Bangkok

Facemasks on sacred statues gets BKK photographer into hot water

Published

4 months ago

February 5, 2019

The Thaiger & The Nation

Facemasks on sacred statues gets BKK photographer into hot water | The Thaiger

PHOTOS: Facebook/Chub Nokkaew

Thai photographer Chub Nokkaew is in trouble for defacing Wat Arun’s iconic statues with face masks.

Well, not quite…

But the retouched photos were done so skilfully it almost resulted in him facing a criminal charge. He was merely using the retouched pics to make a point about Bangkok’s recent air pollution woes.

The artwork has received criticism on Thai social media and even the temple officials initially thought the images had been made by someone scaling the conserved statues for a photo shoot without permission.

But Chub explained that the images had been digitally doctored in order to raise Thai public awareness about air pollution in Greater Bangkok and apologised to the temple’s monks, the drama ended, much to the relief of all concerned.

Chub is the founder of Chubcheevit studio and a two-time Cannes Lions award-winning photographer.

Bangkok Yai precinct superintendent Pol Colonel Jarupat Thongkomol confirmed that the case had been closed following the photographer’s explanation and apology to the temple, and the photographer was deemed to have had neither the intention to insult nor cause damage.

A Facebook post by Chub confirmed that he was not facing any prosecution, as the case against him stemmed from a misunderstanding, which he had already clarified to Wat Arun monks and the police.

The photographer also quoted one monk as saying in their recent meeting that the monks thought the temple security guards had allowed others to put the face masks on statues for his photo shoot.

Facemasks on sacred statues gets BKK photographer into hot water | News by The Thaiger

Facebook/Chub Nokkaew

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Bangkok

IKEA Thailand launches full online store

Published

15 hours ago

May 24, 2019

The Thaiger & The Nation

“…it took IKEA about two years to study the market demand, develop the infrastructure, and prepare everything before launching their e-commerce service in Southeast Asia.”

by Kwanchai Rungfapairsarn

IKEA Thailand has announced the official launch of its IKEA Online Store as it gets set to better provide for individual customers across the Kingdom.

IKEA Thailand say the seamless online shopping experience will offer the same journey and impression customers get when they visit a physical IKEA store.

“We see the potential – it is a potential in Thailand for IKEA. We have only been accessible within Bangkok so far, and now we will be accessible for people from across the country,” Lacia Sherlock, the deputy retail manager for Thailand, Singapore and the Philippines, said.

“The delivery prices need to be affordable and all the services need to be accessible for consumers living outside of Bangkok, so that they are able to get the assembly or whatever they need.”

IKEA has developed the full e-commerce platform for modern shoppers providing a convenient channel to access it products and inspirations, 24 hours a day and from anywhere in Thailand.

Sherlock said it took IKEA about two years to study the market demand, develop the infrastructure, and prepare everything before launching their e-commerce service in Southeast Asia.

“We aim to provide an impressive online shopping experience similar to the shopping experience customers get when visiting our physical stores. The online store has been available in Singapore and Malaysia within Southeast Asia.”

“We are pleased to now be able to provide this access to Thais. We have been wanting to do this for a long time, along with providing them with a superior experience and inspiration through both of our two Bangkok stores,” said Sherlock.

IEA soft-launched its e-commerce service in Thailand on March 26 in order to test the system and procedures and ensure they were fully functional before yesterday’s official launch.

“We are looking at achieving 17,000 online orders this year. We believe that the IKEA Online Store will help strengthen IKEA Thailand and drive sustainable growth, as our popular in-store shopping experience is complemented by our new online offering.”

IKEA Thailand launches full online store | News by The Thaiger

PHOTO: The Nation

Bangkok

Thanathorn is able to attend this afternoon’s opening of Parliament

Published

16 hours ago

May 24, 2019

The Thaiger

PHOTO: Future Forward party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, heading to the opening of Parliament today?

Future Forward party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit has been told he can attend the opening of parliament today by His Majesty the King in the conference hall of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

But the 41 year old leader of Future Forward is yet to confirm his attendance after being told yesterday he would not be able to be part of the opening proceedings.

Sorasak Pienwech, the secretary-general of the House of Representatives, says his office is yet to receive a formal order from the Constitutional Court temporarily suspending Thanathorn’s parliamentary membership so, as far as they’re concerned, he is still a member of parliament and is permitted to attend today’s opening at 3pm.

The Constitutional Court voted 8:1 yesterday to suspend Thanathorn’s parliamentary membership after it unanimously voted to accept the Election Commission’s media share ownership case against him.

As for the meeting of MPs tomorrow, in the conference hall of TOT Company on Chaengwattana road, he said Thanathorn can attend because he has not yet taken an oath as constitutionally mandated.

After the oath-taking ceremony, however, he will have to stop performing his duties as an MP and will have to leave the meeting, according to Mr. Sorasak.

Informed sources said that Mr. Pornpektch Wichitcholachai, former president of the junta-appointed National Legislative Assembly, will be nominated as the only candidate and he is likely to be elected the Senate speaker because of his close connection with the junta, especially Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.

SOURCE: Thai PBS

Bangkok

Vendors shuffled off Bangkok footpaths to make way for motorbikes

Published

22 hours ago

May 24, 2019

The Thaiger

PHOTO: Daily News

Motorcyclists are brazenly flouting the law after a recent picture on the Facebook site of JS 100 Radio showed a ‘traffic jam’ on the footpath at Lat Prao Soi 101 in Bangkok.

Pedestrians were unable to get through as the motorcycles crowded the walkways, according to the post.

Daily News was slamming the riders for their behaviour. Comments responding to the pictures saying that vendors had been cleared from the capital’s sidewalks only for motorcycles to increasingly take over and bring more headaches to pedestrians.

Some even complained about police seen riding on the sidewalks of Bangkok as well as going the wrong way against traffic.

Vendors shuffled off Bangkok footpaths to make way for motorbikes | News by The Thaiger