wealth

when it is legit, let her enjoy ...

Almost 400 ago ...

-- The Nation

Published on July 23, 2007

There are few things that raise Thai hackles more than hearing their beloved country branded by foreigners as a sex paradise.

Yet this reputation does not date back, as one might imagine, to the Vietnam War, when American serviceman flooded into Bangkok and Pattaya for rest and recreation and the sex trade thrived.

In fact, the image can be traced back to the 17th century when junk merchants regularly passed through the kingdom. Christoph Carl Fernberger von Egenberg, for example, described Siamese women as "excessively lewd".

"They are always approaching the men and urging them to go with them into their houses and have sex with them," he wrote in his diary, which was discovered in 1972.

Fernberger arrived in the harbour of Ayutthaya in November 1624 during the reign of King Songtham. He was 26 at the time. His accounts of his travels in the region, which include Siam and Pattani, are almost unknown to foreign scholars but many Austrian historians believe Fernberger was the first of their countrymen to set foot in the two Southeast Asian harbour cities.

The first Austrian in Ayutthaya was impressed by the wealth of the kingdom and the wise rule of the Siamese king as well as his "open door policy" and strict law enforcement, says associate professor Helmut Lukas who recently talked about Fernberger's diary at a Siam Society lecture organised in cooperation with Chulalongkorn University's Centre for European Studies.

Lukas, however, doesn't agree with Fernberger's perspective of the women in Ayutthaya.

"Like any big port, Ayutthaya had a well-established prostitution ring catering to foreign seamen. But it would be wrong to assume that their behaviour was indicative of Thai women of that era," says Lukas, an academic with the Social Anthropology Research Unit, Centre for Studies in Asian Cultures, Austrian Academy of Science.

As an independent observer with no obligations to a trading company, Fernberger's diary may offer an alternative perspective to the often one-sided Dutch sources, the Austrian anthropologist adds.

"But his pages on the women in Ayutthaya were based on his impressions of a very limited area, which he wrongly extrapolated to the entire country," Lukas points out.

Unfortunately, many Dutch merchants held similar views of the woman they took as their "wives" in Ayutthaya, according to professor Barbara Watsan Andaya, author of the paper "From Temporary Wife to Prostitute: Sexuality and Economic Change in Early Modern Southeast Asia" published in the Journal of Women's History in 1998.

"VOC employees in Ayutthaya even referred to their 'wives' as whores, sluts and trollops and the like," writes the professor of History and Asian Studies at the University of Hawaii.

While researching her paper, Andaya discovered that other than several works covering prostitution, no historical investigation has been carried out into the changing attitudes toward sexuality in Southeast Asia, despite the fact that the "high status" of women is often cited as characteristic of the region.

Siamese women in the 17th century are also mentioned in the diary of French ambassador Simon de La Loub�re, who arrived in Ayutthaya some 30 years after Fernberger.

The ambassador writes in his memoirs about a brothel in the capital of Ayutthaya, which was home to some 600 women from different levels of society, including the daughters and wives of the court's noblemen.

La Loub�re, who was in Siam during the reign of King Narai, also relates how prostitution tax, collected from those with permission to run brothels, was first imposed in this reign and that the largest brothel was run by one of the king's noblemen.

Prostitution in the port city of Pattani is also mentioned in the journals of several 17th-century foreign traders

The Dutch merchant Van Neck, who arrived in Pattani in the early 1600s, describes the women at the harbour and their services.

"When foreigners come from other lands to do their business�men come and ask them whether they desire a woman. The young women and girls also come and present themselves, from whom they may choose the one most agreeable to them, provided they agree what he shall pay for certain months. Once they agree about the money (which does not amount to much for so great a convenience), she comes to his house, and serves him by day as his maidservant and by night as his wedded wife."

For his part, the foreign trader had to agree not to consort with other women while the temporary wife was similarly forbidden to converse with other men. The "marriage" was deemed to last for as long as the man kept up his residence, "in good peace and unity".

Fernberger, who arrived in Pattani in December 1624, wasn't interested in hooking up with a woman at the harbour. His attention was on the female ruler with whom he had been granted an audience.

Pattani was under the rule of Raja Ungu, the third of four successive queens to take the throne. Fernberger describes her as an absolutist ruler who did not listen to any council.

In his diary he describes the royal entourage of 200 women. As a sign of royal power, she kept about 50 elephants and possessed some 50 men who she used for her sexual pleasure.

Lukas says the women of Pattani, and especially the queen, enjoyed many liberties.

"This proves that being a Muslim doesn't mean being "macho" or a misogynist. The gender equality in the old Pattani kingdom sets an example for modern times," he says.

But some of Fernberger's accounts about the queen are much less credible.

Lukas smiles as he recounts Fernberger's reason for leaving Pattani.

He writes that after being granted an audience with Raja Ungu, she provided him with a house and 10 slaves. He later helped her fight the Siam invasion in January 1625 in which Pattani won the battle. The young Austrian describes how the queen expressed her gratitude by sending him a present and passing on a message that she would visit him at night.

"Fernberger says a Malay colonel gave him to understand that the queen intended to make love with him. As he'd heard that men who had failed to meet her high expectations were ordered to be killed, Fernberger clandestinely sneaked down to the shore, boarded a small sailboat and went back to Ayutthaya. His stay in Pattani lasted 71 days," says the professor, laughing.

Subhatra Bhumiprabhas

maybe the unspoken bribe at the police stations? It's quite common for professional smugglers.

it wouldn't make sense to appoint any of the old guards. The broom may come to them and wipe them away too.

good call if Thailand want to get things done and not just engage in shadow boxing. People have time to form new parties until October 2015 then. Old out new in.

LOL!!! No rice behind the first row.

the same as with the forests

I will not be surprised when the evidence materializes soon.

I feel threatened by McDonalds

"double penetration" - war planes and junk food policy that's about the average treatment you can get.

for the huge sex and massage parlours you can legally acquire a licence for 150,000,000.00 Baht from the gov here.

Considering the high numbers of these establishments it seem to pay off,- still.

They're behind walls with all kind of nationalities. A few sitting in show windows and so forth. But there are estimated thousands employed in each of them, legally and illegal.

Wow, 91,000 sacks missing! To move that out, if it ever was moved in, would take over 300 10-wheel trucks. I think they would do well to interrogate the gate-man and yard workers.....squeeze em a little if they must.....to get information before starting on the management....who probably need to be detained indefinitely.

by coincidence I saw one warehouse completely abandoned, completely empty. No gate keepers, all doors open and one truck. It looked more like a fast escape leaving everything behind. The huge building itself looked function-able and in top condition.

Tip of rice iceberg!

more like tip of the "rice-berg"

Looking through the countries on the list, it's just the usual suspects, USA and it's main allies, which is comical and what one would usually expect.

Seriously, how can the USA lecture anyone on the issue of fair elections. This is a country that laughs in the face of true democracy by allowing their whole election process to be manipulated by money, powerful

co-operations and hidden secrets.

The arrogance of certain western nations is overwhelming.

showing the neroistic Thaksin syndrom? Oh forgot, he's the adopted and groomed child of the 1%. To add on necrotic for the West in the analysis, this is a typical response pattern in that stage.

Was that written by a lorem ipsum generator?

nero fiddledd while Rome was burning, - so I created neroistic

necrotic for example

as someone described his preferred version of necrotic -

I prefer the term necrotic pustular basket of cowards, cheats, thieves, swindlers, con-artists, <deleted> lying bastards, child abusers and war criminals.

the original meaning in medical terms

Looking through the countries on the list, it's just the usual suspects, USA and it's main allies, which is comical and what one would usually expect.

Seriously, how can the USA lecture anyone on the issue of fair elections. This is a country that laughs in the face of true democracy by allowing their whole election process to be manipulated by money, powerful

co-operations and hidden secrets.

The arrogance of certain western nations is overwhelming.

showing the neroistic Thaksin syndrom? Oh forgot, he's the adopted and groomed child of the 1%. To add on necrotic for the West in the analysis, this is a typical response pattern in that stage.

Why would the police accuse this Thai oil company of poaching forest land if they had documents from eight agencies showing it was not forest land. Which came first the documents or the drilling?

maybe the actual drilling place was further away and in the forest reserve contrary to the documents.

-- The Nation

US ambassador lauds junta's labour policy

Schoolchildren take part in the

Kenney meets top military chief, denies move to change the venue of Cobra Gold exercise

Only days after the United States cut military aid to Thailand, US Ambassador Kristie Kenney yesterday praised the ruling junta for its new regulation on migrant labour, describing it as "a good policy" to tackle human trafficking.

She said the US would support Thailand's efforts to resolve the problems of human trafficking, child labour and illegal foreign workers, the Thai News Agency reported.

The ruling National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) on Wednesday night set up a committee to tackle human trafficking.

Kenney earlier this week met with Armed Forces Supreme Commander General Tanasak Patimapragorn, who is also deputy NCPO leader, at Tanasak's invitation.

The American envoy told Tanasak that the US Department of State's recent downgrade of Thailand in its annual Trafficking in Persons report "was not a political issue and had nothing to do with the May 22 military coup".

The intended goal was for Thailand to become aware of human trafficking problems, Kenney was quoted as saying in the TNA report. Tanasak had expressed disappointment at the US downgrading of Thailand from Tier 2 to Tier 3.

During the meeting, Kenney revealed that the US has not considered a proposal for Cobra Gold, the Asia-Pacific region's largest military exercise, which is held in Thailand every year, to be moved to Australia, NCPO spokesman Colonel Winthai Suvari said yesterday.

Scot Marciel, the US State Department's deputy assistant secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, had previously hinted that Washington was considering moving next year's Cobra Gold elsewhere.

Tanasak told Kenney that junta leader General Prayuth Chan-ocha understood the tougher US sanctions against post-coup Thailand were routine sanctions for countries under military rule, according to the NCPO spokesman. The NCPO expects such sanctions to continue until Thailand's political situation returns to normal.

The junta yesterday also rejected any notion that military-ruled Thailand was altering its foreign policy to have closer ties with China than with the US.

The NCPO spokesman said that there has been no such shift in policy. He said the NCPO simply wanted to make the current situation clear to all countries so that they have a correct understanding of what the NCPO is attempting to achieve for Thailand.

In its serious bid to regulate foreign labour and prevent human trafficking, NCPO has already set up a committee especially to tackle the issues.

The establishment of the committee was announced late Wednesday night.

And starting from yesterday, interested Cambodians can register themselves for a chance to become legal workers in Thailand via centres in several border provinces.

The moves took place just days after the release of the latest Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report. Compiled by the United States, it has downgraded Thailand's status in terms of human-trafficking situation to the lowest class or Tier 3.

Since it came to power via a military coup last month, the NCPO has seriously tackled illegal labour.

Hundreds of thousands of illegal workers left Thailand during the past month in the wake of the NCPO's tough stance.

Now, it has become clear that they can return to Thailand for jobs as legal workers. They are only required to register themselves with Thai authorities.

Coordination centres for Cambodian workers are now up and running in four border provinces namely Sa Kaew, Chanthaburi, Trat and Surin. Registration there can be made till July 25.

In addition, the NCPO has required that one-stop-service centres for migrant workers be established in all provinces.

The first such centre will open in Samut Sakhon and start its operation next Monday.

Appointed by the NCPO, the committee on policies for solving migrant workers' problems and human trafficking will recommend policies, measures and guidelines to address these issues to the NCPO. The committee, which will be chaired by an NCPO deputy chief, will also monitor implementations and compliance with international obligations.

the wind of change with the speed of a hurricane ... love that ...

hahaha, read about the US Ambassador in the other paper. Now the location for cobra will not be changed and she hailed the move to make Cambodian workers legal.

oops, new witnesses on the row.

What is the US BIGGEST contribution to Thailand?? Probably Pattaya would be among them - they turned a tiny fishing village into the scum that is Walking street in 6 months and filled the bars with issan bar ladies - thanks for supporting us USA!! next time keep walking!!

that sure would be nice, wouldn't it? Turn back time, take the americans out and there would be no demands for bars with isaan bar ladies. Thailand surely would have no problems then. Excellent writing, love.

darn farangs and their ways!

Bull$#ite - the americans are to be blamed for a lot of things, but certainly are not responsible for Thailand's thriving sex industry. The hidden truth here is that Thai men, especially Thai/Chinese are whorehouse addicts, in the early days not one business meeting would pass that wouldn't end with a dinner get together and a visit to the massage parlour or straight to business whore house! This is where the sex industry of Thailand emerged from. Don't try to explain Thailand if you have no clue what you are talking about!

it's a fact. You'll see most Thai-Chinese counting rice-grains (literally) before cooking, but are limitless in perversity and in their spendings in whore-houses.

I think a lot of people posting on here need to read or download the Audio Book

Confessions of an Economic Hit Man

... and then everybody complains when Thailand has employed these strategies in it's micro economics. Hence the red rouge which is outstanding on that issue.

wait a minute ... "no shots were fired, no tanks broke down, no war crafts started and shot from the sky. Instead a housecleaning on fast pace took and takes place showing those who overstepped - their consequences - with 90% (or even more) approval rate."

Foreign military complexes do have a headache now, no orders coming in. Only Thaksin delivered blood as needed and was in the process to deliver more (hence the ongoing confiscation of war weapons linked to his fractions). Again, no hope for foreign military complexes to step in). Even the economic hit-men ring in their tails now.

"Amsterdam" and "Holland" (law firms) are a hint (red herrings) to confuse it with EU.

EU has a lot of homework now, no kidding. These babies there need a good Nanny.

Toni Cartalucci (investigative geopolitical analyst and journalist) put it this way ...

... EU Punishes Thailand for Ousting Mass Murdering Dictator

I guess Dr Tarpley Webster will show up with some more insights on the situation soon as well.

I have not concluded yet, bet I am very worried. The reason is that my pregnant wife got a medicine at the hospital. They said it was vitamins. I just Googleld the name on the bottle "Triferdine". There were many hits, and I started reading the first one: "Warning: Iodide Supplement to pregnant woman is harmful.

When I read the label on the box, it says: Iodine 0,15mg ( as Potassium Iodide 0.196mg). When reading the article telling the difference between Iodine and Iodide it was very disturbing, so I must study this more. That means I will ask some doctor-friends in my home country about this topic. My wife is not taking the Triferdine. Maybe some of you know something about this?

Carerra

try this link --- http://drsircus.com/?s=iodine&submit=

It's worth reading ...

http://www.naturalnews.com/045012_iodine_deficiency_hypothyroidism_nutrition.html

"return of the vampire"

https://mtc.cdn.vine.co/r/videos/EB9D84A9-E3BA-423C-865C-916DCB55EE2E-2083-000002511820B00E_1a528b2f6f4.0.7.mp4?versionId=CxP5ZEMCYI63TdwbaPIH9qF4NnjFfJEx