Updated: The Cockroaches Take Over
Giles Ji Ungpakorn, professor of political science at Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, has kindly allowed us to publish his analysis of the current political crisis in Thailand. See below. (Update: Mr. Ungpakorn susequently had to flee the country due to Lese Majeste charges. This post was temporarily removed while I was still living in Thailand after [...]
The Red and Yellow Teams are Done with Nonsense for Now
Yellow team members practice Tai Chi to pass the time at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport
This is a blog. Therefore, I am allowed to say whatever I want and set aside professionalism whenever I feel like it. This is one of those moments.
The airport takeover in Bangkok by the yellow team has come to a close, [...]
Bangkok Protest Scene
Since the September 2006 coup that deposed PM Thaksin Shinawatra, there have been numerous groups rallying on a regular basis. Some don’t agree with the way Thaksin was ousted, and some are his paid loyalists. And then there are those who despise Thaksin, but who would like to see an end to the cycle of [...]
Thaksin Speaks to Anti-Coup Rally via Webcast
© Anne Holmes
An estimated seven to ten thousand people rallied at Sanam Luang last night to watch a prerecroded webcast speech by ousted PM Thaksin Shinawatra. Since June 2, crowds have been gathering nightly at the historical site in Bangkok in growing numbers to protest the disolution of the former PM’s TRT party. Tonight, an [...]
Boring Day
© Anne Holmes
There was no violence and no opposition to be seen on the day the courts announced they would disolve Thai Rak Thai and ban its party leaders from politics for 5 years. I hit all the spots with a few photojournalist friends of mine, and ended up having drinks by the river instead [...]
May 30: Playground or War Zone?
The May 30 Constitutional Court decision is likely to be one of the most important events since the September 2006 coup. Various groups are pledging to stage massive protests in favor of or against the ruling, which will decide whether or not to dissolve former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s party, Thai Rak Thai.the 61 year-old [...]
Photographer Injured in South Thailand Bomb Blast
Veteran conflict photographer Philip Blenkinsop sustained minor injuries when a bomb exploded in South Thailand’s Yala province, early Tuesday morning. 11 others were injured in the blast. Violent incidents in the South, where 2,100 people have died since January 2004, have been near daily occurances for more than a year now. Some suggest that not [...]
YouTube to return to Thailand
After brokering a deal with YouTube, and threatening its parent company, Google, with a law suit, the popular internet media source is coming back to Thailand. The government banned the site in early April after a video poking fun at the King posted. It is illegal to insult the King in Thailand, a crime which [...]
Bombs of Bangkok
by Anne Holmes
Thailand was ushered into 2007 with a rather unsavory surprise this New Years Eve. Just as the sun was going down, three bombs detonated at various key points around the city, killing 2 and injuring several others. I had barely donned my end of the year threads when the phone rang with the [...]
Postcard from the Deep Blue
© Anne Holmes
Would you believe me if I told you I’ve been living on a tiny island inhabited by animist sea gypsies, that is surrounded by some of the most pristine waters in the world, that not only are inhabited by pirates, yes, pirates, but also boast the greatest variety of soft corals, and teem [...]
