Thailand Voice

It has been understood that Chuan and Banyat were aligned and didn’t support amending the constitution. Banyat was quite clear and had been vocal in his opposition, but Chuan now seems to be taking a different tack as Matichon quotes Chuan… Read full story >>>

Am a little busy so will be quick. The Nation has an editorial on the Map Ta Phut decision: The Central Administrative Court’s injunction last month that halted the construction of 76 projects in Map Ta Phut has helped guide the country toward striking a balance between the environment and economic growth. A few days after… Read full story >>>

I went for coffee and dinner with my friend, Tua, last night. We both love Central World Plaza, so it's usually an easy choice for dinner.  They have tons of very good restaurants (much better than Siam Paragon) and it's not as busy… Read full story >>>

The Nation : Suthep was responding to news reports quoting former secretary-general to the PM, Niphon Promphan, as saying he expected some changes and a resolution to be in the offing soon. Niphon reportedly blamed himself for the botched attempts at nominating a police… Read full story >>>

Matichon r eports that afterthe Cabinet meeting today Abhisit said that martial law will be lifted in the 4 Songkhla districts by the end of November and the Internal Security Act will be used instead. Consideration will also be given to using the Internal Security Act in the 3 southern… Read full story >>>

This is a blog only Today my friends at Phuketwan are reporting that all jet-skis in Patong Beach are now insured. This is now perhaps the time to put the lid on an incident in June this year involving a row over a damaged jet ski, British Royal Marines, and a payment of … Read full story >>>

The 6 amendments to the constitution as proposed by the parliamentary committee led by Nonthaburi Senator Direk are amending (1) Article 237 so that a party will no longer be dissolved if a party executive if found guilty of electoral fraud; (2)-(3) Articles 93-98 and Articles 111-112 so we … Read full story >>>

I've been living in the same apartment for six years and, for three years of that, I've had wireless internet shared by other people on my floor.  On again, off again, sometimes fast, sometimes I could cook dinner… Read full story >>>

The journey from our village home to the city of Udon Thani is 65 kilometres, just over one hours drive and I know every bump and turn along the way. I’ll admit that travelling in a car as a passenger sends me to … Read full story >>>

New doubts have been raised about a seemingly promising AIDS vaccine trial that was conducted here in Thailand by Thai and U.S. Army researchers. The results were announced — and widely reported — in late Sept. From the New York Times : When AIDS researchers released results last month from a six-year… Read full story >>>

Suranand Vejjajiva opines today in the Bangkok Post on Niphon and the Prime Minister over the Police Chief appointment. After doing a good job outlining who Niphon is and what he does (also see this post ), Suranand states: Stubborn as he is, Mr Abhisit understands the present situation… Read full story >>>

PAD founder and NPP leader Sondhi Limthongkul has been charged with trespassing and causing damage to public property, following the PAD’s illegal occupation of Government House last year. Read full story >>>

Piyanart presents the case for Trairong likely return to the Cabinet to replace Korbsak (Korbsak is likely to replace Niphon) as The Nation reports : A person qualified and suitable to take over Korbsak’s post is Trirong Suwankhiri,who is not only armed with a doctorate degree in economics but is also more eloquent than… Read full story >>>

BP has had a few posts mentioning the “German” connection in the police chief appointment (see here , here , and here ). In Matichon ’s page 3 analysis on October 1, the analysis was that so far things have gone has expected. Abhisit has appointed Patheep as… Read full story >>>

His son, the Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, has been married three times and in the past two years scandalous film footage has been distributed on the Internet and on clandestine CDs, featuring him and his current wife, Princess Srirasmi. – Extracted from Richard Lloyd Parry, “ King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand… Read full story >>>

The Nation on the appointment of the permanent secretary for the Commerce Ministry (BJT control the Ministry): On the surface, it looked as if Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva had used the Commerce permanent secretary’s appointment as a bargaining tool. If Bhum Jai Thai wanted their nominee Yanyong Phuangraj, director general of the Internal … Read full story >>>

Siam Report Headline from KomChadLuek on the 22nd: “While Mark’s Away, the Mice Play (มาร์ค” ไม่อยู่ หนูร่าเริง)” The headline refers to the cabinet’s decision to allocate an additional 10 billion baht (US$297 million) for the Thai navy, army, SCHQ, and police, while Mark is away in New York… Read full story >>>

With the turn of a giant key and a resulting explosion of shiny confetti, the Thailand Entertainment Expo 2009 opened on Tuesday in Siam Paragon’s Royal Paragon Hall. Accompanied by shimmying, silver-bedecked dancers and a polished presenter who shifted smoothly from Thai to English and … Read full story >>>

UPDATE : Fixed link – also see Nation Channe l report and Public Relations Department report . This is not satire.  Yeah, there is actually a Committee called and as Prachathai reports they have been busy: The government will encourage the Thai people in all provinces to come out to sing the… Read full story >>>

The Bangkok Post : The army is worried a People’s Alliance for Democracy rally being planned near the Preah Vihear temple could spark further border tensions with Cambodia. … An army officer, who asked not to be named, yesterday said the army would stop PAD protesters from entering Phra Viharn National Park in … Read full story >>>

Ping Lumprapleung (พิง ลำพระเพลิง), the multi-talented comedian and performance artist who directed the 2006 romantic comedy-drama Loveaholic ( โคตรรักเอ็งเลย ) is back with another cute-looking and sentimental yarn with Dreamaholic ( ฝันโคตรโคตร , Fun Koht Koht ). This time, instead of letting comedian … Read full story >>>

Eating bamboo worms was probably one of the more enjoyable bug snacks I’ve had in Thailand. They had a taste that was tolerable – and even, well – decent I think if eaten at a slower pace than I ate them in this video. Sort of Read full story >>>

A hand grenade was thrown at the former house of a NACC member just days after the NACC found against Somchai W, Chavalit, Y, Police Chief Patchawarat, and other senior police officers.The NACC member had just moved in February Matichon reports that multiple NACC members have confirmed [off … Read full story >>>

Avudh in The Nation argues that the police have misinterpreted the indictments handed down by the National Anti-Corruption Commission against former PM Somchai W, former Deputy PM Chavalit, Police Chief Patchawarat and another senior police officer Suchart related to last year’s October 7 crackdown on yellow-shirt protesters. Key excerpt: It is the first… Read full story >>>

Veera gives a fairly good analysis in the Bangkok Post of Satit’s overreaction to Thaksin’s interview on MCOT well except for the second last paragraph:The airing of an interview with Thaksin Shinawatra on the MCOT’s FM 100.5 radio station on Sunday has seriously embarrassed PM’s Office Minister Sathit Wongnongtoey. He … Read full story >>>

On Tuesday, Cabinet decided to invoke the Internal Security Act (ISA) in Dusit district for 4 days (August 29-September 1) – that it is for a set time period and limited geographically is a good thing – but it is very unclear from news articles what invoking ISA means… Read full story >>>

[AP] LA trial in Thai film festival bribery case begins[A filmmaking couple devised an intricate system of bribes to Thai officials in order to land lucrative projects such as the Bangkok International Film Festival, a federal prosecutor said Wednesday during opening statements of their trial.Gerald and Patricia Green… Read full story >>>

A 20-minute short that captures a young couple’s conversation about politics was among the top prize winners at the 13th Thai Short Film & Video Festival , which handed out its awards on Tuesday night. The White Short Film/The Candlelight by Prap Boonpan won the R.D… Read full story >>>

Bangkok Dangerous! A retired farang art teacher with two professional women (a primary teacher and an insurance salesperson). Is he at risk of getting gobbled up? My last two blog articles have been long and serious and so perhaps it’s time to lighten … Read full story >>>

The problem with the ” Suthep is a traitor ” or that ” Suthep is about to betray Abhisit ” meme is that it is overblown, but this does not mean that there is not real tension within the Democrats. First, when they were in opposition there were plenty of shadow cabinet positions to go … Read full story >>>