Fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra has decided to spend more than Bt1 billion in setting up a global television network called "Voice TV", which will start airing from next month, a Pheu Thai Samut Prakan MP said yesterday.
During his phone-in on Sunday night, the birthday boy said he would launch television channels devoted to education, the poor and selling Otop products.
Pracha Prasopdee said the network will be linked to People's Station and MTV and can be viewed on the already existing http://www.voicetv.co.th/ website.
Though the MP refused to reveal which satellite will be used to broadcast Voice TV, he did say that the government would not be able to block its signal.
After having travelled to several countries to gather information, do feasible studies and to talk to businessmen, diplomats and academics over the past three months, Thaksin will be putting his plans in action next month, he said.
In fact, Pracha said, Thaksin might even host his own television programmes.
The Voice TV website, run under the motto "Voice of New Generation", broadcasts Thai and foreign news shows including latest updates on Thaksin and links to his speeches like his phone-in on Sunday to mark his 60th birthday.
Pracha said the website would focus on inspiring the new generation to express themselves and share their opinions, which would offer society new opportunities.
Pheu Thai Party's deputy leader Panpree Pahittanukorn said the party would be happy if the government helped materialise Thaksin's idea of launching three TV channels for Thai citizens because it would not require huge sums.
"We have proposed the idea, and if this government does not want it, it doesn't matter because when we take over we will make it part of the national agenda," he said.
The "big surprise" that Thaksin had promised was revealed on Sunday when he said he was planning to launch 100 TV stations that could be watched across the globe.
He said these TV stations would prove that his support for Thai citizens was still strong, and that three types of shows ready for kick off were related to selling Otop products, tutoring students and soliciting funds for the poor.
Source: The Nation
Monday, July 27, 2009
Thaksin to launch 'Voice TV' network
Mentors for Cambodians
KUALA LUMPUR: The Asean Law Association of Malaysia will play host to eight officers from the Justice Ministry of Cambodia from Sunday under the Asean Students’ Exchange Programme. Asean Law Association of Malaysia Standing Committee chairman for the programme, S. Radhakrishnan, said the officers will be attached to four senior lawyers for a week. “They will be staying in the home of the lawyers who will help them understand the legal system in Malaysia.” He said the association would consider extending the programme to other Asean countries based on the success of the pilot project.
The project will be launched by Chief Justice Tun Zaki Azmi at the Royal Selangor Club on Monday.
Source: Newstraitstimes
Thai protesters urge gov't to withdraw from Thai-Cambodian statement on Preah Vihear
A group of Thai people following up the Preah Vihear dispute rallied in front of the Government House Monday morning, calling on the government to withdraw from a joint Thai-Cambodian statement issued on June 18, 2008. The joint statement, which supports Cambodia's unilateral listing of the ancient temple as a world heritage site, was signed by then Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama without prior consent of the parliament, according to the Bangkok Post's website. The government should formally inform the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the world community about the Thai withdrawal from the joint-Thai-Cambodian statement, said the group led by Walwipa Jaroonroj, an academic at the Institute of Thai Studies at Bangkok's Thammasat University. Thailand should step up its opposition to Cambodia's unilateral registration of Preah Vihear as the world heritage site, otherwise Thailand could lose its sovereignty over the 4.6-square-kilometer border area, said the group. The disputed area of 4.6 square kilometers along the Thai-Cambodian border has never been demarcated as the two neighboring countries have historically laid claim to the dispute-border site. The area is located on a mountaintop on the Thai-Cambodia border, and it is easier to be accessed from Thailand. The International Court of Justice ruled in 1962 that Preah Vihear temple belonged to Cambodia.
Source: Xinhua
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Baby may be the first to be born with type-A (H1N1)
An infant girl delivered prematurely at Ratchaburi hospital was born infected with type-A (H1N1) influenza - possibly the country's first mother to child transmission of the infection, medical authorities revealed yesterday.
"This is the country's first case study," said Dr Adisorn Phattaradul, director of Chulalongkorn hospital which admitted the 24-year-old mother from Ratchaburi province on Saturday.After the baby was born prematurely last Tuesday her mother developed a severe form of type-A (H1N1) influenza before being transferred to Chulalongkorn - the country's leading medical school - to receive special care.She is now in a critical condition with severe pneumonia. Doctors say the virus has spread to her lungs and she is on a respirator in the intensive care unit. They have given her the antiviral drug oseltamivir and sleeping pills to help her recovery.Meanwhile, her newborn daughter is in a baby incubator and has also been given antiviral drugs. Doctors say her lungs are now normal but they are worried the virus might affect her brain. Dr Lelanee Paitoonpong, an infectious disease specialist of Chulalongkorn University said: "Mother to child transmission of type-A (H1N1)flu in this case was only an assumption."She said to reduce the risk of getting a severe form of flu-like illness, pregnant women should avoid close contact with people with symptoms and keep clear of public spaces.They should also wear face masks to prevent infection, she added.To date, Thailand has 6,776 reported cases of type-A (H1N1) influenza which has killed 44 victims nationwide.Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has assured the public adequate stockpiles of antiviral drugs and vaccine are on hand.He said the Public Health Ministry is now improving its methods to help patients with flu-like symptoms to access treatment faster.Deputy Public Health Minister, Manit Nopamornbodi said the ministry will today send 980,000 health care volunteers to screen patients for severe forms of type-A (H1N1) symptoms in villages and communities to reduce cases of infection and death.
The NAtion
Thailand-After the birthday bash, what's next?
It was a day when superstition, high technology and artistic creation blended almost perfectly together. And arguably only Thaksin Shinawatra can make that happen.
Rituals - from basic to extraordinary - were conducted at various temples all over Thailand, barring the Democrat-dominated southern region, to mark his 60th birthday. Red-shirted members gave alms to monks in the morning and then had their faith in Buddhism strongly tested by taking part in ceremonies that could have made Lord Buddha shake his head.
The came the "twitter" exchanges between Thaksin and Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and the much-anticipated "big surprise". There was no hologram nor concrete reconciliation announcement, and analysts could only watch wide-eyed when a video of Thaksin singing a specially-composed song, "I'll be back", was played and described as the "big surprise" everyone had been talking about.
In all, Thaksin's "sae yid" events were meant for superstitious results as much as political ones. Holy knives were used to "cut" his karma (sins). Clods of earth were gathered from eight directions and blessed in order to reinforce his stars. His photo was attached to a coffin in a "sadoh kroh" ceremony to dispel his misfortunes. Overturned monks' bowls were put right side up to signify that the boycott he had endured would come to an end. One of his portraits was bound with thorny wintergreen branches, which were later cut off. Wintergreen's name in Thai is rakam, which also means suffering.
Politically, Thaksin has shown his opponents that his support in Thailand remains strong. This can also go a long way to repairing the international damage to his reputation from the Songkran events. Thaksin over the past few days has tried to repaint himself as a peaceful man and erase the image of the belligerent one whose rabblerousing helped shove the country to the brink of bloodshed in April.
Whether or not those political aims of his "sae yid" events will be met, the latest Abac poll gave him a narrow edge in popularity against Abhisit for the first time in months. Abhisit, who remains more liked in Bangkok and the South, sent Thaksin an ambiguous tweet saying the former leader would be happier on his birthday if his eyes could see dharma. Thaksin gave a polite twitter thank-you reply that ended with "If you need any help on national affairs, I'm pleased to help".
As with various Thaksin big shows, yesterday's events carried various objectives so he must have met some targets. But since a person can have only one birthday a year, the question after the sae yid parties has to be "Now, what's next?"
Thaksin - Thaksin celebrates his 60th with a ballad
Ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra phoned in yesterday to croon "I shall return" as a highlight of his birthday party steeped in religious symbolism at Kaew Fah Temple in Nonthaburi.
About 1,500 well-wishers showed up at the event, hyped up as replete with hi-tech wonders such as the beaming of Thaksin's hologram from Dubai, but it turned out to be low-keyed.While a slideshow featuring his formal presentation of robes to monks was projected on the screen, Thaksin started his phone-in by belting out the ballad about his fugitive life in exile."I thank you for attending my 60th birthday. May the boon from the merit-making ceremony bring you prosperity and happiness and I wish the merit made today will allow me to return home to serve you once again," he said.Thaksin's sister Yaowapha and her husband Somchai Wongsawat chaired the ceremony, with several political figures in attendance such as Deputy House Speaker Apiwan Wiriyachai, Pheu Thai MPs Udomdet Ratanasathien and Pracha Prasopdee, and Pheu Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit.The rite commenced with 10 monks chanting about overcoming bad karma. Full-sized images of Thaksin were posted in eight directions, with his supporters standing as guards. After the chanting ended, the pictures were pulled off and placed facing north, a symbol of victory.Later four monks presided over the ceremony designed to exorcise Thaksin from his bad karma.A senior monk and Somchai joined in wielding a sacred knife to cut loose thorny sala vines, called rakam or suffering in Thai, in a move supposed to signify liberating Thaksin from bad luck. Throughout the acts of religious symbolism, monks chanted under a black-tiered umbrella blessing the pictures depicting Thaksin shielded by blessed ropes.The monks also performed the ceremony of receipt of robes for the living as well as the dead. The entire ceremony involved 109 monks.After banishing Thaksin's bad karma, the monks proceeded to chant over face-up alms bowls, believed to lift the curse from face-down bowls reportedly laid by revered monk Luangta Mahabua.Following the religious rite, Somchai set cattle free as part of the merit-making. He also placed eight coins in each monk's alms bowl. Eight is believed to be a lucky number for Thaksin, who was born on a Tuesday.Some 5,000 motorcycle taxis provided free rides for well-wishers, participants and workers to the ceremony.Many people paid Bt100 for a set of offerings to be placed on a mock coffin, in a show of help for Thaksin to overcome his plight.As the ceremony drew to a close, the monks made holy water. People rushed to read the candle drippings floating on the water for winning lottery numbers.After Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva in his weekly TV address reminded the birthday boy to come to terms with his fate so he could be happy, Thaksin posted a thank-you note on Twitter for the premier's birthday message.In several provinces around the country, birthday parties were organised by red-shirted supporters for Thaksin.In Sing Buri, Pheu Thai MP Payap Panket held a merit-making ceremony with nine monks.Payap set up a table for his constituents to endorse the petition to ask for a royal pardon for Thaksin.In Udon Thani, red-shirt co-leader Kwanchai Praipana gave alms to 102 monks to make merit for Thaksin.He asked about 1,000 well-wishers to sign a birthday card which he said he would personally deliver to Thaksin in Dubai.In Chiang Mai, red-shirt organisers held a religious ceremony to wish Thaksin a long life at Rong Tham Samakki Temple in San Kamphaeng district, his birthplace.In Chanthaburi, about 200 red shirts presented robes to monks as part of merit-making.Somchai said he wanted everyone to focus on the merit-making rather than superstition."The countering of bad karma is up to individual belief and should not be anticipated as a fix," he said.Thaksin's overcoming his problems was not dependent on the symbolic ceremony, he said.People could decide on their own what they wanted to do on Thaksin's behalf, he said, referring to the petition.The signature campaign was an expression of the people's feelings toward Thaksin, he said, adding that he had no opinion regarding the legality or appropriateness of seeking royal clemency.
Source: The Nation
Thailand-Now, the real "big surprise"
Preamble: Michael, I know you are resting in peace, but if by any chance talks about your memorial service being overhyped have annoyed you, point your critics toward Thailand. Rub it in their faces by asking "Have I ever held a birthday party like that you sorry nitpickers?"
If this whole intro makes me sound like a big nitpicker myself, sorry. It's true that Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva launched his hi-5 account a few years ago and I didn't say a word. And there are the likes of President Obama when twitter is concerned. But trying to organise a birthday party of the century and promoting it this way three months after our close shave with a bloodbath? I guess we have the right to be a bit sceptical and anxious.
It is believed that Thaksin will use the occassion to repaint himself as a peaceful man now ready to forgive and forget. That's the only strategy left apparently, after the Songkran turmoil damaged his pretty fine image overseas. He became a tainted good, and a shrewd businessman like him always knows what to do with a tainted good. You don't throw it away. Just add a few new features and relaunch it.
Merit-making events will take place nationwide barring the South. What message he will convey to his supporters and how he will convey it have been a subject of speculation, thanks to his close aides' claims that there will be a "big surprise".
Rumours that he would appear in the form of a hologram have been dismissed but still persisted. We expect some kind of video footages of him making merits in Dubai to be shown one way or another to his supporters to make them feel he is "there" with them.
Events will take place in about a dozen provinces, starting in the morning. Focus will be on the Kaewfah Temple in Nonthaburi, the Uthai-tharam Temple on the Rama IX Road and a public venue in Roi-et. And just because the whole thing is about relaunching a political product doesn't mean it won't be superstitious. Religious ceremonies, according to news reports, include using a holy knife to "cut" or remove karma from Thaksin. I must have been a bad Buddhist because this is the first time I know we can do that.
So, a rumoured hologram and a holy knife will make Sunday quite interesting, if not "exciting" as promised on Thaksin's twitter. My update will start around 10 pm so please stay tuned.
In the meantime, I have compiled some speculations on what the "big surprise" will be. The link is here. http://http://www.nationmultimedia.com/search/read.php?newsid=30108234&keyword=tulsat
Sunday, 10.10 am: Good morning everyone. Red-shirted members have been reported to rise up early in some provinces to give alms to monks. In Nakhon Panom, some 300 people took part in a solemn merit making insisting that they came together because of their love for Thaksin. Some 50,000 Nakhon Panom residents were said to have signed the pardon-Thaksin petition.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, in his weekly TV programme, said it was alright for Thaksin to hold such a large-scale "sae yid". "I guess he just wants to be happy," he said. Nice beginning, but then a little swipe. "If his eyes can see dhamma (Buddhist principles) now", Thaksin should know what to do, Abhisit said.
The prime minister woke up to some unpleasant news. His popularity rating, according to an Abac poll, is now one percentage point below Thaksin's (32.9 per cent against 34. It is quite a drop from March when the prime minister enjoyed more than 50 per cent rating whereas Thaksin's was barely above 20 per cent.
Still no more big news about the "big surprise", except that some of his aides claimed the thing would be so touching it would make you cry. Also, Thaksin is expected to heavily touch upon the government's "failure" in handling the swine flu.
On the superstition front, earth garthered from "all the eight directions" will be used in a ceremony to re-inforce Thaksin's stars. Is this against Buddhist teachings? No problem, a Buddhist monk in the province said, because this was a Brahmin ritual that had nothing to do with what Lord Buddha taught.
11 am: Meanwhile, Guinness World Records officials may have been invited to Chiang Mai because birthday organisers said they planned to break a world record on the number of cakes being brought to a birthday party. They plan to have 2,492 people bring one cake each, but it seems the auspicious number is in danger of being overwhelmed by other enthusiastic supporters who also want to bring their cakes. They want a piece of cake in the cake campaign, so to speak.
Reports are starting to come in from various provinces where Thaksin birthday celebrations are taking place. But morning activities have been mostly the same, with people giving alms to monks and performing basic Buddhist rituals. The Kaewfah Temple, hailed as the centre of celebration venue, has been crowded with red-shirted people.
Meanwhile, speculation that Thaksin would display humbleness as the big surprise has all but evaporated after his phone-in on Saturday. He vowed to come back to restore his reputation and "Thailand's dignity" which he said was destroyed by what happened to him over the past few years.
Thaksin is said to have been very touched by a song written for him, prompting new speculation that he would sing "I'll be back" for his supporters today as the big surprise. This matches the claims that the big surprise would be something so touching that tears will flow.
At a temple in Lampang, a "Ngai Baad" (To put an overturned monk's bowl back up) ceremony has been held. Since to overturn a monk's bowl (Kwam Baad) means to disown or boycott, the purpose of this ceremony is obvious.
12.10 pm: Former Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, who is Thaksin's former brother-in-law, has joined the ceremonies at the Kaewfah Temple, where a "Ngai Baad" ritual has also taken place.
A lot of "Thaksins" are seen at the temple _ people wearing his masks, a human-sized cut-out of his photo, and a coffin bearing his picture. (Coffins are often used in "sadoh kroh" rituals to repel bad fortunes or turn them into good ones.)
Since private cars are not allowed to park inside the temple, red-shirted members have to park outside, causing quite a traffic nighmare around the venue.
More details on the Abac poll, Abhisit remains much more popular than Thaksin in the South and is still more popular in Bangkok. Thaksin, of course, scores big in the north and northeastern region. In his weekly TV programme, Abhisit said he was not worried by "democratic" competition to increase popularity, but he deplored attempts to block government politicians from many pro-Thaksin constituencies.
In Chiang Mai, rituals have taken place in several locations. One highlighted ritual was to "cut" or remove his karma.
3 pm: It's official now, or so it seems. The "big surprise" is Thaksin singing "I'll be back" in a video footage played out to his supporters at the Kaewfah Temple, who sang along.
Not much else happened when I got stuck in the rain and traffic. We have got hold of Thaksin's written birthday wishes. It was a short message written in his own handwriting. "If you ask me what I wish for on my birthday, I'll say I want to see national reconciliation and strong health and longevity for His Majesty the King," it said.
Thaksin is also known have twittered Abhisit, apparently in response to the latter's "If his eyes can see dhamma" statement. "I'd like to say big thanks and give you my full support for solving national problems. If there's anything I can do, I will be really pleased to help."
Well, I have to admit that both messages sound very nice indeed, which leaves us wondering why it still feels so miserable politically.
4 pm: I know many of you are dying to know the song's lyric and translation, so, here they are. (I did a quick translation, so please forgive any mistake). As to who composed it, we only know it was a "very well-known artist".
Hamill set to testify at Khmer Rouge trial
New Zealander Rob Hamill will testify as a victim on 12 August at the Cambodian war crimes trial of the Khmer Rouge commander of the camp where his brother was killed.
Rob’s appearance at the Extraordinary Court of Cambodia trial of Khaing Khek Iav, AKA ‘Comrade Duch’, comes almost 31 years to the day after Kerry Hamill and Englishman John Dewhirst were snatched from their storm-blown yacht, and fellow sailor Canadian Stuart Glass was killed, on 13 August 1978. Kerry and John were tortured for two months at ‘Camp S21’ and forced to falsely confess they were CIA spies, before being executed on the orders of Pol Pot.
“I expect to experience the widest possible range of emotions when I see Duch,” says Rob, one of two Western victims to testify, “a lot of nervous energy will be expended.”
“Duch says he is sorry and wants forgiveness, but I want to find out whether he truly understands the impact of what he did and the damage he caused.”
“I’m not sure that he does comprehend what he and the Khmer Rouge did to the people of Cambodia, let alone to the families of Kerry, John and Stuart.”
The story of Rob’s search for justice for his brother and his friends is the subject of ‘Brother Number One’, being produced by Annie Goldson, James Bellamy and Rob for Pan Pacific Films, funded by NZ on Air and TV3, with conditional financing from the NZ Film Commission. Annie, an internationally renowned film-maker, is also directing, with Emmy-nominated Peter Gilbert and Kiwi cinematographer Jake Bryant as Co-Directors of Photography. See http://bno-documentary.blogspot.com/ for more info.
The Extraordinary Court of Cambodia is a court under Cambodian jurisdiction but with United Nations’ assistance. Former New Zealand Governor-General Dame Silvia Cartwright is one the judges. See http://www.eccc.gov.kh/english/ for more info.
Rob Hamill is widely known for winning the first-ever Trans-Atlantic Rowing Race in 1997 with the late Phil Stubbs. He currently works as a motivational speaker, as an organiser of ‘The Great Race’ international rowing event on the Waikato River, and is elected to the WEL Energy Trust. He also campaigns for environmental causes and was the Green Party candidate for Taranaki-King Country in the 2008 General Election.
Rob Hamill will not be directly available for further comment, please make all inquiries to the contact below.
ENDS
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