Filed under: Death Penalty, News and politics, army, bangkok, big brother, black sites, coup, expat, free press, freedom, martial law, media, protests, thailand
Thai leaders to relax martial law
Thailand’s military chiefs have recommended that martial law imposed after the 19 September coup be lifted in parts of the country.
The decision would affect about 40 of Thailand’s 76 provinces, coup leader and army commander General Sonthi Boonyaratglin said.
Martial law has been in place since the bloodless coup, which ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
The decision will now be submitted to the cabinet for approval.
“Everybody wants to see peace and order in our country and the lifting of martial law will have a positive political and psychological impact,” Gen Sonthi said.
But he said the measures will remain in place in the troubled southern provinces, and in areas of the north and northeast, where support for Mr Thaksin is strongest.
Gen Sonthi said Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont could decided what to do about Bangkok.
“If we lift martial law and something happens, the prime minister will be held primarily responsible,” the French news agency AFP quoted him as saying.
Few protests
The new government has struggled to gain international recognition, not least because of its refusal to end the martial law, says the BBC’s Jonathan Head in Bangkok.
But in practice few Thais have felt the restrictions, which have been applied sparingly.
Soldiers are still posted outside television stations in Bangkok, around 300 radio stations in rural areas have been forced to stop broadcasting, and political parties have been banned from holding large-scale meetings.
There have been relatively few protests against martial law – in fact the more widely-heard complaint against the new government is over its failure to come up with a convincing case against the former prime minister for corruption or abuses of power.
Still, the fact that martial law will remain in place in pro-Thaksin areas suggests the military is still nervous about a possible come-back by the former prime minister, who has been touring a number of nearby countries recently in a blaze of media publicity, our correspondent adds.
It’s about time! The bad news is that Bangkok is not included.
That means it’s still illegal to gather in groups of 5 or more for a political purpose, hold rallies or broadcast news independently. However, it is legal to detain people without a warrant and without having to press charges. Hmmm.
The atmosphere is so friendly and the people so warm-hearted it’s easy to forget that the Thai government has been capable of some nasty things. Thaksin’s war against drug dealers (how many thousands dead at the hands of trigger happy police?), the southern insurgency and response (dozens suffocating in a truck for the crime of attending a rally while Muslim), historic brutal military suppression, and of course, at least one secret CIA prison — possibly for extracting information via torture.
Of course, no government is perfect. They all have blood on their hands and policies that shame their citizens, except perhaps Switzerland. I love the jai dee of the Thai people so much, and for this reason hope that martial law is entirely lifted and some form of representative democracy is restored as soon as possible.
Since I mentioned jai dee, a translation of which you can find further down somewhere, I’d like to add I noticed a picture on the Thai newswire of a demostration held in Bangkok not long ago. The demostration was against the death penalty (a brutal and frequently used punishment here) and there were six or seven young people dressed in black holding signs that called for an end to the practice. I was so impressed to see it… not only because these people were defying martial law and protesting a political policy… they were also opening eyes about an issue that gets very little play in Asia. The death penalty is not often discussed or thought about, so it’s great to see people questioning its value and usefulness. I’ll track down the photo tomorrow and post it here.
Good work protest kids, keep it up!!
Filed under: Brangelina, US, celebs, expat, ho chi minh city (saigon), vietnam
A message to ‘Brangelina’:
Whilst in Vietnam, please refrain from riding your fancy-boy Nouvo scooter without a helmet. Sure, no one else is, but that doesn’t mean you have to be wreckless and stupid. Not to mention, wise or not, you are role models. Do to the Viets a favour and slap on a rice-cooker.
Sincerely,
Moi
Hollywood movie stars Brad Pitt (C) and his partner Angelina Jolie ride on a motorcycle on a busy street in downtown Ho Chi Minh city, 23 November 2006. The two are on a discrete stay in the Vietnamese Southern economic hub after a surprise visit to Cambodia where Angelina Jolie pledged to set up a new conservation project. Jolie and Pitt flew to Southeast Asian countries for the filming of “A Mighty Heart” in Mumbai, India. AFP PHOTO
OTTAWA – Anyone watching question period in the House of Commons today would be forgiven for thinking they’d tuned into fashion television.Prime Minister Stephen Harper and interim Liberal leader Bill Graham traded barbs over the recent Asia Pacific Summit and the best place to wear a silk gown.
It started by Graham kidding the prime minister about the blue gown he wore for a photo op in Vietnam, telling Harper he “looked spectacular.”
The prime minister shot back that wearing local garb is a tradition at the APEC summit and that unlike Graham, he was wears his “silk on the outside.”
Not to be outdone, Graham said he’s certain he has just as many embarassing pictures of himself as the ones of Harper in Hanoi.
The prime minister assured the Opposition leader that he’ll use his influence with the media to keep Graham’s pictures from being published.
Filed under: APEC, Hanoi, News and politics, US, bush, capitalism/socialism, empires, expat, vietnam
What you’ve all been waiting for… United States President George W Bush in a silk ao dai.
Picture pops! Re-jiggered and in proportion.
Howdy to Ao Dai
“The colourful, elongated tunics of Vietnam’s traditional dress, the
Ao Dai, are worn with much grace by Vietnamese women and men – and
extreme unease by the US president George Bush. Donning the costume
over his suit for the obligatory “family photograph” alongside 20
other leaders of Asian and Pacific nations, Mr Bush grimaced
repeatedly and shifted from foot to foot, a portrait of embarrassment
in turquoise blue brocade with yellow trim. It was obvious he couldn’t
wait to get it off and sure enough, moments after the official
photographs were taken, he strode away, ripped it off and folded it
up, according to reports. His fellow leaders showed more restraint and
waited until they were out of sight.”
Filed under: APEC, Canada, Hanoi, News and politics, US, bush, capitalism/socialism, empires, expat, ho chi minh city (saigon), media, politics, vietnam
Hello friends, I know it’s been a while. I haven’t posted anything in ages due to the fact I’ve been levelled by a flu.Our new Swiss intern at the magazine brought me a nice, long-lasting European flu strain that had me in bed for days. The worst part was the headache — like a jackerhammer in my head for hours. Ahhh, and shivering with cold in 35 degree heat. Nice!
No worries though; today I am on the mend and I plan to get him back somehow.
The sicktime has also given me a chance to catch up on my reading — I finished re-reading Rohinton Mistry’s A Fine Balance and started Static by Amy & David Goodman. Static is good, so far, and A Fine Balance is one of my all-time favourites.
While browsing HuffPo today, I noticed this article from the New York Times:
Unlike Clinton, Bush Sees Hanoi in Bit of a Hurry
Hanoi, Sunday, Nov. 19 — President Bush likes speed golf and speed tourism — this is the man who did the treasures of Red Square in less than 20 minutes — but here in the lake-studded capital of a nation desperately eager to connect with America, he set a record.
On Saturday, Mr. Bush emerged from his hotel for only one nonofficial event, a 15-minute visit to the Joint P.O.W./M.I.A. Accounting Command, which searches for the remains of the 1,800 Americans still listed as missing in the Vietnam War.
There were almost no Vietnamese present, just a series of tables displaying photographs of the group’s painstaking work, and helmets, shoes and replicas of bones recovered by the 425 members of the command. He asked a few questions and then sped off in his motorcade. …
Waiting for One More Star
The Hadong Silk shop in this city’s Old Quarter is the first port of call for well-heeled visitors on the hunt for the tailor-made silkwares for which Vietnam has become famous. This weekend, with heads of state from 21 countries in town for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation, a parade of dignitaries streamed in for fittings of made-to-order shirts, dresses and suits.
Laureen Harper, the wife of Canada’s prime minister, Stephen Harper, showed up on Friday, made a few purchases and signed the guestbook for Dang Thi Thu Thuy, the petite, exquisitely dressed owner. Ditto for Australia’s first lady, Janette Howard.
But Mrs. Thuy was searching for more. “We really hope that Mrs. Bush will come into our store,” she says. “We are waiting for her, but she hasn’t come.”
The walls of Hadong Silk are lined with giant framed photos of Hillary Rodham Clinton, who came to the shop during Mr. Clinton’s visit in 2000. There is a photo of Mrs. Clinton towering over three saleswomen, another of her standing next to Mrs. Thuy, both clad in silk suits, and one upstairs of her, surrounded by Secret Service agents, perusing silk blouses.
Vu Thi Thu Huong, a saleswoman, said the shop was so excited after Mrs. Clinton left, having bought 10 raw silk shirts for her husband, that the distinctive square collar on their men’s silk shirts was renamed the “Bill Clinton Collar.”
So, will there be a “George Bush Collar”?
Mrs. Thuy shrugged. “I’m not sure,” she said. She gestured to her camera, and said, “If she comes we will take her picture, too.”
Mrs. Bush visited the Temple of Literature, a monument to the legacy of Confucius, and the Museum of Ethnology, which focuses on Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups. With the spouses of other leaders, she saw water puppets. It is unclear whether she bought any silk.
Just more proof Bush doesn’t care about Vietnamese shopkeepers. At least though, the women folk got a chance to see the water puppet show. No matter what anyone says, that’s some good entertainment!
Scott, have any delegates stopped by Ipa-Nima? If so, who , and what did they buy?? Inquiring minds need to know.
Filed under: News and politics, bangkok, bomb, chatuchak, coup, expat, free press, media, protests, thailand
Thugs demolish Chatuchak stalls
Police forced to intervene as leaseholder tries to evict unwanted tenants
The Nation
More than 100 armed men stormed into the Sunday Market at Chatuchak early yesterday to destroy stalls as the owners pelted them with debris in a futile effort to stop them.
In scenes reminiscent of the destruction of Sukhumvit Square ordered by Chat Thai deputy leader Chuwit Kamolvisit several years ago, thugs tore through the area using strong-arm tactics to keep the stall owners at bay.
The Sunday Market has been leased by Thanasarnsombat Pattana Company from the State Railway of Thailand (SRT). It is located next to the famous Chatuchak Weekend Market.
Vendors who have operated at the market for about 10 years insisted they were protected by a court order until negotiations, scheduled for February 7, were conducted.
When police officers arrived at the market at around 5am, stalls were being torn apart despite protests from the vendors, some of whom hurled bottles and stones.
A vendor was reportedly hospitalised after a demolition worker punched him with a brass knuckle-duster. Some of the men carried axes, clubs and crowbars.
The police urged both sides to negotiate.
A woman, calling herself Apinya, said she was a legal adviser for Thanasarnsombat Pattana.
She said an April court order meant all tenants with contracts with the bankrupt Sunday Holdings Company should have left the area by November 2.
“We displayed copies of the court order and SRT statement that declares our company’s rights here,” Apinya said.
Sunday Holdings used to lease the area from SRT until it went bankrupt in 1998. SRT later took charge of the area and sold the lease to Thanasarnsombat Pattana.
However, trader Thanaporn Sapien said she and other vendors had run their stalls there more than 10 years. After Sunday Holdings went bankrupt, they continued to pay their Bt300 a day rent to SRT until a few months ago when electricity and water were cut off.
“We jointly lodged a complaint with the Civil Court on October 27, which issued an injunction barring any forced removal and the cutting off of the electricity and water,” she said.
Police Division 2 deputy Maj-General Amnuay Nimmano yesterday asked Thanasarnsombat Pattana to refrain from further action until the parties had met.
Amnuay said representatives from the Legal Execution Department and SRT would settle the dispute.
SRT acting governor Thawil Samnakhon yesterday said Thana-sarnsombat Pattana bought the 12-year lease in March. Under the contract, the company must construct a building for tenants to trade in within two years or face a fine.
“Now, eight months have passed since the contract was granted,” Thawil said, adding that SRT and Thanasarnsombat Pattana had tried to find alternative sites for the vendors but received no cooperation.
Veera Udom, chair of the Sunday Market Cooperative, vowed to submit a petition to Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanonda at his house today.
Filed under: Blogroll, News and politics, bangkok, bomb, chatuchak, thailand
To whomever found my site by searching for the terms “Chatuchak market gone”, “Chatuchak market bomb” and “Chatuchak attack nov 2006″:
What’s this about a bomb at Chatuchak?? Each time the search came up I looked for news of a bombing — to my horror, the market is a favourite weekend spot — and found nothing. Are you trying to give me a heart attack? Where did you get your information?
Perhaps you have been misled, or are researching some subject. Perhaps you’re trying to offer me some scoop. Whatever it is, I hope you’re not planning on bombing the market, because it would really not be appreciated by anyone.
Sincerely,
Moi
Filed under: Dead Prez, Neil Young, lyrics, music, playlist, progressive, the coup
Masters Of War
Come you masters of war
You that build all the guns
You that build the death planes
You that build all the bombs
You that hide behind walls
You that hide behind desks
I just want you to know
I can see through your masks.
You that never done nothin’
But build to destroy
You play with my world
Like it’s your little toy
You put a gun in my hand
And you hide from my eyes
And you turn and run farther
When the fast bullets fly.
One progressive’s playlist, music to inflame and inspire:
- The Coup. All albums, especially Party Music and Steal This Double Album. Boots Reilly and Pam tha Funkstress serve up fantastic beats and conscious, radical lyrics. This album isn’t for novices — they bring it real and don’t hold back.
- Michael Franti & Spearhead. My favourite album is Stay Human. This funky, jazzy combo delivers solid rythms amid insightful and positive lyrics. Franti is this generation’s Bob Marley, both in musical styles, love of marijuana, and political conviction. Great and underrated artist.
- Ani Difranco. Mid-career albums are the best. Ani may have a reputation of appealing to young angry lesbians, but believe, she’s more than that. She’s also a first-rate guitar player, singer and composer, and as collaborated widely with icons like Utah Philips.
- Pearl Jam. It’s all good. Pearl Jam and Eddie Vedder in particular are innovators in rock and always have a message. Not afraid to speak out, Vedder was one of the earliest mainstream musicians to take on Bush. They do a great cover of Bob Dylan’s “Masters of War” (lyrics above).
- Immortal Technique. Revolutionary Vol.2. This rapper spent significant time in jail after he shot another man at a party. Instead of driving him deeper into a life of crime, Immortal Technique came out of prison with a catalogue of entertaining songs questioning the way things are and those in charge.
- Dead Prez. All albums. Not for the faint of heart, these guys are educated and angry. The songs take on issues like government wrong-doing, vegetarianism, the people’s movement, violence, and police brutality.
- Protest icons like Cat Stevens, Bob Dylan, Utah Philips, Neil Young.
Have I missed any?
Cover art for The Coup’s “Party Music” album, created prior to 9/11 and subsequently pulled before release.
Filed under: APEC, Death Penalty, Hanoi, News and politics, US, army, bush, empires, expat, free press, freedom, ho chi minh city (saigon), politics, vietnam
US citizens on trial in Vietnam
Vietnamese prosecutors have accused the group of terrorism
Three US citizens and four Vietnamese have gone on trial in Vietnam charged with terrorism. They are accused of attempting to set up illegal transmitters to make anti-communist radio broadcasts inside the country.
Correspondents says the case may complicate ties with the US ahead of President George W Bush’s visit next week and a Congressional vote on trade. The trial in Ho Chi Minh City is expected to last no more than a day.
All of the seven defendants are of Vietnamese origin, but three – Nguyen Thuong Cuc, also known as Cuc Foshee, Huynh Bich Lien and Le Van Binh – also have US citizenship.
Local press reports have linked them to a California-based anti-communist organisation called the Government of Free Vietnam. They are alleged to have brought transmitters and other equipment into Vietnam from neighbouring Cambodia.
They were hoping to take over local radio stations and broadcast anti-government radio messages, according to the BBC correspondent in Hanoi, Bill Hayton.
The case is being heard exactly a week before President Bush arrives in Vietnam to attend the annual Asia-Pacific summit (Apec). It may also complicate scheduled votes in the US Congress intended to permanently normalise trade relations between America and Vietnam, our correspondent says.
Senator Mel Martinez from Florida, the home state of one of the accused, has threatened to block the bill because of the case. That would be an embarrassment to both governments, which have heralded the bill as symbolising their new partnership.
If found guilty of terrorism, the accused could face sentences ranging from 12 years in jail to the death penalty. The Vietnamese government is currently trying to extradite a man it calls the leader of the plot, Nguyen Huu Chanh, from South Korea.
An earlier attempt failed. Mr Chanh was one of the founders of the Government of Free Vietnam.
———————-
Government of Free Viet Nam website (probably not accessible from within Viet Nam, but get the scoop here: Wiki article)
The Government of Free Vietnam is an anti-communist paramilitary and political organization that was established on April 30, 1995, by its founder Nguyen Hoang Dan. Its headquarters are in Garden Grove, California. The organization’s goal is to remove the government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, either politically or militarily.
The Government of Free Vietnam claims 6,000 members and 100,000 supporters who were trained in secret camp locations along the Vietnamese/Cambodian border. They also claim 75 chapters in Asia, Australia, and Europe. Although the GFVN prides itself on its widespread support, many argue that the GFVN never received a true mandate to represent the Vietnamese diaspora.
They have a base of operations in KC-702, a secret base along the border between Vietnam and Cambodia.
Filed under: Arundhati Roy, India, News and politics, US, bangkok, bush, capitalism/socialism, consumerism, empires, free press, freedom, media, politics, protests
As I reflect on the results of the US midterm elections I am reminded of a brilliant speech by Arundhati Roy called “Public Power In The Age Of Empire”.
Here you can listen to it in podcast format. An added bonus are folk songs by Utah Philips.
