Online Uproar Forces School to Cancel One-By-One Greeting Policy

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5 July 2017, 12:27

Students line up in front of Udonpittayanukoon School in Udon Thani on Monday.

UDON THANI — We all know what it’s like to be stuck in traffic for more than an hour in Thailand. But how about being stuck in an hour-long line to enter your own school?

Five thousand Udonpittayanukoon School students in Udon Thani found themselves in chaos when school opened Monday. Under a new order from the director, they were required to line up and properly greet, or wai, their teachers at the gate – one by one. The change resulted in a long line snaking around the school and prompted many students to complain on social media.

“I’ve come to a point where I have to queue for my own school,” one student wrote.

The policy soon drew outrage from those who believed the school went too far in imposing discipline. By Tuesday the state-owned school had revoked the practice, though the director defended it as a necessary means to teach youth to respect their elders and observe Thai culture.

“The act of wai is not only a policy, it’s the identity of Thainess,” school director Sujin Khaokaew said Tuesday.

He added, “School does not only teach academic lessons to students, it must also teach Thai manners, which is the identity of our culture.”

Students said on social media some had to wait more than an hour before everyone could wai the teachers and enter the school on Monday.

“I got here at 7.00, now it’s 7.25 and I haven’t gotten into the school yet,” one student said in a screenshot of a public Facebook post that’s now deleted, “I came to school early because I want to have breakfast at school, to turn in my homework, to do other personal tasks, etc.”

After the news got out, many comments slammed the policy as unnecessary and forceful.

“Kids don’t wai and respect [elders] so the school must teach them discipline, I understand that,” Victor Thanida Nirutti wrote. “But should they have found a better method? Otherwise they will just get robots who do like they’re programmed but do not have their own conscience.”

Sujinvideo — School director Sujin Khaokaew speaks to reporters Tuesday

School director Sujin admitted the policy led to long lines, but blamed teachers for positioning themselves too close to the gate which blocked the flow of students. Teachers have now been moved to stand and receive the wai inside the school compound, he said.

“Kids these days don’t have much patience,” Sujin said. “So, apart from teaching academic lessons to them, we have to teach them how to be patient.”

Thai public schools are notorious for adopting rigid army-like discipline adopted from the time when the country was ruled by a military regime six decades ago. Legacies of that era include mandatory army haircuts for boys and short hair for girls, corporal punishment and an emphasis on hierarchy.

Progressive students have tried in recent years to push back against some of these rules on grounds that they deter critical thinking.

Teacher Accused of Kicking Handcuffed Student in Ribs

City Hall Pledges Sidewalk Fixes in 5 Bangkok Districts

By

Asaree Thaitrakulpanich, Staff Reporter

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5 July 2017, 12:05

In this undated photo, a tessakit inspects broken sidewalks in Bangkok. Photo: Matichon

BANGKOK — City Hall on Tuesday pledged to fix broken sidewalks across five districts in southern Bangkok, an issue city planners blamed on street vendors.

Wanchai Thanomsak, director of city planning at Bangkok city hall, announced plans to renovate the capital’s deteriorating sidewalks in the districts of Bang Na, Pathum Wan, Watthana, Khlong Toei and Phra Khanong in an effort to make them walkable again.

After major downtown areas were cleared of street vendors in April, the footpaths they left empty are nagging officials for a repair.

Read: See Bangkok Before and After Street Food (Interactive)

“The sidewalks as well as traffic signs along Rama I, Ploenchit, and Sukhumvit roads have been damaged or deteriorated in condition due to street vendors on the sidewalks,” Wanchai said Tuesday.

He said he and local city officials took Saturday to inspect 24 kilometers of sidewalks around Bangkok.

“We found over 500 broken sidewalk spots and 100 broken traffic signs,” Wanchai said. “District officials, traffic officials and transport officials will start fixing these spots, which have also been damaged by drainage pipes that drip water onto sidewalks.”

Local district officials will start asking residents to get rid of ubiquitous PVC pipes that drip water onto passersby as well as potted plants that people place on the sidewalk, both of which cause inconveniences, Wanchai said.

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See Mexican, Israeli Art This Month at Bangkok Gallery

By

Asaree Thaitrakulpanich, Staff Reporter

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5 July 2017, 11:35

Laocoona and Baubo, a mixed media installation by Maya Gelfman. Photo: The National Gallery / Facebook

BANGKOK — Israeli and Mexican artists are bringing their exhibitions to a Bangkok gallery from Wednesday through the end of the month.

Featuring photographs and interactive exhibitions, a contemporary art display will showcase works by Mexican and Israeli artists at the The National Gallery near Bangkok’s Old Town.

The exhibition itself includes Israeli artist Maya Gelfman’s “Outside Looking In,” a collection of paintings and installations centered around the postmodern theme that reality can be reflected to mean different meanings.

17553736 980456595419030 8476819689267628410 n e1499229122643 — A piece from “From Geometry to Geography” by Enrique Rosas. Photo: The National Gallery / Facebook

Combining works from four contemporary Mexican artists, landscapes and abstract spaces will feature in Mexican exhibition “Geographies.” “To Dream Cities On Concentric Circles,” is an installation by Betsabee Romero that focuses on the sacred altars in Thai – and Mexican – taxis. Alfredo de Stefano’s “All the Deserts Are My Desert” is a collection of 20 photographs of seven deserts from around the world: the Sahara, the Gobi, the Atacama, the Nazca, the Thar, the Gran Cuenca and the Chihuahua.

Move from sand to sea with “Oceans,” an interactive installation of ocean waves by Maria Jose de la Macorra and see landscapes as both 2D and 3D geometric shapes in Enrique Rosas’ “From Geometry to Geography.”

Those especially interested in the artists can attend a talk 9:30am to 12:30pm at the National Gallery to listen to Romero, Gelfman and Thai artist Wijit Apichatkriengkrai discuss the use of art in public spaces.

Outside Looking In & Geographies Exhibitions, sponsored by the embassies of Israel and Mexico, starts at 5:30pm from Wednesday through July 30 at The National Gallery, which can be reached by car or by boat from Phra Arthit pier.

17629877 980456545419035 541902180149743265 n e1499229088914 — A photograph from Alfredo de Stefano’s “All the Deserts Are My Desert” exhibition. Photo: The National Gallery / Facebook

17553783 980456768752346 6258331471397897686 n 1 e1499229103200 — Artwork from “To Dream Cities On Concentric Circles” by Betsabee Romero. Photo: The National Gallery / Facebook

17553565 980456725419017 2781898129986391980 n e1499229153326 — “Oceans,” an interactive installation of ocean waves by Maria Jose de la Macorra. Photo: The National Gallery / Facebook

Registration Deadline for Migrant Workers Extended

By

Associated Press

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5 July 2017, 11:20

Myanmar workers wait July 3 before leaving Thailand at Mae Sot Immigration office in Tak province Thailand. Fearful that Thailand's new labor rules will get them into trouble, tens of thousands of migrant workers are returning to neighboring Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos, causing hardship to themselves and their Thai employers. Photo: Chiravuth Rungjamratratsami / Associated Press

BANGKOK — Thailand’s military government used a special executive order Tuesday to delay implementation of a recently introduced labor law after tens of thousands of migrant workers fled the country fearing punishment under the new rules.

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha invoked the order to suspend parts of the law that took effect June 23 to crack down on unregistered foreign migrant workers. Prayuth’s order sets a new deadline of Jan. 1, 2018, for registration.

At least 30,000 workers from neighboring Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos returned home, fearing they could be imprisoned for up to five years for not being properly registered. Many may have been dismissed without compensation by their Thai employers, who would be subject to fines of up to 800,000 baht ($23,500) for employing unregistered workers.

Although human rights workers pointed out the difficulties experienced by the workers, the government appeared to be more concerned about employers’ complaints that their businesses were suffering. Prayuth invoked Article 44 of the constitution imposed by the military after it seized power in 2014 which gives him virtual emergency lawmaking powers.

There are an estimated 2.6 million foreign workers in Thailand, half believed to be working illegally.

Prayuth said Tuesday his order was necessary to avoid problems that the new labor law could bring to the economy.

“If we just leave it then it will be bad for the economy, so we have to work together. Don’t believe it when they say the government is causing problems for workers,” he said.

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said Tuesday the order would extend registration deadlines and delay the imposition of four sections of the new labor law by 180 days. The amended law includes articles that deal with penalties for foreign workers and employers, and sections about unreported and unlicensed workers.

Wissanu said the law’s implementation has been delayed to allow time for foreign workers to acquire proper registration, which takes around two months.

“Setting a timeframe of six months allows workers to shuffle shifts and prevents issues where there is a lack of workers,” he said.

Wissanu said the order could also increase the maximum fine for employers with unregistered foreign workers to 1 million baht ($29,400) if the previous cap of 800,000 baht ($23,500) was deemed insufficient.

Tuesday’s order also warns government officials dealing with migrant workers against unethical behavior to accrue financial benefits, an apparent reaction to reports that officials extorted payments from employers or migrant workers.

Story: Kaweewit Kaewjinda

Junta To Use Article 44 to Delay New Migrant Law

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Review: Holland, Cast Delight in ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’

By

Associated Press

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5 July 2017, 10:28

One thing is certain: Culture has not been lacking in takes on Spider-Man for the past 15 years. First there was Tobey Maguire, who under the direction of Sam Raimi for three films ushered in the modern superhero era, and then there was Andrew Garfield whose two films with Marc Webb were immediately forgettable. And now, like all obedient franchises, they’re trying to start all over again, this time with the much more age-appropriate Tom Holland in “Spider-Man: Homecoming .”

And you know what? Superhero cynicism aside, “Spider-Man: Homecoming” is really fun. Director Jon Watts, whose only previous feature film credit is the indie thriller “Cop Car,” has confidently put his stamp on the friendly neighborhood web-slinger by making one bold move: actually casting teenagers to play teenagers.

Yes, after two films with late 20-somethings donning the Spidey suit and getting bitten by that pesky spider, Spider-Man finally gets to be a kid (and we get to skip over the whole origin/ Uncle Ben story). Instead, Watts’ film, which is upsettingly credited to six screenwriters, picks up with Peter Parker (Holland) right before, during and after the events of “Captain America: Civil War,” which introduced Holland’s Spider-Man in that epic airport Avengers battle.

Instead of a “last week in Marvel” segment to catch up, we’re given a refresher via Peter’s perspective. He’s just an excited kid who filmed the whole adventure and ever since has been thirsting for more Avengers action. He tries, endearingly, to prove his mettle on his own as he waits idly in Queens for a call from Tony Stark — giving directions to the elderly, retrieving stolen bikes and doing flips on command.

What he doesn’t know is that for eight years, there has been a supervillain emerging in his town in the form of a wronged construction worker, Adrian (Michael Keaton), who decided to break bad after losing a job to a government crew that clears post-superhero fight disaster areas. Peter, with his true-blue heart and naivete and eagerness to prove himself, of course takes on more than he can handle, while also trying to navigate high school, homework, crushes and the awkwardness of just being a teenager. Time passes easily and just when you might worry that you don’t actually care about any of the characters, the story throws a great curveball that carries interest to the end.

The film is overflowing with stellar talent, even in the smallest of roles and not counting the Marvel loaners in Robert Downey Jr. (who oozes charisma and charm even when phoning it in for a handful of scenes) and Jon Favreau. In the high school alone, there’s the too-cool Michelle (Zendaya), the crush Liz (Laura Harrier) and the adorable breakout best friend Ned (Jacob Batalon). Hannibal Buress and Martin Starr are there, too, to add reliable laughs. Adrian’s bad-guy crew includes Logan Marshall-Green and Michael Cernus. Even Spider-Man’s suit has an Oscar winner behind its voice (Jennifer Connelly).

Then of course there is Holland, a terrific actor since “The Impossible,” who is the perfect amount of empathetic, excitable and clueless to make Peter Parker work now and for years to come. For the most part, “Homecoming” is a joy. It’s light-hearted, smart, a little meta and the first Marvel film to really consider what it might be like for kids living in a world where superheroes are real.

My only quibble with “Spider-Man: Homecoming” is that for all of its charming and infectious realism about race, high school life and class issues, it has a bit of a woman problem. Simply: every significant and semi-significant female character looks like a model. It wouldn’t be an issue were the film not so spot-on with casting such a realistic variety of men and teenage boys, or if it were less concerned with hammering down on the “Aunt May is hot” bit that goes a little too far, but when taken together you start to wonder if maybe things would have been different if just one of the six screenwriters was a woman.

But just as Peter has some growing up to do, so does this young franchise.

“Spider-Man: Homecoming,” a Sony Pictures release, is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association of America for “sci-fi action violence, some language and brief suggestive comments.” Running time: 133 minutes. Three stars out of four.

Story: Lindsey Bahr

Mob in Western Myanmar Kills Rohingya Despite Police Guards

By

Associated Press

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5 July 2017, 10:17

An ethnic Rohingya holds a banner during protest after Friday prayers outside the Myanmar Embassy in 2016 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Photo: Vincent Thian / Associated Press

YANGON — A mob in Myanmar’s western Rakhine State killed a member of the Muslim Rohingya ethnic minority and injured six others who were on a police-guarded trip Tuesday from the displacement camp where they live to the city that many Rohingya were forced to flee five years ago.

The seven were given a ride by police to the dock area of Sittwe, the Rakhine capital, to purchase some boats. The Rohingya are normally confined to the camp, and police provide rides in a closed truck to both restrict and protect them.

A police officer and one of the men said the group was attacked by about 100 members of the Buddhist Rakhine ethnic group, whose violent assaults in 2012 drove most Rohingya residents from their Sittwe homes.

Communal tensions have not eased much since the 2012 violence, which killed hundreds and drove about 140,000 people – predominantly Rohingya – to camps for the internally displaced, where most remain. The Rohingya face severe discrimination in Buddhist-majority Myanmar, where they are widely regarded as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh stealing Myanmar land, although many have been settled in the country for generations.

Violence in recent years has been more widespread in northern Rakhine, where there is a bigger Rohingya population but spread across unguarded villages. Last October, the army launched counterinsurgency operations there after the killing of nine border guards. U.N. human rights investigators and independent rights organizations charge that soldiers and police killed and raped civilians and burned down more than 1,000 homes during the operations.

The camps near Sittwe are generally safer from attack but with unhealthy conditions and little chance to make a living. The Dar Paing camp from which Tuesday’s victims came houses about 8,000 people. A small group of Rohingya remain in Sittwe in a closed-off ghetto.

“As one of the Kalars got off from the truck and was talking to another guy, some of the Rakhine Buddhists started shouting ‘the Kalars are entering the city’ and attracted the mob,” police officer Phyo Wai Kyaw told The Associated Press. “Kalar” is a widely used derogatory term referring to Rohingya.

“The Rakhine started beating the Muslims up. One of the Kalars died on the spot and six were taken right away to the hospital. The two police guarding the Muslim guys couldn’t do anything as it was a big mob. The mob even followed the injured guys to the Sittwe hospital. The hospital gate needed to be shut because of the big mob.”

Abdu Alam, 65, one of the injured men, was hit in the head by a brick. His account of the attack was similar to the police officer’s.

He said that when one of the seven people in the police truck got out to talk with the boat seller, some Rakhine men saw him and started shouting, drawing others to attack them.

“They started stoning us. Some guys grabbed wooded sticks to beat us. Things happened so fast that we were stuck in the vehicle and the mob started attacking us,” said Abdu Alam, who was able to return to his camp later from the hospital.

“The policemen tried to stop them but there were too many of them and it was impossible to stop them. Finally we all got injured and taken to the hospital by the police.”

Story: Esther Htusan

Gov’t Committee Weighs Asking Facebook to Link Thai IDs

By

Sasiwan Mokkhasen, Staff Reporter

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4 July 2017, 18:52

Conference workers speak in front of a demo booth on April 18 at Facebook's annual F8 developer conference, in San Jose, California. Photo: Noah Berger / Associated Press

BANGKOK — Members of the junta-appointed reform committee said Tuesday that social media users need stricter identity verification methods to deter them from using it inappropriately.

Aimed at tightening the regulation of online platforms, the proposal approved by the National Reform Steering Committee on Monday upset internet users, after it suggested relevant agencies would ask Facebook to consider requiring ID Nos. to operate accounts.

“It is based on the assumption that people use social media in a damaging way because they can never be identified and tracked,” said Pisit Pao-in, the vice president of the media reform committee who wrote the proposal, on Tuesday.

Pisit, a former commander of the Technology Crime Suppression Division, said the idea was along similar lines to those of the social media company – which is also trying to verify user identification.

Read: Controversial Coverage of ‘Murder Babes’ Raises Press Freedom Stakes

The idea faced strong criticism from the online community, who deemed it unnecessarily invades users’ privacy.

“Silly, when we buy a SIM card, we already have to go through registration. When we set up internet [connections], we already need to show our ID card,” wrote Facebook user Tritus Soitongieum Tuesday. “You guys already have the IP address, why repeat the work.”

Pisit said the idea was a suggestion his committee floated hoping the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society would adopt it by coordinating with Facebook.

He insisted the proposal has no legal binding, saying instead that it only works as a suggestion to other relevant government agencies – which the assembly has no control over.

The head of the committee, retired Air Chief Marshal Kanit Suwannet, said Tuesday that the proposal – which sent the online community into a panic – might go nowhere if the interim cabinet drops or freezes it.

“It is not a law yet,” he said by phone. “We, as technicians made a suggestion, they will need to consider the bigger picture and decide whether to adopt it.”

Harsher Online Policing Suggested

Another suggestion that shook the internet yesterday was the idea of forming a central monitoring center for online platforms.

The committee proposed to centralize social media monitoring tasks under the Technology Crime Suppression Division – which Pisit once headed – to improve efficiency.

They will be tasked with monitoring posts under specific keywords, collecting information and taking legal action against those violating the law.

“Our society lacks monitoring organizations so people do whatever they want without considering laws, ethics or righteousness,” said Pisit. “The staff should collect information from the accounts they find have the potential to break the law in the future.”

The proposal doesn’t differentiate online media from social media – which means the measure will also cover traditional media outlets who publish their work online.

Cited as a rationale behind the measure is the recent controversial coverage of a woman who murdered and dismembered another woman. The committee said online media played a significant role in idolizing the suspect, leading them to conclude that they should be regulated.

FIngerprint Requirement for SIM Cards

The committee also suggested the telecommunications regulator should implement fingerprint verification and facial recognition systems for each prepaid SIM card bought nationwide by 2019.

The top executive of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission, or NBTC, said Tuesday the committee was perhaps unaware they had already planned to roll-out the system within the coming months after its implementation in the Deep South.

“It will be implemented nationwide in September,” said Takorn Tantasith.

He added his agency is not required to follow the advice written by the reform committee.

The NBTC, who regularly asks Facebook to remove illegal content and is currently calling on Facebook, Youtube and Netflix to enroll to be regulated, will not touch online content without a court order, Takorn said.

“All of those are suggestions. It’s up to us whether we will do it,” he said. “A lot of issues they proposed, if they are against the law, we cannot do them.”

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Junta Romanticized in ‘Love Missions’ Military Drama

By

Asaree Thaitrakulpanich, Staff Reporter

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4 July 2017, 17:58

The military cast members of soap opera “Love Missions.” Photo: Wassana Nanuam / Facebook

BANGKOK — A military-themed romantic soap opera premiered Saturday, inaugurating three months of the television show, which a mass media expert said is an attempt by the military government to rebrand itself and regain public popularity.

“Love Missions” is a soap opera series that follows four protagonists who work in different branches of the armed forces: the army, the navy, the police and the air force. The show, which was filmed with props provided by the respective branches of the military, was criticized by mass media expert Pasavit Boonkongchuen from Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Arts, who viewed the series as an effort by the military junta to “rebrand” itself.

“The military junta is losing popularity really fast and the rebranding could be useful at this point. If the people can get behind the protagonists in the drama making ‘difficult decisions’ for the good of the country, maybe the trend of thinking may transfer onto the government as well,” Pasavit said.

The first installment, “Pull the Trigger on My Heart,” follows the romance between Royal Thai Army Capt. Purich Sattakamonpan, played by Sukollwat “Wier” Kanarot, and Napaschol, played by Pattarasaya “Peak” Kreuasuwansiri, a mobile clinic doctor. The couple are deployed to “the borders” to take down drug trafficking rings and “anti-capitalist international terrorist” organization Black Iron, composed of foreign and half-Thai characters named Jason, Martin and Victor.

Pasavit said that having good-looking actors play the roles of soldiers legitimises real-life military actions for the good of the country.

“Thai dramas usually combine two of the nation’s favorites: romance and good looking people. I’m not saying these qualities would transfer to real life completely in terms of looks, but having good looking people on the lakorn makes it that much easier to swallow,” he added.

10 e1499165543223 — A poster of “Love Missions” showing the four protagonists.

“Our mission is to protect Thailand. My heart’s mission is for you,” goes the opening song.

Most heard about the soap for the first time when Wassana Nanuam, a self-styled military reporter working for a local newspaper, posted a photo of the cast members lined up in a similar way to the National Council of Peace and Order, or NCPO, on June 18.

“NCPO 2!!! At a press conference announcing their takeover of the country, the Ministry of Defense brought its officers on air. They will return happiness to the citizens with the soap opera ‘Love Missions’ this July! Hehe,” the caption on Wassana’s photo read.

The top trending tweet in Thailand during and after the soap’s airing was #PullTheTriggerOnMyHeart, full of fan screenshots and positive comments about the first two episodes, especially in regard to the actors’ attractive appearance.

“Shadow team พร้อมปฏิบัติการ”
โอ๊ย! ทีมทหารอากาศขาดรักค่ะ👨🏻‍✈️

งานดีทุกคนโลยยย //ใจเต้นแรง#ภารกิจรัก #เหนี่ยวหัวใจสุดไกปืน pic.twitter.com/jpjvGiUuM7

— P. (@Pop_cornCheese) July 1, 2017

“Shadow Team ready for action. Look at these soldiers lacking love! They’re all so handsome!,” tweeted @Pop_cornCheese on Saturday.

เป็นละครที่อุดมไปด้วยผู้ชายหล่อและกล้ามแน่นๆ #เหนี่ยวหัวใจสุดไกปืน pic.twitter.com/9WFcWSQmgt

— CAPTAIN B ´ᄉ` (@fingers_baek) July 1, 2017

“This lakorn is full of handsome guys with tight muscles,” tweeted @fingers_baek on Saturday.

The second installment, “My Beloved Royal Navy Officer,” follows naval officer Lt. Jirawat “Tonglaa” Sookplang, played by Akkaphan “Om” Namart, and Praew, played by Sammy Cowell, a journalist and romance novelist as they investigate illegal fishing.

In “Heartslayer,” Saran “Porche” Siriluksana is Police Capt. Kanin Werot, head of Special Unit on Office of the Narcotics Control Board and Usamanee “Kwan” Waitayanon is journalist Mintra, both of whom arrest international drug traffickers.

Finally, in “Dominate the Skies and Your Heart,” Flight Lt. Karan Hanyothin, played by Mick Tongraya, who flies an F-16 fighter jet in the air force, falls in love with Irene Airya, played by Stephany Auernig, a doctor who found the cure to cancer and is therefore hunted by “chemical terrorists.”

All four people’s efforts finally destroy Black Iron, their extremism and their drug network. Peace returns to Thailand as all four couples marry.

Pasavit said it is yet to be seen if the drama he sees as a public relations stunt for the military will be successful.

“I can’t say for sure. Media is representation and representation depends largely on interpretation. So the consumer’s political standpoint will have a big role in it,” he said.

“Love Missions” will air at 8:15pm from Friday to Sunday until the end of September on Channel 7. Each part of the series will last 10 episodes. They can also be watched online.

7 e1499165659246 — Army Capt. Purich Sattakamonpan (Sukollwat “Wier” Kanarot) and Napaschol (Pattarasaya “Peak” Kreuasuwansiri) in the first episode of “Pull the Trigger on My Heart,” the first series in the soap drama “Love Missions.”

3 e1499165677270 — From left to right: Police Cpt. Kanin Werot (Saran “Porche” Siriluksana), Royal Thai Army Capt. Purich Sattakamonpan (Sukollwat “Wier” Kanarot), Flight Lt. Karan Hanyothin (Mick Tongraya) and Royal Thai Navy officer Lt. Jirawat “Tonglaa” Sookplang (Akkaphan “Om” Namart).

2 e1499165693266 — Mr. Jason (Willy McIntosh), the head of “anti-capitalist international terrorist organization” Black Iron.

0.5 e1499165746216 — A farang member of Black Iron.

1371053313 NM12194 o e1499165761373 — The romance novels that the four series of the “Love Missions” soap are based on. Photo: Fah Sood Suay / Pantip

Thai Soap Offends Burmese With Royal Caricature

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Reminder: Buddhist Booze Ban in Effect This Weekend

By

Teeranai Charuvastra, News Chief

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4 July 2017, 17:29

BANGKOK — Alcohol sales will be prohibited this weekend, as per regulations that ban the sale of booze on important Buddhist holidays.

Thailand will mark Asahna Bucha on Saturday, while the start of three-month Buddhist Lent – during which monks cannot spend a night anywhere outside their monasteries – is due to take place Sunday. Monday will also be a day off in Thailand, as a day of observance.

That means no booze sale at supermarkets, bars, convenience stores and other venues will be allowed from 00.01am on Saturday to midnight Sunday. However, as in previous years, dedicated drinkers are bound to find places that do sell alcohol on those two days.

Only duty-free shops at airports will be exempted from the ban, according to the latest regulation signed into law in February 2015 by junta chairman Prayuth Chan-ocha.

Prayuth also urged Buddhists to do good and make merit at temples in the upcoming holy weekend.

“Going to the temple doesn’t involve just listening to dhamma,” Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha told reporters Tuesday. “You may also use temples as platforms to discuss what problems are together, and how we can help each other.”

Don’t Brew Beer at Home (or in Toilet), Prayuth Says

Where to Feast on Films This Month in Bangkok

By

Chayanit Itthipongmaetee, Staff Reporter

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4 July 2017, 17:15

BANGKOK — Drop your binge-watching plan at home right now. Go out and watch movies, either with other people or with a beer bottle.

July has come with many things to look forward to for moviegoers. Apart from mainstream movies “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” “War for the Planet of the Apes” and “Dunkirk” – soon-to-be released during this month in public theatres, here below is a list of cinematic alternatives to consider.

The list will be updated when more events are announced.

July 1 to July 23: “The Incomparable Rose Hartman” and “Homme Less”

Two documentaries tributing two fashion photographers will screen at Bangkok Screening Room, one of Bangkok’s newest alternative cinemas.

“The Incomparable Rose Hartman” follows the life and works of Rose Hartman who snaps portraits of major celebrities from Bianca Jagger and Andy Warhol to Lou Reed and Leonardo DiCaprio, while “Homme Less” circles around model-photographer Mark Reay who spends six years living in the open on a New York rooftop.

Tickets are 300 baht for adults and 250 baht for students. The schedule is available online. Bangkok Screening Room is located on Soi Saladaeng 1 and can be reached by foot from BTS Sala Daeng exit No. 4 or MRT Lumphini’s exit No. 2.

July 6: “Bamboozled”

Visit Lat Phrao’s recent hidden craft beer bar to see Spike Lee’s satirical masterpiece.

“Bamboozled” centers around Pierre, an African-American television writer who proposed a minstrel show with black-faced actors to his white American boss.

The film will screen at 8:30pm on July 6 at Bad Taste Cafe. The neon-lit two-storey bar is located on Lat Phrao Soi 21 and can be reached by foot from MRT Lat Phrao.

July 6: “Pop Aye”

Having premiered in Thailand at the Bangkok ASEAN Film Fest in April, the human-elephant road trip “Pop Aye” is returning to silver screens, this time at Alliance Francaise Bangkok.

The award-winning Thai-Singaporean movie sees a man who travels with his long-lost buddy elephant across Thailand to find the farm where they both grew up together.

The screening will be followed by a Q&A session with leading actor Thaneth Warakulnukroh.

Tickets are 120 baht and available online. The film starts at 6:30pm on July 6 and will be screened in Thai with English subtitles.

July 7: “Flummoxed Cocoon”

An experimental short film by a Thai artist recently premiered at Noise Market 6 will show again at a Bangkok cafe-bar-art space.

Theerapat Wongpaisarnkit, better known as Beam Wong, will show his newest work “Flummoxed Cocoon” with a mixture of sci-fi, fantasy and musical. The 28-minute short film is about a songwriter who tries to cure himself by writing a song after he transforms into a cocoon one day.

The film starts at 8pm on July 7 at Jam, a five-minute walk from BTS Surasak’s exit No. 2 on Soi Charoen Rat 1.

July 7: “The Borneo Case”

An unlikely activist group fighting the destruction of the Malaysian Borneo rainforest will be showcased at an ASEAN cultural center downtown.

Activist – and main character – Mutang Urud will be present at the screening and attend a Q&A session after the film.

The Borneo Case starts at 5pm on July at SEA-Junction which is located on the fourth floor of Bangkok Art and Culture Centre. Admission is free.

July 13: “The Birth of Sake”

A documentary about artisans of sake, Japanese rice wine, who spent six months making the drink at a 144-year-old family-run Yoshida Brewery will show at a dive bar in Sathorn.

“The Birth of Sake” will show at 9pm on July 13 at I Hate Pigeons, which is located about a kilometer from MRT Lumphini.

Admission is 120 baht including one beer of choice – Changwon Express Asoke Pale Ale or Chao Phraya Stout. Early tickets can be purchased online.

July 17: “3 1/2 Minutes, 10 Bullets”

This documentary examines the incident and aftermath of African-American teenager Jordan Davis, who was shot to death on Black Friday in 2012 at a Florida gas station, after a verbal altercation with killer Michael Dunn over a loud rap music.

The film will end with a Q&A via Skype with the film’s producer Carolyn Hepburn.

“3 1/2 Minutes, 10 Bullets” will be screened in English without subtitles. The film starts at 7pm on July 17 at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand, or FCCT. Tickets are 150 baht for non-members of the clubhouse. Entry is free for members. The press club is located on the penthouse floor of Maneeya Center linked to BTS Chit Lom’s exit No. 2.

July 22: “Holy Motors”

d82887cf5ff4cb1a6c klm6i2oes — ‘Holy Motors’

The French-German fantasy drama on a mysterious man dressing up in costumes and playing several roles will be screened as a part of Cinema Diverse program.

“Holy Motors” will be screened at 5pm on July 22. Ticket is 60 baht. The film offers Thai and English subtitles.

July 29: “Kushuthara: Pattern of Love”

Award-winning Bhutanese film “Kushuthara: Pattern of Love” will show later this month with rich landscapes and culture of Bhutan.

As a part of monthly event Contemporary World Film Series, “Kushuthara: Pattern of Love” set entirely in the Himalayas, follows American photographer Charlie who falls in love with a Bhutanese woman Chomiko.

The film will screen at 4pm on July 29 at Thailand Knowledge Park, or TK Park, on the eighth floor of CentralWorld. Entry to the venue is 20 baht. English subtitles will be provided.

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