Daily Archives: July 23, 2010

This Week in Thailand: 16-22 July 2010

This is a review of what happened in Thailand during the last week based on topics that I tweeted. You can follow me live for latest news about Thailand @RichardBarrow.

Weekend 16th-18th July 2010

  • US names new Thailand envoy http://j.mp/bWKMFJ
  • Democrats, who are facing dissolution, held merit-making rituals to “shore up the party’s waning luck” /BkkPost
  • Lonely Planet declares it is safe to go to Bangkok “for now” http://j.mp/97Ty1v
  • Thaksin’s supporters performed rituals to improve his luck while others held “counter-rituals” against him /BkkPost
  • Australian red-shirt protester ignores lawyer’s advice and refuses to plead guilty http://bit.ly/9bHJFD
  • NACC cannot decide on SMS case against PM Abhisit & Finance Minister Korn & orders additional investigation /BkkPost
  • Interpol sting nets 5000 World Cup gamblers in China, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand http://j.mp/dsGYAi
  • Phuket: Ministry of Culture found inappropriate use of Buddha image in foreign owned restaurant http://j.mp/bWSvBr
  • More than half of inmates in Thai prisons are drug offenders. In Mexico it’s 40%, Europe 10-20% & USA 10% /BkkPost
  • Thai Fact: The first banknote in Thailand was issued in 1902 / BkkPost
  • A fascinating first hand report of a Thai police interrogation of a drug suspect http://bit.ly/9qeJ3Q
  • Sukhumbhand (the @BangkokGovernor) is ready to mediate talks with Thaksin http://bit.ly/bZPXk3
  • Abac Poll: Over 80% of Thai students are proud of their country but less than 40% are proud of politicians /BkkPost
  • Washington Post: If Abhisit wants reconciliation he must end SOE & release red shirt leaders http://j.mp/a2eTNI
  • Red Shirts re-enact the massacre at Rajprasong… http://twitgoo.com/196lqx
  • Has the “Sorry Thailand” video http://bit.ly/aZtQjm really been banned by the Thai government?

Monday 19th July 2010

  • Youtube video of “illegal” arrest of a red shirt protestor at Ratchaprasong “I came alone” http://youtu.be/3KiJRjXIN4Q
  • Police can arrest people for no reason if a group of 5 or more. Natee said he came alone & was wearing red as its Sunday
  • The @bangkokgovernor will go to New York on 25th July to pick up the Travel & Leisure Best City Award for Bangkok
  • Russian pianist makes brief appearance in court on child sexual abuse charge http://bit.ly/bJhC72
  • PM Abhisit says he cannot see the reason to ban “Sorry, Thailand” from TV (The Nation) http://bit.ly/dw04we
  • Candles for the dead at Ratchaprasong – Reuters photos of red shirt protest tonight http://bit.ly/9P6BI5

Tuesday 20th July 2010

  • Live pic of 200 students taking part in “Wien Tien” at Wat Bang Na Nai. http://yfrog.com/n5783j
  • Short video clip of “wine tien” at Wat Bang Na Nai by Thai students. http://yfrog.us/mt5z1z
  • Parasitic Wasp Swarm Unleashed to Fight Pests in Thailand (National Geographic) http://bit.ly/b653QA
  • They’re more British births in Thailand than in any other country in the region /BkkPost
  • Last year more than 800,000 British tourists visited Thailand & about 50,000 British citizens live here /BkkPost
  • Thai PM instructs DSI to probe case of missing Bt5 mln diamond seized from Red Shirts /MCOT
  • Thai cabinet decides to lift the emergency decree in three provinces – Lampang, Sakon Nakhon and Roi-et /BkkPost
  • This week, 100’s of Thai workers will fly to Finland to work picking blueberries (The Nation) http://bit.ly/akgomb
  • The Ratchaprasong Intersection sign is back today. Photographer suspect it is new http://bit.ly/c46T6c
  • More than 400 Indian couples fly to Thailand for their wedding ceremony http://bit.ly/dtOPjj
  • Six foreign tourists injured in lift plunge at The Color Living Hotel, Samrong. One serious. http://bit.ly/bkqXww

Wednesday 21st July 2010

  • The Board of Censors yesterday defended its decision to ban the “Sorry, Thailand” commercial http://bit.ly/dc0KXT
  • The State of Emergency is still being enforced in Thailand in 16 provinces including Bangkok.
  • Interviewing Successful Thai Language Learner @AndrewBiggs by @WomenLearnThai http://bit.ly/9tJGV3
  • Sale of alcoholic drinks is prohibited in Constituency 6 in Bangkok from 6pm on Saturday to midnight on Sunday.
  • Lizards prime suspects in legless corpse case in Ayutthaya http://bit.ly/dnCsCQ
  • Miss Thailand World contestants in Phuket for ‘training’ http://bit.ly/aOv49d
  • Confusion as Immigration orders cancellation of visa & black listing of Russian Composer BEFORE trial http://bit.ly/clkH2H
  • Campaign Shows Lingering Divisions in Thailand (New York Times) http://nyti.ms/9RWQzi
  • New York Times: Mr. Abhisit [is] arresting his opponents or silencing them with vigorous and widespread censorship.
  • Airport Link to start commercial operation August 23rd 2010 (MCOT) http://bit.ly/bKiItt
  • Top 20 Thailand News Photos for 2010 http://bit.ly/clfG4T

Thursday 22nd July 2010

  • The Amazing Thailand Grand Sale starts today at QSCC for 4 days http://www.AmazingGrandSale.com
  • Thai Divisions Shift to Voting Booth (Wall Street Journal) http://bit.ly/acoUkH
  • Apichatpong Weerasethakul tells CNN about his big win and facing censors (CNN Video) http://bit.ly/cFnO4O
  • “Hangover 2” to take place in Thailand “…expect to see the dark side of the Thai sex tourism.” http://bit.ly/cBnwNy
  • I am on my way to the City Hall in Samut Prakan for the Candle Procession through town by local schools at 9.30 a.m.
  • The Candle Festival Parade getting ready to leave Samut Prakan City Hall. http://yfrog.com/jlmq9nj
  • Thai girl in traditional costume for Candle Parade in Samut Prakan. http://yfrog.com/3uyxrrj
  • Photo Album for the Candle Parade by local schools in Samut Prakan this morning http://bit.ly/cMtCUx
  • A reporter sues PM & CRES for attempted murder, saying he was shot at by a soldier in crackdown on red shirts /BkkPost
  • Pet Expo Thailand 2010 at Queen Sirikit Convention Center 22-25 July, 2010
  • Video of “BImm Bamm” from Mahler No. 3 (Thai premiere) conducted by @somtow http://youtu.be/M04y_deS5qg
  • PAD Leader Sondhi withdraws all defamation cases against the red shirt leaders after 7 hrs of talks /TANN

You can follow me on Twitter @RichardBarrow for all the latest news about Thailand. I post about Thailand travel, food, festivals, major events and of course breaking news. Visit my Twitter Archives for everything that I have posted on Twitter over the past five months.

(Pictures by Reuters)