Thailand Voice

Thai riot soldiers holding army shields take part in a practice at the Government House in Bangkok March 16, 2010. Tens of thousands of protesters pressed ahead with a mass rally in Bangkok on Tuesday, some expressing frustration that four days of peaceful protests had …

Red-shirted supporters of deposed Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra wave flags and shout slogans during an anti-government protest outside a military barracks in Bangkok on March 15, 2010. Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva rejected an ultimatum by tens of thousands of protesters to…

Red shirts parading down Ratchadamoen Avenue earlier today (Photo: Simon Roughneen) Earlier today, the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship demanded that the Thai Government dissolve the House of Representatives within 24 hours. Otherwise, the Red shirts will disperse from the main rally area in front of Phan Fa bridge and spread around… Read full story >>>

Thailand’s economy is steadily recovering as indicated by higher employment, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Sunday. “ The Thai economy is clearly in a sustainable recovery after the Board of Investment last week revealed that foreign firms in the country have hired more employees in comparison to last year… Read full story >>>

As promised, the anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) has mobilised protestors from outside Bangkok to flood the city. They started streaming in from 12 March 2010 for the main rally on 14 March 2010. The UDD (red-shirts) have the intent and organisation to bring down the government… Read full story >>>

The city where I live, Samut Prakan, is a red shirt stronghold as they voted for Thaksin. Today there were about 4-5,000 people parading through the town demanding that Prime Minister Abhisit steps down. You can see more of our photos

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Peerasak Chaidaisuk, Chat sua wai lai [Once a Tiger, Always a Tiger] . Bangkok, Matichon, 2008. pp. xiii + 239. In Thai. This is the Year of the Tiger, but the tiger in the title of this book refers to bandits, robbers, cattle rustlers and ne’er-do-wells who plied their … Read full story >>>

The Sak Yant design, Phra Narai Song Khrut, is a complex Yant containing three figures from the ancient Indian epic, The Ramayana. The Ramayana was adopted by Thailand during the 18th Century, even though the Ramayana contains stories from Hindu … Read full story >>>

His Majesty the King receives a briefing yesterday on the situation in the country from the prime minister. Abhisit Vejjajiva was granted a private meeting with His Majesty on the 14th floor of the Chalermphrakiat building, Siriraj Hospital. (ROYAL HOUSEHOLD BUREAU) More Thailand pictures can be found at

From the ABC : Thailand’s prime minister has postponed a trip to Australia and is considering introducing tough new security restrictions that critics say amount to martial law. Prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva was due to leave for Australia on Sunday. Read full story >>>

VOA: Sunai Pasuk, A representative for Human Rights Watch in Thailand, says both the government and the UDD need to provide convincing assurances they will operate within the law, human rights and democracy. He said Mr. Thaksin is trying to force the Read full story >>>

AFP: The Red Shirts say they expect up to 600,000 people to attend this month’s rallies, with people starting to gather from around the country on March 12 before the main demonstration two days later. Patrick Winn for Gl… Read full story >>>

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Monday said he has cancelled his planned official visit to Australia this week after the security-monitoring committee resolved to ask the Cabinet to invoke the Internal Security Act (ISA) in the capital and… Read full story >>>

By GREG LOWE IN BANGKOK THAI-LISTED companies saw net profits surge by 42 per cent last year to 446.51 billion baht (S$19.13 billion) on sales totalling 6.39 trillion baht, the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) says. The top-performing industry groups were resources, finance, and property… Read full story >>>

The Cambodian government has now taken on Asean Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan. Phnom Phen Post says that Surin was quoted by Malaysia’s Bernama news agency as expressing concern that military exercises held last week in Kampong Chhnang might have been designed… Read full story >>>

This is a blog. This is no newspaper. This site does not pretend to know the truth. And OMG it’s wrong so often. This site was born with the aim of sharing information, encouraging debate and enhancing dialog on Thai matters. This site does… Read full story >>>

But this [Red Shirt] movement has long outgrown its casus belli, Mr Thaksin’s downfall. It now sees injustice behind every door. Alarmingly for those still hoping for a quietly stitched-up compromise, it is infused with revolutionary bile. In recent months it … Read full story >>>

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva (R) poses with a boxing champion belt upon receiving it from World Boxing Council (WBC) President Jose Sulaiman during their meeting at Parliament House in Bangkok March 3, 2010. (Reuters) President of the World Boxing Council Jose Sulaiman, left, presents a champion belt…

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 …

Korn, the alleged Finances Minister, in Bangkok Post on february 15: Korn: Ministry weighs reducing 50.1% stake Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij said the ministry was considering allowing private investors to hold a greater stake in THAI to help transform its status as a state enterprise, as well as reduce the government’s… Read full story >>>

The UDD’s “International Media Team” has issued the following statement. Red in the Land Thailand has existed as a democracy in name but not substance for too long. We have stood by as our elected governments were brought down by the might of vested interests. We have endured the hijacking of our media and our… Read full story >>>

Down at the local expat hang out, N-Joy there is a buffet happening every Wednesday night. It costs 99 Baht all your stomach can take. Lance and Tom knock up the feed and I ventured down for the first time last Wednesday night and enjoyed a lot. If you … Read full story >>>

The system for the constituencies of the national election had changed twice in recent years already – in 1997 the single-member constituencies were introduced , which was reverted with the 2007 constitution when the constituencies with up to three members were reintroduced. But I did not … Read full story >>>

Interesting data from afterdawn.com suggests True Move has sold 100,000 iPhones since January 2009. Details below. True Move has had its monopoly since January 2009, with 100,000 sold in the time frame. The carrier says it hopes to sell another 120,000 in 2010. When you consider that IDC estimates 1.5 million smartphones were sold in 2009, you … Read full story >>>

Just who has access to M79 grenades and 1.3 kg of C4 explosive? The questions arises after a grenade exploded harmlessly at Rajamangala University of Technology and then the explosive was found (a tip-off?) 250 metres away from the Supreme Court from which… Read full story >>>

It’s taken two years since Queens of Langkasuka ( Puen Yai Jome Salad ) hit cinemas in Thailand for a licensed and legal English-friendly version to come to home video. Envisioned as a two-part big-budget epic but cut down to two hours by the … Read full story >>>

Thailand Politics has a profile of red shirt leader Jatuporn. Some tidbits there…. Read full story >>>

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) …