Category: Thai politics

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Thai politics Thailand

More on last week’s deadly explosion in Nonthaburi

Last week I mentioned, briefly, the deadly explosion in the Bangkok suburb of Nonthaburi. Four people were killed in what seems to have been an accidental detonation of a bomb that was being assembled by a reported red shirt supporter.

Here’s a detailed post from Bangkok Pundit that examines the facts and provides some analysis. Worth a read. From the conclusion:

There is evidence that Samai was a red shirt whether he was a guard or not and to link to the explosion – his room, he signed the rental papers (as per a copy shown on Channel 3’s Sahm Miti news program), he has experienced with fixing electrical appliances, and he was in the room at the time. It does not suggest a very sophisticated operation – the rent on the apartment was a mere 1,000 Baht a month and the equipment shown on TV looks very rudimentary. Nevertheless, there is evidence and circumstantial evidence to support the government’s continued position that the red shirts are behind some of the various explosions. Where to now?

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Bangkok Thai politics Thailand

State of emergency in Bangkok renewed for 3 months

This just in from the Bangkok Post: Emergency decree renewed for 3 months:

The cabinet meeting has decided to renew the emergency decree in Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan and Pathum Thani for another three months, deputy government spokesman Suphachai Chaisamut said on Tuesday.

The emergency law declared three months ago is still in force in the capital and the three adjoining central provinces, but will expire on Wednesday. It has already been lifted throughout the North and Northeast.

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Thai politics Thailand

More on Viktor Bout’s delayed extradition

A quick update to my earlier post. The NYT/IHT has this story:

Suspected Arms Dealer Seems Closer to Extradition

This bit caught my eye:

Mr. Bout engaged in a particularly heated exchange with the presiding judge over his demand for a Russian interpreter, a request denied by the court.

Mr. Bout, a graduate of a prestigious Soviet language institute, turned to the gallery full of reporters and said in English: “This is due process of law or what? Gentlemen, you are all witnesses!”

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Thai politics Thailand

Viktor Bout’s extradition to the U.S. delayed — again

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The extradition of alleged Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout — who has been imprisoned here in Thailand since 2008 — has been delayed again.

AP has the story: Viktor Bout extradition stalled by Thai ruling:

A Thai court has rejected a request to drop a second set of charges against alleged Russian arms smuggler Viktor Bout, a decision that stalls his long-awaited extradition to the U.S.

The BBC has more.

For the backstory, see previous posts here and here.

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Thai politics Thailand

David Thompson, foreigners, and Thai cuisine

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A much-discussed story here in Bangkok at the moment is this IHT piece about David Thompson, an Australian chef known for his cuisine at the Michelin-starred Thai restaurant nahm, in London. Thomspon recently opened a branch here in Bangkok.

The lede:

It’s been a rough year for Thailand. First there were the images of deadly street battles between soldiers and protesters beamed around the world. Then people living in neighboring dictatorships snickered that Thailand was a democracy in decline. Foreign tourists wondered whether it was safe to travel here.

And now this: An Australian chef has the audacity to declare that he is on a mission to revive Thai cuisine.

Can non-Thais really understand or appreciate Thai cuisine? Can foreigners actually cook authentic Thai food? Do they even know what “authentic” Thai food tastes like?

For a good summary of the media response to Thompson’s new restaurant, I suggest checking out this post at Siam Voices by Saksith Saiyasombut — whose father, as Saksith’s bio says, was a Thai chef for more than 25 years. The post is called “If you are farang, don’t meddle with Thai politics – or their food!”

I have followed this story with interest because, as you may recall, I put together an audio slideshow (embedded below) for CNNGo last year, when Thompson was in town to give a cooking demonstration.

For what it’s worth, I was impressed by Thompson’s knowledge of Thai cuisine — and culture — and did not find him to be brash in the least. He seems to have a genuine interest in sharing one of the world’s great cuisines with people. And that’s it.

(Emphasis mine.)

Photo credit: Austin Bush.

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Tech Thai politics Thailand

Prachatai’s Chiranuch Premchaiporn arrested

A quick note to point out that Chiranuch Premchaiporn, director of the independent Thai news site Prachatai, was arrested Friday and held for several hours for allegedly running afoul of Thailand’s Computer Crime Act and committing lese majeste, or insulting the royal family.

The charges reportedly stem from a 2009 complaint that offensive comments — though they were subsequently removed — had been posted on the site. Chiranuch is now out on bail but faces a 50 year prison sentence.

AP has a story — “Rights groups denounce arrest of Thai webmaster” — and Andrew Marshall has a blog post called “A Dangerous Woman.” And here’s a Bangkok Post op-ed by Professor Thitinan Pongsudhirak in which he touches on her case; the piece is called “Thailand and its hybrid authoritarianism.”

I suggest checking out all three items.

Readers of my recent Chronicle of Higher Education story about Thailand will recall that Chiranuch weighed in on Thai universities.

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Thai politics Thailand

A few news stories about Sunday’s red shirt protests

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I’m a few days late with this, but I wanted to close the book — for now, at least — on Sunday’s red shirt protests. Here are a few news stories worth checking out:

I will be monitoring developments, naturally.

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Thai politics Thailand

Update: red shirts gather here in Bangkok

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An update to my previous post:

I spent several hours at Bangkok’s Rajaprasong intersection today, where thousands of red shirts gathered to mark the anniversaries of the 2006 military coup and the May army crackdown. At various times, the crowds of protesters nearly shut down the intersection, though single lanes of traffic were still able to creep through.

It was striking to see so many demonstrators back in the very place they’d occupied a few month before — and the burned portions of Central World shopping mall visible in the background, as well as an impromptu shrine to those killed in the dispersal, served as a reminder of how things ended.

A few quick observations:

  1. Many of the people with whom I spoke were surprised at how many red shirts turned out. I was expecting hundreds, not several thousand.
  2. The gathering was, in many ways, similar to the previous demonstrations in Bangkok. There was a sea of red; there was dancing and screaming and clapping; there was red shirt merchandise for sale; and — of course — there were snacks. Many snacks.
  3. All of the protesters were clearly in violation of the state of the emergency, which is still in effect here in Bangkok. That makes gatherings of more than five people illegal. The police stood by, looking on sheepishly. They were vastly outnumbered, after all.
  4. While many of the previous red shirt demonstrations had an angry feel — particularly toward the end — today’s gathering felt positive, up-beat, and lighthearted. There was some chanting against the government, but the mood today was more like: “we’re back, so let’s sing and dance — we haven’t gone away.”

For more details on what I saw, check out my Tweets from today.

And here are some images I posted to Twitpic:

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Rajaprasong intersection

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A T-shirt for sale

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Releasing balloons

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Thai politics Thailand

Red shirts gather in Bangkok

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As I mentioned in my last post, Red shirt leaders have planned several events here in Bangkok and in Chiang Mai to mark the anniversaries of the 2006 military coup and the May 19 army crackdown.

Above, via Twitpic, is an image @RichardBarrow posted not long ago from Rajaprasong intersection, which the red shirts shut down during their previous protests.

Also tweeting are @Dany_k and @wayne_hay. And you can check out my Thailand Twitter list for more.

And of course, as always, I’ll be tweeting at: @newley.

Stay tuned.

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Bangkok Thai politics Thailand

Red shirts to protest this weekend

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Sunday, Sept. 19 is anniversary of the 2006 military coup that overthrew ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. And Thailand’s red shirts — many of whom still support the fugitive billionaire — will be rallying to mark the occasion.

WSJ: Thailand Braces for Anniversary Protests:

Thai security forces are gearing up for a weekend of antigovernment protests to mark the fourth anniversary of a military coup that ousted former leader Thaksin Shinawatra from power and ushered in an era of instability unparalleled in Thailand’s modern history.

Police estimate that several hundred so-called Red Shirt protesters massed at a Bangkok prison Friday morning to lay red roses at the gate of the facility and demand the release of several leaders detained on terrorism charges amid the bloody aftermath of an antigovernment rally in Bangkok in May. Organizers and authorities expect thousands more protesters to join other events around the country in the coming days as antigovernment Red Shirt protesters attempt to raise their profile after months of relative calm.

And:

The center of the weekend’s protests is likely to be a large convoy scheduled to leave Bangkok and drive north to the city of Chiang Mai, Mr. Thaksin’s hometown, where the state of emergency already has been lifted. Organizers expect thousands of supporters to participate.

Bloomberg: Thai Opposition to Test Stability With Gatherings to Mark Coup:

Thai anti-government protesters plan to hold nationwide events this weekend to mark a 2006 military coup, testing the nation’s ability to cope with demonstrations after clashes left 89 dead four months ago.

Supporters of ousted ex-leader Thaksin Shinawatra, who lives overseas after fleeing a jail sentence in 2008, will lay flowers, light candles and release balloons in Bangkok, according to organizers. Protesters will also gather in Chiang Mai, Thaksin’s home province.

There’s also this, from the Bangkok Post, which includes some photos from this morning’s gathering: Authorities brace for coup anniversary rallies.

(Emphasis mine.)