Thailand Voice

Here are some images from the red shirt protests here in Bangkok today (Mon., March 15) and yesterday (Sun., March 14). Some of these images are from the demonstration at the 11th infantry regiment complex (story from AP here ) north of Bangkok today. Others are are of the … Read full story >>>

Quick note — I’ve been out and about all day reporting on the red shirt protests here in Bangkok. It’s difficult to update Newley.com remotely, but I’ve been posting snippets of text and a few images on Twitter. Follow me here . More soon… Read full story >>>

Thailand’s anti-government red shirt protesters began gathering here in Bangkok today. All in all, it was a surprisingly quiet day. The demonstrations, as we know, are expected to culminate with — red shirts say — a protest comprising one million participants on Sun… Read full story >>>

There be Red Shirts… Thursday afternoon I tried to focus on a Friday post. Sigh. But I could not, would not settle. Because with everything going on this weekend, there was too much on my mind. The closer the Red Shirt rallies came, the… Read full story >>>

UPDATE: Sorayud on Channel 3 just did a segment about this. They first showed him on his trip to Bangkok to plead for a peaceful final posting. He was in tears back then. He first started in the same police station he ended up as superintendent at. Sorayud… Read full story >>>

Quick note — this NYT story does a good job of surveying the scene ahead of the upcoming red shirt protests, which are due to start tomorrow (Fri. the 12th) here in Bangkok. I will, as ever, be blogging here and posting snippets on Twitter . If you … Read full story >>>

Again… the good old tactic of hot and cold… The premier ensured the public that his government will by all means do nothing to intensify the situation, saying he never rules out his resignation or the House dissolution, but the decision will be made upon national interest. “I will… Read full story >>>

Today’s WSJ has a good piece about the Map Ta Phut industrial estate case. The article looks at not just the economic impact of the stalemate, but of growing environmental awareness in the region. Give it a read, as this is a very important — and under-reported — … Read full story >>>

I’ll be writing more about this in future posts, but for the time being, I wanted to point out this WSJ story from today: “ Thailand Braces for Thaksin Ruling .” It provides a good overview of the anticipation surrounding Friday’s supreme … Read full story >>>

Published in Royal Gazette on February 19, the province Surat Thani announced the creation of eight new administrative villages, all effective November 6 2009. Mu 8 Ban Khao Phanom (บ้านเขาพนม), Pa Ron subdistrict, Kanchanadit district, split off from Mu 1 Ban Wang Sai (บ้านวังไทร). [ Gazette ] Mu 9 Ban Huai Thun (บ้านห้วยถุน)… Read full story >>>

Wise Kwai has an interesting post looking at the GT200 device, Thai military, and a new movie comedy about the Thai military. He makes reference to this recent … Read full story >>>

Visitors who are new to Thailand and have culinary questions about the Thai capital should check out “ Where to eat in Bangkok 2010 ,” a new post by Austin Bush. I can tell you from personal experience that Austin has a great deal of knowledge about Thai cuisine, and he has a good feel for… Read full story >>>

Two Thailand-related stories that I was too busy to post on Fri., but which I wanted to point out: WSJ : “ Long Shot: The New Asean Basketball League Tries to Win Over the Thais .” Sports has always had its share of lovable long shots, plucky underdogs that fans pull for despite… Read full story >>>

Ambika in Reuters: “Widespread violence on the scale of April 2009 is unlikely in the near term. The reds are in disarray and they have learned from the April riots. They may opt for a battle of attrition instead of an all-out showdown,” said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political science professor at Chulalongkorn Read full story >>>

The Bangkok Post reports that Army C-in-C Anupong retires this year: The rush is to prevent an unexpected change in political leadership which could affect the choice of the new army chief.This, of course, is assuming that … Read full story >>>

It would seem that my source was correct last week with it being confirmed by the Bangkok Post this morning. “Thai Airways International has succumbed to political pressure and will keep flying between Bangkok and Ubon Ratchathani, one of the three loss-making domestic routes that was supposed to end later this … Read full story >>>

The Chinese New Year Festival 2010 which this year fell on Valentines Day, the traditional day for lovers, ushered in the Year of the Tiger. The Year of the Tiger promises to be a difficult year for many but in Thailand at least, … Read full story >>>

About Politics section in the Bangkok Post: Among political insiders, it is widely believed that Mr Abhisit listens to suggestions from only a handful of people. Among them are his secretary-general Korbsak Sabhavasu, PM’s Office Minister Sathit Wongnongtoey, acting government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn and Mr Sirichok.In Mr Sirichok… Read full story >>>

Ten steps to learning Thai… Note: This is dedicated to people like Catherine Wentworth who are working their patooties off trying to grasp this outlandishly difficult language. Good luck to you all. When I started learning Thai I was told that it was one of the hardest for… Read full story >>>

As we approach the Feb. 26 court verdict in the Thaksin asset case, there has been much speculation — in the local media and from the Thai government — about upcoming Red Shirt protests. What form will the demonstrations take? When will they happen? Will they turn violent? The Thai government… Read full story >>>

Couroupita Guianensis sometimes called the Cannonball tree because of its large cannonball shaped fruits is also known as the Sala Tree. Couroupita Guianensis is considered a sacred tree in India by Hindus. Buddhist scriptures tell us that the Lord Buddha was born under the shade of a Sala Tree … Read full story >>>

Some many links to share. So little time. Herewith, several items that have caught my eye of late: Economist : “ Laid-off lawyers, cast-off consultants. “ AFP: “ Diehard Thaksin loyalist paints rural Thailand red .” GlobalPost: “ Thailand: Amid coup buzz, Thai army chief heads to Pentagon …. Read full story >>>

Have previously blogged on the public fight between Khunying Sudarat and Chalerm Yubamrung, but Veera in the Bangkok Post has an op-ed on the situation. Key excerpt: The maverick MP was also unhappy with his rival group’s a… Read full story >>>

Image by tripadvisor … The above image is from TripAdvisor’s Airplane Seat-Mate From Hell survey and whilst I am unaware of the ongoing status of the survey, looking at the photographs I have sat next to a few of them myself. … Read full story >>>

Yesterday the first transcript of a 2010 meeting of the board to consider draft laws (คณะกรรมการพิจารณาร่างกฎหมาย) was uploaded, directly with an important municipal change. Already effective January 28, the town Mae Sot ( เทศบาลเมืองแม่สอด ) at the border to Myanmar has been upgraded to a city municipality (thesaban nakhon, เทศบาลนครแม่สอด). The … Read full story >>>

For a summary of the political situation here in Thailand, I suggest reading this AFP story from today: “ Thailand braces for fresh political instability .” The story includes some interesting quotes from analysts. Such as this, on Abhisit: The 45-year-old premier came… Read full story >>>

The Phangan Film Festival , featuring a lineup of documentaries on “nature and spirit”, is set for February 12 to 14. The open-air fest will be held at the Holiday Beach Resort on the island in the Gulf of Thailand. Most of the movies are… Read full story >>>

Just quickly, I wanted to point out this Reuters item from yesterday: “ FACTBOX-Five political risks to watch for Thailand .” Give it a read. Also, to follow on the issue of the plane carrying arms from North Korea , Bloomberg had this story Jan… Read full story >>>

Published on January 27 was a new license plate graphic for the province Prachinburi , only available for passenger cars with less than 7 seats and a license codes obtained in the official auction. While I know that rafting is a popular tourist attraction in Prachinburi province – … Read full story >>>

Many news stories about the Map Ta Phut industrial estate issue focus on the latest developments — court decisions, the number of suspended cases, latest appeals, etc. An opinion piece in yesterday’s Bangkok Post is worth pointing out, however, because it provides some … Read full story >>>