Thailand Voice

Well either it was too hot or their numbers just didn’t cut it yet, but a few hundred red shirts marching along selected locations in Bangkok called it a day after the widely announced start of the government’s end this… 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 >>>

Starting Wednesday night, a total of 50,000 soldiers, police, civilians and volunters had been deployed for peace-keeping operations. They include 30,000 troops. He said they are not equipped with weapons, but have protective gear. Members of the peace-keeping forces have a clear authentication tag, he said. Only a… Read full story >>>

  For several weeks now, I've been scouring certain neighborhoods in Bangkok for space for my bar. Ducking into narrow alleyways and dodging motorbikes and cars that squeeze through the streets. Wondering if people would stop there for a drink, or buzz on by. I've come across forgotten go-go bars and … Read full story >>>

I have devoted numerous posts to Thailand’s ongoing political instability of late, often linking to various media reports. But I realized that I have neglected, in recent months, to point to some of my own stories. So here’s a re-cap: In addition to filing … Read full story >>>

Bangkok Post: “We will do everything we can to prevent the situation from getting out of hand.  If a House dissolution or my resignation could help the country move ahead, I would have no problem with doing that.  But we would definitely not allow a coup to happen,” said the … Read full story >>>

With the attention on the upcoming red shirts rally, we should not forget the continuing violence in Thailand’s deep south. AFP: Suspected Islamic militants shot dead three Thai workers and set their bodies on fire in the middle of road Thursday Read full story >>>

Here is a YouTube clip uploaded at the end of January. From around the 5 minute to the 6 minute stage, we have one second-tier red shirt leader, Arisman, at a red shirt rally speaking on a stage who states: พี่น้องนัดกันคราวหน้า ถ้ารู้ว่าเขาจะปราบปราม ไม่ต้องเตรียมอ�… Read full story >>>

Can’t count the cancellations of events for this weekend anymore. Everyone’s postponing. Parties, receptions, trips, they have to wait. The Thai capital is in the grip of the red shirts without them yet being here. Parts of Bangkok will be deserted, others… Read full story >>>

Google Books can be a very valuable way to search for higher quality sources of information – if only the more of the out of print books would be available to be read online beyond a few lines of text. In the book ” The golden peninsula … Read full story >>>

Praying at Wat Si Muang, Vientiane, Laos Read full story >>>

Not from me of course, but from Phia Sing, a former royal cook in the palace of Luang Prabang. The 115 recipes, originally written on notebook paper by Phia Sing, and later compiled and edited by former British diplomat, Alan Davidson , comprise what must be the most fascinating cook book I’ve ever encountered. Fascinating not only… Read full story >>>

The gold prices (buying and selling) have been announced for Wednesday – for some reason, this has now become a daily story, despite occupying only a few lines. Why is this happening? Is there something I am missing? Well, almost certainly, based on past experience. Incidentally, … Read full story >>>

I couldn’t help but notice last night that some order has been brought to the Mo Chit BTS/subway station interchange: anyone who has come down from the Mo Chit exit towards the subway entrance will be familiar with the chaos of buses… Read full story >>>

There have been intelligence reports of possible acts of sabotage during the weekend rally by the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), but people should not panic, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Wednesday. ( Bangkok Post ) Hot, cold… Abhisit is not a great tactician. At best, he’s… Read full story >>>

At this tense time, Not The Nation provides an amusing diversion with its most recent analysis of Shinawatra clan assets. It should remind us all of this strange episode, which still comes, thankfully, with a lesson in finding the most brazen photo opportunity imaginable.  That was back in 2004 when Thaksin still encouraged his kids… Read full story >>>

It sounds straight out of 1984, as The Nation reports: The authorities will set up the Peace-keeping Operations Command, also known as the government’s war room, at the 11th Infantry Regiment in Bangkhen, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thuagsuban said on Wednesday. BP… Read full story >>>

Here’s an amusing item making the rounds. It is a letter that hails from Sri Prachan District, Suphanburi Province, a few hours northwest of Bangkok. An unfortunate employee of the local revenue office there who suffers from back pain was told she cannot use her own chair at work, because it makes… Read full story >>>

Rikker has the story and what happens when a bureaucrat brings her own chair to the office because she has back pain…. Read full story >>>

Atiya on Thaksin the Bangkok Post: “Never thought of it. Never had a need to do so. And no need to be greedy either. I put on one wrist watch at a time, not several. Why should I be greedy? All charges of corruption were and are politically motivated… My wife is a good teacher… Read full story >>>

Twitter is becoming a key communications tool in Politics, not just in the West – as used by the ground-breaking Obama presidential campaign,  and the Tweetminster service in UK – but Asia too with countries like Thailand seeing its main political players adopting social … Read full story >>>

An investigation into massive losses of weapons and explosives stolen from an arms depot of a military camp in the southern province of Phatthalung is underway, according to Panitan Wattanayagorn, acting government spokesman. The incident was reported to police and concerned officials last … Read full story >>>

University of North Bangkok , or simply just North Bangkok lead the Bangkok League on 10 points. This weekend was the big test against Nonthaburi, which ended in a 1-1 draw. Expect both teams to be up there come the seasons end. Muangkan and Lopburi of the Central-East division. Time will tell just what Mungkan … Read full story >>>

When Sutiya checked into Chulalonghorn Hospital to give birth, we stayed for 4 nights in the Red Cross Building linked to the hospital. During those hazy evenings, I would venture out and buy up some street food from the dozens of stalls located around the busy sois … Read full story >>>

CLICK ON PHOTO FOR LARGER VIEW Yesterday was a beautiful day . sssoooo we decided it was time for a little day trip , BUT , this time someplace we haven’t been before , just to scout out the new area for later and longer trips if we like it… Read full story >>>

  Recently Global Post Thailand Correspondent Patrick Winn and I got the chance to visit the headquarters of the Lao Brewery Company (LBC), the brewers of Beerlao. For those not familiar with the brew, Beerlao is figuratively and literally the beer in Laos, commanding a staggering 99% market share. It’s… Read full story >>>

Thailand was a poor country at the end of the Second World War: it became a mid-income country by the 1980-90s because of its adoption of a version of the East Asian Economic Model – that is, export-oriented manufacturing of products… Read full story >>>

If you asked most blog writers to name their favourite post they’ve ever written and then asked them the same question one week later, there is every chance you’d receive two different answers. I think you would if you posed that question to me. … Read full story >>>

Beyond reasonable doubts: Thaksin’s “Judgment Day” has become another unforgettable event in the Thai political history. After weeks of being second guessed by academics and political pundits, nine judges of the Supreme Court spent almost eight hours reading their historical verdict which was broadcasted nationwide. … Read full story >>>

The Asian Film Archive , based in Singapore, turns five years old this year. It’s celebrating this weekend. Very short notice I realize, and I’m sorry I didn’t pick up on this earlier, but tonight the Archive has organized Short Films from Asia , a screening at 8 … Read full story >>>