Taiwan's air force flexes muscles in face of Chinese war games
Today is Friday, yet again. Flime ties, eh?
Incoming U.S. ambassador (after 575) days hasn't yet got his credentials, but he has his priorities.
Which are, to start, to grab Thailand's recent record on human rights, and twist.
Or, as a press release put it, quite diplomatically, he will "help to improve the human rights situation in the kingdom."
Career diplomat Robert F. Godec (@BobGodec) said via a State Department press release he will soon be at the U.S. Embassy, Bangkok.
His latest job, at U.S. State Department headquarters at Foggy Bottom, was: senior coordinator for Afghanistan in the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration. In dipspeak, Godec is an African specialist.
This should give him insight into the growing human trafficking in and around Thailand.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2346323/
THAILAND SOUTH SEPARATISM
BRN: Yes, we did all that
Not a huge surprise to Fishwrap readers.
The Barisan Revolusi Nasional Melayu Patani, National Revolutionary Front, better known as just BRN, announced it had planned and carried out the coordinated 17 bombings and arsons across the deep southern provinces of Thailand on Tuesday night.
And it was sorry about that dead man, but BRN had told everyone in the attack areas to get out of the way.
The announcement was on the group's Facebook page, full name BRN Barisan Revolusi Nasional Malayu Patani.
The attacks were aimed at striking at the "power of capitalism" that is spreading rapidly in Pattani, a term normally used by southern separatist movements in referring to the three southernmost provinces, the BRN said in the same statement.
"This power is ruining the communities’ economic structure, considering that a huge number of local shops have been forced out of business," said the BRN.
DIPLOMACY SRI LANKA
Sri Lankan 'guest' invited to leave
The violently ousted ex-president Gotabaya Rajapaksa will leave Thailand next week, and try to return to his country.
He told the Sri Lankan news agency Newsfirst on Thursday he will leave Bangkok and fly to Colombo on Wednesday next.
Prayut dispatched his chief Number One spokespersonlady to tell the media:
"[Thailand and Sri Lanka] have close relations and are bound to Buddhism," she said.
"Putting up with Rajapaksa for two weeks "is an act of empathy during a political and economic crisis."
THAILAND CORONAVIRUS PHUKET FLIP FLOP
Yet another Phuket Flip-Flop On Mask Mandate
As of Wednesday, every person in Phuket was under official junta orders to Mask Up.
As of Friday (which is today) the junta's province governor Narong Woonciew reversed that - NO MASKS, especially on sand beaches, in parks, etc.
https://bangkokherald.com/thailand/phuket/phuket-completely-revokes-mask-order-capping-incompetent-week-of-flip-flops/
ANALYSIS MILITARY F35 PACIFIC
Forget the human rights, just for a moment, Mister Ambassador.
The Commander of the United States Pacific Fleet is in Thailand, with an eagle eye on the Thailand-China two-week air force drill at Udon Thani, Operation Eagle Strike.
An urgent task of Admiral Samuel Paparo will be to recommend, quickly, to Ambassador Godec, the Pentagon and President Joseph Biden whether the United States should sell stealth F-35A fighters to Thailand.
Which really wants some and will continue lobbying hard for the purchase.
https://www.thaienquirer.com/42919/thai-chinese-air-drill-likely-to-create-turbulence-in-procurement-of-f35-fighter-jets/
https://th.usembassy.gov/admiral-samuel-paparo-commander-of-the-u-s-pacific-fleet-to-visit-thailand-august-18-21-2022/
THAILAND JUSTICE HACKING
The 34-year-old man who hacked the website of the Constitutional Court last month won a prison sentence of 18 months from the Criminal Court on Thursday.
Wachira Suphasatien "illegally accessed a computer system."
The real crime was that he changed the home page of the court's website from 'Constitutional Court' to 'Kangaroo Court', with a link to a YouTube video of the American hip-hop group Death Grips performing Guillotine.
Opposition strikes fast and first
The petition to unseat Prayut immediately was filed at the Constitutional Court. It demands that Prayut step down by August 24 which is [scrambles with calculator] next Wednesday.
If you have an extra sawbuck lying about, bet that Prayut will not step aside by next Wednesday.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/politics/2370761/pm-will-not-dissolve-house
THAILAND POLITICS
Ombudsman, deflated
The head of the Office of the Ombudsman called in a few media members to tell them:
The Ombudsman has no authority to consider the contentious issue of how long a military dictator (example: Prayut) can remain in office.
So, said ombudsman secretary-general Keirov Kritteranon, the citizens' petition asking for a ruling stops right here.
The petition asked the ombudsman to rule on when Prayut's term runs out.
"Sorry boys," said Keirov, "that's not in our power to decide."
There's an urgency, because anti-coup activists claim Prayut should be ousted next week, August 24.
Prayut himself has given that idea a hard nah.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/politics/2370761/
https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/politics/40019047
Prayut claimed full credit for construction of "the most beautiful pier and waiting room" on the entire Chao Phraya River.
The Rajini Pier, aka waiting room for ferry riders, will handle 1,900 passengers, oince it opens.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/travel/2371221/
https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/national/40019051
THAILAND CORONAVIRUS
The illness that keeps on happening. On Thursday, in Thailand, Rona
• infected and hospitalised 2,461 new victims and
• killed yet another 28 infected people.
As of today we are in the exact centre of another five (5) day holiday.
The junta's loyal 'minister of public health' Anutin Charnvirakul told the nation and would-be tourists to act like boy scouts: Be prepared.
"Even if parties are thrown, pubs and bars open and crowds gather, people should continue to keep their guard up and the situation will be under control. We emphasise the need to prevent severe cases."
And keep your mask on while you travel down to Bang Sue Grand or any other inoculation centre.
And wash your hands.
"The situation will remain under control if people follow precautions strictly." Which is a strange utterance from the head of the ministry that has not kept any health situation under control, even monkeypox.
https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/national/40019031
Say one thing, Anutin's 'ministry of public health' has put out excellent graphics about Covid for the past 939 days.
"A new study reveals just how damaging the policy was."
Research reveals Chinese Covid lockdowns claimed 20 times more life years than they saved.
https://thenationalpulse.com/2022/08/16/study-finds-lockdowns-cost-20-x-lives-they-claimed-to-save/
The Department of Completely Unsurprising News reports...
Most Khao San bar, restaurant owners support 4 a.m. curfew/closing.
Who would have thought?
Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn (white shirt and mask) personally went to Khaosan Road and asked them.
Phiphat said he had a chat with owners of restaurants and night spots on Khao San Road and most supported the 4 a.m. closing instead of the present 2 a.m.
"The ministry is trying to draft regulations to control any noise."
https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/national/40019036
Souvenir Hunter
One million tourists. One million reasons for coming to Thailand.
It seems a long way to go to buy a broom, but maybe the line at Home Depot was too long.
You and your damned pot-smoking hippie friends are not welcome, understand? Goddit?
"We don't welcome those kinds of tourists," said Anutin Charnvirakul, the nation's Number One promoter of Weed For Thailand.
https://bityl.co/DswZ
But on the other hand...
The exact-same cannabis promoter and Bhumjaithai political party chief Anutin said, "Well, ah, you know"...
He will try to convince friends in the ruling junta to accept that some tourists are going to come to Thailand, pretty much for the sole purpose of toking.
"If the public accepts it."
That is likely to be the Biggest IF of 2022.
Anutin insisted to the media on Thursday that the number of problems since the legalisation of some cannabis stands at a perfectly round number.
Well, apart from the medical experts and religious leaders who are completely opposed to his legalisation.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2370891/
"When I heard he survived, I was surprised, I guess," Hadi Matar, of Fairview, New Jersey, said in a video interview from the Chautauqua County Jail.
"I respect the ayatollah. I think he's a great person. That's as far as I will say about that," Matar said. "I read like two pages" of Rushdie's The Satanic Verses.
Matar was born in the United States to parents from southern Lebanon. So he is eligible to become U.S. president
https://nypost.com/2022/08/17/alleged-salman-rushdie-attacker-didnt-think-author-would-survive/
Is it just me, or are there a few other people who at least wince at Americans who love fire-bombers and ridicule rosaries, but won't say a word against their beloved Iran?
THAILAND CRYPTO
Warning issued over DeFi transactions
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is warning investors to exercise caution when making decentralised finance (DeFi) transactions.
There are risks and they do not fall under the supervision of the country’s regulators.
DeFi: A P2P DeFi transaction is where two parties agree to exchange cryptocurrency for goods or services without a third party involved. Cavet emptor, times two.
PHOTO: The SEC statement warns that DeFi transactions carry a number of risks, most of which are complicated.
On this day in 1980 the Soviet Union opened the most boycotted, most political Olympic Games in all of human history.
On this day in 1947, assassins in Rangoon killed nationalist leader Aung San. (But not until after he had a female child.)
TAIWAN WEST-TAIWAN
Taiwan's air force flexes muscles in face of Chinese war games
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/taiwans-air-force-flexes-muscles-face-chinese-war-games-2022-08-17/
HUALIEN, Taiwan, Aug 17 (Reuters) - Taiwanese F-16 fighters roared into the night sky on Wednesday in a show of force in front of the media, demonstrating the military's determination to defend the democratically governed island in the face of days of Chinese war games.
PHOTO: An F-16V lands at the air base in Hualien, Taiwan.
Can you say "conflict of interest"?
You only get one guess:
Which member of America's political Quad Squad was expanding her rental property inventory at the same time she was pushing for federal landlord subsidies?
Oops! Maybe I shouldn't have written "her"?
Canada Rushdie
Canada delays distribution of 'Satanic Verses'
February 17, 1989
OTTAWA - Canada said Friday it will halt the next shipment of the controversial book 'The Satanic Verses' until the government determines if the work by Salman Rushdie violates a ban on hate literature.
Francois Filion, a spokesman for Revenue Canada, said in an interview his department received a complaint from an Islamic organization in Calgary, Alberta., that triggered an automatic review of the book under Canadian law.
https://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/02/17/Canada-delays-distribution-of-Satanic-Verses/2998603694800/
XiNN chops the potato
Brian Stelter To Leave CNN As Network Drops Reliable Sources.
It seems unfair, since The Tater never has been caught masturbating while on-air.
CNN said
CNN will end its Reliable Sources program on Sunday, August 21st. As a result Brian Stelter will leave the company. We appreciate his contributions to the network and wish him well as he embarks on new endeavors.
https://deadline.com/2022/08/brian-stelter-leaves-cnn-1235095457/
U.S.A. TELEVISION
Ratings king Nielsen says:
Streaming Viewership Has Surpassed Cable TV Tune-In For The First Time.
https://bityl.co/Dth4
Unfortunately true:
Former Head of CIA Thinks Republicans Are More Dangerous Than ISIS and al-Qaeda.
https://tinyurl.com/ry7er2mb
SUNDAY READ
The Decline of American Legitimacy - Malcom Kyeyune
The tsar never had enough cossacks to control the situation if everyone got fed up. The Stasi never had enough agents to prevent the Berlin Wall from falling if all of East Germany decided that it had had enough.
https://compactmag.com/article/the-decline-of-american-legitimacy
