APEC 2003 News
Airport security stories at here.
(Photo: 2Bangkok.com) |
(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)
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(Photo: 2Bangkok.com) |
What the APEC tuk-tuks look like - November 5, 2003
A few shots of Tiger Motor Company's electric tuk-tuk
used at the APEC summit. The tuk-tuk, nicknamed "Chai" (victory),
was on display at the "Life and Living 2003" exhibition
at the Impact Convention Center, Muangthong Thani. The Nation
had a funny
comment about them: In an inspection tour in July, Foreign
Minister Surakiart Sathirathai tested the Chai tuk-tuk with disastrous
results. It failed to carry the burly minister and a Navy official
across the bridge because it lacked sufficient power. The tuk-tuk's
developers said they have since improved the quality and design of
the new vehicles and have given assurances that they will not break
down on the day.
You may have also seen Tiger's cool mini motorcycles being heavily
promoted at local malls recently. Does Tiger have a website? We can't
find it...
Thaksin:
new regional leader - AFP, October 22, 2003
This is typical of the recent articles in the foreign press declaring
Thaksin as Southeast Asia's new regional leader. It also mentions
how bumbling and uncertain Thaksin was when he first started: Thaksin's
new-found confidence, backed by Thailand's stellar economic performance
as well as political and social stability in the kingdom, struck
the foreign media during a pre-APEC dinner where he made a strong
impression.
Virtually unrecognisable from the reticent, gaffe-prone political
ingenue who took power in a January 2001 electoral landslide, he
now appears altogether more relaxed, self-assured and energetic.
His command of English, once faltering, has improved considerably
since he took to the world stage.
APEC
Summit Notebook - AP, October 20, 2003
In the 2B
forum, 'ttaaee' pointed out this great collection of odds and
ends from the summit: the reality of a tuk-tuk ride, traffic jam for
Bush motorcade, and world leaders meeting HM The King.
(Photo: 2Bangkok.com) |
APEC today
- October 21, 2003
Some of today's schedule: Anantasamakom Throne Hall will host
a 90 minute break between APEC sessions. Leaders will then move
to lunch and a photo session in the building's west wing.
Also: Avoid key roads,
motorists told - Bangkok Post, October 21, 2003
Below: A couple of the many APEC billboards around town. |
(Photo: 2Bangkok.com) |
(Photo: 2Bangkok.com) |
(Photo: 2Bangkok.com) |
Bangkok's
eerie quiet - Reuters, October
20, 2003
...Across the road, the vast World Trade Centre shopping
complex, a warren-like temple to Asian consumerism, sat silent
and empty behind steel barricades erected to deter expected
but absent anti-globalisation campaigners.
Skeleton staff in the few malls which opened were busy only
with stock-taking or cleaning. On the streets, not a noodle
or satay vendor stirred... |
Past U.S. Presidential visits to
Thailand
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Road
closures - translated by everybody
- October 10, 2003
After we mentioned the Thai-language article about road closures
(What
roads will be closed during APEC? - Manager Online,
October 6, 2003) we had half a dozen translations sent to
us of all or part of it. Thanks to everyone! So here is an
edited amalgam of what was sent:
Traffic regulations concerning
street closures, no parking areas, and one-way
streets for the APEC Summit 2003 in Bangkok
from October 15-22, 2003
No parking is allowed on
the following days
* October 15-22, 2003 (24 hours)
- Thorough Chareonkrung Soi 42, 42/1, 44, 50
- Thorough the street to Sathorn Pier
- Thorough the street skirting Shangri-La Hotel
from Chareonkrung Soi 42 to the street to Sathorn
Pier
* October 16-21, 2003 (24 hours)
- Thorough Silom Road (both sides) from Sala
Daeng intersection to Naralom intersection (Sukhumvit
Soi 22) [A couple people have questioned what
this means--since no roads between Silom and
Sukhumvit are mentioned, but this is exactly
how it appears in the original Thai.]
* October 16-22, 2003 (24 hours)
- Wireless Road (both sides) from Wireless intersection
to Ploenchit intersection
- Ratchadamri Road (both sides) from Sala Daeng
intersection to Ratchaprasong intersection
- Sukhumvit Road (both sides) from Nana intersection
to Asoke-Sukhumvit intersection and Soi Ruamrudee
(both sides)
* October 17-22, 2003 (24 hours)
- Chareonnakorn Road (both sides) from Chareonnakorn
Soi 7 to Chareonakorn Soi 19.
- Krung Thonburee Road (both sides) from Taksin
intersection to Taksin Bridge
* October 20, 2003 (08:00-20:00)
- Thorough Maharaj Road
- Thorough Kalayanamaitree Road
- Thorough Chetupon Road
- Thorough Tai Wang and Soi Sethakarn
- Sanamchai Road from Palace Metropolitan Police
Station to Pom Padej intersection
- Chareonkrung Road from Sapanmorn intersection
to Raksadindan intersection
* October 20, 2003 (05:00-24:00)
- Arun Amarin Road (both sides) from Siriraj
intersection to Rama 8 Bridge
Street closure - no vehicles
allowed to go through the following roads
* October 17, 2003 at 9:00-12:30, and
October 18, 2003 at 19:30-22:30
- Sri Ayudhaya Road from Saowanee intersection
to Sri Ayudhaya intersection (outbound side)
* From 11:00 on October 20, 2003 until
17:00 on October 21, 2003
- Area in front of Dusit Palace
* October 20, 2003 at 11:00-17:00 and
October 21, 2003
- Ratchadamnern Nok Road from Chorporror intersection
to King Chulalongkorn Monument
- U Tong Nai Road from U Tong Nai intersection
to area in front of Dusit Palace
- Rama 5 Road from Benjamabopit Temple intersection
to Panichkarn intersection
- Look Luang Road from Prachakasem intersection
to Dhevakam intersection
- Krung Kasem Road from Pracha Kasem intersection
to Dhevakam intersection
- Phitsanulok Road from Nang Learng intersection
to Wang Deang intersection
* October 20, 2003 (15:30-20:00)
- Thorough Ratchadamnern Nai Road
- Thorough Maharaj Road
- Thorough Na Pratat Road
- Thorough Na Pralan Road
- Thorough Sanamchai Road from Pipit intersection
to Pom Padej intersection
- Chareonkrung Road from Chareonkrung-Rajinee
intersection to Raksadindan intersection
- Kalayanamaitree Road from Kalayanamaitree-Rajinee
intersection to Kalayanamaitree-Sanamchai intersection
* October 21, 2003 (07:00-17:00)
- Ratchadamnern Nok Road from Makawan Rangsan
Bridge to King Chulalongkorn Monument
- U Tong Nai Road from U Tong Nai intersection
to area in front of Dusit Palace
- Sri Ayudhaya Road from Pol. 1 intersection
to Benjamabopit intersection
- Phitsanulok Road from Panichkarn intersection
to Wang Deang intersection
One-way commuting will
be temporarily conducted on the following roads
* October 17-22, 2003
- Sukhumvit Road from Asoke-Sukhumvit intersection
to Nana intersection (northern side
only); all transportation will be allowed to
go from Sukhumvit Road (inbound side or Sheraton
Grand Sukhumvit Hotel side)
- Ploenchit Road from Rajchaprasong to Ploenchit
Express intersection (this one-way route is
already being tested)
Here is a permanent
link if anyone wants to link to this text.
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Some
of the APEC schedule
The official APEC schedule page is here.
October 20, 2003 - "19:30 – 21:30 > Thai dinner
with cultural extravaganza" - Barge procession for visiting
APEC leaders: "...50 barges taking part will depart from
Wasukri pier at 8 pm and arrive at Rajworadit pier in front
of Wat Arun Ratchawararam and the APEC auditorium, where the
barge procession and traditional shows will be held at 8.30
pm." Leaders will watch from the Navy hall opposite the
Grand Palace
October 21, 2003 - Anantasamakom Throne Hall will host
a 90 minute break between APEC sessions. Then they will move
to lunch and a photo session in the building's west wing.
Full APEC schedule
- APEC, October 15, 2003
Schedule of the 11th APEC Economic Leaders
Meeting (19-21 October 2003)
Sunday October 19, 2003
Arrival of APEC Economic Leaders
[Bangkok Post reports: A source said Mr Bush
and his wife Laura were due at the (army) headquarters
on Ratchadamnoen Nok avenue at 12.30 pm on Sunday... Mr
Bush would be escorted to the second floor of the Army
Museum for a discussion with the armed forces leaders.
After 20 minutes, Mr Bush would be led to the army headquarters
lawn where he would deliver a 15-minute speech to 800
Thai soldiers, thanking them for their contribution to
peace-keeping missions... The American security inspectors
had specified that Mr Bush address the soldiers from the
right wing of the lawn with his back to the nearby United
Nations building, for security reasons... Security for
Mr Bush would be jointly supervised by the Royal Household
Bureau and Royal Aide De Camp Department while the president
remained the King's guest on Oct 18-19. Mr Bush would
leave at 1.15pm. UPDATE: United States President
George W Bush has extended his visit to army headquarters
by 15 minutes on Sunday to meet war veterans and members
of the Serithai Movement, said a military source.]
Monday October 20, 2003
1330 - 1350 hrs. - Arrival of Leaders at the Government
House - Greeting by H.E. Thaksin Shinawatra, Prime Minister
of Thailand at the Thai Koo Fah Building
1400 - 1510 hrs. - Retreat I
Venue: Outer Santi Maitri Building
1515 - 1600 hrs. - Interaction with ABAC
Venue: Inner Santi Maitri Building
1600 - 1620 hrs. - Leaders depart the Government House
for their hotels
1710 - 1730 hrs. - Leaders and Spouses depart for the
Grand Palace
1730 - 1840 hrs. - Audience with Their Majesties the King
and Queen
1840 - 1900 hrs. - Leaders and Spouses depart for the
Royal Thai Navy
Conference Hall
1920 - 2020 hrs. - Leaders’ Gala Dinner
Venue: Royal Thai Navy Conference Hall
2045 - 2130 hrs. - Cultural Performance
Venue: Royal Thai Naval Institute
Tuesday 21 October 2003
0930 - 0950 hrs. - Arrival of Leaders at the Ananta Samakhom
Throne Hall (ASTH) - Greeting by H.E. Thaksin Shinawatra,
Prime Minister of Thailand
0950 - 1000 hrs. - Leaders Group Photograph
1000 - 1150 hrs. - Leaders’ Retreat II
Venue: Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall
1200 - 1300 hrs. - Leaders’ Working Luncheon
1315 - 1330 hrs. - Leaders’ Declaration
1330 - 1350 hrs. - Leaders depart the Ananta Samakhom
Throne Hall for their hotels
1500 hrs. - Press Conference by H.E. Prime Minister Thaksin
Shinawatra
Venue: Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, Bangkok |
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(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)
October 19, 2003, 2:00 pm
Above: Roads are deserted. It is a
strange feeling be able to roar down normally congested Sukhumvit
at top speed even with the south-side lanes closed.
Right: Security guards checking cars at the Emporium. |
(Photo: 2Bangkok.com) |
(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)
(Photo: 2Bangkok.com) |
Left and above: Small protest against
U.S. and Bush across from Mahboonkrong Shopping Center.
Rajdamri
and Ploenchit roads to be closed for four days
- The Nation, October 18, 2003
...US security teams have asked police to shut Rajdamri and
Ploenchit roads to protect the visiting US president, Traffic
Police Commander Pol Maj General Pharnu Kerdlarpphon said.
The closures of Rajdamri Road, where the Grand Hyatt Erawan
and Regent hotels are located, and Ploenchit Road, where the
Intercontinental Hotel is located, will affect many major shopping
and entertainment complexes in the area. These include Central
Department Store, Central World Plaza (formerly the Word Trade
Centre), and the areas around popular Siam Square. But operators
of these complexes have put on a brave face, saying that there
will be minimal impact.
Sections of Rajdamri and Ploenchit roads, two of Bangkok’s
busiest streets, which lead to Siam Square and Rajprasong intersection,
will be shut down from 4pm today until 2pm on Tuesday, officials
said yesterday.
The police will seal off both inbound and outbound lanes of
Rajdamri Rd, from Sarasin intersection to Rajprasong intersection,
and inbound lanes on Ploenchit Rd, from Chidlom intersection
to Rajprasong intersection until Tuesday afternoon. |
Gigantic
banner unfurled to hide slum - The Nation,
October 17, 2003
Arguably the world's largest banner, stretching over half a kilometre
long and standing at about the height of a four-storey building, was
unfurled in Bangkok to hide an unsightly slum from delegates attending
the Apec summit.
Erawan to host the U.S. President?
- October 16, 2003
Sources indicate that the Grand
Hyatt Erawan is probably the hotel where U.S. President Bush will
be staying during the APEC summit. This may not be such big news...
As early as October 1, Agence France-Presse ('Bangkok hotels placed
on highest alert,' AFP, October 1, 2003) was insinuating this.
UPDATE: On October 20, 2003, The Nation
confirms this.
Royal Thai Navy Conference Hall
- October 16, 2003
In the 2Bangkok
forum, 'ttaeee' pointed out these great
photos of the Royal Thai Navy Conference Hall which was built
for the APEC summit for world leaders to view the royal barge procession.
"...they
want photos of buildings and roads only."
- The Nation, October 14, 2003
Lots of people found this quote and sent it to us: Speaking at
the same seminar, a senior NIA officer profiled the suspicious people
that the ham radio operators should report. "They act like tourists
who love taking photos, but they want photos of buildings and roads
only," Nanthiwat Samart said, adding that they don’t ask
other people to take pictures of them while they pose.
Yes, we at 2Bangkok.com will have to watch out!
Here come the foreign correspondents
- October 9, 2003
2Bangkok.com is awaiting a flood of breezy articles on the stereotypical
aspects of Thailand (exotic culture, prostitutes, eating bugs, something
about elephants painting, "modern skyscrapers alongside exotic
temples," etc.).
This will happen when foreign corespondents spend
a few days in town for the APEC summit and file local color articles
on the character of the nation (Seth Mydans of the New York Times
is always conspicuous with a flood of regional articles whenever he
passes through Bangkok).
Often these articles reveal more about the author's lack of understanding
of the region and the political bias of the publication than anything
about Thailand.
BTW: One guess as to the viewpoint of the World Socialist's
article about Bangkok's security crackdown and Thai ties with the
U.S. (Thousands
of poor expelled from Bangkok for APEC summit, October 7, 2003).
We are somewhat surprised at just how negatively Bangkok's APEC cleanup
and security measures have played in both the local and international
press.
Spotting
terrorists made easy for cabbies -
Bangkok Post, September 22, 2003
...Other possible tell-tale signs were passengers carrying
batteries and electric wire and smelling of chemical substances
and gunpowder, he told 160 drivers receiving security training
in preparation of the Apec summit... Lek Chinawong said
he would not inform police despite having been trained because
police had not impressed him. "Police give us trouble,
especially at their street checkpoints," he said.
Hotel
security beefed up ahead of Apec -
The Nation, September 20, 2003
Hotels selected to house delegates of the 21 Apec economies
are the Banyan Tree, Conrad, Dusit Thani, Grand Hyatt, Imperial
Queen's Park, Intercontinental, JW Marriott, Oriental, Peninsular,
Plaza Athenee, Regent, Royal Orchid Sheraton, Shangari-la,
Sheraton Grande, Sukhothai and Hilton.
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Skytrain tickets for APEC
- BTS Skytrain newsletter, September 18, 2003
Thanks to Khun Orapan for pointing out these graphics
of the special APEC Skytrain tickets. |
Skytrain
in Apec special - Bangkok Post, September
11, 2003
Skytrain souvenirs for APEC: The tickets featuring the
seven royal barges... will be presented to the 21 heads
of government together with a booklet citing the history
of royal barges. The souvenir will be contained in an elegant
wooden box in golden wrappings. Another 4,500 gift sets
will also be distributed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Besides, the BTSC will issue another set of gifts--Sky Card
tickets valued at 200 baht each and an Apec guidebook--for
presentation to all participating delegates and members
of the press.
(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)
Looking good
- September 14, 2003
The entire downtown area is being spruced up for the APEC
summit in October. We have not seen the area looking so
fresh since the 50th anniversary of HM The King's accession
to the throne in 1996. Above is Ratchadamnern Avenue looking
towards Democracy Monument and below is the recently renovated
Navy Hall where world leaders will watch a royal barge
procession.
(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)
No
garland sales during APEC - TNA, September
3, 2003
No garland sales during APEC: But over 300 families in Bangkok’s
Suan Ngern community, the capital’s largest garland-making
area, have vowed that they will resume their livelihoods as
soon as the APEC delegates disappear.
...garland makers, who sell their garlands wholesale to small-scale
vendors, had agreed with the Metropolitan Police that they would
put a stop to sales for a period of one week during the APEC
meeting ‘for the good of the national reputation’.
About APEC - August
30, 2003
There's plenty of interesting pricing on the APEC
site. World broadcasters will be headquartered at the Queen
Sirikit Convention Center. Some prices for the broadcasters:
* One unit of workspace of 3 x 6 m (Standard size) US$ 1,000
* Satellite broadcasting: First 10 mins. US$ 500 - Each additional
minute US$ 45
* 21-inch TV monitor/unit US$ 155
* VTR Editing Betacam SP, PAL, IMX6: One hour without technician
US$ 100 - One hour with a technician US$ 150
* SNG Van with crew (8 hrs. / day) US$ 2,500 - Space segment
/ minute US$ 8
* ENG Betacam PAL camera: With one-man crew (8 hrs. / Day) US$
400 - With a car and a driver (8 hrs. / Day) US$ 100
Here's the full pdf
price list.
Besides the official
APEC site, there's now a website with a schedule
of many APEC events, including when various world leaders
speak. It appears many events are being held at the Shangri-la
Hotel.
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