Thailand’s street food scene in danger of being swept off the sidewalk
Originally aired on Channel NewsAsia on April 23, 2018
As part of a series this month looking at the street food culture that characterizes so much of ASEAN's diversity, this week we go Thailand’s capital Bangkok, where street food there is popular with locals as well as with tourists from around the world. But is there a threat of street food being wiped off the sidewalks, as announced by authorities last year? And what could this mean for the vendors and their patrons?
TRANSCRIPT
It’s evening in Bangkok and people are leaving work.
That’s when many streets of the Thai capital come alive, with vendors pulling out tables and chairs, and hungry folks waiting for a meal.
Street food in ubiquitous in Bangkok and elsewhere in Thailand, and it's hard to imagine the country without it.
"TUK"; Street Food Vendor:
"We Thais eat all the time around the clock, especially little snacks here and there. Personally, when I see a market or somewhere with a lot of shops, I literally run to there because of its diversity [of food] and our way of life that we grew up with."
Over 8 million stalls, carts, stands and hole-in-the-walls serve meals for relatively cheap almost anywhere, at almost any time of the day and night, to everybody -- whether it's an office worker on a lunch break, or a construction worker after a long night shift.
But not everybody likes the sidewalk eateries taking up the pavement day in, day out.
SAKSITH SAIYASOMBUT; Bangkok, Thailand:
"Last year, Bangkok city officials have shocked foodies here in the city and from abroad alike by announcing a ban on all street food vendors. After some considerable public backlash, the officials have backpedalled - OF COURSE it has all been a misunderstanding. They say they wanted to rein in on all this chaos that makes this city so charming in the first place. But what has happened ever since then?"
While the city wants to preserve some spots popular with tourists like in Chinatown and the backpacker district of Khao San Road, vendors in other parts of Bangkok will have to move somewhere else eventually.
And that could have a severe impact on their businesses - and their very livelihoods.
NARUMOL NIRATHORN; Associate Professor, Faculty of Social Administration, Thammasat University:
"And then [the authorities] tell [the vendors] to sell at a new place for them, and the are concerned whether or not they can sell anything there. And we have found such cases during our research last year, where they say that the costs have risen at the new place and thus reduces their earnings."
According to studies, women and older people are especially at risk from forced relocations from the busy main roads to quieter places, as in most cases they would lose their only source of income.
Critics say that the blanket ban by the city officials, fails to take the specific conditions and needs on the ground into account.
NARUMOL NIRATHORN; Associate Professor, Faculty of Social Administration, Thammasat University:
"In order to effectively manage this, you need to do field research, you really need to know who’s selling there, what the community thinks of them - thus each area needs to be handled differently."
Authorities have not set a definite timeline for these relocations.
For now, the street food vendors will continue to sell on the sidewalks as they have done for decades - but it is uncertain whether city planners still have an appetite to include them in Bangkok's future.
Pheu Thai Party holds pre-Songkran meeting
Originally aired on Channel NewsAsia on April 4, 2018
The Pheu Thai Party is holding its pre-Songkran meeting, calling for all its members to re-register this year in the runup of democratic elections. But while this is the first time political parties can assemble again, they still can't do everything.
TRANSCRIPT
This meeting signals the slow, the very slow thawing of political activity since the military coup of 2014 that has sidelined the political parties.
Before the coup this would have been a usual Thai New Year’s reception by the party, and they did hold a Songkran ceremony blessing their most senior members, like it is tradition in any Thai family or company.
but since the beginning of this month the military government has allowed the existing political parties to re-register their members as preparations for democratic elections are slowly, very slowly underway.
However, any activity beyond that, such as party meetings or even campaigning is still not allowed by the military government. That is something that is hampering all political parties and that is something they want to get changed ASAP.
PHUMTHAM WECHYACHAI; Secretary-General, Pheu Thai Party:
“The most important thing would be if the [restriction] orders are revoked, there’s no reason to keep them. There are many things in [NCPO] order no. 53 that is contradicting itself and that are problematic. They may have fully stated their case and interpretations about that, but the problem still is that there’s no reason to uphold, not to revoke order no. 53”
Earlier this week, Thai PM Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha has indicated that he would adjust some of the restrictions but would still not lift them entirely until further notice.
Democratic elections have been repeatedly delayed since 2014. The latest date is set for no later than February 2019 - and by that time they’d be in power longer than most elected government in recent Thai history.
Thai police shows off 'largest drug haul'
Originally aired on Channel NewsAsia on April 3, 2018
My latest report Channel NewsAsia: The Thai police shows off what it claims to be the 'largest ever' drug busts with 1.7 million yaba (methamphetamine) pills, 703kg of ice, 1,380kg of cannabis and 671 grams of cocaine. I explain the significance and what it means for Thailand's ongoing fight against drug trafficking.
Subtitles for POL.-GEN. CHAKTHIP CHAIJINDA; Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police:
"If you’re asking me whether or nots our efforts are brining in results, then I tell you we’re doing our fullest. We wouldn’t be able to catch this much if we wouldn’t. But we can’t tell how much is being produced in the neighboring countries and their capabilities."
Largest eSports event takes places in booming Thailand
Originally aired on Channel NewsAsia on March 31, 2018
eSports is big and Thailand is one of the biggest countries in Southeast Asia riding the wave. So much so that the Sports Authority of Thailand has officially endorsed as a sport. Here's my report about the national scene and what the next steps are in order to grow further.
Thank you to Garena Thailand for the access. Special thanks to my team Kittiphum Earthling and Theerapong Puengsook for their help. Transcript below as usual.
TRANSCRIPT
The stage is set. The competitors are ready. The battlefield is heating up.
What looks like a colorful flurry is a highly strategic bout of Realm of Valor or ROV- a popular Multiplayer Online Battle Arena video game, where teams of five players face off for points and wins, like a high-speed game of chess.
This is one of many games and competitions at the 6th edition of Garena World.
And there's good reason for the organizers to keep coming back to Bangkok.
FORREST LI; Group CEO Sea:
"Definitely I’d say Thailand is probably leading on the frontline. Here [you have] a very strong gaming culture. So it’s like mainstream. And this is a… Thailand is very good consumer market, so a lot of advertisers really have an eye on it. And they know that from the advertisement that the return of investment is pretty good here."
eSports has seen a rapid growth not only in gamers, but also draws in tens of millions of viewers worldwide, making it an emerging industry with an estimated annual revenue of almost $700 million.
SAKSITH SAIYASOMBUT; Bangkok, Thailand:
"Just like video games themselves have redefined entertainment over the last few decades, esports has done the same for competitive sports. Just look around: the hardware, the huge stages, the prize money, the trophies - it’s all very impressive! But what are the next steps for esports to grow?"
Its rapid development has not gone unnoticed by the governing bodies of traditional sports: it has been a demonstration sport at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games and also later this year the Asian Games in Jakarta.
It will even become a medal event at the 2022 Asian Games.
Just last December, Thailand's national sports authority endorsed it as an official sport.
While there is already a high number of weekly competitions, some say now is the time to raise the professionalism of the sport, in areas such as regulation and standardised rules on conduct, pay, and player welfare.
SANTI LOTHONG; President, Thailand E-Sports Federation:
"Some Thais might think that getting prize money is already the biggest of achievements. But we’re still far from excellence. We have to change their attitude to show that greatness is not what their current state is. Being world class level is much bigger than one imagines and requires a lot of care. That’s what we need to teach them."
And established teams like Mineski Infinity Thailand, an offshoot of one of the most successful teams from the Philippines, can lead the way in that process.
Its co-owner says that unlike traditional sports, the barriers to entry in eSports are lower.
KAMPOL SUDAYUWORN; Project Manager, Mineski Thailand:
"I believe that everyone can become a pro player. Because the good thing about esport is that it doesn’t matter if you’re fat, skinny, black, short or tall - it doesn’t matter. If you’re handicapped you can also play esports. They are no boundaries. It all comes down to your readiness, your passion"
No matter what game is being played or on what platform, there’s no question that eSports is here to stay.
But if it's to have an even brighter future, it needs to raise its game.
Saksith Saiyasombut, Channel NewsAsia, Bangkok