Thailand Voice

Thailand’s Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, 2nd right, kicks the ball while playing a soccer charity match against Thai women’s national team at Rajamangala stadium in Bangkok, Thailand Sunday, Feb. 21, 2010. Supporters of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was confronting with police officers outside the stadium while …

The security of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva’s residence has been beefed up with more special police and K-9 dogs. Screening at a checkpoint near the house has been strengthened. More closed-circuit TV cameras have been installed and there are now more police motorcycle patrols. (Manager/The Nation) …

Bangkok Sinking Anyone that has been in Bangkok after a decent storm can tell you that it wouldn’t take much to sink Bangkok, but now scientists are warning that large sections of Bangkok might have to be abandoned by the middle of this century unless severe action is taken. Bangkok’s… Read full story >>>

Thailand’s Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva gives a keynote address on “A Return to Tradition” to foreign media and the international business community at a hotel in Bangkok January 14, 2010. (Reuters) More Thailand pictures can be found at www.ThaiPhotoBlogs.com .

Thailand’s Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva gives a speech detailing his achievements in the 1st year of his administration to the public at the Government House in Bangkok December 23, 2009. Thailand’s economy is projected to switch to 2.7-3.2 percent annual growth in the fourth quarter after contraction in …

Thailand Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, center, speaks with journalists at a UN Climate Summit in Copenhagen, Thursday Dec. 17, 2009. Environment ministers get down to the final hours of bargaining over a climate agreement to put before U.S. President Barack Obama and more than 100 national leaders converging on the Danish capital for a …

Thailand’s Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva (C) waves the national flag and sings the national anthem in front of a portrait of King Bhumibol Adulyadej in Bangkok December 4, 2009. The King will turn 82 on December 5. (Reuters) Thais gather and sing the songs around the portrait King Bhumibol Adulyadej …

Thailand Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva walks with officials as they arrive at Changi Airport in Singapore on November 13, 2009, ahead of The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit. The global recovery faces serious pitfalls including mass unemployment in rich nations, asset bubbles, and a lurch towards protectionism…

This is a blog I have been watching with interest the web reaction to ‘The Times’ interview with Thaksin on some of the local forums, and am amazed that few people actually get it……. and that,perhaps,  includes the author. The interview by … Read full story >>>

WSJ has an editorial on the arrests in Thailand of three people for allegedly spreading rumors related to HM the King's health. Key quote: Many analysts say that the stock market dip in October took place because of an information vacuum about the health of the King; in … Read full story >>>

AP: A government spokesman says that Thailand’s ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has arrived in Cambodia, fueling tensions between the neighoring countries. The fugitive leader was earlier named economic advisor to the Cambodian government and was to deliver a lecture on economic matters while in Phnom Penh. Government … Read full story >>>

Call me a coward. Ain’t no sacrificial lamb. Yes, I take this very personally. For the sake of peace of mind and good night’s sleep I avoid an analysis of The Times’ Thaksin interview that created a furore the moment it was published. According to the interviewer … Read full story >>>

Today was the turn of the yellow shirts to take over Peppers for drinks and a planning session about the arrival tomorrow of Thailand’s Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. After the yellow shirts left the top brass of the Police and security personal from Bangkok then took up a few tables … Read full story >>>

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva speaks at Columbia University in New York September 22, 2009. (Reuters) More Thailand pictures can be found at www.ThaiPhotoBlogs.com .

Mong Thongdee, the stateless boy, won the third in the individual event in the All-Japan Origami Airplane Contest in Japan on Sunday. Mong is a stateless boy who was born in Thailand to Burmese migrants. Mong, of Chiang Mai province, won paper plane competition in Thailand and was…

Thai schoolchildren wave flags in front of the portraits of King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit during the celebration at a park in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2009. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has ordered all government agencies to join in nationwide activities …

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva strikes a pose with three celebrity presenters of the MO-SO (Moderation Society) project at the Praew magazine studio. The presenters are guitarist Add Carabao, far left, Pod Moderndog vocalist Thanachai Ucchin (in a checkered jacket), and vocalist Dan Worrawech Danuwong of former trio D2…

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks with Thailand’s Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva at Government House in Bangkok July 21, 2009. Clinton is on a three-day visit to Thailand. (REUTERS/Sakchai Lalit/Pool) U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton shakes hands with Thailand’s Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva at Government…

Thailand’s Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva (L) and his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Tan Dung listen to their national anthems during a welcome ceremony at the presidential palace in Hanoi July 10, 2009. (REUTERS/Kham) Thailand’s Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva (L) poses for a photo with Vietnam’s Communist Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh at the …

Campaign against Alcohol Abuse in Observance of the Buddhist Lent (04/07/2009) The Ministry of Public Health is joining forces with public and private organizations in launching a campaign against alcohol abuse, marking “No Alcohol Day,” which coincides with the start of the three-month Buddhist Lent, or Buddhist Rains Retreat. Known in …

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, right, and Thailand’s Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, left toast each other after a signing ceremony held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, Wednesday, June 24 , 2009. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, Pool) China’s Premier Wen Jiabao (L) and Thailand’s …

Click to watch my clip on the ongoing political moves putting pressure on PM Abhisit Vejjajiva to reshuffle the Cabinet, especially among Cabinet members that belong to the biggest partner, the Bhumjaithai Party. It is nothing but a “revolving door” kind of… Read full story >>>

Commenting on Thai politics and political reform in Thailand these days is no fun, because the situation is unusually complicated, and the ideological climate has become almost suffocating. Anyway, I will make six observations that I think are pertinent to the current discussion of political reform, three each concerning structural and … Read full story >>>

Are they still united under Premier Abhisit Vejjajiva’s leadership? The most direct answer is: It depends on whether they are satisfied with the share of cake they get. So far, despite some hiccups, the coalition partners don’t see a better formula. That’s … Read full story >>>

Yesterday, BP blogged : Korn as Finance Minister may be a problem within the party – particularly those who like the seniority and hierachial nature of normal Democrat Party appointments and are unhappy that Korn jumped over a few aging MPS – but BP can think of few… Read full story >>>

Some news today about H1N1 (swine flu) in Thailand: Reuters : “ Thailand says two flu patients visited Mexico ” Two Thais who returned from Mexico have been confirmed with H1N1 flu but have recovered from the virus , Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai said on Tuesday… Read full story >>>

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Tuesday confirmed Thailand’s first case of Influenza 2009 or Swine Flu in a patient who returned from an unnamed foreign country. He told reporters that tests carried out by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in the United States had confirmed the A(H1N1) virus in a sample … Read full story >>>

Swine flu I got into a taxi here in Bangkok on Sunday. When I looked at the driver’s face in the rear view mirror, I noticed he was wearing a protective facial mask. I didn’t think much of it. I told him where I was going, and then he turned around and looked at … Read full story >>>

Panel to clarify mob’s dispersalBangkok Post, ThailandOn April 13, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva declared a state of emergency in Bangkok and areas. Read full story >>>

Have been a bit busy so am trying to catch up on a number of different topics to blog on. Last week, Thanong opined on how long Abhisit will last. Key excerpt: Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva might not last beyond August or October this year as political pressure surrounding his government has intensified… Read full story >>>