reader

From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon Myanmar’s military regime, which came to power in a February 2021 coup, is in serious trouble. The military leader senior general Min Aung Hlaing has admitted that the country could split if his forces are unable to stop an insurrection in the huge and lawless Shan state which borders China, the junta’s largest trading partner. Military spokesman Zaw Min Tun has separately conceded that several northern towns have fallen to the Three Brotherhood Alliance which has overrun dozens of military posts, forced the surrender of hundreds of soldiers and cut off the junta’s access to the 2,000 kilometers of the Chinese border. Jason Tower, Myanmar program director for a US-funded think tank, said about half the entire countryside was in the hands of insurgent groups which have, for example, cut oil and gas pipelines from the Bay of Bengal to the China border. The junta still controls the main cities, at any rate from the barracks, and has firm control of the capital Naypyitaw and the commercial hub of Yangon. The problem is that the fighting is getting closer to urban centers and even garrisoned towns are under threat. There is speculation that senior general Myint will be forced to resign, although it is not clear who is successor would be and whether he could be any more effective in countering a civil war. In the south of the country, the Karen National Liberation Army has attacked towns which link Yangon with the Thai border. There are rumors that members of the State Administration Council (as the junta calls itself) have already bought properties in Thailand, to flee to if necessary. Some generals are believed to be in favour of a less incompetent leader who would enter negotiations with the disparate resistance groups. It would be no easy task. The consequences of Myanmar’s internal chaos are far-reaching for its relations with other countries. Russia and China have both supplied arms to the junta, but China’s support has waned the Myanmar authorities have failed to check the growing number of cyberscam gangs operating in the border regions. Thailand has followed an ambivalent policy towards post-coup Myanmar and the Thai army maintains good relationships with its senior colleagues over the border. The deteriorating security situation means that foreign tourism, which had shown some small signs of picking up in the last 12 months, is again dead on its feet. Unless there is very soon international intervention to steady the political chaos, Myanmar could be on a course for total collapse or ad hoc division into separatist regions.

You’re the only one completely “wrong” here. You unfairly maligned a fellow member and you made an antisemitic remark. You attempted to turn an innocent post into a felony. And you continued to do it in your most recent post by referring to the member as a “groper”. You are without shame. Nothing can excuse your actions. You’ve only succeeded in calling yourself out for what you actually are.

You place yourself in the role of judge and jury in determining whether a sex crime was committed. Very puritanical to say the least. I’m sure you consider yourself the soul of virtue. You still don’t explain why you chose to call the owner “The Jew”. What bearing did it have on the matter? Or why you thought it necessary to publicize his arrest. I don’t know who the Michael is to whom you refer. When members on a site called “Gay Guides” begin accusing other members of sex crimes or being sex tourists, we certainly journey down a slippery slope. And I’m in no way surprised that you chose to double down on your reference to another member as a “sex pest”.

From the Straits Times Plane makes U-turn after taking off in London with missing window Passengers on board an Airbus A321LR that departed a London airport in October were in for a noisier and colder flight than usual when two of the plane’s windows were found to be missing after take-off. Titan Airways Flight AWC305Y had taken off from London’s Stansted Airport on Oct 4 and was headed to Orlando International Airport in the US state of Florida, according to a report from Britain’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB). After take-off, the flight crew noticed excessive noise coming from the left side of the cabin’s rear. The report states that “several passengers recalled that after take-off, the aircraft cabin seemed noisier and colder than they were used to”. A crew member walked to the area for a closer inspection and noticed that one of the seals around the window pane had become dislodged, with a noise that was described as being loud enough to damage your hearing. The plane was in the process of its take-off climb and had reached an altitude of 14,000 feet (4,200m) before it was levelled out to stop its ascent and its airspeed reduced so that one of the pilots could inspect the windows. After assessing the damage, the decision was made for the plane to make a U-turn and land back at Stansted after being in the air for 36 minutes. Upon further inspection of the aircraft’s exterior after landing, two window assemblies were found to be missing, while the inner pane and seal of a third window were dislodged. An aircraft window assembly consists of the inner and outer panes and the window seal. According to the report, “there were no abnormal indications on the flight deck and the aircraft pressurisation system was operating normally... the cabin had remained pressurised normally throughout the flight”.

KK Massage has made it easier for customers arriving without booking to scan tablet for their preference. Masseurs are now presented in two categories: T&B’s and “straights”. Plenty to choose from in both.

From AFP Thwarted Thai election winner Pita Limjaroenrat vowed Thursday to run for prime minister again, defying conservative forces that blocked him from the job earlier in the year and despite a looming court case. The 43-year-old led his Move Forward Party (MFP) to a shock first-place finish in May’s general election, buoyed by young and urban Thais weary of a near-decade of military rule — only to be prevented from becoming premier by royalist and pro-military blocs opposed to his reformist agenda. MFP’s former allies Pheu Thai then formed a coalition government with army-linked parties, leaving the progressive challengers back on the opposition bench — and Pita perhaps in the political wilderness. He also faces a legal challenge thrown at him in the wake of the election, which could see him banned from running for years. But in an interview with AFP, he vowed to take another tilt at the premiership. “Of course. I’m not giving up, and it’s just a matter of time,” he said when asked if he planned to run again. But there are a number of roadblocks in his way — not least his current suspension as an MP. MFP won the most seats in the May 14 poll, but fell short of an outright majority and joined forces with Pheu Thai. But a prime minister candidate needs a majority across both houses of parliament, and Pita could not muster enough votes to overcome opposition in the junta-appointed Senate.

The following exhibit will be on display through Nov. 26 at the Bangkok Art and Culture Center, located opposite MBK and Siam Discovery. From Thai PBS World In the realm of photojournalism, James Nachtwey is a name with resonance and significance. He has traversed the globe, documenting the most pressing issues of our time with a lens that captures the essence of human suffering and resilience. With a career spanning over four decades, Nachtwey has dedicated his life to bearing witness to some of the world’s most significant and harrowing events and has covered nearly every armed conflict in the world. His evocative and heart-wrenching photographs have not only garnered global recognition, but have also been a catalyst for social change. Recently, Thailand has had the privilege of hosting a captivating exhibition of his work in ‘James Nachtwey: Memoria’, which serves as a poignant reminder of the power of photography in bringing about social change. The ‘James Nachtwey: Memoria’ exhibition, a large-scale retrospective by James, has been organised by The Royal Photographic Society of Thailand, with support from The Embassy of the United States of America in Thailand. One hundred and twenty-six photographs are on display. Each photograph in this exhibition represents a fragment of a memory, captured within the continuum of the events Nachtwey experienced. Each image was intended to reach a mass audience during when these events were taking place, as a way of raising public consciousness; one element amongst many in the process of change. He has presented numerous solo exhibitions in New York, Paris, Milan and Stockholm. This is his first exhibition in Thailand and the Asia Pacific region. Naphat Ratanasakdi, Secretary of The Royal Photographic Society of Thailand, said that “James Nachtwey shows the truth of the event with very hard, depressing, and aggressive photos. The photos of James Nachtwey have a lot of photogenic sense, they have a lot of aesthetics in his works. So, this is why James Nachtwey’s photos are very special and stand out.” One of the most moving sections of the exhibition showcases Nachtwey’s extensive documenting of global conflicts. His lens has captured the devastation of war in Bosnia, the brutality of apartheid in South Africa, the terror of the siege of Kabul, the September 11th attacks in New York City and war in Iraq, among many other tragic events. These images not only chronicle the horrors of conflict, but also convey the resilience, courage and hope that persist amidst the darkness.

My point was what is the significance of referring to his religious identity has nothing to do with in context of the poster’s remarks about the museum any more than if he was a Buddhist or a Christian. The writer went out of his way to emphasize “Jew.” When done in that context it’s often an antiseptic connotation. As I described in previous post, Department of Agriculture (DOA) falsely assured a member of committing a sex crime because he noted in a trip review that the masseur had grazed his genitals. It was an absurd attempt to vilify the individual in a most heinous manner, especially considering there was no basis for the claim. This is what they trip reporter said (Orson) posted: “I went to prime bringing along all the stuffs I bought for the day. I availed of their 90 minute oil massage. I was ushered into a different building as the main one was already full. The massage was ok and relaxing. I would've preferred more heavy pressure, but I was too tired to tell the masseur. I know this is a no hanky panky place, but he seemed ok with my hands grazing his crotch "accidentally" while he massage my forearms. After the massage, he offered me to shower in a separate room and later gave me hot tea and towel. I tipped him 300 baht which he accepted happily.” But DOA wrote: “Are you really so pathetically desperate that you need to paw away at a boy who is giving you a massage in a legitimate massage place? If that is what you wanted, you should have gone to the places that offer those services one hundred feet away. Why go and sexually assault a boy who has chosen to work at a legitimate massage parlour and trained to do so? At a bare minimum, your behaviour would mark you out a sex pest in the West; more likely it would have led to a police report and you, rightly, being detained for sexual assault. It's a shame that people like you think that you have the licence to act like an animal when in Thailand simply because a boy may choose to avoid causing a scene in order not to jeapordise his job.”. This constituted an outright attack on the poster without any credible evidence that he did any of the acts that DOA alleges. So I wasn’t shocked to read that DOA inserted “Jew’ into his remarks in another post just days later. Can you imagine how any member would feel if falsely accused of committing a sex crime.

From VN Express The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday said Myanmar authorities recently rescued hundreds of foreigners, including 166 Vietnamese citizens, from fraudulent casinos in its northern border areas. "Among the foreigners rescued, 166 Vietnamese nationals have been identified and have been taken to a safe place in the northern area of this country bordering China," the ministry's spokeswoman Pham Thu Hang said at a press meet. Hang said conflicts in northern and other parts of Myanmar, including Kayin state, are hampering efforts to reach and protect Vietnamese citizens. "The Vietnamese embassy in Myanmar is coordinating with authorities in Vietnam, Myanmar as well as those in China on citizen protection plans to help repatriate the citizens as soon as possible. The embassy has also asked the Myanmar authorities to guarantee security and safety for the Vietnamese nationals," Hang said. The ministry recommended that Vietnamese citizens avoid travelling to Shan and Kayin states of Myanmar, while people staying in the two places should make plans to evacuate to a third country or return to Vietnam, she said, adding that Vienamese citizens should follow information from local administrations, the foreign ministry's Consular Department and embassy.

I crossed at a light signal this evening in Saphan Kwai (near Big C) about 5:30 and all traffic stopped.

Based on my experiences in Silom an Saphan Kwai, crossing main streets has become easier over the past few years. Not only at locations where lights are installed, but in those where crosswalks have been repainted. I cross Surawong several times daily and drivers seem more likely to yield than in the past. I make it a habit of waving to those operators who stop or slow as a gesture of respect. It may be far from perfect but it’s noticeable. From Pattaya News On November 7th, 2023, Mr. Ekwaranyu Amrapan, the spokesman for Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, publicly stated that Bangkok has taken steps to improve and install traffic lights for pedestrian crossings with a total of 2,850 locations. The installation of traffic lights for crosswalks has two modes including pelican crossings which will be installed in lesser pedestrian areas or a road with traffic congestion, and another mode puffin crossings which will be installed in crowded pedestrian areas such as schools or hospitals. Furthermore, in 2024, there are maintenance plans for crosswalks by repainting them with more bright colors and cleaning the crosswalks with high-pressure water. Bangkok has taken proactive measures to continuously improve the safety of pedestrians. It may seem insignificant but it comes with great benefits, said Ekwaranyu.

From Pattaya News A 23-year-old Russian woman said she was attacked and robbed of her phone by two Thai men in Pattaya in the small hours of today, November 9th. The tourist, identified by Pattaya police as 23-year-old Ms. Aleksandra Rychkova, was found in a state of shock after she said she had been robbed while on her way to a condominium from a convenience store. The incident took place at 2 AM today near Jomtien Second Road, Nongprue sub-district, Banglamung district, Chonburi province. Ms. Aleksandra had suffered swollen bruises on her left temple. According to Mr. Wanchai Chaisorn, a 28-year-old condominium security guard who was the first to come to her aid, Ms. Aleksandra, using Google Translate, informed him that she had been attacked by two male muggers.

From Thai PBS World Four former police officers attached to Bangkok’s Huai Kwang police station were sentenced to five years in prison today by the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases. They were found guilty of malfeasance in office and corruption for demanding bribes from three Taiwanese tourists in exchange for dropping charges against them. The four were also ordered to return Bt27,000 bribery to the tourists. Two other officers from the same police station were acquitted by the court, due to insufficient evidence. The extortion, which took place on the night of January 5 in front of the Chinese embassy in Huai Khwang, was widely reported in Taiwanese media because one of the tourists is an actress. They were riding in a taxi, which was stopped for a search by a group of six Huai Khwang police officers, manning a checkpoint in front of the Chinese embassy. Three electronic cigarettes were found in their possession and only one of them was found to be carrying a passport. The trio were charged by the police for illegal possession of electronic cigarettes and two of them faced an additional charge for not carrying their passports. The police officers told them, however, that if they didn’t want to be taken to Huai Khwang police station, and face the prospect of being held in custody for 2-3 days, they must pay 27,000 baht to them and the charges would be dropped. A friend of the tourists, also Taiwanese, who was a prosecution witness, paid the police as demanded and the tourists were released. The six police officers were initially transferred to the operations centre of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, pending the outcome of a disciplinary investigation, which resulted in their dismissal from police service and prosecution.

This was clearly an antiemetic statement by a member who earlier this week falsely accused another member of committing a sex crime in a trip report. October 2023 Trip Report - Bangkok and Pattaya Department of Agriculture said: “Are you really so pathetically desperate that you need to paw away at a boy who is giving you a massage in a legitimate massage place? If that is what you wanted, you should have gone to the places that offer those services one hundred feet away. Why go and sexually assault a boy who has chosen to work at a legitimate massage parlour and trained to do so? At a bare minimum, your behaviour would mark you out a sex pest in the West; more likely it would have led to a police report and you, rightly, being detained for sexual assault. It's a shame that people like you think that you have the licence to act like an animal when in Thailand simply because a boy may choose to avoid causing a scene in order not to jeapordise his job.” There were absolutely no grounds for the above attack. It is viscous in nature. If Department of Agriculture wanted identify the nationality in the case of the museum owner, he would have said Israeli. He is clearly making a statement about religious affiliation that has nothing whatsoever to do with the post.

Thanks for clarification. But what does the owner being a Jew have to do with anything?

From Thai PBS World Remains of seven more Thais killed in Israel due back on Thursday Seven more sets of remains of Thais killed in Israel are scheduled to arrive at Suvarnabhumi international airport on Thursday afternoon, according to the Thai Foreign Ministry. A total of 34 Thai nationals died during or since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7th and 24 are being held captive by militant groups in Gaza. Four others are in hospital. Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara said yesterday that the 24 hostages are being held by 2 or 3 militant groups, including Hamas, in various locations. If the Thai hostages are released, he said that they must be set free through a safe corridor at the Egyptian border. The Thai government has already informed the Egyptian government and Thai officials should be allowed to accompany the hostages from Gaza. From his talks with his counterparts in Qatar, Iran and Egypt last week, Parnpree said it is very possible that Thai hostages will be the first group to be released. He also said that there are other groups of Thai people who have been trying to secure the release of the Thai hostages, using their own connections. One of these groups is associated with House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, a Thai Muslim. They approached Iran, which is believed to have influence over Hamas.

Just book a flight and it’s all here for the taking. 🙂

Actually there was quite a bit about some selective venues, including a cage which visitors were welcome to experience. I recall one scale model (architect type) of both Patpong sois with names of some of the bars (but no mention of gay clubs).

Of late, air pollution in Asia has increased, particularly in built-up areas due to rapid industrialization and urbanization. The present study sets out to examine the impact that pollution can have on the health of people living in the inner city of Bangkok, Thailand. Consequently, in 2021, fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and coarse particulate matter (PM10) chemical composition and sources are evaluated at three locations in Bangkok. To identify the possible sources of such particulates, therefore, the principal component analysis (PCA) technique is duly carried out. As determined via PCA, the major sources of air pollution in Bangkok are local emission sources and sea salt. The most significant local sources of PM2.5 and PM10 in Bangkok include primary combustion, such as vehicle emissions, coal combustion, biomass burning, secondary aerosol formation, industrial emissions, and dust sources. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36361157/

The Patpong Museum appears to have closed its doors. The marquee sign is unlit and entrance opposite Foodland dark. Although it did a commendable job of documenting the history of the area, it steadfastly declined to acknowledge the existence of Patpong’s all-male bars scene.

I’ve been experiencing many of the symptoms (with exception of difficulty breathing) described below for the past week and two other board members have likewise. From Thailand News Agency The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Spokesperson Ekwaranyu Amrapan said that the Department of Pollution Control has predicted that there will be a high concentration of fine dust marked in orange with adverse effects on health from tomorrow to Sunday. However, there is still a chance of rain which may help reduce the level of fine particulate matter (PM2.5). People are advised to wear face masks when going outside. Vulnerable groups and the elderly should stay at home and avoid outdoor activities. The elderly, pregnant women, young children, and those with underlying health conditions who experience symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, runny nose, difficulty breathing, fatigue, and rashes should seek medical attention promptly. The BMA’s Medical Service Department has prepared to respond to the situation by establishing air pollution medical clinics in affiliated hospitals within the city to address PM 2.5 levels exceeding 75 micrograms per cubic meter. (TNA)

From the Hill Five takeaways from a winning election night Democrats saw a successful Election Night on Tuesday, scoring wins in a number of competitive contests. In deep-red Kentucky, Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear sailed to reelection, while in Virginia Democrats flipped control of the House of Delegates and maintained control of the state Senate. Abortion rights advocates also saw a number of wins, most notably in Ohio, where voters chose to enshrine abortion protections. Abortion proved to be a top issue for voters on Tuesday over one year out from the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Abortion access advocates saw a major victory in Ohio, where a majority of voters voted “yes” on Issue One, a ballot measure that enshrines abortion rights into the state’s constitution. Ohio was one of several states that rolled back abortion access following the overturning of Roe v. Wade. The state made headlines after a 10-year-old girl was denied an abortion in Ohio and had to travel outside of the state to undergo the procedure. Meanwhile, in Kentucky, Beshear won his reelection bid after he campaigned on expanding abortion access. Beshear’s campaign released an ad showing a prosecutor criticizing the lack of exceptions for rape and incest under Kentucky’s ban on the procedure. His GOP opponent, Attorney General Daniel Cameron,said during the campaign that he would approve legislation that would include rape and incest as exceptions to the ban, but later appeared to tack to the right on the issue. Meanwhile, in Virginia, Democrats maintained their majority in the state Senate and flipped the House of Delegates by largely campaigning in competitive districts on the threat of an abortion ban. The victories for abortion rights advocates, particularly in right-leaning Ohio and Kentucky, are a good sign for Democrats going into 2024. A number of Democratic incumbents and candidates, including Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), have signaled that they plan to campaign on the issue next year. As for Republicans, Tuesday’s results show that they have yet to find a successful message on abortion in a post-Roe World. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) embraced a proposed 15-week ban on abortion with exceptions in the state and a number of down-ballot Republicans followed his lead. But the strategy does not appear to have paid off. Continues at https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4298989-five-takeaways-from-a-winning-election-night-for-democrats/

I’ve gradually come around to the belief that this is precisely how Hamas figured it would play out. Given Israel’s consistent history of rapid and overwhelming response, how could they possibly believe otherwise. Hamas’ goal was to sacrifice its own citizens to bring about unrest throughout the Mideast and beyond. And although they invited the disaster that’s unfolding daily, they way well be on their way to their ultimate objective.

From Laotian Times VIENTIANE (Laotian Times): Nestled amid the green landscapes of South-East Asia, Laos finds itself at the epicentre of an extraordinary tourism surge, statistics by the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism revealed. The first nine months of this year have seen an astonishing influx of more than 2.4 million foreign tourists, marking a jaw-dropping 285 per cent increase compared to the same period last year. This is a testament to Laos’s growing appeal on the global stage. According to the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism, Asean countries contributed over 1.6 million tourists, with substantial numbers from the Asia-Pacific region, Europe, and the US. This influx is attributed to improved accessibility facilitated by faster travel on highways and the Laos-China railway, which has become a popular means of transportation. But contrary to expectations, local tourist groups believe the majority of visitors came from Western countries. “Most tourists this year came from America or Europe. We didn’t see as many visitors from Asia as expected,” said Soutthisak Sayasavanh, tour director at Discover Laos Today, a leading travel company in Laos. “We look forward to next year. I hope many more tourists will come visit Laos.” While data shows outstanding growth in tourism across the country, according to Soutthisak, the world heritage city of Luang Prabang saw a lower influx of visitors compared to 2022. “Last year was better for the tourism industry in Luang Prabang, I think. Visitors rushed here right after Covid-19,” he said. “2023 seems to be a little quieter.” While Luang Prabang may be welcoming fewer visitors, less popular tourism destinations are experiencing fast growth. The emerging idea of “dispersed tourism” is gaining traction in the region. This fresh approach entails exploring less frequented destinations, especially in rural areas, where the allure lies in the natural beauty. In the southern part of Laos, for instance, the cluster of Four Thousand Islands captivates travelers with its stunning scenery and cascading waterfalls. The promotion of new tourism destinations is also part of the Lao government’s strategy for the upcoming Visit Laos Year 2024 and the country’s Asean chairmanship in 2024.

Walking the streets of Silom daily, the absence of groups of Chinese is noticeable. However, that doesn’t mean there’s an overall dearth of tourists. I’ve never seen Thaniya more crowded. The Patpong Night Market is vibrant and pedestrian traffic most nights is strong. Observing the passers by on Patpong 2 last night from Hot Male beer bar with a fellow board member, it was evident that tourists from elsewhere in Asia and western countries are picking up some of the slack. Hotel bookings are strong and restaurants and pubs are doing well. Soi 4 is doing a robust business on most nights and the massage shops are holding their own despite stiff competition. Venues like 76 Garage are obviously hurting because they owed their success to tourists from a single source who travel in groups. Individual Chinese are still finding their way to Bangkok but aren’t necessarily drawn to those attractions. The Chinese trade will be slower to materialize because of some of the reasons cited in the OP but also due to China’s current economic woes. Meanwhile, Thailand seems destined to prosper because it simply has so much to offer to all.