Thailand Voice

If the 25th SEA Games represent a regional coming out for Laos, they have been a grand success. Virtually complete with the exception of Friday’s closing ceremony, the event has exceeded expectations on a number of levels. Most importantly for the Lao… Read full story >>>

On top of building stadiums and other facilities, there have been unprecedented efforts to ‘beautify’ Vientiane in anticipation of the SEA Games, now only two weeks away. But not everything, it seems, is going to plan. As part of the sprucing up, the flower pots… Read full story >>>

[do you remember april 2009 ?] It started on november 20. ISA may be invoked That’s sweet. “may”, “might”. Then, we had other details 4 days after: Speaking to reporters after a meeting with security agencies, Suthep said he will ask the Cabinet to approve the enforcement of the ISA for Dusit district, Rajdamnoen Road and Bang … Read full story >>>

After the 500 and 201 greatest films of all time, Empire magazine is now asking its readers to nominate the three worst movies ever made. It’s surprisingly difficult to think of any really terrible movies, because I’m quite selective; I try to avoid predictability, … Read full story >>>

The International Emmy Awards were handed out in Sunday night, with 41 nominees from 17 countries competing in 10 categories. Among them was a first-time nomination from Thailand. It was Lharn Phoo Koo E-Joo ( หลานปู่กู้อีจู้ ), an entry in the Children and Young People category. Lharn Phoo Koo … Read full story >>>

This year’s climate change negotiations have been something of a travelling roadshow. There have been UNFCCC talks in Bonn in June and August, the first leaders meeting of the Major Economies Forum (MEF) in L’Aquila, Italy in July, a New York summit convened by UN Secretary-General Ban… Read full story >>>

The “Times Online” has unofficially refused to comply with a request by the Thai government to hand over the controversial taped interview with former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to Thailand, which contained parts that are deemed lese majeste, according to the Minister to the PM’s Office Satit Wonghnongtaey… Read full story >>>

The Nation in an editorial: Unlike other party leaders, Sonthi has made the insurgency in Thailand’s Deep South one of his party’s top priorities, mainly because most of the politicians under his wing hail from there.Now that’s not to say that other political parties have been ignoring the South, it’s just… Read full story >>>

The mounting tension between Thailand and Cambodia is providing a distinctly unfriendly and unneighbourly backdrop for next month’s Southeast Asian Games in Laos, the motto for which is ‘Generosity, Amity, Healthy Lifestyle’ (see the official website here ). Of course, this is why… Read full story >>>

WhiteHouse.gov has this brief video (embedded below) of President Obama speaking after he met with ASEAN leaders at APEC in Singapore on Sunday. Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva appears in the video, and Obama thanks him at the end. Read full story >>>

Just as we were finishing our birthday pizza our special visitors arrived. Two aunties and two cousins had made the 4 hour bus journey in from the village to help Ariya celebrate. As they do not celebrate birthday’s at all themselves it … Read full story >>>

VOA has a story with some quotes by Chris Baker, author and commentator on Thai politics. Key excerpts: “Superficially, it looks as if Thaksin [Shinawatra] has lost badly, to identify yourself with a rather unpopular neighbor, it's not good,” Baker said. “So I think things have hardened against him. But I'm not … Read full story >>>

Thai activists wave Thai flags and chant slogans during a rally against the act of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen toward Thailand outside the Cambodian Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009. Hun Sen offered to make Thailand’s ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra his economic adviser last week, threatening to worsen already tense relations…

In February 2010 the Southeast Asian Centre of the Faculty of Asian Studies, Australian National University (ANU), is hosting a workshop on the topic of ‘Intersections of Area, Cultural and Media Studies’.  All of the details on the workshop are available here . The organising committee is seeking … Read full story >>>

Taking the long way home… One skill that will always come in handy when learning a second language is being able to say what you want without knowing how to say it. Yes, you read correctly. It’s the fine art of… Read full story >>>

After months of planning, our trip to the UK was confirmed this week. Just in time, this coming weekend has been the estimated arrival date the folks at home have used to book various time off work and other activities. Why the hold up? The Missus, being the only member… Read full story >>>

The last few days have been busy. We went and picked up our little niece Nong Ja and now have her back living with us again. So a lot of time is again being spent entertaining her, but this I enjoy. The painting … Read full story >>>

It’s pretty obvious by now that Thailand has become a de facto ungovernable state and society. One does as one pleases under the pretext of freedom and democracy. The higher up the less accountability, but even the good man John Q. Public thinks… Read full story >>>

PM Abhisit Vejjajiva at the launch party of TAN Network (Thai-Asean News Network), TAN is Thailand only 24 hours English language news channel. (manager.co.th) More Thailand pictures can be found at www.ThaiPhotoBlogs.com .

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, right, greets Thailand’s Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva prior to their bilateral meeting at the International Convention Center-Jeju Sunday, May 31, 2009 at the southern resort island of Jeju, South Korea. Abhisit is here for the…

The International Film Festival Thailand (IFFT) is set for Phuket from July 14 to 19. It is organized by AMRITSA , the Academy of Media Radio Interactive Television and Stage Arts, which organizes several film festivals around the world. There aren’t many other details on the festival website . There is a selection of films, but I’m not … Read full story >>>

Last week, Thitinan was at the FCCT to talk about political reform. Philip Golingai in The Star covers it in his weekly column : This tightening space, which Thitinan likened to a box, has a ceiling – lese majeste (insulting the monarchy). From the bottom pushing up there’s an “effective longstanding official indoctrination”. … “This space… Read full story >>>

Thai security chiefs reject foreign armed guards to ASEAN summits. Xinhua, China BANGKOK , May 13 (Xinhua) — The idea of allowing foreign state leaders to bring their own armed guards during the resumed ASEAN summits in Thailand has … Read full story >>>

BANGKOK (Xinhua) – Thailand is fully ready to host the ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in mid-June, however, the timing for the Summits has not been finalized yet, said Suthep Thaugsuban, Thai Deputy Prime Minister in charge of … Read full story >>>

Bangkok Post : Leaders attending the rescheduled Asean+6 summit next month may ask for their own armed bodyguards after the security fiasco in Pattaya when angry red shirts were allowed to storm the original venue. Army chief Anupong Paojinda said teams in charge of security… Read full story >>>

Soldiers as guards: Pedestrians making their way past line of Thai soldiers with anti-riot shields outside a hotel, the venue of Asean+3 health ministers meeting in Bangkok , Thailand yesterday. Thai P.. … Read full story >>>

Here’s a TV story I did yesterday for Singapore’s Channel NewsAsia. The story is about a meeting of health ministers from the ASEAN +3 nations here in Bangkok. The officials discussed strategies to prevent the H1N1 virus from spreading. Go to the link above and click on the video below the… Read full story >>>

Asean meeting on Influenza A (H1N1) started in Bangkok Thursday to seek effective measures to fight the threat of the new virus amid tightened medical security. Read full story >>>

Premier Abhisit Vejjajiva hasn’t told local reporters about that particular scene when he called together military commanders and challenged them to stand by him after protestors broke into Royal Cliff Hotel in Pattaya, causing him to call off the Asean Plus… Read full story >>>

The meme which is currently being perpetuated (more by ASTV Manager and The Nation ) is that Abhisit and Suthep are not on good terms or that Abhisit can’t trust Suthep as Suthep is in league with Newin. Tulsie : Last but not least, can Abhisit still trust Suthep Thaugsuban with … Read full story >>>