THE WEEK THAT WAS ​​​​​​​‘Europe’s war’ increasingly gets attention in cozy Thailand

[webfact]

 

It was a week when many Thais increasingly realized that events in Europe would have a much greater effect on their cozy lives than they previously imagined.

 

While Rooster is suspicious of foreigners who quote their Thai wife's opinions as the font of universal truth, Mrs R’s increasing concern was palpable. Perhaps it was the realization that fuel to and from Loei next month was going to cost a packet, that the shopping bills were sky-rocketing. 

 

She was initiating conversation and beginning to appreciate why I was spending so much time reading and watching foreign news. 

 

(Until Sky’s YouTube live news feed mysteriously disappeared on Tuesday during a contentious Russian news conference….)

 

I kept welling up, the news was so distressing. It inspired chat about what is really important in life. Family. Safety. Food. Peace.  

 

It was starting to sink in that Thailand is not an island but has a place and a role to play in the world. And we are all affected by what is happening.

 

Consequences of the war in Ukraine were apparent in many stories on ASEAN NOW with the authorities reacting to the needs of “7,000” stranded Ukrainians and Russians unable to pay their hotel bills. All were potentially having visa issues. Bitcoin was even being touted as a way for hotels to get their cash. 

 

Rooster took a lot of flak for last week’s column. Thanks to those posters who understood I was NOT engaging in click-bait bigotry. On the contrary I was trying to highlight the fact that ordinary Russians were mostly not guilty when it comes to their sickening regime whilst disagreeing with the Thai government for not taking a more aggressive stance worrying more about filthy lucre. 

 

Many posters exhibited behavior that I was criticizing and revealed all too clearly that they don’t read the content before bashing away at their keyboards. I read every comment. 

 

I did like Jingthing who referred to “Roosterrant™”. Now there’s an idea…

 

Some suggested that there was one rule for the common poster and one for Rooster. Not so. While I accept that some leeway is probably afforded to an AN employee, Rooster must follow the rules too. It may interest you to know that as a private poster I was banned from the site for a considerable time in 2020/21 for comments made about a delicate subject. Yes, banned from the firm I work for! The TWTW column continued probably because it's a popular source of clicks and advertising revenue thanks to how good it is.

 

So put that in your pipe and smoke it, jealous posters and wannabe journalists!

 

Phuket tourism businesses and the TAT suddenly realized that the Russians were no longer coming. 

 

You don’t say!

 

Siberian airlines and Aeroflot had ceased flights temporarily (whatever that means). 

 

I recalled the first time I flew back to the west from Thailand in 1982. I went Aeroflot from Bangkok via Moscow to Madrid for the World Cup and was interviewed by the BBC in Bilbao at the head of the queue for England tickets. 

 

The flight to Moscow was memorable for the inflight entertainment. No, not a movie, they had none. 

 

Just vodka that our group of vocal Soviet Union hecklers in the middle rows consumed in huge quantities, demanding more from the bulky stewardess we nicknamed  “Olga”.

 

Yes, we were horrible but she seemed to take it on her not inconsiderable chin, inspiring a grudging respect.  

 

Transferring at the airport in Mockba I saw the Russian travelling public for the first time. Huge people who stopped at the airport bar for a large glass of vodka and a sip of soda before going on their unmerry way. 

 

I’ve always felt sorry for the average Rusky, feelings that have intensified over the years after understanding more about their wartime heroism and peacetime stoicism.  

 

In the 80s Aeroflot was easily the biggest airline in the world and  Rooster, a nervous backpacker flier, enjoyed the budget flights.

 

Thirty years later I would Wiki-wince when reading about the airline's appalling safety record in the Soviet era, something that they cleaned up considerably as they downsized after the fall of the Berlin wall.

 

Using them in the 1990s they even offered a version of customer service. 

 

Now, of course they are limited to Russia and Belarus. You can’t even get a Big Mac or a Starbucks in Russia now.

 

Via TASS, Putin issued a list of countries he deemed unfriendly because of sanctions. In my view it was a badge of honor to be on it. Thailand, sadly, was not. 

 

In England UK foreign secretary Liz Truss was scrutinized by the Foreign Affairs Select Committee over her Russian engagement record. 

 

Most interesting, and largely unreported, was her observation about mistakes made by the Foreign Office in selling off embassies around the world.

 

Obviously the £420 million sale in 2018 of the Bangkok embassy - the biggest in the FO’s history - came to mind. Various ambassadors were obliged to suck this up and follow the party line at the time. Now it looks as though their master in Whitehall regrets the whole sordid money grab that further eroded the service provided to UK nationals abroad. 

 

I use the word service with tongue embedded firmly in cheek. The British Embassy - like many other countries’ - is a trade mission that outsources to places like New Delhi while its staff have junkets and play tennis at the British club before a Pimm’s sundowner allegedly at taxpayer expense. 

 

The embassy buildings, very historical and beautiful, have been bulldozed for yet another unnecessary Central. 

 

Collectively, the Thai nation still put more store in celebrity news rather than the war - sorry, “conflict” as the Thai government says. 

 

Every time one turned on the TV the first word was “Tangmo”. The celebrity who died, not the price of watermelon.

 

Rooster translated stories about the latest opinions on the case spouted by other celebs. These included Khunying “Dr Death” Porntip, the forensic pathologist with punk hair, and Chuwit Kamolwisit, former soapy massage baron and convicted politician. Porntip - who had a highly dubious role in the infamous purchase of a billion baht’s worth of bomb detectors that were in fact golf ball finding devices - eschewed direct involvement as she’s a senator. 

 

Chuwit gave his usual fruity observations that convicted embezzler Sorayuth sycophantically lapped up during their Facebook “live” session.  

 

Mrs Rooster did laugh when I suggested that one nation on earth was more obsessed with celebrity, the Brazilians. 

 

On Friday Thai prosecutors opposed bail in Canada for Matthew Dupre, one of the hitmen of Jimi Sandhu in Phuket, who was arrested in Alberta. His extradition will depend on Thailand waiving the death penalty. Posters on the forum predictably pointed out the similarities and differences to the Red Bull Boss case. 

 

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A symposium and conference on weed closed in Surin with keynote speakers predicting waves of tourists flocking to Thailand.

 

For what exactly?

 

Something of much poorer quality than they could get at home where it would actually be legal to smoke?

 

Or perhaps they are desperate for a multi pronged, foul tasting leaf to slap on their Khao Horm Mali.

 

One speaker called Thai ganja a “secret weapon” akin to jasmine rice in its tourism pulling power.

 

Then justice minister Somsak started promoting kratom - he used to lock up thousands of Thais for the mild narcotic now his eyes are glazing over with the billions that can be made. 

 

As Bernard Trink used to say, any comment would be superfluous. 

 

In Samui the fallout from the tragic death of Aussie cricket legend Shane Warne continued (a subject that was too late for last week’s column). 

 

Plod realized the importance of this particular “tourist” and did a good job to allay fears, carrying out a proper autopsy and then quite reasonably declaring that this was indeed a death by natural causes. 

 

Warne, 52, brought pleasure to millions around the cricketing world and was a true great and innovator. Australia’s government sensibly offered the family a state funeral that is richly deserved. 

 

In entertainment news, Thai movie legend Sorapong Chatree died of lung cancer aged 71. Sorapong was a National Artist who appeared in more than 500 movies including "The Legend of Suriyothai" and many other historical features. 

 

In other news and war related the UK government expanded its oligarchs’ sanctions to include Chelski FC owner Roman Abramovich. The club was given a special licence to keep operating but no tickets can be sold from now on. 

 

Other stories that caught my eye were Prawit not being prosecuted in the watch scandal, Prayut kindly allowing people to fill up their cars with expensive gas, the assault of a primary school child for daring to ask a question and the mixup over corpses and the living in Pathum Thani that has angered two families. 

 

Follow the links to enjoy these gems, all from Rooster’s wicked pen, if you missed them. 

 

Finally, I return to the war. It really helps to put our own pathetic pandemic angst and worries into perspective. Seeing the plight of the Ukrainian families has caused many tears here in Ratchayothin.

 

None more so than watching the refugees - women and oh so many bewildered children - arriving tired and hungry at the freezing Polish border on trains.

 

Where soldiers handed out donated soft toys to the little ones who broke into smiles giving warm hugs to their new best friends. 

 

A mere gesture, perhaps.

 

But utterly heartbreaking and heartwarming all rolled into one. 

 

Rooster 

 

 

-- © Copyright  ASEAN NOW 2022-03-12

 

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[BritManToo]

Me first!

 

Best not to watch (world) news of any kind, then you won't be concerned or worried.

Tangmo is about the limit of my interest in the (local) news ....... and the generals son crashing his Porsche ...... and other things that don't really worry me at all.

Edited March 12, 2022 by BritManToo

[KhunBENQ]

Wow, indeed I see some articles and even a section about Ukrainian battlefield in Thairath.

You just have to scroll down from THE top news of all week about the drowned soap opera star.

[BobBKK]

Most Thais I know are unconcerned and ignorant of wars and stuff outside their coconut but one did tell me about "terrible" Russia attacking "innocent" Ukraine. I didn't want to spoil her mood by talking about Donbas and the rapes and killings there since 2014.

People like there wars clean - this side is GOOD and that side is BAD. Simple isn't it?

[Will B Good]

33 minutes ago, webfact said:

While Rooster is suspicious

Made it that far.....

[vandeventer]

1 hour ago, KhunBENQ said:

Wow, indeed I see some articles and even a section about Ukrainian battlefield in Thairath.

You just have to scroll down from THE top news of all week about the drowned soap opera star.

I guess if people stick their head far enough in the sand they won't see anything bad in the world. Did they see Cambodia when the Pol Pot era was  in play in 1975?

[topt]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Australia’s government sensibly offered the family a state funeral that is richly deserved. 

Hmm, the question that springs to my mind is where do you draw the line. Who makes that distinction?

Arguably you could end up with all sorts of sports "stars" and "celebrities".............

[tomazbodner]

Flew Aeroflot in the late 90's over Sheremetyevo and while that 24 hours stop-over was utterly boring with nothing to do, and the restaurant accepting that meal voucher among worst in the World, the entertainment provided by the staff at airport was legendary.

 

One scene I can't forget was the guy at the arrival to transfer gate. The door was shut as many from fully loaded, 90+ minutes too early Boeing 777 reached the spot. With straight face, he would say that he's sorry but he's got no keys. Another man who was supposed to come with the keys went drinking last night and is totally drunk so nobody knows when he'd be coming. Maybe today, maybe tomorrow... He then fabricated a story full of stereotypes about Russians that was absolutely hilarious. But he said all that with such a straight face that after a while we weren't sure anymore whether he was joking or serious.

 

After 20-30 minutes of show absolutely worth a stage performance, with large proportion of non-Russian passengers close to heart attack, he pulled the key out of his pocket, opened the door and said "Welcome to Russia!"

 

Aeroflot, at least back then, despite flight attendants looking like very serious Maths teachers, provided excellent service in the air.

 

On the way to Bangkok, we started descending without any announcement somewhere between Afghanistan and Iran... Figured out we've landed in Turkmenistan when armed security forces boarded the plane, pointing assault rifles at anyone who moved. Many thought plane's been hijacked, then we saw soldiers took someone off the plane on a stretcher. Only half an hour after taking off again, captain came on PA and said he's sad to announce that the passengers he was trying to save life of, has died on the way to hospital...

 

A few years later, shortly after takeoff, I was asked if a very sick elderly Filipino gentleman could sit with me in the last row. He was having severe difficulties breathing and could not really speak. His elderly wife crying next to him... Remembering Aeroflot I've asked flight attendant whether we'd land to send him to hospital, and in front of him and his wife she said "We'll offload him in Bangkok". He struggled another 30-40 minutes before passing away.

 

This happened on certain airline with hopping animal on the red tail, where on boarding a woman with a child in her arm, asking flight attendant to help her put bag up in the bin was told "that's not my job".

 

Compared to that, Aeroflot certainly provided more humane service, although their flight attendants weren't smiling supermodels.

 

Now obviously, that was 20+ years ago. No idea what their service would have been now.

[nahkit]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Some suggested that there was one rule for the common poster and one for Rooster. Not so. While I accept that some leeway is probably afforded to an AN employee, Rooster must follow the rules too.

Really?  A while back I was given a suspension for daring to click the sad emoji in response to a post that an administrator had made.

Edited March 12, 2022 by nahkit

[mikeymike100]

18 minutes ago, nahkit said:

Really?  A while back I was given a suspension for daring to click the sad emoji in response to a post that an administrator had made.

Same thing happened to me, even though in the rules is doesn't say what a negative emoji is!

[jacko45k]

9 minutes ago, mikeymike100 said:

Same thing happened to me, even though in the rules is doesn't say what a negative emoji is!

I got one for a laughing emoji... I thought the guy had made a good witticism!

[Retdent]

46 minutes ago, tomazbodner said:

This happened on certain airline with hopping animal on the red tail 

The red hopping marsupial airline has not changed much over the years. They still have a don't care attitude (and their budget wing is worse); staffed by the same "bulky stewardess"  that Rooster referred to, ( Aeroflot) no service, no smiles, hard to get service. Pre pandemic you were lucky to have young energetic staff in one out of five flights. Referring to cattle class here, Business much better but still not near their competition.

[khunken]

32 minutes ago, nahkit said:

Really?  A while back I was given a suspension for daring to click the sad emoji in response to a post that an administrator had made.

Me too. Forget the 'appeal process' as well.

[Jimbo53]

1 hour ago, tomazbodner said:

This happened on certain airline with hopping animal on the red tail, where on boarding a woman with a child in her arm, asking flight attendant to help her put bag up in the bin was told "that's not my job".

Same thing happened to my ex on BA a few decades past,but it was because of the airline's insurance policy,which did not cover any accidents happening if staff are helping passengers,also including helping mother's with children.

[Old Croc]

51 minutes ago, nahkit said:

Really?  A while back I was given a suspension for daring to click the sad emoji in response to a post that an administrator had made.

I once had a post deleted and was warned about insulting language because I used the word "P-m" to describe a fine English gentleman. (The o is deleted in case someone reading now becomes incensed)

My rejoinder that even the BBC uses it on air occasionally was ignored.

 

Try a search of the forum for the word now..

 

 

[Jack Cook]

Flew Aeroflot business class from Bangkok to Moscow in 2019. Nice 777 and just as good as any other BC I’ve flown 

[Isaan sailor]

I got banned for a political comment about 18 months ago.  I must have been on the wrong side…

[sawadee1947]

Rooster,

when I started reading your weekly source of income I was convinced you learned a bit from all those people who were criticising you in the past.

However, in the middle you lost the thread and at the end - referring to UK - you forgot to mention that Poland shows an outstanding welcome culture for Ukranians. Like all other European countries. Except UK. Ukranians have to flock and ask for a visa with a lot of paperwork to do to enter the Island. A handful only have been successful. Last week only FIVE. Even Viktor Orban from Hungary takes a lot more.

Thai bashing is always easy. But in this case Thailand reacted in a right humanitarian way in contrary to wealthy? UK. But instead they sent weapons.

Rooster, as a wannabe journalist today it was bad.

[LukKrueng]

4 hours ago, Will B Good said:

Made it that far.....

I managed few more lines...

[Kinnock]

Rooster trying to rewrite his post from last week?

 

We're not falling for your Roosterganda.

[off road pat]

..."Via TASS, Putin issued a list of countries he deemed unfriendly because of sanctions. In my view it was a badge of honor to be on it. Thailand, sadly, was not."...

Apparently Thailand made the right decision and stay out of this mess,...  that badge of honor, might be all you have if Putin is pushed far enough and decide to push the proverbial red button and pull the plug !

PS, I'm ready to be banned, couldn't care less,...

[Millcx]

4 hours ago, BobBKK said:

Most Thais I know are unconcerned and ignorant of wars and stuff outside their coconut but one did tell me about "terrible" Russia attacking "innocent" Ukraine. I didn't want to spoil her mood by talking about Donbas and the rapes and killings there since 2014.

People like there wars clean - this side is GOOD and that side is BAD. Simple isn't it?

So you have evidence against the Ukrainian Gov how they ordered the raping of all Russian Woman in Donbas !!!! Don’t think so Richard Cranium …. Putin is scum

[Chongalulu]

1 hour ago, off road pat said:

..."Via TASS, Putin issued a list of countries he deemed unfriendly because of sanctions. In my view it was a badge of honor to be on it. Thailand, sadly, was not."...

Apparently Thailand made the right decision and stay out of this mess,...  that badge of honor, might be all you have if Putin is pushed far enough and decide to push the proverbial red button and pull the plug !

PS, I'm ready to be banned, couldn't care less,...

If red buttons are pushed there’ll not be an iota of difference on Your fate whatever of Putin’s list you were on. Geography to a small extent might ameliorate slightly the fallout ,but catastrophe is guaranteed.  The overwhelming majority of countries condemned him and even if he survives he can’t function without dealing with them and the West in particular. Those countries haven’t'stayed out of it' in any meaningful way ,but will be remembered for their equivocation. 

[yankyoakum]

I thought the ol chicken was on point but thats just me....one thing I will state as a darn fact being poor and without when its freezing is a whole other level of misery few comprehend unless you been there..

[WEBBYB808]

Remember Mr Rooster to use words that Theologians know well, "The way's of the righteous shall be narrow, and the ways of the wicked shall be vast!"  Your words and wisdom  last week and today are of the righteous,  so to speak, and those that didn't believe  were that of the wicked.  It's not that I get pleasure  that you are correct, because  what is happening  is terrible  for the whole world.  Just like Hitler wanted more living room, and in's Putins case, space to keep NATO off his door step, people failed then to see how Hitlers vision affected the whole world then, as many are vastly  underestimating Heere Putins vision today trickles to everyone.  Keep putting the truth out there Mr. Rooster people need to see reality. 

[Eloquent pilgrim]

8 hours ago, BobBKK said:

Most Thais I know are unconcerned and ignorant of wars and stuff outside their coconut but one did tell me about "terrible" Russia attacking "innocent" Ukraine. I didn't want to spoil her mood by talking about Donbas and the rapes and killings there since 2014.

People like there wars clean - this side is GOOD and that side is BAD. Simple isn't it?

Thanks for the valuable info, I had no idea that Russians had been killing and raping in Donbas since 2014; but I guess that only a Russian would have known that.
 

and please stop using capital letters, it is against forum etiquette and you have been told before…. many thanks 

[unblocktheplanet]

You must mean alleged hitman! These guys were sure stupid...

[daejung]

18 hours ago, BobBKK said:

Most Thais I know are unconcerned and ignorant of wars and stuff outside their coconut but one did tell me about "terrible" Russia attacking "innocent" Ukraine. I didn't want to spoil her mood by talking about Donbas and the rapes and killings there since 2014.

People like there wars clean - this side is GOOD and that side is BAD. Simple isn't it?

Pro russian troll : Donbas is part of Ukrain and invaded by russians troop as well as Crimea

[SiSePuede419]

When the first McDonald's opened after years of building up a Russian supply chain they trained the employees for a month and told them to smile at the customers when they took their order.

 

Sone customers thought they were laughing at them.

 

Because who smiles in such a grim place. ????

[brianthainess]

21 hours ago, webfact said:

The club was given a special licence to keep operating but no tickets can be sold from now on. 

They should be allowed to sell tickets with all profits going to Ukrainian refugees.