From Bloomberg: Thailand’s worst floods in more than half a century are threatening to hit the capital, Bangkok, as early as next week after reaching a “crisis level,” Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said. At least 253 people have been killed as a result of the seasonal monsoon rains that have hit the country since July 25, the Department of Disaster …
Oct 4, 2011
Yingluck gives up on social media
Thailand PM Yingluck Shinawatra's Twitter account was "hacked" on Sunday. Someone used the account to reel off a number of anti-government Tweets, which Saksith has translated on his blog. Among the most memorable are these two: This country is a business. We serve our own, not the Thai people. We do this for those who support/sponsor us, not those who …
Oct 1, 2011
Thailand and the casino
As readers may be aware, gambling is illegal in Thailand, which isn't to say it doesn't go on, but there has been a lot of talk recently about the possibility of Thailand's first legal casino. From the Bangkok Post: And an old controversy – construction of a legal gambling casino – was revived this week. It was dusted off by …
Aug 20, 2011
US Embassy breaks silence on Joe Gordon
A bit of background, from Huff Post: Joe Gordon allegedly translated parts of an unauthorized biography of King Bhumibol Adulyadej and posted articles online that were deemed to have defamed the royal family. Gordon was formally charged Thursday after being arrested in May and detained for the maximum 84 days that a suspect can be held without charge. The American …
Jul 3, 2011
Thailand will have its first female prime minister
No real surprises with the Thai election today. Yingluck Shinawatra is all set to become Thailand first female PM. As AP reported today, "Yingluck’s Pheu Thai party had a strong lead with 261 of 500 parliament seats, well over the majority needed to form a government. Abhisit’s Democrats had 162 seats." Essentially we're back at square one now with the …