Thailand Voice

Supporters of deposed Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra take part in a rally at Victory Monument in Bangkok on March 12, 2010. Tens of thousands of supporters of Shinawatra began to mass in their trademark red shirts ahead of weekend protests in Bangkok aimed at toppling the government. …

A Thai policeman stands guard outside Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva’s house in Bangkok March 10, 2010. The Thai government has invoked a tough security law, the Internal Security Act, giving the armed forces broad powers to control an upcoming rally by supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra if necessary….

Thailand’s Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is all smiles during a televised news conference at government house Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010 in Bangkok. Supporters of populist former Thai leader Thaksin Shinawatra denounced a court order to seize US$1.4 billion of his assets, and vowed Saturday to pursue a nonviolent struggle for what …

Thai police and military police officers guard the main entrance to the Supreme Court in Bangkok, Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010. Ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra emotionally pleaded for sympathy and an end to his exile Wednesday, days before Thailand’s Supreme Court decides whether $2.29 billion of his …

Thailand’s Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, 2nd right, kicks the ball while playing a soccer charity match against Thai women’s national team at Rajamangala stadium in Bangkok, Thailand Sunday, Feb. 21, 2010. Supporters of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was confronting with police officers outside the stadium while …

Middle ranked soldiers led by Col. Apirat Kongsompong, third left, talks during a gathering with other soldiers at a military barrack in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, Jan. 28, 2010. The soldiers gather to show their support to Army Commander in Chief Gen. Anupong Paochinda and express opposition…

Supporters of former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra walk during a protest rally at a golf course they say was built illegally on forest reserve land in eastern Chantaburi province, 320 km (199 miles) from Bangkok January 23, 2010. The “red shirt” protesters accused royal adviser Prem Tinsulanonda of having links with …

Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra (C) shakes hands with Mong Kim Heng, the director of Prey Sar prison, during his visit to see Siwarak Chutipongse in the outskirts of Phnom Penh December 13, 2009. Cambodia’s King Norodom Sihamoni granted a pardon on Friday to Siwarak, a Thai engineer sentenced to seven years …

Sivarak Chutipong of Thailand (R), 31, an employee at the Cambodia Air Traffic Service, is escorted by Cambodian police after his trail at the Phnom Penh municipal court December 8, 2009. He was sentenced to 7 years imprisonment and fined Bt 100,000 over the charged of spying on fugitive former Prime…

Pantongtae and Pintongta Shinawatra, the son and daughter of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, launched their Internet-based ‘Voice TV’ on Monday at the Voice TV Building near the Army Club on Vibhavadi Rangsit road. (matichon) More Thailand pictures can be found

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, left, greets ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, center, and his supporters Friday, Nov. 13, 2009, in Siem Reap, Cambodia. (AP) Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen (C) and Thai members of parliament (red shirts) including Thailand’s former deputy Minister of Labour Ladawan…

The news has been dominated this week by stories pertaining to Thaksin and Cambodia but there have been a few gems to be found otherwise. Thaksin Becomes Cambodian Advisor Photo Courtesy The Nation This week saw Cambodia appoint Thaksin Shinawatra, Thailand’s former Prime… Read full story >>>

I suffered my first car accident a month or so ago, which is quite something as I’ve been driving for nine and a half years. Ironically it came minutes after I’d been talking to a family friend, over from Switzerland, about the standard of driving in Thailand. As it happened, the incident… Read full story >>>

I wanted to point out a column in Wednesday’s IHT/NYT called “Betting on Thailand.” It’s a look at how Thailand compares — and will compare over the next 20 years — with its regional neighbors in terms of business and economic development. Here’re the last two graphs, which are… Read full story >>>

Cambodian police officials patrol in front of the Thai embassy building in Phnom Penh on November 5, 2009. Thailand recalled its ambassador to Cambodia on November 5, after Phnom Penh gave a job to fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, further raising tensions between the countries. (Getty Images) Prasas Prasavinitchai, Thailand …

Thai activists wave Thai flags and chant slogans during a rally against the act of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen toward Thailand outside the Cambodian Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009. Hun Sen offered to make Thailand’s ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra his economic adviser last week, threatening to worsen already tense relations…

Canadian protestor, Ashley Fruno, from the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), holds a sign during a protest outside the Canadian Embassy in Bangkok October 26, 2009. The protest is part of PETA’s campaign to bring attention to the practise of traditional seal hunting in Canada. (reuters) More Thailand…

Demonstrators wear masks of exiled former premier Thaksin Shinawatra during a rally at the Royal Plaza in Bangkok September 19, 2009. Thailand’s government enacted a tough security law on Tuesday September 15, giving the military broad powers to control the planned rally on the third anniversary of the coup that led to…

A supporter of Thailand’s ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Daranee Charncherngsilapakul (C), is escort by security guards during her arrival at the court in Bangkok on August 28, 2009. A Thai court convicted and sentenced a female ‘Red Shirt’ protester to 18 years in prison for insulting the country’s revered monarchy …

Two Thai men, left, submit petitions signed by villagers to registration officials, sitting, at a tent where the rally to collect signature took place Friday, July 31, 2009 in Bangkok, Thailand. Supporters of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said they will collect signatures for a petition seeking a royal pardon for the fugitive former leader. Thaksin …

THAI TAKES By PHILIP GOLINGAI IF YOU had ever wanted to slap Sondhi Limthongkul, the co-leader of the yellow-shirted movement that gained international notoriety when it shut down Bangkok’s two airports last year, now’s your chance. “Slap my face with your shoes… Read full story >>>

Newcastle United have been relegated from the English Premier League after 16 years in the top flight. The side lost 1-0 at Aston Villa last night , meaning Newcastle will play in England’s second tier next season. Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, who was born in Newcastle and is a passionate fan of the … Read full story >>>

Yeah, am a bit late to the story. Awzar Thi had an excellent critique earlier this month here . Key excerpt: The seven candidates have been thrust forward after a hurried selection process about which almost no one in Thailand knows anything. The process began only in March after a long… Read full story >>>

BANGKOK , May 4 (TNA) – Thailand has submitted extradition requests through diplomatic channels to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and. … BANGKOK , May 4 (TNA) – Thailand has submitted extradition requests through diplomatic channels to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Nicaragua to … Read full story >>>

The Attorney-general Office is seeking extradition for fugitive former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra from Nicaragua and the UAE with the extradition agreement between Thailand and Hong Kong still in progress. … Read full story >>>

Sondhi Limthongkul is a lucky man indeed. The controversial media magnate, ally turned nemesis of Thaksin Shinawatra, and founder of the misnamed People’s Alliance for Democracy was apparently left standing after gunmen riddled his van with bullets on 17 April 2009. At about 5.40am on that day gunmen pulled… Read full story >>>

Bangkok Post Thanpuying Viriya Chavakul, the lady-in-waiting to Her Majesty the Queen, has denied being the mastermind behind the attempted assassination of People’s Alliance for Democracy leader Sondhi Limthongkul. Speaking to INN news yesterday, Thanpuying Viriya insisted she had… Read full story >>>

Supporters of the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship gather Saturday, April 25, 2009, in Bangkok , Thailand , for their first rally since the Thai government lifted the emergency decree banning political gatherings. … Read full story >>>

The Nation The foreign media, particularly the British ones, have been planted with information from Jakrapob Penkhair and other cronies from the Red Shirt camp over the past three years. They despised the coup. They had doubts with the Thai Palace and accused the… Read full story >>>

Last weekend, red-shirted demonstrators supporting former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra caused the cancellation of an Asian summit in Pattaya and disrupted daily life in parts of Bangkok in hopes of forcing the resignation of … Read full story >>>