Thailand Voice

This post is a six part New Mandala series.  Readers are warned that some of the content in this series is graphic.  Part 1 is available here . We were on a long range patrol down south following the tracks of a Communist Lisu unit that had just … Read full story >>>

With the three day grand opening of the new City Mall complex still ringing in my ears I was surprised as well as excited to hear news of a possible new shopping centre to be developed in Ubon. Most people are aware of Centrals plans to develop the site next door to Bic C… Read full story >>>

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The Thai psychological horror Who Are You ( Krai … Nai Hong ) and the military boot-camp comedy Kongphan Kruekkruen Tor Tahan Kuekkuk ( Jolly Rangers ), topped the Thai box office at the end of February, handily outperforming two Oscar-nominated movies that opened the same weekend… Read full story >>>

Is Johnny Depp insulting the gap toothed, or what? The actor, who has a fixation on teeth for his different celluloid personas but no discernible gap (the highly revered distinction diagnosed as diastema ), chose to define his character as the Mad Hatter in Tim Burton’s new “Alice in … Read full story >>>

But this [Red Shirt] movement has long outgrown its casus belli, Mr Thaksin’s downfall. It now sees injustice behind every door. Alarmingly for those still hoping for a quietly stitched-up compromise, it is infused with revolutionary bile. In recent months it … Read full story >>>

Already mentioned the story that PAD leader Sondhi L was seeking a pardon, but the Bangkok Post reports further: The public prosecutor is urging Bangkok police to seek an arrest warrant for Sondhi Limthongkul, leader of the People’s Allianc… Read full story >>>

Today's reference of the day is by Sophorntavy Vorng whose doctoral dissertation is entitled Status City: Consumption, Identity, and Middle Class Culture in Contemporary Bangkok and is available from here (… Read full story >>>

Tension seems to be building in Myanmar’s border areas, as the end-of-year deadline set by the Tatmadaw for ceasefire armies to convert to a Border Guard Force expired. With rumours of troop movements by the military, as well as the … Read full story >>>

In the cliche, ala Rambo , it is American Vietnam vets who end up fighting in Burma against the tatmadaw .  Readers of these New Mandala posts will know what I mean.  So my curiosity was piqued by a recent report that has… Read full story >>>

Many Thais and political analysts fear if the crown passes to Vajiralongkorn while Thailand’s political divisions remain unresolved this could encourage opposing factions to intensify their struggle, with highly destabilising consequences. – Extracted from “ Five political risks to watch in Thailand ”, Reuters , 15 Read full story >>>

The Hindu Rights Action Force ( HINDRAF ) — the manifestation of discontent by Malaysians of Indian heritage — appears to have tapered off. At the height of its power, HINDRAF , a coalition of approximately 30 Hindu non–governmental organisations, mobilised approximately 30,000 Malaysians of Indian origin to protest the Malaysian government’s treatment of Indians. The government’s disproportionate… Read full story >>>

Rome had panem et circense (bred and games)… The Kingdom of Thailand has free water, free electricity and more holidays. That’s the Wonderland of Abhisit. Poor Thais to benefit from measures to curb water, power, bus, train, gas fees The Cabinet yesterday agreed… Read full story >>>

Bangkok's Birthday Party The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration put a lot of effort into Bangkok’s 38th Birthday Party . They have filled the plaza in front of City Hall with booths and displays. As far as I can see they are all about how … Read full story >>>

Watch out Jija, Quentin Tarantino has his eyes on you. “The Thai film Chocolate ” is No. 5 on the Inglourious Basterds director’s Top 8 films of 2009 , as listed to The Hollywood Reporter in a video clip . Chocolate , the 2008 debut for Jija, got a limited theatrical run … Read full story >>>

New Mandala readers who are not familiar with the work of the Transnational Institute’s Tom Kramer will find his relatively recent article on Burma’s ceasefires rewards a close reading.  I have noticed that Tom also writes about Afghanistan.  I can’t… Read full story >>>

Should war resume in parts of Burma’s borderlands, the country will simply return to its pre-1989 situation, and the challenges of national reconciliation and local sustainable development will begin again. – Extracted from David Scott Mathieson , “ Peace in name only ”, The Irrawaddy , October 2009. Read full story >>>

The northern three Wa divisions are currently on standby and say they expect an attack from the government army in the coming days… – Wai Moe, “ Clouds of war move over Shan State ”, The Irrawaddy , 2 September 2009. Of all of the hundreds of news… Read full story >>>

In the past week Burma’s State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) decided to stop pulling its punches with what we have come to know as the “ceasefire groups”. In the northern Shan State there has been fighting on a scale that hasn’t been seen for decades. … Read full story >>>

Have already blogged on Da Torpedo/Daranee’s jailing for 18 years on lese majeste charges. Pravit Rojanaphruk, normally of The Nation,* has an article for Prachatai:Again, if Daranee, eventually requested and received a royal pardon,then it would be okay, right? Well, she would still have been in jailfor a year… Read full story >>>

Since my first trip to Thailand I have never ceased to be amazed when I go to Pattaya. A thriving beach town that has everything on offer at every turn. Aside from all the beautiful Thai women and the immense choice when it comes to entertaining oneself… Read full story >>>

Over at East Asia Forum I have a piece marking Aung San Suu Kyi’s 64th birthday and reflecting on some of the wider political context of June 2009.  It is available here .  I also noticed that The Irrawaddy has a selection of interesting Aung San Suu Kyi portraits to mark the occasion. I’m… Read full story >>>

The Shan Herald Agency for News has a report on the International Conference on Shan Studies that will be held in Bangkok in October 2009.  More details about the conference are available here . Read full story >>>

Regular readers will recall that in recent weeks I have pointed out some of the interesting parts of Burma and Thailand that are visible on satellite images.  Today I have been scouting around for other places of interest and decided that a short tour of the towns of Ruili and Muse … Read full story >>>