Foreign Minister George Yeo blogs about leaving the ASEAN Summit.

As our convoy travelled from Pattaya to U-Tapao Airforce Base at about 4pm on Saturday for our flight home , it was as if nothing had happened. Apart from litter outside the hotel, there was not a red shirt in sight. Everywhere there were signboards welcoming leaders from ASEAN and the wider region with their national flags fluttering in the wind.

But in fact huge damage had been done to ASEAN and to Thailand. For the second time, an ASEAN Summit had to be postponed because of demonstrations. This time leaders were already in Pattaya or arriving. Except for Indonesian President SBY who arrived late and could not leave U-Tapao, the other ASEAN leaders were staying at the Royal Cliff Beach Resort. The leaders of China, Japan and Korea were at the Dusit Thani unable to join us at the conference centre. Australia's PM Rudd was in the air and flew back. The NZ PM was probably in Bangkok. UNSG Ban Ki-moon stayed on in Vientiene. Others like the heads of the World Bank, IMF, UNCTAD and ADB also had their travel plans disrupted.

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SEAArch said:

it’s alarming to learn that such pieces of Angkor Wat were on eBay for sale. It’s also interesting to note that the seller is based in Thailand and the goods are in Singapore - the two countries in SEA which have not been signatory to the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property.

Recommended by Anonymous Coward: "Part of a larger picture, especially the part about Singapore not being a signatory to the 1970 UNESCO Convention. Singapore is notorious as a hub for the trade in looted and smuggled antiquities, and a number of antique stores in Singapore carry sell artefacts from Cambodia which have been exported illegally."

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Calvin Yang said:

Nokia N93i "You Make It Reel" is an Asia Pacific-wide competition that's designed to pair the Nokia N93i multimedia computer... It is my joy and honour to inform you that Gavin Lim, Singapore's very own "You Make It Reel" finalist, came up tops among entries from countries like Thailand, Malaysia and India.

Recommended by alvinism: "Support local indie music scene and videographers. :) Gavin Lim did Singapore proud."

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The Bangkok Post said:

About 500 people gathered in front of an airbase in the northeastern province of Udon Thani Friday morning calling for the withdrawal of Singaporean troops who have been using the former American-built airbase for training.

The protesters who claimed to represent people from 19 northeastern provinces at first converged at Thung Sri Muang field in the municipal area before moving toward the airbase where they submitted a demand to the base commander demanding that the government review the bilateral agreement allowing Singapore's air force to use the airbase for training. The protesters later dispersed.

Recommended by Anonymous Coward: "Singapore-Thai relations continue to go down the toilet. "

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The Economist has an article that talks about Singapore, "the rich little place that the others love to hate".

Despite 40 years of expressing fraternal warmth at meetings of the Association of South-East Asian Nations, the region's leaders never miss an opportunity to pick a fight with Singapore.

Cheng Ding An said:

“The atmosphere was amazing in Bangkok. Security guards sat on my right and back, pouring me with both opposing yet protective glances. For all due respect to their great country, the Thai people kept quiet when the Singapore National Anthem played. And for the first time in a long time, I sang the National Anthem with a renewed vigor I had not known, since I accidentally ordered Teh Aliah instead of Teh C. And when AMRI scored, I forgot where my stomach went and cheered as loudly as the few of us could possibly cheer! A few lions against 35, 000 fans in the stadium. Captain Aide Iskandar later exclaimed that they could hear us despite our small numbers…”

Recommended by alvinism: "Support the Singapore Lions! :) Fan video made by a true blue Singaporean."

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Perspective Unlimited said:

The botched capital control clearly harmed confidence. Investigation into the Bangkok bombing is increasingly befuddled. The coup is already 4 months old but a return to normal politics still seems so far away. The military installed government therefore has huge incentive to direct attention towards a foreign bogeyman rather than examine the multiple failures of their institutions.

Recommended by Anonymous Coward: "An incisive analysis of the Thai military government's actions."

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Yawning Bread said:

... he passed himself off as a very influential person, "the personal secretary" to the prince and someone "assigned to take care of royal properties". And Temasek Holdings fell for it? Did they not do background checks before going public about his appointment as corporate advisor?

Recommended by Anonymous Coward: "Temasek just sinks deeper and deeper..."

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Oikono said:

Although the Thai government would gain popularity from sacking Temasek’s assets in Thailand, it is likely to face opprobrium from the international business community. Joseph believes Temasek will receive many Americus briefs (filings to support Temasek’s case from concerned third parties) and even support from the American Chamber of Commerce. Businessmen will see this as an unjustified appropriation of private property.

Recommended by Anonymous Coward: "A distingushed international lawyer and personal friend of Thaksin outlines what Thaksin might do next and what outcome Temasek's property faces"

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The Nation said:

The statement was conspicuous, and its timing even more so. Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Friday described Thailand's military coup as "a setback" for the Kingdom and its democracy. This was a rare bold remark from an Asean leader on a country in the region. It came one day after Singapore's investment arm, Temasek Holdings, sank deeper into the Thai political quagmire following the Supreme Administrative Court's decision to accept a case against its controversial takeover of Thaksin Shinawatra's Shin Corporation. The court's move and Lee's strong comment have come at a time when bilateral relations are facing perhaps the most difficult time in modern history. ... The deal brought Thailand to this tough point - a "setback" if you will. One thing Lee should acknowledge is that this "setback" was the result of Thai people clamouring for clean, transparent and accountable politics. The deal has also brought Thai-Singapore relations to this very delicate crossroads. Perhaps some soul-searching is needed. The intertwining of business, political and diplomatic interests is understandable. But investment is not the only way to show goodwill.

Understanding business risks is no exact science. Truly understanding your neighbour is much more complicated. We have found it difficult to understand Singapore's "democracy", but we have tried. Perhaps it's time Singapore returned the favour, starting with Lee.

Recommended by Anonymous Coward: "View from Thailand. "

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NY Times said:

Among the many measures of a successful foreign investment, helping to set off a coup d’état is definitely not one of them.

In hindsight, the $1.9 billion purchase of a controlling stake in Thailand’s dominant telecommunications conglomerate early this year by a group led by the Singapore government’s investment arm, Temasek Holdings, was less than ideal, analysts and people close to the deal say.

Buying the company, called Shin, provoked nationalist outrage in Thailand. Buying it from the family of a prime minister widely accused of corruption, moreover, touched off extensive street protests that culminated on Sept. 19 in the military ouster of Thaksin Shinawatra as the Thai leader.

Recommended by Anonymous Coward: "New York Times on Temasek's Shin Corp deal. "

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Temasek has made another investment blunder again for Shin Corp. This time, one of the entity under Shin Corp, ITV has been fined by the authorities for 3.1 billion SGD for unauthorised programme changes. It is interesting to know that Temasek bought over the shares of Shin Corp fully aware of ITV risks which already had this problem since last year. It will be interesting to see if Temasek write off this investment or to pump in more money to rescue it from bankruptcy.

More of my contributing tax (and yours) is now in a bottomless pit. To think that they do not allow us to critiscise when constructive comments. So, if they made one big boo-boo, can we comment?

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BBC News (by way of sg_ljers) reported ...

Thousands of people have marched on the Singaporean embassy in Bangkok in the latest of a series of protests aimed at ousting the Thai prime minister.

Recommended by yuhui: "This was apparently unreported by local media, but Singaporeans need to know."

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Boston Globe said:

Protesters burned posters of Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong outside the city state's Bangkok embassy on Friday as a campaign to oust his Thai counterpart, Thaksin Shinawatra, took a nationalist twist.

Waving placards saying "Thailand Not for Sale, Get Out," several hundred protesters urged a boycott of all things Singaporean in answer to the takeover of telecoms giant Shin Corp by its state investment arm, Temasek, from Thaksin's family.

"If Singaporeans faced the same situation as we do now, we believe Singaporeans would also rise up to do what we are doing," said Somsak Kosaisuk, a key member of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), which is trying to kick Thaksin from office.

They also torched models of Singapore Airlines planes, its "merlion" national mascot and pictures of Lee's wife, Ho Ching, the Temasek boss.

Recommended by Anonymous Coward: "Thailand strikes back against Singapore."

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The Nation said:

Members of the People's Alliance for Democracy rallied in front of the Singaporean Embassy in Bangkok yesterday, demanding that Temasek Holdings pull out of the Shin Corp takeover deal or face a boycott of all Shin products and services.

Holding banners that read "Temasek, Get Out!" and "Thai-land's Not For Sale", about 50 activists shouted "Temasek, Get Out!" during the 20-minute pro-test in the early afternoon.

Recommended by Anonymous Coward: "Temasek Holdings under fire in Bangkok."

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themediaslut said:

When the protestors heard the “live” report, they started to lynch the ITV reporters at the stadium. Smartbrain added police escorts were needed to bring the ITV reporters out of the stadium.

Recommended by Anonymous Coward: "Singapore-based "themediaslut" is currently photoblogging the protests that are going on in Bangkok right now in real-time. I've not seen this on the CNA website and it's really a cool showcase of inter-country blogging by a few bloggers just kicking the ass out of old media."

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Recent Runes said:

Around 20 years ago, this place was considered "death-row". Shops would open and close within 3-6 months. The Charcoal Grill, Bee Choon Hiang and the Teochew Porridge shop were the only bastions of culinary survival in this strip of car repair shops and dentists.

Recommended by Anonymous Coward: "Nostalgic look at how a small restaurant changed the landscape of Beauty World."

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Simonworld said:

Breathtaking stuff. But who can argue with economic interdependence being the best way forward for ASEAN? It particularly crucial for Singapore, which must define for itself the hinterland in which it will be the paramount provider of capital and services, and indeed, its identity for the 21st century (especially in the face of the China opportunity/threat).

Recommended by preetamrai: "Singapore's Temasek holidngs to take over Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's family's entire 49.6% stake of Shin Corp. "

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Samantha Brown said:

If Changi is a hunky spunky brainy guy wearing a tux waiting to take you to town in a limo, Don Muang is but a festy old bloke with a really big beer belly who might take you to Patpong for a drink if you're lucky. Changi's a winner.

Recommended by popagandhi: "Samantha Brown, an Australian editor based in Bangkok and Phnom Penh, has an excellent piece on Singapore."

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Siyang said:

It was my first time at any fight and I didn't know what to expect. The entrance fee was 20dollars and the crowd was building up at 6pm. The place smelled of deep heat muscle rub and the setup looked "underground", darkened walls, light bulbs strung up above the boxing ring.

Singapore (blue) vs Holland (red) - Holland delivers a nasty blow to his face

Blood, sweat and...

Recommended by thesingaporeidler: "Thai kickboxing in Singapore?"

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