absolutelyBangkok archive · News & Media
Originally published July 22, 2009
Torture in Thailand. Never. Under this government that is, we’re told. But remember, during the regime of Thaksin Shinawatra CIA-planeloads of terror suspects and terrorists got shipped around the world to countries with less strict anti-torture laws.
The use of Thailand as a safe haven for torture is well documented. The evil Washington Post has a latest detailer. Yet Prime Minister Abhisit Vajjajiva is not only protecting the name of the kingdom. He’s not even putting the blame on Thaksin. What could be easier than to say: “See, that kind of man he was.”
In another saga hurting Thailand’s international standing media worldwide are pointing warning fingers against King Power, the country’s duty-free monopolist. Newspapers, travel blogs and embassies (!) are deploring the Bangkok airport scam, yet that scam goes on unchecked — and King Power is concerned over damage to its reputation.
King Power is no stranger to controversy. Who doesn’t remember that they nearly got kicked out of Suvarnabhumi airport for alleged breaches you can easily research on the net. A court ruled King Power innocent. This alleged scam though hurts.
Sales are down 30-40% this year so far, reports The Nation, adding the company’s worry that “false reports will tarnish Thailand’s image.”
Well, as that widely reported case of that British couple does not seem to be an isolated case the percentage of shoplifting tourists visiting Thailand seems to be disproportionately high… making you think that the quality of tourists is declining dramatically…
Seriously, if true such abuses are just another sign of how rotten things have become in Thailand.
On a more positive note, Bangkok remains to be an inviting arena for snaps. Here some from a recent visit to Pantip Plaza. Yes, she had red eyes:
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