The scars of captivity

By Robert V.
Posted in Background, Society
Tags: , ,
October 9, 2024

Wasana Busadee's world changed dramatically when she innocently ended up behind bars for over two years. What began as a simple favor for an acquaintance turned into a nightmare of despair and injustice. Although she is now free, the scars of her captivity remain visible. Her story reveals a painful reality within the Thai justice system.

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Thailand's most famous epic is about the tragic love triangle between Khun Chang, Khun Phaen and the beautiful Wanthong. The story probably dates back to the 17th century and was originally an oral story full of drama, tragedy, sex, adventure and the supernatural. Today part 5 and also the conclusion.

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Thailand's most famous epic is about the tragic love triangle between Khun Chang, Khun Phaen and the beautiful Wanthong. The story probably dates from the 17th century and was originally an oral story full of drama, tragedy, sex, adventure and the supernatural.Today part 4.

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Thailand's most famous epic is about the tragic love triangle between Khun Chang, Khun Phaen and the beautiful Wanthong. The story probably dates back to the 17th century and was originally an oral story full of drama, tragedy, sex, adventure and the supernatural. Over time, it has been constantly modified and expanded, and has remained a popular and entertaining epic told by itinerant storytellers and troubadours. It was at the Siamese court, in the late nineteenth century, that the story was first recorded in writing. This is how a standardized, sanitized version of this famous story was created. Chris Baker and Pashuk Phongpaichit translated and adapted this story for an English speaking audience and published 'The Tale of Khung Chang, Khun Phaen'. Part 3 today.

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Thailand's most famous epic is about the tragic love triangle between Khun Chang, Khun Phaen and the beautiful Wanthong. The story probably dates back to the 17th century and was originally an oral story full of drama, tragedy, sex, adventure and the supernatural. Today part 2.

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Thailand's most famous epic is about the tragic love triangle between Khun Chang, Khun Phaen and the beautiful Wanthong. The story probably dates back to the 17th century and was originally an oral story full of drama, tragedy, sex, adventure and the supernatural.

Read more…

What is it like to be Malaysian in Thailand?

By Robert V.
Posted in Background
Tags: ,
5 September 2024

In the deep south of Thailand, the Malay-speaking Nayu struggle with discrimination and misunderstanding. Despite shared dreams and ambitions, such as good education and a safe future, they are often treated as second-class citizens. This story outlines the reality of their lives, where unequal treatment and exclusion are daily challenges for the Nayu community.

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The first Thai song I got to know was from an all-female band. The name of this band? Pink (พิงค์). The rock song, and maybe also those nice ladies, that I fell for was called “rák ná, dèk ngôo”. What was so special about that song? Watch and listen in.  

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On Friday, June 14, the Dutch embassy in Bangkok announced that the fees for a Schengen visa will be increased as of June 11. There was also a message about the processing times for a visa application. The embassy wrote the following on social media.

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Read the updated Schengen Visa File (May 2024) that Rob V. wrote here. The most important points and questions are discussed in this Schengen visa file. Good and timely preparation is very important for a successful visa application process.

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On the morning of May 14, 28-year-old political activist “Bung” died of cardiac arrest. She had been on a partial hunger strike since the end of January. The following is an abridged and slightly modified translation of Khaosod English article about her death.

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In May 2023, an article by the NRC about the use of an algorithm by the visa department of Foreign Affairs (BuZa) caused quite a stir. For example, several MPs asked questions to the minister. What role does the algorithm play in the decision process for a Schengen Short Stay Visa? The following is what the ministry says about this.

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Reading material for bookworms

By Robert V.
Posted in Books, Culture
Tags: ,
May 2, 2024

What are you doing now that we all have to stay indoors as much as possible? For the bookworms it might be nice to give each other some recommendations. Let's take a look in my bookcase with only about sixty Thailand related books and see what beautiful things are in between.

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An oral exam of Matthayom 6 students* at Wat That Thong School* has been canceled by order of the Ministry of Education. This after complaints from a royalist group. This group reasoned that the questions could undermine the stability of the country.

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Amnesty advocates visited by the police

By Robert V.
Posted in Society
Tags: , ,
February 22 2024

Several volunteers collecting signatures to call for an amnesty law for pro-democracy activists have reported harassment by police officers, the organization Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) said.

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Read the raw reality of life in Thailand's most feared prisons through the eyes of three foreigners who ended up there. Sandra Gregory's “Bangkok Hilton”, Pedro Ruijzing's “Life Sentence in Thailand” and Machiel Kuijt's “Ten Years Behind Thai Bars” provide a disturbing picture of daily life in the infamous Klong Prem Central Prison and Bang Kwang Central Prison, also known as the “ Bangkok Hilton” or “Big Tiger”. Their stories, shaped in the shadows of these dreaded walls, reveal a world far beyond most people's understanding. What do they have to say about their experiences behind bars?

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Thai opinions about the Netherlands

By Robert V.
Posted in Research
Tags:
July 12, 2023

All too often we hear the opinions of white noses about Thailand, but how do Thai people actually view the Netherlands? On a Thai platform I asked them what they found most striking about life in the Netherlands. The more than one hundred reactions were very diverse and mostly positive: the Netherlands may be wet and cold and the population is sometimes strange, but life is quite nice there.

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Last May 30, BBC Thai published an interview with Pita Limjaroenrat (พิธา ลิ้มเจริญรัตน์, Phíe-taa Lim-tjà-reun-rát) of the Move Forward Party. BBC Correspondent Jonathan Head asked the Prime Minister-designate about the government to be formed, policy plans and more. Here is an abbreviated translation of this interview.

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Last Monday, May 23, nine years to the day after the 2014 coup, prospective coalition partners signed the Memorandum of Understanding. This agreement lays down the outlines of the future government. Afterwards, the party leaders addressed the press, and it was the words of party leader Wan Muhamad Noor Matha* (Prachachart Party) that stood out in particular because of their emotional charge.

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The views of Pheu Thai

By Robert V.
Posted in Politics, Elections 2023
Tags:
May 22, 2023

The center party Pheu Thai (hereinafter; PT), known in Thai asพรรคเพื่อไทย (phák phûa-thai, party for the Thai) is a party that no one can ignore. The party is mentioned in the same breath as the family Shinawatra Thaksin and Yingluck) and is therefore a party that can evoke the necessary emotions. But are PT's views? Rob V. watched their election program.

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Move Forward's views

By Robert V.
Posted in Background, Politics, Elections 2023
Tags: ,
May 18, 2023

The progressive Move Forward Party (hereinafter: MFP), known in Thai as พรรคก้าวไกล(phák kâaw clay), emerged as the big winner. What are the positions of this new party? Rob V. read the party program and quoted a number of points that stood out to him.

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The NRC of 23 April contains an article about the processing of applications for Schengen visas and mentions some objections and pitfalls about how the Ministry of Foreign Affairs processes applications for a Schengen short-stay visa. 

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