News and Views - May 2005 (Photo: 2Bangkok.com) 'Taxi Channel' - May 26, 2005 Taxi with a mini TV screen in the visor that plays advertisements. The origins of our national anthem - The Nation, May 31, 2005 [An opinionated, but informative article about Thailand's national anthems.] ...The national anthem was created following the June 1932 coup that introduced the current system of constitutional monarchy. There was no national anthem during the Sukhothai and Ayutthaya periods, nor even in the early days of the Rattanakosin dynasty. ...In 1939, when the country’s name was changed from Siam to Thailand, Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram’s government held a competition for new lyrics. Luang Saranuprapan won a Bt1,000 prize for writing the words still used today... (Photo: Asiper for 2Bangkok.com) Almost like being there: Songkhla - June 1, 2005 Asiper writes: The Songkhla Train Station is now a weekend market. At the front, food is sold and at the back clothes are sold. (Photo: Asiper for 2Bangkok.com) Right: The owner at a grocery near the market in Songkhla said those who come to buy cigarettes will buy only buy them one by one and will not buy the pack. They do not like the warning photos and they feel like they do not want to smoke when they see it. Crazy Horse Monument fundraising begins - AP, May 29, 2005 (Photo: Asiper for 2Bangkok.com) A tale of two newspapers: Scanner probe extended - June 1, 2005 Slightly different info in the Post and Nation articles. The main difference is that The Nation adds Thirayuth Boonmee's direct implication of Thaksin and a prediction of the demise of Thaksin's government in the main article. The Post has Thirayuth Boonmee's comments in a separate article and does not include the accusations against Thaksin. Govt inquiry still missing evidence - Visanu: Extended deadline till Friday - Bangkok Post, May 31, 2005 ...Patriot was the distributor of the machines for InVision Technologies in the original contract. The machines were quoted by the United States manufacturer at 1.504 billion baht (US$35.8 million). But the price shot up to 2.608 billion baht when ITO Joint Venture sold them to New Bangkok International Airport Co... The inquiry had tried in vain to get information from the US Securities and Exchange Commission, the US Department of Justice and the California district court, as well as from Worapoj Yasadatt, managing director of Patriot. Mr Worapoj only sent his lawyers to a meeting on Friday and they did not reply to all questions. "As he did not answer, we must apply other methods that I won't elaborate. I understand that it can be checked in the next few days,'' Mr Visanu said... EIT is an engineering society that provides building service inspections and promotes professional ethics and academic research. The institute played an important role in scrutinising the initial bidding process for construction of the airport during the Democrat-led government. NBIA was placed under Airports of Thailand (AoT) last December... Senator Pratin Santiprabhob, chairman of the Senate special committee on graft, said he he had no trust in the government's investigation. It would come up with the conclusion that it could not find a bribe taker or a witness, he said. His panel would keep investigating the issue. Irregularity was obvious in the unusually high price of the machines. Govt airport probes extended until Friday - The Nation, May 30, 2005 ...Vishanu said the statement by Patriot's owner, Worapoj Yosadatt, that the Bt800 million was spent on decorative plants at the airport was unlikely - and intended to be a joke. To get straight answers from Worapoj, the government planned to impose "a type of state authority" on him, Vishanu said. He said Worapoj had previously been represented by more than 10 lawyers and answered only questions of his choosing. The final matter of inquiry was detailed information that needed to be obtained from three US organisations - the District Court in San Francisco, the US Department of Justice, and the US Securities and Stock Exchange Commission (US SEC) - which has yet to arrive. Meanwhile, government critic and academic Thirayuth Boonmee said he felt the airport scandal was likely to shorten Thaksin's reign and may prevent him completing his second term - far from original speculation that Thaksin may stay in power for 12 years. Thirayuth alleged Thaksin was involved in the scanner scandal from the beginning, claiming the premier gave his own recommendation on the CTX machines' reliability in a meeting of the airport's policy board on October 15, 2003. After an inspection tour of the airport yesterday, Thirayuth described the widespread corruption in Thai society as "chaos"... Also: 'A tale of two newspapers' archives Another from Chang Noi: From Westminster to Washington - April 25, 2005 ...And in his recent Cabinet choice, 27 of the 35 ministers are outsiders. This fact was rather disguised because many of them had been ministers and MPs before. But others are people tied directly to Thaksin himself including a long-standing banker, family doctor, and several political aides. Ministers need have no political base or standing other than their relationship with the prime minister. ...In Thailand’s old system, much of the power lay with locally rooted MPs and with senior bureaucrats. The prime minister’s influence depended on how he balanced these two poles. The new system has a strong central phalanx made up of the quasi-directly elected prime minister, his hand-picked Cabinet, and the new cadre of staffers. The banging about inside the TRT party over recent weeks is a consequence of these changes... And Snoh makes his move... SPLIT OVER AUDITOR-GENERAL : TRT rocked by rebellion - The Nation, May 26, 2005 ...About 60 Thai Rak Thai MPs, most of them belonging to Snoh’s Wang Nam Yen faction, signed the strongly-worded petition that states that Visut’s nomination is unconstitutional and could even be regarded as a breach of the King’s constitutional power... 'Dhamma lessons from the beauty queens' - The Nation, May 26, 2005 [Interesting editorial about the 'swimsuits in front of Wat Arun' controversy, although the objections probably have more to do with Thai ideas of proper time and place for things rather than Buddhism.] Horse on the expressway - May 28, 2005 Latest from Chang Noi: Homework assignment for the nation - May 24, 2005 ...This column has a hidden purpose. Chang Noi was the major author of one of these 109 books that “should be read”... (Photo: 2Bangkok.com) Songs for protesting workers - May 20, 2005 Thanks to Asiper for the following: The idea of the album, Change, came from Somboon Srikumdokkare, chairperson of WEPT: Everybody has a dream of having normal life, happy with family, and a prosperous future, but we couldn’t get to that dream. Because our lives are suffering because of things we did not do. Many groups are facing the same problems--getting chronic diseases from pollution and toxins in the environment. This impacts our lives in the long team in ways we have not prepared for. This is a change that we do not desire. We want to reflect our story to society so they are aware and understand in order to find out how to protect and find a solution. We do not want others to have their dreams destroyed by other people. We should live peacefully in the world forever. Songs: Change (Kwam Plien Plaeng) Mountains, fields, villages and the original owners of agricultural land are harmed by government policies bringing grief and lost lives and assets. Crying Lamtakong (Lamtakong Ronghai) Children lament the exploding mountain. A dam across Lam Takong reservoir causes people to be dispersed. Toxins from the dam's construction brings death to most families. Yaitieng Mountain Bemoan (Khao Yaitieng Rampan) Yaitieng Mountain was rich with water for farming and livestock, but the land has been taken to be an electric plant that impact makes the village collapse. People are in debt. Some are sick and die. They protest to the government. Who will solve this problem? Call from Vienglakon (Siengpriek Jak Vienglakon) In the past Lampang city is a rich and beautiful place. Now a huge power plant has been built, dust comes from a lignite mine, and sulfur dioxide settles over the fields, destroying the land. Come on youth, unite to build up our city to be happy again. Standup again with the brave heart (Luk yuoen khuen krangmai Duoi Jai toe toeb kla) The poem told us "capitalism robs the nation." The capitalists make a huge of profit from taking advantage of the workers’ wages. People lives become worthless. For a better life (Per Cheewit ti dee kwa) Although a broken wing prevents flight, this should not halt the dream of flight. One who loses assets loses nothing. Losing health is bad, but losing mental health is worse. Fly as you strive for a better life. Inspiration (Raeng Bundan Jai) Although our body is not 100% perfect , we have power to succeed. Obstacles are our teachers. There is a dusk and a dawn, a cold and a hot. We can help ourselves be fortunate. Fight without retreat. One day we will achieve our goal. Struggle for breath (Per ther poo Haijai hob) Poverty leads female workers to work in a factory. It is like walking to death because they have to inhale dust and toxic fumes. Finally they get sick and cannot be cured. The gasping voices ask who is responsible. This song is says that the victims will have our moral support. Someday (Sak Wan Nueng) There are many roads that meander in the world. Nobody knows how our walk will be, but by our path we choose by our hopes and desires. Someday it will be our day. Network of dreams (Kruakhai Haeng Fun) A wide world is full of peoples' dreams. If we weave our dreams and walk forward together to a better day, and also give love and concern to each other. A brighter world is coming. "Bloody May" victims deserve compensation, say activists - TNA, May 17, 2005 Hundreds of Thai democracy activists gathered here Tuesday to mark the 13th anniversary of ''Bloody May'' when the military opened fire on unarmed demonstrators calling for the resignation of a general who had taken power in a bloodless coup... ‘Haunted’ Wong Amat closes for good - The Nation, May 17, 2005 The old-fashioned Central Wong Amat Beach Resort will be demolished next month, putting an end to a 45-year tradition of welcoming family vacationers and the creepy ghost stories that made the joint famous... Haunted hotel tales will evaporate when the 18-storey, five-star Central Pattaya Beach Resort rises from the Wong Amat’s ashes in late in 2007 after three months of clearing and two years of construction. The Bt2.5-billion with a jungle-theme hotel is part of a Bt10-billion expansion Central Group’s has planned for the next five years... Software violation cases in Thailand stand high - TNA, May 17, 2005 Intellectual property rights violations in Thailand stood at a high level last year, particularly those of computer softwares, according to international data released here today... 'Big Brother' will tone it down on air - Contestants told to mind their behaviour - Bangkok Post, May 19, 2005 ...Puwadol Jingsitri, known as Toto to viewers and one of the two contestants at the seat of the controversy, yesterday again apologised for any inappropriate show of physical affection between him and a female member of the show. He said when they were holding hands and cuddling up on the sofa or on the bed it was not a put-on to get higher ratings. They actually fell in love... Thailand in midst of bio-tech crop battle - AFP, May 15, 2005 ...Last year Greenpeace announced it had uncovered the illegal spread of the papaya seeds to Thai farms, some of them hundreds of kilometres (miles) from Khon Kaen. It believes Thailand's department of agriculture was complicit in the contamination. The government, caught in a media glare, scrapped the station field trials. But it also quietly took two Greenpeace activists to court on charges of trespassing, theft and destruction of property after a media stunt at the Khon Kaen research centre. They face five years in prison. "This is the opening of the GMO door in Thailand," defendant Patwajee Srisuwan warned in an interview with AFP at the Khon Kaen court... ...Such criticism is unfair, says Vilai Prasartsee, director of the Khon Kaen research centre. The papaya ringspot virus (PRSV) caused huge losses in 1994 to one of Thailand's key crops, and still wreaks havoc. "We have been trying to help papaya farmers control PRSV, but we cannot control it. The severity is increasing every year," she tells AFP... "After Greenpeace came and attacked our site, other NGOs came every two days," an exasperated Vilai says as she walks through the empty field. Amid the protests, the Department of Agriculture scrapped the field trial, setting back research by years. Vilai says the centre did nothing wrong, and she feels personally stung by the attacks. "I have devoted 30 years to helping these poor farmers, then one day NGOs come here and accuse me of being a slave to Monsanto. It's very sad."... A tale of two newspapers: Closing community radio II - May 21, 2005 The Post article has 15 paragraphs explaining the government's reason for closing community radio stations before mentioning the allegations that the government targets stations that criticize it. It also adds a police denial that officers attempted to search the station in the TPI building. The Nation mentions the allegations in the second paragraph and restates the charges that police attempted to search the station. More on Thai community radio stations Govt puts the heat on local radio - Warning: Play by the rules or be shut down - Bangkok Post, May 19, 2005 ...Pol Maj-Gen Kosin said an official of the Public Relations Department told him the station's powerful transmitter and high antenna caused interference. He then asked his staff to warn the station "gently". Pol Maj-Gen Kosin denied his officers harassed anyone. He admitted police had no authority to take the action because the authority rested with the NBC but he said a gentle request for cooperation should be acceptable. He denied a report that two policemen had tried to search the radio station at the TPI building on Narathiwat Rachanakarin road. However, the Senate committee decided to ask the police force to investigate... COMMUNITY RADIO: PRD orders closure of stations over legal limit - The Nation, May 19 , 2005 ...Radio FM 92.25 accused police of intimidation after two officers attempted to gain entry to the third floor of the TPI building, where the station is located, on Wednesday. Metropolitan Police Bureau 5 commissioner Maj-General Kosin Hinthao, who was accused of ordering Thung Mahamek police to search the TPI building, defended himself to the House committee on social development and human security against the allegation. ...He said police had no intention of intimidating the station, but he had received a complaint from a PRD official that the station was disrupting other frequencies... Also: 'A tale of two newspapers' archives Also: Broadcaster plans all-out govt attack - The Nation, May 21, 2005 A community radio station critical of the prime minister has announced plans to retaliate against a government threat to shut it down by broadcasting its anti-government programmes through other community radio stations around the country... Also: Listen to FM 92.25's broadcasts On the forum: AIS's "New World Order" campaign - May 15, 2005 ...I chuckled at little at the "Anytime Anywhere Everyone" slogan, but yesterday I happened to stumble on the launch ceremony of their latest, far more scary campaign: it's entitled nothing less than New World Order... Earlier: AIS's "Anytime Anywhere Everyone" billboard (Photo: 2Bangkok.com) Fire - 11:48am, May 18, 2005 From The Nation: Fire at community near Phaya Thai market Rd. on Chareon Krung Road, Bangkok More than 30 households were destroyed by the fire. (Photo: 2Bangkok.com) The US Embassy's invisible man US embassy under flak for media meet - Bangkok Post, May 22, 2005 The Democrat party yesterday lambasted the United States embassy in Bangkok for its "disgraceful" action regarding the controversy over the CTX bomb detection equipment to be installed at Suvarnabhumi airport. Kiat Sitthi-amorn, one of the party's economic team, was referring to Friday's press conference at the US embassy, in which an embassy official who addressed the media asked that his identity not be revealed. Nor did he allow his picture to be taken. " I don't want to criticise him. As far as I know he is in charge of trade and commerce and his job is to sell. But I cannot accept it when he made himself an `invisible man' like that,'' he said. The embassy official affirmed that the US investigation did not find any Thai officials had received kickbacks in the baggage screening equipment scandal. ...Mr Ong-art also urged the embassy to clarify a report that the official in question was close to certain Thai cabinet ministers. The Democrat MP also said that the contents of the press conference remained ambiguous and urged the public to make a distinction between "no corruption was found'' and "there was no corruption''... SCANNER SCANDAL: Kraisak wants official’s name - The Nation, May 23, 2005 The Senate committee on foreign affairs will urge the United States Embassy to disclose the identity of the official who called a press conference to clear bribery allegations against Thai officials involved in the explosives-detection machines scandal, the panel’s chairman said yesterday... Architecture of Density - May 20, 2005 Photos from Hong Kong high-rise excess... Tambon with no electricity or proper roads revealed - TNA, May 20, 2005 ...The scandal of tambon Khai Jao, home to 2,016, has been compounded by the fact that repeated requests for infrastructure development have fallen on deaf ears. Mr. Boonma Kluaykreua, the tambon clerk, told reporters today that the small tambon did not have a single asphalt road, and that all electricity was provided by roof-top solar panels which were constantly breaking down... Govt considers a two-baht coin - TNA, May 20, 2005 H5N1 Human to Human Transmission in Thailand? - Recombinomics, May 19, 2005 ...The formation of a separate cluster of virus from northern Viet Nam and Thailand raises serious questions regarding Thailand's claim to have no human H5N1 infections in 2005... And a discussion about this. Bloody events have mixed legacy - Bangkok Post, May 20, 2005 [For once the Post has a truly extraordinary editorial. A Chulalongkorn University lecturer writes an impartial and calm article that reminds us of the circumstances surrounding the events and the results of Black May. Perceptive points are the fine line between success and failure for Suchinda, the outrageous corruption of the elected government that was overthrown, and 'People's Constitution" that led to the Thaksin government.] ...For the relatives of May 1992 victims killed by government-initiated gunfire, those days will never be closed. Those responsible for their loved ones' deaths have never faced justice. ...Moot as it may seem, Gen Suchinda's true intentions from the outset remain a subject of debate for historians. What if he had kept his word and ushered in a newly elected government under the caretaker cabinet of Anand Panyarachun before returning to the barracks? In the event, Gen Suchinda was engulfed by the forces and demands around him, ultimately succumbing to his corruptibility of power when he accepted the premiership after the March 1992 election. ...The genesis of May 1992, lest we forget, was the blatant and unmanageable corruption of the elected government of Gen Chatichai Choonhavan. Its manner of corruption led to the damning description "buffet cabinet". ...Mr Thaksin has apparently learned from Gen Chatichai. Appearances of corruption have been actively managed for public consumption, and conflicts of interest involving the personal business interests of those elected to power may have replaced the crude corruption involving the budget. Corruption, in short, has become nuanced and sophisticated. ...The 1997 constitution has not worked out as intended. It has perhaps produced too much of a good thing: an elected government so stable and effective that it has ruled by fiat at times. ...The constitution already has designed an eclectic set of institutions. It is best to leave more time for these institutions to work themselves out. That these institutions have not functioned as envisaged may be less due to their design than to the intentions and interests of the people who man them... Social realism in Laos - May 23, 2005 A fantastic series of government posters from Laos Myanmar capital tightens security in wake of bombings - The Nation, May 21, 2005 ...The new security measures were announced Friday night over loudspeakers from military cars driving through the capital's main districts and suburbs. Yangon residents will henceforth be subject to "serious action" if they are caught in public without their national security cards and face two weeks imprisonment if they fail to inform authorities in advance about guests visiting their homes... Korat Post closing soon? - May 21, 2005 It started with some kind of controversy concerning Wat Pa, but quickly became some kind of personal quarrel where the editor was personally affronted. Bar owners dismayed as closing times remain unchanged - No special privileges for Pattaya - Pattaya Mail, May 20-26, 2005 This is an amazing quote: “But for the moment everyone around the country must follow the same law.” Areas like Pattaya have always been a country within a country in Thailand. The idea that the Thaksin government has been able to have national laws enforced within Pattaya is quite unprecedented and a measure of the strength and confidence of Thaksin's rule. ...Somchai responded by calling for cooperation from businesses in following the current regulations and strictly adhering to the zoning laws, operating times, not allowing patrons under the age of 20 to enter venues, keeping weapons and drugs out of their venues, not providing lewd shows, and having correct licenses. Many bar owners were dismayed over the response and walked out of the meeting... Unflattering headline - May 24, 2005 This Reuters article has a rather unflattering headline added by CDNN: Sex capital Thailand upset over Miss Universe bikini babes - Cyber Diver News Network, May 21, 2005 Miss Universe organisers scrambled on Thursday to calm a furore over photos of bikini-clad contestants posing near an ancient Buddhist temple in pageant host Thailand after the images infuriated religious leaders... 'Burma has the fastest growing economy in the world' - May 23, 2005 From Burma’s April Fools - The Irrawaddy, May 2005: ...Outside the ethereal world of the SPDC, Burma’s economy is not growing at all. The latest estimates of the International Monetary Fund suggest that Burma’s economic growth in 2005-2006 will be zero. ...It is the lack of these ‘fundamental institutions’—such as private property rights, security of contract, and at least the elements of the rule of law—that is by far the most important of the woes facing Burma’s economy today. Without the fundamental institutions of the sort noted above, however, no economy can enjoy, or ever has enjoyed, success for very long... 'She can tell the world we exist' - The Jakarta Post, May 22, 2005 For the first time in two decades, Indonesia has sent a contestant to the prestigious Miss Universe contest, being held in Thailand, despite some loud protests here... Prang Puthorn/Phraeng Phoothon - May 25, 2005 On Sunday, a Nation article mentioned "Prang Puthorn." Asiper writes: Prang Phuthorn was built in the King Rama V era. It housed the famous Thai sweet shop, Kor. Panich and is near the Interior Ministry. It was the palace of King Rama IV’s son. He worked for as a government official in King Rama V era. More on Phraeng Phoothon. And Wisarut adds: Prang Puthorn? That's Phraeng Phoothon, one of three Phraeng (Phraeng Phoothon, Phraeng Naram, Phraeng Sapphasart). Phraeng Phoothon used to be the palace of Krommamuen Phuthaset Thamrongsak (children of King Mongkut and Chaochom Marnda Talap). After Krommamuen Phootharet Thamrongsak passed away at the age of 42, the children of that prince sold the palace to King Chulalongkorn and the King decided to turn that palace into commercial area with the new road within City Wall. The road was named "Phraeng Phoothon." Phraeng Phuuthon is in between Thanon Tanao and Thanon Assadang near Saphan Changrongsee (near the Ministry of the Interior). Phraeng Nara used to be a palace of Krommamuen Narathip Praphanphongse (children of King Mongkut and Chaochom Marnda khian), the founder of Siamese Tramway Co.Ltd., the Phraphutthabat Railway, and the Naruemit Theater. His palace had been expropriated to construct Phraeng Nara Road. Phraeng Sapphasart used to be a palace of Kroommamuen Sapphasart Supphakit until the prince passed away. After that, the palace became another commercial area and a red light area before Pat Pong (Pat Pong Road was opened in 1950). More Info can be seen here at Sanook.com: Phraeng Nara - Red light district at Phraeng Saphasart's by Master Rong Wongsawan [National Artist] Earlier: Old-town eye opener - Students get to see life in an embattled historic community - Bangkok Post, May 22, 2005 As a student at a prestigious university, Chalermpol Pattayakul's everyday life has nothing to do with the poor community behind ancient Mahakarn Fort in Phra Nakhon district. That was until the 19-year-old student of Thammasat University's political science faculty made a visit to the community this month to learn of householders' long fight against eviction, forced by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA)... Rape cases jump in Thailand, while arrest rates decline - AP, May 23, 2005 Rape and other kinds of sexual abuse of females in Thailand are increasing rapidly, but police are arresting a smaller percentage of assailants, a prominent researcher said... Thailand promotes 'transparency' to meet 'Asian values' - TNA, May 23, 2005 Thailand has utilized modern technologies, including information technology (IT), to promote transparency in both the public and private sectors to meet the 'Asian values', Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has said... Thailand trip will save 11,000GBP on teeth op - Huddersfield Daily Examiner, May 23, 2005 A Dalton man is preparing to fly 6,000 miles - to get his teeth fixed. Colin Walder, 55, flies out to Thailand on June 10 to undergo dental implant surgery... Museum opening faces opposition - Conservation panel unhappy with plans - The Nation, May 24, 2005 The National Discovery Museum project, the brainchild of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, has hit its first hurdle with opposition from the Committee for the Conservation of Rattanakosin and Old Towns. Unless the conflict is resolved, the opening of the museum, scheduled for December next year, will have to be postponed, said Phuthorn Bhumadhon, director of the museum for the National Discovery Museum Institute (NDMI). The museum is to be housed in the old Commerce Ministry building in Tha Tian. However, since the three-storey building is very old, only the 1,200-square-metre first floor can be used as exhibition space, while the second and third floors would be museum offices... More ceasefire groups expected to break with Rangoon - The Irrawaddy, May 24, 2005 [As far as 2Bangkok.com is concerned there's no doubt about it--pressure is converging on Myanmar from all sides and the regime has reason to be paranoid. It interesting to speculate on what role staunch US ally Thaksin might be playing in this and what the expected end-game could be.] More ethnic groups are expected to follow the lead of the Shan State National Army and abrogate their ceasefire agreements with the Rangoon junta... Govt wants a national anthem for every occasion - The Nation, May 24, 2005 Published on May 24, 2005 ...According to GMM Grammy, the first version is for official use and sung by popular singer Seksan Sukpimai. The second version – sung by young vocalists would be played at formal and semi-formal events. The third version, sung by the popular singers Thongchai McIntyre and Nantida Kaewbuasai, is recommended for ballroom dances. The fourth version, also sung by young vocalists, would be used in secondary schools and universities. The fifth version is aimed at children, with famous child singer Chatupatr Laothamatas, aka Nong Plub, providing the vocals. The sixth version, performed by a traditional Thai orchestra, is aimed at the elderly. Buddhist authorities in Thailand challenged by breakaway group - Channel NewsAsia, May 20, 2005 ...The community was formed by Phra Pothirak, a TV star turned Buddhist monk who dismayed religious authorities when he declared himself to have attained "enlightenment". ...But excommunication only made the group more popular among Thais who see their lifestyle as the antidote to rank consumerism. Thai security forces operate in a "climate of impunity," Amnesty says - AP, May 25, 2005