The Department of Special Investigation has begun its operations dealing with the antimonarchy movement, setting up nine teams comprising nearly 300 agents from various agencies to do the task.

In identifying people whose behaviour is considered "detrimental or illminded" to the monarchy, the DSI will rely on the controversial Mind Map composed by the government's Centre for Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES), which indicted 27 key figures released during the runup to the redshirt protests in Bangkok.

Full article here

Looks like business is not running as good as it looks. I always was under the impression that there are not much safer businesses than Carrefour or Lotus. But looks like this is not the case anymore. They are looking for a buyer of their South East Asian operations. Full article here.

Looks like a new club called "Shock 39" is opening this Friday on Petchburi Road 39. I am not certain, I was thinking that this could be in the old P35 locality....but that was on Petburi Soi 35 so is this a completely new place? Well, we will see later this week.

The Email I got said the "opening" of Shock 39 is on Friday, 2nd July from 19:30 until 21:30. So considering the tmie I guess this i more of a opening reception. Still seems a bit strange that thi is only supposed to run for 2 hours but my gues is that on this night all drinks are free so they probably want to limit their expenses.

Also, the Email didn;t say anything about invitations so I would say this is open to everybody who is interested in having a look at Shock 39. The website by the way is not completely open yet. You can signup for news already but not much more.

Here is the rest of the little information provided:

You are cordially invited to join the Opening of Bangkok’s New clubbing Venue – SHOCK 39
@ New Petchaburi Rd Soi 39 on July 2, 7.30 – 9.30 pm.
Come to party with FREE bar, prizes, music & sound that will shock your sense.
Booking now at 02 664 0888, 080 292 2888
www.shock39.com

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Click here to download:

mort_searo_tha_thailand.pdf (192 KB)

This "Mortality country fact sheet" is from 2006 but probably still quite valid. It is from the World Health Organization. Not many surprises on there, too. AIDS tops the list....but road traffic accidents is also alarmingly high in the list.

Since the new MICT (Minister of Internet Censorship of Thailand) government agency was formed in Thailand, it has now blocked more than 100,000 websites in the country, a world record.

The new movie starring J Montonn's was released Thursday last week and you can now watch it at most cinemas across Bangkok.

Directed by Kittikorn Leowsirikun, That sounds good is basically a road movie, with Montonn being the driver and having to female passengers, Ter and Soontri (Ramita Mahapreukpong, Rattanrat Eertaweekul), with him. Both of the girls are a bit awkward, one with thick glasses, the other one being hearing impaired.

As you can imagine for a romantic drama as That Sounds Good is, a love triangle forms while you can adore the Laotian and Vietnamese beautiful backdrops that the three pass through. For the record, I haven;t seen the movie yet so thi is no review, just a short story rundown. Let us know in the comments if you liked it or not.

Last night, Jatuporn, one of the main red shirt leaders, was probably the most anticipated speaker. It was a bit strange as he had several pictures and video clips to show to the audience but the NBT TV station's camera men missed to properly zoom in on them so they were not visible on V. This is strange because the pictures and videos that the CRES showed before that were shown properly zoomed.... Hmmm.

Important thing though is that Abhisit and Suthep seem to be countering allegations well so far and that at the moment it doesn't look like any of them is even thinking of stepping down.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has expedited its plan to install 10,000 additional closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras to ensure maximum safety to the public after many of them were made non functional by the rioters.

Mr Winai Limsakul, Director of the Traffic and Transportation Department, stated that 27 CCTV installed around 18 junctions throughout Bangkok were destroyed during the riots of the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD).

Meanwhile, BMA spokesman Thanom Onketpon disclosed that the BMA’s previous plan was to install 20,000 more CCTV in many areas of Bangkok for a period of 4 years; however, the plan was accelerated by BMA Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra as he viewed that CCTV was now a necessary equipment for Bangkok people who were recently affected by the protests and riots. The governor has ordered related BMA units to firstly install 10,000 more CCTV throughout Bangkok. The installation is expected to be completed within 18 months.

source

Patrick Winn interviewed Chuvit and talked about what he wa up to the past months and his aspirations to run for Bangkok governor again. Here a few excerpts:

...

So you’d be the only person in the party?

I accept that. Because if I have someone else, I have to pay them off. Why should I pay anyone when I'm not doing dirty things? It will be a clean business. Last election, I spent almost 30 million baht [$927,660] to advertise the campaign. The posters, the billboards, the TV ads. So people know my face now.

I only need 80,000 votes from Bangkok. I can get that easily here. Some politicians only know about politics outside Bangkok, in the provinces, where you have to pay money for votes. I’ve been to Isaan [rural, northeast Thailand] and asked people, “Why do you accept 500 baht for one vote?” They said, “I get 500 today. That’s better than getting nothing.” This is the way politics work in Thailand. It needs time. It needs development.

...

But how exactly are you going to fix police corruption?

You catch some official, he goes to jail. Let’s say 10 years. Then society will say, “Really? Now someone’s really in jail for corruption!”

But last time you criticized powerful people, you reported being kidnapped and you ended up in the hospital. Your assets were also taken. Aren’t you scared something bad will happen again?

I’m never scared. They took away my assets but then returned them to me. I was kidnapped, but I came back. When you have a gun to your head, you don't expect you'll see your kids again. But I still survived. Now, I’m back. This is Thai society. I’m used to it. I know how to survive without a bodyguard. I take taxis and motorbikes alone like anyone else.