Interview: Thai director Apichatpong Weerasethakul

Thai filmmaker Apichatpong Weerasethakul talks in this interview about the recent decision by the Thai Censorship Board to cut four scenes from his new movie "Syndromes and a Century." Apichatpong said that rather than cut the four scenes, including one in which a monk is simply shown playing a guitar, he decided to pull its domestic release entirely. Apichatpong said he was saddened he was forced to pull the movie, but is taking the opportunity to submit a petition to the government to question what's wrong with the system. "For some filmmakers, it's become such a standard that when one makes a film, they're automatically aware of the censor system so they won't do this and that," he said.  "I think it affects the way we tell stories. So many Thai films resort to being about comedy or ghost stories or something very light. But at the same time, this is about a studio system because my film is not part of this system that operates on fear."
IFC

Police fear post-holiday rise in tension

The political temperature is expected to rise following the conclusion of Songkran, according to experts. Political groups supporting and opposing the government are anticipated to continue activities with increased efforts to topple their political rivals. Thai Rai Thai Party spokesman Kuthep Saikrachang recently raised doubts as to whether the Council for National Security was behind plans for the People's Alliance for Democracy to stage more protests, saying that political groups wanted to create chaos as an excuse to retain power. Meanwhile, Democrat Party deputy leader Jurin Laksanavisit said he believed that there was only a 50 percent chance that an election would be held at the end of the year.
The Nation

Thai flash floods death toll rises to 37

The death toll from flash floods in southern Thailand that swept away holidaymakers at two mountainside waterfalls has risen to 37. On Sunday, more than 300 rescue workers continued to search for bodies near the Sairung and Praisawan waterfalls in the Yantakao district of Trang province. Four people remain missing. Hundreds of people were at the two sites celebrating the Songkran holiday when the floods struck Saturday afternoon. The flood was triggered by three consecutive days of rain that raced down the steep Bantad mountain range.
AP

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