Thailand's Prime Minister Proposes Paper Pigeon Drops in South

Nov. 16 (Bloomberg) -- Thailand's Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra wants Thais to fold paper pigeons to be airdropped in the south to spread goodwill in an area where violence has killed hundreds.

The proposal was discussed at a weekly cabinet meeting today, spokesman Jakrapob Penkair said at a briefing in Ubon Ratchathani province, about 600 kilometers (361 miles) northeast of Bangkok. Thaksin proposed the idea after academics gave him an origami bird following a meeting on ways to solve the problem.

``The distribution of paper peace pigeons in the three southern provinces may not directly help solve the violence, but it will have an important impact in terms of spreading goodwill,'' Jakrapob quoted Thaksin as saying during the cabinet meeting. ``The prime minister said the problem in the south is reaching the point where enough is enough.''

Thaksin, whose party faces parliamentary elections in February, is trying to deal with a surge in violence in the three Muslim-majority provinces after 78 Muslims died of suffocation while crammed into trucks headed for an army camp following clashes with troops on Oct. 25. More than 400 people have died in the violence that started in January.

The unrest poses increasing danger to civilians, Thaksin said Nov. 9. The government of the mainly Buddhist nation blames separatist organizations, criminals and disgruntled politicians. The escalating violence follows the spread of bird flu in the country, where 12 people died from the disease.

Thais will be asked to make the paper pigeons for airdrops Dec. 5 as part of celebrations marking Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej's birthday.

Yeah this will surely help

Who's going to clean up the tons of pigeon droppings?

Sounds like an idea from someone who belongs in the cuckoo's nest.

Let them eat chicken .

That would solve both problems .

Beats the <deleted> out of a political solution if you ask me........

Beats the <deleted> out of a political solution if you ask me........

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At least the political solutions used so far, that's for sure...

Why don't they make a BG president???

She will have more brains then this Idiot

He would`ve been a world class skier. Downhill 100mph.

Maybe if they made them out of Bht1000 notes it might help!

My g/f saw this on Thai TV news and said just one word "Stupid!"

"Ol Moonface" has an ace up his sleeve..........He is going to keep the paper pigeons crated up, and drop them, case and all, on to the most populated insurgent areas in the south. Thus spreading goodwill and getting rid of some of the worst offenders at the same time..........

"There you go another problem solved, this along with irradicating the drug problem and poverty,what a genius"

There is a 2000bhat fee for dropping litter.

Will this be applied "per pigoen" or on bulk basis?

There is a 2000bhat fee for dropping litter.

Will this be applied "per pigoen" or on bulk basis?

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They'll negotiate a tonne rate and Shincorp ( or is it Sincorp ?) is making the paper pigeons on a commercial basis

Update:

1,000-plus post offices prepare for flock of paper birds

BANGKOK: -- Post offices have a wealth of experience in handling letters and packages, but over the coming days they will be faced with a new task - how to send a flock of around 62 million origami birds.

A total of 1,076 post offices nationwide will display 5,000 posters urging the public to fold the birds as a goodwill gesture for the people of Thailand's troubled southern border region.

Members of the public will be able to hand their folded birds to post office officials from today onwards, without having to pay any postage costs.

The completed birds will then be sent on to Air Force bases on 4 December, before being dropped onto towns and villages in the southern border region on 5 December to mark His Majesty the King's birthday.

--TNA 2004-11-19

Hey, I smell a new campaign slogan brewing........

"Give Mr T the Bird!"

~WISteve

Young people make two million paper birds

BANGKOK: -- Representatives from Thailand’s Juvenile Observation and Protection centres across the country plan to give two million paper birds to the Justice Minister, Pongthep Thepkanchana on Monday, according to government officials.

The young people in the centres are engaged in constructive activities to show their love of other people, a senior government official Thawatchai Thaikaew, told TNA.

It helps them build self-esteem and respect themselves so they can curb their aggressive behaviour, he said.

The origami birds will be dropped from the air over the three Muslim-dominated provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat on 5 December to coincide with His Majesty the King's birthday.

The paper birds are a symbol that Thais care about the people in the South.

The origami birds are part of the government's attempt to bring peace to the three southern-most provinces that have been swept by violent unrest since the beginning of the year.

-- TNA 2004-11-28

Young people make two million paper birds 

......

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Let's hope none of these young people wrote anything "inappropriate" on the inside of these birds....