numerous posts to Thailand’s ongoing political instability of late, often linking to various media reports. But I realized that I have neglected, in recent months, to point to some of my own stories. So here’s a re-cap: In addition to filing … Read full story >>>

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A Thai policeman stands guard outside Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva’s house in Bangkok March 10, 2010. The Thai government has invoked a tough security law, the Internal Security Act, giving the armed forces broad powers to control an upcoming rally by supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra if necessary….

Ok, ok, Thanong is the only source, but still amusing to see him getting worked up about this. His first post: What should Abhisit have done under the current circumstances? Here are his limited options:1. Re-evaluate the crisis situation. Don’t underestimate the Red Shirts’ rally, which could turn violent. … Read full story >>>

Bangkok Post: “We will do everything we can to prevent the situation from getting out of hand.  If a House dissolution or my resignation could help the country move ahead, I would have no problem with doing that.  But we would definitely not allow a coup to happen,” said the … Read full story >>>

With the attention on the upcoming red shirts rally, we should not forget the continuing violence in Thailand’s deep south. AFP: Suspected Islamic militants shot dead three Thai workers and set their bodies on fire in the middle of road Thursday Read full story >>>

Here is a YouTube clip uploaded at the end of January. From around the 5 minute to the 6 minute stage, we have one second-tier red shirt leader, Arisman, at a red shirt rally speaking on a stage who states: พี่น้องนัดกันคราวหน้า ถ้ารู้ว่าเขาจะปราบปราม ไม่ต้องเตรียมอ�… Read full story >>>

Can’t count the cancellations of events for this weekend anymore. Everyone’s postponing. Parties, receptions, trips, they have to wait. The Thai capital is in the grip of the red shirts without them yet being here. Parts of Bangkok will be deserted, others… Read full story >>>

Google Books can be a very valuable way to search for higher quality sources of information – if only the more of the out of print books would be available to be read online beyond a few lines of text. In the book ” The golden peninsula … Read full story >>>

Praying at Wat Si Muang, Vientiane, Laos Read full story >>>

Not from me of course, but from Phia Sing, a former royal cook in the palace of Luang Prabang. The 115 recipes, originally written on notebook paper by Phia Sing, and later compiled and edited by former British diplomat, Alan Davidson , comprise what must be the most fascinating cook book I’ve ever encountered. Fascinating not only… Read full story >>>

The gold prices (buying and selling) have been announced for Wednesday – for some reason, this has now become a daily story, despite occupying only a few lines. Why is this happening? Is there something I am missing? Well, almost certainly, based on past experience. Incidentally, … Read full story >>>

I couldn’t help but notice last night that some order has been brought to the Mo Chit BTS/subway station interchange: anyone who has come down from the Mo Chit exit towards the subway entrance will be familiar with the chaos of buses… Read full story >>>

So, another unsourced claim with no evidence to support it that there may be 30-40 bombs in Bangkok and more in the north and north-east of Thailand (why? Who would do such a thing?) – if this is not another… Read full story >>>