Global Voices » Thai

Thailand: Online branding campaign

Mong Palatino — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 01:41:13 +0000

The Thailand government enjoins its citizens to vote online (Facebook or Twitter) on how they want Thailand to be promoted globally.

Thailand: Texting Troubles for the Prime Minister

Arthit — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 07:42:34 +0000

On December 18, 2008, millions of Thai mobile phone subscribers got this text message from the newly installed Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva:

“ผมนายกรัฐมนตรีคนใหม่ ขอเชิญท่านร่วมนำประเทศไทยออกจากวิกฤติ สนใจได้รับการติดต่อจากผมกรุณาส่งรหัสไปรษณีย์ 5 หลักของท่านมาที่เบอร์ 9191 (3 บ.)”

“I, the new Prime Minister, invites you to bring Thailand out of the crisis. Interested to get contact from me, please send your 5-digits postcode to the number 9191 (3 Baht)”

If a subscriber replies, a sound clip of PM Abhisit will be delivered to subscriber's phone, saying:

“I, Abhisit Vejjajiva, the Prime Minister, realized that you fellow citizens are suffering, and are under stress. Therefore, I'll concentrate in exerting all my knowledge and ability to help the country. But I can't succeed if Thai people are not together in harmony. So I beg you all a chance.”

sms from the PM

According to Democrat Party officer, the text messaging was an idea of Abhisit himself, and was coordinated by Korn Chatikavanij, the country's Finance Minister. Korn allegedly called Thailand's three major mobile phone operators, AIS, DTAC, and True, for a cooperation to send out the message to their subscribers. The meeting for cooperation was held in December 16, one day before Abhisit Vejjajiva got officially appointed to be the Prime Minister. And the reason for requesting for 5-digits postcode is to evaluate the demographic of those who replied. The subscribers will then be listed in a database.

Sending a text message to a person without the person's consent is considered a violation of a consumer's privacy rights, said consumer rights advocate Saree Ongsomwang. She said Abhisit should opt to keep contacts with the people via television and other public communication outlets in order to avoid infringing on the consumer's rights.

Saree, who is also part of the committee of the Telecommunication Consumer Protection Institute, added that under Thai telecommunication law, mobile phone operators are not allowed to release the list of subscribers without their consent. When the three mobile operators sent the controversial text message to their subscribers, free of charge, in behalf of the Prime Minister or the Democrat Party, it brought some legal and political complications.

Under the 1999 Anti-Corruption Law (amended 2007), state officers, including cabinet members, cannot receive any gift or benefit that is worth more than 3,000 Baht. It is estimated that the sending of the Prime Minister's text message cost more than 10 million Baht. Abhisit could be charged in the courts, as argued by Pheu Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit, urging the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to investigate the case.

If Abhisit and Korn are found guilty, they will be impeached and suspended from holding any political position in accordance with the Constitution.

Comments in the Internet were quite mixed at that time. In general, many agreed that this may be a violation of privacy and personal data, and the Prime Minister doing too much PR on media. But at the same time they feel that if it's a good intention, it should be ok, and he should have a chance to work for the country.

Some comments from Yahoo! Answers:

Non noN: “I think it's a popular survey, as it requested a post code. So they can know which districts, which provinces, that reply back and can evaluate the situation. I personally think it's good and want to see harmony in every area of Thailand.”

Nicky: “Who get that 3 baht? Can I opt-out? My memory is nearly full. Old model.”

‘A-Mei': “I think it's too much marketing.”

Tanapon: “Yes, it's too much. But we should give him a chance, to prove himself by his work. It's better than we fighting each other.”

NH: “I think if it's a good thinking, the result will be good.”

On July 16, 2010, NACC has again postponed its ruling on the case, and did not yet set a date for the handing down of the final decision.

Thailand: The Red Shirts are coming!

Mong Palatino — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:43:31 +0000

Members of the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), known as the Red Shirts, are scheduled to start a protest march in Bangkok, Thailand, on March 12. Hundreds of thousands of Red Shirts are expected to assemble during the weekend march, which will culminate at Sanam Luang on 14 March. The protesters want Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to dissolve the Parliament.

A google map of the major protest sites in Bangkok.

View Bangkok Dangerous - Red Shirts Rally March 2010 in a larger map

Many Red Shirts are supporters of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra but not all of them are fans of the fugitive leader who was recently found guilty by the court of corruption charges.

The Red Shirts view the incumbent Prime Minister as being illegitimate and undemocratic. They want to replace the “ammat (elite) system” with a truly democratic and pro-people government.

The weekend rally is seen as the biggest threat to the troubled administration of Abhisit. To prevent “third party elements” from causing trouble, the government has invoked the Internal Security Act that puts the army in charge. The ISA is to be enforced from 11 to 23 March for all of Bangkok and nearby districts. Army officers are told to carry only shields and batons. About 50,000 to 100,000 military and police forces will be deployed in the capital city. Another 46,000 “disaster prevention volunteers” are on standby.

To gather sympathy from Bangkok residents, the Red Shirts sent this email message

“A Message to the Good People of Bangkok and International Communities.”

“On Friday the 12th of March, a campaign aimed at ending the age of the Thai military dictatorship and restoring freedom, democracy and justice to our beautiful nation will begin. At this very moment, hundreds of thousands of people from all across our country not already in Bangkok are preparing to make their way to the capital, in defiance of a regime that has proven its willingness to commit violence and strip away the human rights of those who speak against it.”

“We are convinced that for the coming struggle we need no guns, bullets or blades, but only solidarity and sincerity in our hearts. We have learned from the mistakes of the past, and will allow no repeat of them. We will stand together, we will remain vigilant against troublemakers, and we will take care to ensure that no foreigner is harmed or intimidated. We will stare defiantly down the barrels of the guns of the soldiers who remain loyal to the men who wish us to remain silent and submissive, and we will embrace with open arms those who wish to put down their weapons and join us.”

Despite the assurance of Red Shirts that they will only employ non-violent methods, many people are still worried that violence may erupt especially after viewing this video clip taken last January which showed a Red Shirt leader vowing to turn Bangkok into a “sea of fire”

พี่น้องนัดกันคราวหน้า ถ้ารู้ว่าเขาจะปราบปราม ไม่ต้องเตรียมอะไรมาก มาด้วยกัน ขวดแก้วคนละใบ มาเติมน้ำมันเอาข้างหน้าบรรจุให้ได้ 75 ซีซีคือหนึ่งลิตร ถ้าเรามาหนึ่งล้านคนในกรุงเทพมหานครมีน้ำมันหนึ่งล้านลิตร รับรองว่ากทมเป็น ทะเลเพลิงอย่างแน่นอน การสู้ของคนเสื้อแดงแบบง่ายๆอย่างนี้ บอกให้ทหารได้รับทราบ บอกให้ทหารสุนัขรับใช้อมาตย์ได้รู้ว่า ถ้าคุณทำร้ายคนเสื้อแดงแม้เลือดหยดแต่หยดเดียว นั่นหมายความว่ากรุงเทพฯ จะเป็นทะเลเพลิงทันที

“Fellow Thais, for the next time [we protest], if you know that we will crackdown, there is no need to prepare a lot. Just bring one bottle each. Then fill it with oil so it is filled to 75cc-1 litre. If there are one million of us in Bangkok, there will be one million litres. I guarantee you that Bangkok will be a sea of fire for sure. The way the red shirts will fight back/respond is simple like this. We need to tell the military, tell the military dogs who are serving the aristocrats so that know that if you injure the red shirts with just one drop of blood then Bangkok will be a sea of fire.”

Another problem of the Red Shirts is the rumored plan of the government to close the gas stations in the country to prevent or delay rallyists from travelling to Bangkok. TV reports claim that railway and bus stations are under heavy security. Roadblocks have been set-up. Security checkpoints are now monitoring the activities of Red Shirts.

A grand showdown is expected between the Red Shirts and government forces this weekend. There is now heightened tension and panic in the city. Bloggers share their views and observations:

Residents are withdrawing money from the banks. Some are buying gold bars. Thanong reports:

My friend has just called in to report that she is in a Yaowarat gold shop buying some gold bars — just in case. “I am buying a gold bar for myself and my sister. If you want one, just send me the cash via the ATM now. I'll get one for you,” she said.
No, thank you.

Since Bangkok is a famous tourist destination, the weekend rally can be explained to foreign guests as a political “reality show”

Bangkok is now living under an atmosphere of fear. My former staff now working in the Silom area called in to ask for consultation. How should she told her boss who would be welcoming the foreign guests staying at the Centara Grand Hotel over the weekend.
I told her to keep it cool. “Just stay in the hotel room with a pair of binoculars and watch the reality show,” I said.
She was not impressed.

Parties, receptions, and trips have been postponed because of the planned rally. From absolutelybangkok.com:

Can’t count the cancellations of events for this weekend anymore. Everyone’s postponing. Parties, receptions, trips, they have to wait. The Thai capital is in the grip of the red shirts without them yet being here. Parts of Bangkok will be deserted, others rather not.

The red protest is no longer a protest. It’s a mobilization of hope for some, victory seems near, of utter discomfort for others. Maybe we have never seen as many reds united, but they’re not here to make new friends

Red Shirts protest. Photo from the Flickr page of adaptorplug

But Thai Politics does not think that the Red Shirts are ready to take over the leadership of the country

Well, they can win the first few skirmishes with the army, especially if they engage them in a multiple locations and fully utilize their numerical advantage, but they can’t hold Bangkok for any period of time, they don’t have resources for that and they won’t have any moral support among the occupied Bangkokians, too.

That’s the worst scenario, the best, as I mentioned, is if the government finds a way to discourage pickup drivers from coming. Reds then can rally on foot, express their opinions and outrage, whatever, time for street revolutions have passed and they’ve got a lot of work to do to go mainstream, they are just not ready to take over the country.

Political Prisoners in Thailand monitors news reports about the Red Shirts and makes this important conclusion

Readers should know that all reporting now is heavily biased and many stories are clearly manufactured or reporting manufactured claims. If anyone says they know what is going to happen over the next few days, they are probably not worth listening to. This is a work in progress for the royalist government and their opponents.

Why did the Red Shirts choose to mobilize their members this weekend? Because this week coincides with the end of the high school term. “With the summer holidays beginning and the children not having to go to school, the parents can join the protest with less worry.”

A website identifies the 33 dangerous spots during the “Bloody March”, and the 7 dangerous spots if UDD members are going to block the trafic in Bangkok.

Global Recession: The world is talking. Are we listening?

Mong Palatino — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 21:55:40 +0000

There is no lack of online articles about the various aspects of the global economic crisis. Many of them are written by economic experts and policymakers. What about the perspectives of ordinary bloggers? What about those who do not write in English? This global roundup of blogs gathers stories of people around the world who are struggling to survive the economic downturn. This article will highlight the views of bloggers about the recession, identify the different manifestations of the crisis in several countries, and illustrate how the deteriorating economy is affecting the global society as a whole. This post complements the five other articles of this series on the global crisis.

Crisis indicators

The recession in the United States and Europe is affecting the garments industry of Bangladesh. Many factory workers were laid-off because of reduced production. Another industry which is suffering is the shrimp sector, the second biggest export item of Bangladesh. The economic problems of other Asian nations are also causing a problem for Bangladesh. As the shipping business weakens in Singapore, many of its Bangladesh migrant workers are sent home. Malaysia has also decided to hire unemployed local workers first before recruiting foreigners. This is bad news for Bangladesh migrant workers whose main country of destination is Malaysia.

In Kazakhstan Alim-atenbek writes about a crisis last winter in the industrial town of Stepnogorsk where heating, electricity and water supply were cut off for nearly a week.

It is a pity to read such things about the once prosperous town. Instead of investing in reconstruction of the obsolete infrastructure, we had been building glazing skyscrapers in [the new capital of Kazakhstan] Astana, which are now standing empty. Seemingly, after the financial crisis, the infrastructure crisis is looming - and, eventually, the political one.

Kazakhstan’s currency was devalued last February. The economic impact was immediately felt by its citizens. According to blogger Katelka

We became 25% poorer. Lately the salaries of budget-paid employees and pensions were increased by 25%, and now this raise is eaten up. I have friends who get paid in KZT, but their mortgage is in dollars… Many shops change their price-lists. In large food supermarkets people were running around with trolleys and sweeping away everything: cereals-butter-pasta, informs

The collapse of the dram is also a major sign of the global economic crisis in Armenia. It has created a lot of panic in the country.

In Hong Kong the financial crisis is blamed mostly on Financial Secretary John Tsang. There are 20 Facebook roups protesting against him. The biggest group (with more than 10,000 members) is asking John Tsang to receive a HKD4000 salary per month because of his subsidy plan encouraging companies to hire university graduate with a minimum wage of HKD4000.

In Cebu province of the Philippines, the DYAB Abante Bisaya's radio program, Pulso, asked its viewers about their thoughts on the financial crisis. Here are some of their answers:

Kaniadto, mag-awto gyod ko. Karon mag jeep na ko. Seven rides gud ko padulong sa trabahoan. Kay ang akong suweldo kuwang ra man. Mahal baya ang maintenance sa awto. Mag-awto na lang ko kon kusog kaayo ang uwan. Gikan ni Chona sa Lapulapu City;

Ang krisis dugay na gyod nako nabatyagan kay kani-adto moingon ko nga way kuarta, akong pitaka naa pa nay tinipigan nga bag-o ug way pilo gikan sa P20 ngadto sa P1,000, pero kon moingon nga way kuwarta, aw sus as in wala gyod,. Gikan ni Rollie sa Talisay City;

Krisis na gyod kay sa pag-abli namo sa tindahan nag-una ang utang kay sa cash. Gikan ni Oslec;

Nakabatyag na mi sa krisis kay daghan nang bakante sa boarding houses diri sa Opon. Gikan ni Mr. Baguio.

Before, I always use the car. Now I ride the jeep (public transportation). I take seven rides going to work. My salary is not enough. Car maintenance is expensive. I only use the car when the rain is very heavy. From Chona of Lapulapu City;

I noticed the crisis long ago because before when I say there's no money, my wallet still have new P20 to P1,000 bills, but now when I say there's no money, there really is nothing. From Rollie of Talisay City;

It's really crisis because when we opened the store the debts came first before the cash. From Oslec;

We already experienced the crisis because there are many vacancies in the boarding houses here in Opon. From Mr. Baguio

Struggling migrants

In a previous post, I mentioned about Brazilian migrants who are living in the streets of Japan. A video clip from a Fuji TV news report narrates the story of Sidival Furuzawa Pereira, a homeless man in Hamamatsu, Japan.

Below is a summary of the video:

Mr. Pereira spends his days checking trash heaps for aluminum cans and junk he can bring to recycling centers and exchange for money. At the beginning of the clip, he takes a full bicycle load of old appliances and exchanges them for 350 yen (about $3). Instead of using the money on himself, he saves it so he can send it to his wife and children in Brazil. As a result, Pereira eats food he finds in the garbage.

The clip ends with Pereira making a phone call to his family on January 1st. They ask him to come home, but he tells them he is determined to stay in Japan and earn money to help them.

Mako explains why he left Paraguay for Spain

En mi caso particular me vine a España porque estaba totalmente arruinado económicamente; de tener una bodega, un bar y una despensa, en pocos años terminamos en ruina, cada vez se vendia menos, la venta callejera que vendia mas barato sin pagar impuestos, el pago de alquiler, personal y las ventas cayeron a pique, y los servicios
públicos cada vez mas caros…

Claro que los extraño, extraño mi casa, mis parientes, mis perros, y extraño mucho el tomar tereré sin la menor prisa bajo el mango, como si el tiempo no existiera, extraño a mis parientes en las navidades, cumpleaños, bodas o el simple hecho de reunirnos a comer tallarin con pollo un domingo.

In my particular case, I came to Spain because I was ruined economically; I had a wine shop, bar and a neighborhood store, and in no time I was in ruins, I sold less and less, the street vendors sold items cheaper without paying taxes, rent, personnel, and my sales went down and the public services were more and more expensive….

Of course I miss (my family), I miss my house, my relatives, my dogs, and I miss drinking tereré (herbal water) under the mango tree and having no hurry, as if time did not exist, I miss my relatives during Christmastime, birthdays, weddings or the simple act of getting together to eat chicken with noodles on a Sunday

Unemployment

Job losses continue to worsen throughout the world. The rising unemployment rate is the most familiar sign of the global recession. Even profitable companies are shedding jobs. Barbados Underground sees this trend in Barbados

There is something very strange which has started to unfold in Barbados and around the Caribbean in recent weeks. Many of our leading and PROFITABLE companies have been sending home workers.

It borders on criminal that PROFITABLE companies would cut loyal employees who would have contributed to the success of these companies.

Why would profitable companies in Barbados and in the Caribbean rush in indecent haste to dismiss employees? Over the years when the times were good would it not have been caring for those PROFITABLE companies to set aside a reserve to provide for employees in less profitable times like now?

Bloggers around the world are also providing suggestions on how to overcome unemployment. Charoenchai Chaipiboolwong, an economist blogger from Thailand believes that nurturing creativity is important for individuals seeking jobs

The best solution is not the pricing war since it will harm everyone in the market but to find the “value added” in our products. If you are just employee, then find the “value added” in your skill instead.

The only way to “add the value” is via creativity. Creativity brings differentiation from competitors

In South Korea a letter written by a father to his son who is encountering difficulty finding a job today has inspired other netizens. This letter has been linked and cited by many bloggers in the country. An excerpt of the letter:

“…원망하고 질책을 하기엔 너무 늦어 버렸다…
성공한 사람일수록 진실 되어야 후환이 없는 법이다
부디 명심 하거라—평생을 살아온 경험에서 얻은 이야기니—
경제 어려운것 열심히 노력 하면 반드시 좋아질 날이 있다
하지만 그것은 여러 사람들의 노력이듯 자신들의 몫이기도 하니까…”

“….It is too late to resent and reproach…. Successful people should be honest, otherwise they will face troubles later. Please bear it in mind….It is from my life experiences… You can overcome a difficult economic situation if you work hard. A good day will definitely come.

As it is from efforts from many people, it is also from your own effort….”

A labor activist in Taiwan criticizes commentaries which blame unemployed individuals while ignoring the shortcomings of the social system:

台灣的失業工人之所以會獨自走向貧窮、燒炭的命運，很大部分正是因為我們長期把失業當成個別勞工的錯誤與罪過，卻錯失集體面對、思考制度結構嚴重缺損的問題。如何透過這次因權貴階級把玩資本遊戲，而讓無辜勞工承擔痛苦的大失業潮，讓大眾至少能在「失業不只是我的錯」這個共識下，思考並推動妥善處理失業創傷的制度療法，才是一個正確的理絡，絕對不該再走回高唱勞工自我調適、增值的老路上。

The reason why Taiwanese unemployed workers have to face poverty alone and commit suicide by burning coals is, for the most part, that we always treat unemployment as a fault and error of individual labour, while we fail to collectively face and reflect upon the serious shortcomings of social system and structure. We should make it clear that it is the power elites' capital game that leads to massive unemployment and people's suffering, hence, to reach a public consensus that “I lost my job and it is not just my fault”. Such consensus is the base for further reflection and advocacy for a systematic cure that can deal with the pain of unemployment. We should not go back to the old way that asks workers to adjust themselves and increase their own value.

Dissent

In China workers who lost their jobs in state-controlled factories are organizing protest actions. In Baoding, Hebei, about 6000 workers are on strike, as their factory was sold and they would be soon laid off. They marched to Beijing to present a mass petition. This action worried others because it might heighten political instability. Blogger 阿丁 (A-Ding) commented on this attitude

有人担心工人们冲动而打砸抢，就别鸡巴瞎操心了——罢工不过是工人们为了自身权益采取的诉求方式，工人们比你们理智。几乎每一次暴力事件，都是统治者高高在上，不肯疏浚民怨、强奸公正和暴力压制的结果

Someone is worrying that the workers might sabotage and rob; it is not necessary at all- strike is just a method for the workers to protect their rights and interest. They are far more rational than you might think. Almost every violent incident is but the result of what the rulers have done, that they dominate with privilege, ignore public grief and suppress with violence.

Conclusion

This completes our initial series on the global economic crisis. The first post deals with the crisis in general and the discontent it is creating around the world. The second post reviews some of the bailout and stimulus plans of select countries. The third post identifies some survival tips and business opportunities related to the recession. The fourth post highlights the impact of global job losses and the situation of returning migrant workers. Countries which claim to be unaffected by the financial crisis are the focus of the fifth post.

Readers may notice that the articles in this series rarely mention recession stories in the U.S. While recognizing the serious economic challenges faced by the U.S., this series invites the public to study how the recession is shaping and reshaping societies in the world. We want our readers to appreciate how the recession in the U.S. is creating old and new problems around the globe. Many bloggers are providing alternative and insightful views on the crisis. Part of solving the problem is to encourage a global conversation on the economic crisis. This series is a contribution to jumpstart this global conversation.

Thumbnail image used from the Flickr account of *LJ*. The Russian quote was translated by Adil Nurmakov. The Bisaya quote was translated by Karlo Mongaya. The Spanish quote was translated by Eduardo Avila. The Thai quote was translated by Markpeak. The Korean quote was translated by Hyejin Kim. The quote from Taiwan was translated by Portnoy. The quote from China was translated by Bob Chen

Thailand: Fake Red Shirt application

Mong Palatino — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 21:25:24 +0000

Thai 101 translates a fake Red Shirt membership application which was probably made by critics of the red-shirted protesters. The Red Shirts are demanding the resignation of Thailand's Prime Minister.

Bangkok protests: Black Songkran

Mong Palatino — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 21:14:28 +0000

Songkran, the Thai New Year celebrated from April 13 – 15, is supposed to be a joyous event in Thailand. But this year’s Songkran has been described as the “Black Songkran” in reference to the chaotic and violent confrontation between soldiers and anti-government protesters. Two protesters were killed and more than one hundred were injured during the clash in the streets of Bangkok.

Richard Barrow observes:

This has indeed been a black day for the people of Thailand. Literally, as the black smoke from burning tyres made it look like that the city was on fire. Today should have been a day of joy as people celebrated the start of the traditional Thai new year.

Who started the violence? There are videos, pictures, and anecdotes showing that both sides started the mayhem. For complete listing of pictures and videos of the Red Shirt protesters, check out The Red Shirt Report. Journalist Nirmal Ghosh provides a timeline of the turmoil in Bangkok over the past two days.

The Red Shirts want Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to resign because they believe he acquired power through illegal means. Many of them are supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The Red Shirts were accused of using urban-style terrorism tactics to control the streets of Bangkok. They burned buses and threw Molotov cocktails against soldiers. On the other hand, soldiers were criticized for open firing against protesters who were unarmed.

Watch these three videos from YouTube showing how protesters took control of tanks which were deployed when a State of Emergency was declared by the government

Meanwhile, the video below is cited by the critics of the Red Shirts as proof that the latter were the first to instigate violence

Exiled scholar Ji Giles Ungpakorn emphasizes that “no government anywhere in the world has the right to use troops to gun down protestors in the streets.” He also adds that the crisis in Thailand is a reflection of the “growing class war” in Thai society:

…for the fourth time in forty years, troops have opened fire on pro-democracy demonstrators in bangkok. each time the aim has been the same: to protect the interests of the conservative elites who have run thailand for the past 70 years.

what we have been seeing in thailand since late 2005, is a growing class war between the poor and the old elites

As expected, the Yellow Shirts interprets the actions of their rivals, the Red Shirts, as part of a sinister plot:

After torpedoing the Asean Summit in Pattaya, the red-shirt anti-government protesters stage urban-style terrorism around key points in Bangkok so that Abhisit is forced to declare a state of emergency. Then the military has to be brought in to quash the red-shirt protesters. When the military suppresses the protests, there will be bloodshed and the situation will spill out of control, creating a state of anarchy.

The group was referring to the Asian Summit which was cancelled after the Red Shirts were able to forcibly enter the summit venue.

Nganadeeleg criticizes both sides: the government and the Red Shirts:

Neither side seems to be able to admit any wrong doing by participants on their own side, and always blame the other side.

To date I have seen no real sign of reasonableness or compromise from either side, both still going for winner take all after more than 3 years of conflict.

It's very frustrating to this observer (who can sympathize with the genuine grievances of both sides).

Despite the deadly clash between the rallyists and soldiers, many parts of Bangkok remained peaceful. Bangkok Pastor observes:

I'm not saying there aren't a lot of “red shirts” and I'm not saying they aren't causing huge disruptions and won't ultimately cause a change of government. But I am saying that there aren't any “red shirts”, soldiers or tanks in my neighborhood. If I wasn't watching the news - I wouldn't know what was going on.

Twitter is a good and reliable source of information about the ongoing protests in Thailand. Via Twitter, the reactions of Bangkok residents on the political crisis.

DanDepew: Red Shirt camps being guarded by “security” w/lead pipes. Burnt buses still blocking intersections. New group “Black Shirts” siding w/troops
pongsathorn: Very sad, Red Shirts shot one local people death a hour ago.
tuangd: damn the protesters ‘red shirts' you are destroying our country
iamopen: A car is burning in Victory Monument, I see the smoke from my window. The red shirts are moving towards Phya Thai
JediPimmy: Red shirts are Barbarous and disgusting. Such a humiliation of Thailand !!

Thumbnail image used from the Flickr account of candice and jarrett

Thailand: Ex-PM Thaksin Reveals Conspirators Behind 2006 Coup

Markpeak — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 16:23:06 +0000

Former Prime Minister in-exile Thaksin Shinawatra called his supporters two days ago in Chiang Mai via video conference and revealed the people who are behind the plot that took him down in the 2006 coup d'etat.

From The Nation:

Without mentioning any name, it is understood he quoted Jittanart Limthongkul of ASTV-Manager Group as saying his father and media tycoon Sondhi Limthongkul had lunch with a privy councilor, hence bringing about the opposition movement.

Sondhi Limthongkul is one of PAD leaders, who seized Bangkok Suvarnabhumi airport last November against Thaksin's party government.

The key point is the “privy councilor” who really is General Surayud Chulanont, the former Army Commander and Supreme Commander. He retired before the 2006 coup but after his successor committed the coup, Surayud became the next Prime Minister after Thaksin, in the junta-backed government.

Thaksin got this information from General Panlop Pinmanee, who was also in the plot but later changed to Thaksin's side:

Thaksin went on to quote retired General Panlop Pinmanee about the Panlop-Surayud meeting in 2006 at a Sukhumvit home. He said Panlop recently told him about a secret plot to assassinate him.

He also said Surayud and two other privy councillors had sought and received an audience with “901″ to pledge to oust him from power.

“901″ is the call sign of the King. Thaksin has been accused of being “pro-republic” and “President-wannabe” for age.

From The Nation, Thaksin also accused Administrative Court president Akarathorn Chularat, Supreme Court president Chanchai Likhitjitt, Constitution Court judge Charan Pakdithanakul and PAD scholar Pramote Nakornthap of trying to remove his government by leaking rumours that he was behind the making of the pocket book “The King Never Smiles” (Paul Handley, Yale University Press) and that he was not loyal to the monarchy.

As expected, Surayud refuses Thaksin's claim, also Charan. Sondhi denied that he had talked to Surayud before.

Anyway, one poster from Goo-OnLine forum exposed a record video of Sondhi talking about his phone call between himself and Surayud. This talk happened in Virginia, USA.

Other forum poster from ThaiFreeNews, pro-Thaksin web site, posted more news of Thaksin's talking. After the “phone-in” in Chiang Mai, Thaksin called the editor of Matichon, another major newspaper, confirming his claim is true.

“คำพูดของผมทุกคำเป็นความจริง ที่ผ่านมาประเทศไทยไม่เคยได้เรียนรู้บทเรียน พิษภัยของการปฏิวัติ และไม่มีใครกล้าที่จะออกมาพูดความจริง ผมจึงต้องพูดเพราะคนเหล่านี้อยู่เบื้องหลังทั้งหมด การที่ต้องออกมาพูดความจริง เพื่อเรียกร้องความเป็นธรรม”

This is translation of Thaksin's word to Matichon:

All of my words are true. Thailand has never learned the impact of coup d'etat and no one dare enough to talk about it. So I must be that man because all these people are behind the plot against me. I must ask for justice.

The reactions from anti-Thaksin community are negative as usual (we can't find resolution for both sides soon). One blogger from OKNation posted a blog titled “Three time a day call, Thaksin's pointless idea“

Thumbnail image used is from the Flickr page of publik15

Cambodia: Sex workers, 100% condom use and human rights

Juliana Rincón Parra — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 19:27:00 +0000

Cambodian sex workers have taken to the internet to make their plight and fight for human rights better known. In Cambodia, a 100% condom use law which states that sexual exchanges with clients have to take place with condoms on sounds like a good idea, but it has been turned against those it is supposed to protect, by being used as a means to imprison sex workers, using the fact that they carry condoms with them as evidence for them doing sex work.

Sex workers arrested are sent to “rehabilitation” centers that are basically prisons, where women are held in communal cells with no bathrooms or running water, hardly receive food or water, some are beaten and raped, and are denied Anti-retroviral drug treatment for HIV positive women.

The Asia Pacific Network of Sex Workers has a series of studies of the perceived results and effects of the 100% Condom Use Program according to sex workers in different countries, such as Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar. You can also see the video the have uploaded on their Blip.tv channel Sex Workers Present, where a comprehensive video with explanations of the implications of the 100% condom use program, interviews with women who have been arrested or sent to “rehabilitation” facilities where no type of education or training is received, and how these programs that connect condom use exclusively with sex workers are not going to be able to impact HIV and STI propagation among the rest of the population. The Asia pacific Network of Sex Workers recently won the 2008 international Award for Action on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights at the International AIDS conference in Mexico City the first week of August. The organization was founded in 1994 and has been working with sex workers on health and human rights along with other organizations and groups such as Empower Thailand, Sweetly Japan, Pink Triangle Malaysia, the Scarlet Alliance Australia and Sonagachi.

The following video is named Caught between the Tiger and the Crocodile:

China: Beijing 2008 Olympics WordPress theme

John Kennedy — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:31:40 +0000

For all you Thai-reading sports fan blogheads out there, do check out the 2008 Olympics WordPress theme. The cruel irony being, of course, that WordPress has been blocked in China for years.