The fifth installment of our 10-part series describing newsworthy ​events in Thailand over the past 50 years begins with the year 1987. The September issue covered 1982-1986.

1987 is the year CentralPlaza Chiang Mai Airport. Also known as Central Airport Plaza (established as Tantraphan Airport Plaza) was inaugurated, as were Kasem Bundit University in Bangkok and Mitsubushi Motors (Thailand). The Phuket King’s Cup Regatta was initiated to celebrate the 60th birthday of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej and continues to this day as a major event in the boating world. Also founded were Phayathai 2 private hospital, Raimon Land PCL real estate developers and TPI Polene PCL, a large manufacturer of cement and petrochemicals. Foreigners with HIV were banned from entering Thailand and several national parks were established including Namtok Chat Trakan in Phitsanulok province, Khao Laem in Kanchanaburi, Mae Wong in Nakhon Sawan and Kamphaeng provinces, Phu Chong-Na Yoi in Ubon Ratchathani and Phu Toei in Suphan Buri. 

January
• ‘Visit Thailand Year’ was kicked off by an elaborate parade in a campaign to position the country as a top international tourist destination. Bangkok Governor Chamlong Srimuang issued a ban against all street vendors in the city, leading to a vendors’ protest outside Government House. Simultaneously the commissioner of the Bangkok Metropolitan Association (BMA) police force told his officers they could arrest sidewalk vendors who were obstructing pedestrian traffic. 

• About a half million devoted Buddhists came from all over the country to the cremation ceremony of Luang Poo Waen Sujinno held at Wat Doi Mae Pang in Chiang Mai. He was one of the most revered monks in Thailand. About 10,000 Buddhist monks also attended the nationally televised ceremony presided over by the King and Queen. The monk passed away on July 2, 1985. 

• One of the first refugee camps for Cambodian refugees in Thailand, Khao-I- Dang, located about 20 kms from Aranyaprathet, was closed as the Thai government started preparations to start repatriation of hundreds of thousands of Cambodians who had crossed over the border in the previous decade. The refugees at Khao-I-Dang were transferred to temporary camps before being sent to Cambodia. ​

The third installment of our 10-part series describing some important events in Thailand over the past 50 years begins with the year 1977. The March issue covered 1972-1976.        
​By Maxmilian Wechsler             

1977 was the year Thai News Agency and Chiang Mai zoo were established; the JEATH (Japanese, English, Australian, American, Thai and Holland) War Museum was opened in Kanchanaburi as a permanent reminder of the horrors of the Death Railway built by Allied POWs in 1942 and 1943; and Phayao became a province after separating from Chiang Rai province.  

January
• A plan was announced offering foreigners incentives to bring money into Thailand. Speaking at Dusit Thani Hotel before a large crowd of members of various chambers of commerce and diplomats, Prime Minister Thanin Kravixien said: “There has been a lot of delay and inefficiency in our administration and this has spoiled the investment climate.” The incentives included income tax exemptions up to five years, a 90% reduction in business taxes up to 10 years and tax exemptions on imported machinery and raw materials. The government also guaranteed that no foreign owned businesses would be nationalized.

February
• The operation license of Air Siam was revoked after the airline was found to have repeatedly violated conditions in the permit. The Ministry of Communications announced that the Civil Aviation Board had studied the issue very carefully and took into consideration the national economy, foreign relations, the country’s reputation and public safety before making the decision. Air Siam was established in 1965 under the name Varan Air-Siam by Prince Varananda Dhavaj. Air Siam declared bankruptcy in 1976 and Thai Airways International took over the airline’s debt and remaining fleet. 

• M.C. Princess Vibhavadi Rangsit, 56, Private Secretary to Her Majesty the Queen, was fatally wounded while flying in an army helicopter over communist infested Wiang Sa district of Surat Thani province. She was on the way to deliver supplies to the Border Patrol Police (BPP) on behalf of the royal family. While in flight a broadcast came over the helicopter radio which said two BPP officers had been wounded by a landmine. The Princess ordered the flight to be diverted to pick up the wounded men. The chopper took heavy ground fire as it flew at a low altitude and the Princess was hit and gravely wounded. The helicopter was also hit and forced to make an emergency landing at the Wat Bong Son school, where the Princess was transferred to another chopper. She died en route to Surat Thani provincial hospital. ​

March
• Interior Minister Samak Sundaravej escaped assassination after a group of assailants fired 
three M72 rockets at his Mercedes, two of which exploded. Gunfire from automatic rifles riddled the interior of the Mercedes, which was transporting the interior minister from the Channel 8 studios at night. The attack occurred about 100 metres from the TV station. Two people were arrested shortly after the attack but were released after police determined they weren’t involved. The involvement of communist insurgents was also ruled out and police focused the ensuing investigation on political motives. 

• General Chalard Hiranyasiri and about 300 soldiers attached to the 9th Army Division, reportedly dressed as monks, staged a short-lived coup. They seized Internal Security Operation Command (ISOC) headquarters at Suan Ruen, Radio Thailand and three military installations in Bangkok. Chalard installed a revolutionary council from Suan Ruen and broadcast an announcement ordering all battalion and division commanders in Thailand to join in the coup. 

• However, top military commanders loyal to the government led by Defence Minister Admiral Sangad Chaloryu aired their own broadcast on TV Channel 5 urging the public not to listen to the rebels and assured the nation that the government had not been overthrown. Sangad then surrounded Suan Ruen with tanks and troops and the rebels surrendered. Chalard tried to escape on a scheduled flight to Taiwan but China Airlines pilots refused to take off. Chalard was arrested and executed by firing squad for staging the coup and also for the death of Major General Aroon Thawathasin, commander of the First Army Region who was shot after he refused to surrender.

April
• PM Thanin, wielding absolute power provided by Article 21 of the provisional coup-installed constitution, ordered dissolution of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and the Bangkok Metropolitan Assembly, thus ending long-standing conflicts between the two elected bodies.

June
•   Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) was dissolved. SEATO was founded in February 1955 with its headquarters in Bangkok and had eight member nations: Australia, France, New Zealand, Pakistan (withdrew in 1973), Philippines, Thailand, United Kingdom and United States. Its stated purpose was to prevent the spread of communism in the region. 

August
• Heavily armed Khmer Rouge forces assisted by Thai insurgents trained by the Khmer-backed Angka Siam (Siam Organization) raided three Thai villages in Ta Phraya district of Prachinburi province, just inside the Thai border. The intruders killed 29 Thai citizens ‒ five women, 14 children, one BPP sergeant and nine militiamen who fought with a small BPP unit based in the area. The three villages were torched by the attackers and many buildings, including a field hospital, were destroyed.

September
• Several people were injured after a bomb exploded near a royal ceremony presided over by King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit, who together with Princess Sirindhorn and Princess Chulabhorn were handing out awards to principals of Muslim pondok schools. No royals were harmed, but according to newspaper accounts almost 50 people were injured. The ceremony, which continued without interruption, was held at Elephant Pavilion in Yala’s Muang district and was attended by about 10,000 people.

• Charges ranging from murder to treason were lodged against 18 former students and other activists arrested during the crackdown at Thammasat University on October 6, 1976. The 18 were ordered before a military tribunal on charges of communist activities, treason, rioting, resisting arrest, murder and illegal possession of firearms. Six were charged with lése-majesté. One of those charged was secretary-general of the former National Student Centre of Thailand Sutham Saengprathum.

November
• General Kriangsak Chomanand, a professional soldier widely credited for defusing the long-running communist insurgency in northern Thailand, became the 15th Thai Prime Minister. He also held the position of interior minister.

December
• In an announcement made simultaneously in Bangkok and Hanoi, Thailand and Vietnam officially normalized relations. The two countries agreed to set up embassies in their respective capitals in January 1978. 

•   On the occasion of his 50th birthday, the King conferred the titles of ‘Somdej Phra’, the highest rank of prince or princess, and ‘Maha Chakri’, meaning the Great Chakri, on Princess Sirindhorn. The royal announcement was made at the Amarin Vinichai Throne Hall and followed a few weeks later by a ceremony held at Government House. ​​

1978 saw the founding of agro-giant conglomerate Charoen Pokphand Foods, as well as charitable foundations designed to help children and the blind. The Petroleum Authority of Thailand (now PTT Public Company Limited) was also established. Also making headlines in 1978 were the 8th Asian Games and a paramilitary force set up to fight communist guerrillas and drive them from their strongholds in the Northeast. The games were held without incident in Bangkok, with 4,000 athletes and officials participating. 

January
• Thailand and Vietnam signed an aviation pact as well as an agreement to foster economic and technical cooperation in a key step towards the normalization of relations. PM Kriangsak and Vietnamese Foreign Minister Nguyen Duy Trinh agreed to a speed up the exchange of ambassadors and HM the King granted an audience to Trinh.

• Laos released 15 Thai citizens who had been detained in the country and handed them to officials of the Thai embassy in Laos. Most of the detainees were former employees of the US embassy in Laos who had been arrested in 1975 on suspicion they were spying for the CIA.

February
• The government imposed a ban on the import of a number of ‘luxury goods’ in order to reduce the trade deficit. Included on the list of banned goods were foreign-assembled vehicles, leather goods, marble and porcelain and some food items. After the sudden announcement prices on the banned items immediately skyrocketed.

• Thailand and the Khmer Rouge under Pol Pot agreed to resume formal trade and exchange ambassadors. Thai Foreign Minister Upadit Pachariyangkun returned from a ‘fence-mending trip’ to Cambodia and said the two countries would ‘forget past misunderstanding and normalize relations’. The minister also said Khmer Rouge Foreign Minister Ieng Sary had accepted an invitation to visit Thailand.

• Two males and one female member of the Indian-based Ananda Marga sect were arrested in Bangkok on suspicion of planning to bomb the Australian embassy. It was believed that the action was designed to protest Australia’s ban on Ananda Marga members entering the country. Thai police found 1.25 kilograms of high-powered explosives, battery cells, fuses and ignition caps in possession of those arrested.

March
• Bangkok and other parts of Thailand were without electricity following an unexplained blackout that extended from Chiang Mai in the North to Hat Yai in the South. The power outage lasted up to nine hours in some places, disrupting communications and temporarily crippling Bangkok’s water system.  

August
• Thai immigration laws were relaxed to allow foreign tourists to stay longer. Under the new regulations visitors from most countries could stay up to 60 days upon arrival and could extend the initial visa for an additional 30 days. Previously tourists were only granted a 30-day visa on arrival.

November
• Senior Chinese Vice-president Deng Xiaoping made a five-day visit to Thailand. He was welcomed by thousands of Thai-Chinese when he arrived at Don Muang airport. On the first day of his stay, Deng attended the ordination of Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. Deng was the highest level Chinese official to visit Thailand since diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in 1975.

1979 is the year Assumption Samut Prakan School (formerly Assumption College Samrong) was opened as the newest campus of the private Catholic boys’ school run by the Brothers of Saint Gabriel in Thailand. Ron Fai Don Tri (Music Train) record label was founded and the Robinson Department Store chain opened. Former world super lightweight champion Saensak Muangsurin announced his retirement from boxing after a defeat in South Korea. 

January
• Lieutenant General Pin Thamasri, Fourth Army Region Commander, was made commander in charge of suppressing the outlawed Communist Party of Malaysia in the South of Thailand. General Prem Tinsulanonda said that the appointment of Pin would improve the military’s capability to crush the communist guerrillas in the area.  

• Thailand closed its border with Cambodia after Vietnamese forces toppled Pol Pot’s Khmer Rouge regime, triggering a mass exodus of refugees.

March
• Nai Lert, the oldest bus company in Thailand, closed down its remaining four routes after serving Bangkok passengers for 90 years.

• PM Kriangsak slashed duties on
foreign films from 30 baht to 15 baht per meter. The PM came to the conclusion that reducing the tax would bring more foreign films to Thailand and “help make Thai films better by making them aware of stiff competition.” At the same time, however, the PM announced a plan to impose a quota on foreign films in order to make local film producers happy.

• Communist guerrillas began surrendering to the Thai government in large numbers after suffering heavy casualties. According to the government, in the previous four months 231 guerrillas had been
killed and about 67
captured. Many guerrillas surrendered in the South after one of their top leaders, Chitr Chongchit, gave
himself up to the Royal Thai Army. In the Northeast the communists were seriously weakened because they could no longer count on support from the ousted Khmer Rouge regime. 

May
• A new computerized traffic-control system caused massive traffic jams throughout Bangkok when it began operations. The new system, installed at 48 capital junctions, had apparently been successful during testing. 

• About 600 homes on both sides of the Chao Phraya River were demolished and more than 300 trees along South Sathorn Road were cut down to prepare the way for Taksin Bridge. When residents asked why the trees couldn’t be moved elsewhere one official said there was no budget for it.    

June
• Bangkok was almost completely paralyzed after a heavy downpour on June 16. The heaviest rainfall in 25 years flooded shops and houses and brought traffic to a standstill. Sukhumvit Road was one of the hardest hit areas. 

August
• Fifty-one people were killed and 184 injured when a southbound freight train hit a city-bound passenger train at Taling Chan railway station west of Bangkok. 

September
• Illegal trade along the Thai-Cambodian border flourished as thousands of Thai merchants offered their goods to Khmer customers every day at three popular markets. Most of the goods were resold inside Cambodia.  

November
• Seven hundred soundproofed public phone booths were installed in Bangkok by the Telephone Organization of Thailand (TOT). TOT asked the people to protect the boxes against criminals who attempted to break open the equipment and steal coins.

1980 witnessed the birth of Bumrungrad International Hospital and Central Pattana, Thailand’s largest property development and investment company. It was also the year the Pizza Company was founded.

January
‘Thai Tourism Year’ was kicked off with a plan to ease visa restrictions on natives of Hong Kong, Taiwan and Malaysia.  Malaysian citizens holding border passes were given permission to travel 50  km into southern Thailand instead of the previous limit of 25 km. Hong Kong residents were required to put up a 20,000 baht guarantee when visiting Thailand.

February
•  PM Kriangsak resigned less than three years after he seized power to avoid a no-confidence vote brought on by the threat of mob violence over rising oil prices.  The resignation paved the way for RTA chief Prem Tinsulanonda to take the reins of power.

April
•  Thailand’s first labour court was launched by PM Prem. The Central Labour Court only had jurisdiction in and around Bangkok, but nonetheless gave hope to hundreds of thousands of workers facing unfair working conditions.  

• Forty of 48 people aboard an Avro 748 turboprop died after the plane nosedived and crashed in bad weather on a routine flight from Khon Kaen. The disaster occurred after the plane began its landing approach about 13 km north of Don Muang airport.

May
• The Thai Olympic Committee voted unanimously not to send athletes to the Moscow Olympics, saying the athletes were not up to standard. Thailand denied that the decision was related to US President Jimmy Carter’s call for a boycott of the Olympics to protest Soviet military intervention in Afghanistan.

June
• Interior Minister Prathuang Kiratibutr instructed immigration officers to deny entry to travelers who looked like ‘hippies’ According
to ministerial directives, anyone sporting a singlet, waistcoat and no vest, shorts worn in an ‘impolite manner’, slippers or silk trousers, or who had long, untidy hair and a ‘dirty looking’ appearance, was most likely a hippie and should be refused entry. 

• Suspected southern separatists staged a series of coordinated bomb attacks in Bangkok that injured about 40 people. Bombs rocked two railway stations, one bus terminal and one bus full of passengers. A fifth bomb planted at a cinema in Thonburi was found and defused by the bomb squad shortly before it was set to explode. The acronym PULO was inscribed on the bomb. Police reportedly received a warning from the southern separatist group before the attacks. PULO is an acronym for the southern separatist group the Pattani United Liberation Organization.

July
• The country’s first automatic direct-dialing long distance telephone service went into operation, allowing people in Bangkok and adjacent areas to call directly to provinces in the North without having to go through an operator.

August
• Fourteen people were injured when a hand grenade exploded in the Thonburi cinema where a bomb was defused in June. Another unexploded hand grenade found inside the cinema bore the PULO acronym. There was speculation, however, that the cinema had been targeted after the owner refused to bow to extortion demands.

September
Thai troops smashed a major stronghold of the CPT, killing 16 insurgents and capturing nine. Shortly after the camp was seized 136 communist guerrillas turned themselves over to the Thai military.

October
•  Seksan Prasertkul, a former student activist, left the jungle where he had spent years hiding out and surrendered to authorities in Uthai Thani province. Seksan was a leading figure in the October 14, 1973 student uprising that led to the overthrow of the Thanom-Praphas-Narong military regime. Seksan refused to betray his comrades by giving their location to the Thai authorities. He said his reasons for surrendering were ideological conflict with other communists, the ‘lack of democracy’ within the CPT and frequent conflicts with top people in the party.

• Major floods in Bangkok and upcountry prompted Deputy Prime Minister Boonchu Rojanastien to call for a long-term national flood prevention plan. Damage was estimated in the hundreds of millions of baht and schools were closed for over a month in Bangkok. Bangkok Governor Chaowas Sudlabha was criticized for failing to deliver on his promise to protect the city from flooding. 

November
• At least 24 people were killed and around 360 injured following explosions at an ammunitions  plant in Bang Sue district of Bangkok. The plant was operated by the RTA’s Ordinance Department and produced anti-tank rockets. Two rows of wooden shop houses near the plant were destroyed and it was reported that windows were shattered in houses eight km away. A mushroom-shaped cloud was seen from all over Bangkok. A military official called it the worst accident of its kind in Thai history. The cause of the explosions wasn’t clear, but sabotage wasn’t ruled out. 

• Siam Park City amusement and water park was opened in Khan Na Yao district of Bangkok. It was the largest entertainment venue of its kind in Southeast Asia. The 300-rai, 500-million baht park encompasses a huge pool with artificial waves and a 21-meter-high slide. 

December
•  Thai troops captured the CPT headquarters in the Northeast. The location was used to direct terrorist activities in 16 provinces for about 11 years. The Thai military also took over more than 50 CPT camps in Kalasin, Nakhon Phanom and Sakhon Nakhon provinces.

• Government urged Thai citizens not to marry refugees from Indochina, claiming it was a matter of national security. The Cabinet passed regulations requiring government employees who wedded refuges to regularly report to the authorities. Guidelines also instructed various government agencies to monitor their employees at border areas.

April 
•   Military officers led by General Sant Chitpatima, deputy commander-in-chief of the RTA staged a coup on the first day of the month, dubbed the ‘April Fool’s Coup’. PM Prem sought refuge at Second Army headquarters in Nakhon Ratchasima, where he was joined by the royal family, cabinet ministers and provincial governors. The bloodless coup was led by disgruntled mid-level army officers known as ‘Young Turks’. The coup failed as thousands of troops loyal to Prem entered Bangkok early in the morning on April 3 and took control of the capital. One plotter was killed and another injured. Several more surrendered to Prem’s forces. Another 155 former military men were arrested. General Sant fled to Burma. 

May
• On the anniversary of the coronation of the King the government granted pardons to 52 suspects in April’s failed coup. General Sant wasn’t named in the amnesty. PM Prem mentioned the need for political stability and unity in the country as a reason why the amnesty came so soon after the coup. About 30 coup plotters went to Prem’s residence and apologized to him. General Sant returned from self-exile in Burma and then refused to comment on the coup or following events.

June
• The King presided over a ceremony to activate the hydroelectric generators of the just-completed Srinakarind Dam, named after Princess Srinakarind. The dam on the Khwae Yai River in Kanchanaburi province is 140 metres high and 610 metres long. 

• Three bombs exploded at three shopping centres in Bangkok, injuring about 40 people. An anonymous caller with a southern accent claimed that the three bombs were the work of the PULO. One official said that the bombings were intended to gain foreign support for the southern separatists. The three blasts occurred in the space of a few minutes and sent shoppers fleeing for their lives.

September
• ISOC reported that 1,308 communist insurgents surrendered to the authorities between October 1980 and September 1981. In the previous 12 months around 850 communist insurgents called it quits. 

November
• Interior Minister Sitthi Jirarote declared ‘war’ on vice and illegal activities, ordering the police to reduce crime and eradicate illegal gambling within one month.

December
• The National Security Council announced a campaign to eradicate opium cultivation in hill tribe villages. The plan involved various steps including treatment for opium addicts. The government also offered to provide farmers with seeds for alternative crops.

This is the second installment of a 10-part series of articles that describe important events in Thailand over the past 50 years. The first part, published in June, covered 1967-1971.

By Maxmilian Wechsler

1972 was the year when Chulabhorn Dam, named after Princess Chulabhorn Walailak, was opened in Chaiyaphun province. The year also saw the birth of Bangkok Hospital by top medical professionals and the founding of Thai Presidents Foods PCL, makers of the internationally recognized ‘MAMA” noodles brand. Other major news stories included:

January
• Taxi drivers, restaurant and bar owners, food vendors and others relying on revenue from Bangkok nightlife criticized new regulations that came into force imposing a midnight closing hour for entertainment venues, including nightclubs. The National Executive Council also announced restrictions on opening hours for restaurants, cinemas and other entertainment spots. Alcohol sales were banned between 2pm and 5pm.

February
• Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip and Princess Anne arrived on a six-day visit. They were met by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulaydej, Queen Sirikit and Princess Sirindhorn at the Chao Phraya River Rajvoradit landing. The visiting royals also met with Prime Minister Thanom Kittikachorn and other government officials, and made excursions to Chulalongkorn University, various Buddhist temples and Christ Church on Convent Road. They also travelled to Chiang Rai to observe and meet with Meo and Hmong hill tribes. 

• Thai military assisted by US  special forces killed 300 communist insurgents to gain control of the Phu Hin Long Kla area of Loei province. It was the biggest military operation against the insurgents up to that time. Thai First Army Division was dispatched from Bangkok assisted by more than 500 American military advisers and special forces. The operation was conducted in the wake of a rising threat to Thai sovereignty as Vietnamese and Laotian guerrillas had begun assisting and training the Thai insurgents.  

March
• President of India Vaharagiri Venkata Giri and his wife Saraswati Bai arrived for an official visit of Thailand during which they met Their Majesties the King and Queen, PM Thanom and other officials.

May
• Takhli air base in Nakhon Sawan province was reopened in order to provide facilities for about 80 US F4 Phantom fighter-bombers there. The base was used by the US for the first time in 1961 and closed in 1970. The government announced that the planes would be used in bombing missions over North Vietnam. The re-opening of the base resulted in an increase of 3,000 US military personnel in
Thailand, bringing the total to 32,000. 

June
• Doctors at Ramathibodi hospital in Bangkok performed the first sex change operation in Thailand. The patient, Lek Hokkam, threatened to commit suicide if doctors refused to perform the operation. Doctors proclaimed the operation a success after surgery.

• Hat Yai International Airport was opened, making it possible for international travelers to avoid Bangkok if they wished. 

• The founder of Air Siam, Prince Varananda Dhavaj resigned as Chairman and CEO. The Prince founded what was then Varan 
Air-Siam on Sep 15, 1965 and was said to be ‘dead broke’ in 1972. The problems arose the year before when Air Siam started a Bangkok-Los Angeles route. The Prince said: “People thought I was competing with the government-owned airline”, referring
to Thai Airways International which later bought Air Siam.  

September
• New regulations were adopted to regulate foreign businesses and workers, with more restrictions applied on the type of industries in
which they were allowed involvement.

The government said the new regulations were designed to increase employment opportunities for Thai nationals and reduce foreign
influence over Thai companies. The new regulations stipulated, among other things, that legal and architectural firms had to be Thai majority-owned within two years.

November 
• Anti-Japanese sentiment was running high in Thailand, with students leading activities against Japanese interests in the country. The National Student Council and Boy Scouts began pasting posters throughout Bangkok and Chiang Mai demanding a boycott of Japanese products. The National Student Centre accused Japan of using business tricks to cheat Thailand and make it an ‘economic slave’. Police seized machetes and other weapons from Nonthaburi Engineering School students who planned to demonstrate at the Japanese-owned Thai Daimaru department store.  ​

• On the same day the investiture was in progress, four Arab gunmen armed with automatic weapons from the Black September terrorist group stormed the Israeli embassy in Bangkok and held six hostages. The terrorists demanded the release of 36 Arab and Palestinian hostages held in Israel and threatened to kill their hostages if their demands were not met. The terrorists set off explosives around the embassy complex, but after tense negotiations they agreed to end the siege. The hostages were released the next morning and the terrorists were allowed to depart for Egypt. 

• Dr Chamnah Yuwaboon was appointed first mayor of Greater Bangkok. A few weeks later Bangkok and Thonburi joined under a new administrative structure designated Krungthep Mahanakhon. The title of Bangkok administrative chief has since been changed to governor.

Locked between the ocean and the world’s oldest desert, and buffeted by ever-moving sand dunes, Swakopmund is Namibia's premier holiday resort, a place rich in reminders of its past and ample reasons to warrant a visit today.

    To get to Swakopmund as an overseas visitor, you first have to fly into the country’s capital Windhoek, located at an elevation of 1800m on the southwest corner of the African continent in one of the most isolated and little known parts of the world, and then travel by road some 380km, including a 150km desert crossing.

    This beautiful seaside town was founded in August 1892, two years later than Windhoek, by Captain Curt von Francois, as the main harbour of German South West Africa, a former colony ruled by Germany. Its name was changed to Namibia in 1968.

    Increased traffic between Germany and its colonial outpost necessitated establishing a port since Walvis Bay, located 33km south, was a British possession. The choice fell on Swakopmund, where water could be found and because other sites checked were unsuitable. Records show that in 1894 there were only 19 inhabitants.

    The name in essence means “the mouth of the Swakop River” and is believed to originate from the Nama word ‘Tsoakhaub,’ which can be translated as ''excrement opening'', an accurate description of the waters of the Swakop River in times of flood when it carries tonnes of clay and sand, along with piles of vegetation and the odd animal corpse.

Fortunately, this happens less frequently nowadays as dams upstream store water to supply the capital and other towns.

    Despite its name, this beautiful little town on the west coast of Namibia has a rich past, reflected in the many old but well-preserved colonial buildings. The facades, arches, towers, and ornamentation reflect architectural themes which dominated Europe at that time. 

    Swakopmund retains something of 19th century Germany with traditions like Küsten-Karneval, Oktoberfest and the Christmas Market still celebrated. Many of the restaurants offer typical German dishes. For example, the Black Forest cake and the daily fresh baked Apfelstrudel served at Café Anton are famous beyond the borders of the country. In addition, the 24-hour German Language Radio station the ‘Allgemeine Zeitung’ reports daily on important and not-so-important issues. On Mondays, it announces the result of the German Bundesliga results. A sizeable part of Swakopmund’s population is still today German-speaking.
The city’s colonial landmarks include the:
• Swakopmund Lighthouse, the first 11m were erected in 1902 and a further 10m added in 1910.
• State House (Kaiserliche Bezirksgericht), built in 1906
• Mole, an old sea wall and now the main beach next to the Swakopmund Museum which documents Namibian history.
• Woermann Haus, built in 1906 with a prominent tower, now a public library.
• Hohenzollern Haus, built in 1906 as a hotel.
• Prinzessin Ruprecht Heim, the original Military Hospital, built in 1902, now a senior residency
• Kaserne, completed in 1906 served as the military barrack
• Antonius Residenz, opened in March 1908 and which, until a few years ago, was a hospital
• The Lutheran Church, with bells imported from Germany, which was consecrated in January 1912
• The elegant Swakopmund Railway Station, now a hotel
• Altes Gefängnis, the prison, built in 1909
• German School, completed October 1913, which hosted both the government and municipal secondary schools

One of Swakopmund's lesser known historical facts is that the conditions were actually unfavourable to build a harbour as the coastal waters were far too shallow. In addition, there was no sheltered lagoon, and the surf was much too strong.

    As the disembarkation of settlers and troops on surf boats was a life-threatening undertaking, an artificial harbour was built at very high cost. Unfortunately, the Mole sea wall was a brave but ultimately unsuccessful attempt. Although some 375m of pier was completed in 1900, by winter 1906 it had silted up and a sandbank blocked it completely, leading to the construction of a 325m long wooden jetty in 1902, which was replaced by an iron one in 1912. 

    The remains of this jetty still serve as a pedestrian walkway and, since 2010, host an oyster bar at the far end. Today the Mole serves as the main beach and attracts locals and tourists alike. Swimmers can have close encounters with dolphins who visit regularly and a small colony of seals that enjoy drying their fur on the nearby rocks.

    In 1894, regular freight traffic began, led by the Woermann-Linie, a shipping company based in Hamburg, Germany. Thus Swakopmund quickly became the main port for imports and exports for the whole territory, and was one of six towns which received municipal status in 1909. Many government offices for German South-West Africa had offices in Swakopmund. When the jetty opened, the newspaper ‘Deutsche Südwestafrikanische Zeitung’ stated that there were 1,433 inhabitants of the town.  

    After German South-West Africa was taken over by the Union of South Africa in 1915, all harbour activities were transferred from Swakopmund to Walvis Bay. Many of the Central Government services ceased. Businesses closed down, the number of inhabitants diminished, and the town became less prosperous.

   During my school days in the 60s, the town boasted some 5,000 inhabitants yet people only knew about such urban niceties like traffic lights from movies shown in the cinema on Wednesday and Saturday. The main local industry was the salt pans, 7km north of the town, where today seawater is still pumped into huge ponds to allow harvesting of the ‘white gold.’ Others were the tannery and the Hansa Brewery (opened 1929) where the brew master (my father) took great pride in strictly following the over 400-year-old German Purity Law (only four ingredients: water, malt, hops, yeast).

    Although the discovery of uranium at Rössing, 70 km outside the town dates back to 1928, exploration and extraction only started in 1976. This led to the development of the world's largest open cast uranium mine. In 2005, it produced 3,711 ton of uranium oxide, becoming the fifth-largest uranium mine, with eight per cent of global output. This had an enormous impact on all facets of life in Swakopmund and necessitated expansion of the infrastructure of the town, making it into one of the most modern in Namibia.

Outside of the city, the Rossmund Desert Golf Course is one of only five all-grass desert golf courses in the world. The well maintained fairways not only attract golf enthusiasts but also animals like springboks and ostriches from the adjacent Namib Desert plains. Over the last 50 years, the potential of Swakopmund as a holiday resort has been recognized and developed. Today, tourism-related services form an important part of the town's economy.

    The number of hotels and restaurants has increased as more and more international tourists visit Swakopmund while touring the huge country with the second lowest population density in the world, after Mongolia.

    Surrounded by the Namib Desert on three sides and the cold Atlantic waters to the west, Swakopmund enjoys a mild desert climate. The atmospheric conditions caused by dense banks of coastal fog that hang over the ocean on many mornings dissipate as the sun rises high in the sky. With only around 20mm falling per year, rain is a rather rare event.

    While the African sun is very intense, a fresh breeze from the southwest coming up later in the afternoon does have a cooling effect.  Due to the cold and marine-life-rich Benguela current, seawater temperatures rarely reach over 20 °C.

    Many South African and Namibian pensioners take up residence in Swakopmund and the German language can be heard everywhere. Although many of prominent streets were renamed after independence, some still bear names from the colonial days. Today, Swakopmund is the capital of the Erongo Region and has about 34,000 inhabitants.​

By Maxmilian Wechsler

As pointed out by renowned scientist Carl Sagan, ‘You have to know the past to understand the present’.

If for no other reason, the events that    shaped modern-day Thailand are worth revisiting to get an understanding of how the country has developed. Starting this month, The BigChilli will recap important news stories of the past 50 years, from 1967 to 2017,  a period in which Thailand made the remarkable journey from Southeast Asian backwater to one of the world’s premier tourist destinations. Each    issue will cover a five-year period and is sure to offer surprises for even the most knowledgeable Thai history buffs.   

1967 was the year Thai Rung Engineering Company was founded by Vichien Phaoenchoke. It was the first and only Thai automobile manufacturing company. Other major news stories of 1967 include:

•Chulalongkorn University, Thailand’s first university named after King Chulalongkorn (Rama V), celebrated its 50th anniversary. Their Majesties King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit opened the festivities which took place on the campus over a three-day period. 

June
•A fascinated crowd watched the first Thai colour TV show on eight 24-inch colour sets placed outside the Royal Hotel in Bangkok. TV sets were sold in the shops but cost at least twice as much as black and white sets. 

September
•Thai security forces arrested 37 members of the Communist Party of Thailand, both males and females, including some alleged leaders. Most of the arrests were made in Bangkok. Under the Article 17 of the new interim constitution those arrested faced a possible death sentence.

October
•An emotional ceremony was held for the first two Thai soldiers killed in Vietnam. The soldiers were reportedly killed by a booby trap while on patrol near Saigon. Their bodies were flown to Don Muang airport.

•Establishment of Prince of Songkhla University, the first university in southern Thailand. The King christened the university in honour of his father, His Royal Highness Prince Mahidol Adulyadej, Prince of Songkhla. An initial plan to construct the university in Pattani province was scrapped and Hat Yai in Songkhla province was chosen instead. 

November
•Establishment of the Association of Thai Industries (FTA), a private sector organization designed to assist and promote Thai industries.  

•The Dalai Lama arrived in Bangkok at the invitation of the Buddhist Association of Thailand. While in Thailand he met with local religious leaders and government officials including Prince Dhani Nivat, president of the Privy Council, and Prime Minister Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn.

•According to the Public Health Ministry, the incidence of venereal diseases had increased in Thailand by 50 percent over the previous five years. The ministry said most infections were contracted through prostitutes and asked the United Nations for assistance. The UN Children’s Fund and the World Health Organization promised to help.

•Jacqueline Kennedy, the widow of assassinated US President John Fitzgerald Kennedy, visited Thailand. She met with the King and Queen during her short stay.

•The first Thailand National Games, also known as Phra Nakhon 1967, were held in Bangkok. The multi-sport venue hosted 103 events in 15 disciplines. A total of 716 athletes from all regions of the country participated in the games.

The ultimate objective of the six Royal Development Study Centres, established byHis Majesty King Bhumipol to tackle agricultural problems on a regional basis, is for Thai farmers to become self-reliant and self-confident.
By Maxmilian Wechsler​

For years, Thim Kanasem had to watch his paddy and vegetable fields being ravaged by insects and disease. The poor quality of the soil added to the problem, making annual yields very low. His life changed for the better five years ago, when he sought help from the Khao Hin Sorn Royal Development Study Centre in Chachoengsao province.

The officials there advised the 63-year-old farmer to use organic substances to improve the soil quality at his three-rai farm in Nong Hiang village – and it worked. His income is higher than ever before. Not only that, he has become something of a specialist himself in agricultural science.
Thim is now a volunteer soil doctor and his land is used as a Soil Development Learning Centre to help fellow farmers.

“I developed my own organic compost and pesticide, and I also teach other farmers. I am very happy about what I am doing because it helps many farmers to improve their livelihood. And not only Thai farmers – soil experts from Cambodia have also visited me to learn whether the methods applied here could be used in their country,” said Thim.

“I am grateful to His Majesty the King and the Royal Development Study Centre (RDSC) for what they have done for me and my family. I want to stay in this work forever.”

Khao Hin Sorn is the first of RDSCs which were set up in all major regions of the country by His Majesty the King. The others are Khung Krabaen Bay and Huai Sai (Central region), Pikun Thong (South), Puparn (Northeast) and Huai Hong Khrai (North).

Each one serves as a model for success to transfer its findings to the farmers in the respective areas, and also as a sort of “natural living museum” where people can go and see demonstrations of development methods and techniques in various fields in order to acquire knowledge, adopt new development methods and receive occupational training.

The ultimate objective, according to Sompol Panmanee, Secretary-General of the Royal Development Projects Board (RDPB), is for the farmers to become self-reliant and self-confident. He explained that each centre serves as a “one-stop” service.