Category: The Bangkok Post

The Post does its journalistic task in addressing the deeply flawed amnesty bill before parliament. That bill is better than none. The editor is, nonetheless, also spot on that “the elephant in the room is that Section 112 is excluded from amnesty”. It is, in fact, not only that this law increasingly divides society and inevitably pushes those who value justice under democracy to, as the editorial puts it, “invite criticism against the monarchy that this law is meant to protect”.

Those who value informed opinion will support putting LM violations at the top of crimes for which full amnesties should be granted every bit as much as those who value justice under a constitutional democracy.

Felix Qui

90-day confusion

Re: “Shoddy Thai service”, (PostBag, Oct 10) and “Confidence declines as foreigners avoid Thailand”, (Business, Sept 29).

In his letter published in PostBag, Michael Bell is annoyed that he cannot do his 90-day report online whilst abroad. He clearly does not understand that the day he arrives back here is day number one. The programme resets every time you leave Thailand.

Barry Kenyon

Whose story holds?

Re: “False equations”, (PostBag, Oct 7).

Well, what a quandary. It seems we have to make a choice. Either we must choose to believe Frank Scimone and other contributors who write to support the Israeli government.

Or, we choose to believe the Israeli human rights organisation B’Tselem, The Red Cross, Jews United against Zionism, Oxfam, Save the Children, Pax Christi, the IPC, INARA, Professors Norman Finkelstein and Avi Shlaim, Rabbis Elhanan Beck and Yisrael David Weiss, the WFP and the Jewish Voice for Peace, to name only a few. So, who should we believe? Oh my goodness, that’s a hard one.

Keith Barlow

Greener with CO2

Re: “No CO2 Miracle”, (PostBag, Oct 8).

I certainly hope Anna Aarts has not fled Thailand after reading this benighted reply to her fine contribution to PostBag. Ray Ban boldly says, “Carbon dioxide is not a plant food, and the ‘aerial fertiliser effect’ is, sadly, a myth.”

Elementary biology tells us the CO2 fertilisation effect causes plants to grow faster and larger when more CO2 is available. Satellite studies from Nasa, NOAA, Landsat, and NDVI datasets show a measurable 15% increase in leaf area globally since the 1980s, much of it linked to CO2 enrichment. Higher atmospheric CO2 increases the rate of carbon fixation in plants through photosynthesis, thereby enhancing carbohydrate production and biomass accumulation. This means more food, more shade, and removal of atmospheric carbon dioxide in a balancing feedback loop protecting and nourishing all living things.

More CO2 enhances plant water use efficiency, resulting in the expansion of vegetation in deserts like the Sahel, Inner Mongolia, and the Australian outback. Satellite imagery also confirms widespread greening has occurred in North America, China, and India. In short and happily enough, we have just enough carbon dioxide to afford Ray Ban the luxury of neglecting to eat his vegetables.

Michael Setter

Cultural confusion

Re: “Off to a dancing start”, (BP, Oct 10).

No doubt it is commendable to be welcoming and accepting of different cultures and customs. However, if the intent is to promote tourism in Thailand, one would expect to showcase the myriad wonderful aspects of Thai culture that we have to offer. So I am perplexed at the ceremonial event in Ban Rak Thai in Mae Hong Son province, which would have looked perfectly in place in Beijing or Guangzhou were it not for the Thai-language banners.

Sad news reached the World Beat desk this week that Prof Dr Terry E. Miller of Kent State University in the US passed away on Oct 1. He was 80 years old.

He was recognised as one of the leading ethnomusicologists in Southeast Asian music, particularly for his groundbreaking research on molam and the iconic khaen (free reed bamboo mouth organ) in Thailand and Laos.

Ajarn Terry was part of a friendship and research partnership with Assoc Prof Dr Jarernchai Chompairot of Mahasarakham University, who died in July.

Born in Dover, Ohio in 1945, he majored in organ performance at the College of Wooster before being drafted into the US Army in 1969. He was sent to Long Binh Base as an assistant chaplain and it was in Vietnam that he began to develop a deep interest in Southeast Asian traditional music.

Upon his return, he completed a master’s degree at Indiana University (with a thesis on American traditional shape-note singing) and then returned to Southeast Asia to do the field work for a doctoral degree; he took his family to Maha Sarakham for two years (1972-74). His research assistant was Ajarn Jarernchai who he later helped study for a master’s and doctoral degree in the USA.

Ajarn Terry’s field work collected research for a 1977 dissertation “Khaen Playing And Mawlum Singing In Northeast Thailand”. The thesis was turned into a textbook, Traditional Music Of The Lao: Kaen Playing And Mawlum Singing In Northeast Thailand, and published in 1985. It remains one of the few in English to comprehensively cover traditional music in the region.

In 1975, he began his academic career and he set up one of the first ethnomusicology departments in the USA (as Jarernchai did at Maha Sarakham University). He was a moving force behind the World Music programme at Kent State and also founded the KSU Thai Ensemble (for many years the only Thai ensemble at an American university) and Chinese Ensemble.

Ajarn Terry was a prolific writer, contributing and editing such essential reference works as The New Grove Dictionary Of Music And Musicians; The New Grove Dictionary Of Musical Instruments; and The Garland Encyclopedia Of World Music (The Garland Handbook Of Southeast Asian Music is an absolute must for anyone interested in this region’s music).

His textbook with Andrew Shahriari, World Music: A Global Journey, is used in colleges and high schools. He was also an active member and officer of the Society for Ethnomusicology and the Society for Asian Music.

In 1980, he self-published the first instructional manual in the English language for playing the khaen — An Introduction To Playing The Kaen.

In addition to travelling and collecting research materials in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia and Myanmar, he also maintained an interest congregational singing which took him and his second wife Sara, also an ethnomusicologist, to the USA, Jamaica, Trinidad, St Vincent, Scotland and South Africa.

Ajarn Terry also had a passionate interest in covered bridges, which harked back to trips to see covered bridges with his father in the 1950s. (If you are not sure what they are, think of the movie The Bridges Of Madison County). In fact, he made a road trip just before his passing to see 55 covered bridges with a German photographer and covered bridge enthusiast. This “pastime” resulted in two illustrated books from his bridge travels, China’s Covered Bridges: Architecture Over Water and America’s Covered Bridges: Practical Crossings – Nostalgic Icons.

In his later years, Terry and Sara enjoyed ballroom dancing, which he did with his customary enthusiasm. But there was also a research angle which I also found interesting. Ballroom dancing it seems has played an important role in the development of pleng luk thung, or Thai country music; something which I could also hear in the music but which isn’t often written about. He reached the same conclusion and we shared notes on that.

Ajarn Terry influenced, inspired and mentored many students and academics but he also practically supported many musicians, too. He and the late Prof Mick Moloney (of New York University) provided a monthly stipend for one of the last molam glawn (poetic lam) artists, Khru Jammu. And when Mick Moloney set up a music programme for children at Father Joe Mauer’s Mercy Center, Ajarn Terry procured many Isan instruments like the phin and bonglang. The programme continues to flourish.

Last December, I managed to get Ajarn Terry and Ajarn Jarernchai to join me at the Jim Thompson Farm Tour to get an interview on camera. We talked on the molam stage about what it was like to conduct research in Isan during the early 1970s, when the region had many US bases. It would turn out to be one of the last times these two pioneers talked about their work. The interview is available on the Jim Thompson Farm Facebook page.

At the end of a quiet Jomtien lane sits an unassuming villa that, once a month, becomes Thailand’s most intimate concert hall. With a seating capacity of just 50, Ben’s Theatre is the inspired creation of Ben Hansen, a Dutch photojournalist turned cultural host who now runs his music venue as a charitable venture.

Established almost by accident in 2004, Hansen rolls out a small red carpet during high season to welcome an eclectic mix of nationalities into his living room, all bound by their shared devotion to classical music.

Before the concert, I found myself chatting with two charming English ladies over a glass of white wine (included in the ticket price). Locals and visitors mingled easily, united by the thrill of finding something refined and elegant in a resort better known for its neon lights and noisy clubs.

Such is the intimacy of a concert at Ben’s Theatre that it feels more like a shared secret that hasn’t yet been discovered by the wider world. The atmosphere was relaxed but, once the lights dim, a hush descended. This isn’t a salon where people casually drift in and out — far from it. The discerning audience listened with genuine respect for the performance. Even children sat quietly beside their parents, absorbing the music with admirable concentration.

Central to all of this is Ben’s Yamaha baby grand piano, its polished black frame reflecting the faces of those who valiantly paid for it through a crowdfunding campaign. Rounded yet bright in tone, it fills the villa with both resonance and pride. It’s impossible to overstate the symbolic value of this precious instrument, played by such great talent and maintained with unfailing care.

The concert on Oct 6 was devoted to two of Thailand’s most gifted young pianists. San Jittakarn, whose artistry has been widely recognised in Europe, opened with Schumann’s Arabesque, Op.18. His interpretation balanced poise and passion, his phrasing light but full of insight. Schumann’s lyrical introspection can easily tip into sentimentality, yet his quiet discipline kept it grounded in musical honesty.

San followed with Symphonic Studies, Op.13, renowned as a formidable test of technique and endurance. The opening theme, by Baron von Fricken (father of Schumann’s one-time girlfriend Ernestine), is musically unremarkable, yet from it the composer creates a set of variations which makes so much from very little. This gifted Thai pianist traced their shifting moods with impressive clarity, from martial exuberance to quiet reflection, finishing with a brilliant Finale.

After the interval came Ravel’s Gaspard De La Nuit, performed by Anant Changwaiwit, a pianist of electrifying talent. Maurice Ravel was a master of orchestration and his solo piano music requires the illusion of a full orchestra drawn from a single pair of hands. Anant met that challenge fearlessly. In Ondine, his sound shimmered with fluid grace; Le Gibet was perfectly weighted, its ominous B-flat repeated throughout; while Scarbo erupted with manic joy. It was a performance of rare virtuosity and poetry.

To close the evening, Anant tossed off Balakirev’s Islamey with such ease that it drew gasps from those around me. This Russian warhorse, composed in 1869, may not be particularly memorable music but, as a show of stamina and flair, it was the perfect final flourish to a triumphant evening.

As I walked back down the soi, gravel crunching underfoot, by the time I reached the main road, Schumann had faded and Ravel’s phantoms were almost gone, replaced by the neon lights of bars and the twang of Country and Western. Between concerts, Ben’s tiny Carnegie Hall remains untouched: the chairs still in place, the piano carefully covered and the spotlights dimmed.

In a city more often associated with nightlife than nocturnes, this gem of a theatre stands as a gentle reminder that great art doesn’t always need grandeur. It requires only space, sincerity and the right people listening.

Scottish striker caps five-fight win streak under the ONE banner with head-kick finish of Rambong at ONE Friday Fights 128

Stephen Irvine’s ONE Championship dream finally became reality at ONE Friday Fights 128 last night in Bangkok.

The 25-year-old Scot secured a US$100,000 contract with ONE after a spectacular first-round head-kick knockout of Rambong in their 130lbs Muay Thai main event at Lumpinee Stadium.

It was Irvine’s fifth straight win under the ONE banner – and his fourth finish overall – extending his record to seven victories from eight fights since debuting in June 2023.

Under the tutelage of coach JP Gallacher, alongside ONE featherweight contender Nico Carrillo, Irvine had been chasing a full-time contract for more than two years. When commentator Mitch Chilson told him in the ring that chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong had finally granted it, the wave of emotion was clear.

Before that, Chilson had handed Irvine a 350,000 baht performance bonus – but the real prize came moments later.

‘Thank you so much, Chatri,’ he said. ‘I get carried away when I’m here and forget to show how grateful I am. Not just for these bonuses and opportunities, but for keeping my dream alive. For years I was thinking, ‘What am I doing?’ I wasn’t going to make a lot of money doing Muay Thai – but ONE Championship made that possible.’

Gallacher and Carillo jumped over the ropes to celebrate with their man after Rambong was dropped cold 14 seconds before the end of the first round.

‘It’s something I’ve done all my career,’ Irvine said of the technique. ‘Now that I’m in the small gloves, I’d kind of forgotten about it – but I went back to my roots. We were working on it all camp, and of course Nico Carrillo called the killer shot as he always does.’

The knockout marks the latest milestone for the Scottish trio, who have continued to make waves in ONE’s Muay Thai ranks. Carrillo fell short of winning the interim bantamweight belt earlier this year but has moved up a division and now looks set to chase gold again in 2026.

Gallacher – a childhood friend of Carrillo’s and Irvine’s – told the Bangkok Post on Monday morning he ‘can’t put my happiness into words’.

‘It’s a massive weight off my shoulders,’ he added. ‘It’s just been me, Nico and Stevie for a long time now since we were young kids.

‘Seeing it all pay off after all those years pushing them both to quit their jobs and pursue this full time on the promise we would make this work and we would get to the big league . To sit back and see it become reality that both of them are now signed to ONE, I really can’t describe the feeling of relief.’

Irvine, meanwhile, already has his sights set on following in his teammate’s footsteps.

‘I’m coming for it all – the strawweight division, not the flyweight,’ he said. ‘I’m going to be the king. Believe me.’

Back home in Scotland, a five-month-old daughter will be watching her father’s dream unfold.

Moroccan teenager disqualified for two illegal kicks to grounded opponent Payakrut in Muay Thai bout at Lumpinee Stadium

Abdessamie Rhenimi has apologised after being disqualified for two illegal ‘soccer kicks’ during his fight with Payakrut at ONE Friday Fights 128 in Bangkok on Friday night.

The Moroccan teenager was red-carded midway through the second round at Lumpinee Stadium after kicking his Thai opponent in the head while he was already grounded – the second such incident of the bout.

Earlier in the first round, Rhenimi had also caught Payakrut with a similar illegal strike just seconds into their strawweight Muay Thai contest.

The referee immediately called for injury time and issued a yellow card, resulting in a 10 per cent purse deduction.

When the same foul was repeated in round two, the official once again stepped in – but this time to halt the fight and disqualify the 19-year-old, as boos rang around the arena. Payakrut, who had already dropped Rhenimi with a knockdown earlier, was declared the winner by disqualification.

Clips of the incident quickly went viral across social media, with many fans calling for disciplinary action and some urging ONE Championship not to book Rhenimi again.

The Petchsaman Gym fighter, however, posted a public apology on Saturday evening, insisting the fouls were not intentional.

‘I want to sincerely apologise to Payakrut. I wish him a healthy and strong recovery,’ Rhenimi said. ‘The fight was intense, and in the heat of the moment, I let my emotion take over. I wanted to win so badly that I lost control and didn’t think clearly.

‘My actions were not intentional, but I take full responsibility for them. This is not who I am, and it’s not the example I want to set as a professional. I will learn from this and do better.’

Soccer kicks – strikes to the head of a grounded opponent – are banned under ONE Championship’s ruleset, even in mixed martial arts bouts. The technique remains legal only in a handful of promotions such as Japan’s Rizin Fighting Federation.

The Department of Intellectual Property (DIP) has intensified its efforts to protect Thai brands from being opportunistically registered by foreign entities through its Trademark Monitor initiative.

It came to the rescue recently when the Moo Deng trademark of the Zoological Park Organization of Thailand and the Hongthai Brand trademark of the famous inhaler maker Thai Herbal Hongthai Co were nearly claimed by applicants in China and Vietnam.

Oramon Sapthaweetham, director-general of the DIP, said on Saturday that Thai business operators continue to face serious intellectual property (IP) violations abroad, especially from trademark misuse, which posed a significant obstacle to Thai exports.

‘Such infringements can prevent brand owners from using their trademarks overseas and damage the image of the genuine products,’ she said.

Most of the infringements involve consumer goods, fashion items and electronic products. They typically take two forms: foreign parties counterfeiting Thai trademarks for competing sales abroad, or local partners or distributors preemptively registering well-known Thai marks in their own countries. (Story continues below)

These practices have blocked Thai entrepreneurs from selling products under their own brands in those countries, she said.

In the seven months from March to September, the department successfully intervened to prevent several cases of unauthorised trademark registration. These included the Moo Deng mark detected in China, the Hongthai Brand found in both China and Vietnam, and the IRPC mark belonging to the SET-listed petrochemical company IRPC Plc, also found in China, said Ms Oramon.

The department has adopted a proactive approach to protecting Thai businesses through its Trademark Monitor system, which tracks and reviews trademark applications during the public announcement period – usually 60 to 90 days, depending on each country’s laws – to allow for timely objections before registration.

The department has begun monitoring announcements by public IP agencies in Asean countries and China, Thailand’s key trading partners. Since the initiative began in March this year, more than 100 Thai businesses have participated.

Once the DIP detects a mark identical or similar to that of a Thai business being registered abroad, it promptly alerts the trademark owner to consider filing an objection within the legal timeframe. The department’s legal experts also provide guidance and advice on objection procedures in each country.

Ms Oramon said the Trademark Monitor programme not only reduced the risk of overseas trademark violations but also strengthened confidence among Thai entrepreneurs seeking to expand into international markets.

The department plans to continue the initiative in the 2026 fiscal year and invite more Thai trademark owners planning to export to Asean or China to join the programme.

The Digital Economy and Society (DES) Minister Chaichanok Chidchob said he had presented evidence to a House committee backing up his claim regarding an alleged 40-million-baht bribery case, while investigators said the probe should be concluded within 30 days.

The confirmation came as the DES minister was absent during a meeting with the House Committee on Telecommunications and Digital Affairs on Thursday, where he was set to clarify the claim he made.

The committee, as well as another committee on National Security, Border Affairs, National Strategy and National Reform, had summoned Mr Chaichanok to provide more details on a police complaint he filed on Oct 6.

It alleged that an unidentified group had offered him 40 million baht to suspend the crackdowns on call-centre gangs and illegal online gambling networks.

Mr Chaichanok affirmed that he had made a genuine allegation and that he wanted the probe to be carried out before he revealed further details.

Asked how many people were involved in the group that was trying to offer him the bribe, Mr Chaichanok said all sides should wait for the investigation results because “there should be more people involved as they will tell on one another”.

Mr Chaichanok said there had been many attempts to reach him, via various channels, but the group had not managed to reach him directly.

Many agencies are involved in solving the issue of call centres, he said, but he failed to confirm if the previous government had been offered or paid bribes to protect them.

Songkram Kitlertpairoj, once an adviser to former prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, said Mr Chaichanok’s absence raised questions about whether this government is serious in cracking down on scammers and online gambling.

“Mr Chaichanok may be concerned that his statement may affect anyone close to him, since he said that the person who contacted him was someone close to his political circle,” said Mr Songkram.

Pol Lt Gen Natthasak Chaowanasai, the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) commissioner, said the probe should see progress within the next 30 days.

Two tourists in Phuket are being sought for disturbing the peace and injuring another beachgoer after setting off fireworks on the island’s popular Patong beach.

Criticism erupted online on Saturday after videos showed a man and a woman causing chaos on the beach in Kathu district by launching fireworks.

The incident reportedly took place near the Bangla police booth on Friday night.

Lifeguards told police that they had detained two unidentified foreign nationals, whose actions had caused property damage and injuries to bystanders.

However, surveillance video later showed that the people responsible for the fireworks did not match those who were detained, and they were released.

The injured tourist told authorities they did not wish to press charges, as their injuries were minor and they wanted to focus on resting.

Police said they would continue to seek and apprehend the culprits.

As the major shareholder of Thai Airways International (THAI), the Finance Ministry has confirmed all the new nominees for the company’s board of directors are professionals.

According to finance permanent secretary Lavaron Sangsnit, 17 individuals have been nominated as potential new directors of THAI, not including nominees from shareholders who hold at least 5% of shares, who are entitled to propose candidates for consideration by the selection committee.

The committee is expected to select eight qualified candidates by Oct 19: four to replace directors whose terms have ended, and four new ones. These names are to be submitted for approval by THAI’s board, which is scheduled to meet on Oct 23.

The board then proposes the list to the shareholders’ meeting for final approval, slated for December.

“Thai Airways must have a professional board of directors, and we affirm that all the nominees we have proposed are top-tier and highly professional,” said Mr Lavaron.

In his capacity as chairman of the Thai Airways board, he said he guarantees all processes are conducted with transparency, and there is no intention to return the airline to a state enterprise, nor will it be managed as one, but rather as a listed company.

“The board members are true professionals who work for the genuine benefit of Thai Airways. Of course, during board meetings not everyone will agree on every issue, but all are professionals. What is discussed in the board room should not be disclosed outside,” said Mr Lavaron.

“As long as I remain chairman, there will be no corruption — everything must be transparent in every aspect.”

He also explained the necessity of increasing the number of board members to 15.

“There are 11 directors, which creates some operational limitations. Certain committees cannot be established because the board is incomplete. For example, the risk management committee is essential, but it cannot be formed at present,” said Mr Lavaron.

“Only two committees exist: audit as well as nomination and remuneration, as required by the stock exchange regulations.

“Under Thai Airways’ rules, all audit committee members must be independent directors. As three independent directors already serve on the audit committee, they cannot serve on any other, reducing the total by three. Another three are assigned to the nomination committee, making six in total that are ineligible for other committees.

“The chairman should not serve on any committee, leaving seven. This leaves only four directors available, which makes it impossible to form the risk management committee. This is why it’s necessary to increase the number of board members to 15.”

It is no secret that former great footballers do not necessarily enjoy the same success in their role as managers or coaches. The most recent example has been Wayne Rooney, who has discovered being a gaffer can be a very demanding job.

Another gifted player, Frank Lampard, has experienced struggles in a managerial role. But since moving to Championship club Coventry last season fortunes appear to have changed for the better for the former Chelsea star.

After not making a great impression in charge of Derby, Chelsea and Everton, the former England midfielder seems to have found his niche at the Championship club.

When Lampard took over the Sky Blues last season the club were 17th in the table just two points above the relegation zone. But a run of nine wins in 10 games saw them reach the playoffs where they eventually succumbed to Luton at Wembley in a penalty shootout.

This season life has got even better for Lampard with his club sitting unbeaten at the top of the Championship table after five wins and four draws.

They’ve also been banging in the goals having scored 27 in their nine games, far more than any of their rivals. Their latest victims were troubled Sheffield Wednesday who they overwhelmed 5-0 at Hillsborough last weekend. A few days earlier they hammered Millwall away 4-0.

Spearheading the scoring for Coventry has been US international Haji Wright, who has already netted nine times.

Lampard is understandably delighted at his team’s performance but is not getting carried away. “We’ve had a good start,” he said last week. “It’s important to keep our feet on the ground, enjoy the moment and continue with this form.”

The fans are happy too. One supporter commented, “When Lampard was appointed, we all had a little smile thinking it would all end in tears. Well done Frank. Exciting time to be a City fan.”

When Coventry were relegated from the Premier League in 2001, it ended a 34-season stay in the top flight. During that time they collected only one major trophy, upsetting Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 in the 1987 FA Cup final.

After relegation, major financial problems were compounded by complex issues concerning their stadium. For several seasons “home” games were played at Northampton Town and Birmingham City. It was a real test of loyalty for their fans. By 2017 they had slumped into League Two.

Despite these major setbacks they have since managed to progress, winning promotion from League Two in 2018 and then League One in 2020 to reach the Championship. The situation behind the scenes also improved with the Sisu group selling out to local businessman Doug King.

It would be huge for Lampard if he could return to the Premier League with Coventry and might shake off the hurt of being fired by Chelsea, a team with which he had been so successful as a player.

Although his Chelsea sacking was half-expected, it still seemed premature and a classic example of the prevailing ruthlessness in this results-oriented business. Gary Lineker called the sacking “utterly ridiculous.”

After his ouster a rather poignant “In Frank We Trust” poster remained in the Stamford Bridge stands for a few days as a pertinent reminder of how quickly things can change.

With just nine matches played there is still a long way to go for Lampard to achieve his goal. His immediate task will be to focus on next week’s home game against Blackburn Rovers.