News and Views - August 2007 '58 Ford in Bangkok - August 4, 2007 Here is a ad for the 1958 Ford Fairlane. According to the ad, the car was driven around the world. From the ad: ...The 58 Ford rolled beautifully, easily through the severest road test ever given a car before its American announcement. The Ford endured--and came through still glittering ad fresh. Acclaimed from Buckingham Palace to the Taj Mahal, it showed camels how to cross deserts and elephants how to move through jungles. It was proved and approved by everyone from natives who had never seen an AMerican car before to famous stylists and nabobs who have seen every car built... "Mob" blocking trains at Hualumphong - August 1, 2007 Pakorn writes: As of 5pm [on August 1], a mob of unknown persuasion (no news about it in the media that I'm aware of) is blocking the trains at the Hua Lumphong station. Anyone know anything about this incident? Update: BangkokPundit points out: Protest delays trains - Bangkok Post and also here. (Photo: Pakorn) (Photo: Pakorn) (Photo: Pakorn) (Photo: 2Bangkok.com) Harry Potter book in Ho Chi Minh City - August 4, 2007 Chinese investment applications up 888 per cent in Thailand - DPA, August 28, 2007 [It would seem unlikely that investors have been pouring money into Thailand since the coup and its subsequent attacks on the business climate with rules changes. Even more improbable is the lucky Chinese "888 per cent" as the rate of increase.] ...Chinese firms sought promotional privileges from Thailand's Board of Investment (BOI) on projects worth 15.23 billion baht (441 million dollars) between October 1, 2006 to July 31, 2007, compared with 1.54 billion baht (44.6 million dollars) during the same period in fiscal 2006... In Thai cultural battle, name-calling is encouraged - New York Times, August 28, 2007 ...With help from language experts at the Royal Institute, the official arbiter of the Thai language, Mr. Vira plans to produce by the end of the year a collection of thousands of old-fashioned nicknames, listed by such wholesome categories as colors, animals and fruit and including simple favorites like Yaay (big), Ouan (fat) and Dam (black). Published in a small booklet, the names will be distributed to the news media and libraries, and posted on the Internet... Abhisit's website - August 29, 2007 Nation Tower on the block Non-core assets will be sacrificed - The Nation, August 28, 2007 [Not surprisingly, the Nation does not call itself a "media debt-ridden firm" as the Post referred to them yesterday.] Passing reference - August 29, 2007 Thanks to DE for pointing out this passing reference to Thailand in Ebert's review of 2 Days in Paris: She runs into old boyfriends so often it makes Paris seem like a small town, and attacks one of them, in a restaurant, for taking a sex vacation to Thailand. (Photo: 2Bangkok.com) Evening rainstorm - 4:33pm, August 26, 2007 "MEDIA DEBT-RIDDEN FIRM - Nation group to sell B1.6bn in non-core assets" - Bangkok Post , August 28, 2007 Nation Multimedia Group Plc, the publisher of The Nation and Krungthep Turakij daily newspapers, expects to sell its non-core assets worth 1.6 billion baht in a bid to lower financial burdens and improve its balance sheet. Thanachai Santichaikul, the company's vice-chairman, said non-core assets up for sale included the 40-storey Nation Tower on Bang Na-Trat Highway Km 4.5, 30 rai of land next to the printing house on Bang Na-Trat Km 29, and some pieces of land in Chiang Mai, Hat Yai and Khon Kaen... Burmese citizen-reporters create direct link to international media - The Irrawaddy, August 27, 2007 Photographs, video clips and firsthand news reports about the recent protest demonstrations against the Burmese government's fuel prices increases appeared in some international media on the same day... Keith Floyd in Thailand collapse - The Sun, August 27, 2007 Boozy celebrity chef Keith Floyd was rushed to hospital in Thailand after collapsing in his restaurant. The TV cook, 63, was holding a glass... "Thai Massage" Parlours Offer Sex - YLE News, August 26, 2007 ...Thai massage parlours began to appear in Helsinki in the early 1990's. There are now dozens of them in the city, and the phenomena has spread around the country. On the forum: Thailand dangerous for Brits? Earlier: Thailand dangerous for Britons - August 3, 2007 Pieter points out: Amazing stuff, worth of 2Bangkok: Thousands of party-loving British tourists end their holidays in jail ...Brits that end up in hospital in Thailand each year: 233 ...Brits that die in Thailand each year: 224... Evolving headline - August 27, 2007 We like how this Nation headline was slowly edited over time... 1. More than 100 robust men destroy a Bangkok market 2. More than 100 men ravages a Bangkok market 3. 100 men go on rampage at RCA market Sidelines: Samak spits venom as Thaksin's nominee - The Nation, August 26, 2007 [You know a new political season is starting when the newspapers heat up with tough editorials...] ...Samak wasted no time and left no doubt in peoples' minds when he declared that he would serve as a "political nominee" for Thaksin Shinawatra, now seeking exile in London and branded a fugitive criminal with at least two arrest warrants issued by the Criminal Court. Samak in politics is everything but harmonious and courteous. His mouth serves as his most fearsome weapon, though at times self-destructive - as seen from the decline and eventual demise of his Prachakorn Thai Party... Daily News - August 24, 2007 Phone cards celebrating Daily News' 30th anniversary in 1993 Local Radio Broadcasters issued with new regulations at City Hall Meeting - Pattaya City News, August 22, 2007 Blog - "Thaksin Skeptic: Supporting Manchester City, Democracy and Human Rights" - August 24, 2007 Thai man dies wearing estranged wife's bras - EARTHtimes.org, August 21, 2007 A 43-year-old Thai man was found dead wearing 15 bras and a mini-skirt belonging to his estranged wife, news reports said Wednesday. Jaran Khadphano was found dead Tuesday from a suspected heart attack at his home in Roi Et, 400 kilometres... Beckham's Bangkok beautification - Gridskipper, August 20, 2007 This David Beckham idol has adorned the Wat Pariwas shrine in Bangkok since 2000, but kindly blog Travelhappy supplies a few nice shots and a short video... Trying to shoot arrows at the army - Manager, August 9, 2007 Prem on Wikipedia - August 3, 2007 The rather disorganized article on Prem in Wikipedia uses the UDD's take on the protest outside of Prem's house: The government violently cracked down on protestors, wounding several, and arrested several protestors, including an interim National Human Rights Commissioner and a former Chief Justice of the Criminal Court... And cites this article as the source. (Photo: Manager) Biking in Bangkok: A matter of survival - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, August 21, 2007 ...Most of the Thai bikers interviewed favor a safety-free uniform of sandals, short pants and no helmets or gloves. With Bangkok traffic laws enforced with less authority than last call at Lindsay Lohan's crib, the scene on the streets is one of pure traffic anarchy, with motorcycles, buses, taxis and kamikaze pedestrians all moving as one... Which group to follow? - translated and summarized from Manager, by Siang Sao Long, July 22, 2007 1. About the "rumor process" - it is the most powerful weapon. Some groups make the rumor it and post it within the code in some websites. The writer said the ones who spread the rumors should consider themselves. Is this is right or wrong or suitable for society? 2. There is the movement to overthrow the constitution process. One group says if you want a good economy, do not accept the constitution. This group will try its best to object to the constitution. 3. The government side tries to do everything to make people accept the constitution by getting through to people through public health people, teachers, etc. 4. The government, especially the interior ministry, has a project to gain volunteers to develop democracy. Some seemed to be drafted into this hurriedly. It appears the government is controlling this process. In conclusion, we have to decide between the group that wants to maintain control and the group [of the old power-TRT] that fights every way to survive. Dinosaurs at Angkor? - BoingBoing, June 18, 2007 Scroll down. Anyone know anything about this? Also here. Thaksin not removed by coup? - August 17, 1007 We have been watching the History of Thai Prime Ministers page for quite awhile. It was only today it was updated with the new PM--Surayud. Unlike Phya Manopakorn, Field Marshal Pibul, Seni, Tanin, and Chatichai, who were removed by coup d'etat, Thaksin apparently left office because of "2) State Administration Assembly - September 19, 2006." "Black herbal toothpaste" - August 18, 2007 Noel Boivin notes: My pick for strangest Thai commercial Yes, this is one of the most surreal ever! The taxi experience - August 18, 2007 Brigitte writes: I liked the link to the website showing the pictures taken from a taxi window a lot. Maybe your readers are also interested in this video collage I made (on YouTube) - if they're able to access it, that is: Bangkok Pop Collage and I made a similar one about Siem Reap. Concern mounts in Thailand over hazardous food from China - Japan Today, August 16, 2007 Thailand's Public Health Ministry on Thursday disclosed a long list of hazardous food exported to the country from China, saying authorities have been making efforts to keep them away from markets... Sidelines: Samak spits venom as Thaksin's nominee - The Nation, August 26, 2007 [You know a new political season is starting when the newspapers heat up with tough editorials...] ...Samak wasted no time and left no doubt in peoples' minds when he declared that he would serve as a "political nominee" for Thaksin Shinawatra, now seeking exile in London and branded a fugitive criminal with at least two arrest warrants issued by the Criminal Court. Samak in politics is everything but harmonious and courteous. His mouth serves as his most fearsome weapon, though at times self-destructive - as seen from the decline and eventual demise of his Prachakorn Thai Party... 3,000 Pinoys teaching English in Thailand - Philstar, August 16, 2007 ...Thai teacher Chaiyot Saengthong told The STAR that Filipinos are among the best English teachers here. ...He said Filipino teachers are earning salaries ranging from 12,000 Baht (P17,000) to 30,000 Baht (P43,000) a month... No kidding: they actually 'own' political parties here - The Nation, August 30, 2007 Newin Chidchop in Wikipedia - August 20, 2007 Sometimes it is more fun to watch how out of date Wikipedia can become than it is to edit it. For instance, we have been watching the Newin Chidchop entry in Wikipedia where we learn he is "currently being detained by the military junta that overthrew the government of Thaksin Shinawatra in a 2006 coup." TRT website says goodbye - August 20, 2007 While the main TRT webpage has gone blank, an inside page has a final message to followers ("Thank you for every moral support. The TRT party will be in the hearts of people forever.") along with a video touting the accomplishments of the part. Patipat's Wikipedia - August 18, 2007 Interesting listing of articles by Patipat on Wikipedia... Panorama from Sky Baiyoke II - August 18, 2007 Mike notes: We make a new panorama from Sky Baiyoke II i Bangkok from August 12. This panorama is not finished yet. This is only in 270° of 360°. Here is a small one and the big one (5.7 MB). Sugary profile of Thaksin in exile riles Thailand's junta - IHT, August 14, 2007 A young Thai writer says she wheedled and wept until Thaksin granted her seven hours of interviews that revealed, among other things, a protracted struggle to find a decent haircut. Thailand's military rulers were not amused... Preserving ancient Thai script - VietNamNet Bridge, August 16, 2007 [Another type of Thai...] Nghia Lo town in the northwestern mountainous province of Yen Bai has held a closing ceremony for the first training course on the preservation of ancient Thai script from the Muong Lo area, which drew the participation of 40 Thai ethnic people... Latest from the UDD: "they moon the constitution!" - August 17, 1007 Via an email from the UDD: This link contain the pictures. So polite moon and today they claim that they will cut themselve and drop the blood on constitution.. lets see what they will do. Check out the link also. One of the three tyrants - August 18, 2007 Above: Field Marshal Prapas Charusathien, who, amazingly enough, does not have his own page on Wikipedia. Police say the three LTTE suspects deported from Bangkok are not held incommunicado - Ministry of Defence, August 20, 2007 The three LTTE suspects who were deported by Thai authorities to Colombo for possessing of illegal arms are not held incommunicado in Sri Lanka said Sri Lanka's Deputy inspector General of Police Jayantha Wickramaratne... A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission - THAILAND: A long road back to human rights and the rule of law - August 20, 2007 Also: On the forum Tale of two newspapers: What Kosit said [It has been awhile since we found a "tale of two newspapers" story...] Choose without fears for the economy, Kosit urges - The Nation, August 19, 2007 Deputy Prime Minister and Industry Minister Kosit Panpiemras yesterday urged the public to vote on the charter today with a free conscience, as the referendum outcome would not derail the economy from its 4-per-cent growth path... Kosit: Economy depends on referendum - Bangkok Post, August 19, 2007 Economy will sustain growth of 4 and 5 per cent in 2007 and 2008 respectively if the draft constitution is approved during the national referendum on Sunday, paving the way for a general election, Kosit Panpiemras, deputy prime minister and industry minister said Saturday... Look who's (rumored to be) dead now... Khun Tongdaeng is alive and well : HM the King - The Nation, August 23, 2007 The King expressed surprises at a widespread rumour that Khun Tongdaeng, is dead... A thread on this on the forum: Tongdaeng swimmingly well ...Thai Rath says American. The Nation reports that Matichon says African. Thai Rath says 5 years old. The Nation reports that Matichon says 9. Can't they even report HM's words correctly! Puffer fish sold as salmon kills 15 - AP, August 23, 2007 [Thanks to Kanling for pointing this out.] Second highway proposed to link Vietnam with Laos, Thailand - Asia Pulse, August 23, 2007 A proposal to develop another trans-Asia highway linking central Vietnam with Laos and Thailand, officially called the Second East-West Economic Corridor (or EWEC-2), has been put forward by the central city of Da Nang... Anantara Golden Triangle Trumpets 2008 Elephant Polo - August 25, 2007 Thanks to Don for pointing this out: The King's Cup Elephant Polo Tournament has been moved from the first week in September to early next year, March 31 to April 6... It seems that the tournament has been moved back to avoid the heavy rains that are prevalent in the North this time of year. March to April is the height of our dry hot season, not a drop of rain in sight usually. During last year's tourney, in September, it poured a couple of days and soaked the pitch thoroughly. That did cause some problems. There was talk last year of moving the tourney to March and April, but when those months passed THIS year, we thought they had decided against it. My team is a bit disappointed that we must wait a few more months to indulge, as we won't be playing in the exhibition or celebrity matches on September 21 here in Bangkok at the official kick-off for the tournament. We do think it's a little bizarre to have a kick-off this far in advance of the tourney, but hey, this is Thailand. And this will work out rather well for me personally, because I'm doing a 10-day elephant-handling course next May, so that entire period will be some great elephant time for me. New Gas Pipeline to Thailand Stalled in Talks - The Irrawaddy, August 24, 2007 The Thailand and Burmese governments are working to complete a new pipeline project to take natural gas from the Gulf of Martaban to Rangoon, but the route is still not agreed upon... Google launches Guardian hack, says Thai paper - Guardian Unlimited, August 23, 2007 ...Reader Bruce emailed in this screengrab from the website of Thai newspaper The Nation: rather than running this story on the launch of Google Sky, it seems to be suggesting that I'm in fact one of Google's latest products... Thailand to proceed with compulsory licensing of life-saving medicine - TNA, August 24, 2007 Prem's birthday - August 26, 2007 Sunday is Prem Tinsulanonda's 87th birthday... Prem's homepage - Prem on Wikipedia - Prem posters in the south - Prem's residence at Si Sao Teves Americans question new Business Act - Bangkok Post, August 25, 2007 Farewell to the subcontract technique for foreign entities - Bangkok Post, August 28, 2007 The atmosphere is deteriorating for foreign enterprises doing business in Thailand. Developments that have sapped confidence include the 30% reserve requirement imposed by the Bank of Thailand in December to maintain baht stability, controversy over the amendment of the Foreign Business Act to eliminate the use of nominees, and the shocking attempt by the National Legislative Assembly to adopt a harsher approach by including economic interest and foreign management control to test foreign ownership. Thankfully, the draft has been withdrawn temporarily. In any case, it is getting more difficult for foreign entities to survive when it comes to tax... Just recently, the Revenue Department set a guideline stating that, where a foreign contractor subcontracted work that it undertook from a customer in Thailand, even though it did not carry out any activity in Thailand by itself, it was deemed to carry on the business in Thailand if the activities of the subcontractor took place in Thailand. As a result, the foreign contractor in such a situation was obliged to pay corporate income tax... (Photo: Noel Boivin) (Photo: Noel Boivin) Mittraparp fire - August 12, 2007 Noel reports on Mittraparp housing complex fire in Nong Bon sub-district: Thirty-two homes, housing many more families, went up in the blaze. Officials are on site to accept donations of clothing, household items and money to help those left homeless by the fire. (Photo: Noel Boivin) Thailand's economy prospers on king's sufficiency philosophy - Business Report, August 5, 2007 Thaksin at Man City - August 7, 2007 Hamish points out: Have you seen the blog footage of Thaksin's maiden speech at Man City? As a Brit myself and sometime live-football-match attendee, hearing the crowd chanting "There's only one Frank Sinatra" brought back fond memories of that curious beast The English Football Fan.  Dancing to a TRAFFICKER'S TUNE - Bangkok Post, August 5, 2007 In recent years, this has become a sad and strangely common fate for Uzbek women, and Thailand (its discos, its prisons, its Immigration Detention Centre) a strange and sadly common stop for them. ...Within 72 hours of "hiring", Elena was Bangkok-bound, set upon a nightmarish journey in which, over the course of a couple months, she was forced into prostitution in Pratunam, smuggled into Malaysia, and sent to Pattaya to spend 5 days with a European man (from there she was able to place the phone call that led to her rescue)... Reading the Middle East in Bangkok - Global Politician, August 5, 2007 ...While the country has many problems and real poverty it has also made remarkable progress. Moreover, it has a good record of solving internal disputes and avoiding problems with neighbors. For Thais, it could not be more obvious that problems should be examined in practical, logical terms in order to find solutions without resort to fanaticism or ideology. How could people choose to flatten their own countries? ...Third, alongside this Western-oriented approach is a strong sense regarding the security of their identity. Listening to classical music, reading Shakespeare, or wearing Western clothes do not make them frightened of ceasing to be Thai... Caught without a country - aljazeera.net, August 5, 2007 In the first of a series, we look at Thailand, which has one of the largest stateless populations in the world... Hello Kitty to punish bad-boy Thai police - AP, August 6, 2007 A thread on this is here. Thaksin lives the highlife in book out today - Bangkok Post, August 1, 2007 ...Mr Thaksin is not cut off from the outside world by any means. The former prime minister carries eight cell phones, with 20 SIM cards altogether. ... As for his golf companion, Mr Thaksin flies Lydia to London. She also doubles as a singer in their karaoke sessions. ''She is like another daughter to him,'' said Mr Panthongthae... About Werner Herzog's Rescue Dawn - August 3, 2007 ...Such is the case in "rescue Dawn" which is littered with Herzog's errors of both omission and commission: RescueDawnTheTruth.com Former TRT members get campaign tips from ex-PM - The Nation, August 8, 2007 Former members of the defunct Thai Rak Thai Party yesterday made a pledge of allegiance to ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and watched a video clip on campaign strategy which was recorded by Thaksin in London. ..."If less than 50 per cent of voters cast ballots, then we don't feel this is the charter for the entire population," Surapong said... Heckling at the FCCT - August 8, 2007 A reader reports: Prof Barry Rubin tried to host a speech at the The Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand, but was heckled aggressively by local young European farang journalists until he walked out… He may have been a bit clueless about some local issues, but it was the usual barrage of heckling questions on his position concerning the Palestinian question and his supposed "Zionist views" that was probably a bit off topic... (Source: Narinjara) Chinese Foreign Minister Voices Support for Tri-Nation Road Link - Narinjara, August 3, 2007 McDonald's Hikes Pay in China by 30 Pct. - AP, August 7, 2007 [Thanks to Kanling for pointing this out.] Spam email in Vietnamese: how to control? - VietnamNet, August 8, 2007 As spam emails in Vietnamese are booming, authorities have affirmed they will develop a legal document to control spam emails... Bangkok Bank promotes investment in Viet Nam - VNEconomy, August 6, 2007 Bangkok Bank Public Co Ltd is organising a fact-finding trip to Viet Nam for representatives of more than 50 companies from Thailand, according to the bank’s HCM City branch... Thailand is Myanmar - August 8, 2007 John comments: Thought you might find this map suitable for your site. It seems geography is not our favourite ice cream maker’s forte. [A mouse over on Myanmar shows the name "Thailand."] The coup and the cutting-room floor - The Nation, August 6, 2007 The cameras had just finished rolling on 'Truth Be Told' when the tanks hit the streets, but the director stayed focused on Supinya Klangnarong's victory for democracy... Thai media hails Xinhua's extensive reporting on 24th Universiade - Xinhua, August 5, 2007 China's international news agency Xinhua has sent the biggest team of journalists to cover the 24th Universiade, which has drawn great attention from Thai media... "THAILAND: Channel 5 reporter faces criticism from government for interviewing Thaksin" - UCLA Asia Institute, August 1-7, 2007 Interesting how this is viewed outside of Thailand--not primarily as a soldier who when off to interview Thaksin, but as a television reporter being criticized by the government for interviewing Thaksin... THAILAND: Channel 5 reporter faces criticism from government for interviewing Thaksin The army launched an investigation into the unauthorized trip that Lieutenant Sunisa Lertpakawat, a military reporter for army-run Channel 5, took to England to interview deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. After meeting with a disciplinary panel, the journalist was told not do publicity for her book, Thaksin, Where Are You? Lt. Sunisa is expected to resign from the army. COMMENTARY: Kamolwat Praputitum explains why journalism and the military do not mix. If Kitty doesn't say "hello"... - TNA, August 7, 2007 The police officer who came up with an avant-garde idea of wrapping a pink "Hello Kitty" band around the arm of an undisciplined policeman said Tuesday he would resort to a Thai cartoon in case the copyright owner of the Japanese cat cartoon objected to it... “Why did your police kill my granny Mr. Thaksin?” - Sunday Mirror, August 5, 2007 As he ploughs millions into Manchester City, new owner Thaksin Shinawatra is being hailed by fans as the latest foreign billionaire to bring his riches to British football. But back in his native Thailand, the exiled former prime minister is being investigated over policies which led to the deaths of nearly 2,500 people... Bangkok from a taxi window - August 9, 2007 Steve writes: I just finished a new Thailand web site, the series of photographs from a Taxi window might be interesting to your viewers. There are many other interesting photographs, at least to me, on the complete web site. Thaksin feted at Man. City - August 9, 2007 Hamish points out this YouTube video of Thaksin being called onstage during a Manchester City sing along. At 2:50 in the video Thaksin comes on stage. Bridges across Chao Phraya all said to be in good shape - Bangkok Post, August 8, 2007 The agency in charge of maintenance of 11 bridges across the Chao Phraya river in Bangkok has confirmed that they are all still in good condition, including the 75-year-old Memorial bridge... Question: Traffic stats? - August 9, 2007 Nicola writes: For my diploma in Architecture at the University of Kassel (Germany) I am designing three stations in Bangkok (Thailand), which combines the different mass rapid transit systems of metro, railway and skytrain with their specific locations. To determine the correct shape and size of the stations I would require information about pedestrian and vehicular traffic volumes, as well as their origin and destination. In case you should have some information about traffic volumes in Bangkok or know a source that would provide such, I would very much appreciate your response... Kapook dangerous? - August 9, 2007 Google seems to think Thai website Kapook.com is harmful to visit... Thai monks blocking ordination of women - Bangkok Post, August 8, 2007 Theravada Buddhism in Sri Lanka has stepped forward. Tibetan Buddhism is ready to take the plunge. But our Thai Buddhist clergy still prefer to live in the Dark Ages when it comes to female ordination... Foreign Business Act stopped - Bangkok Post, August 9, 2007 ... Diplomats have said the new law, which already tightened restrictions on new foreign investment by defining ownership in terms of voting rights instead of shareholding, would trigger a challenge at the World Trade Organisation. Despite this, analysts say the government's draft left scope for foreigners to control the companies in which they invested by having a majority presence on the board -- a loophole the last-minute addition was designed to close... Wanted Suckers! It’s the boiler room calling... - andrewchant.com, August 9, 2007 Great photos... Darlie toothpaste - August 9, 2007 Hamish notes: Thought the 2B readers might be interested in this Wiki article about Darlie toothpaste.  I had always wondered about the evolution of this particular brand identity. Mahaprachachon: PTV magazine - August 11, 2007 Here is the website of Mahaprachachon, the PTV-group produced magazine (right). Thai Rak Thai website is back - August 11, 2007 The Thai Rak Thai website is back and includes a "why we do not want the constitution" campaign. Here is the pdf. The banner at the top of their site reads: Vote "No" for the draft constitution 2007 - Bring the 1997 constitution of people back - Arrange the election in this year North Thailand to Bangkok drug routes still active - The Irrawaddy, August 10, 2007 Insulting the U.S. Ambassador: The Nation apologizes - August 11, 2007 The Nation printed an odd rant about the current and former U.S. ambassadors to Thailand. At the bottom of this page: Apology - On August 6, we published a letter in the Letters to the Editor section titled, "US used the coup as an excuse to end talks", which contained an unjustifiable and totally unfair characterisation of American Ambassador to Thailand Ralph Boyce and his predecessor, Darryl Norman Johnson. We apologise for the lapse in editorial oversight that allowed this inflammatory letter to run. Ambassador Boyce has always been recognised as a diplomat of the highest professional integrity and a great friend of Thailand. Here's the offending letter originally on this page: US used the coup as an excuse to end talks Re: "Americans stacking the deck led to collapse of Thai-US free-trade talks", Letters, August 1. Prathip Gidrangsri pointed out that the obnoxious behaviour of two corrupt American ambassadors to Thailand, Ralph Leo Boyce and Darryl Norman Johnson, scuttled the proposed US-Thai Free Trade Agreement.In a letter on August 3, "Thais the big losers in trade disputes with US", Major Mark A Smith (Retired) of Bangkok took issue with Mr Prathip and defended Boyce and Johnson. In a long letter, Smith tried to say that the Thais were wrong and the Americans were right and that Thailand had lost a great opportunity. The idea behind banning advertising of alcohol and tobacco products is to protect youths. The Thais, in banning the advertising of alcohol and tobacco products, are following the example of many other countries and Boyce, in trying to get the local ban removed or reduced, was definitely going against the grain. Thailand has at least one million people with Aids, close to 2 per cent or more of the population. Thailand's decision to copy and distribute expensive American anti-Aids drugs on its own was a natural response to a national emergency. Johnson's attempt to stop the Thais ran counter to sound health practice and disease control. Nobody demanded that the millions of tsunami victims pay for help before they received it. The ouster of the tyrannical Thaksin Shinawatra in a coup last year did not inhibit the Japanese from signing a Thai-Japan FTA. Nor did it inhibit Thailand's trade with China and India. Washington was embarrassed by the behaviour of Boyce and Johnson. The coup in Thailand offered Washington, which had very cosy dealings with Thaksin and was upset to see him go, an excuse to break off FTA talks. I should point out that the US rushed to sign a nuclear accord with India recently, a country that never signed the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. There was nothing reasonable in this and, indeed, no good explanation for this conduct has been offered. One really doesn't need one. Greed and corruption were the all too obvious motives. Gen Amos T Halftrack Bangkok Jenkins to speak in Bangkok on abductions - The Daily Yomiuri, August 10 , 2007 Charles Jenkins, a U.S. Army deserter to North Korea and husband of Japanese abductee Hitomi Soga, is to speak at an international conference on the human rights situation in North Korea to be held in Bangkok on Sept. 17-18, it was learned Thursday. He is set to tell the conference details about other abductees he knows personally... A conference official said: "It seems that [Jenkins] wishes to raise further questions in Thailand because a Thai national is suspected to have been abducted and a number of North Koreans have sought refuge in Thailand..." (Photo: prachatai.com) "Vote-No demonstration - Say No to Coup d'etat, Reject the junta constitution" - prachatai.com, August 14, 2007 [The press is almost completely ignoring these continuing publicity stunts in the lead-up to the August 19 referendum.] Thailand's Internal Security Bill - sweeping powers for the military with little accountability - Amnesty International, August 10, 2007 Amnesty International is concerned that the "Draft Act on the Maintenance of National Security in the Kingdom" (Draft Act), currently under review by Thailand's Council of State (the government's legal advisory body), would, if passed into law, violate international human rights standards and further jeopardise human rights in Thailand... (Photo: 2Bangkok.com) "Just vote NO" - August 14, 2007 "Just vote NO" sticker on a police motorcycle (we blurred out the helmet number in case a passerby put the sticker on the motorcycle). Few spectators at Bangkok's Universiade - Earthtimes.org, August 11, 2007 ...Thailand's Tourism and Sports deputy minister Nat Intrapana said that at some events only the athletes and security guards were present, with no spectators at all... EU's Mandelson warns Thailand against drugs pricing programme - report - Forbes, August 10, 2007 ...In a letter seen by the business daily, Mandelson wrote that Thailand 'may be taking a new approach to medicines,' adding that the country's military government 'stated that if drug companies wish to do business in Thailand, they should offer their drugs for no more than five percent above the generic cost...' Chinese map vendors fined - ASM, August 8, 2007 [Thanks to Nils for pointing this out.] ...The Wuyi Road outlet of the discount chain Home Inn gave its guests maps that only showed one third of China, leaving out the vast western part of the country. According to a hotel receptionist who declined to be identified, the maps simply show the part of China where Home Inn has hotels... Academic accused of insulting Thai king in exam paper - Reuters, August 13, 2007 [This story is slowly trickling out beyond Thailand...] ... "This is like McCarthyism," the bespectacled professor with shoulder-length hair told Reuters, referring to the 1950s anti-communist witchhunts in the United States. "I think it's important for students to be able to analyse and criticise. They must have a deep understanding of any important institution in Thai society and this includes the monarchy," he said. More than 500 academics and activists have signed a petition (www.petitiononline.com/4bs2007/petition.html) denouncing the case as a grave threat to academic freedom... Huge fish from southern China - shanghaiist.com, August 11, 2007 Immerse yourself in the non-stop energy of busy, bustling Bangkok - Stars and Stripes, August 12, 2007 [A rather frivolous article on Bangkok...] ...They looked like women. They had slender arms and curvy waists. They wore enough eyeliner and foundation to keep local drug stores profitable. And yet, as they circled a pool table with two Western men, it was clear to my friend Eileen and I that they were — biologically, at least, born men. “Do we tell them?“ Eileen asked. “Maybe the guys already know,“ I said. “If they don‘t know and we tell them, it might make things worse. Especially if they‘re already on second dates.“ Spend enough time in notorious Bangkok locales like Patpong or Nana Plaza, and you‘ll see a similar scene play out. It even happens in some of the more reputable bars and clubs. But there‘s more to Bangkok than cross-dressing, at least for most of us, I hope... Controversial picture replaced - Bangkok Post, August 14, 2007 ...The committee has withdrawn the old picture, which showed a hand-held conch being used to pour water onto the hand of a dead person to imply that smoking can cause death. In Thai tradition, a conch is normally used for auspicious ceremonies such as weddings, not funerals... JBIC agrees to lend B5.76bn for Purple line - Bangkok Post, August 14, 2007 ...The three routes are expected to cost 160 billion baht in total, with 45 billion going to the Purple line; 59 billion for the Red line, which runs from Rangsit to Bang Sue and Bang Sue to Taling Chan; and 52.5 billion for the Blue line stretching from Bang Sue to Tha Phra and Bang Khae and Hua Lamphong to Tha Phra. ...The new light rail lines will be integrated with the current Bangkok subway and Bangkok Skytrain systems. Economists hope that work on the new lines, which are expected to take four years to complete, will help stimulate economic growth in 2008 and jump-start private investment in the property sector. NESDB hopes to jump-start stalled Mor Chit mall project - Bangkok Post, August 14, 2007 ... The decision is the latest delay in the programme, which was first proposed in the mid-1990s as a new commercial, retail and transport hub for North Bangkok. Located on the site of the former Mor Chit bus terminal on Phahon Yothin Road, the development would cover 900,000 square metres. Two floors of the site have been completed, one dedicated to a train depot for the Bangkok Skytrain and a second as a park-and-ride facility. Work on the third section, originally planned as a condominium, hotel and shopping mall complex, has stalled after the original contract was mired in corruption allegations and the contractor, Sun Estate, was hit with financial troubles during the 1997 economic crisis... Earlier: Sun Estate's Mor Chit development Anti-Bali sites - August 15, 2007 Via Friskodude: There's been a long running dispute between Mark Austin and several people in Bali over issues almost beyond belief: ownership and manipulation of the tourism industry on the island, corruption within the Balinese police department, death threats, condo and villa conversions, and domination of the internet chat rooms related to life in Bali... And Indcoup: Some nasty stuff in my inbox this morning. But before you read it, you might wanna check out these two websites: Nasty Bali and Fugly Bali... MP's 'despair' over Thai murder - BBC News, August 10, 2007 ...Mr Williams, MP for Brecon and Radnorshire, said: "It's very interesting in the Madeleine case taking place in Portugal, that our police seem to be much more proactive than they've been allowed to be in Thailand. "I'm not quite sure if that's because it is a EU country, but our police certainly haven't been allowed to take the initiative in Thailand. "For instance, they've wanted more DNA checks on people living in the area in which Kirsty was murdered - that doesn't seem to have taken place..." Thai police too macho for Hello Kitty armbands - MSNBC, August 10, 2007 ...I always found it hard to imagine Thai policemen wearing Hello Kitty armbands as a mark of shame for wayward officers. Evidently most policemen did too, because Thailand's top cops decided Friday to abandon the idea. It seems there was a rebellion in the macho ranks, as well as outrage on Hello Kitty Web sites... Thailand's Muslim insurgency is spinning out of control - Newsweek, August 20-27, 2007 [This is a lazy pastiche of an article that seems to be made up of parts of other articles stretching back over a couple years.] A Thai Temple in the Sea - August 15, 2007 Richard writes: There are not many places near Bangkok left untouched by tourists and guidebooks. One of these places is Ban Khun Samut Chin on  the Gulf of Thailand. Due to land erosion in this area, the sea has encroached on the land by more than one kilometre. Many households have moved their houses 3 or 4 times in the last twenty years. One group of people refusing to move are the five monks at Wat Khun Samut. Their temple is now surrounded by the sea at high tide. There are no roads in this area. You will have to go by boat and then walk the remaining two kilometres to this village. You will receive a warm welcome. During our recent visit, the village chief invited us in for a meal and then took our picture. Outsiders are still a novelty here. Full story with pictures and videos. Locate this temple on the map.