I won’t be posting anything here until next week.
In the meantime, if there’s big news, you may be able to catch me on Twitter.
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Misc.
Here are some items from the last several days that I wanted to point out, at least belatedly:
- On Aung San Suu Kyi and reforms in Myanmar:
The AP provides the context on Aung San Suu Kyi’s parliamentary swearing in today:
Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi was sworn in to Myanmar’s military-backed parliament Wednesday, taking public office for the first time since launching her struggle against authoritarian rule nearly a quarter century ago.
The opposition leader’s entry into the legislature heralds a new political era in Myanmar, cementing a risky detente between her party and the reformist government of President Thein Sein, which inherited power from the army last year.
Meanwhile, representatives of Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have an op-ed in today’s WSJ headlined “Burma’s Reform Is Still on Parole.”
- On Chiranuch “Jiew” Premchaiporn:
The AP says:
A Thai judge postponed a verdict that had been expected Monday for a webmaster accused of failing to act quickly enough to remove Internet posts deemed insulting to Thailand’s royalty.
Judge Nittaya Yaemsri said more time was need to process documents in the case, which has drawn global criticism because many see it as an assault on freedom of speech. A new court date was set for May 30.
Here’s more from the Bangkok Post
- On David Thomson and Bangkok’s Nahm restaurant:
Australian Chef David Thompson’s restaurant here in Bangkok, Nahm, has come in at number 50 on the newest list of the “The World’s 50 Best Restaurants.”
(Previously at Newley.com: Here’s an earlier post on Thompson and the issue of foreigners cooking Thai cuisine. And here’s an audio slide show I made about Thompson in 2009.)
- And finally, speaking of Thai food:
Thanks to my good friend Dan S. for Tweeting the photo, above, of Bangkok Center Grocery in New York City.
If you’re interested in the Thai language, you might like to know that the image prompted a a back-and-forth on Twitter, embedded below and on Storify here, about the establishment’s name and its spelling in Thai:
(Image: @NewYorkFitness.)
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Burger and fast food gluttons fans only…
Given my past writings about hamburgers in Bangkok, I feel compelled to point out this news: the well-known U.S. burger chain Carl’s Jr. says it is opening an establishment here in Bangkok on May 15.
As you can see in the Tweet below, a restaurant representative says the establishment — apparently one of three to come in Thailand — will be located on Thanon Thaniya, in Bangkok’s Silom area.
@silentfoot @qandrew @newley Yes! @CarlsJr is scheduled to open May 15 at 62/11-14 Soi Thaniya, Silom Road, Surawong District, Bangkok.
— Carl’s Jr. (@CarlsJr) April 17, 2012
And there’s more where that came from.
According to the Carl’s Jr. Thailand Facebook page, the chain is also set to open branches on Sukhumvit Soi 24 and in the city of Pattaya.
Carl’s Jr. restaurants are generally located in central and Western U.S. states. But East-coast fast food fans should fret not: Carl’s Jr.’s parent company apparently owns Hardees and serves their signature biscuits.
(Hat tip to Patrick Winn for spotting the Soi 24 site.)
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The New York Times sums things up:
Two powerful earthquakes struck about two hours apart off the coast of Sumatra on Wednesday afternoon, spreading panic among residents of the Indonesian island and reviving memories of the devastating 2004 earthquake and tsunami in the same area.
There were no reports of casualties or significant damage, and the tsunami warnings that were widely broadcast on television, cellphones and the Internet were called off again a few hours later.
The first quake, whose magnitude was measured at 8.6 by the United States Geological Survey, was centered about 200 miles offshore and was felt across a large area. Tremors were felt in Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand as well as Indonesia. The second quake, measured at 8.2, was somewhat farther offshore.
Though the quakes did not ultimately cause a tsunami, they tested the region’s tsunami warning systems, as residents fled coastal areas for higher ground. In Banda Aceh, at the northern end of Sumatra, the hurried, spontaneous evacuation came after several minutes of heavy shaking.
The Bangkok Post also has a story, as does The Nation.
Meanwhile, on a related note, the AP reports today that:
KFC Thailand has issued an apology after being criticized for a Facebook message that urged people to rush home during Wednesday’s tsunami scare and order a bucket of KFC chicken.
As people were being urged to evacuate from beach areas, the company posted this message: “Let’s hurry home and follow the earthquake news. And don’t forget to order your favorite KFC menu.”
(All emphasis mine.)
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The latest Tweet from the AP:
BREAKING: Tsunami watch has been lifted for most of Indian Ocean, remains for Indonesia, India, islands. -EF
— The Associated Press (@AP) April 11, 2012
And their story recapping today’s events:
Two massive earthquakes triggered back-to-back tsunami warnings for Indonesia on Wednesday, sending panicked residents fleeing to high ground in cars and on the backs of motorcycles. There were no signs of deadly waves, however, or serious damage, and a watch for much of the Indian Ocean was lifted after a few hours.
(All emphasis mine.)
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An update to my previous post — here’s the he latest from the AP:
Indonesia has issued a fresh tsunami warning after an aftershock with a preliminary magnitude of 8.2 shook its western coast.
The first 8.6-magnitude quake off Aceh province, hours earlier, spawned a wave around 30 inches (80 centimeters) high but caused no serious damage.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the strong temblor that followed was centered 10 miles (16 kilometers) beneath the ocean around 380 miles (615 kilometers) from the provincial capital, Banda Aceh.
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A quick heads up on a developing story. Will keep you posted on potential implications for Thailand.
AP says:
Indonesia issued a tsunami warning Wednesday after an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 8.9 hit waters off westernmost Aceh province.
People on Twitter said tremors were felt in Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and India. High-rise apartments and offices on Malaysia’s west coast shook for at least a minute.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the powerful quake was centered 20 miles (33 kilometers) beneath the ocean floor around 308 miles (495 kilometers) from Aceh’s provincial capital.
I didn’t feel the quake here in central Bangkok, for what it’s worth.
Follow me on Twitter and check out my Bangkok journalists Twitter list for updates.
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The story is here, and begins:
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Wednesday that the U.S. will start easing some of its most rigorous economic restrictions on Myanmar following the country’s April 1 by-elections, which came amid continuing political reforms in the country. Does this mean Americans will soon be able to start legally buying Myanmar’s world-renowned gems, which are currently blocked by law in the U.S.?
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For politics nerds only…
Anasuya is back in Bangkok after covering the recent Myanmar elections.
Imagine my joy, as someone who loves political ephemera, when she showed me the items pictured above.
I may scan in a few of the documents later and share them here, but wanted I post this snapshot for now.
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Just briefly, I wanted to pass along a snapshot of a few of today’s front pages following yesterday’s landmark elections in Myanmar.
As you can see in the image above, The Bangkok Post ran a photo of some of Aung San Suu Kyi’s supporters. The IHT has an image of Suu Kyi herself. And The Wall Street Journal has a front page story about the election. (The photo is of damage caused by the recent bombings in Southern Thailand.)
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I'm Newley Purnell, an American journalist in Bangkok. I report for Bloomberg BNA, ABC News Radio, The Chronicle of Higher Education, and more.