Stories about Thailand from March, 2009
Thailand: New look and agenda for government-run TV channel
Everytime the government changes in Thailand, the new government comes and changes the programs and format of a public TV station. Now that a different party is ruling the country, is it time to ‘change' the shows of the TV station again?
Global Recession Survey: Survival Tips and Business Opportunities
Everybody is trying hard to cope with the global economic crisis. Bloggers are offering survival tips to their readers. Businesses around the world are adjusting. Some are even profiting from the crisis. In this post, I will feature individuals and companies exerting their very best to overcome the recession.
Thailand: Ex-PM Thaksin Reveals Conspirators Behind 2006 Coup
Thailand's former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra addressed his supporters via video conference and revealed the people who are behind the plot that took him down in the 2006 coup d'etat.
Spiderman in Thailand
An autistic kid climbed outside the window on the fourth floor of a school building. How was he saved? A Bangkok fireman pretended to be Spiderman to convince the kid to move to safety inside the building. Check a video report of the story.
Thailand: Summary from the academic forum on Lese Majeste
Lese Majeste is still a hot issue in Thailand. Foreigners, academics and activists have been charged with Lese Majeste in recent months. A two-day academic forum was held at Thammasart University in Bangkok where scholars discussed the controversial law.
Thailand: PM meets exiled scholar and critic at Oxford
Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva met exiled Thai scholar and prominent critic Giles/Ji Ungpakorn at Oxford University. Giles fled Thailand early this year after he was accused of insulting the monarchy. The two gentlemen exchanged words on various issues affecting Thailand.
“Obama Thailand”
Suphoj Bunseupwong is known as “Obama Thailand” in his village because of his physical similarity to US President Barack Obama.
Bangkok: Elephant feeding
A YouTube video features an elephant attraction in a crowded tourist street in Bangkok.
Southeast Asia: Who is my neighbor?
Pravit Rojanaphruk writes about the lack of knowledge of Southeast Asians about their neighbors in the region.
Thailand: Web director arrested for “allowing offensive comments”
A web editor in Thailand was arrested by police yesterday for allowing comments which authorities deemed as offensive to the monarchy. The editor is now out on bail. The arrest was made on the same day the Prime Minister assured media that the government will increase press freedom in Thailand.
Myanmar envoy: Rohingyas “are as ugly as ogres”
beyond skin mentions some of the hilarious and racist statements issued by the Thai and Myanmar governments about the status of the Rohingya refugees. For instance, a Myanmar envoy described the Rohingyas as “ugly as ogres.”
Thailand: “Thai-style democracy”
Khi Kwai analyzes the two major and opposing political forces in Thailand and proposes several political reforms to establish a “Thai-style democracy.”
Thailand: “Red Siam” Manifesto
Thai academic Giles Ji Ungpakor is the author of the ‘Red Siam’ Manifesto which has energized debates about Thai monarchy and politics in recent weeks. Giles recently fled Thailand to avoid persecution for "committing" lese majeste.