2Bangkok.com, a long-running Thailand Web site that I always enjoy perusing, has been redesigned. And thankfully, now it’s got an RSS feed. ((As Catherine at Women Learning Thai notes, 2Bangkok is now running the open source blogging platform and CMS WordPress.))
I especially love the way the site, which is run by Ron Morris, catalogues material like the front pages of Thai newspapers, various political posters and other ephemera.
Today’s WSJ: Ousted Thai Minister Vows to Play Role After Elections
DUBAI—Thailand’s ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra emerged from months of silence in his self-imposed exile Thursday to say he intends to play a key role in running from afar his country’s economic policies if Thailand’s main opposition party wins coming elections.
His immediate goals include slashing corporate-tax rates and pushing for an amnesty for everybody charged with politically linked offenses in the tumultuous four-plus years since a military coup in Bangkok swept him from power.
“This conflict has been going on for five years and many people have suffered mentally and physically,” Mr. Thaksin told The Wall Street Journal in an interview in a villa in Dubai. “We should start all over again to help the country prosper.”
You may recall that I pointed out a striking vintage Thailand travel poster back in January.
The image comes from the Boston Public Library’s collection of travel posters, viewable on Flickr.
Here’s the poster again:
Fast forward a few months. I received an interesting email yesterday from a Tim in Massachusetts. He wrote:
…I came across your site purely by accident as I was looking for a copy of that SIAM poster that had an unobliterated printer’s stamp. I pulled my copy from the Boston Public Library site and then repaired it with Photoshop and did an auto-set color levels and contrast to brighten it up. I wasn’t able to find a copy with an undamaged, printer’s stamp so I’ve opted to erase it entirely. Anyhow, I just wanted to pass it on to you if you care to update yours with the one I’ve fixed up…
Below is Tim’s repaired image. You’ll notice that the corners have been cleaned up, and the image is a bit clearer. While the vintage version has an interesting, frayed look, perhaps this one is closer to how the original appeared:
Thanks for sharing, Tim.
Here’s the front page of today’s Nation, via @LeroyNewsDesign on Twitpic:
Here’s the accompanying story:
In an unprecedented move, top commanders came out yesterday to declare there would definitely be no military overthrow of the government.
“We ask you not to believe the rumours that soldiers will stage a coup. The Thai Armed Forces strictly abide by the Constitution under constitutional monarchy. Soldiers will not get involved in any political affairs,” supreme commander General Songkitti Jaggabatara told a news conference together with the chiefs of the three armed branches.
(As Saksith Saiyasombut noted on Twitter, it’s impossible to ignore the below-the-fold story, “Cabinet to consider approving pricey military gift list,” as well…)
Here’s more coverage:
Thailand’s top military brass has issued a joint statement saying there will not be a coup, seeking to dispel rumors as politics heat up ahead of expected elections later this year.
The military’s top brass have vehemently rejected rumours about an imminent coup d’etat sparked by a recent meeting of leading political figures.
The statement was made yesterday by Supreme Commander Songkitti Jaggabatara in the presence of the commanders of all the armed forces _ army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha, navy commander Kamthorn Phumhiran, and air force chief Itthaporn Subhawong _ at a press conference called after the monthly meeting of senior officers.
And finally, just noting for the record: a related post and photo of the the Jan. 27, 2010 Bangkok Post front page:
No bigger point to make at the moment, but just wanted to note the seemingly ever-present discussions/whispers/speculation/denials of the prospect of a military coup here in Thailand.
I’ve noted when international retail chains, like UNIQLO, will be opening here in Thailand. So I’d be remiss if I failed to point out that Ikea says it will launch its first Thailand branch on Nov. 3.
The store will be located in the new Mega Bangna shopping center. Here’s a map (warning: site includes auto-playing music).
BK Magazine has an item about the opening, as does the Bangkok Post. And Bangkok Bugle has more info, from 2009, on the story behind the brand coming to the Kingdom.
(Image: Bangkok Post.)
Update: BBC News also has a story today:
Severe floods in southern Thailand have killed 53 people, officials say, as rains begin to ease after two weeks.
The unseasonably wet weather has inundated 10 provinces, affecting two million people and forcing more than 40,000 to flee their homes.
Thousands of roads and bridges and hundreds of buildings have been damaged, and swathes of land remain swamped by flood waters.
The cabinet has allocated 6.13bn baht (£120m) to help flood victims.
Many of those killed were swept away by flash floods or buried in mudslides caused by the unseasonable downpours.
One person is missing in Nakhon Si Thammarat, one of the worst-hit provinces, the public health ministry said.
Today’s Bangkok Post: Floods receding, death toll 53:
he floodwaters in eight afflicted southern provinces have begun to recede, but the confirmed death toll has risen to 53, Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanavisit said on Tuesday.
Mr Jurin was speaking during his visit to the Khirirat hospital in Surat Thani’s Khirirat district.
He said the floods in Chumphon, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Trang, Songkhla, Phangnga and Krabi had begun to subside and the situation was expected to return to normal soon.
However, the water level in Phunphin district of Surat Thani was still high.
Apropos of nothing, check out this fish I caught here in Bangkok on Saturday.
Happy birthday to my friend P, and thanks for organizing the expedition.
That is all.
Posting on Thailand and other matters will resume shortly…
New York Times: “Thailand Mounts Rescue Effort After Powerful Storms”
The Thai government sent its only aircraft carrier to rescue stranded residents and tourists on Thursday after unseasonable storms inundated six southern provinces and offshore islands, killing at least 17 people and stranding thousands more.
Torrential rains, floods, mudslides and rough seas swamped seaside villages in the past week and trapped local and foreign tourists on islands in the region, a prime resort area. One official said that about a million people had been affected.
Until the rains began to ease Thursday, storms and rising waters had forced the closing of three airports and cut off road and rail links in the region. Islands in the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea were inaccessible as ferries were canceled.
Flights were resuming at airports on Thursday, and the weather bureau forecast that the rain would stop this weekend. Flights to the island of Koh Samui were reported to be operating normally and clearing up a backlog of stranded passengers.
Bangkok Post: 1,000 villagers cut off from aid
About 1,000 people in four villages in flood-ravaged Nakhon Si Thammarat province remain completely cut off from rescuers.
Most of the trapped people, who are without aid and electricity, live in hillside areas of Nop Phi Tham district.
Communications have been knocked down, making it impossible to assess the situation. There are reports of mudslides.
The Post also has this story: “Rain, winds abating on Koh Samui”
Rain and wind are easing in Samui, which now faces the challenge of draining flooded streets, fixing damaged infrastructure and restoring confidence among tourists.
Ramnate Chaikwang, mayor of Koh Samui, said 80% of the island is back to normal.
Electricity poles and communication lines are being fixed.
And: “730,000 rai of farms submerged; Related industries, tourism also hard hit”
Farmers will pay a heavy price for the floods now ravaging much of the South, as more than 730,000 rai of agricultural land are already inundated and the affected area is increasing.
Heavy storms, flooding and mudslides have blocked many roads in southern provinces, forcing temporary shutdowns for many seafood exporters that cannot get their products out or receive raw materials.
The tourism industry is also feeling a big pinch, with many hotels and beach resorts, especially in Krabi and Surat Thani provinces, only half full, very unusual for the hot season.
(Emphasis mine.)
(Image: Bangkok Post.)
Today’s Bangkok Post:
Flights to Koh Samui were cancelled for the second day in a row, and ferry services stopped, as worried residents and trapped tourists stayed indoors on the island, being battered by prolonged heavy rainfall.
At 1.55pm, Bangkok Airways flight PG 103 took off from Suvarnabhumi airpotl with passengers bound for Samui but was not able to land and had to return to Bangkok. Strong winds made it unsafe for flights in the island.
Officials of Raja Ferry also said they suspended services due to waves measuring three meters high between Samui and Surat Thani.
Thousands of tourists are stranded in Samui, waiting for the first possible flight back to their homes. Worried tourists are beginning to express frustration at a relative lack of information from airline operators.
TMB bank have launched a new brand vision “Make THE Difference” by making a film to inspire people to start thinking differently. With a hope that they will start to Make THE Difference to their own world. It doesn’t have to be big, but a little can create positive changes. This film is based on a true story. In 1986 a football team that lived on a little island in the south of Thailand called “Koh Panyee”. It’s a floating village in the middle of the sea that has not an inch of soil. The kids here loved to watch football but had nowhere to play or practice. But they didn’t let that stop them. They challenged the norm and have become a great inspiration for new generations on the island.
(Via Kottke.)