Thailand
Curtis Winston
Curtis Winston has been based in Bangkok as a journalist and film critic since 2003.
He is also known as Wise Kwai, author of the popular Thai Film Journal. If you learn one thing from Winston, it should be this – see Tears of the Black Tiger - it was this film that got him interested in the genre. For more hot tips, follow him on Twitter.
Winston isn’t just into film, he’s also an experienced Tuba player and blogs about eco-friendly Kayaking.
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Thaksin Shinawatra
Thailand’s most controversial and - by some measures - most popular Prime Minister in recent Thai history, Thaksin served in office from 2001 to 2006. He was deposed by a military coup and convicted in absentia of abusing power.
Prior to politics, Thaksin was a policeman who made it big selling computer to the force. He went on to found Shin Corporation and Advanced Info Service – the largest mobile phone operator in Thailand, Laos and Cambodia.
In addition to the video interview on this blog , I had Thaksin’s first interview upon being elected Prime Minister in 2001.
As a fugitive from Thai justice living in exile, Thaksin splits his time between Hong Kong, Dubai and other countries that do not have extradition treaties with Thailand. He left Britain when his visa was revoked.
Thaksin obtained a master’s degree in Criminal Justice from Eastern Kentucky University in the United States in 1975, and three years later received a doctorate in Criminal Justice at Sam Houston State University in Texas, with a dissertation on “An Analysis of the Relationship Between the Criminal Justice Educational Process and the Attitude of the Student Toward the Rule of Law.”
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Crisis? ASEAN Unveils New Anthem
Faced with the greatest economic meltdown since the great depression, the ASEAN meeting in Thailand this week took the only logical action for Asian ministers: Sing a song.
With a top flight choir from the Royal Thai Navy and lyrics that only a committee of government officials could love, let history take note that the ASEAN anthem was unveiled on February 27, 2009.
Lyrics below or listen to the full musical version:
Raise our flag high, sky high
Embrace the pride in our heart
ASEAN we are bonded as one
Look’in out to the world.
For peace, our goal from the very start
And prosperity to last.
We dare to dream we care to share.
Together for ASEAN
we dare to dream
we care to share for it’s the way of ASEAN.
The song was chosen from competition by a committee of judges from each ASEAN country, as well as Australia, China and Japan. The winners, lyricist Payom Valaiphatchra and composers Kittikhun Sodprasert and Sampow Triudom, were all Thai and beat out 99 other entries to win $20,000.
Given the musical talent in the Philippines, surprising that a Filipino entry did not win.
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Funny Thaksin headline
This headline, from an article in The Nation in Thailand, was recently brought to my attention.
The article, which ran on page 1, refers to my blog posting with Thaksin last month. Irony was running strong in the newsroom with the editor who wrote the headline.
The story got numerous pick-ups and the video was broadcast on TV around the world, including here in Hong Kong. My favorite, however, was having my name printed once again in the International Herald Tribune, this time not as a journalist, but as a “blogger”.
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Best 10 Thai films of 2008
Thai cinema has developed incredibly since I lived there in the 1990s. Production values have improved and story lines are getting better - though many films still focus on Ghost stories.
Curtis Winston, aka wisekwai, has obsessively followed and blogged on Thai film for years now. For the first time, Curtis has doubled the size of his end of year list to includes 10 top films, not just 5.
In the videos below Curtis says why we should all watch Thai films and lists out his top 10 films for 2008, which he wrote about for his Thai Film Journal.
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La Litterature francaise d’Indochine et des colonies
Francois Dore, qui tient la Librarie du Siam et des Colonies a Bangkok, mene une visite de sa collection. Sa specialite c’est la litterature francaise d’Indochine. Toutes les semaines il ecrit un portrait d’un auteur francais d’Indochine.
Adresse: Librairie du Siam et des Colonies, 645/42-43 Petchaburi Rd. Au fond d’une cour, face à Pantip Plaza. BTS Ratchathewi.
Ici une autre posting avec Francois sur l’Opium dans la litterature d’Indochine.
La Litterature d’Indochine
Uploaded by thomascrampton
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Francois Dore: Opium in French Indo-China
Francois Dore, an impassioned collector of books about French Indochine, talks about the role of opium in the literature and lifestyle. Francois claims to have the largest collection of French literature from Indochine.
He gave a guided tour of his remarkable bookshop (in French) posted here.
Address: Librairie du Siam et des Colonies, 645/42-43 Petchaburi Rd. Back of courtyard across from Pantip Plaza and directly opposite the Indonesian Embassy. BTS Ratchathewi.
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What is Asia Times Online?
Shawn Crispin, Southeast Asia editor of Asia Times Online, explains his job at the site claiming to be the largest English-language news website on Asia.
Shawn answers questions as to how the site distinguishes itself from the mainstream media and whether the site takes a political stance.
Disclosure: Many years ago (1995-97) I worked at Asia Times newspaper, a printed predecessor to Asia Times Online owned by the same Thai businessman, Sondhi Limthongkul.
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Shawn Crispin: Thaksin is finished
Following my interviews with former Thai prime minister in exile Thaksin Shinawatra (who warned that a coup in Thailand would be bloody), the ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan (who said that Thailand’s constitution may need amending), I spoke yesterday with Shawn Crispin, Southeast Asia editor for Asia Times Online. In addition to covering Thailand for a decade, Shawn at one time worked as speechwriter to the current prime minister’s father.
Shawn’s take is that Thaksin is finished. There is not enough financial or military support for Thaksin or his party to be a credible force in Thailand.
Another theory floating around Bangkok - not by Shawn - is that if Thaksin really wanted to come back to consolidate power, he should serve time in jail. Current sentence is for 2 years. At that point he would come out of prison in a stronger position than ever.
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Surin Exclusive: Thai constitution may need amending
NOTE TO READERS: I don’t normally follow Thai politics so closely, but follow my exclusive interview with Thaksin, the former leader in exile, readership of Thai-related items has shot up.
HONG KONG, Dec 3 - Surin Pitsuwan, secretary general of ASEAN and Thai foreign minister, today said it could take “weeks” before the political situation in Bangkok to return to normal and that the Thai constitution may need amending.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Clinton Global Initiative in Hong Kong, Surin also expressed full confidence in the resilience of Thailand while warning of tough economic times ahead for all of Southeast Asia.
Asked whether politics could continue under the current constitution, Surin said that amendments may be needed.
“The Constitution is written to be amended,” Surin said. “That is the furthest we could go - to amend - but you know the situation is quite fluid.”
On whether Thai politics will remain within the Thai constitution, Surin said he hoped so, but that Thailand is deeply divided.
Internationally, he added, the Thai situation has raised worries.
“There is a lot of concern,” Surin said. “I have tried to comfort them that we will pull through and with their support, their sympathy and their understanding”
The road ahead for Thai politics, he added, will not be easy.
“The country has been deeply divided and what we are trying to do now is trying to heal that rift,” Surin said. “This is an extremely difficult process for us.”
As for the economic situation for Southeast Asia, Surin said that the structures and policies put in place following the Asian financial crisis are working well.
More details in full transcript (below) or the video.
Full transcript below the fold
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Ex US Ambassador Critiques Thai Court Action
DEC 4 UPDATE: Just posted interview about Thai situation with ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan.
NOTE TO READERS: I don’t normally follow Thai politics so closely, but follow my exclusive interview with Thaksin, the former leader in exile, readership of Thai-related items has shot up.
William Itoh, US Ambassador to Thailand under Clinton, warns of negative impact from the Thai court action. Itoh, now a consultant for McLarty & Associates, wrote this in an email to Chris Nelson of Samuels International Associates.
Do you agree with Itoh’s analysis? Whether you agree with Itoh or not, interesting to see how the events in Thailand are viewed from overseas.
Chris,
The Constitutional Court’s decision today to ban the PPP from politics and force the resignation of PM Somchai Wongsawat may be seen as a victory for the elites and anti-Thaksin forces but at what cost?
After the court decision the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) declared an end to the occupation of both Bangkok airports, following their withdrawal from Government House last week. PAD hailed the court’s decision which ended the short tenure of Somchai (Thaksin’s brother in law) as prime minister, but warned that if the “anti-democratic” forces continue in power they will return to the streets.
The mis-named PAD, which has rejected the concept of one man, one vote as the basis of parliamentary government, thus continues to threaten mass demonstrations to advance their political aims.
Meanwhile, the members of the PPP not banned from politics (i.e. all but the 59 members of the party’s executive committee) will regroup under the banner of the Puea Thai party and will try to create a new government. Parliament may reconvene next week to try to reconstitute itself and elect a new prime minister.
If these attempts fail, new elections will follow but not for at least 60 days (MPs must be members of their political party for at least 60 days before taking their seats).
In today’s Constitutional Court decision, the elites have again succeeded in bringing about change, this time using the courts to remove a prime minister associated with Thaksin (PM Samak, Somchai’s predecessor, was forced to resign over corruption charges).
In the political drama of the past few weeks the military have remained on the sidelines, hoping to avoid further damage to the army’s reputation following the 2006 coup. The police have been either unwilling or incapable of removing the protesters, underscoring the perception that PAD could do what it wanted where it wanted, and highlighting the weaknesses of the government.
The drama will continue as parliament seeks to reconstitute itself. All will look to the King’s birthday speech on Friday for inspiration if not guidance and direction.
In the meantime Thailand’s reputation has suffered immeasurably. The occupation of the airports which stranded over 300,000 travelers has generated incredible media coverage. Thailand’s reputation as a stable and economically prosperous country which welcomes tourists, businessmen and students has been severely damaged.
I recall the haze from the forest fires in Indonesia in 1998 which reached Phuket. A single photo in the New York Times resulted in the cancellations of thousands of tourist bookings. I can only imagine what the impact of the recent media coverage will have on the Thai economy.
All the best, Will
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Any comments on Thaksin and Thai Situation?
DEC 4 UPDATE: Just posted interview about Thai situation with ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan.
DEC 3 UPDATE: I just posted a copy of an email in which William Itoh, former US Ambassador to Thailand, critiques the Thai court forcing PM Somchai’s resignation.
The original posting with video has been overwhelmed with comments (more than 300 at last count), so I have closed comments on there and opened this new string.
Many of the comments have been anonymous and critical of Thaksin, which is fine. Unfortunately many have just been crude rants, which is too bad.
There have also been many comments critical of me, which is fine too - but many of the accusations were untrue.
Among the false allegations, I have been accused both of being paid and of paying Thaksin for the interview. Neither is true.
I have also been criticized for not asking questions on a wide range of issues (human rights questions; why Thaksin won’t return and face rule of law himself; his policy in southern Thailand; how he made his money, etc). I agree with this criticism. I would have liked to ask many other questions, but as you can see from the video, I had very little time to conduct the interview. I do not claim this 4-minute video gives the complete story. It is a single snapshot from one angle that hopefully gives some insight into the events in Thailand.
Interestingly, the interview has proved a textbook case showing the new power available to bloggers. Less than two days since I recorded on my mobile phone, the video posted on YouTube has been viewed more than 30,000 times.
The interview was also, picked by:
English-language Thai media: The Nation newspaper
Thai-language Thai media: Matichon newspaper, Manager newspaper, Kom Chadluek, MThai, CBN Press
International media: AFP, Associated Press, International Herald Tribune, Singapore Press Holdings, Manila Times, Le Nouvel Observateur, The Scotsman, The Daily Telegraph and quite a few others.
Feel free to continue the discussion below and please do your best to refrain obscenities.
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Thomas Crampton was a correspondent for the International Herald Tribune and The New York Times for more than a decade, reporting from five continents, writing a column on Asia and covering Asian politics, economics and culture. Currently based in Hong Kong, he writes here about China, the Internet and New Media seen from Asia, while also advising companies on digital communication strategies. For more information click here...
