Thailand Voice

knock knock… The Finance Ministry has published data for february . VAT collection was up by 23 %, compared to february 2009, at 39,05 billions THB. Impressive ? It’s the base effect… What is interesting is that VAT was… down compared to the previous… 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 >>>

I want to bother you a bit. You’ re waiting for news about the Red Shirts Rallye ? Let’s talk instead about foreign direct investments. Here is an update of my first chart about FDI ( here ), with datas for the last quarter of 2009. (Source… Read full story >>>

The government may reduce subsidies for sugar and cane farmers later this year in a bid to curb public spending , Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva says. The study showed that subsidising the sugar industry had resulted in significant costs to the public purse. The study also examined the impact of subsidising products such as rice, … Read full story >>>

Anasuya Sanyal in Channel News Asia: Federico Ferrara, assistant professor, Political Science Department, National University of Singapore said: “The dilemma is this – if they take away of his [Thaksin Shinawatra's] money, they are vulnerable charges of double standards and they are likely to give rise to some kind of a backlash.”On the other hand, … Read full story >>>

A few days ago, we learned that : Oil consumption in January dropped almost 10% compared to the same period last year and a month earlier, due to consumers’ lack of confidence, according to the Department of Energy Business. (my article here )… Read full story >>>

Goalkeepers: Sinthaweechai Hathairattanakool and Kawin Thamsatchanan Defenders: Suree Sukha, Natthaphong Samana, Nataporn Phanrit, Panupong Wongsa, Chonlatit Jantakam and Suttinun Phukhom Midfielders: Rangsan Vivatchaichok, Datsakorn Thonglao, Suchao Nutnum, Sutee Suksomkit, Therdsak Chaiman, Narongchai Vachiraban, Surat Sukha and Phichiphong Cheuichieu Strikers: Teerathep Winothai, Pipat Thonkanya and Kirati Kaewsombut http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/sports… Read full story >>>

Maplecroft: The Terrorism Risk Index (TRI) has been developed by Maplecroft for companies to assess terrorism risks to their international assets. The index measures not only the risks of an attack, but also the chances of mass casualties occurring.Iraq (1… Read full story >>>

The recovery. A big word in Asia… When the US and Europe are walking like old men… Asia seems to be ahead . Look at exports figures from Thailand : recovery indeed ! But thanks to only one factor : China. China displays arrogant… Read full story >>>

Korn, the alleged Finances Minister, on january 17 : Economic stability has rebounded in the last year, with employment figures now close to normal while domestic and external risks have fallen , says Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij. ( Bangkok Post ) The same Korn, still alleged Finances Minister, on february 12 : Stimulus measures will remain … Read full story >>>

Thai women are naive, attentive and submissive to their husbands…………. Hang on a minute are we talking about the Thai Women we all know? A few residents of Thailand may think I’ve finally lost the plot. But no this is the image being a portrayed of the female denizens of the… Read full story >>>

PM Abhisit Vejjajiva will be interviewed by a panel of about 30 TV anchors in his Sunday programme on Channel 11. What’s the fuss about? Nobody is quite sure. Perhaps, it’s PM Office Minister Sathit Wongnongtoey’s idea to spice up the premier’s Sunday show. Perhaps… Read full story >>>

As the newspaper article on the creation of the provincial court Phra Pradaeng states that a second Royal act is necessary to actually open the new court, I have done a little bit of research in the Royal Gazette and found these acts now as well. They… Read full story >>>

In the previous posts about what what is happening in red shirt land (see here and here), Nirmal Ghosh of the Straits Times has a blog post with photos from his trip to the Northeast. Key excerpts … Read full story >>>

Oil doesn’t lie. Among mega confusion, ultra deception and supra lies (you know the… greek bias)… oil consumption is acting as the “juge de paix”… Pax Romana ? No ! Pax oleum of course ! Here is an enlightening exercise : -on your left, consider all the bullshit Korn, Abhisit… alleged Finances… Read full story >>>

You probably saw the headlines : “Thai Airways plans massive expansion” The Thai Airways board of directors met on Monday morning to discuss the airlines expansion over the next 15 years. A decision was reached to purchase 15 new aircraft over the next 4 years, expanding the fleet to over 100 planes. Bangkok… Read full story >>>

The weekend saw the end of Muang Thong Exhibition Centres/Kirins from Asian Big Cup after they were beaten on penalties in Singapore by the Armed Forces (described, in a slightly bitter story which is the newspaper downstairs but I cannot find online as ‘a failing club with zero … Read full story >>>

One of the biggest stars of the Luktung music scene in Thailand is Tai Orathai. Thai Orathai, born Orathai Kapdam on March 27th 1980 in Ubon Ratchathani has a beautiful captivating singing voice that has made her popular not only in Thailand Read full story >>>

I just received word that there was an incident involving the Bangkok to Ubon train this evening in Sisaket. Apparently the incident happened near the Big C in Sisaket and it involved a truck. More details to come as I get Read full story >>>

When I was revamping the code to create the list of the most common subdistrict names , I noticed that I accidentally included more subdistrict than the 7255 listed in the annual statistics from DOPA . These were subdistricts already abolished , or planned … Read full story >>>

I co-teach physical education to grade 1 and 2. When I started two years ago we had two footballs and three basketballs. Back then, we were not allowed to use the big open field in front of school. The director had just spent a large sum of money … Read full story >>>

There are many noteworthy and progressive foreign policy initiatives announced by Australia’s Foreign Minister Stephen Smith in yesterday’s Ministerial Statement on Burma  ( New Mandala discussions are available here ). While it may not have arrived with the same trumpet blast and… Read full story >>>

Marwaan in IPS has another article on this visit to the Northeast. This time it is on the red shirt schools. Key excerpt: “This is the first time I am joining this school,” says Songkan, a mother of two children. “I want to learn about injustice and what is wrong in our… Read full story >>>

Hotels and tour operators have been urged not to offer extra-low room rates and low-priced package tours to foreign agents, because of the possibility of long-term damage to the tourist industry. Thai Hotels Association (THA) president Prakit … Read full story >>>

Here in Thailand, much like across the world, road rage is becoming more prevalent in society. In Australia there are many road rage incidents reported everyday as people seem to be in such a rush and are very impatient to get … Read full story >>>

Thailand’s Deputy Commerce Minister Alongkorn Phonlabutr will officially visit the US to discuss with US officials about upgrading Thailand from the current Priority Watch List (PWL) following the country’s serious efforts in continuing crackdown on intellectual property rights violations. From January to October 2009, Thailand prosecuted 6,731 intellectual … Read full story >>>

Two edgy Thai films — Thunska Pansittivorakul’s censor-baiting experimental romantic thriller Reincarnate and Kongkiat Komesiri’s gritty crime thriller Slice ( Cheun ) — are in consideration for the NETPAC Award at this year’s International Film Festival Rotterdam . The award is given by a panel of Asian filmmakers and film experts from the Network for the… Read full story >>>

I got together with Passakorn (Hong) and Wise Kwai again this week for another episode of Changkhui in English. Last time we talked about Wise Kwai’s top 10 Thai films of the decade. This time we looked at the year 2009 in film. You can read Wise Kwai’s original top 10 of 2009 post on … Read full story >>>

Kom Chud Leak quotes Chula political scientist Chaiyan Chaiyaporn as … Read full story >>>

Crual resonance … The Cabinet on Tuesday approved the Bt23 billion budget spreaded over five years for the Air Force to buy six Grippen fighter aircraft from Sweden and upgrade six F-16 fighter jets. ( Nation ) And the very same day : The cabinet on Tuesday… Read full story >>>