View Full Version : Songkhla History
Sukhum Road & Sadao Road in Amphur Muang, Jungwat Songkhla is an area I sometimes half-jokingly refer to as the Consular District. However, this is pretty much a reality.
The Malaysian Consulate is situated on the East side of Sukhum Road, within walking distance of Samila Beach. To the best of my knowledge, this used to be the British Embassy; although the original buildings have almost certainly been completely replaced; as this Consulate looks quite modern from the outside.
Proceeding East along Sadao Road from its three-way intersection with Ramvithi & Suhhum, one quickly encounters the Indonesian Consulate on the North side of the street. This appears to be a modern residence that has been adapted to its current purpose; one imagines that its primary goal is to liaise with the local fishing industry; which regularly sends trawlers to Indonesian waters.
A couple of hundred meters further along the street is another fairly large building from the mid-Twentieth Century. This is now the Chinese Consulate. It was taken over by the Chinese (over ten years ago?), soon after it was vacated by the US Consulate. Obviously, the Chinese Government has not entirely forgotten the needs of the Chinese diaspora in SE Asia; and wishes to act increasingly like a 'world power' in this region. I believe I am right in saying that the US also allowed the Thai organisation 'American University Alumni' (AUA) to run a language center on the premises, in conjunction with a United States Information Service (USIS) Library. The US now longer maintains a consular presence in the 'Deep South', although the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) still maintains an office in town to monitor cross-border narco-trade movements. Presumably the DEA Office was once housed in the Consulate. One can imagine the Chinese giving this building a thorough security check before moving in.
Ian Morson in 1999 'Four Hundred Years:Britain & Thailand' (Page 300) tells us that Singora (Songkhla) was one of the earliest settlements for foreigners outside Bangkok. Singora had a large population of Malays 'claiming British nationality'. He continues ' Consular Officials sent to these places not only dealt with the misbehaviour of their nationals but also assisted the Siamese Government in other ways.' Morson quotes the British Consular Official W.A.R. Wood from his 1924 'A History of Siam'. Thus on Page 303 of Morson's work, we are told that the British Consulate in Songkhla had a Consular Court to deal with the misdemeanours of its 'nationals', and that there was also a British Consular Gaol in Singora; which occasionally housed the nationals of other countries without a local consular presence. Serious crime by expatriates would have been referred to 'International Courts' in Bangkok, presided over by both foreign & Thai Judges sitting at the same bench. Wood had several upcountry Consular positions around 'Siam', but eventually became the Vice-Consul in Singora (page 306); and in that capacity he would have presided over the Consular Court. He almost certainly arrived in Singora by steamer, as the southern railways weren't completed until 1918.
Both books are probably still available at any Thai bookshop with even a minimal selection of English Language books; in 'Nai Suk's Editions', a publishing offshoot of DK Bookhouse. I believe Ian Morson is still alive and kicking in Bangkok. Ian has written a number of interesting books on local issues; most of which make heavy reference to the proceedings of the Siam Society and its Bangkok Library. Ian was previously an officer in the British, Indian & Malaysian Armies. Later on, he joined the Royal Malaysian Police. Another of his works is titled something like 'Francis Light: Phuket, Penang & Adelaide - The Connection'. Morson's non-fiction books are well-worth reading; although I find his writing 'voice' and punctuation almost as bizarre & uninformed as my own. And as for Nai Suk, his highly idiosyncratic lifestyle probably merits its own autobigraphy or biography; if it hasn't already been written.
The principle that foreign nationals can be tried in a country according to (some of) the laws of their native country, or those of the nation that has colonised their country, is termed ‘extraterritoriality’. In the case of Siam, this principle was imposed on it by the treaties reached with Britain & France during the Nineteenth Century.
David .K. Wyatt’s ‘Thailand – A Short History’ (2nd Ed, 2003; Page 190) informs us that in the first decade of the Twentieth Century:-
‘… Siam was ready to bargain with the powers for the removal of the trade disabilities under which the kingdom labored, particularly extraterritoriality. The French had especially abused their privileges in this regard, enrolling as “French subjects” anyone born or claiming descent from one born in Laos or Cambodia, or even Chinese who claimed to come from French Shanghai. Because British & French subjects lay beyond the reach of Siam’s courts, having the right to be tried in consular courts, they were a menace to justice.’
Such International or Consular Courts would usually be presided over by a ‘Foreign’ judge and a Thai judge.
France agreed to end this jurisdiction over their ‘Asian’ subjects in 1907. Britain agreed to end their consular jurisdiction as soon as modern law codes were promulgated. I haven’t yet found any mention of when Britain’s consular jurisdiction ended; but the previous post suggests it hadn’t yet ended in the 1920s.
Wisarut
30-05-05, 09:19 AM
All the extrasterrestrial rights had been terminated after the new treatieswith 13 nations in 1938.
The Enforcer!
30-05-05, 10:16 AM
I haven’t yet found any mention of when Britain’s consular jurisdiction ended; but the previous post suggests it hadn’t yet ended in the 1920s.
According to the League of Nations archive this occured on July 14, 1925 when under an Anglo-Siam treatry 'The British government renounced its special rights in Siam and arranged for the arbitration of disputes with the Siamese government'.
The Enforcer!
The post below was prepared before I read your entries. :)
David .K. Wyatt’s ‘Thailand – A Short History’ (2nd Ed, 2003; Page 218) informs us that Thailand’s 1918 entry into the First World War on the Allied side allowed it to be represented at the Versailles Peace Conference. Siamese diplomats skilfully brought up the subject of the one-sided treaties that they had been coerced into signing during the late Nineteenth Century with European powers; but these efforts were railroaded by the powers’ desire to pursue the ‘big’ issues. Francis B. Sayre (Woodrow Wilson’s son-in-law) was given charge of a campaign to renegotiate the treaty terms, with the USA becoming a key ally in the campaign. France finally renegotiated the treaty terms in February, 1925. Britain followed in July; and other treaty powers followed suit within one year.
On the issue of ‘extraterritoriality’, this meant that foreigners now came under the sole jurisdiction of Thai courts & laws. However, foreign consuls still had the right to evoke to their jurisdiction any case in which their nationals were defendants; for a period of five years after the promulgation of modern law codes by the Siamese Government. It’s still not clear when that ‘promulgation’ took place, and when the individual powers agreed that the five-year period had been concluded.
http://instruct1.cit.cornell.edu/courses/hist244/Wanit.html
It's widely-known that Japanese businessmen were placed in Songkhla & Hat-Yai months ahead of the invasion to gather intelligence. On the day of the invasion, some of them emerged in public wearing 'Rising Sun' armbands. In Pattani, they stockpiled aviation fuel at the airstrip before the invasion, ready for immediate use as soon as it was overrun.
Here, the author is describing how he received a report that several Japanese nationals resident in Nakorn Sri Thammarat were brutally murdered soon after ithe invasion became apparent.
Less well-known is the fact that there was a Japanese Consulate in Songkhla:-
"Wanitto no Higeki [The Tragedy of Wanit]"
by Asada Shunsuke
I later learned that the radio equipment at the Japanese Consulate in Singora [Songkhla], close to Nakhon [Sithammarat], had been non-operational at the time of the Japanese army's landing. Also, the postal and telegraph systems in Thailand were temporarily paralysed following the outbreak of the war. Hence, our agents in the south were slow in reporting news of the incident to Bangkok. Though the distance from Bangkok was less than 1,000 kilometers, the journey would take 3 or 4 days by military train, ordinary railway service having been almost totally suspended.
See Other String on this account:-
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showpost.php?p=4826&postcount=1
Quote below from this link:-
http://www.hotelthailand.com/ezine/issue9/zine1.html
QUOTE:
'During World War II it was the point of the Japanese sea landing into Thailand. Not surprisingly it was also to be home to the British High Command at the same time. The colonial style building at the foot of the Fitness Park [was to be?] the British Officers Club complete with tennis Court and a golf course [or was it just a Putting Course] across the road.
The town boasts that it was the home to Sukiyaki, a dish created in a restaurant in Thanon Raman to cater for the visiting Japanese troops. The restaurant didn't survive, but the legend did.
The old Muslim Village of Songkla stood on the site of the now Samila Beach Hotel. According to rumour, one day while walking on the beach Former Thai Prime Minister General Thanom stood in some human excreta and yelled "Get these people out of here". And immediately they were relocated to there present location at Khao Seng headland.
The town's prominent symbol is the Golden Mermaid in front of Samila Beach Hotel, but no one seems to know where she came from and why she is there. Just another unsolved mystery.'
END OF QUOTE
At one point, it was suggested that the British Military might occupy Southern Thailand, but the plan was deemed impractical and was not fully implemented This story doesn't add up. Could it be that the plan envisaged the use of the British Consulate as an HQ? And that the consulate already had some leisure facilities to keep its consular staff out of mischief and 'at business' on the court/course with local Poo-Yais. I can't imagine even the Brit Military planning those details in advance.
I imagine they mean the first Thai Suki Yaki.
The turd in question was curled down in some accounts by an inhabitant of the Vietnamese Boat People camp. This story rings true. One can imagine a Poo-Yai pulling this stunt to vacate the area so it could be developed as a hotel & golf course by members of his 'team'.
Ironically, in the 90s the previous hotel had a rather inefficient waste-treatment system. The rather noxious open sewage outfall meandered through the otherwise pleasant small park and across the otherwise nice beach not far from the 'mysterious' Golden Mermaid.
See Previous Post for background. The following article suggests that it is known who made the Samila Mermaid, but rather tantalisingly forgoes saying who:-
http://www.thingsasian.com/goto_article/article.2330.html
One of Songkhla city?s most recognizable symbols is a 35-years-old, cute, cuddly and made entirely out of bronze mermaid. Loved and abhorred, the mermaid was sculpted in 1966 by a famous Thai artist. The mermaid legend is included in the Royal Thai scribe, and it tells of a local fisherman who fell in love with a mermaid in Songkhla. When the love struck man lunged at the object of his passion, the mermaid dashed into the depths of Samila Beach, never to be seen again. The statue of this famous maiden is certainly popular with shutter-bugs and their models readily wait for their turn to be photographed with the enchanting beauty. You will also see many prayer ornaments placed around the mermaid statue, for Thais believe the mermaid is capable of granting wishes.
Am I right in thinking that the 'Royal Thai Scribe' might be the infamous Sunthorn Poo? This stuff is definitely his genre and he did write a similar mermaid myth; but I always assumed he was writing about his native Rayong. If so, it might be worth pointing out that he was booted out of the palace for being too familiar with certain female royals.
'Lunged at the object of his passion'. Probably just slipped on a turd!
Undated article, but presumably from the Late 70s. I think it's important to point out that this whole coast has always had a 'piratical element'. You could argue that 'piracy' in this area has always been a sideline of fishing; so this was not really some modern aberration. And apparently things haven't changed much. Some say, for example, that it is crazy to go to sea anywhere near Cambodia without a few firearms on board:-
http://www.buddhagear.com/forgetmenot/documents/sexslave.htm
Well, this kind of stuff happened in Malaysia too. One 'aid' official told me that he arrived on a Malaysian beach for some R&R only to find the village headman playing target-practice with Vietnamese Boat People with a machine-gun mounted on a pick-up truck. He managed to stop the guy firing, but took several hours of talk to convince the guy that he was doing something slightly immoral & against religious teaching.
What was the name of the movie on this subject? Something like 'Turtle Beach'.
http://www.searescue.org/
http://www.searescue.org/SEA_page_2.htm
http://www.searescue.org/SEA_page_3.htm
http://www.searescue.org/SEA_page_4.htm
http://www.buddhagear.com/forgetmenot/documents/oneman.htm
http://www.saigon.com/~tuan/pirate2.htm
Father Joseph Devlin:-
http://www.vnnews.net/forums/printthread.php?t=18492
And an article on the situation in Malaysia at the time:-
http://www.thingsasian.com/goto_article/article.2403.html
Ahoerstemeier
20-08-05, 02:47 AM
According to the plate which is placed next to the Mermaid statue it was made in 1966 by Jitr Buabus, who was then the director of the Arts&Craft College in Bangkok. It is based on the story of Phra Apaimanee by Sonthorn Phu. A fisherman saw her while she sat on the beach on a starry night. She fled, the fisherman waited for her return, but she never showed up again.
BTW: Anyone know if the statue of a reading man nearby on Laem Samilia beach depicts anyone famous? That one only had the descriptive plate in Thai. See this Photo (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Songkhla_Statue_Reader.jpg)
BTW: Anyone know if the statue of a reading man nearby on Laem Samilia beach depicts anyone famous? That one only had the descriptive plate in Thai. See this Photo (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Songkhla_Statue_Reader.jpg)Well, then it would certainly help if you had a photo of that plate, too.........
Probably Sunthorn Poo. There's a whole statuary theme park devoted to him in Amphur Klaeng, Jungwat Rayong.
http://scd.mm-b1.yimg.com/image/908795974
An Electrical Engineer from BorYang (one of Songkhla's alternative names) provided the image below. He even tells us who commissioned 'Er Outdoors' and how many 'Baths' it cost:-
http://www.qsl.net/hs9dmc/mermaid.jpg
http://www.qsl.net/hs9dmc/
This bronze statue was sculpted in 1966 by Jitr Buabus, the former director of the Arts and Craft College in Bangkok in response to the idea of the Mayor of Songkhla Municipality at the time, Khun Charn Karnchanakapun. It was constructed with a budget of 60,000 bath funded by Songkhla Municipality and has become the symbol of Samila Beach ever since.
The Mermaid was a main Phra Apaimanee. an old Thai story written by Soonthorn Phu, the great poet of King Rama II (1809-1824)
It seems that 'street kids' are still abducted to 'slave' on board fishing boats. When they have outlived their 'usefulness', it's not unknown for them to be thrown overboard.
This page describes Father Joseph Devlin SJ (presumably 'Soc. of Jesuits') as one of the last US Citizens to be evacuated from Saigon at the end of the Vietnam War. It appears he retired in 1990 & died in the States in 1998:-
http://historynet.com/vn/bldevlin/
http://historynet.com/vn/bldevlin/index1.html
Father Joe's work in Songkhla:-
http://historynet.com/vn/bldevlin/index2.html
http://historynet.com/vn/bldevlin/index3.html
Review of a Biography by his brother, Father Raymond Devlin:-
http://www.the-tidings.com/2002/0614/chabook.htm
One website claims Father Joe is to be seen on close examination of this Saigon evacuation picture:-
http://www.varms.net/vietnam/saigon_helicopter.jpg
New sculpture park in Songkhla, Southern Thailand
http://www.nusantara.com/pasta/home/newsandn/newsculp.jpg
Bangkok Post carries this story on a new seaside sculpture park in Songkhla. Fourteen large outdoor were installed, by a group of Thai and foreign artists. The project was organized by the International Association for Monumental Sculpture Events (AIESM), a Canadian organization, and supported by the Silapakorn University and the Songkhla municipality. Thai artists involved include: Saravudth Duanjumpa, Chamruang Vichienkhet, Vichai Sithiratn, Vichoke Mukdamanee, Khemrat Kongsook, Inson Wongsam, Nonthivathn Chanadhanaphalin and Montri Sangmusikanont.
posted: May 8, 2005
http://www.nusantara.com/links.html
From the thread in the 'Everything Else' Forum on 'Ship-Building' in Songkhla:-
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showthread.php?t=1153
Thanks to Airlana for providing these pictures of some of the boats that brought Vietnamese Boat People to Songkhla in 1980. Note that the fishing boats in the background are standard Thai fishing boats of a type still widely used & built in Songkhla; not to be confused with sinking tubs of the boat people foreground:-
http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/airlana/Songkla1980.jpg
Not shipbuilding - more like ship wrecking.
These 2 photos taken 1980 at Songkla Harbour show some of the boats used by refugees escaping from Vietnam.
http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/...Songkla1980.jpg
Similar boats even made it as far as Australia in the 1970's.
airlana
The Embassy's own history page:-
http://www.britishembassy.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1065714415142
The Residence of the British Embassy:-
http://www.fco.gov.uk/Files/kimage/residencepc061103.jpg
Unfortunately, it doesn't have any information on the Songkhla Consulate, which I now believe must have been opposite the old Samila Beach Hotel (forget what the current incarnation is called). This would account for the Consulate being described as having its own tennis courts & golf course. These two facilities are still functioning in that vicinity.
Some accounts seem to put in doubt the fact that the old British Consulate in Songkhla was always at the site of the current Malaysian Consulate. At least one source says the Consulate had its own tennis course & golf course. Another account says there were plans to use a building opposite the old Samila Beach Hotel (I forget the name of its modern incarnation) for the British Officer's Club if the full plans of Operation Matador (World War II plan to pre-empt a Japanese invasion of Songkhla) were ever realised; as this site had tennis courts & a golf course. Is it possible that the Consulate was originally at this location?
In the meantime, take a deco at this fine example of the old British Empire establishment in oriental action ;). My experience with this source is that their 'internal' page links don't work so well, so you may need to click the pagetop link to the 'A Slice of Thai History' Column :-
PART 1 = http://www.pattayamail.com/496/columns.shtml#hd6
PART 2 = http://www.pattayamail.com/497/columns.shtml#hd6
A Slice of Thai History: By Train to Songkhla in 1957 Parts 1 & 2 by Duncan Stearn
The following is an extracts taken from a letter written by the wife of a British embassy official to her family in England, recounting a trip she took with her husband by train from Bangkok to the southern Thai city of Songkhla.
Travelling around Thailand by train in modern times is a relatively comfortable experience as long as you don’t go Third Class for anything longer than a half-day trip. However, from the late 19th century until the 1980s and even beyond, travelling by train overnight was a virtual major undertaking and could be an uncomfortable one at that, even for passengers in First Class.
The following extracts are taken from a letter written by the wife of a British embassy official to her family in England, recounting a trip she took with her husband by train from Bangkok to the southern Thai city of Songkhla.
‘It was very hot when we arrived at the station at two o’clock in the afternoon. The car was immediately besieged by scruffy-looking men and boys who wanted to carry our luggage but we waved them away...’
‘...the luggage had to be weighed...and [then] we got into the last coach which belonged to Malayan Railways and was...going through to Penang and seemed rather comfortable. But we were in the wrong compartment and...went into another coach which was not nearly so comfortable. We had a First Class sleeper compartment, consisting of one rather narrow plastic-covered seat facing a wooden partition. A creaking, turning fan tried to cool us from above. There was a wash-basin in one corner of the compartment and a small table which could be put up beneath the window. There was a glass window which could be put up and also a shutter covered with a fine mosquito mesh.’
The train was half-an-hour late leaving Hualumphong Station and, although numbed by the heat she and her husband, ‘... summoned enough energy to stagger along to the dining-car where we ordered tea, an iced drink in glasses, so diluted as to be almost tasteless, and costing 1 tical (about 4 pence) for the two of us.’
‘We passed numerous herds of cows...and flocks of goats and sheep which were tended by boys or men or women, the men in loose navy blue cotton shirts and shorts and the women in blouses and sarongs, and all wearing conical or flat-topped or broad-brimmed straw hats. Nearer to Songkhla cows seemed to give way to buffalo.’
Observations about the countryside, the villages (‘... wooden huts on stilts, mostly with roofs made of coconut palms...’) and the local inhabitants followed and then it was time for dinner.
‘We went along to the dining-car for dinner. There were only four other diners there, two Chinese and an American and a Thai, but perhaps this was because a European dinner was served - soup, fish, meat, and caramel pudding, followed by coffee which was so strong that it was almost thick. The custom among Thais seemed to be to have their meals brought to them in their compartments and one waiter who looked worn out long before the evening was over was rushing about with bowls of rice covered with sauces and meat and eggs. He also served drinks to all the travellers - local beer, 7-Up (fizzy lemonade), Green Spot and the ever-popular coke.’
The only person who could speak English was the chief dining-car attendant and he took their dinner order while ‘...A solemn, round-eyed young man clad in white shirt and long dark blue trousers laid the table for us with great care and precision...’
They returned to their compartment around 8:00 p.m. to find their bunks already made up, ‘with a single bottom sheet, pillow and one folded blanket...In the centre of the coach there was a bathroom complete with shower and water stored in a huge jar and a scoop to scoop the water out...The Thais, men and women, were wandering about in sarongs, the women with blouses on top...’
The following morning, breakfast in the dining-car ‘consisted of a banana each, more thick black coffee, toast, butter which someone seemed to have forgotten to put in the refrigerator the night before and had turned rancid, and a choice of jam or marmalade...’
The train pulled into Had Yai at 1:00 p.m. and ‘...here we left the train, jumping down onto the sanded track, while our faithful berth attendant handed our cases and all the packing cases out through the window.’
The couple were picked up by a member of the British consulate and taken to Songkhla, which she described as, ‘a small port and fishing town with busy streets and thousands of samlors and bicycles - the latter ridden by men, women and children alike.’
They stayed two nights in Songkhla before being driven back to Had Yai to catch the train back to Bangkok. ‘The train was already waiting for us and...we got into our reserved compartment, which at first seemed more modern and better equipped than the one on our journey down, but this turned out to be a sad illusion...The train...was an all-Thai train and had come from Kota Bahru...and for some reason the whole standard of service and cleanliness was very much lower.’
I think it's interesting to note here that this family made no attempt to use the railway from Hat-Yai to Songkhla. Judging by her rather high tone about the 'sleeper', she would probably have found the third class scrummage of a local branch totally intolerable.
No sooner did I post the above than I found it somewhere else in more detail:-
http://www.averin.btinternet.co.uk/index.htm
http://www.averin.btinternet.co.uk/pics/Mapa.jpg
The 'By Train to Songkhla Letter' in greater detail:-
http://www.averin.btinternet.co.uk/letters/Btrain.htm
The letter (below) shows us that in 1958, the Consulate was at its present day 'Malaysian Consulate' site, but Geoffrey was sent down South again to help its transfer to 'Malayans':-
http://www.averin.btinternet.co.uk/letters/b580922.htm
Geoffrey went off to Songkhla, in the very South of Thailand, by train yesterday afternoon. He has been asked to pay gratuities to servants of the British Consulate which has now closed down and been taken over by Malayans.
Photo Page:-
http://www.averin.btinternet.co.uk/Pindex.htm
These links highlight the visit of British Embassy Official Geoffrey Hinton & his wife Averin to the British Consulate in Songkhla; as described in Averin's letters 'home'. Found in the 'Songkhla's Consular District' thread = http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showthread.php?p=6358#post6358 :-
http://www.averin.btinternet.co.uk/pics/Mapa.jpg
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showpost.php?p=6357&postcount=7
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showpost.php?p=6358&postcount=8
Can't give you much background apart from the fact that this appears to be the PhotoArchive of one Dr Jiri Baum, a Czechoslovak Zoologist who obviously travelled far-&-wide around the world. [I've only included the 'thumbprints' here. Follow the lowest link for the Singora photos and click on each thumbprint to see the image in more detail.]:-
http://www.baum.com.au/Dr_J_Baum/
http://www.baum.com.au/Dr_J_Baum/archiv_foto/thumb/cd-L7o/071.jpg
Index Page. Scroll down to Page Foot to find links to visited countries & places:-
http://www.baum.com.au/Dr_J_Baum/archiv_foto/index.html
All the photos of Siam seem to have been taken in Singora (NOW Songkhla):-
http://www.baum.com.au/Dr_J_Baum/archiv_foto/karty/Siam.html
http://www.baum.com.au/Dr_J_Baum/archiv_foto/thumb/23/23126-Siam,_Siamec_s_kudrnatymi_vlasy,_3.VII.1929.jpg
http://www.baum.com.au/Dr_J_Baum/archiv_foto/thumb/23/23134-Siam,_ulice_v_Singore,_4.VII.1929.jpg
Admin keeps exhorting the 2Bkk.com troops to greater efforts in finding out about Songkhla's Mystery Fort:-
http://www.2bangkok.com/questions.shtml#fort
The missing fort of Songkhla Province - March 7, 2005
2Bangkok Editor Ron Morris writes: At the northern beginning of the Tinsulanonda Bridges in Songkhla Province once stood a old fort nestled in a thick grove of trees. It was a circular-style fort somewhat like the city wall forts in Bangkok, but probably on a smaller scale (one side had partially collapsed). While it was near Highway 408, it was not easy to see unless you pulled off the road and clambered into the underbrush. I 'found' it one day after stopping along the highway to take some photographs. Locals I knew were not aware of the fort until I showed them. I always made a effort to stop and see 'my' fort each time I passed through the area.
In 2004, I was shocked to find the scene above: a construction area for Nawarat Patanakarn Public Company Limited for the doubling of the Tinsulanonda Bridges. The fort was completely gone. Do any 2B readers know anything about the history of the fort or its removal?
It seems to be fairly common knowledge that Singora/Songkhla was originally on the Singanakorn District side of the Thale Sap Songkhla estuary; in the region of the hill that is called 'Khao Daeng'. I certainly keep finding references that talk about this former location, but the detail is nearly always extremely minimal. As indeed is this very vague lead from thai-tour.com entitled 'Visiting the Old Cities of Sathing Phra Peninsula' :-
http://www.thai-tour.com/eng/songkhla/old-cities.html
The fortress of old Songkhla at Hua Khao Daeng
The ancient port flourished in Sultan Sulaiman’s reign (1620-1668). Mr. Lamar, a French engineer, conceived the Songkhla city plan at Hua Khao Daeng. Laid out as a rectangle surrounded with 18 gun fortresses, the city was protected against invaders coming from the Gulf of Thailand.
Fort Site in 2004:-
http://www.2bangkok.com/images/songhklafort.jpg
This Songkhla Provincial Government 'History' doesn't really cast much light on the subject:-
http://www.songkhla.go.th/english/history.html
I suspect this is probably the same ' Lamar' geezer:-
http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/encyclopedia/k/kr/kra_isthmus.htm
As the Malay Peninsula enlarges the shipping routes around Asia significantly, a canal through the Kra Isthmus was suggested as early as 1677, when the Thai King (Click link for more info and facts about Narai) Narai the Great asked the French engineer de Lamar to survey the possibility of building a waterway to connect (Click link for more info and facts about Songkhla) Songkhla with Marid (now Myanmar). It turned out to impractical with the technology of that time.
"Marid" is the Thai name for Mergui (Myeik, Beik).
How that would connect with Songkhla, however, is a mystery to me, as it is west of Prachuap Khiri Khan........
Yes, agreed 100%. One of the reasons why I didn't post this before. It seems that reporters were just as geographically thick then as they are now; but they had a much better excuse. ;)
"Marid" is the Thai name for Mergui (Myeik, Beik).
How that would connect with Songkhla, however, is a mystery to me, as it is west of Prachuap Khiri Khan........
Gleaned from Wyatt – ‘A Short History of Thailand’
The French Mission to Ayutthaya of 1685-1686 gained some commercial concessions similar to those already enjoyed by the Dutch & other nationalities. The French also gained the right to station troops at Songkhla; which King Narai probably saw as a means to bolster the defences of his tributaries in the South. However, a further French mission in 1687 seems to have concluded that these troops would be more profitably stationed at Bangkok.
Could this have been the time that De Lamar planned ‘Songkhla’? My guess is that the French wouldn’t have had much time to implement such plans; so perhaps the then local 'tributary' (Sulaiman already being deceased) proceeded with the plans as a means to increase his own security.
And I suppose that 'thai-tour.com' meant to say that a canal in the region of Songkhla would allow connections to Tennaserim & Mergui [modern names used here]; as is suggested in the following:-
http://www.kracanal.or.th/historyeng1.htm
In the Ayutthaya Period, Siam started trading with the European, such as the Portuguese, Dutch and the French. King Narai the Great, during his region , promoted diplomatic relations with King Louise XIV of French by sending Phya Kosathibodee (Pan) to French. Later, in 1677, King Louise XIV sent his ambassador , Monsieur Chervalier De Chaumont, to strengthen the relationship between the two countries and agreements were signed and King Narai the Great allowed the French to inaugurate a trading station in Songkhla. He asked Monsieur Veret, a French merchant , was assigned to control and conduct a survey of Songkla. He asked Monsieur De Lamar , an engineer , to conduct the survey. Monsieur De Lamar thought that because of the geographical features, the then existing waterway of Songkhla [presumably the lagoon system] could be adapted to connect with Tanausri and Marid in Burma.
Any French speakers care to read this and take the relevant pith out of it. Certainly a lot of the key characters and places are described here:-
http://mapage.noos.fr/memoires-de-siam/lettre_phaulkon.html
http://www.freetranslation.com
The Intro ONLY. Enjoy! ;) :-
Letter of Constantine Phaulkon to a Reverend Father of the Company of Jésus.
This letter in Portuguese was published in the magazine of the Library of the school of the Charters, 5th series, volume 2, to Paris, with John Baptist Dumoulin, Bookseller of the Corporation of the Imperial school of the Charters, Quay of the Augustins, 13 - 1861.
http://mapage.noos.fr/memoires-de-siam/images/horsframe.gif Any French speakers care to read this and extract the relevant pith from it. Crude translation by freetranslation.com:-
http://mapage.noos.fr/memoires-de-siam/lettre_phaulkon.html
http://www.freetranslation.com
The Webpage's Intro:-
Letter of Constantine Phaulkon to a Reverend Father of the Company of Jésus.
This letter in Portuguese was published in the magazine of the Library of the School of the Charters, 5th series, volume 2, to Paris, with John Baptist Dumoulin, Bookseller of the Corporation of the Imperial school of the Charters, Quay of the Augustins, 13 - 1861.
Most of the Songkhla-relevant stuff seems to be in the magazine's footnotes. Underneath, I'll place the corresponding French text in case anyone fancies tidying this up a bit:-
3 - Among these enemies evoked by Phaulkon, figured in good place Monsieur Véret, boss of the Counter of the Company of the East Indies in Siam, and the knight of Forbin. This one had left without regret Siam at first of the year 1687, it not himself there was located therefore more when the ambassadors there débarquèrent. Nevertheless, Phaulkon had all to dread report that the knight would not lack to do to Louis XIV as early as his return in France.
4 - Among these engineers, found itself Vollant of the Verquains, author of the history of the Revolution of Siam reproduced on this site. Another engineer, Monsieur Lamare, (or The Mare) had come to Siam two years earlier with the Embassy of the knight of Chaumont and there had remained at the request of the king Naraï. It already had, during this period, begun the works of a beginning of brief fortification of Bangkok (that will remain in the state, the fortification projects final never having seen the light of day), and had erected fortification plans for many cities, of which Ligor, [Nakhon Sri Thammarat], Singor [Songkhla] (where once again one can see a French former fort) and Mergui.
5 - Among the cities that Phaulkon had proposed book to the French, was located equally Songkhla (known to the era under the name of Singor). But the French not voulurent of this third point of attaches, that nevertheless would have constituted an excellent base of withdrawal towards the South.
3 - Parmi ces ennemis évoqués par Phaulkon, figuraient en bonne place le sieur Véret, chef du comptoir de la Compagnie des Indes Orientales au Siam, et le chevalier de Forbin. Celui-ci avait quitté sans regret le Siam au début de l'année 1687, il ne s'y trouvait donc plus lorsque les ambassadeurs y débarquèrent. Toutefois, Phaulkon avait tout à redouter du rapport que le chevalier ne manquerait pas de faire à Louis XIV dès son retour en France.
4 - Parmi ces ingénieurs, se trouvait Vollant des Verquains, auteur de l'Histoire de la Révolution de Siam reproduite sur ce site. Un autre ingénieur, le sieur Lamare, (ou La Mare) était venu au Siam deux ans plus tôt avec l'ambassade du chevalier de Chaumont et y était resté à la demande du roi Naraï. Il avait déjà, pendant cette période, commencé les travaux d'un début de fortication sommaire de Bangkok (qui restera en l'état, les projets de fortification définitive n'ayant jamais vu le jour), et avait dressé des plans de fortification pour de nombreuses villes, dont Ligor, (Nakhon sri Thammarat), Singor (Songkhla) où l'on peut encore voir un ancien fort français, et Mergui.
5 - Parmi les villes que Phaulkon avait proposé de livrer aux Français, se trouvait également Songkhla (connue à l'époque sous le nom de Singor). Mais les Français ne voulurent pas de ce troisième point d'attache, qui aurait pourtant constitué une excellente base de repli vers le sud.
http://mapage.noos.fr/memoires-de-siam/images/phaulkon_signature.gif
Herewith, the account of Thailand's Min of Foreign Affairs:-
http://www.mfa.go.th/web/117.php
In 1680, a ship was sent by the French East India Company to trade with Thailand and was warmly received by the Thais. Phya Pipatkosa was dispatched as the first Thai envoy to France to forge friendly relations with that country. The Thais intended to offer Songkhla (which at the time was rebelling against Thai rule) to the French, but Phya Pipatkosa 's ship was wrecked and he died before ever reaching France.
It has already been mentioned that Phaulkon had converted from the Anglican faith to Roman Catholicism in 1682. He tended to socialise with the French Jesuits, who wielded considerable influence over King Louis XIV. These Jesuits hoped to convert King Narai to Christianity, particularly, Roman Catholicism. Phaulkon, meanwhile, aimed to promote friendly relations and trade with France since he was not on good terms with the English East India Company. In 1684, Thailand sent her second diplomatic mission to forge friendly ties with King Louis XIV, passing through England on the way to France. Frere Tachard, a French priest, acted as interpreter. This time, the Thais sent lower ranking officials, Khun Pijaiwanit and Khun Pijitmaitri, for the sole purpose of asking France to appoint an embassy to Thailand to sign a treaty of friendship. In 1685, the French sent the Chevalier de Chaumont as ambassador to sign the said treaty. He was accompanied by the Abbe de Choisy. The primary aim of the French Embassy was to try to convert King Narai to Christianity, while the Thais sought to conclude a treaty of friendship and trade with the French. King Narai refused to change his religion but agreed to sign a convention with France which facilitated French trade with the Royal Warehouse Department. The French were required to pay the usual customs and dues. They were also given a monopoly over the tin trade in Thalang (Phuket). At the same time, Songkhla was ceded to the French. The manager of the French company was also given the authority to punish company employees who were guilty of criminal offenses.
The above convention was only a provisional document. Thailand dispatched a third diplomatic mission to France, headed by Phra Wisutsuntorn (Kosapan), and astute diplomat, and accompanied by de Chaumont. The French wished to acquire Mergui instead of Songkhla, but Kosapan pointed out that Mergui was a long distance away from the Thai capital. Contacts by sea would have to take a detour around the Malay Peninsula, while trips by land would consume a lot of time. Upon consulting their map, the French found this to be the truth. In actual fact, however, Mergui was a port of great importance to Thailand since it provided an outlet to the Indian Ocean. Some historians believe that the Thai mission aimed to ask French troops to come to Thailand but there is no evidence to support this theory. What the Thais actually sought were experts in various fields, including military affairs, although it is doubtful that this included French troops.
Although on the opposite side of the Lake's estuary from the 'Mystery Fort' (on the side occupied by modern Songkhla), this article gives some credence to the idea that the French built fortifications on both banks:-
http://www.travelthailand.com/hokstory/songkha.htm
Close by the western foot of Khao Tung Kuan are the ruins of Laem Sai Fort, built by the French in the 17th century as part of the fortifications protecting the all-important channel leading into the lake. Low walls and a few cannon remain to give a fair impression of the original flavour of what was once a heavily fortified town.
Taken from a fairly detailed chronology of Thai history:-
http://www.simply-thai.com/Thailand_Chronology_Thai_History.htm
1680, Dec 25 - The first Siamese embassy to Europe leaves Ayutthaya to offer the ceding of Singora (today's city of Songkhla in southern Thailand) to France. But the vessel on which the embassy travels never reaches Europe as it sinks while on the way carrying everything and everybody on board to the bottom of the sea.
1684, Jan - A second Siamese embassy embarks for Europe.
1685, Sep - A French embassy arrives in Ayutthaya. One of its aims is to convert King Narai to Catholicism. The Siamese king declines to become a Christian but is interested in developing trade with France.
1685, Dec 19 - In a convention between the French embassy and King Narai, the French receive religious and commercial concessions. The French East India Company is given complete liberty of commerce, with extra-territorial jurisdiction given over their staff. The French are also granted a monopoly on the tin trade on Phuket. Singora (present-day Songkhla) is ceded to the French with full power to fortify it.
1685, Dec 22 - A third embassy to France leaves Ayutthaya. It carries a request of King Narai for French experts in various fields, including architecture and defence. It is a matter of historical dispute to what extent Siam wanted French soldiers to man some of its garrisons. As King Narai is interested in developing the relations to France in order to have a counter force against the Dutch, an according request would have made sense.
1687 - Because of Phaulkon's service and allegiance to France, he is granted by King Louis a patent of nobility. He becomes a Count and a Knight of the order of St. Michael and St. Peter.
1687, Sep 27 - An embassy from France lands in Ayutthaya bringing with it roughly 600 French soldiers and about 300 skilled workers.
1687, Dec 1 - Siam enters into another treaty with France giving more privileges to the French East India Company.
1688, Jan - The French soldiers become increasingly unpopular with the Thais due to their display of racist and insolent attitudes. Anti-foreign organizations are born and the religious prejudices of the people are likewise aroused. It should be noted that the term used by Thais until today for western foreigners is farang, an abbreviation of the original farangse - the Thai word for the French (François in French). The term farang had a negative connotation until after World War II.
1688, Mar - In Lopburi, King Narai becomes seriously ill; one of his generals, Phra Petraja, becomes the most powerful man in the realm, acting in the following weeks from Lopburi where he virtually keeps the ailing king a prisoner. Clearly following two objectives, to put himself on the throne and to expel the foreigners, he lures into a trap King Narai's adopted minor son, Phra Piya, and has him killed.
1988, Jun 5- Phaulkon is executed for treason, allegedly having conspired to put Phra Piya on the throne and having aimed at the regency. In the following days, Phra Petraja lures to Lopburi two brothers of King Narai, Prince Chao Fa Apaitot and Prince Chao Fa Noi, having them both killed two days after their arrival. To expel the French, Phra Petraja orders a siege on the French fortification at Bangkok, then only a minor settlement aside from having a French fort.
1688, Jul 11 - King Narai dies, leaving behind no close relatives. Phra Petraja crowns himself King of Ayutthaya.
1688, Sep 30 - All French troops leave Siam after negotiations with the new Siamese king. Phra Petraja takes European missionaries as hostages, pending the safe return of a Siamese embassy still in Europe.
1689, Dec - The Siamese embassy to Europe returns. In response, King Phra Petraja releases all his European hostages and restores religious freedom but implements a policy of eliminating foreign political influence in the kingdom.
1698, Oct - A French envoy is sent to Ayutthaya with the offer of a new treaty, but the offer is declined by King Phra Petraja. France gives up her political interest in Ayutthaya.
The whole article is worth reading, as it gives the reactions of French citizens to the Siamese mission of 1684; especially since Ambassador Kosapan had considerable skills of wit & repartee:-
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1310/is_1994_July-August/ai_16060623
The purpose of Ambassador Kosapan's mission to Versailles was to offer a trading post to Louis XIV in Singor (now Songkhla) in southern Siam, where the Compagnie des Indes Orientales and a handful of troops would establish themselves and provide a counterweight to the all-powerful Dutch.
Siam always played off one imperialist power against another: French against Dutch, English against French, Japanese against English and French, with the result that the country was never colonized.
France requested the right to build a fort outside Bangkok and sent a squadron of five vessels with 700 heavily armed soldiers to back up her claim. Kosapan was one of the main architects of the revolution that overthrew the prime minister, King Phra Narai himself, and resulted in the expulsion of the French. After being besieged in Bangkok for six months, the French surrendered and left the country in November 1688, exactly a year after their arrival.
Below suggests that the Consulate at Songkhla was rebuilt or/and moved not long before 1922:-
http://www.britishembassy.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1065714415142
Fortunately the Vice-Consul at the time, Mr W A R Wood, visited England in 1922 and was able to assist in the preparation of draft plans for the main Residence in the compound. Mr Wood had been responsible for the original draft plans of the new Consulates at Songkhla and Chiang Mai and happily his ideas for Bangkok found favour.
Songkhla's National Museum on Thanom Vichianchom gives no clues. I deliberately went to this museum first, rather than the Southern Folklore Center on Koh Yor, as the latter's name alone implies it has more of a folkloric remit. That said, I seem to remember vaguely (from about 1996) that the Koh Yor museum does have some exhibits of a more conventional historic nature. So maybe I'll try there next.
If anyone else is in the Koh Yor vicinity over New Year, you might also want to take a look. I always think that this museum was built at great expense and then totally neglected; but that's hardly an exclusive thing. If nothing else you will enjoy the amazing views. If you have them, remember to take your Thai Driver's Licence or Tax ID. If past form is anything to go by, this should mean that you don't have to pay the full 'foreign tourist' price. My guess is Koh Yor Museum will be closed on Dec 31st (& perhaps Jan 1st). As will the National Museum in Songkhla itself.
I'm left with the thought that certain mythmakers would prefer that certain aspects of history are best forgotten; and so better to bulldose them.
And so history is rendered impotent!
Singora (Songkhla) was beseiged by Malays from Kedah & Pattani in 1838:-
http://www.sabrizain.demon.co.uk/malaya/kedah.htm
http://www.sabrizain.demon.co.uk/malaya/kedah1.htm
http://www.sabrizain.demon.co.uk/malaya/kedah2.htm
http://www.sabrizain.demon.co.uk/malaya/kedah3.htm
http://www.sabrizain.demon.co.uk/malaya/kedah4.htm
Although on the opposite side of the Lake's estuary from the 'Mystery Fort' (on the side occupied by modern Songkhla), this article gives some credence to the idea that the French built fortifications on both banks:-
http://www.travelthailand.com/hokstory/songkha.htm
Koh Yor's Southern Folklore Museum also appears (as of today) to have no info on the 'missing fort', apart from some vague mention of an ancient city at Khao Daeng in present-day Singhanakorn District.
The following does suggest that the French intended Khao Daeng to be part of their fortifications, but doesn't actually say they built them:-
http://www.thai-tour.com/eng/songkhla/old-cities.html
The fortress of old Songkhla at Hua Khao Daeng
The ancient port flourished in Sultan Sulaiman’s reign (1620-1668). Mr. Lamar, a French engineer, conceived the Songkhla city plan at Hua Khao Daeng. Laid out as a rectangle surrounded with 18 gun fortresses, the city was protected against invaders coming from the Gulf of Thailand.
Admin's 'Missing Fort' is near Khao Daeng and was perhaps built for attack against landforces (crossing the lake). This latter point would appear to favor the idea that it was built after forces from Kedah beseiged Singora in 1838.
But then there's this which suggests that some kind of fortification was already in place by 1830:-
http://www.asiatravel.com/hatyai_info/att.html
Chedi Ong Dam (The Black Chedi), is situated at the top Khao Daeng, Tambon Khao Daeng. It was built by Chao Phraya Phra Khlang (Dit Bunnak) and Somdet Chao Phraya Borom Maha Phrayurawong to commemorate the victory over the Sai Buri Revolt in B.E. 2373 [GWR - 1830].
Chedi Ong Khao (The White Chedi) was built by Phraya Si Phiphat (That Bunnak) and Somdet Chao Phraya Maha Phichaiyat to commemorate the victory over Sai Buri, Pattani, Penang, and Malayan Revolts.[GWR - Perhaps the Kedah Seige of 1838] After the victory, Phraya Si Phipat remained in Songkhla for two years and built this Chedi to accompany the first one, then returned to Bangkok. [GWR - We know the seige was lifted quickly by the arrival of forces from Bangkok]
But it appears Singora moved to the oppposite shore of the lake estuary very soon after the Kedah seige:-
http://www.thai-tour.com/eng/songkhla/introduction.html
In the 14th century, the city of Phakho declined in the face of marauding invaders from the sea. The people retreated and settled near the mouth of Lake Songkhla at the foothills of Khao Daeng mountain and Bang Kaeo, now in Amphoe Khao Chai Son in Phatthalung province.
In the mid 16th century, the city of Songkhla at Hua Khao Daeng was an international port under the rule of Dato Moghal, a Muslim leader. Merchants from southern India called the community in this area Singkhon Nakhon, the mountain city.
In the latter half of the 17th century, the city grew as the Chinese took the lead commercially. More houses were built on a narrow plain at the very end of the Sathing Phra peninsula. This settlement later became the city of Songkhla on the Laem Son shore, near Wat Bo Sap and Wat Suwankhiri.
In the 18th century, the Thon Buri period, King Taksin appointed Chin Yiang Sae Hao, who was the founder of the Na Songkhla clan, governor of Songkhla in 1775/
In the Rattanakosin period during the reign of the King Rama III, Songkhla moved to its present location on Tambon Bo Yang in 1842.
It appears that nearby Taksin University (Khao Roop Chang area of Songkhla's Amphur Muang)[Nothing to do with the current junta;)] might well be the next place to make enquiries on this subject. TU seems to have been given control of 'The Southern Folklore Institute' on Koh Yor as part of its research function. It's obvious that some of the Institute's publications (all in Thai) are produced by TU staff.
Southern Thai Local Information Service
Central Library, Taksin University
The Southern Thai Local Information Service, Taksin University library collects both printed and non-printed information. The content of the information is related to 14 provinces of the south including Chumphon, Surat Thani, Krabi, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phangnga, Phuket, Ranong, Trang, Songkhla, Phatthalung, Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat. Besides the library collection, Taksin University also has the Institute of Southern Studies (Songkhla) which serves as a folklore museum and a center for cultural study of the southern Thai communities’ ways of life, arts, customs, culture and oral traditions.
I guess another possible source of info might be the Prem National Library, which is only about 5 Kms from Khao Daeng as the crow flies.
Sukhum Road & Sadao Road in Amphur Muang, Jungwat Songkhla is an area I sometimes half-jokingly refer to as the Consular District. However, this is pretty much a reality.
The Malaysian Consulate is situated on the East side of Sukhum Road, within walking distance of Samila Beach. To the best of my knowledge, this used to be the British Consulate; although the original buildings have almost certainly been completely replaced; as this Consulate looks quite modern from the outside.
Proceeding East along Sadao Road from its three-way intersection with Ramvithi & Suhhum, one quickly encounters the Indonesian Consulate on the North side of the street. This appears to be a modern residence that has been adapted to its current purpose; one imagines that its primary goal is to liaise with the local fishing industry; which regularly sends trawlers to Indonesian waters.
A couple of hundred meters further along the street is another fairly large building from the mid-Twentieth Century. This is now the Chinese Consulate. It was taken over by the Chinese (over ten years ago?), soon after it was vacated by the US Consulate. Obviously, the Chinese Government has not entirely forgotten the needs of the Chinese diaspora in SE Asia; and wishes to act increasingly like a 'world power' in this region. I believe I am right in saying that the US also allowed the Thai organisation 'American University Alumni' (AUA) to run a language center on the premises, in conjunction with a United States Information Service (USIS) Library. The US now longer maintains a consular presence in the 'Deep South', although the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) still maintains an office in town to monitor cross-border narco-trade movements. Presumably the DEA Office was once housed in the Consulate. One can imagine the Chinese giving this building a thorough security check before moving in.
And there was even a Japanese Consulate before & during World-War Two.
And now it seems from the report below (and several Indian online newspapers) that Songkhla is to get an Indian Consulate. Does anyone know the real reason behind this. Does it pressage a major Indian offensive in co-operation with local petrochemical, fisheries, rubber or rubberwood concerns? 'The Nation' - 24th May, 2005:-
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2005/05/24/national/index.php?news=national_17460670.html
DIPLOMACY
Indian consulate for Songkhla
The Union cabinet has approved the opening of an Indian consulate in Songkhla province to promote and safeguard India’s strategic, political and commercial interests, the Press Trust of India has reported. The consulate - which will comprise six India-based posts and two local posts - will also promote the country’s cultural relations, said Indian Finance Minister P Chidambaram.
jpatokal
04-01-06, 12:54 PM
Perhaps not unrelated: India has previous had some half-handed attempts to promote tourism to the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, which are after all only a short boat ride away from the Thai Coast. The tsunami put a bit of a crimp in these plans though...
It's been suggested that this might be in part due to the fact that ships have a lot of Indian crew; but I have to say that I don't really buy into that idea too much.
I suppose 'strategic interests' might have something to do with army, navy & airforce bases.
'Cultural' might have something to do with the promotion of Buddhist, Hindu & Islamic pilgramage.
Or perhaps it is just cocking a snook at the old enemy, China; which has a very nice consulate in Songkhla in the shape of the old US consulate.
I think I would discount your 'Andaman & Nicobar' idea, as it would probably favor Phuket as a consular location. A quick search discovered that Chiang-Mai has been the only Indian consulate in Thailand outside Bangkok until now. And their advertised website no longer exists!
The May 2005 date of this report suggests the Indian Consulate in Songkhla may already be up-&-running; as they would probably rent a premises for a small consular presence. But no location is known just yet!
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