Sans titre. Fred Turner, l’utopie numérique - visions. Thailand issues good behaviour manual for Chinese tourists. Etiquette manuals in Mandarin are being printed for the 90,000 Chinese tourists who are expected to travel to Thailand for Chinese New Year, later this week.
The manual will instruct visitors on museum etiquette, requesting that paintings are not touched, warn against using public property as lavatory facilties, and encourage proper driving behaviour, according to the Tourist Authority of Thailand office in Chiang Mai. Sansern Kaewkamnerd, a government spokesman, asked Thai locals on Saturday to keep their patience and spirit of hospitality with the influx of tourists over the new year period. Chiang Mai and nearby Chiang Rai are expected to be the biggest draws for Chinese tourists, whose behaviour in the north-eastern region left something to be desired last year. Locals accused them of defecating in the city’s moat, causing accidents by driving recklessly, and defacing several tourist attractions, according to the Bangkok Post. Tourists from 49 markets can now apply for 30-day visa extension. The policy went into effect yesterday.
The bureau did not say how long it would continue, but it is likely to carry on through the rest of the year. Earlier, the government granted a three-month visa-fee exemption for tourists from mainland China and Taiwan as another attempt to revive tourism. Tourism Authority of Thailand governor Thawatchai Arunyik said the latest move would help increase the number of international visitors as well as those coming for niche-market activities such as volunteer travel, health and wellness, or sports. Visitors can obtain the visa extension at immigration offices nationwide. The application process will cost Bt1,900 per person.
Thawatchai said the 49 source markets in question generated about half of Thailand's total visitor arrivals, or roughly 13 million, last year. Thaïlande/pédophilie: un Français arrêté. Un enseignant français de 48 ans a été arrêté hier en Thaïlande pour abus sexuels répétés sur un garçon de 11 ans, a-t-on appris vendredi auprès de la police.
La police a été alertée par des vidéos pédophiles de cet homme postées sur internet. "Nous avons envoyé notre équipe d'enquêteurs trouver la victime et quand nous l'avons trouvée, nous avons demandé un mandat d'arrêt qui a conduit à l'arrestation la nuit dernière", a précisé le colonel Sitthichai Tanunchai, de la police de la province de Nan (nord). "Il est actuellement interrogé et détenu au poste de police", a-t-il ajouté. Le Français, qui était professeur d'anglais en Thaïlande, risque 10 ans de prison pour "enlèvement" et "agression sexuelle" d'un mineur de moins de 15 ans. The Republic and the Kingdom: Time for Mutual Respect and Continuity. Sometimes the closest relationships are the hardest to manage.
Thailand is the United States’ longest-standing ally in Asia, yet relationships with this ally will be among the hardest to handle as U.S. foreign-policy makers look ahead to 2012 and beyond. Bound together by the geostrategic environment during the Cold War, the republic and the kingdom found common cause. Thailand understood and respected the interests and goals of the United States. In return, the United States strongly supported key Thai institutions, including the monarchy, the military, and the development of the Thai business elite.
The U.S. Over the last 15 years, however, the bilateral relationship has struggled to find alignment. Ironically, the financial crisis coincided with a significant shift in Thai politics. Thaksin’s time as leader of the country was controversial. In 2006, Thaksin was removed by a military coup d’état, marking the beginning of a period of serious political uncertainty in Thailand. 'Merchant of Death' Viktor Bout extradition stalls. 4 October 2010Last updated at 06:06 ET Viktor Bout is alleged to have sold arms to warlords in Africa and Afghanistan A Thai court has rejected a request to drop charges of money laundering and fraud against suspected Russian arms smuggler Viktor Bout, stalling his extradition to the US.
Mr Bout was to be extradited in August, to face trial for conspiring to sell weapons to a Colombian rebel group. But it was postponed after the new charges led to legal complications. The US and Russia have been squabbling over his fate since his 2008 arrest in a joint Thai-US sting operation. After more than 15 years of allegedly running guns to African warlords and Islamic militants, Mr Bout was arrested at a Bangkok hotel by US agents posing as Colombian Farc rebels, after he allegedly tried to sell them weapons. Thailand - Cablegate - Statelogs. Panel fears Moscow could cut ties. Sino-Thai Military Special Forces launches joint anti-terrorism training. Code-named "Strike-2010," the exercise aims "to deepen the on-going exchanges and cooperation between the two militaries, Sino-Thai Military Special Forces launches joint anti-terrorism training in the evening.
(Source:Xinhua/Du Yang) Chinese and Thai Special Forces started a 15-day joint counter-terrorism training exercise from Oct. 6 until Oct. 20 in Guilin of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, according to People's Daily Online. China, Thailand target $100bn bilateral trade. Thai prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra (right) meets with Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi in Bangkok, Thailand [Xinhua] Visiting Chinese foreign minster Wang Yi on Wednesday praised Thailand for playing a ” unique and significant” role in promoting relations between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Thailand and China agreed to increase bilateral trade to $100 billion by 2015 during Wang’s visit to Bangkok. During his meeting with Thai prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, Wang said the “unique” Sino-Thai relationship will play an “exemplary” role in the development of China’s relations with ASEAN. Thailand is the country coordinator of China-ASEAN relations. Bilateral trade between China and Thailand stood at nearly $70 billion last year. Yingluck said her country is willing to deepen comprehensive cooperation with China, by increasing political communication and maintaining the momentum of strong growth in bilateral trade. Yingluck unveils planned Thailand-China rail system through Laos. Myanmar - Thailand.