A journey through Thailand's past part 7

As the famous scientist Carl Sagan observed, "You must know the past to understand the present." In other words, "to understand how contemporary Thailand has formed, it is worth looking at history".

This series provides an overview of events from the period 1967 to 2017. Each part covers a period of five years and is sure to hold surprises for even the most knowledgeable Thai history buffs.

Part 7: Period 1997-2001

1997 was the year when the Chulabhorn Research Institute was founded by Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn to conduct research in biomedicine and biochemistry. American Pacific International School in Chiang Mai and the Constitutional Court was established. The 88-storey, 303-meter Baiyoke Tower II was completed, making it the tallest building in Thailand. Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Center (BITEC) opened in Bang Na district of Bangkok as well as Central Plaza shopping mall on Rama 3 Road and Emporium luxury shopping mall on Sukhumvit Road.

And 1997 was also the year that a devastating economic crisis began in Thailand that rocked East Asia and spread to Eastern Europe and South America. The so-called 'Tom Yum Kung' crisis shook the world and ended Thailand's status as an Asian tiger economy.

January

Princess Mother Memorial Park, also called Suan Somdet Ya, was opened on January 21 by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej in memory of his mother, Princess Srinagarindra. Operated by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and located in the Khlong San district of Bangkok, the park contains gardens and a reproduction of the royal mother's house, two exhibition halls of royal family memorabilia, and a pavilion with a statue of the princess.

A crowd of more than 3.000 avid movie fans attended the opening of Planet Hollywood restaurant in Bangkok to meet Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis, Wesley Snipes, Cindy Crawford, Jean Claude Van Damme and Jackie Chan.

An armed group belonging to Karen has entered Thailand from Burma and set fire to two refugee camps in Tak province, leaving some 10.000 Karen refugees homeless. The group of about 300 fighters tried to destroy a third camp but was prevented by the Thai border police. The three coordinated attacks on Thai soil were carried out by the pro-government Burmese Democratic Karen Buddhist Army and reportedly with the blessings of Burmese troops stationed along the border.

February

Tiger Woods has won the Asian Honda Classic golf tournament at the Thai Country Club in Chacheongsao province. It was Woods' fourth win in 12 tournaments since turning pro in August 1996. Born in the US, Woods has a Thai mother.

Police have arrested three men on charges of collaboration in embezzling 600 million baht from the Bangkok Bank of Commerce (BBC). One of those arrested was Krikkiat Jalichandra, former president of the BBC.

April

Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh labeled Pattaya as Thailand's "biggest source of evil." He said prostitution, drug trafficking, money laundering and other pernicious activities are prevalent there and must be addressed to prevent the degradation of Thai society. Chavalit revealed that he had "snuck into" the beach resort to face all forms of vice. He also said Pattaya was known as a place where drug dealers launder tens of billions of baht and expressed concern that they could use their profits to disrupt society.

September

The Department of Transportation and Communications announced that after a six-year delay, the $3,3 billion Hopewell project would be scrapped. The cabinet canceled the contract after growing concerns from Hong Kong-based Hopewell Holdings that it would not be able to deliver the Bangkok Elevated Road and Train System on time. Hopewell initially denied that the project had been scrapped, saying it had not received any official notification from the Thai government. Hopewell chairman Sir Gordon Wu said the company had fulfilled its promise to build 60 km of roads and rails. The abandonment of the project left more than a thousand concrete pillars with no apparent purpose along the planned routes. The Bangkok Post described the spectacle as Bangkok's version of Stonehenge.

October

The 1997 constitution was adopted on October 11, replacing the 1991 constitution. The 1997 constitution was hailed as a milestone for democracy in Thailand and was repealed by the Council for Democratic Reform on September 16, 2006 after a successful military coup. The 1997 Constitution was replaced by the 1 Constitution on October 2006 of that year.

A total of 21.347 unclaimed corpses were loaded into giant bamboo baskets by charity workers and transported by vans to a temporary burial ground about 50km from Bangkok. The decomposed remains were mostly of traffic accident victims and homeless people whose relatives could not be found.

1998

In 1998, the conglomerate BEC-TERO Entertainment Company was founded and the first Starbucks opened in Bangkok. Tesco Lotus also came to Thailand and Angel Airlines was founded in Bangkok. Harrow International School opened in Don Muang district and the massive IMPACT Arena, Exhibition and Convention Center was completed in Muang Thong Thani. The Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok's Bangkapi district was opened to the public, as was Thammasat Stadium in Pathum Thani.

January

The Thai baht fell to an all-time low of 56,67 for the US$. Currency traders said the baht's collapse was accelerated by the bankruptcy of Finance One, Thailand's largest financial company, and continued demand for US currency.

February

A transvestite boxer caused a stir at Lumpini Stadium by refusing to undress at a weigh-in as required by regulations. Weeping deeply, Parinya Charoenphol, nicknamed Toom, also known by the stage name Parinya Kiatbusaba said, “The rule is unacceptable. How can I strip in public?” Parinya had made quite a name for herself fighting in the provinces before being offered the big fight in Bangkok. Due to protests from Parinya, the officials decided to have the 16-year-old boxer wear underwear at the weigh-in. Parinya won 18 of 22 fights, including the one at Lumpini Stadium that night.

More than 20.000 people flocked to three auction houses to bid on the first 535 passenger cars, pickup trucks and vans put up for sale by the Financial Restructuring Authority. Among the bargains were 30 Mercedes-Benz, three BMWs and one Ferrari.

March

Police launched an investigation into a nightclub brawl involving Wanchalerm Yubamrung, the son of Muan Chon party leader Chalerm Yubamrung. Witnesses said Wanchalerm took part in an attack on a man, his son and a woman during a scuffle at Future Pub in Bangkok's Chao Phraya Park Hotel. Wanchalerm, who denied involvement in the Future Pub brawl, had previously been involved in the attack on a man in Phuket in April 1997. The criminal charges for that incident against Wanchalerm and four other men were dropped in June due to insufficient evidence.

April

About 10.000 people visited Lumpini Park to catch a glimpse of an ancient relic of the Lord Buddha. The relic, a tooth believed to have been rescued from the Buddha's ashes after his cremation in India more than 2500 years ago, was put on public display during a stopover between India and Taiwan.

Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai reacted to the death of Cambodian despot Pol Pot by saying the Thai government would work with the world community to bring the remaining Khmer Rouge leaders to justice for genocide. Pol Pot, the ruthless 'brother number one' of the Khmer Rouge, has reportedly died of heart failure.

June

Thailand became the first Asian country to approve the sale of Viagra. The Food and Drug Administration approved the sale in principle but imposed some restrictions, stipulating that the drug can only be sold in hospitals with prescriptions drawn up by medical specialists in neurology, psychiatry, cardiology or endocrinology, who all may be related to erectile dysfunction. Thailand's Pfizer Pharmaceuticals said the drug was expected to retail for at least 400 baht per pill.

July

Bangkok police began cracking down on people smoking in public places, including shopping malls, supermarkets, government buildings and buses. Violation of tobacco laws was punishable by a 2.000 baht fine. Police Major General Jongrak Judhanond said after talks with health officials that police would also check air-conditioned restaurants that had no smoking areas.

Telecommunications entrepreneur Thaksin Shinawatra founded the Thai Rak Thai (Thai Love Thais) Party (TRT) on July 14. The populist party appealed to indebted farmers who were in trouble as a result of the ongoing financial crisis. The party promised a strong economic recovery if they came to power and also reached out to villagers and financially troubled entrepreneurs.

Auto Alliance Thailand (AAT), an auto assembly company in a joint venture between Ford Motor Company and Mazda Motor Corporation, began production in Rayong province. The grand opening ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Chuan on July 1. AAT builds compact pickup trucks and SUVs primarily for Southeast Asian markets.

September

Police began cracking down on Thailand's first international film festival. Police required all film submissions to be reviewed by a censorship board before showing. Bugis Street, a film about transvestites in Singapore's infamous red-light district in 1960, had already been banned for pornography. Thai director and screenwriter Ing Kanjanavanit commented: “It is ridiculous that Thailand has one of the freest press in Asia, but the Thai film industry is one of the most censored in the world.”

The 1998 Asian Games took place in Bangkok from December 6 to 20 with 377 events in 36 sports disciplines and about 6.500 athletes.

November

The government authorized the filming of a Hollywood adaptation of Alex Garland's novel The Beach on Koh Phi Phi as protesters, wearing masks depicting movie star Leonardo DiCaprio and throwing dollar bills in the air, stood outside the offices of 20th Century Fox in Bangkok . Their environmental concerns were dismissed by the officials who pointed to the film's potential to boost Thai tourism. The decision to film in the national park was made by a panel chaired by Prasit Damrongchai, Permanent Secretary to the Prime Minister's Office.

1999

1999 brought the much anticipated opening of the BTS Skytrain Sukhumvit Line. The Skytrain was inaugurated on December 5 in commemoration of the King's 6th birthday. The Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) was established. AMLO is the main agency in Thailand responsible for enforcing financial laws on money laundering and counter-terrorism. Phuket Air was founded and Santichaiprakan Park on Phra Arthit Road in the Phra Nakhon district of Bangkok was created. The charitable organization known as Sarnelli House Thailand started providing medical aid and shelter to children affected by HIV/AIDS, orphans, abandoned and abused children. SF Group, a cinema and entertainment venue operator was founded.

January

German expat and businessman Wolfgang Ulrich was charged with involvement in drug trafficking and other illegal activities. His detention for non-payment of import taxes and illegal entry into Thailand sparked a parliamentary outcry when opposition politician Chalerm Yubamrung raised his case in a vote of no confidence against Interior Minister Sanan Khajornprasat, reiterating the German's claim that he spent $22 million in bribes to avoid being deported. Mr. Ulrich was known and feared in the expatriate community and was known to spend a lot of time in Pattaya. Photos of him with Chalerm state were published by the Thai media. In 2001, Ulrich was deported to Germany where he was sentenced to 12 years in prison after being charged with defrauding German citizens who paid XNUMX million baht for a non-existent animal rescue facility in Pattaya.

April

It was decided that the 14 October 1973 uprising should be included in school textbooks so that young people could learn about historical events in Thailand. Deputy Education Minister Somsak Prisananantakul said a committee had been formed to investigate the matter but added: “We will not go into details such as a list of who was killed and who was on board the helicopter from which the students from Thammasat University were shot.”

Mei

Suspected Burmese forces and their Karen rebel allies attacked the Ban Nam Piang Din police station in Mae Hong Son province, about 2 km from the Thai-Burmese border. The attackers were armed with grenades and automatic weapons. According to Thai police, about 20 intruders first captured and forced a Thai villager to lead them to the police station. The intruders then surrounded the station and opened fire. Four Thai police officers who manned the police station managed to escape. The Thai Narcotics Suppression Center claimed that the rising number of border incidents in recent months was due to Thailand's intensified efforts against drug trafficking.

UNESCO stated that Thailand enjoyed freedom of the press but added that the same could not be said of Thailand's digital media as most television and radio stations remained under state and military control. After the report was released, army commander general Surayud Chulanont said the armed forces would allow independent regulators to determine whether the army can maintain 50 transmission frequencies he said were necessary for national security.

June

The Thai cabinet approved an early retirement scheme that aims to reduce government jobs by at least 10%, or about 120.000 jobs. The stimulus package was due to start at the beginning of the 2000-2001 fiscal year. In a second round, another 20 percent of the workforce would be cut. The package approved by the Civil Service Committee was designed to reduce bureaucracy and improve performance.

August

The six-year battle for compensation by relatives of Black May victims was lost after the Supreme Court absolved the National Peacekeeping Council of any financial responsibility. Sumalee Usiri and 38 others demanded 17,7 million baht in damages from the Royal Thai Army, the police, General Suchinda Kraprayoon, former Air Force Commander Kaset Rojananil and former Interior Minister General Issarapong Noonpakdi. The relatives argued that the three leaders of the military junta authorized the use of force to suppress pro-democracy protesters and ordered the crackdown on peaceful demonstrations in May 1992. The violence would have been necessary to contain violent protesters.

September

Mom Luang Bua Kityakara, mother of Queen Sirikit, has passed away. The Royal Household Bureau released a statement saying that King Bhumibol is deeply saddened by the death. The king said that ML Bua (aka Khun Tan) had always shown great kindness to him and other members of the royal family. Because she was of royal descent, she was given a royal urn for her burial. Her body was placed in Sala Thai Samakorn Hall in the Grand Palace and a 15-day mourning period was announced. M. L. Bua was born in November 1909.

During a state visit to Thailand, Chinese President Jiang Zemin promised to work on "even healthier" Sino-Thai relations. Jiang was given a red carpet welcome upon arrival at Don Muang Airport where the King and Queen and Prime Minister Chuan were on hand to greet him. Jiang was accompanied by an entourage of 180 people. He was the third Chinese president to visit Thailand since the two countries restored diplomatic relations in 1975. His predecessors Li Xiannian and Yang Shankung visited Thailand in 1985 and 1991 respectively.

Bangkok Film Festival organizers refused to cut scenes from the Dutch film “Jezus is een Palestijn” and said they would hold a free screening to avoid violating censorship laws. Film festival director Brian Bennett said police have indicated the film should be canceled unless a sex scene is removed. “We looked at the law and there is a warning that says as long as you don't sell tickets the police can't fine you or jail you. We're going to buy all the tickets and make it a free screening," said Bennett. Police forced the withdrawal of two films from the first Bangkok Film Festival in 1998.

November

Environmentalists and filmmakers battled again over Koh Phi Phi where 20th Century Fox filmed The Beach last year. A group called Friends of Ao Maya (Maya Bay, where most of the filming was shot) said the film crew left the previously pristine beach damaged and eroded. A British newspaper described Maya Bay as 'a desolate scene of ugly bamboo fences and dead plants'. Earlier in the year, environmentalists applied for a court order to halt filming claiming production crews destroyed the beach by planting 100 coconut palms and uprooting natural vegetation. The civil court rejected the request to stop filming.

The Foreign Business Act BE 2542 (1999) was enacted to restrict foreign ownership in certain Thai industries. Among other things, the law criminalized the practice of appointing Thai 'nominees' to hold shares on behalf of a foreigner. A nominee could be fined from 100.000 to one million baht and up to three years in prison.

October

Wat Phra Dhammakaya abbot Phra Dhammachao and three of his close associates reported to the police for embezzlement. They were charged after many allegations surfaced against the controversial temple. The abbot and his assistants were accused of embezzling temple funds to buy land in Phetchabun province worth more than 40 million baht. The temple was also connected to about 100 fake companies set up by relatives of senior monks at the temple. Wat Phra Dhammakaya had established about 30 affiliated temples worldwide and was in the process of purchasing an old church in Chicago to convert it into an international meditation center. In April, an alliance of about 30 religious groups asked the Sangha council to consider expelling the abbot because his temple's activities had harmed the country, religion and monarchy. However, all charges were eventually dropped and the temple was allowed to continue its operations.

Scientists were concerned about the increasing interest in insect snacking, mainly from rural areas, because they feared that some species could disappear. Researchers expressed concern after a survey of edible insects in the north and northeast found that locals had added 11 new species to their diets. Only four varieties were previously on the menu.

November

More than 50 factories in Tak province have been closed as thousands of Burmese workers have been laid off in anticipation of an announced crackdown on illegal labour. Hundreds of workers returned to their countries of origin by crossing the Moei River that separates Thailand and Burma, and thousands more sought refuge at the border. Tak Chamber of Commerce president Panithi Tangpati said employers fired workers to avoid being charged with harboring illegal immigrants, an offense punishable by 10 years in prison and a 100.000 baht fine.

December

About 2.000 couples gathered for a mass wedding ceremony in Nonthaburi province, held to mark the new century. The event was organized by the Tourism Authority of Thailand and local businessmen. Most of the brides and grooms were Thai. Many foreigners withdrew due to possible Millennium Bug issues.

2000

2000 is the year the National Science Museum opened to celebrate Queen Sirikit's 60th birthday. The museum in Khlong Luang in Pathum Thani province is managed by the Ministry of Science and Technology. The 55 km long, six-lane elevated Bang Na Expressway was inaugurated making it much easier to reach Pattaya from Bangkok. Also open was the Mall Nakhon Ratchasima, the largest mall in the Northeast. A number of national parks were established, including Khlong Phanom in Surat Thani Province, Mae Wa in Lampang and Tak Provinces, Pha Daeng (formerly Chiang Dao National Park) in Chiang Mai, Phu Sang in Chiang Rai and Phayao and Doi Provinces Pha Hom Pok in Chiang Mai.

February

Samut Prakan province was the scene of radiation poisoning after a cylinder of unprotected cobalt-60, used to produce gamma rays for medical and industrial purposes, was found at a scrap dealer. He and other workers dismantling the container were exposed to critical levels of radiation. Ten people were hospitalized and four of them subsequently died. Officials said the cylinder was labeled "Atomic Energy of Canada." It was traced to Kamol Sukosol Electric. A spokesman for Kamol Sukosol said one of the four radiotherapy devices was stolen from the company's warehouse.

Thousands of spectators watched as five Norwegian paratroopers jumped from Thailand's tallest building, Baiyoke Tower II, to claim a world record for simultaneous base jumping. The five jumped from the 81st floor of the 84-story building into the parking lot on the fourth floor of the nearby Indra Hotel, 290 meters below.

According to the governor of Bangkok, Bhichit Rattakul, the air quality in the capital had improved. The Pollution Control Department said carbon monoxide and small dust particles were reduced compared to the XNUMXs. Bangkok's cleaner air was a result of better traffic flow and the mandatory use of plastic sheeting to cover large trucks carrying dirt and other loose material. Plastic coverings were also ordered to be stretched over buildings under construction.

March

Police seized 100.000 illegal CDs from a store in Nonthaburi province. The audio and video recordings contain pornography. The store owner was not present during the raid, but police said they plan to sue him for copyright infringement.

April

The government confirmed plans to build a new airport on what was dubbed Nong Ngu Hao ('Cobra Swamp'). Now known as Suvarnabhumi International, the airport was scheduled to open in 2004 and serve about 40 million passengers a year as the only international airport in the Bangkok area. At the time Don Muang Airport was handling international traffic, the New International Airport Development Committee said that a single international airport would reduce costs and the Tourism Authority of Thailand agreed. Don Muang subsequently managed to regain limited international status.

The Health Ministry said television programs should remove images of actors smoking and cigarette packs should be illustrated with forensic photos of illnesses caused by tobacco. In both Thai and foreign shows, images of smokers' mouths had to be blurry, even in cartoon animations.

Chulalongkorn University veterinary faculty said its next cloning project was a water buffalo (kwai slice) after previously cloning a cow. The researchers said the project was appropriate because Thai water buffalo numbers were rapidly declining and warned that the animal could disappear from Thailand altogether in the future.

Mei

Shin Corp was rumored to be in the process of purchasing a major stake in the independent iTV channel amid fears of political interference from the telecom conglomerate's founder and TRT party leader Thaksin Shinawatra. Thaksin was seen as a strong contender to become the next Thai prime minister. An unnamed source at iTV told the Bangkok Post: "We fear that Thaksin will dominate the television station and then exploit it for political gain." In 1995, iTV was granted a 30-year operating concession, but the television station was reeling from losses incurred during the 1997 financial crisis.

Prime Minister Chuan released a 605-page Defense Ministry report on the 'Black May' pro-democracy protests and massacres in 1992. The report, released with 60 percent of the details blackened out, was written by Privy Councilor and former commander of the First Army, General Pichitr Kulavanijaya. The May 17-20 protesters had protested against the appointment of General Suchinda Kraprayoon as prime minister after he overthrew Chatichai Choonhavan in a 1991 coup. The government said 44 people died, 38 disappeared and 11 became disabled. However, independent researchers strongly disagreed with these figures, claiming that hundreds were in fact killed.

The Office of Environmental Policy and Planning (OEPP) said erosion devoured the beaches of Hua Hin and Cha-am with sand washing into the Gulf of Thailand. The 70-year-old sea wall protecting Maruekhathaiyawan Palace, the royal retreat built by King Rama VI, also suffered the effects of beach erosion. OEPP expert Nawarat Krairapanond said: "Nature itself is eroding this coastline, but the accelerated rate is man-made." He added that piers, buildings and other structures divert the natural current from the sea, forcing the current to gush nearby beaches. It was noted that the loss of the beautiful beach not only affects the natural beauty of the country but also takes a heavy financial toll as land by the sea is sold for up to 10 million baht per rai.

June

After 30 years of molecular research, Dr. Yongyuth Yuthavong announced the discovery of the structure of an enzyme produced by the malaria parasite called DHFR, which allowed the parasite to become resistant to drugs. (An Oxford graduate, Yongyuth is a former president of the Thai Academy of Science and Technology and remains one of Thailand's most respected scientists.)

October

Police used batons to push back hundreds of stone-throwing protesters in Hat Yai who opposed the approval of a joint Thai-Malaysian gas pipeline. Environmentalists claimed the 350km pipeline would harm the region's ecology and scare away tourists. Villagers and students stormed the site where the 28 billion baht pipeline was being built, forcing officials to flee under police escort. At least 19 protesters and 13 police officers were treated for injuries and a truck carrying protesters was hit by gunfire. No one was injured in the incident and police arrested several suspects.

November

About 100 former Nike employees who had lost their jobs protested in the lobby of the Shangri-La Hotel in Bangkok where Tiger Woods was staying. They said Woods was representing Nike so he should take an interest in the plight of more than 1.000 workers who were laid off without compensation in September. Woods, whose mother is Thai and father American, was escorted to his room by bodyguards and made no comment.

December

Thaksin denied money laundering through the sale of shares to a foreign company registered in the British Virgin Islands. He claimed the transactions were legal and expressed confidence that an investigation by the Auditor General would confirm his innocence. The shares were sold to ordinary foreign investors. "There was nothing unusual," Thaksin said. In August, he and his wife Potjaman reportedly sold millions of shares of three of their companies to Win Mark, which was registered in the popular tax haven. Investigations also revealed that Thaksin reportedly transferred other shares worth millions of baht to his housekeeper, driver, maid and security guard.

2001

2001 was the year in which Baan Gerda was founded. The non-profit humanitarian organization that takes care of AIDS orphans in Thailand is said to have no political or religious ties. The Bangkok Opera was founded and the Children's Discovery Museum opened on the northern edge of Chatuchak Weekend Market. The 24-hour music and entertainment channel MTV Thailand was launched and the National Human Rights Commission was established. Patra Elephant Farm, the only elephant breeding farm in Thailand, opened near Chiang Mai.

Film studio Phranakon Film was founded and Singapore International School of Bangkok was opened. Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand came to the scene and announced projects such as animal rescues and rehabilitation and veterinary assistance to wildlife in Thailand.

January

On January 6, a general election with 500 seats was at stake. With nine participating political parties, Thai Rak Thai won 248 seats, followed by the Democratic Party with 128 seats and the New Aspiration Party with 36 seats. A total of 28.629.202 votes were cast. Thai Rak Thai entered into a coalition with New Aspiration Party.

Thai security forces detained Burmese rebel twins Luther and Johnny Htoo and 14 others near the border with Burma in Ratchaburi province. The twins led the 150-strong God's Army which waged guerrilla warfare with the Burmese army based in Burma and Thailand. God's Army also caused a lot of trouble in Thailand.

February

Thaksin Shinawatra became Thailand's 9rd Prime Minister on February 23 following the landslide victory of his TRT party.

Thailand's attempt at independent television news suffered a serious blow when 23 iTV employees were fired after protesting interference in their coverage of Prime Minister Thaksin and the TRT party. Journalists at the station said they were pressured to downplay negative news about Thaksin.

March

Prime Minister Thaksin ushered in a new phase in the fight against drug trafficking while insisting that he wanted to cure addicts. “Methamphetamines are harming our people, even though authorities are working hard to control the scourge,” Thaksin said.

April

PM Thaksin introduced the 30 baht health program. By the end of the year, it had expanded to include antiretroviral drugs for HIV/AIDS. Patients who already had health insurance or social security coverage were not eligible for the 30 baht scheme, but it gave many sick poor people the opportunity to be checked by doctors and receive care. “The plan to provide health care for all will be achieved within my four-year term,” Thaksin said.

On April 18, four drug traffickers were executed in Bang Khwang Prison.
“You have to consider the pain and suffering our youth are causing due to drug abuse,” said Thaksin's minister general Thammarak Issarangkura who witnessed the executions.

June

Tao Suranari, a Thai film portraying a Laotian king as a villain, has damaged relations between the two countries. “Why can't the Thai government stop people from doing things that are not constructive for the country,” asked Lao Chargé d'affaires Phouangkeo Langsy. The film showed a Laotian military invasion of Thailand in 1827 led by Chao Anuwong, who was imprisoned in Bangkok but was considered a great king in Laos.

July

Police arrested more than 102 alleged financial fraudsters, many of them foreigners, who had set up "boiler room" scam schemes to defraud unsuspecting investors. The suspects were charged with money laundering and subversion. The 17 Thai nationals and 85 foreigners, including 30 British and 14 Americans, were arrested at the offices of the Brinton Group and Benson Dupont Capital Management. AMLO led the raids. The US Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Australian Federal Police assisted Thai investigators.

English Premiership champions Manchester United arrived to the wild cheers of thousands of Thai fans to play against the Thai national team at Rajamangala Stadium. England captain David Beckham received the most applause when he appeared in public surrounded by bodyguards. Beckham greeted the crowd with palms placed together in the traditional Thai wai. Manchester United won 29–2 against the national team on July 1.

August

Thaksin was saved by the Constitutional Court, which voted 8 to 7 that he was not hiding his wealth, a charge that would have brought him down. Thaksin transferred billions of baht worth of shares in his business empire to the accounts of his servants and relatives. His wife's brother, Ponjaman, had bought shares worth 1997 million baht from Shinawatra's maid in 737. ' the court ruled.

Interior Minister Purachai Piosombun ordered bars and nightclubs to close at 2am as part of a campaign against illegal sex, drugs and alcohol.

September

PM Thaksin rejected plans to revise the Hopewell public transport project because it was too expensive. He told the railway authorities to use the money to build more tracks. The project was stopped in 1997 and the abandoned concrete pillars for the planned rail and road project that remained as monoliths were to be demolished. Hopewell claimed they spent 12 billion baht to build the pillars.

October

A protest group called for a review of an agreement between Thailand and the US that allows US military aircraft to use U-Tapao airbase in Rayong province near Pattaya without declaring their mission. The Democratic Confederation said the use of the airbase by US aircraft as US attacks on Afghanistan continued was "unwise" and "inviting danger." “We are being dragged into what could be a protracted war,” said Sen. Kiaew Norapati, who wanted the government to throw out US bombers altogether.

The police successfully hunted down police sub-Lt. Duangchalerm Yubamrung, who allegedly shot and killed a Crime Suppression Division police officer during a scuffle at a bar. The assassination was a political disaster for his father, Chalerm Yubamrung, deputy leader of the New Aspiration Party, the youngest partner in the ruling coalition government. Several witnesses claimed to have seen Sergeant Major Duangchalerm shot

*Sources for this story include archives from UPI, AFP, AP, the Bangkok Post, The Nation, and Wikipedia and freely translated from Big Chilli online magazine https://is.gd/dNFG7N