Yet another satirical slice of thai mango (with junta's muzzling of media) Had a good laugh at 1st 2 lines, and also how the press fixed the authorities awhile back :p
Happy days are here, the news says so
Bangkok Post Published: 22/07/2014 at 12:42 AM
Minor model Ubonwan “Amy Maxim” Sirikittirat has successfully gone through breast augmentation surgery. Each of her boobs is now twice the size of a baby’s head.
Veteran actress Jamie Bouher insisted she was taking all the necessary precautions when crossing her legs at a showbiz function. She never intended to provide photographers with a Sharon Stone Basic Instinct moment.
Happy times are obviously not the most fertile period for editorial inspiration.
Lest you haven’t noticed, the “war” has ended. We have lived in peace, with happiness returned, for exactly two months today.
All is good and well. There is martial law and there is order. There are horrendous crimes and scandals here and there but there always are. Since there is not much that I can delve into, dissect and examine at present, I looked to my extensive book and magazine collection for ideas.
One item caught my eye. It is a story about the life and work of the late former prime minister MR Kukrit Pramoj. The article made me think it’s a fitting time to take a trip down memory lane.
MR Kukrit was the only PM who also owned a newspaper business. The Oxford graduate set up Siam Rath in 1950 with the aim of producing an independent, serious newspaper that operates with the same standards as western journalism. MR Kukrit wanted it to be thought-provoking, informative and encourage people to understand democracy.
“This is aimed to be an honest newspaper that favours no-one. Truth will be held supreme. The newspaper will provide a mature voice both in terms of news presentation and opinions. It will retain optimism, laced with humour from time to time. It will carry no vested interest to benefit or punish any parties or individuals,” MR Kukrit was quoted as saying.
Siam Rath, which is the oldest Thai-language newspaper still in publication, carries a Pali motto which translates as: “Praise those who are praiseworthy. Criticise those who deserve criticism.”
One noteworthy anecdote from the newspaper’s history is its content after a declaration of martial law and strict media censorship by then prime minister Field Marshal Phibulsonggram in 1951.
The strict controls came after a failed attempt by navy officers to seize power by kidnapping the PM in what has become known as the Manhattan Rebellion.
At the time, every newspaper had to send their pages to the authorities for approval before they could be printed.
MR Kukrit, who was pushing for an independent press that could stand up against dictatorship, was very upset with the order. He ceased writing columns and stopped the extremely popular novel Si Phaendin being serialised in the paper.
During the period, news stories printed in Siam Rath included the number of palm trees behind its printing press and how many windows there were at a Defence Ministry building. It also revealed how many cumulonimbus clouds floated by Bangkok on a particular day and how Thai geckos sound different to their western and Hainanese relatives.
The most memorable news from that era was the front-page story on July 10, 1951. The headline said: “The sun in Hua Hin rises on a different side from the one in Si Racha.” The sub-head said: “Two suns suspected. The world is confirmed round.”
The news story explained that during a trip, the editor had observed that the sun rose from behind a mountain in Si Racha and set into the sea, while in Hua Hin the sun rose from the sea and set on the mountain.
The journalistic adventure at Siam Rath went on for two months. The newspaper returned to its normal news agenda when the government revoked the censorship order one month after it had been imposed and lifted martial law another month later.
Back to the present day, we Thais can look forward to having happiness further rebooted over the weekend. To show the world that we are back in business, the tourism authority is organising a massive Thailand Happiness festival across the Ratchaprasong area on Friday and Saturday.
The biggest and most spectacular back-to-normal party Thailand has ever seen will run until midnight on both days. Also, the fortune teller Warin Buawiratlert has said he had a vision telling him that junta leader Prayuth Chan-ocha will become the next prime minister. According to the seer, the army chief will run the country for two or three years.
All is well. Happiness has returned.
Atiya Achakulwisut is Contributing Editor, Bangkok Post.