Farang Affairs in The Nation - Ajarn Forum

khai Toun · 8th August 2005, 17:42

Farang Affairs and On The Tiles edited (i.e. written by Phil Mcdonald) which used to appear in the Nation every Monday are no more....at least in print. Neither page appeared in today's edition. They have been dropped for good from what I understand - although Farang Affairs is still available on-line.

Personally, I really don't understand the logic behind this. I used to look forward to reading Farang Affairs ( full page) every Monday; it used to appear every Friday up until a couple of months ago.

The writing was witty and humourous and lampooned the absurdity of politics and everyday life here in the LOS.

Also, Farang Affairs normally included copy submitted by a reader which related to Thailand and would be of interest to foreigners living here.

More recently the piece was concluded by an apparently well researched investigative piece detailing an on-going story relating to Thailand.i.e. the facts behind a suspicious suicide, murder etc.

Farang Affairs was unique in that it touched on subjects that don't normally attract much, if any, attention in the news and social pages of BKK's English language dailies.

It was a crusading column exposing and ridiculing the corruption, ineptitude and corruption that exists here in Thailand.

What is the logic behind this axeing? I thought The Nation was meant to be one of the last bastions of free speech against Thaksin, the government and the endemic corruption that plagues this country?

Snaff · 8th August 2005, 17:44

There has been no mention of why?

Although, I think I may know....

dongintheklong · 8th August 2005, 17:46

The column was pretty scathing at times, but not totally untrue in many respects. It did engage in alot of wonderfully ironic slagging of various corrupt and questionable Thai institutions. Some high-up Thai politician most likely complained so they did away with it. Perhaps the online version will explain what happened?

diaw · 8th August 2005, 17:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by khai Toun

...What is the logic behind this axeing? I thought The Nation was meant to be one of the last bastions of free speech against Thaksin, the government and the endemic corruption that plagues this country?

You sir, have answered your own question... Dr.T strikes again...

khai Toun · 8th August 2005, 17:55

I've just checked the on-line edition of Farang Affairs and there's no mention of what has happened.
Phil McDonald, a good and courageous writer, must be feeling as sick as a dog now!

diaw - yep...seems like Thaksin has struck again, or more likely one of those horrible Thai Lak Thai types!

http://www.farangaffairs.com/

Bald Belgian Bob · 8th August 2005, 18:08

I highly doubt it that The Nation would buckle under pressure from some politicians. This is the same newspaper that stood on the barricades with the protesters in May 1992, and published the facts as they developed (compare this with the Bangkok Post, which had large blank spaces on its front page during much of the protests). Back then the pressure was on from wacko generals (anyone remember Suchinda?) who had tanks out on the streets of Bangkok.

Perhaps there is no sinister explanation to be found behind the non-publication of Phil's column today. Perhaps he missed his deadline? Perhaps he's on holiday?

Regards.

BBB

diaw · 8th August 2005, 18:12

Reading the link posted by 'khai Toun' it appears that the author on FarangAffairs is requesting folks to email the rag directly... so something is definitely in the wind...

khai Toun · 8th August 2005, 18:30

Farang Affairs dumped from The Nation

(Courtesy of the folks at Thaivisa.com. I hope you don't mind me pasting this here george)

BANGKOK: -- The new editor of The Nation has canned the Farang Affairs column, which appeared in the newspaper's Expat Page every Monday.

On The Tiles, an offbeat nightlife column that appeared in The Nation's Weekend section on Fridays, was also dumped.

Both columns were written by the same journalist and both were popular among expats.

If you would like to know why Farang Affairs and On The Tiles are no more, email the editor at tulsat@nationgroup.com and tulsat@hotmail.com.

A cc to: letters@nationgroup.com and jpana@nationgroup.com
will ensure your email is not ignored. is here george.)

DJ Pat · 8th August 2005, 19:12

Farang affairs was nothing but go-go bar stories, plugs for other bars and childish crap that makes the farang look bad.

I was surprised they allowed it to go on so long.

MeMock · 8th August 2005, 19:51

My goodness, I actually agree with Patrick on something.

Marmite the Dog · 8th August 2005, 22:09

Shamefully, so do I

khai Toun · 8th August 2005, 23:26

MeMock, DJ Pat and Marmite the Dog -

You obviously didn't see the worth in a feature that brought to the general publics attention: corruption - nepotism - police ineptitude and the ludicrousness of some aspects of Thai society, amongst other things.

In my opinion, the crass antics of politicians etc. in their self-serving antics of self-enrichment needed ridiculing and sending-up - and by all accounts - Phil McDonald - the editor of Farang Affairs - did an exemplary job of that.

Farang Affairs was one of the few channels existing, in the English language press here, that high-lighted the absurdities and silliness of life here in Thailand.

Didn't notice much criticism before of Farang Affairs from you all!

But, as usual, there are always people only too willing to put the boot in - when "one" is down!

Here's to more copy from the foreign news agencies - whose features filled the Farang Affairs page today and a lot of other pages - he says sarcastically....

Marmite the Dog · 8th August 2005, 23:40

I didn't like the way that much of it was centered around Nana & Cowboy, as if those places are the centre of the western community in Bangkok, that's all. I think he would have been more respected had he not focused on those areas so much. I will admit to only reading the first few editions before I got bored of them, so if my comment about the go-go bar areas is off the mark, that's why.

cortezcortez · 9th August 2005, 05:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog

I didn't like the way that much of it was centered around Nana & Cowboy, as if those places are the centre of the western community in Bangkok, that's all. I think he would have been more respected had he not focused on those areas so much. I will admit to only reading the first few editions before I got bored of them, so if my comment about the go-go bar areas is off the mark, that's why.

That was more the On the Tiles column though, marmers.

The Farang Affairs column had much better stuff, the last one ripped ten shades of sh.ite out of the Bangkok Post's garbage new Guru supplement, for example, as well as asking the usual questions about where tsunami aid was going and why so many falangs keep bungee jumping out from Pattaya condos without their proper bungee rigs.

The Nation is now majority owned by the family of the ex-Transport minister, Suriya, he of the scanner debacle. They hadn't supposedly exerted any influence on the paper, up until now perhaps. Maybe the last pisstake on Thaksin was just one too many? Satan knows the squalid little junta-face deserves it, though.

cheers

Cortez

) b e e r (

Marmite the Dog · 9th August 2005, 09:52

Maybe Mr McDonald should expand his writings into a low budget 'Private Eye' type publication, sold alongside other expat publications? Just a thought.