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From The Nation (9 Apr.) In second transfer within a week, new civilian post created for ousted immigration bureau chief THE HIGH-PROFILE former Immigration Bureau chief, Pol Lt-General Surachate Hakparn, once considered a rising star in the police force, was shockingly transferred yesterday to a newly created civilian post. His designation as special adviser attached to the Prime Minister’s Office only fuels more speculation about his fate. Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, in his capacity as head of the ruling National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), issued an order dated yesterday transferring Surachate from Royal Thai Police to a civil servant in the Prime Minister’s Office. According to the order, published in the Royal Gazette yesterday, Surachate is among state officials who have been moved to other jobs because they are undergoing investigation or have problems regarding personnel. The order said the NCPO saw it fit to add Surachate’s name to the list, but did not say why. The NCPO order said the prime minister would seek royal endorsement for Surachate’s new post. The Cabinet “acknowledged” the order at its weekly meeting yesterday, Deputy Government Spokesperson Colonel Taksada Sangkachan said. The list of transferred state officials, to which Surachate’s name was added, dates back to May 2015 – a year after the NCPO took power after a military coup. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30367441

You seem to have gone batshit crazy over this. Dying will surely come as a relief. Bear in mind that just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not really out to get you. Now pull on your big boy pants, board your flight and order a few drinks. Staying home and shredding your history is a lousy option.

You've received some sage advice. I've gone the executor route and named my good friend (and attorney) to take care of these things. He's also the only one with keys to my apartment. Since he'll be responsible settling whatever my estate consists of, I've instructed him to take possession of my PC and all other devices (iPad, phones). As ggobkk observes, I wouldn't let angst about what others may think affect your enjoyment of the here and now. What's truly important is what you think and what you believe.

From The Nation (7 Apr.) Headline-making Police Lt Gen Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn has lost his job as head of the Immigration Police in a transfer to the Royal Thai Police Operations Centre. National Police Chief Chakthip Chaijinda signed the order on Friday night and by Saturday Surachate’s Facebook and Twitter accounts had been closed, while the Immigration Bureau Facebook page was also offline. No reason has been given for his sudden demotion. Rarely out of the headlines as he traversed the country tackling different cases, the high-profile Surachate was best known for his weekly round-ups of foreigners for overstaying their tourist visas. He also went after central African scammers as part of his “Good guys in, bad guys out” campaign. He was in the international spotlight for first detaining Rahaf al-Qunun, the Saudi woman fleeing alleged abuse by her family, and then reversing an order to deport her. He was font and centre in the matter of Bahrain-born Australian Hakeem al-Araibi, who was also detained by Thai police in a tug-of-war between Australia and Bahrain. Surachate, the son of a career policeman, was born in Songkhla in 1970. After joining the force, he quickly rose through the ranks to command a station there and moved to Bangkok to head the 191 task force. He spent a time with the tourist police, coinciding with his rise to fame, before landing the top job at the Immigration Bureau last year. He has been closely linked to Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30367296

From The Nation (6 Apr.) ‘It’s complicated,’ says the artist who got Prayut and Thaksin to ‘shake hands’, now tackling other issues Patpong , Bangkok’s most notorious red-light area, seems a likely enough place to provoke a discussion about sexual attitudes in this country. Even better, have the discussion at Candle Light Studio, a new gallery for naughty art above the Barbar Fetish Club on Patpong Soi 2. The provocateur is the masked graffiti artist who calls himself Headache Stencil, fresh from skewering the junta government and chaotic election in his previous show, “Thailand Casino”. The exhibition, “Sex Drugs & Headache Stencil”, officially opens Candle Light Studio, which apparently used to be a go-go bar. Families with small children can easily reach it from BTS Sala Daeng but probably shouldn’t. The ascent to the third floor entails passing young ladies dressed in sexy cosplay outfits, who beckon passers-by inside to watch decent folks paying indecent folks to spank them. Once you reach the gallery, though, everything gets very dark very fast. Headache Stencil has spread his edgy art around two rooms. In the first, it’s all about issues related to sex. He’s painted the walls with women in bikinis and university uniforms with dollar signs and there’s a mural of penises – in pastel blue for some reason. It’s an open secret that prostitution and drugs, despite being illegal, are widespread in Thailand,” Headache told The Nation Weekend. “But the issues that affect the lives of sex workers and drug addicts are quite complicated.” The Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act 1996 and Article 286 of the Criminal Code seek to handcuff the sale of sex, pimping and running “prostitution establishments”. The laws don’t seem to be working, though. It’s been variously estimated that anywhere from 800,000 to more than two million Thais earn money as prostitutes, and many of them are under 18. “It used to be that sex workers were all poor and uneducated, but now in our capitalist-consumerist era, many college students are getting into the sex trade because they want money to buy mobile phones, brand-name clothes and even cars and condos,” Headache said. Continues with photos http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30367223

I agree that it was previously reported that the boys were sedated to prevent the possibility that they may be seized by panic during their escape. What differentiates this news item is that it appeared in one of the most respected medical journals. It describes why the controversial drug, ketamine, was used "off label." I understand that it may not be of great interest to all readers, but it underscores the excellent judgement by the doctor who decided that it was appropriate in these circumstances. Ketamine has the potential for adverse side effects, especially in young people. That all of the boys survived the periling rescue is a testament to that decision and the bravery of their rescuers. Although the New England Journal of Medicine, like The Lancet, is published primarily for the benefit of medical professionals, the topic of the article did not go unnoticed by the world press when it was published April 4th under the title Prehospital Care of the 13 Hypothermic, Anesthetized Patients in the Thailand Cave Rescue. The following are the authors who submitted their experiences to the publication: Maj. Chanrit Lawthaweesawat, M.D. Medical Association of Thailand, Bangkok, Thailand Richard Harris, B.M., B.S., F.A.N.Z.C.A. SA Health, Adelaide, SA, Australia Maj. Gen. Wutichai Isara, M.D. Royal Thai Army, Bangkok, Thailand Krit Pongpirul, M.D., Ph.D. Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand Major news services across the globe picked up the story and that's how it came to my attention. It was not my intent to rehash old news but to post updated information about a story that captured the hearts of many members. https://www.nejm.org/

Agree. Opinions rarely include wit.

A witty and wealthy television personality

The soi (the street itself) does not represent a death trap compared to the interior of the venues. The real hazards are the lack of emergency exits and lack of automatic fire detection and fire suppression systems (i.e., fire sprinklers). These same hazards exits in all venues I've visited in the Silom area, regardless of what soi you're talking about. If a fire originated on a lower floor, there is nothing to prevent the smoke and heat from rising rapidly and unimpeded to the floors above. For customers, prior knowledge of alternative exits (if they exist) offers the best chance of survival along with the determination to react quickly before a stampede ensues.

From BBC (5 Apr.) Brunei hotels withdraw from social media amid anti-LGBT law backlash The social media accounts of Brunei-owned luxury hotels have been deleted or made inaccessible amid an ongoing backlash over anti-LGBT laws. Brunei introduced strict Islamic laws this week that make gay sex punishable by flogging or stoning to death. Celebrities including George Clooney are calling on the public to boycott Brunei-owned luxury hotels. Now the social media accounts of these hotels have become inaccessible following criticism online. Which hotels are owned by Brunei? The social backlash appears to have escalated after US talk show host Ellen DeGeneres shared a Twitter post naming the nine Brunei-owned hotels to boycott. https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-47824896

From CNBC (4 Apr.) Team members given ketamine before their risky rescue Rescuers gave the 12 boys trapped in a Thai cave ketamine to help protect them from hypothermia. The medical team described their efforts in a letter to the New England Journal of Medicine. Ketamine is an anesthetic that has soothing effects. Twelve boys trapped in a Thai cave were given ketamine to help protect them from hypothermia during the harrowing rescue, the effort’s medical team wrote in a letter to the New England Journal of Medicine. Last summer, the boys and their soccer coach were exploring Thailand’s Tham Luang cave complex when a downpour flooded the tunnels. British divers found the Wild Boars soccer team more than a week after they were reported missing. Rescuers placed the boys on stretchers and swam them out of the narrow cave. The boys’ wet suits fit poorly and the water was cold, the medical team said in its letter to the Journal, published online Wednesday. Rescuers wrote that oxygen levels were falling and they needed to keep the boys from developing hypothermia, so they gave them “unspecified doses” of ketamine and a face mask filled with oxygen. Ketamine is an anesthetic that has soothing effects. It also narrows blood vessels, which lessens shivering, and can prevent large dips in a person’s core temperature, making it a “good choice” for patients at risk of hypothermia, the authors said. Ketamine is often misused as a club drug, earning it the nickname “Special K.” However, it is finding more clinical applications. The Food and Drug Administration recently approved Johnson & Johnson’s esketamine, a nasal spray related to ketamine for treatment-resistant depression. https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/04/thai-cave-boys-were-given-ketamine-to-calm-them-before-risky-rescue.html

From Khaosod English (3 Apr.) Future Forward Leader Hit With Sedition Charge BANGKOK — Another serious legal threat has hit the leader of Future Forward Party, this time an accusation of sedition. Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit posted online on Wednesday a photo of a legal document showing that the Pathum Wan police have summoned him to hear charges over “causing disorder and disobedience among the public” that could lead to “the acts of rebellion.” “When the dark power won’t leave Future Forward alone,” Thanathorn wrote in the accompanying post. “It’s clear now that the old-school political game won’t end after the election, but is only getting more intense, because they’re afraid of Future Forward.” “They’re afraid of our wins that exceeded the expectations of many, afraid of politics based only on policies and ideologies that can build faith and support from the public without money or authority, afraid of the truth that nearly 6.3 million people sincerely support Future Forward Party,” he continued. Thanathorn added that he would meet police investigators on Saturday as scheduled. If convicted, he faces a jail term of up to seven years. The junta’s legal team said the charge was based on Thanathorn’s alleged involvement in a 2015 anti-coup demonstration, in which a group of activists staged a protest at the Pathum Wan police station. One of those activists was Rangsiman Rome, who might become one of Future Forward’s party-list MPs. The protesters were arrested and charged with violating the junta’s ban on political gatherings. It’s the latest case of criminal prosecution and the most serious charge yet against Future Forward, a party with progressive policies that is popular among young people. The prosecutor’s office is also reviewing a cybercrime case against Thanathorn and two executive party members that involves online criticism of the ruling junta. http://www.khaosodenglish.com/politics/2019/04/03/future-forward-leader-hit-with-sedition-charge/

From Bloomberg News (4 Apr.) 'Interest rates have been 'too low, too long' -- Central Bank Governor Thailand’s central bank Governor Veerathai Santiprabhob said there are still financial frailties in the economy, which are being tackled through a combination of measures, including macro-prudential steps and the monetary stance. Interest rates have been “low for too long,” leading to an under-pricing of risk in the financial sector, which prompted the Bank of Thailand to raise its policy rate in December, Veerathai said in an interview Thursday with Bloomberg Television’s Haslinda Amin in Chiang Rai, northern Thailand. Those risks are still there, he said. “It will take some time to address concerns on financial fragilities and they can’t be addressed by one policy alone,” he said. The central bank is trying to balance competing challenges in the economy, including elevated debt levels, slowing growth and subdued inflation. Officials have in recent weeks flagged the possibility of gradual monetary tightening depending on the strength of incoming data, a contrast to the dovish tilt globally as world economic momentum ebbs. The Bank of Thailand raised its policy rate in December by a quarter point to 1.75 percent, the first increase since 2011. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-04-04/bank-of-thailand-governor-says-financial-stability-risks-remain

Excerpted from The Nation (3 Apr.) Meanwhile, Bang Rak District Office director Pakaporn Sanguansak said people can splash water at each other to celebrate Songkran on Silom Road from April 13 to 15 but there would be no organised party or vendors. For complete article http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30367081

From The Nation (2 Apr.) HOTEL AND property development firm Dusit Thani Plc and retail and property developer Central Pattana Plc are collaborating to develop a mixed-use project, Dusit Central Park, at a cost of Bt36.7 billion. The project will cover 440,000 square metres on the intersection of Silom and Rama IV Road in what was once the location of Dusit Thani Hotel. The project is expected to be complete in 2024. The project brings together luxury residences, a state-of-the-art office tower, a high-end shopping complex with a large rooftop park and a distinctive reimagining of Dusit Thani Bangkok hotel, Dusit’s iconic flagship property, which served as a symbol of Thai hospitality for 50 years. “We aim to deliver a one-of-a-kind mixed-use project that blends heritage and innovation, connects all important infrastructure and transportation, embraces a green concept reflecting our prime position opposite Lumpini Park, and delivers enduring value to all our stakeholders,” Dusit Thani Plc group chief executive Suphajee Suthumpun said at press conference yesterday. The first one would be Dusit Thani Bangkok Hotel. Designed to preserve the rich architectural and artistic heritage of the original hotel, the new 39-storey, 250-room Dusit Thani Bangkok will feature a modern-yet-familiar design that incorporates significant elements from the original hotel. The second phase will be commercial space. Central Park Offices, with 90,000 square metres, will aim to become a professional hub, providing the ultimate in technology for city workers where connectivity is the priority, suitable for innovative startups and large companies. There will also be a Central Park Shopping Complex that will offer a luxury retail experience. The shopping mall will feature iconic international and local brands over 80,000 square metres to meet the needs of various lifestyles. Also topped with a rooftop park, the shopping complex will provide an expansive outdoor leafy retreat for people to unwind. These two elements will be completed in 2023. The final part of the project will be the residences. The 69-storey tower with 389 units will be divided into two distinctive sections – Dusit Residences and Dusit Parkside – each managed by Dusit International in line with its unique brand of Thai-inspired gracious hospitality. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/Real_Estate/30366960

Politicians and charities ask us for money and offer their good will in return. We may choose to accommodate some of those requests but it's safe to say we reject most. MB's on the other hand provide a service and may or may not (I've never been asked to finance a phone purchase) suggest an added quid pro quo. Although some may chose to do so we're under no obligation to oblige. But the guy is entitled to ask as are the pols and the charities. If it makes you feel better to refer to these guys as prostitutes--third world or otherwise, so be it. But I think it dehumanizes the interaction you travel so far to enjoy. Regardless of where you come from, you can find prostitutes at home. And when you factor in all the costs associated with your trip, the cost is always cheaper in your backyard. If you view them solely in that light, it's bound IMO to affect your attitude and contribute to unsatisfactory outcomes.

Good advice but I don't think I'd count on it to deter cops bent on enforcing Sharia law. Better to practice your peccadilloes in the LOS.

Many of the most popular gay venues in Bangkok present multiple obstacles to a safe evacuation in case of fire. The dance clubs have the greatest potential for loss of life due to a combination of frequent over crowding, lack of emergency exits and automatic sprinkler systems. Even crowded first-floor establishments can prove deadly when everyone makes for the exit they entered through. There's nothing we can do about the hazards presented by the building's construction, layout or lack of protective systems. Our best protection is awareness. Upon entering a venue, look for an alternative exit. If you can't spot one, selecting a seat with an unobstructed route to the main entrance isn't a bad choice. And if you're a regular, ask one of the guys who work there how they'd get out in an emergency. They're sure to know because escaping out the back way in case of a police raid is one of the first things they learn when going to work at a new place. When climbing the stairs to your massage cubicle, keep an eye out for rear stairwells. And glance around the floor your room is on for windows. Once you begin to take notice of these things, it becomes automatic, like deciding what pocket your going to keep your cash in before you remove your pants. I was in Bangkok 10 years ago when a fire broke out at the GSM sauna located on the seventh floor of a building in Chinatown. That only one man died was a combination of luck and great work by the fire brigade. Here's a report that was carried by the Fridae website: One man was killed and 36 others injured as a massive blaze swept through a shopping and residential complex in Bangkok's Chinatown district on Sunday night, just days after a fire at a nightclub in the Thai capital claimed dozens. A 45-year-old man was killed in fire that razed through a popular sauna in Sua Pa Plaza on Bangkok's Charoen Krung road in Pom Prab district. Bangkok's The Nation newspaper reported that the victim - identified by the police as Sanguan Saenkaew - was found by rescue workers on the seventh floor of the building early Monday morning. He is believed to be a patron of GSM Sauna at the time of the fire. Reports say about 60 fire engines fought the blaze which took hours to put out. The blaze was reported to have started at about 8.30pm on Sunday night. Some 100 people were evacuated from the nine-storey building via two firetruck ladders and a helicopter. The sauna - said to be popular among locals and travelers from Hong Kong and Taiwan - also operated a massage parlour on the fourth floor and guesthouse on the sixth floor. The incident follows a fire that killed at least 64 partygoers at Santika, an upscale Bangkok nightclub which was full to its 1,000-person capacity on New Year's Eve. The country's building and fire code standards has been called into question as police revealed that Santika had been refused a licence as an "entertainment venue" since 2004 due to safety concerns but it remained legally open as a restaurant while appealing that decision. It has also emerged that the club had no emergency lighting or sprinkler system, had only one door for entry and exit known to patrons and there were bars on the windows. A Singaporean, who was in the Thai capital over the New Year's Eve holidays and saw the fire engines on the streets, told Fridae that he shudders to consider a similar fate befalling Silom Soi 2 or 4 - well known clusters of crowded gay bars and clubs located on narrow dead-end lanes. https://www.fridae.asia/gay-news/2009/01/06/2186.fire-in-bangkok-gay-sauna-kills-patron

From CNN (31 Mar.) A law goes into effect Wednesday in Brunei that will punish adultery and homosexual sex with death. Anyone found guilty of the offenses will be stoned to death, according to a new penal code based on Sharia law, an Islamic legal system that outlines strict corporal punishments. The strict new laws were announced by the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, in 2014 and have been rolled out gradually in the small nation on the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia. The latest phase of implementation, including the brutal new provisions, was quietly announced on the Brunei attorney general's website in December. The Sultan "does not expect other people to accept and agree with it, but that it would suffice if they just respect the nation in the same way that it also respects them," according to the government website. The country has no plans to halt the law amid international pressure, according to a statement from the office of Brunei's Prime Minister released Saturday. "Brunei Darussalam is a sovereign Islamic and fully independent country and, like all other independent countries, enforces its own rule of law," the statement said. Brunei government agencies have not responded to CNN's inquiries. The controversial proposal has provoked strong opposition in some quarters, and actor George Clooney called for the immediate boycott of hotels owned by the Brunei Investment Group, which is controlled by the Sultan of Brunei, in an op-ed he wrote for Deadline. Continues with video https://www.cnn.com/2019/03/30/asia/brunei-lgbt-death-penalty-intl/index.html

From The Nation (30 Mar.) State of emergency urged as air pollution hits 'disastrous' levels in North Citizen in the North are being advised to stay inside air conditioned buildings and avoid all outdoor activities, as some areas of Chiang Mai recorded PM2.5 levels reaching higher than 700 micrograms per cubic metre of air on Saturday morning. Witsanu Attavanich, a lecturer at Kasetsart University, said that with such deadly levels of PM2.5 pollution in the air over 500 micrograms, it is far beyond the capacity of the local authorities to cope with the situation and the central government needs to step in now and declare a state of emergency. “No need to consider the level of threat from such dangerously hazardous air pollution on our health, as breathing in only 100 micrograms of PM2.5 is considered to be very harmful to the health of healthy persons.” The Chiang Mai Air Quality Health Index (CMAQHI) Center's website (cmaqhi.org) cited the hourly amount of PM2.5 – airborne particulates 2.5 microns or less in diameter – in Chiang Mai at 5am reached more than 500 micrograms per cubic metre of air, while the AQI for the top seven areas flashed the "beyond AQI reading capacity" message. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30366833

There's an old adage that goes something like this: the best place to open an antique shop is right beside another antique shop. The rationale being that people who visit antique shops are looking for something that catches their eye. They're more likely to visit all such shops in the vicinity in that quest. And since stock turnover is frequent, they tend to return to the area and continue the pursuit of their hobby. For years Twilight fulfilled this function and there's no inherent reason why Patpong 2 can not. I don't think it's been mentioned before in this context but there's a small, pocket size bar on Patpong 2 that's situated in the vicinity of Screwboys and it caters to a gay clientele. It's open on two sides, has a large-screen TV behind the bar and maybe a 10 tables. I've never seen more than a few customers there. But it's located nearly opposite Dreamboy Paradisio, I believe, and should afford a good perch to view the comings and goings on the soi. Admittedly it's too soon to tell how this all falls out but I've become increasingly optimistic as I hear about the all the moves in progress. So dream on, Vinapu.

From National Public Radio -- US (29 Mar.) Excerpts from transcript of interview: NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with Chris Calabrese of the Center for Democracy and Technology about reports that the U.S. sees a national security threat in a Chinese company owning the dating app Grindr. ILSA CHANG, HOST: Who knew the dating app Grindr could pose a possible national security risk? The Chinese company that owns the dating app is now selling it, after a U.S. government panel ordered it to. Grindr caters to an LGBTQ crowd. People who use it post personal photos, talk about their sexual and gender identities. Many users disclose their HIV status on Grindr. And according to Reuters, which first reported this, U.S. officials believe the Chinese government could end up exploiting that information. To talk about the implications of all of this, we're joined now by Chris Calabrese of the Center for Democracy and Technology. Thanks for coming into the studio today. CHRIS CALABRESE: Thank you. It's my pleasure. CHANG: So I learned that this little-known body inside the U.S. government is what forced the Chinese company Kunlun to sell Grindr. The body's called the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, or CFIUS, which sounds like some character in a sci-fi movie to me. CALABRESE: (Laughter). CHANG: What is CFIUS? What does it have the power to do? CALABRESE: It has the power to do exactly what you just said; it can say to a company, usually before a purchase happens, no, we think there are national security interests at stake here, and we - this sale can't happen. It can also... CHANG: It can just force the foreign company to unwind? CALABRESE: It can force the foreign company - well, it can force the foreign company, and usually, it's before the sale happens because unwinding is expensive. But as you can see here, they also have the power to unwind a transaction after the fact, if you don't go through their process to get your preapproval for a purchase. CHANG: All right. Walk me through what the fears are here. Can you just explain - how could the Chinese government somehow use Grindr to harm U.S. national security interests? CALABRESE: Well, there's a couple of things are worried about; the first is blackmail. I know stuff about you. You're not out, but I know you're gay because you're on Grindr. I know your HIV status. The second one is a little bit more sophisticated. I can use Grindr to actually insert an agent into your life. You're on Grindr looking for a partner, I put a Chinese operative together with you, and that person starts a relationship with you and uses that relationship to exploit you. CHANG: This is like the stuff of spy novels, but these are very real possibilities. CALABRESE: You know, they are, and it all goes to the fact that we're sharing a lot of personal information with third parties, and we trust those third parties implicitly; in cases like this, maybe we shouldn't. And another piece that may or may not be related but I'm almost certain is, is about three or four years ago, the federal government suffered one of the worst data breaches in U.S. history. CHANG: Right. CALABRESE: It was... CHANG: In the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. CALABRESE: That's right. The Office of Personnel Management essentially was breached, was hacked, and what was taken was all of the personnel records of every federal employee - so we're talking of, like, 22 million people - including their background checks, security clearances. John Bolton, the national security adviser, hasn't come out straight out and said it but has sort of implied that they believe it's the Chinese... CALABRESE: China has denied any role in this. But if there's reason to believe that China has very detailed information on federal employees, you can easily imagine that kind of information, combined with the kind of access that you would get using the Grindr app, to really allow some pretty scary espionage and some pretty detailed investigations of things that the U.S. would certainly not want China to know. You can listen to the full interview at this link https://www.npr.org/2019/03/29/708170897/reports-say-u-s-sees-a-national-security-threat-in-chinese-company-owning-grindr

Bangkok is regarded as one of the most LGBT+ friendly and advanced cities in Asia and as a result the curator James Tong is collaborating with River City Bangkok to host BEYOND SKIN ahead of its world tour debuting in New York City in June to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the gay civil rights movement, Stonewall. Norm Yip, an internationally acclaimed photographer, has long been an avid pioneer in the development of fine art Asian male photography. He established ‘The Asian Male Project’ which, through his lens, presents artistic images and thought-provoking messages. Ten percent of the purchase price from each photograph sold during the exhibition will be donated to APCOM Foundation, Thailand. BEYOND SKIN is a thought-provoking insight into the Asian male form and lifestyle. Express your support from April 10 until May 31 at RCB Photographer’s Gallery, 2nd floor River City Bangkok. Admission Free.

Stayed at the Evergreen Laurel a decade ago. I remember it as clean and comfortable but not 5 star. The price was reasonable for the quality even then.

From Reuters (27 Mar.) Thailand's opposition parties form alliance, demands junta step aside BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand’s opposition “democratic front” of seven parties on Wednesday claimed it had won a majority in the lower house of parliament after a messy election, saying it has the right to try to form a government after five years of military rule. However, the opposition alliance would still fall short of being able to elect a prime minister. Under parliamentary rules, written by the ruling military junta, the party or coalition picking a prime minister requires a majority in the combined upper and lower houses of parliament. With unofficial results of Sunday’s vote still delayed, the ruling junta showed no sign giving up on its goal to keep former army chief and coup leader Prayuth Chan-ocha in the premiership. The post-election standoff could raise tensions just as the Southeast Asian country prepares for the elaborate coronation of its new king in May. Sudarat Keyuraphan, the main prime ministerial candidate of the Pheu Thai party ousted by the 2014 army coup, told reporters the seven parties in the opposition alliance would take at least 255 seats in the 500-member House of Representatives. “We declare that the democratic front who opposes military rule commands the majority in the House,” Sudarat said. She said the largest alliance in the lower house should be given the right to try to form a government. “Parties in the democratic front gained the most trust from the people,” Sudarat told reporters, adding that they were also in talks with other parties. The pro-military Palang Pracharat party has also claimed the right to form the next government based on its early lead in the popular vote. And an official with the pro-army party also said it could still win a majority as the count was still in flux. “We got the most popular votes. Almost 8 million wanted to see Prayuth as prime minister,” Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana, Palang Pracharat’s deputy spokesman, told reporters. When asked about the democratic front’s claim, deputy junta leader Prawit Wongsuwan said parties should not act prematurely as it will be six weeks until the election commission publishes official results. The partial count suggests the election could result in parliamentary deadlock even once a government is eventually formed. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-thailand-election/thailands-opposition-parties-form-alliance-demands-junta-step-aside-idUKKCN1R8081