Yingluck barred from attending Fireball Festival

[webfact]

Yingluck Barred From Attending Fireball Festival
By Khaosod English


Locals in Nong Kai were forced to take down a massive poster that welcomed “Her Excellency, Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra, The 28th Prime Minister of Thailand,” 8 Oct 2014.

BANGKOK — Provincial authorities in Nong Kai province barred former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra from attending a local festival last night due to unspecified "concerns," said a spokesperson from Thailand’s military junta.

Yingluck was scheduled to open the annual ‘Naga Fireball Festival’ in the northeastern province last night, but aides said she was asked to cancel the trip at last minute.

Col. Winthai Suwaree, spokesperson of the junta's National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), confirmed yesterday that Nong Kai’s Governor and "security agencies" decided it was not appropriate for the former leader to make a public appearance at the ceremony.

"If Ms. Yingluck traveled there to open the festival, many people would attend, and it would risk making the general populace to view [her appearance] in an inappropriate way," Col. Winthai said.

Yesterday afternoon, locals were forced to take down a massive poster that welcomed “Her Excellency, Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra, The 28th Prime Minister of Thailand.”

Col. Winthai added that the decision was jointly reached by the Governor of Nong Kai province, military officers, and administrative officials, but that the NCPO played no part in the process.

Yingluck and her brother, influential former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, have remained immensely popular among their support base in the northern and northeastern regions of Thailand – the birthplace and stronghold of the Redshirt movement.

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1412833986&typecate=06&section=

-- Khaosod English 2014-10-09

[webfact]

Naga Fireballs phenomenon continue to amaze locals and tourists

NONG KHAI, 9 October 2014 (NNT) - Thousands of tourists have eagerly waited to witness the spectacular Naga Fireballs phenomenon, which takes place every year during “Wan Okphansa” or the day that marks the end of Buddhist Lent.

In Phon Phisai District, Nong Khai province, locals and tourists have attended a ceremony to worship the Great Naga and pay homage to the spiritual guardians of the Mekong River as part of their celebrations to the Naga Fireballs festival.

The Naga Fireballs is an unusual phenomenon where glowing fireballs emerge out of the Mekong River and shoot up into the sky. According to folk legends, the fireballs were created by the Great Naga, a mythical serpent that resides at the bottom of the river.

In Nong Khai province, the fireballs took place about 6:00pm and the scene lasted for about 20 minutes. For this year, there have been a total of 137 fireballs.

Elsewhere in Bueng Kan province, the Mekong River has been bustling with tourists who were keen to witness the Naga Fireballs. The first fireball was reportedly sighted at 6:39pm.

Finally in Ubon Ratchatani province, a news reporter confirmed that locals have witnessed at least 20 fireballs emerging from the Mekong River as well.


-- NNT 2014-10-09

[Guest]

Without going into boring politics.

How these fireballs are produced?

[Cuchulainn]

Good. Let this old, washed-up has-been stay in oblivion and obscurity. Old hat. Yesterday's news.

[Basil B]

Yawn...

I would be more interested in the festival, any photos?

[smedly]

_{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naga_fireball}

[jayboy]

Good. Let this old, washed-up has-been stay in oblivion and obscurity. Old hat. Yesterday's news.

Fair enough if that's your view.But the significance of the story is rather different.In other words why should ordinary Thais be so fond of the former democratically elected PM and why would they want her to be guest of honour at this important festival?

And equally to the point why should those who grabbed power be so terrified and threatened by her presence at an entirely non political occasion?

There's a wind blowing.

[Bluespunk]

""If Ms. Yingluck traveled there to open the festival, many people would attend, and it would risk making the general populace to view [her appearance] in an inappropriate way," Col. Winthai said."

Well, PT leaders and fire....never a great combination really.

[muntergok]

Good. Let this old, washed-up has-been stay in oblivion and obscurity. Old hat. Yesterday's news.

It seems the Junta has seen the true results of the polls taken in Thailand and I am afraid they are not happy little soldiers.

[Cuchulainn]

Ah ha. The little red puppets' heads are starting to (predictably) appear over the parapets.

[Misterwhisper]

Without going into boring politics.

How these fireballs are produced?

There are different theories. One thing is for sure, though: they are not produced by a mythical giant serpent.

Some researchers believe these fireballs consist of self-igniting swamp gas (mostly methane), the result of organic debris (leaves, etc.) deposited at the bottom of the river at the end of the dry season, when the current is slow and weak.

As the material decomposes, it produces methane gas and other combustible substances (e.g. phosphorus) that are stored in pockets between the layers of deposited plant material. During the rainy season the river swells and its current becomes stronger, eventually "stirring up" and releasing the gas and its accompanying compounds, which then ignite on contact with the oxygen in the air.

[jonclark]

"If Ms. Yingluck traveled there to open the festival, many people would attend, and it would risk making the general populace to view [her appearance] in an inappropriate way," Col. Winthai said

Yeah right can't have many people attending a festival.

I think by his own admission he has just acknowledged that her and her family remain extremely popular and no matter how many free haircuts and health checks the junta give out as part of their reconciliation process the Shinawatra political monster will be back in the seat of power within the next few years. The political views that people held 2 years ago are still the views they hold today.

And i think that is what is meant by inappropriate - is that she would be welcomed, supported and encouraged by the people who attend - and that is a slap in the face to the junta. As it shows how far short their idea of reconciliation (and i have no idea what they mean by that if i am honest - seems to be a generic one term fits all situations word) has fallen from the mark.

Edited October 9, 2014 by jonclark

[jybkk]

Without going into boring politics.

How these fireballs are produced?

In 2002, a TV program for iTV did some investigative journalism and caught people on Laos side faking the phenomenon using tracing rounds and fireworks.

The TV channel got immediately threatened and boycotted for being disrespectful of sacred beliefs.

Its a multi-million dollars business with several hundred thousands of people now attending the event every year. Unsurprisingly, the variety and intensity of the phenomenon has increased over the past few years as it started to attract international visitors rather than only locals.

A good analysis of the phenomenon can be found here: http://skeptoid.com/episodes/4183

[smedly]

Good. Let this old, washed-up has-been stay in oblivion and obscurity. Old hat. Yesterday's news.

Fair enough if that's your view.But the significance of the story is rather different.In other words why should ordinary Thais be so fond of the former democratically elected PM and why would they want her to be guest of honour at this important festival?

And equally to the point why should those who grabbed power be so terrified and threatened by her presence at an entirely non political occasion?

There's a wind blowing.

All it takes is a handful of people putting up posters sponsored by the Redshirt/Thaksin mafia leaders to spark distain and trouble

The reality of the matter is that Thailand needs to forget the abomination of the Yingluc PTP Thaksin government debacle and move on - they were on a path to destroy this country and anyone with a brain knows exactly that undisputed fact, having this woman at any high profile public event is just counter productive, the shins redshirt mafia propaganda machine is still smoldering in the background and needs to be exposed and extinguished once and for all, there's not much more to say

[robblok]

Good. Let this old, washed-up has-been stay in oblivion and obscurity. Old hat. Yesterday's news.

Fair enough if that's your view.But the significance of the story is rather different.In other words why should ordinary Thais be so fond of the former democratically elected PM and why would they want her to be guest of honour at this important festival?

And equally to the point why should those who grabbed power be so terrified and threatened by her presence at an entirely non political occasion?

There's a wind blowing.

Who says everyone wants her there.. and I agree with the army keep her out of the lime light she will soon be forgotten. You are right a wind is blowing.. and its blowing to PTP to oblivion and all the previously oppressed by the red terrorist breath this new fresh air.

No longer risking bullets at your house if you say something bad about the government.

[PREM-R]

Yeah there is a wind blowing and it will turn into a tornado

[Thailand]

Paranoia.

[PREM-R]

Yeah there is a wind blowing and it will turn into a tornado

You mean from something benign and life enhancing into something destructive and life destroying?

Hey Spunky, you're still on here then!

[Bluespunk]

Yeah there is a wind blowing and it will turn into a tornado

You mean from something benign and life enhancing into something destructive and life destroying?

Hey Spunky, you're still on here then!

And there was me being nice and deleting my comment. Ah well you've passed it on anyway. Cheers.

P.S. if you are going to address someone try to get their name right, it's not too tricky, even for a derby fan.

Edited October 9, 2014 by Bluespunk

[Orac]

Good. Let this old, washed-up has-been stay in oblivion and obscurity. Old hat. Yesterday's news.

Fair enough if that's your view.But the significance of the story is rather different.In other words why should ordinary Thais be so fond of the former democratically elected PM and why would they want her to be guest of honour at this important festival?

And equally to the point why should those who grabbed power be so terrified and threatened by her presence at an entirely non political occasion?

There's a wind blowing.

Who says everyone wants her there.. and I agree with the army keep her out of the lime light she will soon be forgotten. You are right a wind is blowing.. and its blowing to PTP to oblivion and all the previously oppressed by the red terrorist breath this new fresh air.

No longer risking bullets at your house if you say something bad about the government.

I thought saying bad things about the government was illegal now?

[PREM-R]

Yeah there is a wind blowing and it will turn into a tornado

You mean from something benign and life enhancing into something destructive and life destroying?

Hey Spunky, you're still on here then!

Who?

Oh Sorry, I forgot, you are a little bit 'precious' regarding your forum name. How are you Mr. Blue Spunk, O.K.?

[airconsult]

.....and naturally stopping her appearance will encourage everyone there in "goodthink"

Didn't they miss an opportunity? They could have collected everyone who welcomed her and taken them away for more reconciliation lessons.

(Bit one-sided this reconciliation thing isn't it?)

(innocent of criticising the NCPO - because they didn't do it)

[ldnguy]

Yawn...

I would be more interested in the festival, any photos?

Yes. Google.

[PREM-R]

Hey Spunky, you're still on here then!

Who?

Oh Sorry, I forgot, you are a little bit 'precious' regarding your forum name. How are you Mr. Blue Spunk, O.K.?

Nope, but keep going, that's the touching thing about derby, try but never quite achieve.

Prem "How are you Mr. Blue Spunk, O.K.?"

BS "Nope"

I am sorry to hear that you are not O.K., nothing serious I hope.

EDIT Oops! I forgot to add, we are well off topic here!

Edited October 9, 2014 by PREM-R

[Bluespunk]

Yeah there is a wind blowing and it will turn into a tornado

You mean from something benign and life enhancing into something destructive and life destroying?

[AGareth2]

next it will be house arrest?

[Mango Bob]

If everyone is so happy with the Junta why are they afraid of a little old lady opening the event. Maybe there is a lot of people who are not happy.

[virtualtraveller]

Well, if these lot can believe the fireball theory they are also likely to believe Yingluck is the new messiah. Duped, the lot of them. Best if she stays away, wouldn't want to get their hopes up too high.

[apetley]

Without going into boring politics.

How these fireballs are produced?

There are different theories. One thing is for sure, though: they are not produced by a mythical giant serpent.

Some researchers believe these fireballs consist of self-igniting swamp gas (mostly methane), the result of organic debris (leaves, etc.) deposited at the bottom of the river at the end of the dry season, when the current is slow and weak.

As the material decomposes, it produces methane gas and other combustible substances (e.g. phosphorus) that are stored in pockets between the layers of deposited plant material. During the rainy season the river swells and its current becomes stronger, eventually "stirring up" and releasing the gas and its accompanying compounds, which then ignite on contact with the oxygen in the air.

The display I went to was so obviously fireworks it was laughable to suggest a natural phenomena.

[smedly]

The Junta know all too well that the great mass of the people, the silent majority, still love and support Yingluck and her political party. The military dictators are fully aware of this fact and are terrified the people will rally behind her. What a bunch of YELLOW cowards! They can't hold back the tide forever

you are making a lot of statements in your post when all the actual evidence would indicate the opposite

it would appear you are as clever a box filled with air - would you like me to explain or can you work it out for yourself