THE WEEK AHEAD
MONDAY
The Supreme Court will try again to read the final verdict in the trial of the murder of environmentalist Charoen Wat-aksorn in 2004, in Prachuap Khiri Khan’s Bo Nok district. His murder was the result of his opposition to plans to build coal-fired power plants, and the prosecutor accused two alleged masterminds who supported the plants, and two others accused of being the gunmen. Bananas are king. For this week and next, at least. In Kamphaeng Phet, at least. At the site of the Thai Kluay Khai festival, at least. The Criminal Court will begin hearing the army’s defamation suit against Thaksin Shinawatra. The suit claims to defend the honour of the Privy Council, whose members — Thaksin alleged in a May 22 interview in Seoul — supported the May 22 coup that brought down his sister’s government. If the army wins, Thaksin will still be in Dubai and the people who believed him will still believe him, plus many more, attracted by the publicity.
TUESDAY
Nobelmania ends this afternoon for another year, with the award of the Economics Prize. Only six months after the EU’s yellowcard warning, the government’s new Command Centre for Combating Illegal Fishing will proudly present the sum of its work to the cabinet today, and what a title the document has: National Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing. The Europeans are certain to be extremely impressed. Get your noodle-loving, tofu-stuffing, meatless-craving appetite honed, because it’s Vegetarian Festival time again. The FDA warns, however, that the veggie dishes have meat and the raw veggies and fruit have insecticide, so caveat emptor and just enjoy. Thailand play at Vietnam this evening in the continuing saga of the group of death to qualify for football’s World Cup 2018 in Russia.
WEDNESDAY
You can watch the Dowager Empress of Chappaqua battle America’s only socialist member of the national legislature this morning, in the first “debate” of the US Democratic Party’s presidential candidate countdown. It will be live from Las Vegas at 8am. The likely eventual winner, Joe Biden, won’t participate. It’s the final day for the government to capitulate — if you believe the taunts of the Hit-F5 movement. They claimed last week that unless the government publicly abandons plans for a single-gateway internet, it will be back to the keyboards to halt more government websites. Today is also the 42nd anniversary of the most-remembered Thai revolution, when young protesters brought down the Terrible Trio. Hit-and-run support protests are likely; chances for bigger demonstrations against the military regime are not zero.
THURSDAY
Your gasoline/diesel/gas bill goes up infinitesimally today. For the privilege of being allowed to transport yourself on two wheels, or three, or four or more, you will pay a “local development tax” of five
satang per litre. It’s possible politicians will keep their promises to funnel the full tax receipt into road/traffic improvements, but see under Politics: Promises Broken. It’s back to the Bangkok Southern Criminal Court today for another attempt to read the verdict in the prosecution of former massage king Chuvit Kamolvisit, who allegedly paid black-clad goons to claim back, with extreme prejudice, a large plot of land at the corner of Sukhumvit Soi 10, almost 13 years ago.
FRIDAY
It’s the first lottery under the “allocated tickets” madness, and it’s not clear if the drawing will be calm or chaotic. Today is World Food Day, and many people say that if you send enough tweets and #WatchHungerStop hashtags, it will end world hunger, because of you. Britain will hold a “steel summit” today, chiefly to discuss the devastating bankruptcy of SSI, the Sahaviriya firm. Lion Air starts two-a-day budget flights between Bangkok and Nakhon Si Thammarat today. If you’re a fan, you already know that
is on tonight at The Hive, Sukhumvit 49. If not, and you’re doing nothing, go have a look, it’s a wild and an untamed thing.
Rocky Horror Picture Show
SATURDAY
The The second, three-day Manufacturing Myanmar exhibition begins today in Yangon. Organisers said “nearly 100 exhibitors” have signed up. It’s the last day to bid to host the 2018 International Weightlifting Federation World Championships. Phuket has already applied. Hotspur host Liverpool to begin the Premier League weekend at 6.45 with some excellent 9pm prospects — Chelsea-Villa, Man City-Bournemouth and Everton-Manchester United — before the day (and weekend) wraps up with Arsenal visiting Watford at 11.30pm.