Thailand Voice

Today, two major things happened in Bangkok. One was that Thailand’s prime minister Abhisit announced that the emergency decree is going to stay in place , because of the bombing on the weekend that killed one and injured ten. (According to a Suan Dusit poll, this decision is backed by large parts… Read full story >>>

Is it really possible that Cambodian troops have killed 88 of their Thai counterparts over the past couple of years? The alleged deaths have taken place near to the Preah Vihear temple complex in Cambodia, whose ownership is contested by the fascist PAD movement and some other extremists. According to General Chea Tara, 38 … Read full story >>>

Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen, right, sprays perfume as he prays at the Preah Vihear temple in Preah Vihear province, about 245 kilometers (152 miles) north of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010. Hun Sen pays his first official visit Saturday to …

Supalak in The Nation : In Thailand, legal judgement is always subject to the political situation. As politics have changed, many people who once sat in the same boat with Samak and Noppadon are off the hook since they have chosen to sit in another boat with the current government. From … Read full story >>>

Please click on the image for a clearer picture.  Further information about this event is available here . Read full story >>>

Thitinan in the Bangkok Post last week had this little tidbit: At home, the Preah Vihear imbroglio is likely to be played for domestic gains. The PAD protests in Si Sa Ket were under the nose of the 2nd Infantry Division, whose units entered service in the… Read full story >>>

AFP: “If they enter again, they will be shot,” Mr Hun Sen told officials who applauded as he publicly ordered troops along the border to fire against civilian or military “invader enemies” who illegally enter Cambodia. “Troops, police and all armed forces must adhere… Read full story >>>

Newley.com has earned a mention in the new Lonely Planet Thailand guide book. This humble blog is listed under the heading “The Inside Scoop,” on page 107. It’s part of a round-up of “informative or entertaining” Thailand blogs. And in the Sights section… Read full story >>>

Expats, Thai's and visitors to Thailand, want to know how long your mutt will live for? Take this scientifically accurate survey to predict the lifespan of your mutt whilst living in Thailand the Land of the Land of the Smiles! Please answer the following questions: 1. Where did you get your dog? A) … Read full story >>>

Someone has found the “smoking gun” per their letter to the editor in the Bangkok Post : Your newspaper consistently refers to the Preah Vihear temple and surrounding area with the Cambodian word, instead of the Thai pronunciation of “Phra Viharn”. Your choice of words is thus inevitably … Read full story >>>

FCCT: The Contested Temple A discussion on Phra Vihan/Preah Vihear 8pm Weds, September 23, 2009 Non-members: 300 baht Professor Charnvit Kasetsiri and Ittiporn Boonpracong will discuss the issue of Phra Vihan/Preah Vihear, the spectacular 11th century Hindu temple perched on the Thai-Cambodia border, which has erupted… Read full story >>>

The Nation : The prime minister was speaking after yellow shirted protesters clash with local villagers in Si Sa Ket on Saturday before managing to go nearer to the entrance of Preah Vihear Temple. Thai TV reported that the clash which … Read full story >>>

At the village wat we remember family who have passed on. Making offerings of food and alcohol to propitiate their spirits. The animist shrine in the temple grounds. Tribute is paid to a small laterite rock. “Tomorrow we go Ban Lamong… take food… Read full story >>>

While today is the third anniversary of the military coup, let’s celebrate with (at last !) a real Green Shoots. The Commerce Ministry has published the first figures for exports in august : -18,3 % compared to august 2008, for a total value of 13,28 billions USD. That’s an improvement compared to july (12,9 billions USD) … Read full story >>>

Another show-down, another tense day. After all, it’s the third anniversary of the Sept 19 coup — and Thaksin Shinawatr has been writing frantically in his Twitter account about democracy, coups and dictatorship. The red-shirts are gathering today for a big… Read full story >>>

Last week blogged that there were 2 main points of contention between the PAD and the Democrats. One of these is the over border with Cambodia. As blogged then: 1. The negotiations with Cambodia over demarcation and oil/gas (one could include Preah Vihear too). PAD are skeptical of govt response and state… Read full story >>>

The Nation : Police arrested Salavout Khamsan, 35, in Poipet in western Cambodia after neighbours saw the drawing of Cambodia’s famous temple and told the authorities. Poipet police chief Nuth Ly said the man had “desecrated the precious temple which is a World Heritage site.”… Read full story >>>

Last week, Dr Pavin Chachavalpongpun had an op-ed in the Bangkok Post making some valid criticism of Thaksin’s foreign policy, but then concluding: Under the Abhisit administration, Thai foreign policy has undergone an extreme makeove r. The Democrat-led government has rejected Thaksin’s business-first mentality and re-introduced a seemingly principle… Read full story >>>

Cambodian soldiers (L) enjoy a joint lunch with Thai soldiers near the ancient Hindu temple in Preah Vihear province, 543 km (337 miles) north of Phnom Penh July 6, 2009. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen ordered Cambodians, including Buddhists, on Tuesday to honour the one year anniversary of the Preah Vihear Hindu temple’s listing as…

The Nation : Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday he wanted to keep the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) and international involvement away from Preah Vihear temple. Cabinet’s move to maintain its objection to World Heritage listing for the site, which it achieved last … Read full story >>>

Whenever I mention that I've played rugby in Thailand, there is always great interest in how good the Thai's are at the sport. Questions like 'do Thai people really play rugby?' and 'are they any good? They are quite small… Read full story >>>

The Bangkok Post : Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and the government have some good ideas about moving ahead on the old, thorny and unfortunately violent issue of the temple of Preah Vihear. It is a shame that they have failed to develop those ideas properly. Instead of … Read full story >>>

      Phana is known as the monkey town by some insensitive people ( farangs is how they are usually known). I have never heard anyone from Phana use any such term. The self-coined description of Phana is “the land of scholars” which is perhaps… Read full story >>>

Bangkok Post: Thailand will ask the World Heritage Committee to review the decision to register Preah Vihear temple, on the border of Si Sa Ket province, as a World Heritage site under the sole supervision of Cambodia, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said… Read full story >>>

Remember the case of the alleged car bomb attempt on Thaksin’s life back in 2006. After the coup, the case seemed to die, but this is incorrect as the Bangkok Post reports : The Military Court on Wednesday morning postponed its verdict in the case of three army officers charged with attempting to … Read full story >>>

Why is the Thai media so irresponsible and inaccurate? Day after day, obvious lies are passed off as truth or ‘comment,’ unsubstantiated assertions are made and conclusions drawn without evidence or logical thought. Last week the Nation carried reports that an agreement had been made with the UAE to have… Read full story >>>

Previously, the Democrats stated that at the beginning of April (when Thailand and Cambodia were fighting on the border) that he was in Cambodia, near Hun Sen’s house (according to Sopon under Hun Sen’s protection), there are other stories that… Read full story >>>