News and Views - November 2008 Giant Turtle - Khao Sod, November 29, 2008 It reads: Giant Turtle: Villagers flock to see the giant turtle or the Tao Mafueng Turtle (Leatherback Turtle) weighing about 300 kilograms. The dead sea creature was stranded on the Had Sam Roi Yod Beach in Prajuabkirikhan. Examination indicates the wound on its legs caused the turtle to drown on November 27. Thai police shooting case abandoned - Policeman freed - andrew-drummond.com, November 22, 2008 [This story has been largely overshadowed by the current turmoil.] Shock as Thai policeman who gunned down Canadians in Thailand is released and case halted... More on Gary Glitter - November 21, 2008 In August we pointed out Gary Glitter tricked onto flight back home and the thoughts by some readers that the article was a classic newspaper whitewash to cover up for official bungling. The fascinating inside story of what was really going on behind the scenes is detailed in these Andrew Drummond blog entries: Gary Glitter - where they went wrong and Tracking down Gary Glitter - & others Also interesting on the blog is Fighting for Justice Carleton Cole's new book - November 19, 2008 Carleton Cole's new book, Destination: Asia is available via Bangkok Books. His website is www.carletoncole.com. (Photo: 2Bangkok.com) Promotion on Silom Road - November, 24, 2008 It reads: Central Plaza Chaengwattana - Beyond imaginative shopping – Recharge your life (Photo: 2Bangkok.com)   'Israeli facing Thai death penalty framed by police' - Jerusalem Post, November, 2008 "The Thai police don't know him [my brother]. Drugs were not found on him during the arrest," Mahluf said. Mahluf also charged the Israeli Embassy in... Goodbye Eddie - November 29, 2008 Nils notes: Guess anyone who ever watched Thai TV has seen him at least once: Eddie Cute Ghost (Eddi Phi Narak), aka Chalerm Thaweebot And in the blog of a Swiss guy living in Thailand (Chai Nat), including 2 pictures. He specifies that he died of bone marrow cancer. Top 5 karaoke-inspired acts of violence - The Shark Guys, November 26, 2008 [Thailand is the focus of entry #3.] (Photo: Nils) Want to buy a ghost building? - November 14, 2008 Nils reports: This is on New Phetburi Rd. opposite Phetchawet Hospital, not far from Khlong Tan Intersection. The large sign says: Building for sale 081-829-7667 A smaller sign near road level reads: Land + building for sale - Land plot: 3 rai - 3 ngan - 55 square wah [=6220 sq.m] - [Main] building: 23 floors, 29,940 sq.m [floor space] - Car park building: 10 floors, 14,568 sq.m - Contact: 081-829-7667, 081-311-8113 (Photo: 2Bangkok.com) Bangkok Beverly Hills - November 22, 2008 The trouble with Harry - The Age, November 22, 2008 Harry Nicolaides is languishing in Bangkok Remand Centre, yet to face trial, over a few sentences in an unread novel... [Thanks to Danny for pointing this out.] NERAKHOON film offers hope to those betrayed in Laos, Thailand - MarketWatch, November 22, 2008 ...They express hopes regarding the film's positive impact on the Lao Diaspora community and those still suffering under oppression and corruption in the authoritarian Lao Peoples Democratic Republic (LPDR) and in squalid refugee camps in Nong Khai and Huay Nam Khao, Thailand... What happened to Mayateh Maranoh? - Rule of Lords, November, 2008 ...According to his family, a group of rangers from Unit 4111 surrounded their house on June 24 and put Mayateh in a vehicle. They also took his car, mobile phone and licensed gun. ...Her constant efforts to interest state officials in her husband’s disappearance failed. The police did not investigate. The Department of Special Investigation under the Justice Ministry also declined to take up the case... Bangkok Hospital patients receive same service as the King of Thailand - PR-Inside.com, November 20, 2008 "T. Shinawatra Thai Silk" - November 22, 2008 A 1975 tourist snapshot showing "T. Shinawatra Thai Silk" building in Bangkok. Mahanak Canal - November 22, 2008 Undated postcard showing Mahanak Canal. Note the tram tracks and tram in the distance. Thailand's drinking culture and the stock market - Bangkok Post, November 21, 2008 ...According to the Centre for Alcohol Studies, Thailand is reported to have the highest alcohol intake in Asia, followed by Korea and Japan. Intoxication is the leading cause of road accidents (72.7%) killing 14,000 and injuring 900,000 people annually, and leading to property damage (45.3%), rape and sexual assaults (20.8%). In recent years, drinking among teenagers 15-19 years old has increased by 45%, and among women by 30%. Around 60 alcohol-related diseases include liver, colonic cancer and brain damage. Among those who drink regularly, 59.1% suffer from high stress, 48.6% from chronic depression, 11.9% are suicide risks and 11.3% have murderous tendencies. Violence in households increases four-fold. The government collects a total of around 72.9 billion baht in taxes from the industry each year, compared with the estimated economic loss of 150.6 billion baht from the problems mentioned above. At the same time, people spend more than 200 billion baht annually on alcohol consumption... Life Magazine photos of Bangkok - November 20, 2008 Thanks to Brian who points out: Maybe you know this already, but Google Images now covers old Life magazine photos. Searching Bangkok throws up several old street shots that I had never seen before. Some great examples: Photo - Photo - Photo - Photo - Photo Warning over Thai frozen chicken - New Straits Times, November 22, 2008 ..."As there is no certainty that the chickens had received clearance from the Thai veterinary authorities before being slaughtered, it is not possible for us to determine whether the frozen chicken is really free from the bird flu disease," he said... INN explains Thaksin 'asylum' reports - The Nation, November 18, 2008 INN news agency yesterday insisted it had "sincerely and professionally" reported news to its audience after its report about small countries offering help to former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra were denied and questioned. In a statement posted on its website, www.innnews.co.th, INN said it would stick to the standard of good ethics and would not be a tool for anybody... [INN has come under criticism in the Thai-language press for backing up Thaksin's claims that several countries were offering him sanctuary after the revocation of his UK visa.] Dr Who hunted in Thailand - Bangkok Post, November 18, 2008 The hasty deletion of audio-visual material by the BBC has resulted in a global hunt for lost cultural treasures that involve Thailand... WTO probes Thai barriers to foreign cigarettes - AP, November 17, 2008 The World Trade Organization opened an investigation Monday into Thai import charges on foreign cigarettes, acting on a complaint from the Philippines... Tourist arrivals plummet in Thailand amid credit crunch - AFP, November 16, 2008 ..."Now there are not many tourists. Before in the high season it would be full," he told AFP, gesturing to the nearly empty pavement where vendors try to sell holiday-makers everything from fake DVDs to knuckle dusters. "I cannot do anything, just wait and see. Eat little, spend little -- try and save some money," the 37-year-old said outside his shop selling shorts, shin pads and headguards in the downtown Nana district... Light relief from the lady known as Angel - SMH, November 16, 2008 ...Dressed as an angel, a petite blonde Australian woman flitted about the auditorium, hugging participants and lecturing about the healing power of love and laughter. Australia's Susan Aldous prescribes laughter as the best medicine. Called the Angel of Bang Kwang, she is a ray of sunshine for underprivileged Thais - from inmates at a maximum security prison to women and children in shelters, writes Tibor Krausz... Thailand: New anti-drug campaign risks abuses - Government should seek justice for killings in previous crackdown - HRW, November 12, 2008 ..."The prime minister says that this time around killings will not be tolerated, but the government said the same thing last time. Somchai’s credibility is at stake here. " Brad Adams, Asia director for Human Rights Watch... "Holloway suspect involved in Thai sex trade" - RNW News, November 10, 2008 Joran van der Sloot, the main suspect in the disappearance case of US teenager Natalee Holloway, has been filmed in Bangkok where he was allegedly recruiting Thai girls to work in the sex industry in Europe... 'Safe to visit south Thailand' - New Straits Times, November 10, 2008 ..."Malaysians, especially those from Kelantan, can go to Narathiwat, Yala and Pattani. They will be safe. "But since most of the bombing attacks occur in the evening, Malaysians should come only during the daytime. "I give my guarantee that Malaysians will be safe," he said at a press conference here... Bangkok police arrest Abinayashree - Chitramala, November 10, 2008 The Police Department of Bangkok recently arrested Abhinayashree for her unruly behaviour. The Police also said that she was disturbing the passers by. Abhinayashree was in a complete drunken state whe she was arrested... Cambodians rely on magic against modern Thai weapons - AFP, November 10, 2008 A couple of weeks after their deadly border shootout, a Cambodian infantryman admits Thai troops have better weapons, but he's confident his pink "magic scarf" will ward off bullets... Frozen dews happen on Doi Inthanon - The Nation, November 11, 2008 Institution of Monarchy and lese majeste - Bangkok Post, November 12, 2008 ...It is woeful that politicians continually and endlessly condone trickery and ruse to press lese majeste charges against me and other less fortunate people: even though they know fully well that His Majesty the King had emphatically expressed his view, to no uncertain degree, on this subject in his speech delivered before the annual birthday anniversary celebration on December 4, 2005. His Majesty had made it known publicly that such allegations would cause harm to him as well as the royal institution. Nonetheless, governments which claim their ardent loyalty to the royal institution pay little attention to His Majesty's concern, and wittingly disobey his address altogether. ... It is evident that at the gathering of "Red Shirt Supporters" organised at the Rajamangala Stadium on November 1 this year, before Thaksin Shinawatra appeared on a giant screen (projected from abroad), a satirical play critical of the Thai monarchy was staged, even though no names were mentioned. Unsurprisingly, his government has not taken any legal action against the organisers or those involved... Govt monitoring Aussie held in Thai case - AAP, November 12, 2008 ...Senator Faulkner said the Thai public prosecutor had until the end of November to bring the case to court. Senator Faulkner said the government could not intervene directly in the judicial process. "Mr Nicolaides is subject to the Thai judicial process, the government cannot interfere in that process, just as we would not welcome an attempt buy a foreign government to interfere in our own." Indian navy 'sank Thai trawler' - BBC, November 26, 2008 The owner of a Thai fishing trawler has said the Indian navy sank it off Somalia's coast last week after wrongly assuming it was a pirate "mother ship"... Brother of Israeli sentenced to death: Israel Police gave him to Thailand - Ha'aretz, November 26, 2008 ...Akronik and Makhlouf were caught with 23,000 ecstasy pills in their possession that they had smuggled from Europe. They had planned to take the drugs from Thailand to sell in Japan, Australia and the United States. ...In 1997, a Thai court sentenced to death another two Israelis, who had been arrested in 1995 on suspicion of trying to smuggle 2.8 kilos of cocaine. Then president Ezer Weitzman lobbied the Thai king, eventually securing their release... Ladyboys and Good Sons: Contemporary Mediums and Gender Identity in Northern Thai Trance Dance - UCLA Asia Institute, November, 2008 ...The Lanna medium population that participates in annual trance dance ceremonies now contains a high percentage of elderly females and young males, the latter of which are primarily gay... First batch of Thai pilgrims arrives - Arab News, November 1, 2008 ...“The Thai government considers Haj affairs an important matter and we at the consulate give utmost importance to the welfare of the pilgrims,” Chantaharn said. Most of the pilgrims are from the southern part of Thailand and every year charter flights are arranged by the government to facilitate and transport them from Hadyai and Phuket airports, which are closer to their places of residence, he said... Saving Anocha: A Thai lady abducted by North Korea - The Nation, November 4, 2008 Evangelicals gather in Thailand - Religious Intelligence Ltd, November 2008 The world's largest evangelical body met for the first time in seven years last week, with over 500 leaders gathering in Pattaya, Thailand... Thai queen has always shown compassion to her people - Financial Times, November, 2008 ...given the monarchy’s revered status in Thai society, and particularly amid the current political situation, some groups may seek to portray or interpret certain actions by members of the Royal Family in favour of their own cause. Great care must therefore be exercised in lending credence to such claims, including in the case mentioned in Ms Kazmin’s article... No free lunch in credit crunch: $1 million Bangkok meal - Reuters, November 6, 2008 ...The Lebua hotel, which raised the ire of many in Thailand's capital when it charged 1 million baht ($28,580) for a dinner last year, is coming back for seconds -- but charging almost 40 times more... Burmese visitor dies in shooting incident near Bangkok airport - The Irrawaddy, November 6, 2008 Passenger takes Thai buses to task for cockroach in ear - EarthTimes, November 6, 2008 ...At the first pit stop in Phitsanulok, Kittipong dashed to the bathroom and managed to remove the cockroach with a cotton bud but suffered a severe ear bleed and tinnitus, a roaring sensation in the inner ear... Barrister accuses Govt of abandoning author in Thai jail - ABC, November 7, 2008 ...Mr Nicolaides has been in jail for more than two months and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison if convicted. Barrister Mark Dean says the Government has failed to meet its responsibilities. "The Australian Government, that is, the Foreign Minister, part of his principal responsibilities are to protect Australian citizens in circumstances such as this, particularly where a citizen is being used for political reasons," he said... Social critic given bail after being arrested for insulting monarchy - Bangkok Post, November 7, 2008 Police Friday granted bail for social critic Silak Sivaraksa, after he was arrested at his home in Bangkok on Thursday for insulting the monarchy... Suspects arrested in murders of two Matichon journalists - RSF, November 7, 2008 Updates the Rangcharoen case. Updates the Chainurat case.