Major Russian arms dealer arrested in Thailand
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The News Review:
- Major Russian arms dealer arrested in Thailand
- Event fit for a king serves up pad thai and pointlessness
- PSU alumni set on serving authentic Thai food
- The New Nation – Internet Edition
- Bangkok’s night bazaar battles re-development as mall
Major Russian arms dealer arrested in Thailand
International Herald Tribune – Mar 6, 2008
His capture was prompted by a tipoff from the United States in connection with the procurement of weapons for the Colombian FARC rebels. The Justice Department said that federal prosecutors in New York would unseal criminal charges against the arms dealer Viktor Bout 41 and one of his associates later Thursday charging them with conspiring to provide material support to a terrorist organization. Such a step would mean that American prosecutors think it likely Bout will be brought to the United States to stand trial. Bout who is wanted by the police in many countries is a former Soviet Air Force officer… The arrest came on a tip from the United States Drug Enforcement Agency that Bout was traveling to Thailand said Police Colonel Petcharat Sengchai of the Crime Suppression Division who led the arresting team. Petcharat said Bout who is a Russian citizen was wanted for “the procurement of weapons and explosives for Colombian rebels” referring to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia or FARC a leftist insurgency that has been fighting Colombia's government for decades and is known to fund itself partly through the cocaine trade. The police said Bout had been arrested at noon at the Silom Sofitel Hotel in Bangkok and was being held in the offices of the Crime Suppression Division. His assets and front companies were targeted by the Treasury in 2005 because of his connections to Charles Taylor the former president of Liberia who faces charges of war crimes. A security analyst in Bangkok who had spoken to the Thai authorities and who spoke on the condition of anonymity said Bout had been in Thailand since January and was regularly changing hotels. He was arrested during a meeting with someone from Russia or Eastern Europe the analyst said and American counter-terrorism officials were interrogating him. The analyst said the Thai government was anxious to get him out of the country and the American authorities were anxious to get him as well.
Event fit for a king serves up pad thai and pointlessness
Seattle Times – Mar 6, 2008
But some are comparatively mild even perhaps honestly patriotic. Britain’s Elizabeth the old girl strikes one as a rather civilized queen if you have to live with a monarch and Thailand’s Bhumibol Adulyadej Rama IX of the Chakri Dynasty tends to get pretty pro-king media reviews as a nice-guy sort of King George III. But the Thai royal image suffered a bit of a setback about a year and a half ago when seasoned Siamese observers detected the subtle claw of the otherwise humble King Bhumibol behind the shocking removal of a sitting prime minister in September 2006. The Thai military fronted for the king and did the dirty work of course removing the government of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra while the PM was traveling abroad. But while Thanksin himself was — and still is — no doubt a rogue and a demagogue he had in fact gotten into office by honest election not by brutal force; and the military government that was put in place while he cooled his heels abroad until his return to Thailand last month was of Burmese junta quality (incredibly incompetent). And perhaps so the royal image burnishers of Siam felt the need to go into action to regain the PR momentum and in fact they sure looked to be in fine form recently in a Honolulu hotel ballroom. There the place was decked out almost like a set for “The King and I… The Thai military fronted for the king and did the dirty work of course removing the government of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra while the PM was traveling abroad. But while Thanksin himself was — and still is — no doubt a rogue and a demagogue he had in fact gotten into office by honest election not by brutal force; and the military government that was put in place while he cooled his heels abroad until his return to Thailand last month was of Burmese junta quality (incredibly incompetent). And perhaps so the royal image burnishers of Siam felt the need to go into action to regain the PR momentum and in fact they sure looked to be in fine form recently in a Honolulu hotel ballroom. There the place was decked out almost like a set for “The King and I. The only flavor missing was the dear king himself — the actual honoree for whom a fancy award was ordered up. But being 80 not even a magic carpet was going to be able to whisk him to the scene of the Asia Pacific Community Building Award proffered by the East West Center of Honolulu. So standing in His Majesty’s place on behalf of her father was Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.
PSU alumni set on serving authentic Thai food
Daily Collegian nline – The Daily Collegian nline – Mar 6, 2008
is serving up Thai food as authentic as it comes. Executive chef and owner Suksan Ruangpattana and co-owner Peeranee Musigchai are both Penn State alumni who majored in hotel restaurant and institutional management (HRIM). “When we were students here we were looking for a place like this to eat” Ruangpattana said… is serving up Thai food as authentic as it comes. Executive chef and owner Suksan Ruangpattana and co-owner Peeranee Musigchai are both Penn State alumni who majored in hotel restaurant and institutional management (HRIM). “When we were students here we were looking for a place like this to eat” Ruangpattana said. “In HRIM we did a business proposal for the restaurant and gave it to our professor and were able to make that a reality. Ruangpattana and Musigchai said that though most people want to get out of State College post-graduation they had no intentions of leaving. They graduated in the fall of 2004 and opened up Cozy Thai in June 2006.
The New Nation – Internet Edition
New Nation – The New Nation – Mar 6, 2008
Secretary for the Ministry of Planning Jafar Ahmed Chowdhury inaugurated the exhibition. Thai Ambassador in Dhaka Chalermpol Thanchitt and Kazi Habib Sattar president of Bangladesh-Thai Chamber among others addressed the opening ceremony. In his speech the Planning Secretary said the diplomatic and economic relations between Bangladesh and Thailand have increased much over the years and the bilateral relationship will continue to strengthen in the coming days. However Jafar Ahmed Chowdhury observed that the trade balance between the two countries is now in favour of Thailand.
Bangkok’s night bazaar battles re-development as mall
NEWS.com.au – Mar 6, 2008
Con has battled to keep the market open. The market is home to hundreds of shops restaurants and a puppet theatre. Located next to a subway stop the night bazaar has become a major tourist attraction and an incubator for young Thai designers seeking to sell their wares. CPB has already awarded a contract to Central Pattana a major retail and hotel company to develop the site into an upscale shopping centre that would include space for embassies and a hotel. This website may contain information about financial products. the issuer of each product will be indicated where applicable… The market is home to hundreds of shops restaurants and a puppet theatre. Located next to a subway stop the night bazaar has become a major tourist attraction and an incubator for young Thai designers seeking to sell their wares. CPB has already awarded a contract to Central Pattana a major retail and hotel company to develop the site into an upscale shopping centre that would include space for embassies and a hotel. This website may contain information about financial products. the issuer of each product will be indicated where applicable. advice given on this site is general advice and does not take into account your objectives financial situation or needs.