DOPA to create amphoe.com 2.0?

Published on the website of the Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA) on last Thursday was an announcement titled ศูนย์ข้อมูลอำเภอกรมการปกครอง (Data center of districts at DOPA). With my limited Thai and the help of online translators it seems that DOPA is planning a new Internet database for district data.

After giving some patent statements on the importance of IT for a modern and efficient district administration, the director-general of DOPA Wangsak Sawatphanit (วงศ์ศักดิ์ สวัสดิ์พาณิชย์) then reveals the plans to compile data necessary for the administration and present them centrally in one website. The data includes general data, map data and important projects. The data is to be entered and verified by the officers in the district offices.

The project starts this year with a test-drive with 20 districts, one from the each of the provinces Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Tak, Mae Hong Son, Nong Khai, Mukdahan, Nakhon Ratchasima, Chaiyaphum, Prachinburi, Chonburi, Trat, Ratchaburi, Suphanburi, Chainat, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Pattani, Songkhla, Surat Thani, Prachuap Khiri Khan and Phuket, and once successful to be expanded on all 878 districts.

And if I read the final section correctly, this new website is supposed to be accessible for everyone, to get reliable information on the districts easily, as well as a place for the districts to present themselves. It therefore sounds like replacing the existing website amphoe.com with a new database including more and better data. Since the districts are supposed to do their PR on this new site, I can only hope they won't forget to make the site bilingual to allow non-Thai to use it as well. I am quite curious to see what these 20 districts will look like on that new site. Hopefully it'll have more ways of giving feedback later in this project, right now it only has a phone number to call - even though I have not much hope to be heard I do have ideas what I would love to see in such a site inspired from my experiences in creating the Wikipedia articles on the districts.

Municipal decisions from June 30 2009

Meeting number 21 from June 30 2009 with 10 TAO upgraded to subdistrict municipalities.

• Nong Lom (เทศบาลตำบลหนองหล่ม), Hang Chat district, Lampang province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 80 km², 9 villages and 5,152 citizen.
• Lub (เทศบาลตำบลหลุบ), Mueang Kalasin district, Kalasin province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1996, covers 46.14 km², 16 villages and 11,002 citizen.
• Na Dan (เทศบาลตำบลนาด่าน), Suwannakhuha district, Nong Bua Lamphu province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 76 km², 11 villages and 8,716 citizen.
• San Sai Ngam (เทศบาลตำบลสันทรายงาม), Thoeng district, Chiang Rai province, effective August 1 2009. The TAO was created in 1996, covers 59.90 km², 7 villages and 4,192 citizen.
• Soem Khwa (เทศบาลตำบลเสริมขวา), Soem Ngam district, Lamphang province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 203.80 km², 12 villages and 7,378 citizen.
• Nong No (เทศบาลตำบลหนองโน), Kranuan district, Khon Kaen province, effective July 30 2009. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 47.37 km², 7 villages and 6,137 citizen.
• Kan Lueang (เทศบาลตำบลก้านเหลือง), Waeng Noi district, Khon Kaen province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1996, covers 59.51 km², 14 villages and 9,341 citizen.
• Dok Khamtai (เทศบาลตำบลดอกคำใต้), Dok Khamtai district, Phayao province, effective July 30 2009. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 36.90 km², 9 villages and 4,335 citizen.
• Nong Krathum (เทศบาลตำบลหนองกระทุ่ม), Doem Bang Nang Buat district, Suphanburi province, effective on day of announcement. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 72.89 km², 9 villages and 4,881 citizen.
• Nong Krathum (เทศบาลตำบลหนองญาติ), Mueang Nakhon Phanom district, Nakhon Phanom province, effective August 1 2009. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 78.43 km², 13 villages and 10,864 citizen.

Boriwen in Monthon Udon Thani

One administrative subdivision I don't know much about are the boriwen (บริเวณ, regions), which existed during the thesaphiban reforms in the beginning of the 20th century. So far, all I knew were these few sentences in Tej Bunnag's The provincial administration of Siam, 1892-1915

But since this still left vast areas with hardly any supervision, the monthon was subdivided into three administrative areas (boriwen) which were placed under area commissioners (khaluang boriwen). For the same reason, the north-eastern provinces were grouped into ten administrative areas which were divided equally between monthons Udon and Isan.

and a bit later

The new districts and communes in monthons Phayap, Udon and Isan were amalgamated into the administrative areas (boriwen) which had been created in 1900 and 1901. In 1907, the fact that Pattani, Yala and Saiburi and the administrative areas were going to become new provincial units was emphasized by their being given the new name of changwat.

and in the appendix it also gives a list of these regions with the towns under them. In fact, I wasn't aware of the second quotation until I recheck my scans of that book now.

The reason I did this was that I now first found the first trace of these entities in the Royal Gazette as well. While there are a lot of announcements with the word บริเวณ, none of them seems to refer to these entities mentioned above. But when I now worked through an announcement on the mueang in monthon Udon Thani published on January 12 1908. This includes the merge of four Mueang to form the new Mueang Udon Thani, the precursor of the modern-day province Udon Thani, mentions the two unchanged Mueang Nong Khai and the (later abolished) Phon Phisai, but most interestingly four entities which were previously Boriwen and now became Mueang:

• Boriwen Nam Chi (น้ำชี) becomes Mueang Khon Kaen
• Boriwen Nam Hueang (น้ำเหือง) becomes Mueang Loei
• Boriwen Sakon Nakhon becomes Mueang Sakon Nakhon
• Boriwen That Phanom (ธาตุพนม) becomes Mueang Nakhon Phanom

Sadly the announcement does not list the subdivisions - the appendix in Bunnag's book gives the Boriwen of Udon Thani as follows:

• Boriwen Makkhaeng consisting of Ban Makkhaeng (Udonthani), Nongkhai, Nonglahan, Kumphawapi, Kamutthasai, Phonphisai, and Rattanawapi
• Boriwen Phachi consisting of Khonkaen, Chonnabot, and Phuwiang
• Boriwen That Phanom consisting of Nakhon Phanom, Chaiburi, Tha Uthen and Mukdahan
• Boriwen Sakon consisting of Sakon Nakhon
• Boriwen Nam Huang consisting of Loei, Kaen Thao, Bo Tha

The two don't fit completely - Sakon is named Sakon Nakhon, and Phachi is Nam Chi; also the Boriwen Makkaeng isn't mentioned at all, and of the seven subdivisions Rattanawapi isn't mentioned at all, while Nong Khai and Phon Phisai continue to be at provincial level.

Municipal decisions for June 29 2009

Meeting number 20 of Board 1 from June 29 2009 with 12 TAO upgraded to subdistrict municipalities, all of them also renamed.

• Wiang Sa, Wiang Sa district, Surat Thani province, effective on July 30 2009, upgraded and renamed to Mueang Wiang (เทศบาลตำบลเมืองเวียง), to avoid confusion with the municipality Wiang Sa (เทศบาลตำบลเวียงสระ). The TAO was created in 1997, covers 51 km², 10 villages and 7,458 citizen.
• Chae Hom, Chae Hom district, Lampang province, effective on July 30 2009, upgraded and renamed to Rim Wang (เทศบาลตำบลริมวัง), to avoid confusion with the municipality Chae Hom (เทศบาลตำบลแจ้ห่ม). The TAO was created in 1996, covers 90.68 km², 7 villages and 4,476 citizen.
• San Sai, Saraphi district, Chiang Mai province, effective on April 1 2009, upgraded and renamed to San Sai Maha Wong (เทศบาลตำบลสันทรายมหาวงศ์), to avoid confusion with the municipality San Sai (เทศบาลตำบลสันทราย). The TAO was created in 1997, covers 10.50 km², 12 villages and 5,502 citizen.
• Nong Bua Daeng, Nong Bua Daeng district, Chaiyaphum province, effective on July 31 2009, upgraded and renamed to Luang Siri (เทศบาลตำบลหลวงศิริ), to avoid confusion with the municipality Nong Bua Daeng (เทศบาลตำบลหนองบัวแดง). The TAO was created in 1997, covers 186.97 km², 13 villages and 7,804 citizen.
• Kumphawaphi, Kumphawaphi district, Udon Thani province, effective on July 31 2009, upgraded and renamed to Mueang Mai (เทศบาลตำบลเมืองใหม่), to avoid confusion with the municipality Kumphawaphi (เทศบาลตำบลกุมภวาปี). The TAO was created in 1996, covers 35.80 km², 4 villages and 4,303 citizen.
• That Phanom, That Phanom district, Nakhon Phanom province, effective on August 1 2009, upgraded and renamed to That Phanom Tai (เทศบาลตำบลธาตุพนมใต้), to avoid confusion with the municipality That Phanom (เทศบาลตำบลธาตุพนม). The TAO was created in 1994, covers 40.50 km², 10 villages and 6,105 citizen.
• Hang Chat, Hang Chat district, Lampang province, effective on July 30 2009, upgraded and renamed to Hang Chat Cham Thewi (เทศบาลตำบลห้างฉัตรจามเทวี), to avoid confusion with the municipality Hang Chat (เทศบาลตำบลห้างฉัตร). The TAO was created in 1996, covers 65.77 km², 7 villages and 7,030 citizen.
• Mae Phrik, Mae Phrik district, Lampang province, effective on July 31 2009, upgraded and renamed to Mae Phrik Pha Pang (เทศบาลตำบลแม่พริกผาปัง), to avoid confusion with the municipality Mae Phrik (เทศบาลตำบลแม่พริก). The TAO was created in 1996, covers 342.08 km², 15 villages and 6,432 citizen.
• Phra Phutthabat, Chiang Klang district, Nan province, effective on July 31 2009, upgraded and renamed to Phra Phutthabat Chiang Khan (เทศบาลตำบลพระพุทธบาทเชียงคาน). The TAO was created in 1996, covers 39.84 km², 15 villages and 6,888 citizen.

Only listed in the table of contents and the attendees, for the following three changes no details are provided in transcript. I suppose it is simply a mistake in preparing the document.

• Don Tan, Don Tan district, Mukdahan province, upgraded and renamed to Don Tan Pha Suk (เทศบาลตำบลดอนตาลผาสุก), to avoid confusion with the municipality Don Tan (เทศบาลตำบลดอนตาล).
• Nong Kung Si, Nong Kung Si district, Kalasin province, upgraded and renamed to Kham Kao (เทศบาลตำบลคำก้าว), to avoid confusion with the municipality Nong Kung Si (เทศบาลตำบลหนองกุงศรี).
• Kaset Wisai, Kaset Wisai district, Roi Et province, upgraded and renamed to Mueang Khet (เทศบาลตำบลเมืองเกษ), to avoid confusion with the municipality Nong Kung Si (เทศบาลตำบลเกษตรวิสัย).

Meeting number 20 from June 29 2009 with 11 TAO upgraded to subdistrict municipalities.

• Dong Ling (เทศบาลตำบลดงลิง), Kamalasai district, Kalasin province, effective on publication. The TAO was created in 1996, covers 39.50 km², 17 villages and 10,394 citizen.
• Bueng Wichai (เทศบาลตำบลบึงวิชัย), Mueang Kalasin district, Kalasin province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 36.65 km², 9 villages and 6,111 citizen.
• Ban Khok (เทศบาลตำบลบ้านโคก), Mueang Mukdahan district, Mukdahan province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 97.79 km², 13 villages and 8,322 citizen.
• Nong Khaen (เทศบาลตำบลหนองแคน), Dong Luang district, Mukdahan province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1996, covers 83.26 km², 7 villages and 4,716 citizen.
• Nong Noi (เทศบาลตำบลหนองน้อย), Wat Sing district, Chainat province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 40.52 km², 8 villages and 3,748 citizen.
• Nong Khun (เทศบาลตำบลหนองขุ่น), Wat Sing district, Chainat province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 50.52 km², 8 villages and 3,424 citizen.
• Bung Loet (เทศบาลตำบลบุ่งเลิศ), Moei Wadi district, Roi Et province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1996, covers 17.50 km², 9 villages and 4,844 citizen.
• Chong Thanon (เทศบาลตำบลจองถนน), Khao Chaison district, Phatthalung province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 18 km², 7 villages and 3,641 citizen.
• Chong Thanon (เทศบาลตำบลวังแซ้ม), Ma Kham district, Chanthaburi province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 18 km², 7 villages and 3,641 citizen.
• Wang Saem (เทศบาลตำบลวังแซ้ม), Ma Kham district, Chanthaburi province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 58 km², 12 villages and 4,008 citizen.
• Nai Mueang (เทศบาลตำบลในเมือง), Ban Phai district, Khon Kaen province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 48.20 km², 9 villages and 8,551 citizen.
• Kok Ko (เทศบาลตำบลกกโก), Mueang Lopburi district, Lopburi province, effective July 30 2009. The TAO was created in 1996, covers 17.60 km², 8 villages and 8,383 citizen.

TAO 1958 till 1971

When I wrote on the abolishing of the TAO in 1972, I said that I did not succeed to match all the entities to their modern-day equivalent. But now I worked through the list again, and it turns out there were only three which I did not find directly, and only one was really a bit more difficult. All of these are from the 1958 announcement:

• Entry 10: พรมณี in Mueang Nakhon Nayok district, Nakhon Nayok. Seems like the spelling has changed, since the subdistrict is now named พรหมณี (Phrommani), or it was a misspelling in the announcement, forgetting the Ho Hieb (ห) which only changes the tone of the second syllable.
• Entry 49: หนองโพธิ์ (Nong Pho), Photharam district, Ratchaburi province, is now spelled หนองโพ - the anyway silent last syllable no longer written.
• Entry 28: ไก้จ้น (Kai Chan), Tha Ruea district, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province. I now could find that this is in fact the subdistrict Tha Luang (ท่าหลวง). I even already had processed the announcement which contains the rename, but in that the subdistrict is spelled ไก่จ้น, a different tone for the first syllable. But since it is a different spelling it did not show in the search. I have no idea if the spelling was changed as well between 1958 and 1961, or which one of the the two announcements has the spelling mistake.

One more strange things - the document Decentralization and changing local politics in Thailand states

Other types of state-led local administrative bodies such as 71 PAO, 585 sanitary districts and 59 units of TAO during this period (the number is as of early 1970s).

But, there were 59 entities created in 1958, and one more (Ban Chiang, Nong Han district, Udon Thani province) in 1966, so it would be 60. Don't know which number I should believe, if there's anything not published (or not yet found) in the Gazette I am missing here.

Anyway, a small statistics of the distribution of these TAO show that only some provinces had TAO created then. Sorted by number these are Ayutthaya (11), Surat Thani, Ratchaburi, Nakhon Si Thammarat (6), Nakhon Sawan (5), Chachoengsao, Chiang Rai (including Phayao) (4), Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Nazok (3), Sakon Nakhon, Lampang, Phuket, Phichit (2) and Yala, Phetchabun, Khon Kaen and Udon Thani with one. Thus by region it is 24 in central Thailand, 15 in the south, 14 in the north and only 7 in the north-east.

Of these 60 TAO, 5 are now municipalities after being recreated as TAOs in the 1990s:

• Ratsada (รัษฎา), Mueang Phuket, Phuket
• Pla Lo (ปลาโหล), Waritchaphum, Sakon Nakhon
• Thung Luang (ทุ่งหลวง), Pak Tho, Ratchaburi
• Chun (จุน), Chun, Phayao (then Chiang Rai)
• Bang Wua (บางวัว), Bang Pakong, Chachoengsao

Another eight were not recreated in the 1990s, probably due to a sanitary district or municipality already covering most or all of the subdistrict.

• Maret (มะเร็ต), Ko Samui, Surat Thani
• Lom Raet (ล้อมแรด), Thoen, Lampang
• Pho Hak (โพหัก), Bang Phae, Ratchaburi
• Don Tako (ดอนตะโก), Mueang Ratchaburi, Ratchaburi
• Tha Chang (ท่าช้าง), Nakhon Luang, Ayutthaya
• Bang Pramung (บางประมุง), Krok Phra, Nakhon Sawan
• Kao Liao (เก้าเลี้ยว), Kao Liao, Nakhon Sawan
• Chan Chawa (จันจว้า), Mae Chan, Chiang Rai

Tambon area clarification in Inburi, Singburi and Khlong Hat, Sa Kaeo

Published on August 20 were two announcements with subdistrict area definitions. Both only list some of the subdistricts of the respective district, and like the previous similar announcements include the lists of administrative villages (Muban) within the subdistricts affected.

First one is on Khlong Hat district, Sa Kaeo province, defining the boundaries of 3 out of the 7 subdistricts within this district. In fact, it must be the boundaries of Klong Hat subdistrict to the other two listed which has been modified.

• Benchakhon (เบญจขร), 10 Muban
• Khlong Hat (คลองหาด), 13 Muban
• Thai Udom (ไทยอุดม), 9 Muban

Directly following on the next pages in the Gazette is the second one, on In Buri district, Singburi province. 4 out of the 10 subdistricts, all bounding In Buri subdistrict, have been changed.

• Prasuk (ประศุก), 11 Muban
• Huai Chan (ห้วยชัน), 10 Muban
• In Buri (อินทร์บุรี), 10 Muban
• Thap Ya (ทับยา), 12 Muban

King Amphoe named after the parent Amphoe

In the early 20th century it had several minor districts (King Amphoe, กิ่งอำเภอ, sometimes also named just King กิ่ง) which had the same name as the neighboring district from which they were split off, and which they were subordinated to. If I am not mistaken, then these minor districts were in fact covering the central part of the district, and not outlying parts. In the list of districts from 1917 it has the following cases.

• Phra Phutthabat (พระพุทธบาท), Saraburi. In 1917 the parent district was renamed from Phra Phutthabat to Nong Don. Nong Don was renamed to Ban Mo in 1944. I don't know when Phra Phutthabat to upgraded from minor district to a full district however to confirm the minor district in 1917 was in fact the area around the temple Wat Phra Phutthabat.
• Thung Maphrao (ทุ่งมะพร้าว), Phang Nga. In 1917 the parent district was renamed from Thung Maphrao to Thai Mueang. The minor district was abolished in 1938 and merged into the district Thai Mueang.
• Tha Luang (ท่าหลวง), Chanthaburi. In 1917 the minor district was renamed to Kamphut (กำพุช), while the main district was renamed to Makham. In 1939 Kamphut was renamed to Pong Nam Ron, which became a full district in 1941.
• Chiang Saen (เชียงแสน), Chiang Rai. In 1925 the minor district was abolished, in 1927 a new minor district named Chiang Saen Luang was recreated. In 1939 the district Chiang Saen was renamed to Mae Chan, while Chiang Saen Luang became Chiang Saen. In 1957 Chiang Saen finally was upgraded to a full district.
• Hot (ฮอด), Chiang Mai. In 1905 the district Muet Ka (มืดกา) was abolished and instead the district Mueang Hot and the minor district Mueang Hot were created (Gazette). I don't know what happened with them, as in the 1917 announcement only the district Mueang Hot was mentioned and renamed to Hot.
  

Municipal decisions from June 25 2009

Meeting number 19 from June 25 2009 with 12 TAO upgraded to subdistrict municipalities.

• Ban Paen (เทศบาลตำบลบ้านแป้น), Phon Na Kaeo district, Sakon Nakhon province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1996, covers 45 km², 10 villages and 6,977 citizen.
• Ngio Don (เทศบาลตำบลงิ้วด่อน), Mueang Sakon Nakhon district, Sakon Nakhon province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1996, covers 37 km², 16 villages and 7,817 citizen.
• Khao Chiak (เทศบาลตำบลเขาเจียก), Mueang Phatthalung district, Phatthalung province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 14.25 km², 11 villages and 3,673 citizen.
• Rom Mueang (เทศบาลตำบลร่มเมือง), Mueang Phatthalung district, Phatthalung province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 17.51 km², 9 villages and 5,128 citizen.
• Ngio (เทศบาลตำบลงิ้ว), Thoeng district, Chiang Rai province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1996, covers 96.50 km², 25 villages and 12,337 citizen.
• Mengrai (เทศบาลตำบลเม็งราย), Phaya Mengrai district, Chiang Rai province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1996, covers 90.41 km², 25 villages and 6,284 citizen.
• Bang Krabue (เทศบาลตำบลบางกระบือ), Bang Khonthi district, Samut Songkhram province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 4.26 km², 5 villages and 2,007 citizen.
• Nong Faek (เทศบาลตำบลหนองแฝก), Saraphi district, Chiang Mai province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 8.80 km², 9 villages and 5,270 citizen.
• Wichet Nakhon (เทศบาลตำบลวิเชตนคร), Chae Hom district, Lampang province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1996, covers 35 km², 11 villages and 7,988 citizen.
• Li (เทศบาลตำบลลี้), Li district, Lamphun province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1996, covers 165 km², 16 villages and 9,548 citizen.
• Suan Kluai (เทศบาลตำบลสวนกล้วย), Kantharalak district, Sisaket province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 63.88 km², 12 villages and 7,098 citizen.
• Nong Kung Thanasan (เทศบาลตำบลหนองกุงธนสาร), Phu Wiang district, Khon Kaen province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 80 km², 16 villages and 9,292 citizen.

Administrative offices of Samut Songkhram province

Like in several other provinces, in Samut Songkhram the main offices of the administration are located within one compound. When we went to the floating market in Amphawa we had to pass that compound, so I could shortly stop there and walk around to take photos of all the buildings.

The main building is of course the province hall (Sala Klang, ศาลากลาง), which also has the main parking lot in front. Since we went there on the weekend the parking lot was completely deserted, and I was the only person strolling around there.As usual, a statue is placed in front, if I am not totally mistaken it's king Chulalongkorn, similar with the statue on the Royal Plaza in Bangkok.

East of the parking lot is the city pillar shrine (San Lak Mueang, ศาลหลักเมือง), a small building with the wooden pillar inside.As usual, this pillar is covered with gold and has colorful clothes stripes around it in order to honor it. The shrine itself however looked like it needed a little renovation already, as the color started to fall off. Especially that small tree starting to grow in the roof shouldn't be there, but for the photo it adds some nice green color.

Continuing along the road to the north next comes the provincial court (San Changwat, ศาลจังหวัด). The photo I made isn't that good as there were too many bush and trees blocking the view, and I did not want to walk inside on the grass to find only to find a better spot for the photograph. The next building however was easy to photograph again, the district office of Mueang Samut Songkhram district (ที่ว่าการอำเภอเมืองสมุทรสงคราม). For a change this office did not have the photo of HM the King, but of princess Sirindhorn placed in the frame in front.

Returning to the parking I lot I chose not to walk the same way back, but instead walk inside the compound to the backside of the province hall. This turned out to be a very good decision, since to my surprise I then found the building of the Provincial Administrative Organization (PAO) as well.I hardly ever find this office marked on any maps, usually only the above mentioned province hall and district office are shown.

I only could not take any photo of the municipal office, which is located on the other side of the street - simply because they put a thick sun-shading net over the parking lot in front of the building, so it was impossible to take a photo showing the facade of the building.

And as usual, I have created a Google Map with all the offices marked.



View Samut Songkhram administration in a larger map

878th district to be named "Galyani Vadhana"

When I reported on the planned new district in Chiang Mai province, the name was still listed as "Wat Chan district" (อำเภอวัดจันทร์) in most sources, but the idea of naming it in honor of the Princess Galyani Vadhana, sister of HM the King and deceased January 2nd 2008 was already in discussion.

Today, in the news section of the website of the Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA) it has the first really official confirmation that the district is about to be created soon, and it now also has the name fixed. That news titled "อำเภอกัลยาณิวัฒนา อำเภอที่ 878 (Galyani Vadhana district, district number 878) states that on July 7 HM the King bestowed this name to the district to be established.

The article however does not say when the district will actually get created, but now the name is set it cannot take that long anymore. The case will be presented by the Ministry of Interior to the cabinet for discussion, and after approval the royal decree will be issued.

One thing I still need to know is what will be the recommended English spelling of this district. Galyani Vadhana is the spelling used normally for the Princess, however the geographical entities normally follow the RTGS transcription scheme, which then would be "Kanyani Watthana". The only other similar case, the district Vibhavadi in Surat Thani also named after a member of the Royal family, does not follow RTGS either, because it then would be spelled Wiphawadi. So my guess is the recommended spelling will be "Galyani Vadhana" just like the one used for the Princess herself.

Census Amphoe codes

From the statoids page on the Thai districts I already knew that the National Statistics Office (NSO) had used a different set of codes the districts than those used by DOPA and now standardized as TIS 1099:2548. However in all those data files for the census 2000 I downloaded from the NSO website, these codes were not used, and I also could not make out the system behind it. But now I got hinted to the codes used in the 1990 census, which are however totally incompatible with the 2000 codes (and the DOPA codes).

As part of the Southeast Asia Fertility Program the census data of Thailand were analyzed, and several files placed online. One of it contains the numerical codes for the districts, using a two-digit system with the first two digits designating the province, and the next two the district. A leading "0" for the province is omitted however. Therefore the codes look similar to the DOPA codes, however both provinces and districts start at 1 without any holes. The system of the numbering for both province and districts is also easy - simply the Thai alphabetically sorting. Only the capital district (Amphoe Mueang) always gets the number 01. Also notable - the romanization does not follow RTGS (was that standard around in 1990 already?), but uses its own inconsistent system. Also a noteworthy special case - the special administrative area of Pattaya has the number 911, even though it is not a district but a special kind of municipality.

As an example, here are those codes for Chonburi including that special code for Pattaya. The "KA" at the beginning is the abbreviation for "King Amphoe" (กิ่งอำเภอ, minor district).

901 'CHON BURI           '                                               
902 'KA.KO SICHANG       '                                               
903 'BANG LAMUNG         '                                               
904 'KA. BO THONG        '                                               
905 'BAN BUNG            '                                               
906 'PHANAT NIKHOM       '                                               
907 'PHAN THONG          '                                               
908 'SI RACHA            '                                               
909 'SATTAHIP            '                                               
910 'KA. NONG YAI        '                                               
911 'PATTAYA             '     

The site also includes the codebooks for the censuses 1970 and 1980, but I can only find the province codes for these. However these also seem to be simply alphabetically sorted, so I suppose the same applied to the district codes. But since between each census it had new and merged provinces and districts, the codes from each census is not compatible with the next and one has to manually match the codes. Quite easy to see the advantage of a temporarily stable coding system here...

The codebook PDFs also mention codes used for subdistricts, municipalities and sanitary districts, but sadly I have examples yet. I will therefore postpone that subtopic to a later posting, let alone to keep this posting at a readable length.

I can only hope that for the 2010 census NSO will change to use the DOPA/TIS codes. The fact that in 2000 they used a system based on the FIPS 10-4 codes shows that they have noticed the need, but why they chose that US standard instead of the ISO and Thai standard (TIS 1099:2548) remains a mystery.

Municipal decisions from June 24 2009

Meeting number 18 of board 1 from June 24 2009 with 12 TAO upgraded to subdistrict municipalities, and one subdistrict municipality upgraded to a town municipality.

• San Phak Wan (เทศบาลตำบลสันผักหวาน), Hang Dong district, Chiang Mai province, effective July 30 2009. The TAO was created in 1996, covers 13 km², 7 villages and 10,069 citizen.
• Ban Wean (เทศบาลตำบลบ้านแหวน), Hang Dong district, Chiang Mai province, effective August 1 2009. The TAO was created in 1996, covers 14 km², 13 villages and 9,993 citizen.
• Lao Po Daeng (เทศบาลตำบลเหล่าปอแดง), Mueang Sakon Nakhon district, Sakon Nakhon province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 28 km², 12 villages and 7,471 citizen.
• Na So (เทศบาลตำบลนาซอ), Wanon Niwat district, Sakon Nakhon province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 70 km², 11 villages and 6,652 citizen.
• Tha Kham (เทศบาลตำบลท่าข้าม), Wiang Kaen district, Chiang Rai province, effective July 30 2009. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 67 km², 6 villages and 5,371 citizen.
• Sahakon Nikhom (เทศบาลตำบลสหกรณ์นิคม), Thong Pha Phum district, Kanchanaburi province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1996, covers 162 km², 6 villages and 6,087 citizen.
• Thung Kwao (เทศบาลตำบลทุ่งกว๋าว), Mueang Pan district, Lampang province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 178 km², 14 villages and 9,180 citizen.
• Wang Hin (เทศบาลตำบลวังหิน), Non Daeng district, Nakhon Ratchasima province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1996, covers 47 km², 13 villages and 4,461 citizen.
• Kantuatramuan (เทศบาลตำบลกันตวจระมวล), Prasat district, Surin province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 37 km², 8 villages and 5,570 citizen.
• Lao Hai Ngam (เทศบาลตำบลเหล่าไฮงาม), Kuchinarai district, Kalasin province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 72 km², 12 villages and 7,131 citizen.
• Ban Kha (เทศบาลตำบลบ้านข่า), Si Songkhram district, Nakhon Phanom province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1996, covers 113.56 km², 13 villages and 6,959 citizen.
• Yang (เทศบาลตำบลยาง), Nam Yuen district, Ubon Ratchathani province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1996, covers 65 km², 13 villages and 7,091 citizen.

And finally, Samrong Tai (เทศบาลเมืองสำโรงใต้), Phra Pradaeng district, Samut Prakan province, becoming a town effective August 7 2009. The subdistrict municipality was created in 1997 by upgrading the sanitary district, covers 25.50 km² and 80,166 citizen.

Meeting number 18 from June 24 2009 with 12 TAO upgraded to subdistrict municipalities.

• Non Yang (เทศบาลตำบลโนนยาง), Nong Sung district, Mukdahan province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1996, covers 97 km², 10 villages and 5,933 citizen.
• Nong Sung Tai (เทศบาลตำบลหนองสูงใต้), Nong Sung district, Mukdahan province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1996, covers 89.97 km², 8 villages and 3,890 citizen.
• Nong Takai (เทศบาลตำบลหนองตาไก้), Pho Chai district, Roi Et province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1996, covers 27.37 km², 10 villages and 3,591 citizen.
• Wang Luang (เทศบาลตำบลวังหลวง), Selaphum district, Roi Et province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1996, covers 42.30 km², 18 villages and 6,119 citizen.
• Chiang Khwan (เทศบาลตำบลเชียงขวัญ), Chiang Khwan district, Roi Et province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1996, covers 22.89 km², 12 villages and 4,620 citizen.
• Non Charoen (เทศบาลตำบลโนนเจริญ), Ban Kruat district, Buriram province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 21.67 km², 11 villages and 8,208 citizen.
• Phok Noi (เทศบาลตำบลพอกน้อย), Phanna Nikhom district, Sakon Nakhon province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 37.50 km², 12 villages and 8,727 citizen.
• Bang Khlan (เทศบาลตำบลบางคลาน), Pho Thale district, Phichit province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1996, covers 54.34 km², 6 villages and 3,929 citizen.
• Krahat (เทศบาลตำบลกระหาด), Chom Phra district, Surin province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 26 km², 9 villages and 3,785 citizen.
• Chan-at (เทศบาลตำบลจันอัด), Non Sung district, Nakhon Ratchasima province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1996, covers 30.15 km², 8 villages and 4,880 citizen.
• San Pong (เทศบาลตำบลสันโป่ง), Mae Rim district, Chiang Mai province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 21.60 km², 11 villages and 9,216 citizen.
• Soem Sai (เทศบาลตำบลเสริมซ้าย), Soem Ngam district, Lampang province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 204.05 km², 10 villages and 8,304 citizen.

amphoe.com dysfunctional again

Already the main page of amphoe.com greets with a nice PHP warning at the bottom

Your script possibly relies on a session side-effect
which existed until PHP 4.2.3.

While this warning is just looking very unprofessional, and should have alerted the webmaster, when trying to access any page on a specific district, or also one of the news linked on the main page, it only shows the header graphics and then

1064: You have an error in your SQL syntax; check
the manual that corresponds to your MySQL server 
version for the right syntax to use near '' at line 1

It seems the webmaster updated the PHP, which was really overdue as the 4.2.3 was from 2002 and had many security holes - not surprising that the website was hacked several times already. The current problem has started within last week, lets see how long it will take this time.

And same as before, attempts to contact the webmaster to alert them of the problem fails. The most logical email address webmaster@amphoe.com is not working at all, my note via the contact form wasn't answered and obviously did not result in any action yet. Also neither the email from the WhoIs record nor the dopa.go.th webmaster seem to be responsive.

Update: It's working again on August 24.

Municipal decisions from June 22 2009

Meeting number 17 of board 1 from June 22 2009 with 12 TAO upgraded to subdistrict municipalities.

• Hua Na (เทศบาลตำบลหัวนา), Det Udom district, Ubon Ratchathani province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1996, covers 65.79 km², 15 villages and 12,459 citizen.
• Map Khae (เทศบาลตำบลมาบแก), Lat Yao district, Nakhon Sawan province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 36.34 km², 7 villages and 2,530 citizen.
• Lam Phan (เทศบาลตำบลลำพาน), Mueang Kalasin district, Kalasin province, effective July 29 2009. The TAO was created in 1996, covers 41 km², 16 villages and 9,059 citizen.
• Non Mueang (เทศบาลตำบลโนนเมือง), Kham Sakaesaeng district, Nakhon Ratchasima province, effective July 30 2009. The TAO was created in 1996, covers 35.45 km², 9 villages and 3,928 citizen.
• Khai Si (เทศบาลตำบลไคสี), Bueng Kan district, Nong Khai province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1999¹, covers 59.04 km², 10 villages and 5,107 citizen.
• Kap Choeng (เทศบาลตำบลกาบเชิง), Kap Choeng district, Surin province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 110 km², 20 villages and 15,137 citizen.
• Phon Sawan (เทศบาลตำบลพรสวรรค์), Selaphum district, Roi Et province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 38 km², 9 villages and 4,415 citizen.
• Phaet (เทศบาลตำบลแพด), Kham Ta Kla district, Sakon Nakhon province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 107 km², 17 villages and 9,865 citizen.
• Ban Wiang (เทศบาลตำบลบ้านเวียง), Rong Kwang district, Phrae province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1999¹, covers 208.13 km², 14 villages and 7,578 citizen.
• Chuen Chom (เทศบาลตำบลชื่นชม), Chuen Chom district, Maha Sarakham province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 35.74 km², 14 villages and 7,578 citizen.
• Muang Yai (เทศบาลตำบลม่วงยาย), Wiang Kaen district, Chiang Rai province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1996, covers 69.57 km², 9 villages and 7,242 citizen.
• Bang Phueng (เทศบาลตำบลบางผึ้ง), Bang Pa Kong district, Chachoengsao province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1996, covers 9.67 km², 7 villages and 2,193 citizen.

¹ Was actually announced in 1997 already.

Additionally, the upgrade of Yang, Nam Yuen district, Ubon Ratchathani province was scheduled, but moved to the next meeting.

Municipal office buildings

When last year I traveled to Khanom and took a photo of the municipal office, I noticed that the building must have been rather recent as it did not show in Google Earth yet. This year I also found the office of the Tambon (Subdistrict) Administrative Organization (TAO) Khanom (see photo), and this also does not show in Google Earth. Currently Google Earth has a satellite picture from February 2004 for that area and it don't even show construction at the two locations, so both offices must have been built within the last 4 years.

And this isn't limited to Khanom, also the office of Thathong Mai (Surat Thani) does not show in 2005, Wiang (also Surat Thani) shows an already cleared lot in 2002, and Bang Toei (Nakhon Pathom) was under construction in 2004 and finished in 2005. While this is only a short list, it in fact is a large percentage of the offices I have visited for photography. The fact which surprises me most about the recent wave of construction is that the TAO are only little more than 10 years old. Thus after they were created in the second part of the 1990s they had an office building already, and after just a few years a new and more representative office building was built.

I don't know whether this observation was caused by the fact that I rarely come to the really poor rural areas, so those administrative entities listed above probably have a quite good tax income and thus enough funding to build such a new office. Maybe the first TAO office building I could find gives an idea - Bang Bai Mai in Surat Thani (photo) has a much less representative office, which was already present in a 2001 satellite picture. Thus this TAO still has the original office building and not yet built such a replacement office.

Suggestion of a new minor district in Lopburi

Published in the Royal Gazette today is the petition กระทู้ถามที่ ๑๐๐/ร. to create a new minor district, together with the answer by the Ministry of Interior. The petition was filed by Amnuai Khlangpha (อำนวย คลังผา), Member of Parliament for the Lopburi constituency 2 of the Pheu Thai Party.

He argues, that the district Chai Badan in the northeast of Lopburi province is a quite large district covering 17 subdistricts (Tambon, ตำบล), and therefore suggests to set up a new minor district (King Amphoe, กิ่งอำเภอ) centered on the subdistrict Muang Khom (ตำบลม่วงค่อม), located in the southwest of the district - though he does not state explicitly which of the subdistrict should become part of this new minor district.

The answer by the MOI only reiterates the preconditions for the creation of a minor districts as already mentioned in an earlier post - i.e. 25,000 citizen, 4 subdistricts, a distance of 20 km to the district office and the approval of the local governments, or one of the special reasons like security problems. Though it does not explicitly cites which of these preconditions aren't met, the answer closes with requesting to file another proposal citing one of the special reasons.

Checking with Google, I noticed that this proposal wasn't the first attempt to get a new minor district at Muang Khom, already in 2003 the petition กระทู้ถามที่ ๑๑๗๙/ร., then filed by Niyom Wonpanya (นิยม วรปัญญา), another MP from the same constituency and same party. That past proposal also included the list of subdistricts which were supposed to be part of the minor district - Muang Khom (ตำบลม่วงค่อม), Huai Hin (ห้วยหิน), Khao Laem (เขาแหลม) and Makok Wan (มะกอกหวาน).

Subdistrict spelling change in Nakhon Si Thammarat?

While ystematically adding the websites of all the subdistrict administrative organizations (TAO) in Nakhon Si Thammarat province to my XML, at first I could not find the one for Tha Phaya, Pak Phanang district. The only website which contained the term "องค์การบริหารส่วนตำบลท่าพยา" was the article on the district in the Thai wikipedia. This seemed strange, as even for TAO without a website there usually are some pages using the term. After a bit of searching I finally found the website at thapaya.go.th - the reason I could not find it before is that it is spelled "องค์การบริหารส่วนตำบลท่าพญา". The two letters Yo Yak (ย) and Yo Ying (ญ) are absolute equivalent, so this spelling change does not change the pronunciation at all.

However all of the sources from the Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA), e.g. the geocode list or the population statistics all use the spelling ท่าพยา. Also, the original announcement in the Royal Gazette on the creation of the TAO (see Item 699 on page 71) uses ท่าพยา, and I haven't seen any announcement on a spelling change. On the other hand, ThaiTambon.com uses the same spelling as the TAO, indicating that not only the TAO but also the Tambon changed its spelling.

Though I had not much hope of a reply, I tried to ask the TAO for an explantion, but thins time the email wasn't ignored - because they misconfigured the mail server so any email sent to manager@thapaya.go.th bounced right away. And I doubt anyone would ever find my question in the forum, as it seems only frequented by spam bots.

Municipal decisions from June 18 2009

Meeting number 17 from June 18 2009 with 12 TAO upgraded to subdistrict municipalities.

• Nam Kam (เทศบาลตำบลน้ำก่ำ), That Phanom district, Nakhon Phanom province, effective July 30 2009. The TAO was created in 1996, covers 58.99 km², 20 villages and 12,158 citizen.
• Na Nat (เทศบาลตำบลนาหนาด), That Phanom district, Nakhon Phanom province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 31 km², 10 villages and 5,523 citizen.
• Nong Waeng (เทศบาลตำบลหนองแวง), That Phanom district, Sakon Nakhon province, effective July 30 2009. The TAO was created in 1996, covers 27 km², 6 villages and 4,746 citizen.
• Na Hi (เทศบาลตำบลนาฮี), Akat Amnuai district, Sakon Nakhon province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 36 km², 9 villages and 4,978 citizen.
• Kok Kung (เทศบาลตำบลกกกุง), Mueang Suang district, Roi Et province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 28.40 km², 11 villages and 4,128 citizen.
• Khu Mueang (เทศบาลตำบลคูเมือง), Mueang Suang district, Roi Et province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 50 km², 10 villages and 5,095 citizen.
• Na Pong (เทศบาลตำบลนาโป่ง), Thoen district, Lampang province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1996, covers 146 km², 12 villages and 5,814 citizen.
• Thoen Buri (เทศบาลตำบลเถินบุรี), Thoen district, Lampang province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 104 km², 14 villages and 7,049 citizen.
• Mueang Yao (เทศบาลตำบลเมืองยาว), Thoen district, Lampang province, effective August 1 2009. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 123.87 km², 15 villages and 8,164 citizen.
• Dong Mayang (เทศบาลตำบลดงมะยาง), Thoen district, Lampang province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1999¹, covers 13 km², 7 villages and 3,998 citizen.
• Tadop (เทศบาลตำบลตะดอบ), Mueang Sisaket district, Sisaket province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 21.76 km², 8 villages and 6,488 citizen.
• Muang Na (เทศบาลตำบลม่วงนา), Mueang Sisaket district, Kalasin province, effective August 1 2009. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 21.76 km², 8 villages and 6,488 citizen.

¹ Actually, it was already announced in 1997.เทศบาลตำบลม่วงนา

Annual village and subdistrict headman day

Today is the village and subdistrict headman day (วันกำนันผู้ใหญ่บ้าน), celebrated every year to honor the works of these special officials, who are both elected by popular vote but are still paid officials under the Ministry of the Interior.

As found on the Panyathai wiki, the date August 10 was the date of the first election of a village headman. On this date in 1892, village and subdistrict headman in Bang Pa In district of modern-day Ayutthaya province were elected as a trial of the new thesaphiban administrative system. This system was officially introduced nation-wide with the local administration act of 1914. Sadly the text does not say when this date was announced as a remembrance day and celebrated every year since, however I was able to find an announcement in the Royal Gazette dating from 1989.

The word-file attached to the announcement I noticed at DOPA includes greetings from the various religious groups and also some ministerial officials. In detail the contributors are

• The Supreme Patriarch Nyanasamvara Suvaddhana (สมเด็จพระญาณสังวร)
• The chief of the Muslim in Thailand (จุฬาราชมนตรี), Sawat Sumalaisak (นายสวาสดิ์ สุมาลยศักดิ์)
• Chaovarat Chanweerakul (นายชวรัตน์ ชาญวีรกูล), Minister of the Interior
• Wichai Sikhwan (นายวิชัย ศรีขวัญ), Permanent Secretary for Interior
• Wongsak Sawatphanit (นายวงศ์ศักดิ์ สวัสดิ์พาณิชย์), Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration

Municipal decisions for June 17 2009

Two board meetings on June 17, board one in morning and board two in afternoon. Altogether 24 TAO are upgraded to subdistrict municipalities.

Meeting number 16 of board 1 from June 17 2009 with 12 TAO upgraded to subdistrict municipalities.

• Kham Pa Lai (เทศบาลตำบลคำป่าหลาย), Mueang Mukdahan district, Mukdahan province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 95 km², 17 villages and 12,207 citizen.
• Dong Mon (เทศบาลตำบลดงมอน), Mueang Mukdahan district, Mukdahan province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 72 km², 10 villages and 5,378 citizen.
• Tha Kwang (เทศบาลตำบลท่ากว้าง), Saraphi district, Chiang Mai province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 9.72 km², 7 villages and 2,816 citizen.
• Inthakhin (เทศบาลตำบลอินทขิล), Mae Taeng district, Chiang Mai province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1996, covers 57.76 km², 9 villages and 3,643 citizen.
• Pa Pong (เทศบาลตำบลป่าป้อง), Doi Saket district, Chiang Mai province, effective August 1 2009. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 23.33 km², 8 villages and 3,661 citizen.
• Ngio Ngam (เทศบาลตำบลงิ้วงาม), Mueang Phitsanulok district, Phitsanulok province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 24 km², 7 villages and 3,353 citizen.
• Ban Bua (เทศบาลตำบลบ้านบัว), Kaset Sombun district, Chaiyaphum province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1996, covers 35 km², 8 villages and 4,895 citizen.
• Bun Than (เทศบาลตำบลบุญทัน), Suwannakhuha district, Nong Bua Lamphu province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 80 km², 9 villages and 5,901 citizen.
• Ban Thin (เทศบาลตำบลบ้านถิ่น), Mueang Phrae district, Phrae province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1996, covers 17.23 km², 11 villages and 6,785 citizen.
• Khok Kong (เทศบาลตำบลโคกก่อง), Bueng Kan district, Nong Khai province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 59 km², 9 villages and 6,397 citizen.
• Non Sombun (เทศบาลตำบลโนนสมบูรณ์), Khao Suan Kwang district, Khon Kaen province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 98.87 km², 10 villages and 5,728 citizen.
• Sa Kamphaeng Yai (เทศบาลตำบลสระกำแพงใหญ่), Uthumphon Phisai district, Sisaket province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 13.20 km², 14 villages and 8,674 citizen.

Meeting number 16 of from June 17 2009 with 12 TAO upgraded to subdistrict municipalities.

• Mae Mok (เทศบาลตำบลแม่มอก), Thoen district, Lampang province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1996, covers 304 km², 10 villages and 5,296 citizen.
• Lai Hin (เทศบาลตำบลไหล่หิน), Ko Kha district, Lampang province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1996, covers 138 km², 6 villages and 5,593 citizen.
• Khok Phutsa (เทศบาลตำบลโคกพุทรา), Pho Thong district, Ang Thong province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 12.33 km², 7 villages and 2,692 citizen.
• Wiang Kalong (เทศบาลตำบลเวียงกาหลง), Wiang Pa Pao district, Chiang Rai province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 32.96 km², 15 villages and 9,733 citizen.
• San Pa Pao (เทศบาลตำบลสันป่าเปา), San Sai district, Chiang Mai province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1996, covers 6.46 km², 6 villages and 4,222 citizen.
• Phueng Daet (เทศบาลตำบลผึ่งแดด), Mueang Mukdahan district, Mukdahan province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 21.87 km², 13 villages and 5,557 citizen.
• Khok Chan (เทศบาลตำบลโคกจาน), Uthumphon Phisai district, Sisaket province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1996, covers 22.12 km², 10 villages and 5,304 citizen.
• Khu Mueang (เทศบาลตำบลคูเมือง), Warin Chamrap district, Ubon Ratchathani province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 52.70 km², 12 villages and 7,252 citizen.
• Khai Nun (เทศบาลตำบลไค้นุ่น), Huai Phueng district, Kalasin province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1996, covers 46 km², 13 villages and 6,388 citizen.
• Wat That (เทศบาลตำบลวัดธาตุ), Mueang Nong Khai district, Nong Khai province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1996, covers 59.20 km², 14 villages and 9,248 citizen.
• Makha (เทศบาลตำบลมะค่า), Non Thai district, Nakhon Ratchasima province, effective August 1 2009. The TAO was created in 1996, covers 54.59 km², 10 villages and 4,124 citizen.
• Ang Thong (เทศบาลตำบลอ่างทอง), Srinagarindra district, Phatthalung province, effective August 1 2009. The TAO was created in 1996, covers 21.14 km², 8 villages and 4,234 citizen.

Abolished subdistricts of Mueang Nakhon Si Thammarat district

I already knew for quite some time that there must have been two subdistrict in Mueang Nakhon Si Thammarat district which were abolished, simply because two codes in are omitted in the list of subdistrict codes. I even already found the names for these subdistricts back then, but never been able to find when they were actually abolished.

• 800104 - ตำบลนา (Na)
• 800105 - ตำบลศาลามีชัย (Sala Mi Chai)

Since the DOPA codes were probably introduced around 1984, I was trying to find anything about these subdistricts in the 1980s without success. But now I looked into an announcement on the change of subdistrict areas in Mueang Nakhon Si Thammarat district (เปลี่ยนแปลงเขตตำบลในท้องที่อำเภอเมืองนครศรีธรรมราช) from 1966 I think I found the long sought-after trace. Though it does not explicitly states the abolishment of the subdistrict, it seems all of the villages of these subdistricts were reassigned and absorbed by the town Nakhon Si Thammarat, and the remained added to one village in another subdistrict.

If I am right that the two subdistrict were in fact abolished back then, it is surprising that they still got codes assigned 20 years later. In all other cases I knew no retrospect codes were created, even though there were not that many necessary and it should have been possible to keep more code spaces for those former entities.

The announcement, which is a followup to the enlargement of the municipality in the previous year (Gazette), reads in its most important part as following:

๑. โอนท้องทีของหมู่ที ๑๐ ตำบลท่ารือ ท้องทีของหมู่ที ๑ หมู่ที ๒ และหมู่ที ๓ ตำบลศาลามีชัย ท้องทีของหมู่ที ๑ หมู่ที ๒ และหมู่ที ๓ ตำบลนา ท้องทีของหมู่ที ๒ และหมู่ที ๔ ตำบลปากนคร ท้องทีของหมู่ที ๕ ตำบลปากพูน และท้องทีของหมู่ที ๒ และหมู่ที ๔ ตำบลท่าซัก เฉพาะส่วนทีถูกตัดเข้าอยู่ในเขตเทศบาลเมืองนครศรีธรรมราชให้ไปขึ้นรวมกับตำบลในเมือง ตำบลคลัง และตำบลท่าวัง ตามลำดับโดยมีเขตตรงตามหลักเขตของเทศบาล

1. Transfer of Village 10 of subdistrict Tha Ruea, Village 1, 2 and 3 of subdistrict Sala Mi Chai, Village 1, 2 and 3 of subdistrict Na, Village 2 and 4 of subdistrict Pak Nakhon, Village 5 of subdistrict Pak Phun and Village 4 of subdistrict Tha Sak, specifically the area cut off and added to Nakhon Si Thammarat municipality and added to the subdistrict Nai Mueang, Khlang and Tha Wang in order to be in line with the boundary of the municipality.

๒. โอนท้องทีของหมู่ที ๑ และหมู่ที ๓ ตำบลศาลามีชัย และท้องทีของหมู่ที ๑ และหมู่ที ๓ ตำบลนา เฉพาะส่วนทีเหลือจากทีตัดเข้าอยู่ในเขตเทศบาลเมืองนครศรีธรรมราช ไปรวมกับหมู่ที ๔ ตำบลศาลามีชัย และตั้งเป็นหมู่ที ๕ ตำบลปากนคร โดยมีเขตตรงตามหลักเขตของเทศบาล

2. Transfer of Village 1 and 3 of subdistrict Sala Mi Chai and Village 1 and 3 of subdistrict Na, specifically the area which remains after cut off and adding to Nakhon Si Thammarat municipality, add it with Village 4 of subdistrict Sala Mi Chai and make it to become Village 5 of subdistrict Pak Nakhon, in order to be in line with the boundary of the municipality.

Municipal decision from June 10 2009 (Part 2)

Meeting number 14 of board 1 from June 10 2009 with 13 TAO upgraded to subdistrict municipalities. The other meeting on June 10 I already posted earlier, the transcript for this meeting was added to the list later.

• Nong Bua (เทศบาลตำบลหนองบัว), At Samat district, Roi Et province, effective July 30 2009. The TAO was created in 1996, covers 21.01 km², 10 villages and 2,927 citizen.
• Nong Luang (เทศบาลตำบลหนองหลวง), Selaphum district, Roi Et province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1996, covers 23 km², 9 villages and 3,019 citizen.
• Phlapphla (เทศบาลตำบลพลับพลา), Chiang Khwan district, Roi Et province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 11.53 km², 11 villages and 4,748 citizen.
• Na Mueang (เทศบาลตำบลนาเมือง), Selpahum district, Roi Et province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1996, covers 55 km², 20 villages and 10,198 citizen.
• Mukdahan (เทศบาลตำบลมุกดาหาร), Mueang Mukdahan district, Mukdahan province, effective July 30 2009. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 36 km², 6 villages and 4,811 citizen. Not to be confused with the town municipality Mukdahan covering the other parts of the subdistrict Mukdahan.
• Lao Mi (เทศบาลตำบลเหล่าหมี), Don Tan district, Mukdahan province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 122 km², 10 villages and 6,603 citizen.
• Mae Wa (เทศบาลตำบลแม่วะ), Thoen district, Lampang province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1996, covers 133 km², 8 villages and 6,086 citizen.
• Kai Kham (เทศบาลตำบลไก่คำ), Mueang Amnat Charoen district, Amnat Charoen province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 84 km², 13 villages and 8,080 citizen.
• Phra Klang Thung (เทศบาลตำบลพระกลางทุ่ง), That Phanom district, Nakhon Phanom province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1996, covers 31 km², 16 villages and 7,554 citizen.
• Nong Khon Kwang (เทศบาลตำบลหนองขอนกว้าง), Mueang Udon Thani district, Udon Thani province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 22.75 km², 6 villages and 6,755 citizen.
• Ban Pin (เทศบาลตำบลบ้านปิน), Dok Khamtai district, Phayao province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1997, covers 24.87 km², 8 villages and 2,910 citizen.
• Khok Sung (เทศบาลตำบลโคกสูง), Det Udom district, Ubon Ratchathani province, effective July 31 2009. The TAO was created in 1996, covers 28.38 km², 6 villages and 4,516 citizen. This item was originally scheduled in the previous meeting 13/2009.

The table of contents also list Non Sombun (โนนสมบูรณ์), Det Udom, Ubon Ratchathani, which is also included in the referendum results and the list of attendees. The text however lacks the details on this TAO, instead gives those of Ban Khok, Khok Pho Chai, Khon Kaen, which is not mentioned elsewhere. Apparently the wrong details were posted into the transcript.

Inverse canvassing in village headmen elections

An interesting contrast can be found in the description of village headmen elections in the 1990s as found in the book Democracy, Development and Decentralization in Provincial Thailand by Daniel Arghiros, and a shorter description from the 1960s in the paper ''A Thai Village Headman as a Synaptic Leader'' by Michael Moerman, found in the book Modern Thai Politics.

Once some names have been placed in candidacy, and usually immediately thereafter, a general village meeting is called. The candidates' names are announced, and they are asked whether they are willing to serve is elected. The candidates profess their inadequacy and the private concerns which would interfere with their ability to be effective headman. For the most part, these are not empty protestations. Common villagers, former headmen, and the present incumbent all agree that the office is an unpleasant one which it is best to avoid. It is the duty of the elders and of others who take an interest in village affairs to convince potential candidates to stand for office. In describing the most recent election, one informant tells of how, having been warned by friends in the police that the officials favored him as headman he went to his close kinsmen to tell them not to vote for him. A former headman admits that only those without close friends who can be asked to vote for others are elected to the office. [...]

Especially the part I highlighted in bold shows it was very much the opposite to the situation in the 1990s, when the candidates used vote buying and other (of course illegal) ways to secure the votes. Probably the main reasons for the change is the village development fund which was created in the 1970s. The headmen had a lot of influence on how these funds were spend, so they could use their office to secure lucrative contracts to their friends or kinsmen, or to accept bribes if giving to outsiders.

I don't know what is the situation nowadays. Quite a lot of the funds have probably moved to the local administrations - Tambon administrative organizations and municipalities, so the village and subdistrict headmen should be reduced to tasks and powers like in the 1960s. However one of the projects started by the Thaksin administration was a new village fund system under the name SML (small medium large), and it is still in place despite several change of governments. Given the fact that the headmen in Ko Samui don't want to leave their offices, these offices cannot be as unattractive as they were in the above citation.

Change of area of TAO and subdistrict municipality Si Songkhram, Nakhon Phanom

Announced in the Royal Gazette on July 31, some area previously under the supervision of the subdistrict administrative organization (TAO) Si Songkhram was reassigned to the subdistrict municipality Si Songkhram, both in the subdistrict Si Songkhram, district Si Songkhram, Nakhon Phanom province.

In fact, there were two announcements, the first one for the change of the TAO titled ประกาศกระทรวงมหาดไทย เรื่อง องค์การบริหารส่วนตำบลศรีสงคราม อำเภอศรีสงคราม จังหวัดนครพนม แยกพื้นที่บางส่วนไปรวมกับเทศบาลตำบลศรีสงคราม อำเภอศรีสงคราม จังหวัดนครพนม, and the second for the municipality titled ประกาศกระทรวงมหาดไทย เรื่อง เปลี่ยนแปลงเขตเทศบาลตำบลศรีสงคราม อำเภอศรีสงคราม จังหวัดนครพนม. Strangely, this change apparently wasn't discussed in the board meetings unlike others. This second announcement also includes a map, which helped me to identify the municipality office on Google Earth and thus pinpoint this posting to exactly that location. Sadly the TAO office isn't shown in the map, and not marked in any other maps I know of. And their website srisongkham.org apparently expired not too long ago.

Comparing the map with the one in the 1956 announcement on the creation of the sanitary district Si Songkhram (Gazette), the precursor of the municipality, it shows that the town has grown quite a lot, the original municipal area included gardens, fields and forests around the actual settlement which are now covered with houses, and only shows a subset of the streets it has today. However it seems to be badly aligned, because if the arrow in bottom is supposed to indicate the north direction, the boundaries would be exactly in east/west and north-south direction, as well as the main streets, which isn't the case in real.

I now also found out how the coordinates of the reference points (หลักเขตที่) are to read. For example the point in the northwestern corner, VE ๒๐๔๕๐๘ means the UTM coordinate 48Q4204 19508. With this and the maps in the two announcements I have drawn the map below to give an approximate idea. Interesting to note - the municipality office is located right at the boundary of the old municipal area. The added areas are both to the east and the south.


View Si Songkhram in a larger map

New district in Chiang Mai to be established soon

When I looked through the RCode list I found four codes already assigned to minor disticts in Chiang Mai which were not yet created. At first I thought these are district once planned but than scrapped, but just to confirm I picked one of the names to Google to verify - and did the lucky pick because that one seems to be one which is about to created in the near future - though I haven't yet found any fixed date for the official creation.

The code 5026 is listed to belong to กิ่งอำเภอวัดจันทร์ (minor district Wat Chan), and is supposed to cover the subdistrict Ban Chan (ตำบลบ้านจันทร์), Mae Daet (ตำบลแม่แดด) and Chaem Luang (ตำบลแจ่มหลวง) of Mae Chaem district. The name seems to be not yet finalized, as I also find it as อำเภอวัดจันทร์เฉลิมพระเกียรติ (Wat Chan Chaloem Phra Kiat) or just อำเภอเฉลิมพระเกียรติ (Chaloem Phra Kiat). The latest of the news reports I found are from January this year, however the whole project has started quite long ago - Chiang Mai News had a report which lists the district history back till 1993.

Another news clipping suggests even more names - อำเภอกัลยาณิวัฒนา (Kanyani Watthana), อำเภอราชนครินทร์ (Rat Nokrin) or อำเภอกัลยาณมิตราจารย์ (Kanyani Mitrachan), all in honor of the Galyani Vadhana, the late sister of HM the King.

I am also not sure whether this new district will be created as a minor district (King Amphoe, กิ่งอำเภอ) like it is listed in the RCode list, or directly as a full district in line with the 2007 upgrade of all minor districts. Still quite a lot of questions and probably still a bit time to research before the creation get imminent, but now I am forewarned I doubt it will be same as for the last new district of Thailand which I only heard from about a year after it was created.

For a more entertaining link, On the road Wat Chan - Kun Chang Kian is a great photo album of views on the area which will make up the new district. And to give due credit, the map above is based on the new vector maps hdamm is creating for Wikipedia, replacing the more plain maps I created years ago.