BKK News Feed Archive Q1/09/II

BKK News Feed for Week 14 in 2009, March 30th – April 05th:

M&C/DPA – Thai Premier Flies From One Crisis to Another
THE NATION – Thaksin Says It’s Time to Fight for His “Stolen Asset”
The Nation – FM Kasit: Thaksin Is a Childish, Cowardly Demon
STRAITS TIMES/AFP – Govt May Act on Protests
TOC – Red Police Officers
BANGKOK POST – Froth & Foam From a “Tame Dog”
VOA – Economists Warn Thailand’s Political Uncertainties May Undermine Economy
BANGKOK POST – Suthep Offers to Talk With Thaksin
IPS – Back to Street Protests
REUTERS – Thai Govt Seeks Talks With Thaksin to End Siege
BANGKOK POST – Kasit “Got Thaksin Money”
XPRESS – Red Revolt
THAIVISA – Entertainment Crackdown & Massage Girls Only Over 40 (jolly April Fools’ Day)
THE NATION – Red Shirts Gaining Momentum

M&C/DPA – Thai Premier Flies From One Crisis to Another
THE NATION – Thaksin Says It’s Time to Fight for His “Stolen Asset”
BANGKOK POST – Kasit Owes Thaksin Money?
The Nation – FM Kasit: Thaksin Is a Childish, Cowardly Demon
STRAITS TIMES/AFP – Govt May Act on Protests
TOC – Red Police Officers
THE NATION – Bangkokian: Democracy Advocate
BANGKOK POST – Froth & Foam From a “Tame Dog”
THAI CRISIS – Industrial Output Cut by 50%
THE NATION – Thaksin Threatens to Lead Protests Himself
BANGKOK POST – Golfer Prayad Makes the Masters (see our recent post)
AFP – Thai Police Warn Protesters on 5th Day of Blockade
BANGKOK POST – PAD Leaders Formally Charged
BANGKOK POST – No Songkran Booze Ban

TNA – Leading Koh Samui Hotels Slash Room Rates
THE NATION – Killed British Yachtsman: Burmese May Escape Murder Charge (the law’s the law?)
XPRESS – Oh, Girl! It’s a Bumpy Ride for “Event Pretties”
BANGKOK POST – Red Shirts Threaten Chaos (aren’t we getting tired of them all)
RADIO AUSTRALIA – Thaksin Supporters Throw Bangkok Into Turmoil
BANGKOK POST – Red Shirts’ Doomed Protest
THE NATION – Kasit Declares War on Thaksin
! WSJ – Economic Woes Complicate Thailand’s Politics
ASIA TIMES – Book Review/Southern Conflict: Tearing Apart the Land
NOT THE NATION – 50,000 Red Shirts Gather for Reading of Thaksin SMS
STRAITS TIMES/AFP – Thailand Pushing Extradition Talks
WATERTOWN DAILY TIMES – On a Photo Shoot in Thailand, Hitting the Old Haunts
BANGKOK POST – Venue Arranged for PAD Leaders to Surrender to Hear Charges
BANGKOK POST – Thaksin Wants More Countrywide Rallies

BKK News Feed for Week 13 in 2009, March 23rd – 29th:

BANGKOK POST – Prem, Surayud “Behind Coup”
THE NATION – Runaway Thaksin Names Nemesis: General Prem, the “Invisible Hand”
BANGKOK POST – PM’s Lèse Majesté Troubles
THE NATION – Red Shirt Rally: It’s Getting Nastier, More Personal
BANGKOK PUNDIT – Call on Surayud to Resign From Privy Council
BANGKOK PUNDIT – Quote of the Day: Jatuporn on Prem
TOC – Police Monitor Possible Lèse Majesté Speeches @ Anti-Govt Rally
REUTERS – Thai Protesters Bar PM From Office as Red Rally Drags On
THE NATION – Puea Thai Takes First Step Towards Dissolution of Democrats
BANGKOK POST – The Rising Tide of a “Red” Nation
THE NATION – Thousands @ Govt House, More to Join
THE NATION – “Blues” Protect Airport, Thaksin to Phone-In Every Night Until …
BANGKOK POST – Songkran Booze Ban Legal

GLOBAL VOICES – Thaksin Reveals Conspirators Behind Coup
BLOOMBERG – Thai Protesters Call for Premier Abhisit to Quit
BANGKOK POST – Red Protest Rings Govt House
THE NATION – Reds’ Minor Objectivs Met, Now the Real Challenges
TOC – Reds to Hold Marathon Rally
THE NATION – After the Yellow- & Red-Shirts Welcome the Blue-Shirts, Defending Suvarnabhumi (can you believe it? this place has become a living satire)
TNA – Red Shirts Vow to Protest for @ Least 1 Month (even during Songkran? unlikely)
SMH/AFP – Thailand Hands Out Stimulus Gift Cheques
ECONOMIST – Golden Days: Golden Triangle Is Alive With Poppies Again
BANGKOK POST – Red Rally: Doing It for Your Country
BANGKOK POST – Pre-Rally Bargaining: Puea Thai Pushes for Pardon
VOA – Thailand Trains Airport Staff to Tackle Illegal Wildlife Trade
FORBES – World’s Swankiest Golf Courses: Thai Country Club
BANGKOK POST – From the Barracks: Thaksin Escalates His Skirmishing Tactics

! GLOBAL POST – Thailand: The Future Home of Stem Cell Research?
TNA – Military Deployed @ Govt House
! CNN – Thai Troops Accused of Crossing Cambodia Border (probably a nationalist ploy to divert attention from the reds’ rally)
TNA – Homeless @ Sanam Luang (with video)
XPRESS – Spend, Spend, Spend Those 2,000 Baht Govt Cheques
CNN – Thailand’s Cash Stimulus (video)
BANGKOK PUNDIT – Central Banker Tarisa @ BOT’s Annual Party
! BANGKOK POST – Monarchy & Democracy: Taking Time to Consider Lèse Majesté Law
THAI CRISIS – Songkran Alcohol Ban: How to Make a Z-Turn & Lose Face Simultaneously
THE NATION – Shadowy Isoc Gets a Billion for Anti-Red Rural Development
BANGKOK POST – Sanan Removal Thought Over Alcohol Ban (I suddenly like the guy)
BBC – Pirates Kill British Yachtsman off Thai Coast
THE NATION – Samak Explains Thaksin’s Downfall
TAT – Thailand to Host 1st Martial Arts Games

BKK News Feed for Week 12 in 2009, March 16th – 22nd:

ECONOMIST – Doing Business in Bangkok (video, via BP)
BANGKOK POST – Phu Yai Go Home: The Privilege of Tea for Two
BANGKOK POST – Booze Ban Gets Closer
FT – Carmakers in Thailand Run Low on Gas
XPRESS – Dry Songkran? Beer-Wildered (why do they suddenly care about foreigners?
PHUKET GAZETTE – Heavy Morning Erection: Thai Man Breaks Penis
TEAK DOOR – Jomtien’s Floating Market
DAYLIFE – Bangkok Fashion Week Photos
THAI CRISIS – Songkran Holidays: Room Rates Decreased by More Than 40%
THE NATION – Ever the Victim, Thaksin Tries to Explain His Downfall
BANGKOK POST – The Amoral Leaked Video Clip Industry
GLOBAL VOICES – Summary From the First Academic Lèse Majesté Forum
BANGKOK POST – Thaksin Vows to Expose Those Behind His Ouster
TNA – Govt Plans to Borrow 70 Billion Baht More

BANGKOK POST – First Ever Open Lèse Majesté Law Discussion
SMH – Dying to Live Again the Buddhist Way: Thais Are Lining Up to “Die”
THE NATION – Differences of Legal Opinion Aired @ Forum on Defamation of Royalty
BANGKOK POST – An Illustrated Guide to the Insults & Profanities of the Censure Debate
TIMES – Thailand’s Best Luxury Spa
TORONTO STAR – Travel: Bangkok, Bursting With Fabulous Food, Great Deals
REUTERS – Thai Govt Easily Survives Censure Vote
BANGKOK POST – Bangkok to Host Emirate’s A380 Megajet
UPI ASIA – Is Thailand Headed for Civil War?
XPRESS – Housing Crisis & Greedy Developers (an average of 4sqm for a family of 4?)
BANGKOK POST – After 2 Days Political Drama: Words That Fall on Deaf Ears
KHI KWAI – Thai Culture & Democracy
DOTHAN EAGLE – Your Holiness, Meet Mechai, the Condom King
! THE NATION – Democrats Will Survive House Vote, but … Will They Get Away With Murder? (judicial bias? if Samak could fall because of a cooking show …)

BANGKOK POST – Opposition Savages FM (love the Thai Airways detail)
MANNINGHAM LEADER – Harry Nicolaides Interview: “Political Reasons” Behind Time in Thai Prison Hell
BANGKOK POST – Thitinan: Strength Through Censure
BANGKOK PUNDIT – Day 1 of Censure Debate
UCANEWS – Church Faces Uncertain Future in South
THE NATION – Censure Debate: Chalerm Details Democrats’ “Undeclared Donation” (who likes Chalerm, but those are serious allegations)
BANGKOK POST – Army to Root Out Evil “Thaksin Plan”
NYT – “Merchant of Death” or Simple Tango Lover?
BANGKOK POST – Censure Debate: Chalerm Unleashes Barrage @ Abhisit
TNA – Kasikorn: Exports Likely to Shrink 13.5-20% This Year
THAI OPINIONS/THE NATION – Discrimination
BANGKOK POST – Songkran Row: Booze Ban & Tourism
THE NATION – Censure Debate: We’re not Playing Dirty Tricks, PM Insists
NEW ZEALAND HERALD – Travel: Bangkok Perspectives

VOA – Thailand Explores Greater Autonomy for Largely Muslim Provinces
AFP – War on Drugs à la Abhisit
TNA – Democrats Targeted in Southern Bomb Attempts?
BANGKOK POST – 15 Years of Free Education
BLOOMBERG – Thailand’s Exports Slide for 4th Month
THE NATION – Chalerm Interview: We Can Nail Abhisit, Democrats
BANGKOK PUNDIT – NACC Farce & New Legal Standard
THE NATION – Emirates to Launch A380 Bangkok Service
BANGKOK POST – Chavalit Baffled, Police Chiefs Disheartened by Charges (Thailand’s judicial politics can’t get more cynical)
THE NATION – Somchai, Chavalit Indicted Over Oct 7 Bloodshed (nah, how could those charges be be political …)
GLOBAL POST – Thailand’s Islamic Insurgency: The War You Never Heard Of
MUST READ: TIMES – Abhisit @ Oxford: The Cow Manure Flies
THE NATION – First Chinese Car Coming to Thailand
WSJ – Thailand Celebrates Elephants (slideshow)

STRAITS TIMES/AFP – Somchai & Chavalit to Get Charged?
PHUKET WAN – German Ambassador, in Phuket, Drops Diplomatic Bombshell, Walks Out
MUST READ: BANGKOK POST – Black Magic Politics
THE NATION – Chang Noi: Thaksin & His Stark Appeals From the Archipelago of Exile
THE NATION – Newin, the Man Who Could Be PM
BANGKOK POST – The Democrats’ “Marriage” Is Heading for the Rocks
BANGKOK POST – Foreign Criminals: Police “Fighting a Losing Battle”
BANGKOK POST – Intellectual Dishonesty: Dissing Abhisit
BANGKOK POST – Oxford: Ji Greets Abhisit With Foot Clapper
COUNTER TERRORISM BLOG – Southern Rebels’ Birthday Bash
NOT THE NATION – Web Censorship now Thailand’s Largest Employer
STRATEGY PAGE – Another Spike of Violence in the South
REUTERS – Tagines, Hookahs in Bangkok’s “Hidden” Arab Quarter (some interesting Nana background)
FOX SPORTS/GOLFWEEK – Thai Golfer Lifted Himself From Poverty

BKK News Feed for Week 11 in 2009, March 09th – 15th:

ECONOMIST – Missing Human Rights Lawyer: More Questions Than Answers
BANGKOK POST – Abhisit Blasts Exiled Ji
ASIA TIMES – Lawyer Abduction Puts Thailand on Trial
BANGKOK POST – Thaksin Hasn’t Sought Royal Pardon
TOC – Thai Boxing to Be Included in School Curriculum
NOT THE NATION – Big C to Add 4 More Aisles of Nothing
IHT – Deposed Thai Prime Minister Vows to Fight On
THE NATION – “FCCT Speech”: Thaksin Thanks Junta for Saving His Money
TNA – Opposition Files Censure Motion Against PM, 5 Ministers
THE NATION – Foreign Academic Criticizes Abhisit for Planned Oxford Speech on Democracy
THE NATION – The PAD Dilemma: Popular Vs. Parliamentary Politics
ASIA TIMES – Region’s Race to the Bottom
IHT/AP – New Protections for 30,000 ATMs in Thailand
NOT THE NATION – THAI Introduces “Smooth As Silk” Fellatio Service

BANGKOK POST – War of Words/Suthep to Sondhi: Mind Your Mouth
THE NATION – Time Is Approaching for the PAD to Pay the PAD Piper
BANGKOK POST – Reshuffle Reduces Thaksin Influence
TOC – PAD Leaders Seek Different Justice
PHUKET WAN – British Jailed Tourist Blames “Embassy Passport Error”
THE NATION – Police Find First of Six Missing Scuba Divers
GLOBAL POST – Problems With Your Thai Portfolio? Maybe a Higher Authority Will Help
CSM – Thailand Casts Wider Censorship Net
XPRESS – Thais Cracking Up? The Grand Mental Test
STRAITS TIMES – Phuket Hitman Planned Another Hit
BANGKOK POST – Songkran Alcohol Ban Is no Answer
THE NATION – Five Officials Face Santika Fire Heat
PHUKET WAN – Storm Sinks Phuket Dive Boat, 6 Tourists Missing
FEER – The Taming of Thaksin (with video interview & he boasts to have several passports)

! FEER – Thaksin Interview: “I Am a Domestic Dog That Can Be Tamed any Time”
THE NATION – German Homeless Man Arrested for Setting Fire on Thonglor Phone Booths
THE NATION – Going Legit: PAD Will Face Pitfalls
THE NATION – Our Country’s Media Freedom: Myth & Reality
BANGKOK POST – Let’s (PAD) Party
BANGKOK POST – Book Review: Chris Baker – The Horror of the South & a Solution
IPS – Police Target Websites Unflattering to Royalty
THE NATION – Lèse Majesté: Premier Will Try to Spare Websites
BANGKOK POST – Prachatai Saga: Abhisit Confirms Right to Complain
BANGKOK POST – Bangkok Footpaths: The Right to Walk
BANGKOK POST – Swiss Journalist Arrested in Thailand
TOC – Govt Monitors Rifts in Opposition
TOC – Deputy PM: Lèse Majesté Law Must Be Left Untouched
THE NATION – Top Judge: Administrative Court not Involving in Thai Politics …

BKK News Feed for Week 10 in 2009, March 02nd – 08th:

PUBLIC RECORD – Pre-Thai Jail Torture Memo (Anupong’s “million percent,” sure, looks cuter by the day)
BANGKOK POST – Prachatai’s Webmaster Held by CSD
BBC – Police Arrest Webmaster
! TIME – Thaksin Interview
THE NATION – PAD Planning Own Party to “Reshape” Thai Politics (way to go! vote ‘em in or kick ‘em out once and for all)
THE AGE – Thai PM to Study Monarchy Law Reform
AP – Alleged Russian Arms Dealer Calls Thai Trial “Theater”
THE NATION – Lèse Majesté Allows Criticism, but not Abuse
NOT THE NATION – Pantip Plaza Named “Most Stressful Mall” for 9th Straight Year
THE NATION – Secret American Torture Prisons in Thailand: Skeletons in the Closet (a case against electoral dictatorship?)
BANGKOK POST – Thai Torture Jail Denial Cannot Change Fact
NOT THE NATION – Thaksin Raising Army of Orcs
TIME – Elephant Polo in Thailand
THAI CRISIS – Thailandjistan’s Little Talibans

MONSTERS & CRITICS/DPA – Jakrapob Lèse Majesté Case Postponed
GLOBAL POST – Zapping Bloodsuckers in Bangkok
GLOBAL POST – McDreaming in Thailand (how much would you pay to flip burgers and bag fries in the U.S.?)
! XPRESS – Drugged Beggar Kids for Spare Change
BANGKOK POST – Will the Global Financial Armageddon Sink Thailand?
NEW MANDALA – International Call for Reform of Lèse Majesté Law
IHT/AP – Wachtveitl Retires: End of an Era for Bangkok’s Oriental Hotel
TNA – Army Chief Denies Secret Jails Here (or his “one million per cent” assertion convinces you?)
TOC – Thaksin to Phone In to Hong Kong on March 12th
BANGKOK POST – U.S. Admits to Torture @ Secret Thai Jail
BANGKOK POST – Let the Man Have His Say
ASIA ONE/AFP – Thailand’s Aids Temple Offers Life Lessons in Death
TNA – Health Officials Launch “Anti Potbelly” Campaign
DAVE THE RAVE – Where Have All the Go-Go Girls Gone?

BANGKOK POST – Minister: Govt not Favoring PAD
BANGKOK POST – Can Chalerm Realize His PM Dream? (I speculate since some time: yes, he unfortunately can, but not yet)
BANGKOK POST – Govt Drops PAD Civil Charges (now you know what will happen to the other charges)
THE NATION – PAD Leaders Ready to Surrender, With Delay
THE NATION – Harry Nicolaides & Lèse Majesté
BANGKOK POST – Abhisit: Corrupt, Convicted & Exiled Thaksin Seems “Untouchable”
XPRESS – Retro Bangkok: Venice of the East, Again?
CHANNEL NEWS ASIS – Abhisit Vows to Use “Every Means” to Bring Thaksin Home
! CAMBRIDGE JOURNALS – Thai Politics as Reality TV
XINHUA – 21 PAD Leaders to Meet Police to Hear Charges
TNA – Thai Officials in Hong Kong Seek Extradition of Thaksin
WSJ – Asean Summit Wraps Up Without Specific Actions
NYT – In Southeast Asia, Unemployed Abandon Cities for Their Villages
BANGKOK POST – Holding Asean to Account

BKK News Feed for Week 09 in 2009, February 23rd – March 01st:

REUTERS – Thaksin Cancels Hong Kong Speech
BANGKOK POST – Sanoh: Thaksin Arrest Means Turmoil
BANGKOK POST – Don’t Underestimate the “Red Shirts”
AP – Thai PM to Press for Former Leader’s Extradition
THE NATION – Police Summons 21 PAD Leaders for Interrogation
! THE NATION – Bangkokian: The Spies Who Got Sh****d
TAT – Thailand Waives Visa Fee to Revive Tourism
THE NATION – Google Maps Thailand the First in Southeast Asia
CFR – Hua Hin Summit: Asean Backgrounder
RADIO AUSTRALIA – Abhisit Faces Credibility Test (with Thitinan & Kasit speaking)
THE NATION – Thailand May Ask China to Extradite Runaway Thaksin
TIME – How not to Make a Political Fashion Statement in Thailand
BANGKOK POST – Yellow Martyr Killed by Own Bomb?
! XPRESS – Goodbye Hourglass, Hello Tube: Thai Women’s Waistlines Ballooning

AP – Hua Hin Summit: Asean Financial Gloom to Trump Rights Issues
BANGKOK POST – Red Protest Loses Steam
NEOS KOSMOS – Harry Nicolaides Speaks About the Thai Jail Ordeal (via New Mandala)
CHANNEL NEWS ASIA – Thaksin to Speak in Hong Kong
TOC – PAD’s Sondhi: Red Rally Won’t Last (condemning arrest warrants against PAD leaders)
TNA – New Survey Finds Average Thais Taller, Fatter, More Tubular
DAVE THE RAVE – Nana Plaza’s “Survival of the Fittest”
BANGKOK POST – Reds to Blockade Foreign Ministry
BANGKOK POST – Anti-Airport Seizure Draft is Some Joke
TNA – Reds Camp Out Near Govt House
IHT – Protesters Surround Offices of Thai Prime Minister
BLOOMBERG – Red Shirts March on Abhisit to Demand Election
BANGKOK POST – Govt House Under Red Siege
MONSTERS & CRITICS – Political Status Quo Returns to Thailand After Tumult

BANGKOK POST – Red Shirts Vow not to Break Into Govt House
THE NATION – Foreigner’s Hanging Head: Suicide or Execution?
LIVE MINT/WSJ – Thailand’s Redemption (Thai stock market on verge of being attractive)
BANGKOK POST – FM Kasit to Quit if Charged (he at least signals a sense of responsibility & duty)
WSJ – Thailand Joins Asian Slump
ASEAN SUMMIT – The Official Website of the 14th Asean Summit
THE NATION – Red Shirt Rally Expected to Be Peaceful
AFP – Pardoned Aussie Writer: Thai Royal Insult no Publicity Stunt
BANGKOK POST – Two-Headed Birds Inside Puea Thai
BLOOMBERG – Thai Economy Shrinks More Than Expected on Exports
BANGKOK POST – Stay Away From Cha Am
THE NATION – Abhisit Knows Why Clinton Avoided Thailand on Maiden Trip to Asia
SMH – Nicolaides: Martyr to His Literary Ambition (read our post Happy Harry)
BANGKOK POST – Farang Head Found Hanging From Bangkok Bridge (the bridge should have CCTV)

BKK News Feed for Week 08 in 2009, February 16th – 22nd:

TNA – Abhisit: Arrest Warrants Against PAD “not Politically Motivated”
BANGKOK PUNDIT ON BANGKOK BUGLE – In Defense of Lèse Majesté
BANGKOK POST – Royal Pardon Shows King’s Generosity & Fairness
THE AGE – Pardoned Nicolaides Back Home
! THE AGE – Australian Author Nicolaides Pardoned From Thai Prison (now that was very fast any maybe implies a dispensability of the relevant law)
PHILIP GOLINGAI – Thaksinology: Cleansing Bad Karma From Past Life
CNN – Author Jailed for Insulting Thai Monarchy Freed
! BANGKOK POST – Arrest Warrants for 21 PAD Leaders Expected (finally some great news, let’s wait and see)
THE NATION – Culture Vulture: Thailand’s Artistic Culture Deserves Better Promotion
BANGKOK POST – “Hazardous” Regulation Brings Ridicule
BLOOMBERG – Thailand’s Economy Probably Shrank for First Time in 10 Years
STRAITS TIMES/AFP – Reds to Hit the Road Again, Thai Cabinet Heads to Beach
WSJ – Berkeley’s Thai Buddhist Temple Feast
BLOOMBERG – FM Kasit Vows not to Quit

TOC – Chatuchak Ready to Open Fridays
BANGKOK POST – Elite Card Back in Business?
THE NATION – Amnesty for Thaksin: Showdown Deferred, not Avoided
BLOOMBERG – Western Investors, Confident in Abhisit, Buy Thailand Bonds
GLOBAL POST – Coming Soon: Thai Booze With Gross-Out Labelling
TOC – PM Attends Funeral Rite of Late PAD Activist (Abhisit showing color)
! BANGKOK POST – Modern Monarchy & Inviolability (with discussion)
XPRESS – New Filmrating System: Less Censorship?
NEW STRAITS TIMES – Is Abhisit Tough Enough to Stay in Power?
BANGKOK POST – Withdrawal of Amnesty Bill: Puea Thai Has Got It Right
BANGKOK POST – Noise Pollution: Bangkok Motorcycles Make the Loudest Noise
THE NATION – Democrats Under Fire Over Controversial Donation
THE NATION – The Thaksin Machine Needs a Reboot
THE NATION – Black Magic Thaksin

BANGOK POST – Ginger Toxic, Sulphur not? Industry Ministry in Fresh Row
SMH – Nicolaides Sceptical Over Call for Pardon
BANGKOK POST – Buses Face Tough New Controls (really?)
BANGKOK POST – MP Amnesty Runs Into Growing Opposition
BANGKOK POST – Northern Invasion: How to Stop Intimidating Sondhi
BANGKOK POST – Thaksinites See Red Over Yellow Rallies
ABC – Nicolaides in Line for Royal Pardon
THE NATION – Govt Urged to Ban Alcohol Sales on Songkran (luckily I’m not around for this comedy)
! BANGKOK POST – National Reconciliation Bill: A Whitewash for Mr. Thaksin?
PHNOM PENH POST – Thaksin in Cambodia?
JAKARTA POST – Thai FM Defends Thai Policy on Boat People
! BANGKOK POST – PM Has no Choice but to Curb PAD (yellow shirts threaten new confrontation)
BBC – Thai Colonel Defends Boat People Expulsions
THE NATION – Red Shirts Fighting “Till the End” for “Genuine Democracy”