Thailand Voice

It is natural at times of street confrontation and political standoff to get distracted by the cut-and-thrust of the moment. Thailand’s current political situation clearly deserves our attention and concern. But it can be a pity when the drama of current… Read full story >>>

Shall we see a link ? The King is in the hospital since september 19… That’s almost 5 months. Meanwhile, a member of the Privy Council attacks the government, with harsch words. Privy councillor ACM Kamthon Sindhavananda on Friday said the government appeared to be “on the defensive” in… Read full story >>>

The government-run PRD reports: The Ombudsman Office says tests on the bomb detectors turn out positive; criticism so far proves to be falseOmbudsman, Mr Pramote Chotimongkol, announced to the public over the progress of the GT 200 investigation, that so far no suspicious acts had been found … Read full story >>>

Elephants in the room: the uses and meanings of English in Thai political discourse (Part 2) [This is the second of a three part article. Part 1 is available here . Part 3 will be posted next week.] Lost in translation The importance of politically strategic translation as a weapon in promoting the good coup was evident… Read full story >>>

(source Bank Of Thailand ) They did it. The group China+HK+SK+Taiwan managed to order more from Thailand in december, compared to the “Thai Peak Exports” that is to say july 2008 : +3 % at 109,88 billions THB. China alone went from 55,1 billions… Read full story >>>

Infighting between Chalerm Yubamrung, a Puea Thai MP from Bangkok, and Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan, of the dissolved TRT and a Minister under Thaksin and also based in Bangkok, broke out over the last few days. The Bangkok Post: Puea Thai Party senior MP Chalerm Yubamrung has slammed Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan, former deputy leader … Read full story >>>

Here are photos from a recent Sanuk My Saturday where we had all the children and volunteers help us assemble and color Big Fish books ( go to the original blog post to see all the photos ). Being a Big Fish is … Read full story >>>

Wow, this week at school has been a total waste of time being there. We have our biggest night of the entire school year happening this weekend. It is deemed a family night where parents sit, eat and watch their child or children put on a dancing spectacular. Last… Read full story >>>

Anocha Suwichakornpong’s By the Time It Gets Dark was awarded the Prince Claus Fund Film Grant at the close of CineMart 2010 on Wednesday night at the Rotterdam International Film Festival. According to an IFFR press release , the jury chaired by documentary filmmaker Bregtje van der … Read full story >>>

I got together with the Panthers again for a match vs. the 'Goosers'. (check the backdrop – you don't get those in Ilford) All I knew was that this team were associated with the British Club, a popular expat organisation based in BKK. When they turned up there was a … Read full story >>>

Graphic depictions of violence (often against civilian targets) coupled with a lack of information on the perpetrators of violence, led to numerous speculations on the causes of the conflict in Malay Muslim dominated Southern Thailand. Are Malays simply the victims of harassment or failed… Read full story >>>

The Bangkok Post had the initial report: The anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship is planning to stage a rally on the main road leading to Suvarnabhumi airport next week.One of the group’s core leaders, Natthawut Saikua, yesterday said Read full story >>>

If you are looking for a daytime excursion to pass a few hours then Underwater World Pattaya might be worth a look.  It is an aquarium attraction located a short distance from downtown Pattaya Thailand.  Billed as a unique edutainment aquarium, it is really not that impressive, but a fun … Read full story >>>

A flurry of news about Apichatpong Weerasethakul, the biggest of which I guess is that his short film A Letter to Uncle Boonmee made its online premiere on Tuesday at The Auteurs . For now anyway, it’s free, and it can be viewed anywhere, though you … Read full story >>>

Recently a New Mandala reader named Aladdin (welcome back!) made an important comment .  I have, in the interests of drawing it to the attention of a wider audience, quoted it here: In the July – September 2009 issue of Fa Dio Kan (Year 7, No. 3) the journal published the official judgment in … Read full story >>>

If ladyboy’s are your thing and you’re looking for a comprehensive list of the best ladyboy bar and gogo’s in and around Pattaya, you’ve come to the right place.  There are several ladyboy only bars and gogo’s, as well as several bars where they work alongside genetic girls.  We’ve put together a list … Read full story >>>

In past years, the king has used the speech to send out certain signals and messages of how he evaluated the efficiency and the work ethics of the incumbent government. As Thailand’s political situation has gone from bad to worse… Read full story >>>

[This is the text of the presentation by Thongchai Winichakul at the Thailand in Transition workshop held on 8 December 2009.] The title of the talk today reminds me of the book, Siam in Transition , published in 1939 by Kenneth Landon. The book reported about the 1932 revolution that ended the absolute monarchy and about the country after… Read full story >>>

What is funny is the extreme predictability of the “useful idiots”. Thaksin has landed in Cambodia. Thaksin has given a bold interview (read here ), in which he speaks about the sucession, the monarchy, the crown prince etc.. Just enough… Read full story >>>

Veera in the Bangkok Post: Thaksin has categorically denied he spoke offensive about the royal instutition and accused Times Online of twisting his words. He insisted that he and his family were loyal to Their Majesties and would lay down their lives for them if needed.On the streets, opinions … Read full story >>>

I blogged about the Miss Noppamas Queen Title I attended the other night at the local university. Miss Benjawan, who I call my daughter, Miss Noot’s younger sister (she’s 18) went to another Noppamas title being held at a local government department. This one proved to be much more entertaining as there was… Read full story >>>

Sightseeing around Bangkok… Last month a friend emailed to say, ‘I’M COMING TO BANGKOK!’ I emailed back, ‘Whooh! WHEN?’ A mere two days after his arrival, David had already paddled up the floating market, tussled for eight hours with tigers, then dropped a krathong into the klong. And more . Which got me… Read full story >>>

When you have no accountability, this is, as Don Sambandaraksa reports in the Bangkok Post is what happens: These international school pupils, who asked not to be named for fear of being grounded by their parents more than anything else, had recently returned from their national service army training . Being from an international … Read full story >>>

Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon on Thursday ordered all military units and their commanders to keep a close watch for websites running reports with lese majeste content, defence spokesman Col Thanathip Sawangsaeng said. Pol Gen Prawit issued the order at today’s meeting of the Defence Council. All military units and their commanders who come across … Read full story >>>

While people may and should debate on the merit of the lese majeste law, outright verbal attacks online, especially those that are unsubstantiated have led to a feeling that the online virtual debating community is degenerating into verbal abuse and uncompromising dogmatism, both from the political left and… Read full story >>>

Marwaan Macan-Markar has written an important article for IPS on the (non-)response of Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch to ongoing lese majeste oppression in Thailand. Here is an extract: AI [Amnesty International] broke its long silence on lese majeste when Darunee’s case began … Read full story >>>

The short essay I wrote earlier in the week titled “ Thailand and lese majeste ” has now been translated into Thai.  It is available here .  The comments that follow the translation may be of interest to those who read Thai. Read full story >>>

The Dengue haze seems to have lifted. Apart from smashing your body from all directions it also seems to mess with your mind as the last 10 days really seems quite a blur. It was so unfortunate that it happened while my sister and her boys were visiting but then on the other hand … Read full story >>>

Tulsie in The Nation:But while I can laugh it away, the 18-year jail sentence handed down to Daranee Chancherngsilapakul (Da Torpedo) left me speechless….We have come a very long way, but obviously the likes of Jakrapob and Da Torpedo remain unsatisfied. Yet if they are guilty… Read full story >>>

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