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Court Issues Thaksin Terror Warrant Published: 25/05/2010 The Criminal Court on Tuesday approved the Department of Special Investigation's request for an arrest warrant for former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra on terrorism charges. The court approved the warrant after examining testimony given by DSI chief Tharit Pengdit, his deputy Pol Col Narat Savetanant and Pol Lt-Col Thawal Mangkhang, the DSI chief investigator, on Monday. Court issues Thaksin terror warrant ____________________ Curfew Extended for 4 Days Published: 25/05/2010 The cabinet agreed to extend the curfew in Bangkok and 23 other provinces to Friday night, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said after the cabinet meeting on Tuesday. The curfew will be in force between midnight and 4am, he said. Curfew extended for 4 days _____ The articles I've found do not specifically say, but it is my understanding that Pattaya will still be exempt from the curfew.

You can see the following article, plus videos, and plenty of commentary on the Thai Visa site: Australian Man Arrested Over Thai Protests - Thailand Forum _______ Aussie Arrested over Thai Protests An Australian man has been arrested in Thailand following two months of Red Shirt protests. The man has been identified as as Conor David Purcell, an ex-soldier working in Bangkok as a language teacher, ABC News reported. Mr Purcell, 30, was arrested under the emergency decree used to end almost the protests in Bangkok. Purcell was arrested at his apartment complex in the city on Sunday. Thai authorities say he incited unrest while speaking from the stage of the Red Shirt protest camp on two occasions, ABC News reported. source: http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/aussi...0-1225871105387

You mean you think there will be any . . . ?

Maybe, but I don't know if that's true or not. You know why I don't know? Because they haven't said why they block the sites they block in the first place. Why do I have a feeling that from among all the reasons they might have for blocking web sites, the real reason is whichever one makes the least sense?

I'm going to kid myself and think otherwise. To me, the Yellow-Shirts were wrong to take over the airport. The Thai government was wrong to turn a peaceful demonstration into a violent demonstration. The Red-Shirts were wrong to destroy half of Bangkok and other buildings within Thailand. While I certainly can condone each side wishing to bring serious attention to their political views, I do not condone the methods by which they did it. To my mind, they all were wrong to do what they did. I haven't seen a side yet that is doing the right thing by means of their methods. The Red-Shirts want free elections and an end to class inequality in which the poor have virtually no real chance to be able to succeed in life. The Yellow-Shirts don't want their country led by a would-be dictator or a puppet government. You don't achieve your goals by taking over airports, killing people, destroying property, rioting, and everything else that's been going on. So far, I think it's been a question of which side can outlast and outgun the other and so far none of the sides is any closer to their goals than they were before any of this got started. Thailand is now a house divided. If Abraham Lincoln was right that a house divided cannot stand, then if Thailand falls I can't help but wonder if Humpty Dumpty will ever really be able to be put together again, at least any time reasonably soon.

I still disagree with you. You're using what happened to my web site as one of your examples. The fact is that my web site was blocked. The fact is also that my web site was not forced offline. I took it offline myself. If I had not done that, it would be online today, just as all the Thai gay web sites that were blocked are online and have been for years. I can't prove it, but I am thoroughly convinced my web site was blocked because it contained "Gay" as part of the title. I don't believe it had a thing to do with the content of the web site or message board and I don't believe whoever was responsible for blocking the site ever read one word of its content. There was nothing on the web site or message board that should have instigated blocking the site. I seriously doubt that the Thai government gives a damn about message board conversations gay farang have with each other, provided those conversations do not advocate committing felonies in Thailand. The way I feel about it is if the Thai authorities really want to take down this message board based upon the types of messages posted here, then let them. I believe if they ever do decide to block this web site, the reason won't be because of the content of the messages posted here. But I do believe GT would have no more success in finding out why the site is blocked than I had. Don't forget, if this web site is ever blocked, GT won't receive any kind of formal notification for the specific reasons why it was blocked or who blocked it. He'll just wake up one morning and find it blocked. If the site gets blocked, maybe the reason will be because of the content of the messages, as you say. Then again, maybe the reason won't have anything to do with the content of the messages. We'll have no way to find out. It will just be gone.

Sadness in Siam Small business owners mourn loss of livelihoods and even greater damage to the spirit of one of Bangkok's most popular shopping spots. Published: 24/05/2010 Pennisa Wongsricharoenrung looks across the table, her hands shaking and eyes red and glazed, thinking of fire. "The damage was so much worse than what I saw on TV. My first thought was, how can my family survive after our shops were destroyed?" she asks in a shaking voice. Her seven shops in Siam Square are now ashes, consumed along with 100 other small businesses in the blazes that shook the Ratchaprasong area last Wednesday. Sadness in Siam

Dammit, GT. How many times have I told you not to post my photo?

If they're proposing it, then it's probably a done deal. When we get confirmation, we'll post it on a separate thread to make sure everyone knows. Here's what has so far been published about it: _____ CRES Asking Cabinet Tuesday for 7 More Nights of Curfew BANGKOK, May 24 (TNA) - Thailand's Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) on Monday said it will propose to Tuesday's Cabinet meeting to extend the curfew for seven more nights in the capital and 23 other provinces saying that intelligence reports confirm there's still an attempt to cause chaos in the banned areas. Spokesman Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd said the agency meeting which was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban in his capacity as CRES director, Defence Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan, three armed forces chiefs, the acting national police chief and the director-general of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), agreed to maintain curfew in Bangkok and 23 provinces in North and Northeast until May 31. Col Sansern said intelligence reports and evidence showed there are still attempts to cause chaos, adding that the curfew timeline however will be reduced to allow the public complete their daily life more normally. The curfew to be imposed from Tuesday night through next Monday night if approved by the Tuesday Cabinet meeting will ban people in the given areas from leaving their homes between midnight and 4am. "Although it's just four hours, but concerned officials say it will be useful for them to carry out their work and control the situation," said the CRES spokesman. "At the same time we don't want the curfew to affect people too much and hope that with the new timeline the public will complete their daily routines." Col Sansern reiterated that the aim of imposing a curfew is to separate the agitators from the general public and that the CRES will propose the curfew extension to the Cabinet on Tuesday. CRES earlier imposed curfew in Bangkok and 23 provinces May 19 between 8pm and 6 am after key places in the areas were set afire, combined with grenade attacks by disgruntled Red Shirt protesters following the surrender of their leaders and the end of their six weeks protest at Ratchaprasong. Curfew was extended through Monday night with a more relaxed timeline as situation is under control. Most schools and businesses in Bangkok also reopened Monday, except those located in and near the protest-hit areas. (TNA) http://www.mcot.net/cfcustom/cache_page/59518.cfm?CFID=472725&CFTOKEN=81972817&jsessionid=cc30ecd2e181739dfc167c4066767d527f72

I wish I had one baht for each person out there who would love to tell me the same thing. I'd have more money than Thaksin and Bill Gates combined . . .

I was waiting to see who would be first to say that . . .

I think it's a combination of both. I just don't understand at all how the exchange rates work. With all the problems in Thailand, what on earth keeps the baht so strong? Given the political climate, are investors really pouring that much money into Thailand?

Do you know yet whether it will be a beer bar or a go-go bar?

I can't find anything to confirm that. What is your source of information?

I received an Email today with a very interesting link to a British news article from THE SUN. Here's the beginning of it, but click on the link. Believe me, you'll want to read this one: _____ The Brit Thug of Bloody Bangkok From NICK PARKER, Chief Foreign Correspondent in Bangkok THE British yob caught on video whipping up deadly riot fury in Bangkok was identified today as a London hospital driver. Jeff Savage, 48, was filmed vowing to loot and burn a Bangkok shopping mall days before Red Shirt rebels left it in ruins. And the tubby yob was unrepentant today. Read more: The Brit thug of bloody Bangkok | The Sun |News

The Bangkok Immigration office has reopened. The US Embassy will reopen Tuesday, May 25. I have not checked about other embassies. Other than Pattaya, the curfew is still on for tonight, 11:00pm-4:00am. CRES will announce later whether there will be more curfew extensions. Over 500 curfew violators have been arrested. So far the penalty has been suspended jail sentences and 2000 baht fines. In my opinion, the most important news item to watch is tomorrow, May 25, at 1:30pm the Thai Criminal Court will announce its decision as to whether an arrest warrant will be issued against Thaksin on terrorism charges. If the court decides to issue the warrant, I hope that will not incite new incidents. We'll know soon enough. If I had my way, I'd have Abhisit and Thaksin put on gloves and get into a Muay Thai ring. Whoever is left standing, that's Thailand's Prime Minister. ____________________ Decision on Thaksin Terrorism Warrant Tuesday Published: 24/05/2010 The Criminal Court will on Tuesday announce whether it approves an arrest warrant for former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra on terrorism charges, Department of Special Investigation (DSI) chief Tharit Pengdit said on Monday. The court is scheduled to read its decision at 1.30pm tomorrow. On Monday morning the court re-examined a request by the DSI for it to approve an arrest warrant for Thaksin. DSI deputy chief Pol Col Narat Savetnant testified as the first witness. He presented the court with documents and video clips to substantiate the charges. Decision on Thaksin terrorism warrant Tuesday

And I challenge you to post without name calling.

Just for the record, is everyone aware that you can actually use the word "fuck" here instead of "f***"? I know at least three or four of us have seen that word before. I think at least two of us can handle seeing the word.

Don't forget "fah rang," like you "rang" a bell or even "fair-rang." I have friends who think they live in "jom-shun." Sheeeeesh!

It always seems that those who were the worst off before a crisis end up being even worse off after a crisis. One partial solution could be that the businesses get financial assistance and they help their staff from the money they receive. Of course, whether the businesses would actually give any money to their staff, or how much they would give, or even how long it will take before the businesses see any assistance money in the first place is another story. I'm glad businesses are at least able to register for assistance, but the powers-that-be can't just dole out money to whoever walks in with no evidence to back up their claim and says they've lost everything because of the riots.

A little peeve of mine is when I see people spelling it "Sunnee" or even "Sunny" and pronouncing it "sunny" as if it were a sunny day. Wrong! It is "Sunee" Plaza and pronounced "SOO-nee." However, if you really want to misspell it and mispronounce it, who am I to stand in your way? You can always get all the latest information about Sunee Plaza and all the goings-on and events on the Sunee Plaza web site (SPI) at: Sunee Plaza, Gay Pattaya, Gay Thailand This week's newsletter includes: _____ “Oh what a week” This has been one week to remember. Why; because for two nights I had a stream of phone calls from willing boys wanting to come to my room for almost no money. We had a curfew. It was the first one since 1993. And if I didn’t watch the TV, or listen to the news, that would be the only thing that would be remarkable for me about this week. In Pattaya, there have been no problems at all. Everyone coming into and leaving the airport has come and gone as they should. The sun has shone almost all week (if anything we have had better weather than normal). The beaches were lovely and the massage boys and ice cream sellers are working hard. The bars have had a good time; many reporting business equal to or better than normal. One party was postponed because of the curfew, but apart from that, it’s been business as usual. It’s like the airport closure in 2008. One company I know of offered to fly their Executive home in a private jet to America if he was in danger. They were so worried about his safety from all they were hearing in the press. His reply was that the only danger was from sunburn – he was sitting on the beach drinking Piña Coladas and privately hoped the airport stayed closed a long time! The two days of curfew have been interesting. The first one was so suddenly announced that no one had any time to prepare. In some cases drinks were literally taken off tables and check bins were ignored. A few phone calls later and here and there a boy went to a room to keep a farang company on the long evening. The second night was better prepared. Some of the gogos opened at 6 pm and the bars generally at 5. By 9, people were scurrying home, again frequently with a pre-arranged rendezvous for the evening. By the third night, just as suddenly as it started, it was all over. Life here trucked on almost as if nothing unusual was happening. All the stores stayed open in the non-curfew hours. The banks closed, but few need to go inside a bank. Cash machines and exchange offices were all open. It was annoying that the 7/11s closed and the late night supplies were denied, but hey! The Pattaya branch of Paradise sauntered on very nicely indeed thanks. But of course there were problems in Thailand. To ignore them would be superficial and offensive. And this editorial did not set out to be either. The press reported “The Land of Smiles has become the Land of Tears”. Bangkok has had its heart ripped out. People died and many buildings now lie in charred ruins. After 6 weeks of (relatively) peaceful rallies, the troops went in and cleared the site. The fires and mayhem that resulted have been well documented. It’s not our place to comment on the rights and wrongs of the events; nor to pass any editorial on this, but it did happen. Forums asked “Has Thailand’s image been tarnished forever?” It has certainly been hurt. Will it recover? I’ll end with one story. A friend of mine went to Bangkok Saturday. His taxi took a wrong turn and he found himself going down by the Lumphini Stadium. All over the place there were gangs of people and fire trucks. But these people were not setting fires and looting, they were cleaning. Some had taken the day off work, many were locals, but not by any means all. They had Dettol and scrubbing brushes and brooms and were cleaning. And they had smiles. They cheerfully waved my friend through in his taxi, shouting out “Farang Taxi” and the waving and smiling at him. Has the reputation been harmed? Yes. Will it take time to recover? Yes. Is Thailand still the “Land of Smiles”? YOU BET! NEWS FROM THE PLAZA SPI 1st anniversary party hots up! The SPI 1st anniversary party is now less than a week away. The stage has been booked for the Miss Sunee Plaza competition, the crown has been made, the posters distributed and now it's up to the bars and YOU. Come along and have a great evening. Many bars will be having parties of their own, the Krazy Dragon is doing 50B drinks all night and the Corner Bar has specials on Margheritas and their special Shrimp Basket (both 100B). They also have a "best dressed cowboy" competition. The Alangkarn theatre will be performing in the soi and there will be general fun and frivolity everywhere. This will be the bggest event since the White Party. Come along and be a part.

Our dear friends and guests of Casa Pascal, Once again we are pleased to invite you to experience our new fabulous offer, the “Wine & Dine” Menu ( Schlemmer Menu )! And it is truly a sensational menu which goes with a stunning free flow wine offer ! This menu will be served every day for lunch & dinner. With culinary greetings, Pascal & Kim http:/www.restaurant-pattaya.com 038 723 660 4-Course “ Wine & Dine “ Menu With unlimited Wine only 790 B + APPETIZER Appetizer Plate with : Smoked Salmon, Prawn Cocktail, Parma Ham, Beef Carpaccio, roasted Pork Loin Salads & Garnishes or Caesar’s Salad SOUP Lobster Bisque or Pumpkin Cream Soup with Croutons MAIN COURSE Sirloin Steak green Pepper Sauce & Café de Paris Butter Sauce or Fish Filets in white Wine Dill Cream Sauce or Wienerschnitzel ( Breaded Pork Escalope ) or Grilled Pork Steak Hunter Style with green Pepper, Onions & Mushrooms Sauce Dessert Sweet Surprise Three (3) different delicious Desserts White Wine : Mont Clair, Chardonnay Colombard, Australia Red Wine : Mont Clair, Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon, Australia Food only 3-Course @ 540 B + 4-Course @ 590 B + Food & unlimited Wine @ 790 B + *** All prices are subject to 7% VAT. Service tip is at your own discretion ***

Come to Corner Bar's Texas Ho Down!

I think you're right. I'm not here to try to change the way Thailand functions. And so far I haven't seen very many Thai people asking foreigners for advice or to physically involve themselves. While those of us who live here have a vested interest in Thailand, that does not alter the fact that we're guests here. It's one thing for us to get on message boards and talk among ourselves about our ideas for what Thailand and its leaders ought to do. It's quite another to get personally involved, especially when that involvement includes criminal activity. I know that some would love to tell Thailand how to run their country. As for me, I'll limit what I have to say to the message boards until the Thai people start asking for my advice and participation.

I agree. I think most people would. It will likely have a severe effect for the time being, but if no further problems occur and if things settle down and stay that way, and if along with it the exchange rates improve for foreigners, then this too shall pass.