tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80799144200540480012024-02-20T10:23:52.232+08:00The Nation's StatePolitics, Insurgency, and the State of the Thai nationchandlerv@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07857436088470078178noreply@blogger.comBlogger192125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079914420054048001.post-62138315891834892792016-06-26T14:47:00.000+08:002016-06-26T14:47:26.521+08:00Southeast Asia Terrorism Threat Assessmen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ijp6Q-eEZfw/V296KoYuo9I/AAAAAAAAQ1Y/TR_KMgveAxI3FXS321goARJI9ASyzMgwwCLcB/s1600/terrorism.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ijp6Q-eEZfw/V296KoYuo9I/AAAAAAAAQ1Y/TR_KMgveAxI3FXS321goARJI9ASyzMgwwCLcB/s320/terrorism.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Gun attacks in Jakarta, beheadings of western hostages in the southern Philippines and a wave of arrests in Malaysia this year have all had one element in common: Islamic State. It seems that 2016 is the year jihadist terrorism under the IS brand has emerged to pose a significantly enhanced threat to business and tourism across Southeast Asia.</div>
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Senior officials at the annual Shangri-La security conference in early June underscored the message by punctuating presentations with phrases such as “gathering storm,” “clear and present danger,” and “a deadly and growing threat.” Some independent experts have rated the threat level higher still: in mid-June Alex Bomberg, head of the UK-based Intelligent Protection International was widely quoted in the media as asserting that IS “is ready to do something in Asia” and that “it’s going to happen very soon.”</div>
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Access Asia does not share this assessment. We believe that since the Jakarta attack of 14 January 2016, analysis of the regional threat of terrorism has been infused with a degree of hysteria driven largely by the media and by academic experts invested in the study of terrorism and terrorist groups. There has also been a degree of overstatement from national-level leaders, not least Singaporeans, aimed at encouraging more robust regional cooperation on counter-terrorism (CT).</div>
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Full article here: http://accessasiaconsulting.com/southeast-asia-terrorism-threat-assessment/</div>
chandlerv@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07857436088470078178noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079914420054048001.post-12262660079473588212010-09-07T02:53:00.004+08:002010-09-09T08:44:37.485+08:00Almost killed by an M79 grenade<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgId4CumY1_sZGHbikIdnsvL6aH2_js9GPeYWROzMACK0t39PJWZ1fuSxuwEjyvwHz_65SGEsyl3PgcnEmGi8AYGPdaVY-bUp2GQO-BnxJ-iAlkuBMVZmYVPI4ydBAm0PmMNYqDNDYLSbAX/s1600/Bangkok+Standoff+Continues+Deadline+Passes+aJ0uantDbO4l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgId4CumY1_sZGHbikIdnsvL6aH2_js9GPeYWROzMACK0t39PJWZ1fuSxuwEjyvwHz_65SGEsyl3PgcnEmGi8AYGPdaVY-bUp2GQO-BnxJ-iAlkuBMVZmYVPI4ydBAm0PmMNYqDNDYLSbAX/s640/Bangkok+Standoff+Continues+Deadline+Passes+aJ0uantDbO4l.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #656565; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', 'Lucida Grande', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; line-height: normal;">First photos, approximately 1 minute after the blast, I am unconscious and staring vacantly.<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">O</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">n M</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">ay 19, after two months on the frontlines of the Red Shirt protest, I was hit by an M79 grenade and nearly lost my life.<br />
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I had changed tactics and was travelling with the army. Considering the Thai military were shooting protesters, civilians, and journalists indiscriminately (including a Canadian friend of mine who was shot three times and barly survived the trip to the hospital), it seemed sensible precaution to make.<br />
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But Red Shirt protesters, the so-called black shirts, were also armed and shooting and was I was photographing the gun battle on Ratchadamri and Sarasan just outside on Lumpini Park.<br />
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While I took cover with troops, black shirts launched a series of M79 grenades on to an empty road, two into Lumpin Park, one nears Silom, and one right onto a group of soldiers and myself.<br />
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The blast sent 24 pieces of shrapnel tearing through my back and legs, broke a number of ribs, and punctured both my lung and colon. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfBpKvVXp3Fj4l-pdslzOd4WGUlN_ggMYFWIUggt5jWQ4OVfTz795eG4WwTF66u67vgpkpTcuOhVUZu27TbPxRGG9exKqGKrqZLXG2ThEnAPgtV3Tsj7Xx4jAUvb6W6XN6_xXReB2IjY_y/s1600/553000011261003.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfBpKvVXp3Fj4l-pdslzOd4WGUlN_ggMYFWIUggt5jWQ4OVfTz795eG4WwTF66u67vgpkpTcuOhVUZu27TbPxRGG9exKqGKrqZLXG2ThEnAPgtV3Tsj7Xx4jAUvb6W6XN6_xXReB2IjY_y/s400/553000011261003.JPEG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Three additional pieces of shrapnel had struck the back of my head, shattered my skull, and entered my brain. A journalist would later tell me he found pieces of my skull on the ground.<br />
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I was unconscious, heavily bleeding, and my eyes were open and staring vacantly. Military medics at the scene took my pulse, couldn't find one, and pronounced me dead.<br />
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The shameless bastards also stole my camera.<br />
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Journalists soon arrived, noticed that I was attempting to breath, and rushed me to hospital.<br />
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In fact, the journalists and civilian medics made a great personal risk to help me as there was still heavy machine gun fire in the area. I am deeply grateful for what they did.<br />
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I woke up three days later in a Bangkok intensive care unit on Silm road (apparently I was already talking but I have no memory).<br />
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While I was torn up by shrapnel wounds that would take an astounding seven weeks to stop bleeding, my broken ribs were aching, and I was disoriented from hearing loss in my left year, my head injuries were the most worrying.<br />
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Shrapnel had penetrated my skull and hit my brain. The neurosurgeon was able to removes two pieces but the third was too dangerous to remove and remains lodged in my head.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">I was completely paralyzed on the entire right hand side. I also had serious trouble seeing and recognizing objects and couldn’t even recognize myself in a mirror.<br />
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Despite my injuries, I surprised everyone – including my gaggle of doctors – by checking myself out of the hospital and hobbling away just three weeks later. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">And three months later, I have emerged with very few permanent injuries. Hearing damage, many scars, and an ugly limp, but I am walking and back at work.<br />
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So, needless to say, I am taking a break from bloging and concentrating on physiotherapy and work. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
But, considering Thailand’s political turmoil is far from over, I don’t think it will be a long break.<br />
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</span></span></span></div></div>chandlerv@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07857436088470078178noreply@blogger.com66tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079914420054048001.post-51767292663437800222010-05-18T22:56:00.005+08:002010-05-19T00:42:29.380+08:00Weapons of the weak<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S_Khz-8nKPI/AAAAAAAABuo/vmTRhO_-s6I/s1600/rCBV_0193.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S_Khz-8nKPI/AAAAAAAABuo/vmTRhO_-s6I/s640/rCBV_0193.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">All images from today's (May 18) clashes in Din Daeng between red shirts and the military snipers. </span><br />
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Elements within the red shirt movement have weapons, serious weapons of war.<br />
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About five minutes after Seh Dang was hit by a sniper's bullet while walking within the red's barricade, I watched while taking cover from an intense firefight, a black-clad guard assemble an M-16 assault rifle and return fire towards the hi-rise buildings surrounding the red camp.<br />
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Unfortunately, the lights had been doused and there was not enough ambient light to take a photograph. Using a flash would have been dangerous.<br />
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Yet, what is remarkable, is that this was the first and only time I have ever seen a weapon of war. I did interview Kwanchai Poipana, a red leader in Ubon, who dramatically placed a pistol on the table in response to my question of what he would do if the red's current protest was unsuccessful. I understood the gesture as an act, convincing and one that limited my further questions, but an act with a weapon that is common in Thailand.<br />
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Despite over two years interviewing and photographing them, I have only seen one weapon of war. Despite having covered the red's last two months in Bangkok with near-daily coverage and many late nights with them, I have only seen the one.<br />
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And while I don't doubt that there are well armed elements associated with the reds, they currently are fighting an extraordinarily lopsided battle.<br />
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Sharpened sticks, erratic fireworks, noisy but useless large bamboo-made canons, sling shots, and rocks are trying to fight against snipers hiding behind sandbags and perched on rooftops.<br />
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The grim statistics back this up. Between May 13 and 17, the government reported that at least 35 people had been killed, all civilians, and at least 232 wounded. There were no military forces killed.<br />
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Were these people terrorists warranting a sniper's bullet, wouldn't the government be parading weapons of war in front of the already subservient local media?<br />
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Wouldn't there be serious casualties on the military side?<br />
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And wouldn't the masses of local and international media be filming the reds with war weapons if they had them?<br />
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While the Center for Resolution of Emergency Situations (CRES) and disgraced-former-academic-turned-shameless-government-mouth-piece Panitan have been calling the reds "terrorists', all I have seen and all the media has really been able to capture is the determination of an angry and disenfranchised group of people willing to trade their lives for very little, if any, way of winning against the military might of the Thai army. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S_Kl02Ejh1I/AAAAAAAABvY/rSSTNzwoldU/s1600/rCBV_0432.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S_Kl02Ejh1I/AAAAAAAABvY/rSSTNzwoldU/s640/rCBV_0432.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S_Kl3ZvVkmI/AAAAAAAABvg/8Vow2G58cb8/s1600/rCBV_0396.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S_Kl3ZvVkmI/AAAAAAAABvg/8Vow2G58cb8/s640/rCBV_0396.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Note: Today was the first time I have seen this 'toy'. It makes an extraordinary boom, but hardly manages to propel an empty water bottle more than a couple feet in the air.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S_KjUJChKTI/AAAAAAAABuw/g7m_ID_F19w/s1600/rCBV_0237.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S_KjUJChKTI/AAAAAAAABuw/g7m_ID_F19w/s640/rCBV_0237.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Note: peering around the corner looking for snipers.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin08BsPdWGcHStTHu_2kZA-JTT9SqqUKJqGgKWUVfwL5Nj2JN6K5Pj8PzY17StbinvQrSD7KjiSOmKoqwK9IeyUhtA1nXJ-RgbEzglYcmhOySuvD09jYa3ADpztDBfqbljyOlOtPPyHcd-/s1600/rCBV_0278.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin08BsPdWGcHStTHu_2kZA-JTT9SqqUKJqGgKWUVfwL5Nj2JN6K5Pj8PzY17StbinvQrSD7KjiSOmKoqwK9IeyUhtA1nXJ-RgbEzglYcmhOySuvD09jYa3ADpztDBfqbljyOlOtPPyHcd-/s640/rCBV_0278.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S_KjbMyeFoI/AAAAAAAABvA/w707VCelPuk/s1600/rCBV_0325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S_KjbMyeFoI/AAAAAAAABvA/w707VCelPuk/s640/rCBV_0325.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> Note: Frontline protesters, with flagrant disregard for personal safety, plan their next move towards the military lines will taking cover behind a burned out garbage truck.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmQA8dDf55Bpfl6wlHOhHYbTM9HUplX9P-HkXAsOSkgTxnb6DK4UXHbhyphenhyphen5X2zLDbOHO-hbl0pG9786RvIXw975HjeDHhYzK7G0QFhAmrg31LqijRwtCt7N7iLjNdB1s5XbOnCU01pmYFtc/s1600/rCBV_0360.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmQA8dDf55Bpfl6wlHOhHYbTM9HUplX9P-HkXAsOSkgTxnb6DK4UXHbhyphenhyphen5X2zLDbOHO-hbl0pG9786RvIXw975HjeDHhYzK7G0QFhAmrg31LqijRwtCt7N7iLjNdB1s5XbOnCU01pmYFtc/s640/rCBV_0360.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S_Kwm0LLvjI/AAAAAAAABv0/BjZkb-cmSD4/s1600/rCBV_0379.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S_Kwm0LLvjI/AAAAAAAABv0/BjZkb-cmSD4/s640/rCBV_0379.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Note: Two men take a wounded protester, apparently shot in the left temple or ear by a sniper, to hospital by motobike.</div></div>chandlerv@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07857436088470078178noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079914420054048001.post-45482425571861974492010-05-16T21:18:00.003+08:002010-05-17T01:44:20.901+08:00Bangkok burns<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S-_tj4gDoWI/AAAAAAAABtE/IHc-k4sqwus/s1600/rCBV_0103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S-_tj4gDoWI/AAAAAAAABtE/IHc-k4sqwus/s640/rCBV_0103.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
All photos from Din Deang district this afternoon (May 16th).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S-_vbRezomI/AAAAAAAABtM/xy5B4U3PveQ/s1600/rCBV_0108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S-_vbRezomI/AAAAAAAABtM/xy5B4U3PveQ/s640/rCBV_0108.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3STYioU8loaqHNBvm-V5XD6uTe05Zt-pjyecbqd39nM2CcRjTwB3BjAziH7A3kkPksCjQ_vE5fNC1uXyTW-QqrZGU87oy9yr5yTGZOk_9qXb1949Y_su49STig0cO938IKy1420y-XCeA/s1600/rCBV_0119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3STYioU8loaqHNBvm-V5XD6uTe05Zt-pjyecbqd39nM2CcRjTwB3BjAziH7A3kkPksCjQ_vE5fNC1uXyTW-QqrZGU87oy9yr5yTGZOk_9qXb1949Y_su49STig0cO938IKy1420y-XCeA/s640/rCBV_0119.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S-_vppKY7nI/AAAAAAAABtk/fXsgkdt10Eg/s1600/rCBV_0130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S-_vppKY7nI/AAAAAAAABtk/fXsgkdt10Eg/s640/rCBV_0130.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Note: Spotting military snipers in the buildings. Shots rang out periodically all day and there were many injuries and likely some deaths. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S-_vrz8SI8I/AAAAAAAABts/wfbb1Y-JpXE/s1600/rCBV_0136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S-_vrz8SI8I/AAAAAAAABts/wfbb1Y-JpXE/s640/rCBV_0136.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigkQOonk6gZ1vnUqXnDYZ4krviqLb-iwPL0bZvwZeTBydMu8Qpoey8Ff-Kqz2H3SoA3xbe1fzyqU7LkIVtq8IHdupY8A625FikaJjIP8iuT5M6WoEg_jltxV7QoIn5WjISZXaovvbV713x/s1600/rCBV_0202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigkQOonk6gZ1vnUqXnDYZ4krviqLb-iwPL0bZvwZeTBydMu8Qpoey8Ff-Kqz2H3SoA3xbe1fzyqU7LkIVtq8IHdupY8A625FikaJjIP8iuT5M6WoEg_jltxV7QoIn5WjISZXaovvbV713x/s640/rCBV_0202.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S-_vxKjBa_I/AAAAAAAABt8/4Kkz_Jzaaco/s1600/rCBV_0243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S-_vxKjBa_I/AAAAAAAABt8/4Kkz_Jzaaco/s640/rCBV_0243.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Note: Molatove cocktail.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S-_vzDhqhEI/AAAAAAAABuE/me0zVu80bao/s1600/rCBV_0295.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S-_vzDhqhEI/AAAAAAAABuE/me0zVu80bao/s640/rCBV_0295.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz39K-Ud5Oa-HvXIGmO5bmr5uRpjQ1a2-LfHEsnaQh5mvIrD5eJB-hHNxa025zL0CiBp__fRSgoi2DiLEoYxd3FRZ6nyHXzVbOhyaDrG3aFgg6c1tt1Y5zHv5VSRHY7QbreEFbxIucLkqZ/s1600/rCBV_0397.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz39K-Ud5Oa-HvXIGmO5bmr5uRpjQ1a2-LfHEsnaQh5mvIrD5eJB-hHNxa025zL0CiBp__fRSgoi2DiLEoYxd3FRZ6nyHXzVbOhyaDrG3aFgg6c1tt1Y5zHv5VSRHY7QbreEFbxIucLkqZ/s640/rCBV_0397.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>chandlerv@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07857436088470078178noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079914420054048001.post-43781103208140434302010-05-16T01:55:00.001+08:002010-05-16T02:01:08.736+08:00Live fire zone<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S-7XqcKeDtI/AAAAAAAABrQ/j7eLW5eKtLY/s1600/rCBV_0200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S-7XqcKeDtI/AAAAAAAABrQ/j7eLW5eKtLY/s640/rCBV_0200.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
All photos from today (May 15th) on Rama 4 in Bonkai district near Klong Toi.<br />
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Like many of the last posts, there is too much to say and no time but I should note one thing. I asked many of the protesters at the site what they thought was happening in Thailand. The big picture question, not just the conflict on Rama 4 road that they were engaged in and I was photographing, but what these clashes mean to them and the future of the country.<br />
<div><br />
</div>There was, of course, some variation, but the term that was most often used was 'civil war' (or songkram klanmueng - สงครามกลางเมือง)<br />
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<div>Trying to defeat the red shirts through military means is bringing Thailand to the precipice of civil war. </div><div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKu2KX-vYYjv8SDLZFpYY0Vno45t8-KOnCO5MJI8xpydv1SMwmNznv4Zg-jdItvcpNh2icf5Eeug9Wy7OhrHnSHHxlwTqLlewCtqgKA82twGBsO_jY3FpC8K1phrNUOaVpqkNbOL9pe9YX/s1600/rCBV_0145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Nob7kaasaWo7iY9ASiRFAtCvvLgg3pNNvBZnZ-Y2-mayo48AlEt_Cvh8fj_vlDMI3mOjooL7J_dcjrXabD66jshP5NiQ_S3nYoYstUrlA4MdVzSpAZ6N84ASxM8uGKC0A0xDwIrRWiuS/s1600/rCBV_0157.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Nob7kaasaWo7iY9ASiRFAtCvvLgg3pNNvBZnZ-Y2-mayo48AlEt_Cvh8fj_vlDMI3mOjooL7J_dcjrXabD66jshP5NiQ_S3nYoYstUrlA4MdVzSpAZ6N84ASxM8uGKC0A0xDwIrRWiuS/s640/rCBV_0157.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S-7X2fTaPzI/AAAAAAAABrw/eKd0QIQNaMg/s1600/rCBV_0240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S-7X2fTaPzI/AAAAAAAABrw/eKd0QIQNaMg/s640/rCBV_0240.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S-7X7LgJXyI/AAAAAAAABsA/sZO0g_KTC6g/s1600/rCBV_0268.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S-7X7LgJXyI/AAAAAAAABsA/sZO0g_KTC6g/s640/rCBV_0268.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S-7X4t6G9qI/AAAAAAAABr4/ZIjdvxZPYKc/s1600/rCBV_0263.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S-7X4t6G9qI/AAAAAAAABr4/ZIjdvxZPYKc/s640/rCBV_0263.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S-7X9LpA49I/AAAAAAAABsI/jSYC1qJIaG0/s1600/rCBV_0296.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S-7X9LpA49I/AAAAAAAABsI/jSYC1qJIaG0/s640/rCBV_0296.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div>Note: The helmet was from a protester who was reportedly shot and killed by a military sniper and the man holding the helmet is pointing out where the bullet entered the helmet.</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSG34yNMLqTZHaGAX4stV7lkR_mdsvL1hC3unHcnHge43_2LYe0lv3gUe97ihy6DGJWxtMtBHc_45C5-eYl9V9a5qp9F28RKWoiWcSdUWEaXb0vIxEQ-F9-Vz3wCml6XBgOjwCzlJDiyoE/s1600/rCBV_0368.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSG34yNMLqTZHaGAX4stV7lkR_mdsvL1hC3unHcnHge43_2LYe0lv3gUe97ihy6DGJWxtMtBHc_45C5-eYl9V9a5qp9F28RKWoiWcSdUWEaXb0vIxEQ-F9-Vz3wCml6XBgOjwCzlJDiyoE/s640/rCBV_0368.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div> Note: Fighting the military with fireworks.</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S-7YAr8I7NI/AAAAAAAABsY/wcRdxu1jwIE/s1600/rCBV_0391.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S-7YAr8I7NI/AAAAAAAABsY/wcRdxu1jwIE/s640/rCBV_0391.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br />
</div>chandlerv@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07857436088470078178noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079914420054048001.post-23938892996962455662010-05-15T03:04:00.001+08:002010-05-15T14:02:56.869+08:00Clashes in Bangkok<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S-2YxhgNmII/AAAAAAAABp8/XSzXZe2IwBo/s1600/rCBV_0230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S-2YxhgNmII/AAAAAAAABp8/XSzXZe2IwBo/s640/rCBV_0230.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Bangkok burning; road block near Victory Monument. Residents claimed the military shot two locals on their way home. 10PM My 14th.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
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Havent had much time to blog and have had to deal with the near-fatal shooting of a good friend who was shot by the military. And while there is too much to say, I can not say much at this time but will post photos in chronological order starting with May 13th and followed by today's (14th) clashes.<br />
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Some photos are graphic and might not want to be viewed by all.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWedxtKI46EmzqXRMYAJMDKXEvkq10NIWn71P552cR-ahyTy47RRe6EHMqM93DoSTkR2jfb4AmEc3S9KTjIgfT1QsQvW_yxbttNzFOrES5s1fheHP4SJ4KNSMXRlKIxD157o1DFFg307yi/s1600/rCBV_0016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWedxtKI46EmzqXRMYAJMDKXEvkq10NIWn71P552cR-ahyTy47RRe6EHMqM93DoSTkR2jfb4AmEc3S9KTjIgfT1QsQvW_yxbttNzFOrES5s1fheHP4SJ4KNSMXRlKIxD157o1DFFg307yi/s640/rCBV_0016.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Note: Seh Deang at 6:33 PM on May 13th. He was shot by a sniper at around 7PM.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S-2aJ_Wdl1I/AAAAAAAABqM/ewK9g9dgwKE/s1600/rCBV_0035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S-2aJ_Wdl1I/AAAAAAAABqM/ewK9g9dgwKE/s640/rCBV_0035.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4mU8bS5PpVcSFo-ktjkZl5GKMR27UTBMMvdUJR-Vm4as_LSDepv3FvTof0RYLEktJohuZTG6YL-ZAVZvUbOsYrG91353rhoiCP8t53JCy7VGrvhoslqE7OBVNdBcgjQnvVi1AtlhhGcqY/s1600/rCBV_0140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4mU8bS5PpVcSFo-ktjkZl5GKMR27UTBMMvdUJR-Vm4as_LSDepv3FvTof0RYLEktJohuZTG6YL-ZAVZvUbOsYrG91353rhoiCP8t53JCy7VGrvhoslqE7OBVNdBcgjQnvVi1AtlhhGcqY/s640/rCBV_0140.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Note: Motorbike taxi driver shot with a rubber bullet.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhywlwVpjRp4MV8TguJEMQzLSWgqscPwq-wbQOoHlJupcV1xhfkRszmiVKakNrO5VVaboEn50Rjg4G4AXVIF797d3YzZ1mIncVs9QPXSCYBXVY_1LMevE-O5BPcmOZS358RPKbJlx6f9c2_/s1600/rCBV_0148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhywlwVpjRp4MV8TguJEMQzLSWgqscPwq-wbQOoHlJupcV1xhfkRszmiVKakNrO5VVaboEn50Rjg4G4AXVIF797d3YzZ1mIncVs9QPXSCYBXVY_1LMevE-O5BPcmOZS358RPKbJlx6f9c2_/s640/rCBV_0148.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S-2cbdZyjqI/AAAAAAAABqk/7Gs8Db3tKdE/s1600/rCBV_0151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S-2cbdZyjqI/AAAAAAAABqk/7Gs8Db3tKdE/s640/rCBV_0151.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Note: Immediately after the above photo of the protester shooting fireworks, two shots rang out and a protester behind me was hit in the head and died.<br />
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May 14th on Rama 4 road:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S-2dE0OsiZI/AAAAAAAABqs/JHWwT7X5vPo/s1600/rCBV_0021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S-2dE0OsiZI/AAAAAAAABqs/JHWwT7X5vPo/s640/rCBV_0021.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigKok9S59D-jVowRjdCEdYFSfqrEICNdHFeveRwCuXQ1L_FM_xuN1EvEUlBse6eGn5S0O3aOAgJ7_rwWNoACwXj93HcGi70gSrbRJql2i3A9iXfh186XS93ZzqNWL2QtmDwXUb0LixnwJ-/s1600/rCBV_0059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigKok9S59D-jVowRjdCEdYFSfqrEICNdHFeveRwCuXQ1L_FM_xuN1EvEUlBse6eGn5S0O3aOAgJ7_rwWNoACwXj93HcGi70gSrbRJql2i3A9iXfh186XS93ZzqNWL2QtmDwXUb0LixnwJ-/s640/rCBV_0059.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S-2dPSKk_bI/AAAAAAAABq8/3wgC4W49SlQ/s1600/rCBV_0138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S-2dPSKk_bI/AAAAAAAABq8/3wgC4W49SlQ/s640/rCBV_0138.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S-2dSzM-2cI/AAAAAAAABrE/ZYcUyn7wlg8/s1600/rCBV_0152.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S-2dSzM-2cI/AAAAAAAABrE/ZYcUyn7wlg8/s640/rCBV_0152.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Note: This shot was taken while trapped in the middle of a raging gunfight between the military on the BTS pedestrian bridge on Silom road and unseen, but certainly active, red shirt guards shooting M-16 (which i saw but could not photograph the night before right after Seh Deang was shot inside the red barricades) or other war rifles. There were countless thunderous explosions which reverberated and shook the buildings and might have been M79 grenades.chandlerv@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07857436088470078178noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079914420054048001.post-6823098669034296202010-05-09T05:33:00.001+08:002010-05-09T05:38:44.089+08:00Nakhon Ratchaprasong<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S-W9iW1p7gI/AAAAAAAABn8/l0-rf8QpG4o/s1600/rCBV_0056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S-W9iW1p7gI/AAAAAAAABn8/l0-rf8QpG4o/s640/rCBV_0056.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Negotiations are looking more and more likely to ease the immediate crisis and see the red's encampment in the ritzy Ratchaprasong shopping district come to an end.<br />
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And while there is certainly a chance that the peace process could be scuttled, Monday could be the end of what some are calling 'Nakhon Ratchaprasong' or 'Ratchaprasong State'.<br />
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The fact that the red's protest site has been a delineated territory with its own distinct political culture, social norms, political hierarchy, civil service, and police force, it did warrant, even if just a little factiously, the term nakhon.<br />
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With the end in sight, I thought I would post some random scenes from in and around Nakhon Ratchaprasong over the past couple of weeks.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPqtmLsj-uiJt-FGVwNnMdYkkpXuv37YW8cNaLmsD6JemydI8u9aStOhTqIlPd_HHV1MR3U0Ai7MftQ2AVNtWmLSczDoDeq3oyXePal-YPlg4Xb2Ap4L3hrpFchHOf9sdB1YWiur4OtJU_/s1600/rCBV_0011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPqtmLsj-uiJt-FGVwNnMdYkkpXuv37YW8cNaLmsD6JemydI8u9aStOhTqIlPd_HHV1MR3U0Ai7MftQ2AVNtWmLSczDoDeq3oyXePal-YPlg4Xb2Ap4L3hrpFchHOf9sdB1YWiur4OtJU_/s640/rCBV_0011.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S-XB8iNgovI/AAAAAAAABoc/LxKPxc1HU2I/s1600/rCBV_0026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S-XB8iNgovI/AAAAAAAABoc/LxKPxc1HU2I/s640/rCBV_0026.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S-XB-X5FisI/AAAAAAAABok/RDAk9ec9k60/s1600/rCBV_0056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S-XB-X5FisI/AAAAAAAABok/RDAk9ec9k60/s640/rCBV_0056.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S-XCBweX6TI/AAAAAAAABos/YwWUhY1YQRc/s1600/rCBV_0062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S-XCBweX6TI/AAAAAAAABos/YwWUhY1YQRc/s640/rCBV_0062.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZvdbDdlSi5BTc38B4sSVmwLSHgadxixXU7XUZbfAjjFSC4sntALXZkj42rB4rvrP_Ag_Y-6ttarmshnPs_woO9exM8XIS0uZuXURHxTn-1phzST4euDdRvPdeRqxip-uFXXAgpmIfuUN9/s1600/rCBV_0425.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZvdbDdlSi5BTc38B4sSVmwLSHgadxixXU7XUZbfAjjFSC4sntALXZkj42rB4rvrP_Ag_Y-6ttarmshnPs_woO9exM8XIS0uZuXURHxTn-1phzST4euDdRvPdeRqxip-uFXXAgpmIfuUN9/s640/rCBV_0425.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>*Note: General Prem is being featured on the screen behind Veera.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S-XCPcUKEbI/AAAAAAAABo8/UhJZO8ipWsE/s1600/rCBV_0440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S-XCPcUKEbI/AAAAAAAABo8/UhJZO8ipWsE/s640/rCBV_0440.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S-XCUUZOXGI/AAAAAAAABpE/HWqLDDONwQk/s1600/rCBV_0060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S-XCUUZOXGI/AAAAAAAABpE/HWqLDDONwQk/s640/rCBV_0060.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmBi7-cP7W6ZGKQSWMcU5tQOuakB4_LP8CHm2j7jDTdoMJX46fP5IN1mgrgs-zpJAbm2B3U0NdF2xqfXn5SfR1V1ySW_hywpEBfijYx6bKm2qLzWGJYgaIhB8WTi_wMyptLjKX2WmXO_SZ/s1600/rCBV_0083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmBi7-cP7W6ZGKQSWMcU5tQOuakB4_LP8CHm2j7jDTdoMJX46fP5IN1mgrgs-zpJAbm2B3U0NdF2xqfXn5SfR1V1ySW_hywpEBfijYx6bKm2qLzWGJYgaIhB8WTi_wMyptLjKX2WmXO_SZ/s640/rCBV_0083.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: auto;">*Note Natthawut Saikua sleeping on the stage, the time recored on my camera is 5:35am on 08/04/2010. A response to claims that red leaders were sleeping in the nearby 5-star hotels or genuine commitment? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S-XTSivdXHI/AAAAAAAABpY/mant5kfrbO0/s1600/rCBV_0051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S-XTSivdXHI/AAAAAAAABpY/mant5kfrbO0/s640/rCBV_0051.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S-XTZV5QOqI/AAAAAAAABpg/UmRJW9D6GkE/s1600/rCBV_0017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S-XTZV5QOqI/AAAAAAAABpg/UmRJW9D6GkE/s640/rCBV_0017.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S-XTcUAMx4I/AAAAAAAABpo/SgbT3Y_HyYY/s1600/rCBV_0099.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S-XTcUAMx4I/AAAAAAAABpo/SgbT3Y_HyYY/s640/rCBV_0099.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S-XV6Nd4P1I/AAAAAAAABpw/JJlj0BIS5ys/s1600/rCBV_0322.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S-XV6Nd4P1I/AAAAAAAABpw/JJlj0BIS5ys/s640/rCBV_0322.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>chandlerv@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07857436088470078178noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079914420054048001.post-50044879067002723622010-05-04T14:55:00.001+08:002010-05-04T15:27:51.018+08:00Terrorists and Ratchaprasong<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn5JeZkWcTRRq1-oBH9F86emovmaqoCWcRTnHqk9xfE2Bmxb2aRlSxASTLDJBqNnVC-T544dXjY5fiQoJRygdjXBUWZgcyv4hFwpCc-RcjvzkHYG3w-M6Udsbl4BKyOh2bVnMchoXdksx5/s1600/rCBV_0084.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn5JeZkWcTRRq1-oBH9F86emovmaqoCWcRTnHqk9xfE2Bmxb2aRlSxASTLDJBqNnVC-T544dXjY5fiQoJRygdjXBUWZgcyv4hFwpCc-RcjvzkHYG3w-M6Udsbl4BKyOh2bVnMchoXdksx5/s640/rCBV_0084.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Notice taped to a statue at Central World (Ratchaprasong) on Saturday May 1st.</div>chandlerv@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07857436088470078178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079914420054048001.post-68053400132168289502010-05-02T04:52:00.001+08:002010-05-02T04:54:21.913+08:00Let’s just hope hypocrites don’t get sickWhile partisan Thai journalists have few, if any, ethics, doctors are supposed to.<br />
<br />
Yet back in 2008, Thai doctors forgot their Hippocratic oath and refused to treat patients:<br />
<br />
<div><a href="http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/BKK67010.htm">Reuters on October 8 2008</a>:<br />
<br />
<i>Doctors at Bangkok's main state hospitals said they would not treat police or politicians involved in Tuesday's clashes. <br />
<br />
"No treatment for police and wicked politicians in this room," said a sign posted outside an exam room at Chulalongkorn Hospital, although hospital officials said they did not endorse the boycott. </i><br />
<br />
Of course, such a disgraceful episode is conveniently forgotten in the acerbic hypocrisy of the partisan Thai press as the Bangkok Post's hate-filled opinion piece demonstrates: </div><div><br />
<a href="http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/176444/let-just-hope-the-reds-don-t-ever-fall-sick">Let's just hope the reds don't ever fall sick</a><br />
<br />
<i>I felt a sting in my eyes and a peppery taste of tears welling up in my throat the minute I saw the photo of an elderly woman being wheeled out of Chulalongkorn Hospital to be put in a taxi so that she could go and receive medical treatment at a ``safer'' hospital.<br />
<br />
Chulalongkorn Hospital had no choice but to shut its doors to new out-patients except emergency cases, and evacuate its in-patients to other hospitals after red shirt leader Payap Panket led a number of guards and protesters in storming the hospital on Thursday night, citing their fear - later proven unfounded - that the hospital was housing soldiers.</i></div><div><br />
</div><div>Let's just hope that ethics, one day in the future, return to the Thai press. </div>chandlerv@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07857436088470078178noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079914420054048001.post-91887167538510465282010-04-27T06:50:00.003+08:002010-04-27T16:26:10.808+08:00All paths now officially lead to the palace<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S9YWkRLdZ9I/AAAAAAAABnk/RoXSro2fk98/s1600/rCBV_0141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S9YWkRLdZ9I/AAAAAAAABnk/RoXSro2fk98/s640/rCBV_0141.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Red shirt protesters arriving in Bangkok carrying a portrait of the king. March 14, 2010. </span><br />
<div><br />
<br />
The biggest threat to the royalty has always been the royalists.<br />
<br />
And despite the dangers of dragging the palace into the political fray for their benefit, Abhisit and his backers have done exactly that.</div><div><br />
From the <a href="http://bangkokpost.com/news/local/175917/govt-claims-plot-targets-king">Bangkok Post</a>:</div><div><br />
</div><div><i>The Centre for the Resolution to Emergency Situations claims to have uncovered a plot to overthrow the monarchy.<br />
<br />
The CRES said the network behind the plot included key leaders of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, members of the Puea Thai Party and former banned politicians, academics and hosts of community radio programmes.<br />
<br />
The prime minister and the armed forces have long suspected the UDD rally had a higher purpose than just forcing a dissolution of the House of Representatives. </i><br />
<br />
I was still hoping, despite indications to the contrary, that Thailand's political troubles would find some common ground and be able to resolve the conflict before it took another dangerous escalation.<br />
<br />
But now that the wounded government has taken this desperate step, they are taking Thailand on a path towards civil war. </div><div><br />
Long live the king. </div>chandlerv@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07857436088470078178noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079914420054048001.post-89513902681979636732010-04-23T20:01:00.003+08:002010-04-25T02:04:12.329+08:00Scenes from Silom April 22<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S9GDeIFTGZI/AAAAAAAABl4/HB8s6lgQt6o/s1600/rCBV_0546.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S9GDeIFTGZI/AAAAAAAABl4/HB8s6lgQt6o/s640/rCBV_0546.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Blood stained stairs on Silom where one of the M79 grenades landed, the sticker reads: "we love the king"</span><br />
<br />
Briefly, as I am on the way to Silom again tonight, I am posting some images from last night's violence on Silom road.<br />
<br />
I arrived after the M79 grenades had exploded. For comments on such violence and the general state of ungovernability in Thailand see <a href="http://nationsstate.blogspot.com/2010/03/m79s-and-ungovernabi">M79's and Ungovernability</a>.<br />
<br />
When I arrived, mob violence by PAD (yellow shirts, multicolored shirts, or whatever name they are using today) was in full swing and they were again setting upon people they suspected were reds. <br />
<br />
Yet violence mostly raged between the PAD and the red frontline. Both sides fought spiritedly and the sound of breaking bottles, breaking windows, vulgar insults, and thousands of metal pieces of debris <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">ricocheting off walls, cars, and signs was non-stop. </span><br />
<br />
Police were doing nothing.<br />
<br />
At one point, some police tried to clear the PAD but were violently rebuffed by the mob.<br />
<br />
PAD members complained bitterly that the police were not protecting them from the reds. This was also in relation to the M79 attacks which had caused the PAD to scream and hiss at the police while cheering when military troops moved through the lines.<br />
<br />
Things further degenerated with skirmishes raging between the PAD and the reds and between the PAD and the police.<br />
<br />
While police tried to hold their lines, the PAD pelted them with bottles and rocks launched from slingshots.<br />
<br />
The whole time, rocks and other metal objects were being launched at the PAD from the red's fortified barrier. Reds also launch a number of fireworks at the PAD and there were many loud explosions that were likely fireworks. <br />
<br />
While tensions were high, a moment of levity came when a PAD member with a slingshot ran up to a couple of journalists taking shelter behind a firetruck, and while scanning the ground, ask if anyone had a flashlight to help him find rocks or other ammunition for his slingshot. We all laughed, wished him luck, but we would be somewhat compromised to help in the fray.<br />
<br />
At about 11:40 pm, the police were either ordered to clear the PAD or had simply had enough of being at the receiving end of the hostility.<br />
<br />
Police formed a line at the end of Silom road, started thumbing their truncheons against their shields, and then began moving into the PAD.<br />
<br />
The PAD threw rocks, bottles, sticks, metal barriers, and tried to drag razor wire in front of the police as they retreated down the street. One guy even swung a large fire extinguisher at the police (see bellow).<br />
<br />
Once under the Sala Deang BTS station, the PAD were trapped by lines of military couched bellow their riot shields.<br />
<br />
It was chaos as they funneled into the few spaces between troops as they were running in an open sprint with the cops right behind.<br />
<br />
When the police caught them it was violent retribution. Those that struggled were beaten.<br />
<br />
It was another ugly night of violence on Silom road and likely not the last.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFeLTdRIdClQn3IYVAAa2Lf0610-e_IFk_cTPc2y7nDlwSidAeUJvDG7amnNdM94Bmy3KfpDJM96n1TatG8c_A6YIxepPgM0nTUcZBUH11oVVHpFb4WlEBcI5GnNVI8xSBYk1MsS3BhRvw/s1600/rCBV_0562.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFeLTdRIdClQn3IYVAAa2Lf0610-e_IFk_cTPc2y7nDlwSidAeUJvDG7amnNdM94Bmy3KfpDJM96n1TatG8c_A6YIxepPgM0nTUcZBUH11oVVHpFb4WlEBcI5GnNVI8xSBYk1MsS3BhRvw/s640/rCBV_0562.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S9GDnxjRF7I/AAAAAAAABmQ/GBCzlMC6yGg/s1600/rCBV_0615.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S9GDnxjRF7I/AAAAAAAABmQ/GBCzlMC6yGg/s640/rCBV_0615.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYbgEsP9VcvqPgzkCNUPHRHxZvbEGRLtEkANWbuORe9zWbKwkdOETSUoaFAKn3v77azw05X3lV2UfA295aiVfWgXDkyZVVOvBrPy_U65xJXo4ejq25vyeMIyfPONFxbDGzjuyrCnKfHX7W/s1600/rCBV_0629.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYbgEsP9VcvqPgzkCNUPHRHxZvbEGRLtEkANWbuORe9zWbKwkdOETSUoaFAKn3v77azw05X3lV2UfA295aiVfWgXDkyZVVOvBrPy_U65xJXo4ejq25vyeMIyfPONFxbDGzjuyrCnKfHX7W/s640/rCBV_0629.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Note the small boy firing the sling shot, this is the second night he has been there. He is about 12 years old. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Ku-JbRnE523-YdbKjxoIQ8Y1gjnTF7zphI-DH2A2EjcifJrftuD3MSIBig9wWy95wklq-PSH0ApcU8RlKkjfdU6d2UcoRlwDcE-mUxDU4FwKWZXk4WVdcDjOFD8sQ-BycjnXnvM4NTCz/s1600/rCBV_0657.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Ku-JbRnE523-YdbKjxoIQ8Y1gjnTF7zphI-DH2A2EjcifJrftuD3MSIBig9wWy95wklq-PSH0ApcU8RlKkjfdU6d2UcoRlwDcE-mUxDU4FwKWZXk4WVdcDjOFD8sQ-BycjnXnvM4NTCz/s640/rCBV_0657.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S9GDvEyEskI/AAAAAAAABmo/T5aR2xzs2m4/s1600/rCBV_0694.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S9GDvEyEskI/AAAAAAAABmo/T5aR2xzs2m4/s640/rCBV_0694.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S9GD0ubAK7I/AAAAAAAABmw/F5n_J_jDCKA/s1600/rCBV_0714.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S9GD0ubAK7I/AAAAAAAABmw/F5n_J_jDCKA/s640/rCBV_0714.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span>chandlerv@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07857436088470078178noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079914420054048001.post-79731238415689902522010-04-22T17:03:00.006+08:002010-04-22T20:14:34.056+08:00Yellow lynch mob<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S9ASqFFoaKI/AAAAAAAABls/mwyP3Rrutfk/s1600/rCBV_0468.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S9ASqFFoaKI/AAAAAAAABls/mwyP3Rrutfk/s640/rCBV_0468.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">All photos taken last night (April 21) at the intersection of Silom road and Rama 4. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Clashes erupted between yellows and reds on Silom road last night.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The red shirts were set up behind their formidable tire and bamboo wall on one side and riot control police were stationed on the opposite side. Also facing the red shirt frontline was the military who were perched up in the pedestrian walkway with a large number of well armed troops with M16s trained on the reds.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Amongst the police, the so-called "multicolored" protesters had gathered. But make no mistake, they are yellow shirts or People's Alliance for Democracy simply re-branded.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Their name may change, but what remains the same is their violence, anger, and intolerance.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The yellow mob (and i do mean to use the word mob rather than protesters) had worked themselves up into a frothing anger while their leaders were exchanging taunts over loudspeakers with the opposing red camp.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Pitched battles broke out in which both reds and yellows threw bottles and traded sling-shot rounds. Ball bearings, marbles, and other metal objects caused a number of injuries. I was hit in the forehead by a piece of metal while walk back towards the yellow shirts but it could just as well have been a ricochet fired by the reds. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Then the situation became more violent and truly ugly.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The yellows began attacking people near them they suspected of being red shirts. An older motorcycle taxi driver, a young man claiming to be a off-duty soldier, a Thai journalist caught carrying a UDD membership card, and a somewhat ignorant Western tourist who was on the way the the Sala Deang BTS station. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">It was true mob violence with no rationale.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The yellows punched, kicked, spit, scratched, and broke bottles over their victims heads.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">They also threatened the press who were filming their violence. They accused us of not filming the 'right' violence and aggressively tried to tell us to stop filming them and go to the other side to film the reds.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">At one point, the lynch mob stormed the police barrier at the swank Dusit Thani Hotel and tried to get inside. They were demanding the police handover a victim the police had previously saved. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">While the police and military were unresponsive to the point of being implicit, they did help those being lynched and this did prevent anyone from being killed. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Now that yellows and reds are fighting, it would be logical to assume that more clashes and mob violence will take place on Bangkok's streets in the coming days. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S9AM9EhqqiI/AAAAAAAABkk/5mmDbB5TkGU/s1600/rCBV_0066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S9AM9EhqqiI/AAAAAAAABkk/5mmDbB5TkGU/s640/rCBV_0066.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S9ANAGmHykI/AAAAAAAABks/vPe3y0ekWs8/s1600/rCBV_0226.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S9ANAGmHykI/AAAAAAAABks/vPe3y0ekWs8/s640/rCBV_0226.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S9ANEqUC6KI/AAAAAAAABk0/KLwEpV_WM_g/s1600/rCBV_0231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S9ANEqUC6KI/AAAAAAAABk0/KLwEpV_WM_g/s640/rCBV_0231.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwbetkVJZRXWaPNEC4CdVbVxR5CftkTVfcom2jF0NubEhtA8D0NqDf6FhH2XJIibreAA0Do0JYzCljaCeJ5qBxjLz4cozoWty45ls5zN5E03u6-xpPDRU0O9RxrCeo6mFO1iF6XJHRuIEs/s1600/rCBV_0325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwbetkVJZRXWaPNEC4CdVbVxR5CftkTVfcom2jF0NubEhtA8D0NqDf6FhH2XJIibreAA0Do0JYzCljaCeJ5qBxjLz4cozoWty45ls5zN5E03u6-xpPDRU0O9RxrCeo6mFO1iF6XJHRuIEs/s640/rCBV_0325.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S9ANRDd_IzI/AAAAAAAABlM/b6Rw9p2fA9w/s1600/rCBV_0338.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S9ANRDd_IzI/AAAAAAAABlM/b6Rw9p2fA9w/s640/rCBV_0338.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S9AOVRSrGSI/AAAAAAAABlk/x3wm4WjIAZk/s1600/rCBV_0356.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S9AOVRSrGSI/AAAAAAAABlk/x3wm4WjIAZk/s640/rCBV_0356.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>chandlerv@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07857436088470078178noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079914420054048001.post-75251161354353616802010-04-22T14:32:00.002+08:002010-04-22T21:38:11.540+08:00Further bloodshed must be avoided at all costs<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, geneva, arial, 'sans serif'; font-size: 12px;"></span><br />
<div style="color: black; font-family: verdana, geneva, arial, 'sans serif'; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">A rather apt and surprisingly assertive statement from the <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">AHRC</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">:</span></span></span><br />
<strong><br />
</strong><br />
<strong><br />
</strong><br />
<strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE </strong><span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">AHRC</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">-</span><span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">STM</span></span>-064-2010<br />
April 21, 2010</div><div style="color: black; font-family: verdana, geneva, arial, 'sans serif'; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none;"><strong>A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission</strong></div><div style="color: black; font-family: verdana, geneva, arial, 'sans serif'; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none;"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">THAILAND: URGENT--Further bloodshed must be avoided at all costs</span></strong></div><div style="color: black; font-family: verdana, geneva, arial, 'sans serif'; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none;"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></strong></div><div align="justify" style="color: black; font-family: verdana, geneva, arial, 'sans serif'; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none;">This evening, April 21, there are many disturbing reports of a possible new attack to disperse anti-government <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">protestors</span></span> that have continued to assemble in Bangkok, calling for the unelected premier, <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Abhisit</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Vejjajiva</span></span>, to step down and for new elections to be held. There are grave and legitimate fears that further violence is imminent and that more lives will be lost. On April 10, at least 25 people died and hundreds were injured when the army moved on assembled demonstrators. Although the government denied that the military on that occasion used live ammunition, all evidence is to the contrary.<br />
<br />
The government of Thailand should by now be aware that the use of soldiers to dislodge these demonstrators is totally counterproductive. Not only has it failed in its basic objective, but it has also again dragged the country's reputation to new lows, ironically, just as its diplomats are bidding for a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council. The government must know that it will face worldwide opprobrium if security personnel again attack and kill demonstrators.<br />
<br />
But beyond the condemnation and outrage at home and abroad, it must also recognize that what is at stake in Thailand today is not the stability of a district or accessibility of a street, but the future of a society.<br />
<br />
In dealing with the demonstrators, the government must bear in mind that it alone has the capacity to completely destroy respect for state institutions through rash and disorganised responses. Although others can damage these institutions, it is the persons responsible for their upkeep who can cause truly great and lasting damage. The deep loss in public respect for state institutions over recent years, especially loss of confidence in the judiciary, is primarily a consequence not of public actions but of the wrongheaded and ill-intended acts of successive administrations. Any resort to violence now will only further diminish the standing of key state agencies, causing further setbacks to the decades-long project to build rational institutions for a humane and intelligent society.<br />
<br />
The Asian Human Rights Commission urgently reminds the government of Thailand of the special responsibility that it has to respond carefully to a complicated situation. The government cannot absolve itself of this obligation. Nor do the exigencies of the present circumstances make it less pressing; on the contrary, they make it all the more important. Further bloodshed must be avoided at all costs. The confusion and tragedy of recent days must not be turned into catastrophe. </div>chandlerv@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07857436088470078178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079914420054048001.post-4631922228236346192010-04-19T09:33:00.001+08:002010-04-19T09:35:13.743+08:004:30 Am on Silom<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S8uwabLr6VI/AAAAAAAABj8/PeJY-40__2c/s1600/rCBV_0104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S8uwabLr6VI/AAAAAAAABj8/PeJY-40__2c/s640/rCBV_0104.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Rumors were rampant that a military crackdown against the red shirts was due at 4am.<br />
<br />
Just after 4, troops rolled down Silom and took up position on the pedestrian bridge aiming their rifles at protesters.<br />
<br />
Thousands of troops massed behind them on Silom road and stretched razor wire across the sidewalks...<br />
<br />
And then it was over. Nothing happened. <br />
<br />
By 7 am the morning office crowds were nervously speedwalking past the troops.<br />
<br />
The crackdown has yet to happen.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S8uwYA9NXCI/AAAAAAAABj0/CJvFxBsTN20/s1600/rCBV_0072.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S8uwYA9NXCI/AAAAAAAABj0/CJvFxBsTN20/s640/rCBV_0072.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S8uy4XhCxCI/AAAAAAAABkE/f8awWGUsmyM/s1600/rCBV_0193.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S8uy4XhCxCI/AAAAAAAABkE/f8awWGUsmyM/s640/rCBV_0193.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>chandlerv@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07857436088470078178noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079914420054048001.post-74234588430332697172010-04-18T23:30:00.004+08:002010-04-18T23:48:34.852+08:00Red Revolution<div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxS9GKBJH6n6dTv2P6vZFH8x8C6mwxCSaOklMt31F87VcLn0XQnSkgctZz8H3mj1jU_p6rXSpFqwD6sPo9QSQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">*Rough cut in very low-resolution</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></i></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span><span><span><span><i><br /></i></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><span><span><span><i>Red Revolution</i> is an on-the-ground journey into the so-called “red-shirt” protest movement that has been locked in an increasingly violent political struggle against Thailand’s government. This 22-minute documentary joins the protesters as they march into Bangkok to demand democracy and equality from the country’s traditional ruling elites whom the protesters claim are holding back their democratic rights and have created gross economic and judicial inequalities.</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><span><span><span>Told through the first-person narrative of a photographer who has been documenting their struggle, the documentary witnesses their protest as it evolves from a non-violent movement into a series of bloody street battles leaving hundreds injured and 25 dead. Ultimately, the story reveals how the protesters have begun a dangerous struggle for Thailand's democratic future and are bringing the country to the brink of revolution.</span></span></span></span></p></div>chandlerv@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07857436088470078178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079914420054048001.post-86787450223955382292010-04-13T02:26:00.001+08:002010-04-13T02:29:47.408+08:00Live rounds fired<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S8MZKgLBePI/AAAAAAAABjU/fmpJHv1l3z0/s1600/rCBV_0163.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S8MZKgLBePI/AAAAAAAABjU/fmpJHv1l3z0/s640/rCBV_0163.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Military pointing shotgun as protesters push against troops. April 10 on Makawan Bridge.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">Empowered by massive media censorship, Abhisit’s government has been spreading the bold lie that troops were not shooting live rounds and trying to paint the troops as innocent victims of rampaging red shirt protesters. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">This lie has been told by former-academic-turned-government-revisionist, Panitan Wattanayagorn and by<br />
<div style="text-align: auto;">Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban who said: "he had issued orders for soldiers to be equipped only with shields, batons and tear gas. "They were unarmed, so some of them were killed," <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8615910.stm">he said</a>.</div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #464646; font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"></span>And this lie is being perpetuated by Thailand’s controlled and complicit media. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">As a witness to the carnage on the streets in Bangkok on Saturday, it is simply staggering to hear the government making such bold lies. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Thousands of rounds of live ammunition were littering the streets. While I collected a few spent shells that rolled up to my feet still hot from being fired, a number of protesters had collected live rounds. Here is a photo of a protester holding one of them: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S8MaODW_voI/AAAAAAAABjc/bBBwYTx8lGM/s1600/rCBV_0353.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S8MaODW_voI/AAAAAAAABjc/bBBwYTx8lGM/s320/rCBV_0353.jpg" /></a></div><div><br />
All are marked with the RTA – Royal Thai Army – acronym.<br />
<br />
That the troops were firing overhead for the majority of the time is certain. The only photographs I have of troops aiming at protesters are with shotguns (above). I collected one spent shotgun shell – contents unknown obviously – and one large rubber bullet that is the circumference of a shotgun shell.<br />
<br />
While the spent and live shells are evidence of how bold the distortion of facts is by the government, the video evidence of troops firing and the violent injuries that killed protesters is indisputable.<br />
<br />
This <a href="http://www.france24.com/en/20100411-exclusive-france-24-footage-payen-show-soldiers-firing-crowd-riot-clashes-violence-demonstration-bangkok-thailand-crack">footage from France 24</a> is clear.</div><div><div><br />
What is also clear is that 16 protesters died and many of those died from violent injuries consistent with bullet wounds.<br />
<br />
If Thailand had a proper, free media, they should expose the lies that their government is telling them. </div><div></div></div>chandlerv@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07857436088470078178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079914420054048001.post-20938338703808482362010-04-13T00:44:00.003+08:002010-04-13T01:50:04.511+08:00Ultra-Royalism<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcDtlSxWonCHWJaVKngZzYDDeKWUUa-Wavqyv-E98u67DzhLR1BSVrql9ddlq5ORFlpYpd09jhlGRyPaBo0lSK8KnKxkVMq_ZRgAbI7a_l5GDzu7jWRq-gEMZEs0oZ_tH_xiIh5ZMTzguf/s1600/resizeCBV_0150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcDtlSxWonCHWJaVKngZzYDDeKWUUa-Wavqyv-E98u67DzhLR1BSVrql9ddlq5ORFlpYpd09jhlGRyPaBo0lSK8KnKxkVMq_ZRgAbI7a_l5GDzu7jWRq-gEMZEs0oZ_tH_xiIh5ZMTzguf/s640/resizeCBV_0150.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A red shirt protester showing allegiance to the king, a couple of minutes before major clashes on Makawan Bridge on April 10th. </span><br />
<br />
A provocative article on Prachatai called <i><a href="http://www.prachatai.org/english/node/1734">Abhisit’s last Card: Ultra-Royalism?</a></i><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">"Now that Abhisit is hemorrhaging most if not all of his legitimacy, could he be desperate and callous enough to accuse the red-shirt leadership and the movement of being an anti-monarchist movement?"</span><br />
<br />
Much of the political turmoil in Thailand is drawn in zero-sum terms and if Abhisit and his backers are feeling that they are about to lose it is possible that those who pretend to be protecting the monarchy will be the very ones who drag the monarchy into the center stage of the fray.<br />
<br />
It has been said before, but worth repeating, the royalists are truly the biggest threat to royalty in Thailand.<br />
<br />
Update 12:20 am:<br />
Then again, <a href="http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/Her-Majesty-regrets-Col-Romklaos-death-30127124.html">maybe the royalty are a threat to themselves</a>.chandlerv@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07857436088470078178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079914420054048001.post-1322218171533371852010-04-11T13:18:00.004+08:002010-04-13T01:00:40.406+08:00April 10, Bangkok<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzzOjkfW3eloL2Qmrom7EkNKpUY_aGxChh4J9s2tcpIcYkMMYkxYLeOgtGLTVj6A0pB_AMYAiqVoj3oipgL7Tdf_KA2aAzZdBj11HObaWElyABDPuCfr_4vxay9jwzcaoFB79iPojJfJFh/s1600/resizeCBV_0071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzzOjkfW3eloL2Qmrom7EkNKpUY_aGxChh4J9s2tcpIcYkMMYkxYLeOgtGLTVj6A0pB_AMYAiqVoj3oipgL7Tdf_KA2aAzZdBj11HObaWElyABDPuCfr_4vxay9jwzcaoFB79iPojJfJFh/s640/resizeCBV_0071.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The photos here are in the same order as I shot them from about 10am to 2am. Starts with the clash on </div>Makkawan Bridge.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S8FWMHNxqoI/AAAAAAAABfQ/64DKtklSAb0/s1600/rCBV_0258.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S8FWMHNxqoI/AAAAAAAABfQ/64DKtklSAb0/s640/rCBV_0258.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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Reds were triumphant in Ratchaprasong this evening with possibly the largest turnout so far. It is hard to have perspective on actual numbers but around 100,000 is likely. <br />
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Notably, its Bangkok residents which are surging to the protests challenging the stereotype that its only the rural and relatively poor protesting. <br />
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While rumors were rampant that a crack down was immanent, it is really hard to see how the reds will be subdued now.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S79j39p0dcI/AAAAAAAABe0/yEH9gQn3mag/s1600/CBV_0033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S79j39p0dcI/AAAAAAAABe0/yEH9gQn3mag/s640/CBV_0033.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigN8B_DXC4Lb7Oq0NU1fCzZX8QecmqjmGBe5p_3vXKN9LDlVoO0VjokYZSpSjX-PcfG3KwclvMW6QVnmeOx0njLkiyaw-yzKr5B7o9fiseXBtL5Q6RaMohJL_OfB8J0J-yxt1XekDMqUEm/s1600/CBV_0066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigN8B_DXC4Lb7Oq0NU1fCzZX8QecmqjmGBe5p_3vXKN9LDlVoO0VjokYZSpSjX-PcfG3KwclvMW6QVnmeOx0njLkiyaw-yzKr5B7o9fiseXBtL5Q6RaMohJL_OfB8J0J-yxt1XekDMqUEm/s640/CBV_0066.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>chandlerv@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07857436088470078178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079914420054048001.post-63979120800361808102010-04-08T07:40:00.008+08:002010-04-08T14:42:20.428+08:00Seh Deang at Ratchaprasop<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S70T_wAdVGI/AAAAAAAABeg/_vAxlAwrJTY/s1600/resizeCBV_0031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S70T_wAdVGI/AAAAAAAABeg/_vAxlAwrJTY/s640/resizeCBV_0031.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Seh Deang at 5 AM in Ratchprasong milling about the protesters like a movie star.chandlerv@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07857436088470078178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079914420054048001.post-31401419082296479662010-04-07T18:28:00.001+08:002010-04-07T21:29:41.973+08:00Photo of the Day: Troops retreat from Ratchaprasong<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S7xdJFKXNYI/AAAAAAAABdY/LZ-0qxi5bjI/s1600/resizeCBV_0196.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S7xdJFKXNYI/AAAAAAAABdY/LZ-0qxi5bjI/s640/resizeCBV_0196.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
It was all smiles and handshaking as security forces retreated from Ratchaprasong. Apparently was tense in the morning, but as I arrived at about 10:30 or 11, it was simply triumphant for the reds. The protesters near Ratchadamri formed a line around retreating troop (above) as they walked towards Lumpini Park. One of protesters was even hand-feeding candies to the troops (see photo below).<br />
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The only tense moments I witnessed were on Silom and near the seized military jeep and fire trucks. On Silom, as the reds arrived and traffic was halted, some motorists were furious and it seemed a couple were close to swerving into the protesters. At the site of the seized military jeep and fire trucks, including one mounted with the LRAD, there was some tension. The military official negotiating the release of the vehicles looked nervous and, u<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">ncharacteristically, one of the red shirt guards tried to stop me from photographing. </span><br />
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</span>chandlerv@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07857436088470078178noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079914420054048001.post-85475659934802517592010-04-04T22:38:00.015+08:002010-04-07T17:14:22.057+08:00Photo of the Day: Red's at Ratchaprasong<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg-6XNSh5XLh7wemCUeFFn3tZLcE2sOchl7gGHIM2NeXjonZOZn-0pv45mTV4B4LDDpUb79e4BJ5SXWe37EgZsaSUkyABhKAtubkze7ZQSahyphenhyphensqDm7S71Wkv5JGzmkJOjji1-BVAroweCH/s1600/CBV_0488.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg-6XNSh5XLh7wemCUeFFn3tZLcE2sOchl7gGHIM2NeXjonZOZn-0pv45mTV4B4LDDpUb79e4BJ5SXWe37EgZsaSUkyABhKAtubkze7ZQSahyphenhyphensqDm7S71Wkv5JGzmkJOjji1-BVAroweCH/s640/CBV_0488.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S7pI9SOqJxI/AAAAAAAABbw/N1ijv89JQsk/s1600/CBV_0256.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="427" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S7pI9SOqJxI/AAAAAAAABbw/N1ijv89JQsk/s640/CBV_0256.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S7pJEhzXE1I/AAAAAAAABcA/zgOJBkEPYsk/s1600/CBV_0373.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="427" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S7pJEhzXE1I/AAAAAAAABcA/zgOJBkEPYsk/s640/CBV_0373.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S7im8WE5eMI/AAAAAAAABYg/kiy5ZywkvWY/s1600/CBV_0373.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>chandlerv@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07857436088470078178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079914420054048001.post-48147473980062187642010-03-31T23:31:00.010+08:002010-04-01T10:50:24.863+08:00Ugly lese majeste<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S7NrBUtFhzI/AAAAAAAABX0/ivDmBZoWRD4/s1600/mugcrop.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 302px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S7NrBUtFhzI/AAAAAAAABX0/ivDmBZoWRD4/s400/mugcrop.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454821244157658930" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">A </span><a href="http://www.banksy.co.uk/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Banksy</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> portrait of the Queen of England. </span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span><span>The ugly appearance of lese majeste/Computer Crimes Act is back and freedom of speech and the press is again under attack. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:16px;"></span></span></div><div></div><span><span><br />Chiranuch Premchaiporn, at the liberal <a href="http://www.prachatai.com/english/">Prachatai</a> online news site, was arrested and charged for not censoring user comments fast enough.<br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:130%;color:#444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 23px;font-size:14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 18px; font-family:'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:12px;"><span><span><span><span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><span><span><br />As the above picture illustrates, constitutional monarchies like Great Britain have evolved (pun intended) to a point where freedom of speech can coexist with a monarchy. </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:130%;color:#444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:12px;"><span><span><span><span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span>Yet in Thailand, citizens and foreigners are subject to draconian laws that can send people to jail for <a href="http://thaipoliticalprisoners.wordpress.com/pendingcases/chotisak-onsoong/">not standing up</a> during the royal propaganda played at movie theaters, for <a href="http://thaipoliticalprisoners.wordpress.com/decidedcases/darunee-charnchoensilpakul/">expressing political opinion</a>, <a href="http://thaipoliticalprisoners.wordpress.com/decidedcases/suwicha-thakor_1/">posting online comments</a>, and in the case of Chiranuch Premchaiporn, for simply not self-censoring free speech fast enough. </span></span></div><div><span><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span>Not only is Thailand's lese majeste law an international disgrace, but in perspective of personal freedoms, it is also barbaric. </span></span></div><div><span><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span>That anyone can face an astounding 50-year sentence for exercising one of the most basic human rights is astounding. </span></span></div><div><span><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span><a href="http://thaipoliticalprisoners.wordpress.com/">Political Prisoners Thailand </a>suggests to "watch this case carefully and urges all interested and concerned parties to write to the Thai embassies and consulates in their areas."</span></span></div><div><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(68, 68, 68); line-height: 23px; font-family:Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:14px;"></span></span></span></div><span><span><br />I think we also need to push organizations like </span><a href="http://www.hrw.org/">Human Rights Watch</a><span> and <a href="http://www.amnesty.org/">Amnesty International</a> to take Thailand to task for violating basic human rights. </span></span><div><span><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span>We should also consider discouraging tourists from visiting Thailand. If Burma's tourism industry is subject to such an embargo, Thailand's continued attacks on human rights warrants similar treatment. </span></span></div><div><span><span><br /></span></span></div><div>Dont forget, its not just lese majeste which Thailand transgresses on human rights. Thailand is a habitual and abuser of human rights as demonstrated by a number of issues like the<a href="http://asiancorrespondent.com/bangkok-pundit-blog/rohingyas-resurface-and-again-towed-out-to-sea-by-the-thai-authorities"> Rohingyas being towed out to sea to die </a>or the simple fact that not a single member of the security forces have been been prosecuted for gross human <a href="http://nationsstate.blogspot.com/search/label/Southern%20Insurgency">rights violations in the deep south</a>. </div><div><span><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span>And finally, this should serve as an example that Prime Minister Abhisit is simply a liar who should not be trusted. </span></span></div><div><span><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span>I remember a triumphant Abhisit last year boldly claiming that "</span><a href="http://nationsstate.blogspot.com/2009/10/abhisits-failing-state.html">justice" would be the way to measure the success of his government</a><span>. </span></span></div><div><span><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span>By any measure, his government has been a complete failure and it is specifically the failure of justice, as demonstrated by the continued use of lese majeste and the computer crimes act, that shows just how hollow his rhetoric has been all along. </span></span></div><div><span><span></span></span></div><span><span><br />ไชโย! (Chai yo)</span></span><div><span><span><br /></span></span><div><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(68, 68, 68); line-height: 23px; font-family:Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:14px;"><br /></span></span></span></div></div>chandlerv@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07857436088470078178noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079914420054048001.post-83095895002604014272010-03-27T00:25:00.010+08:002010-03-27T14:26:33.499+08:00M79s and ungovernability<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S6zgcN7zFBI/AAAAAAAABXo/Vi_U5OUZnXE/s1600/M79_afmil+(1).jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 140px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S6zgcN7zFBI/AAAAAAAABXo/Vi_U5OUZnXE/s400/M79_afmil+(1).jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452980024220259346" /></a>While the<a href="http://nationsstate.blogspot.com/search/label/Red%20Shirts"> red shirts</a> are gaining traction with their political message of double standards in the judicial system, there is a more serious problem with looming ungovernability in Thailand. <div><br /></div><div>When I first came to Thailand I was told that "only the stupid and the poor go to jail". </div><div><br /></div><div>And while there are exceptions, this sharp summary of the Thai judicial system is apt.</div><div><br /></div><div>There are judicial double standards currently being manipulated by Abhisit's disingenuous and ineffectual government and the powerful non-democratic powers which control Thailand, but the real problem is that there simply is not much 'rule of law' anyway.</div><div><br /></div><div>While we might talk about the manipulation of the judiciary, corrupt police, or simply the scoff-law traits so prevalent in Thai society, the real problem is that major violent crimes conducted in the political arena are rarely, if ever, resolved. </div><div><br /></div><div>The list is too long to be detailed but major events like the eight new year's eve bombings in 2006 which killed three and injur<span><span>ed 38 or the attempted assassination of Sondhi Limthongkul have simply disappeared, like countless other cases, without resolution. </span></span></div><div><span><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span>The key point is that political violence - if not simply violence in general - is not only rampant but exists virtually unchecked. Major violent crimes occur with startling frequency and are rarely, if ever, subject to the police arrest, trial, or conviction. </span></span></div><div><span><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span>(This is not even mentioning the southern insurgency which will never, and I really do mean never, be resolved without an end to the judicial impunity exercised by state security forces.)</span></span></div><div><span><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span>Take the case of M79 grenade launchers as the quintessential example. Not only have M79s been the weapon of choice for the last couple years in a string of unresolved attacks which have <a href="http://bangkokpost.com/news/local/34904/grenades-hit-health-ministry">escalated in the last couple weeks</a> but there is the more serious issue of M79 manufacturing. </span></span></div><div><span><span><br /></span></span></div><div>Characteris<span><span>tic of the shambolic enforcement </span></span>and judicial system, police raids in Ayutthaya and Samut Prakan provinces uncovered workshops producing literally thousands of M79 grenade launchers but failed to explain or resolve the very serious issues of the production of war weapons. </div><div><br /></div><div>Also characteristic of Abhisit's military-dependent government, groundless and shrill accusations from sycophantic and mindless ministers quickly pointed towards the red shirt protesters as the destination of the M79s. </div><div><br /></div><div>We should not underestimate what the accusations imply. </div><div><br /></div><div>Should protesters be arming themselves with thousands of war weapons, the implication is clear. If thousands of weapons were being commissioned by opponents of the government it would mean that Thailand is at the cusp of a serious and bloody civil war. </div><div><br /></div><div>But, what is more likely, is that Thailand's puppet government, non-democratic leaders, keystone cops, and incompetent judiciary have fostered a serious ungovernability crisis in Thailand. </div><div></div><span><span><br /></span></span><span><span>The big question, and one hardly broached by the local media, was the more likely destination of a large scale commission of war weapons.<br /></span></span><div><span><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span>Burma would be a logical guess. The Wa and the Tatamadaw are are at it again and it is not exactly a leap of the imagination to think that locally manufactured weapons are being sold to the Wa or the myriad of ethnic separatist groups or drug gangs operating in Burma. </span></span></div><div><span><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span>But, the most plausible explanation, is that the M79s were being manufactured for local consumption not for anti-government forces but for the unaccountable Thai military. </span></span></div><div><span><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span>If the <a href="http://asiancorrespondent.com/search/?keywords=GT200">GT 200 scandal </a>has taught us anything, it is that wildly uncontrolled military spending equals wildly uncontrolled military corruption.</span></span></div><div><span><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span>Military corruption - as opposed to bottom-up police corruption - is a top-down process in which weapons procurement is a core source of ill-gotten revenue for Thailand's curiously wealthy generals. </span></span></div><div><span><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span>Rumor is that the recent silence around the raids on the manufacture of M79s is not because the police 'investigation' led to the red shirts but because the military had spent x-billion baht on M79s supposedly manufactured abroad but had commissioned them locally (despite serious concerns over quality in which many simply can not be fired) in a standard-practice procurement scheme that would net top generals millions of baht. </span></span></div><div><span><span></span></span></div><span><span><br />And here we have the crux of ungovernability. </span></span><div><span><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span>How can a state function properly when those supposedly upholding the state are slinging incendiary allegations of civil war to bolster their highly questionable legitimacy while turning a blind eye to blatant military corruption and allowing an already impotent police force to fail, again and again and again, to bring resolution to serious politically-inspired crime? </span></span><div><span><span><br /></span></span></div><div>So, while the red shirts are gaining political capital pointing out a major deficiency in the Thai judicial system, the net result of a chronic lack of law and order means that the state can not accommodate political contestation and is stumbling forward, like an aging alcoholic, towards a crisis of ungovernability. </div></div>chandlerv@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07857436088470078178noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079914420054048001.post-27436067739712350032010-03-17T00:08:00.015+08:002010-04-07T20:51:41.717+08:00A gross misstep<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqrCm1oxyLVGR9Ae5C-j0GmSPkbYUeiHEcLNfotLz0FOQLIixqxLgOuly3b3cLZ5kyRKQPbvBsuKDUR6K43_gmuS7QeWQik0aFZ9Y8GSqLpwtHEoXEhH2aLtlrhKZ-B5igGbIBpc53dCA/s1600/resizeCBV_0362.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqrCm1oxyLVGR9Ae5C-j0GmSPkbYUeiHEcLNfotLz0FOQLIixqxLgOuly3b3cLZ5kyRKQPbvBsuKDUR6K43_gmuS7QeWQik0aFZ9Y8GSqLpwtHEoXEhH2aLtlrhKZ-B5igGbIBpc53dCA/s640/resizeCBV_0362.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S5-3u8QEXHI/AAAAAAAABXU/ITwO-QSvyiw/s1600-h/resizeCBV_0066.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449276091216977010" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S5-3u8QEXHI/AAAAAAAABXU/ITwO-QSvyiw/s400/resizeCBV_0066.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 268px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<br />
When the UDD (red shirts) marched<br />
triumphantly through bangkok on Monday (March 15) they gained a political victory.<br />
<div><br />
</div><div>The residents of Bangkok came out to great them, and importantly, came out to support them.</div><div><br />
</div><div>The macabre blood drive that happened today will likely negate</div><div>any public victory that they have made.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Yes, it is symbolic and representative of the 'blood of the nation' but it is radical and will serve to alienate the so-called silent majority.</div><div><br />
</div><div>My first hand experience is this; it was simply awful.</div><div><br />
</div><div>The waste of blood which could have been donated to a hospital, the awful way the protesters threateningly threw it at the police, and the vile smell, it was a simply an ugly day and not appropriate for a struggle which claims democracy and equality as their goals. </div><div><br />
</div><div>I think the photos from today, particularly at the Democrat Party office, describe it best.</div><div><br />
</div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S5-3uJy-6nI/AAAAAAAABXE/uDOvO_ywWWg/s1600-h/resizeCBV_0246.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449276077673212530" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S5-3uJy-6nI/AAAAAAAABXE/uDOvO_ywWWg/s400/resizeCBV_0246.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 268px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S5-3I1zUSZI/AAAAAAAABW8/sXCyqtYV658/s1600-h/resizeCBV_0252.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449275436650744210" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S5-3I1zUSZI/AAAAAAAABW8/sXCyqtYV658/s400/resizeCBV_0252.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 268px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX01Dpj4MjY8JHQxIWUqddjh0jnF1HRkFVDAsx11zU7I3kpbEStlRxkY8-OBpq-M82sc1RVuKRfTSpnYFJYChqY1bPl40QxUK4jTGIlUrji4W6M7dQAx_cMIGVEY50mwohLiTEgWn3KmFI/s1600-h/resizeCBV_0278.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449275422776510130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX01Dpj4MjY8JHQxIWUqddjh0jnF1HRkFVDAsx11zU7I3kpbEStlRxkY8-OBpq-M82sc1RVuKRfTSpnYFJYChqY1bPl40QxUK4jTGIlUrji4W6M7dQAx_cMIGVEY50mwohLiTEgWn3KmFI/s400/resizeCBV_0278.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 268px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S5-3HkL_LcI/AAAAAAAABWs/nB9DoEsUk5c/s1600-h/resizeCBV_0289.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449275414742511042" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O9w9_jDjw5k/S5-3HkL_LcI/AAAAAAAABWs/nB9DoEsUk5c/s400/resizeCBV_0289.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 268px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx5EsFBjvE5xoaDR73NWa7bw9-qt3C3ZWucXWqtHGBKTPVAijw7hlRMTl3ms_1ZqoJCTvpoJ-3S9CtUKb8OfQZPn_35UL-zBPRblrIaSGprCTFmRz0rkQ1BvAUv85DQW8wu8C03wDwUogC/s1600-h/resizeCBV_0305.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449275399974619762" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx5EsFBjvE5xoaDR73NWa7bw9-qt3C3ZWucXWqtHGBKTPVAijw7hlRMTl3ms_1ZqoJCTvpoJ-3S9CtUKb8OfQZPn_35UL-zBPRblrIaSGprCTFmRz0rkQ1BvAUv85DQW8wu8C03wDwUogC/s400/resizeCBV_0305.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 268px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 400px;" /></a>chandlerv@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07857436088470078178noreply@blogger.com2