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  • Australian Couple Ditches Baby With Thai Surrogate

    Australian Couple Ditches Baby With Thai Surrogate

    An Australian couple who paid a Thai surrogate to carry their twin babies left one near Bangkok after finding out the boy had Down’s Syndrome and a congenital heart condition. The couple returned to Australia with a healthy girl.

    Pattaramon Chanbua, 21, was paid roughly $14,900 to carry the twins who were born in December, and has been caring for the boy since. The abandoned baby is named Gammy, and so far a crowdfunding effort entitled Hope for Gammy has raised over $160K to help pay for his medical expenses.

    Pattaramon, who resides in the Chonburi province, southeast of Bangkok, commented, “The money that was offered was a lot for me. In my mind, with that money, one, we can educate my children, two, we can repay our debt.”

    Pattaramon added, “I don’t know what to do. I chose to have him. I love him, he was in my tummy for nine months.”

    The actions of the Australian couple who abandoned their their son sparked outrage and shed light upon the seedier aspects of Thai medical tourism.

    Paying for surrogacy in Thailand is illegal, according to Tares Krassanairawiwong, a Thai public health ministry official. “Surrogacy can be done in Thailand but it has to comply with the laws. A surrogate has to be related to the intended parents and no money can be involved,” Krassanairawiwong said.

    Pattaramon never actually met Gammy’s biological parents, and their identities remain anonymous. The young mother told Thai newspaper Thairath, “They (the surrogacy agency) told me to carry a baby for a family that does not have children. They said it would be a baby in a tube.”

    “I don’t wish him to be the smart boy or intelligent person. I just want to see him as a good man,” Pattaramon said.

    Many couples visit Thailand to use its in-vitro fertilization (IVF) services regardless of a vague legal situation surrounding surrogacy.

    Image via Hope for Gammy

  • Yingluck Shinawatra Ousted from Office by Thai Court

    The Constitutional Court in Thailand ousted Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra Wednesday, along with nine members of her cabinet, in an abuse-of-power case that will likely push the politically fragile democracy into further turmoil and violence.

    Thailand’s highest court cited a relatively obscure case involving the transfer of a senior civil servant three years ago, which had a “hidden agenda” that allowed Yingluck to help a relative become police chief. The court said in its ruling, which was broadcast on national television for over an hour, that “Transferring government officials must be done in accordance with moral principle.”

    The decision handed down by the court was final and immediate, and it removed all cabinet members who held posts at the time of the illegal personnel decision. The ten individuals whose caretaker status has ended include Yingluck, Surapong Tovichakchaikul, Chalerm Yubamrung, Kittiratt Na-Ranong, Santi Prompat, Anudith Nakornthap, Siriwat Kachornprasart, Pracha Promnok, Yutthasak Sasriprapa and Plodprasop Suraswadi.

    The remaining cabinet members swiftly appointed Niwatthamrong Bunsongphaisan as acting prime minister. After the ruling, Yingluck, 46, denied the abuse-of-power allegation, and said her administration “never acted corruptly.”

    Over the past six months, urban political protesters have taken to the streets in Bangkok, rallying against Shinawatra’s administration, in contrast to rural citizens, who were generally in favor of the ousted prime minister. This divide between rural and urban voters has persisted for roughly a decade, since Yingluck’s older brother Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted as Thailand’s first populist leader during a military coup in 2006.

    Since 2006, a pattern has emerged in which Thaksin-backing voters put members of that party into office, and then Thai courts summarily remove them.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Thailand Declares State Of Emergency; Opposition Stands Firm

    This week, Thailand declared a state of emergency in Bangkok amid intense political unrest.

    The government has issued a 60-day clampdown which gives them the right to issue curfews, censor the media and use military force against the public if necessary. The Thai government did, however, say that it does not intend to use force against protesters, even though protesters have been disrupting the capital Bangkok for weeks now.

    Demonstrators in Thailand are pushing to overthrow Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. The demonstrations, which started back in November, have left at least nine people dead and over 450 more wounded said Thai authorities.

    Ever since Shinawatra started office she has been viewed as a controversial figure. Her billionaire brother, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, was ran out of the country in 2006 after accusations of corruption. A large percentage of the Thai population view her as a “puppet” who is simply doing the bidding of her brother.

    In an attempt to calm anti-government protesters Prime Minister Shinawatra dissolved the parliament and has agreed to new elections on Feb. 2. Her actions have proven insufficient — protesters are demanding that she leave office and have a “people’s council” oversee a new election.

    On Saturday, Thailand’s main opposition party said it would boycott the February elections, reaffirming the position of the anti government protesters. “The election on Feb. 2 is not the solution for the country,” said  Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva, a former prime minister and opposition leader, “It will not lead to reform.” The opposition believes that the election will only result in the “same old power grab” by the ruling party.

    For now, Army commander Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha said they are monitoring the situation to see whether the state of emergency will ease the violence. Those who are opposing the prime minister have refused to negotiate but Prayuth says he is in favor of discussions that will result in peace.

    Image via YouTube

  • Bangkok Shutdown: “Surround Government Buildings,” Says Suthep

    As the Bangkok shutdown continues on, the protest speeches are heating up amidst a party-like atmosphere.

    If you’re a bit unfamiliar with what’s been going on over in Thailand, it pretty much boils down to citizens wanting reform of a government they deem corrupt.

    After former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was ejected by way of military coup in 2006, he then fled to Dubai to live in self-induced exile. Seeing as his alternative was a possible two-year prison sentence, this wasn’t a bad idea on his part; the billionaire who had triumphed politically via populist policies would face corruption convictions should he return home. Meanwhile, back in Thailand, his little sister, Yingluck Shinawatra took over.

    Although she vehemently denied it, her position was promptly perceived as her being a puppet and extension of her older brother. The final straw setting off the protests came this past November when Yingluck tried to pass an amnesty bill that would have allowed Thaksin to return and be forgiven. While that bill was shelved, Yingluck has still dissolved Parliament and set elections to take place next month. Seeing as every party backed by Thaksin has won elections since 2001, protestors are not about to go down without a fight before February.

    “Yingluck is not good, Thaksin is not good, we need reform before elections,” a protester told TIME.

    This thought is a shared theme of the movement and Suthep Thaugsuban (protest leader of the Democratic Reform Committee) has been reinforcing it fervently in his charismatic orations during the ongoing protests.

    Also, models, vee-jays, and other public figures have shown up to the event in favor of reform and Yingluck’s departure from office. Pharunyoo “Tac” Rojanawuttitham (a celebrated singer and actor), has been consistently supporting the cause for months, saying, “I’m willing to give up my jobs to help salvage Thailand.”

    Certainly, celebrities in a festive atmosphere of food, music, and face-paint serve as a continued attraction when the revolutionary fervor starts to wane. However, as time is of the essence, Suthep implores supporters to amplify their attempts to stymie state institutions, insisting:

    “We must surround government buildings, closing them in the morning and leaving in the afternoon.”

    Following his direction, protestors have been occupying main intersections, impeding access to government offices, and marching to government buildings to partake in symbolic occupation (entering the offices for a brief period and departing thereafter). As the groups demonstrate, they are attempting to do so civilly. PDRC spokesman Akanat Prompan stated, “We will stick with peaceful means to achieve our goal to reform,” adding, “We are trying to limit any possible damages to general public and businesses.”

    As Thailand is still recovering from 90 deaths incurred during a demonstration in 2010, police pledge not to deal with protestors via violence either.

    Image via Youtube

  • Bangkok Shutdown As Protests Rage On

    Today saw the beginnings of a planned month-long “shutdown” in Bangkok. Anti-government protesters have successfully blocked off several key points in the capital city, which include Pathumwan intersection, Lat Phrao intersection, Chaeng Wattana Road and Victory Monument. This has forced law enforcement to direct citizens to use alternative routes.

    Police Lieutenant General Ruangsak Jritek reportedly stated that 4,000 officers have been deployed to help road users move easily in the areas of the block-offs. Police officials estimated that as many as sixteen major roads would be impacted by the protests.

    The entire”Bangkok shutdown” movement was orchestrated by the People’s Democratic Reform Committee. The aim of this organization and its allies has been the removal of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who is seen as a continuation of the influence of her elder brother, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Thaskin Shinawatra has been in exile since a successful military coup in 2006 removed him from power and forced him to flee the country.

    Yingluck Shinawatra ignited a firestorm of protest and outrage in November of last year when she attempted to pass an amnesty bill for her brother. It would have allowed him to Thailand and avoid the two year prison term he’d face if he were captured. Since then, hundreds have been killed in clashes with authorities.

    Despite the desperate measures of opposition forces, they face an uphill battle. Parties affiliated with the Shinawatra family have successfully won elections going back to 2001. The majority of the Shinawatra opposition is made up of the countries upper middle class and elite. Meanwhile the Shinawatra draws support from the poorer and rural areas.

    Anti-government officials fear that the influence of Shinawatra fuels corruption and are striving for the power of the nation to be put into the hands of an impartial, non-government entity.

    Image via ITN

  • Bangkok Protests Turn Violent As Police Retaliate

    Thousands of anti-government protesters flooded the streets of Bangkok, Thailand’s capital city, on Monday, November 25, with the opposition leading the event calling for “a campaign of civil disobedience,” including a three-day strike and a request for Thai businesses to delay paying their taxes. At least four very large, vocal demonstrations were held in Bangkok on Monday, which caused many schools and businesses to close, due to fear of violence. These fears are completely justified; these protests echo back to the politics that destabilized the country in the years past, striking fear into the hearts of many Thai citizens. Protest leaders seem to be ignoring these fears, however, and are instead urging Thai citizens to join the fight; Suthep Thaugsuban, one of the leaders, said to one of the many crowds on Monday, “I would like to urge all Thais to fight with the people so that a great, absolute and sustainable victory belongs to Thailand.”

    That victory for the Thai people, however, has quickly turned violent, just as was feared. Protesters attempting to gain access into the barricaded government headquarters on Sunday, armed with rocks and petrol bombs, were met with police retaliation and gunshots. This is the first instance of force being used by police since the protests started on Monday, and the retaliation is sparking further fear of more violence and blood shed. The Thai police force has been using water cannons and tear gas in attempts to quell the rebellion, but these non-lethal means of prevention have not prevented deaths and injuries from occurring; so far, three people are dead and dozens more are wounded.

    These protests are mainly occurring in attempts to give voice to those who wish to overthrow prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s administration. Yingluck Shinawatra has fled to an undisclosed location, and in the process cancelled multiple interviews and public appearances. The protests have also interfered with local businesses, with multiple malls being shut down due to the riots, and with at least four television stations being overtaken and invaded by protesters who demand that their news be shared and broadcasted, rather than the government’s stories.

    As the situation is on going, concrete death polls and injury counts remain elusive, and information can be incomplete. Though the situation may not be entirely clear, it is still dangerous, and this writer urges those in Thailand to stay as safe as they can, and to avoid conflict when possible. Her thoughts go out to those effected; may peace be achieved soon.

    [Image courtesy of this YouTube video.]

  • 14 White Lions Found In Bangkok Warehouse

    14 White Lions Found In Bangkok Warehouse

    Fourteen white lions were among the over 200 wild animals that were found in Bangkok, Thailand, authorities confirmed today. The animals were believed to have been brought into the country as part of the illegal wildlife trade.

    The raid came in response to complaints from neighbors about the smell, according to Bangkok authorities. Two men were arrested during the raid, one of whom is the owner of a pet shop Bangkok. Though both denied involvement, they were charged with illegally trading wildlife – a crime for which one of the men was convicted several years ago.

    It is not immediately clear what will be done with the seized animals. For the moment they are evidence against the two men. Once proceedings against the two have finished, authorities said that some of the animals could be released into the wild, while others could be placed in zoos.

  • British Man Arrested for Possessing Roasted Fetuses in Thailand

    Police in Bangkok, Thailand have arrested 28 year-old Chow Hok Kuen, a Hong Kong-born British citizen, after finding a small collection of dead, roasted babies in his hotel room. The six fetuses, which were wrapped in gold leaf and tucked away inside a travel bags, had decayed past the point of recognition.

    Although authorities are uncertain as to where, precisely, the corpses came from, they believe the man intended to use them as part of a black magic ritual that is supposed to bring prosperity and good fortune. Officials believe that Chow Hok Kuen, who was arrested in the Chinatown district of Bangkok, was intending to smuggle the fetuses into Taiwan.

    Kuman thong, an ancient Chinese ritual, is still prevalent in China. Some people are of the belief that dead babies and fetuses have “good spirit”, and can bring luck to those who possess them.

    “We have to send the bodies for forensic test to identify whether they were foetuses, removed illegally by abortion, or corpses of babies,” arresting officer Lt. Col. Kittima Thongchai explained to the BBC.

    If found guilty of the crimes, Kuen could face up to one year in prison and a fine of up to 2,000 Thai baht, which, at the current exchange rate, is roughly $63.88.

  • Google Street View Adds Thailand; Car Nearly Runs Over A Couple

    Turning a Google Street View car into a makeshift schooner to sail down the Amazon is one thing, but outright floods in places that cars are supposed to go is another obstacle altogether. However, one of the Thailand’s worst natural disasters in history wasn’t enough to stop the Google Street View team from traveling throughout the country to capture new Google Maps imagery. From the Lat Long Blog:

    After six short months, it is with great pleasure that imagery of greater Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket is now available on Google Maps. We hope that locals in these areas find the panoramic views helpful for finding their way around their cities, discovering new restaurants and shops, and promoting their businesses online. Tourists can also get a preview of Thailand when planning vacations, figuring out travel logistics about the exact places to visit, or simply looking for more examples of the country’s hidden beauty.

    So let us go then, you and I, to the outside of Bangkok’s Grand Palace. While the elegance of the palace itself should unquestionably be observed, more peculiar is what’s happening in the street outside of the palace: you can see where the Google Street View car nearly mowed over a pair of jaywalking pedestrians (actually, the people survived the near-hit – once you advance the Street View, you can turn around and see that the duo are still walking in the middle of the street). Honestly, if the Google Street View trip down Thanon Na Phra Lan is any indication of the haphazard traffic in Bangkok, then I hope I never have to drive there.


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    Here you can see the highly ornate Buddhist temple, Wat Arun, named after the Indian God of Dawn. Founded in the 1800s and later that century restored by King Rama II, the monastery has many aspects of mythology built into its structure and, if you zoom in a bit, you’ll see that each level of the temple is supported by rows of monkeys and dragons.


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    A little over five hundred miles south of Bangkok, the Google Street View car took a drive along the coast of the Paem Phrom Thep peninsula on the island of Phuket. Given how beautiful the timing was on Google Maps’ visit to the coast, one starts to wonder if they’ve developed an app to control the position of the sun because the panoramas on the Street View here are enthralling.

    View Larger Map

    So yeah, thanks again, Google Maps and Street View, for making my wunderlust for amazing places even more intense.