reader

From Forbes Laos may be a landlocked country without a tropical coastline, but it makes up for it with stunning mountain scenery, lush rice paddies and the mighty Mekong River which runs through its territory. Still wild and largely untouched, it offers a fascinating array of cultural attractions, outdoor experiences and timeless charm. With its mix of Buddhist temples, colonial architecture and jungle fauna, Luang Prabang is one of the overlooked jewels of southeast Asia. First inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995, its heritage has been preserved in time and its traditions remain an enduring attraction. It’s still common to see locals give alms to monks each morning around 6am: sticky rice, crackers or cookies given as an act of charity to monks who rely on these expressions of good will. Orange Robe Tours, one of many social enterprises in town, hires former Novices and Monks to lead tours around Luang Prabang. These culturally-immersive experiences provide unique insight into the life of a Buddhist monk, and help ease the transition from temple life to layperson life. The Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre (TAEC) is another entity helping to preserve and share Laotian traditions with the public. Through its museum exhibits, education activities and livelihoods development programme, the TAEC educates visitors on the main ethnic groups of Laos, and empowers local communities to actively manage their own cultural heritage. Continues with photos https://www.forbes.com/sites/liviahengel/2023/03/30/laos-travel-guide-one-week-in-southeast-asias-most-charming-country

From Thai PBS World On March 31st, the world-renowned “Van Gogh Alive” exhibition will open its doors at ICONSIAM in Bangkok, offering visitors the most immersive and highly attended art experience in the world. “Van Gogh Alive” is a multimedia art exhibition that brings the works of Vincent van Gogh to life through digital technology. It was created by the Australian company Grande Exhibitions and has since travelled to over 80 cities around the world, captivating millions of visitors. The exhibition is a unique and immersive experience which combines high-resolution digital projections of van Gogh’s paintings with music and an interactive display. Visitors can explore the artist’s masterpieces in a new and dynamic way, getting up close and personal with his works’ vivid colours, bold brushstrokes and emotional intensity. One of the highlights is the “Sensory4” technology, which uses a multi-channel surround sound system and a synchronised scent diffusion system to enhance the visitor’s sensory experience. The combination of visuals, sound and scent creates a fully immersive and unforgettable experience. The show dates of “Van Gogh Alive” in Icon Siam Bangkok will be from 31st March until 31st July. Doors open at 10.30am and close at 9.00pm. The ticket price range from 480 baht to 1,490 baht. ========================= From The Nation Bangkok kite fest launches at Iconsiam with aerial duels and dazzling displays Tourists and kite enthusiasts swooped on the riverside at Iconsiam mall on Wednesday as preparations for Bangkok’s annual kite festival got underway. The ICONSIAM Summer Kite Playground 2023 will launch on Friday, transforming skies over the Chao Phraya River with weird and wonderful creations from around the country and abroad. The third edition unreels until April 10 at River Park and is organised by Iconsiam, the Tourism Authority of Thailand, City Hall, and private partners. From 5pm daily, kites equipped with LED lights will light up the sky with dazzling displays.

If I didn't know better, I'd think you're defending the status quo in Myanmar. Say it isn't so, Moses, say it isn't so.

The humanitarian tragedy in Myanmar continues to unfold. From Thai PBS World A total of 40 political parties in Myanmar have been dissolved for failing to re-register, which includes the ousted National League for Democracy (NLD), according to state-owned media. Myawaddy News announced on Tuesday night, during their regular news program, that the Union Election Commission had set Tuesday as the deadline and, as such, parties which failed to register will no longer be recognised. The National Unity Government (NUG), a parallel government that was formed during the fallout from the 2021 coup, had denounced the would-be election and so had the NLD. Not only is the legitimacy of the election questioned, but so were the strict new laws that were implemented in January 2023. The new rules will prevent parties and/or candidates, deemed to have links to individuals or organisations “designated as committing terror acts” or seen as “unlawful”, from running. The parties that also want to contest the national election, scheduled to be held in August this year, will also need to have at least 100,000 members within three months of registration. They will also need at least 100 million Myanmar kyat deposited in the state-owned Myanmar Economic Bank. The amount is 100 times more than what was required under the old law, enacted during 2010. The parties must also have representative branches in at least half of all 330 townships across Myanmar within 6 months, while also having representatives to contest at least half of all constituencies. Opposition to the military-run administration still rages, especially in rural areas and regions with a strong presence of the NUG’s PDF groups and ethnic armed forces. Military chief Min Aung Hlaing announced that “decisive actions” will be taken against those “unlawful groups” at the recently held military parade that marks Myanmar’s armed forces day.

From The Nation The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Bank of Thailand on Wednesday voted unanimously to raise the policy rate by another 25 basis points, from 1.50% to 1.75% per annum, with immediate effect. MPC secretary Piti Disyatat said the committee came to the conclusion that a policy rate hike was needed to tame inflation and bring it within the target range of the central bank. Piti said the MPC saw the rate hike as necessary, taking into account range the continual expansion of the Thai economy, driven by the tourism sector and consumption by the private sector, and signs of the export sector rebounding. The MPC expected headline inflation to be within the target range by the middle of this year, as core inflation was still high due to high manufacturing costs and the high prices of raw materials for the manufacturing sector. The MPC sees headline inflation returning to the target of 2.9% from the middle of this year and slide further to 2.4% next year in line with the easing oil and electricity prices. The MPC also expected core inflation to slide to 2.4% this year and to 2% next year. ============================ Cross rates to the baht this morning: USD 34.16 EUR 37.13 GBP 44.22

From The Thaiger Global aviation has taken off to a promising start this year, with the Pacific Asia Travel Association predicting a 71% growth rate for the region. The downside is that the recovering industry can’t get enough labour to keep up and the massive swell in demand has brought with it a massive swell in flight prices. Travel restrictions have been lifted worldwide, allowing for easier and more convenient air travel. Even ultra-locked-down China has allowed travel to resume post-pandemic. But their delay in reopening left Asia lagging in recovery, as the World Tourism Organisation believes Europe and the Middle East will reach 80-95% of its pre-pandemic numbers this year. There is massive pent-up demand from eager travellers, but the Covid-19 pandemic battered airlines to the ground, and getting back up has been challenging. Many went bankrupt, and layoffs were unavoidable across the whole industry. Some returned leased planes and now have to order new ones to replenish their fleet. Two-thirds of all passenger planes were grounded and, by the middle of last year, 5,161 out of 28,674 planes in the world are still dormant, with Asia hosting the brunt of them. Estimates put 23% of all flights in Asia out of service due directly to China’s closure. But things have steadily improved, and by the end of last year, global air traffic was up from 41.7% of pre-pandemic numbers in 2021 to 68.5% in 2022. Though, looking at December 2022, while flight capacity was at 77.9% of 2019 levels worldwide, they were only at 59.8% in Asia, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) While there is massive demand to travel, a significant backlash has formed as flight prices have climbed to what many consider an unreasonable level. The overwhelming jump in demand was similar to that of cargo services during Covid when people were locked down, and prices soared. Add to that the huge spike in jet fuel prices, which rose by nearly 80% in 2022, and the costs of getting flight services reestablished, and you have a recipe for painfully high ticket prices. Experts believe prices will stay high until more planes can get up and running and the demand is no longer outpacing the available flights and seats. The additional cost of staffing to fill the shortage and fluctuating jet fuel prices may further hinder price easing. Some in the industry are predicting the price surge to last for two or even three years coming out of the pandemic. The only good news is that domestic flights have recovered more quickly and prices for flights within Thailand have recovered significantly. Meanwhile, Thai AirAsia says their international flight rates will be up 20% and average flight prices to China are up 50% all around. Flights from Europe are expected to remain above 40,000 baht, and flights from Japan are between 26,000 and 35,000.

From Pattaya MAil By Barry Kenyon Although the immigration bureau is perceived as the main agency for catching foreigners snatching Thai jobs, the Department of Employment (DoE) has its own teams of investigators. Their October 2022-March 2023 report says 685 employment venues were prosecuted and a total of 1,550 people prosecuted, the majority being economic migrants from Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos who had entered Thailand without registration. Indians and Vietnamese also figured prominently in the cases. The number of Europeans, Americans and Australians arrested during this period by DoE officers was very small and around 20 individuals. This may have been because the inspection appears to have been principally aimed at illegal working in selling goods, hairdressing, driving vehicles and massage. These are activities popular with Asian economic migrants. However, the report does not include arrests by immigration police during the six months period. Immigration command does not routinely produce statistics on its arrests. Phairoj Chotikasatien, director general of DoE, said foreign workers were subject to changes in the regulations in 2017 which listed the 40 employment skills strictly reserved to Thais and mandated fines and deportation for foreign defaulters. Fines for businesses which offer employment without authorized permits vary from 10,000 baht to 200,000 baht per worker. The director general pointed out that the inspections were nationwide and included Bangkok, Phuket, Samui, Chiang Mai and Pattaya. Work permit regulations were relaxed somewhat in 2017 by royal decree. Businessmen no longer need a permit to attend meetings, to participate in sports or to arrange exhibitions as long as they are not “regular”. High tech specialists qualify for the 4-year Smart visa which does not require a separate work permit. In October 2022, the Board of Investment introduced a 10-year visa which includes a digital work permit as part of the deal. A Chonburi immigration spokesperson said most Europeans working without authorization were involved in teaching class or running bars, restaurants and sports venues. Other areas of concern at seaside resorts were foreign taxi drivers and tour guides. She said that immigration staff worked with other agencies, including the Ministry of Labour, but conducted independent investigations as well. The immigration bureau is also responsible for tracking overstay foreigners, those who do not report their local address and alien groups involved in illegal activities such as “boiler rooms” or call centers designed to cheat savers of their bank account cash.

Just out of curiosity, when was the last time you actually patronized these shops? Or even been in Bangkok? I've have many times and found the age, photos and other particulars accurate.

From The Nation Three Mongolian men have been arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport for allegedly stealing money from passengers’ bags several times, the airport announced on Monday. Police arrested Damdin Jargalsaikhan, 37, Batbold Sambuu, 51, and Batmyagmar Urtnasan, 37, on Floor B of the passenger terminal on Friday (March 24), said airport director Kittiphong Kittikhajorn. Officials identified the suspects from CCTV footage after two Japanese men, a Thai woman and a Canadian man separately complained to tourist police that they had lost their wallets and cash in several currencies between last Wednesday evening and Thursday morning. The missing money reportedly amounted to over 260,000 baht. The footage appears to show the three suspects working with two women, who are still at large, by surrounding the victims, while the women use their coats to block the view of their luggage and then steal cash from their bags. The gang was filmed acting in this way near a currency exchange booth after the alleged victims had just exchanged money, and in an elevator leading to a parking lot. Kittiphong said the airport has ordered security staff to increase surveillance to ensure safety for passengers, especially during peak hours. He also urged all passengers to be mindful of their belonging at all times. To report missing money or property, passengers can contact an airport information booth or call the 1155 hotline.

From The Nation A festival atmosphere has engulfed Phadung Krung Kasem Canal in central Bangkok, which is hosting vendors, live music, art, and open-air cinema until April 5. The “@ Phadung Krung Kasem” festival was launched on Monday by Dr Suksan Kittisupakorn, deputy permanent-secretary of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration. The canalside event spans 800 metres from Nopphawong Bridge to Charoen Sawat Bridge (Rama IV Road) behind Hua Lamphong Railway station. The festival runs from 2pm to 10pm every day from March 27 until April 5. Visitors can enjoy arts exhibitions, music and stage performances, booths selling OTOP and Bangkok Brand products made by local communities, a-million-baht selfie spot, open-air movie screening, and food from over 100 vendors.

KK Massage: LINE ร้าน KK Massage 23 This may be a good starting point. When I first began visiting the shop last year it had a stable that included Myanmar guys. There are numerous shops in the Saphan Kwai area but masseurs constantly move around because they are all free agents and not necessarily regular staff like you'll encounter in the Silom shops. What I enjoyed most about patronizing these shops was their ASEAN-wide representation, with a strong representation of Lao guys who rarely disappoint.

From Coconuts Bangkok Dear Songkran revelers, if you like to drink and/or show your body off, there will be no place for you at city-sanctioned events this year, according to City Hall. Bangkok Gov. Chadchart Sittipunt said yesterday that people (read: women) won’t be allowed to wear revealing clothes during the upcoming festivities which fall April 13-15. Among other rules are no booze sales, no use of high-pressure water guns, and no smearing of powders on faces or other body parts. Every Songkran in recent years has been accompanied by a drumbeat of browbeating and fretting over its tendency to turn lewd and drunk as people let loose and shed essential clothing along with their inhibitions. Few things wind up the City Fathers like unabashed women in control of their bodies. Despite repeated threats that the wet days of Songkran will be dry of alcohol, that has only been the case at official city events. Although Chadchart was vague, it’s highly unlikely a general booze ban will be declared anywhere in Bangkok during Songkran. The city will organize events April 12 through April 14 in the old quarter’s Lan Khon Muang square, located between City Hall and the Giant Swing. Officials also promised to release a map showing designated areas in Bangkok’s 50 districts where water fights are allowed, almost as if anyone will heed it. The online map will rate different areas by the intensity of water splashing and overall wetness. This year’s Songkran festivities will mark the first free of any COVID-19 restrictions in four years.

From Wikipedia The Chao Mae Tuptim shrine (Thai: ศาลเจ้าแม่ทับทิม, RTGS: Thapthim, also known as Penis Shrine[1) is a phallic shrine in Bangkok, Thailand, located behind the Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort Bangkok near the bank of the Khlong Saen Saep. The shrine was created in the first quarter of the 20th century by Thai businessman Nai Lert (1872-1945), who found a spirit house floating in the klong and placed it on the bank of his property. In Thailand, the phallus is considered to be a symbol of good luck and also a representative of fertility. The shrine is one of the best examples of intentional phallic architecture in the world. The site, which measures roughly 60 by 70 feet (18 m × 21 m), is now "crammed with carved" wooden penis statues, which are said to possess special cosmic powers and endow good fortune and fertility on anybody coming into contact with them. The size of the penis statues, which number well over 100, is said to range "[from] the size of a cream doughnut to the size of a canoe"; some are huge, some are humorous and painted pink to closely resemble a human phallus.

From Thai PBS World by Nad Bunnag, Thai PBS World Koh Larn, an island lying in the Gulf off Pattaya, has been attracting thousands of local and foreign tourists for decades, but this has undeniably led to a mountain of garbage, resulting in an enormous landfill on the small island. “In the past, about 10 tonnes of garbage were generated each day on Koh Larn but, because the number of tourists has been increasing, the amount of garbage has doubled,” said Manoch Nongyai, deputy governor of Pattaya City. As much as 25 tonnes of waste is dumped into this landfill every day. The site now contains an estimated 70,000 tonnes, with about 20,000 above ground and the remainder buried beneath it. “Most of the garbage here is plastic waste which cannot be recycled,” Manoch said. “There are also wood and other construction materials that we place at the back of the landfill, because this type of garbage cannot be disposed of through burning.” In the past, most of the trash from Koh Larn was shipped to Pattaya for disposal, until the Interior Ministry imposed new regulations on waste management in 2015. This eventually led to garbage piling up on the island. “The new ministerial regulation states that wherever the waste is generated, we have to dispose of it there. So, we cannot nolonger ship the waste over to Pattaya,” said Manoch. The mountain of garbage there has been a long-standing problem for people in the community. There does now, however, seem to be a way out. The local government plans to complete the installation of two incinerators this year, with the capacity to burn at least 50 tonnes per day of the waste at the landfill, including newly-generated waste. The deputy mayor predicts, however, that it will take at least 7 years to burn all of the accumulated waste in the landfill. Burning waste also raises concerns over the negative environmental impacts. The deputy mayor offered a reassurance that the use of incinerators has been carefully considered, to reduce the impact on the environment and the residents. “At first, we were quite concerned [about the negative impacts],” he said, “but then we looked into which type of incinerator would be most suitable for the island. So, we decided on an incinerator that uses extreme heat and doesn’t emit smoke. We do not believe that it will ruin the island’s image or the environment, because [the landfill] is in the middle of the island. So, we have to take care of the island’s environment.”

On the contrary. Many of the Saphan Kwai shops post penis size along with photo. I've found them to be consistent with what you encounter in the flesh.

Don't know how the Florida lady would come down on this phallus display but Thais don't seem to have any problem with it. PHOTO: Khaosod Online From The Pattaya News This particular tree scientifically known as a hairy keruing was swarmed by hundreds of locals in a small town of the Khon Buri district of Nakhon Ratchasima after a merchant in the area claimed that he had won a six-million-baht lottery prize after begging for good luck from this tree. All types of typical Thai offerings, such as sweet food, red Fanta, flowers, incense, and three-colored fabric, were laid and tied around the trunk of the tree by those hoping to receive good luck and fortune.

Barry Kenyon chimed in today on the outlook for an extension of the 45-day Visa on Arrival scheme which expires March 31. Here's some excerpts from his column in the Pattaya Mail: "The argument in favour of extending the visa exempt and visa on arrival schemes to the end of 2023 is to boost the number of international tourists to Thailand in the post-covid environment. Conversely, it can be argued that the Thai tourist revival is proving so popular that additional visa privileges are hardly necessary. Moreover, adverse publicity about foreigners (mostly but not entirely Chinese) paying cash to receive corruptly long stay visas has prompted proposals that more power should be placed in the hands of Thai embassies abroad to award tourist and longstay visas rather than encouraging a free-for-all. Other potential ambiguities include the number of same day visa runs which would be permissible and documentary requirements by Thai embassies abroad when awarding visas within their particular remit. It is also possible that any announcement could be delayed till after March 31 as, during the pandemic, immigration news was not uncommonly delayed post-deadline. A final issue is that the current caretaker government, awaiting the May 14 general election, is unlikely to approve new groundbreaking immigration rules. After all, This Is Thailand."

Not to mention Thai Hot Guys.

Since I don't think of any of the massage shops as being il-legitimate, you can get the same results in most any of the ones in Silom area. I'm not quite sure if a handjob is considered "no sex" but good luck with your pursuit.

All good suggestions. You may also want to check out massage locations that feature guys from Myanmar such as some of those shops on Sutthisan Winichai Rd. in Saphan Kwai area.

From Thailand News Agency BANGKOK, March 27 – The Royal Thai Police has developed a mobile application called “Tourist Police i lert u” for foreign visitors to Thailand to be able to seek help from the police in cases of emergency. application is operated with the Global positioning System (GPS), and can be downloaded free of charge from both iOS and android systems, said Deputy Government Spokesperson Ratchada Thanadirek. Once downloaded, tourists may click “Request” to seek help, and send information and photos at the scene of accident to the War Room (1155 tourist police Hotline), which has officers on stand-by around the clock. The information will, then, be forwarded to local police nearby to provide immediate help. In the meantime, the police will call back to the registered phone number to provide initial help and advice. Languages available for communication with the tourist police are: English, Chinese, Russian, Korean, French, German, ASEAN and Arabic. (TNA) ==================

From Pattaya News The Phuket Immigration revealed to the Thai media that two foreigners received red cards and four foreigners received a yellow card this month, March 2023, so far. Phuket Immigration reported that there are in total 181 foreigners in the legal process of criminal cases. Most of them are Russian, French, British, Myanmar, and Cambodian. The most criminal cases are in Patong. Most cases are drunk driving, following by overstaying, illegally entering the kingdom, and working without a work permit. According to Phuket Immigration the system is indeed like a football game. Red cards in sports mean leaving a sport field but in terms of Immigration it means withdrawing one’s visa and requiring the foreign national to immediately depart Thailand. The length of a ban for entry to Thailand under the red card rule varies based on the severity of the crime. However, many foreigners don’t know about Thai culture or Thai laws, Phuket Immigration noted. As a result, many foreigners claimed when arrested or told about penalties based on their behavior that they didn’t know the law or rules or claimed that nobody had clearly told them the laws or rules. Many claimed they saw other people do the same type of crime or rule violation and not get penalized and felt they could do so also or asked why others were not penalized and they were. Phuket Immigration has set up a measurement tool for the red card and yellow card system. For the first time one did something wrong, they gave them yellow cards for a warning and reported their behavior to consulates. If they did it again, they will receive red cards. Their visa will be withdrawn and will be deported as previously stated.

From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon Police from the Technology Crime Suppression Division worry that the English love of annual fun on April 1 has been adopted by Thais on social media in the last few years. So they are again reminding everyone this week that the (vague) computer crimes act lays down penalties ranging from 100,000 baht fine to five years in jail for false data which is likely to damage the country’s security, or might cause a panic, or could simply damage other people. To date, no actual prosecutions have ever occurred arising from the first of April’s “speak play” or “poot len”, howbeit with a couple of near misses. The advent of coronavirus in early 2020 led to a spate of longlasting Fool jokes about protecting yourself by drinking cow urine or sleeping with a sliced onion, but police expect this year to see a switch to politics with a general election due in mid May. For example, the current prime minister general Prayut Chan-o-cha was first parodied as Times magazine’s “man of the year” in 2017 in a falsehood which has appeared regularly in Thai social media ever since. And Thai political humor can be a great deal nastier than that. Last year, ThaiVietjet was threatened with prosecution after staff without permission posted an April 1 hoax message about a new air route to Germany which, some said, insulted the revered monarchy. In 2021, a Thai citizen was ordered to take down a Facebook account which claimed without evidence that there were earthworms instead of meat in a popular burger. Several people ended up in hospital after reading about what they had just eaten. One even tried to sue the social media platform. Fortunately, most Thai April Fool jokes haven’t attracted official attention. There have been “fun” reports in the past that tuk tuk rides in Bangkok would be free for one day, that the latest ice cream flavor was pork chunks and that shrimp cocktail was now a popular choice in the Kit Kat chocolate selection. Foreigners have also joined in over the years to claim variously that Thailand was changing from driving on the left to the right, that the last survivor of the Titanic had died on Jomtien beach and that the 90 day address report for expats had been abolished. According to Martin Wainwright, author of The Guardian Book of April Fools Day, one sour note is that genuine news coming out on April 1 may not be believed. In 2004 Google launched its email service with huge 1-gigabyte inboxes which many thought was a joke and technologically impossible at the time. Google later abandoned all April Fool jokes because of the confusion they can create. You got that one right Big Brother.

From The Nation Bangkok is fifth on Airbnb’s list of top trending global travel destinations for this year, with foreign tourists expected to return in full swing for the Songkran festival next month. Searches for what is known as “the world’s largest water fight” rose 310% year on year, the online marketplace for short-term homestays said. Bangkok is the most-searched Thai destination for the annual water festival, followed by Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Krabi, and Phuket, said Amanpreet Bajaj, Airbnb’s general manager for Southeast Asia, India, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. “With Songkran just around the corner, we are delighted to see the significant resurgence in international travel to Thailand on Airbnb,” Bajaj said. The surge in searches signals a strong recovery for tourism in Thailand, Bajaj said. “The growing excitement among global travellers to experience the country’s scenic natural landscapes, rich cultural heritage, delicious local cuisine, and world-class Thai hospitality, is extremely encouraging,” he added. Nights booked in Thailand on Airbnb’s platform more than doubled last year, with international travel leading the way. Travellers from the United States made up the majority of Airbnb guests visiting Thailand in 2022, followed by those from the United Kingdom, Europe, and the Asia Pacific region, including South Korea, Australia, and China.

From Nikkei TOKYO -- Thaksin Shinawatra, the Thai prime minister ousted by the military in 2006 who has lived in self-exile since 2008, said that he expects Thailand to have a coalition government after the May 14 general election even if the largest opposition Pheu Thai Party wins a majority in the lower house. "I believe it will be a coalition government, definitely," Thaksin told Nikkei Asia in an exclusive interview in Tokyo, adding that he is confident Pheu Thai will win at least 250 seats in the 500-seat chamber. Thaksin also told Nikkei that he would not want the new government to issue an amnesty allowing him to return home, however strongly Pheu Thai performs. He will return to Thailand of his own accord at some stage, even if it means serving a jail term. "I think about going home all the time, but I don't want the government to issue an amnesty for me," he said. Thaksin declined to say whether Pheu Thai is making any deals with other political parties to form a new government. "I am just a founder of the party -- not a member -- so what I can do is observe the election from a distance," he said. Thaksin Shinawatra, a billionaire telecom tycoon, gained prominence in Thai politics in 1998 when he founded the Thai Rak Thai Party, which won a landslide election victory in 2001. He set up a single-party government after a number of small parties were absorbed by Thai Rak Thai, which literally means 'Thais Love Thais.' Thailand's House of Representatives was dissolved on March 20, paving the way for a general election on May 14, when more than 52 million eligible voters will have the opportunity to elect a new government. This follows nine years of military-dominated rule that produced Thailand's 20th constitution and imposed an unelected Senate able, among other things, to dictate the choice of prime minister. Of the 500 seats in the lower house, 400 have been assigned to local constituencies, and 100 are allocated on a party list basis from the overall election result to provide an element of proportional representation. Thaksin is fielding his youngest daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, to lead the Pheu Thai election campaign, but it is unclear if she will be its prime minister candidate. Thaksin was the first elected Thai prime minister to go full term, and in 2005 was reelected with 377 seats. His youngest sister, Yingluck Shinawatra was elected prime minister in 2011, and removed in 2014 by court order shortly before the current prime minister, Prayuth Chan-ocha, staged his coup as army chief. Pheu Thai was set up in 2007 as a reincarnation of Thai Rak Thai. It won the largest number of seats in the 2019 election, but without a majority was unable to form a coalition government.