thank you for your lazy response… David Streckfuss’ article is good but gives no practical advice on how the wished for heroes might appear and act
I have no rage at Prem, I just asked you if you think he and his senior generals are helping (or in case he dies right now) have helped advance Thailand toward your institutional ideals… do you think they have?
I am hoping you will answer a simple question (just once please)
Many may have missed some online footage from yesterday morning showing Thai soldiers shooting the protesters. That footage also showed a body being thrown in a military vehicle, and someone cleaning up blood. A couple of hours later, there is new footage showing the army shooting up in the air. And, most Thai’s considered to be in the red camp do not have the access to Internet that many in the yellow camp have.
One cannot properly take one side unless they have found all of the facts for both. The facts of any matter do not become false simply because you choose not to believe them. The most blind people in the world are not those who are blind in the eyes. Those who are most blind are those who refuse to see.
Here are some interesting tidbits for some of you to consider.
Thaksin has faults, and many. But, he accomplished much in bringing the poor a little better standard of living. But then, the royalists feel that the poor are too ignorant to vote.
There is evidence that the royalists were getting fed up with what they considered to be more respect for Thaksin than there was for the monarchy, and this fueled the 2006 coup.
Where was the military when the airport was shut down last year?
The yellow protesters at the airport were paid. Sadly, the yellow protesters were paid with bogus 1000 baht notes.
The red shirts are mostly working class. They lose much of their meager wages to come and protest.
I believe Thailand must either move towards a British type of government where the monarchy is loved and respected, or they may default to becoming more communist.
It’s another Aphisit gov scheme. This one is 500 Bht for the elderly over 60 years old (hence Thaksin’s mention of his own soon to be 60 years of age). The 2000 Baht scheme is for people with salary income under 15000 per month.
All the same, one can hardly believe the seriousness many of the Yellow Shirts are now taking this issue. It’s all over the internet.
Thaksin’s desire to create martyrs for his great cause (essentially pride and 73 billion baht) is unsuprising. His call for the red shirts bring their children along for the cause is also true to form. What I find much harder to comprehend is the motivation behind Jim Taylor, David Brown & co’s collaboration in the creation of fictional martyrs when the real thing failed to materialize. Are they really so desperate & disapointed?
The charge that “Taro” (#5 above) and many Yellow Shirts are now making on the internet must be ranked among the stupidest in recent years, along side perhaps one about Thaksin’s name on Thai flag.
When I listened to that particular speech live, I got it right away that Thaksin meant to be a sarcasm on the Aphisit gov’s 500 Bath for the elderly (over 60 years old). I have since listened and watched that part of the speech many times and each time still have the same understanding, which by the way any normal, non-paranoid Thai listener would have get it.
Like the issue of Thaksin’s name on the flag, or the issue of the tiny Thai flag with the words “Long Live the King” on it in some pro-Thaksin rallies, this 500 Bahts accusations by the Yellow Shirts shows how paranoid, stupid bunch of people they are. I have absolutely no doubt that it explains a lot why they are ‘royalists’.
^ Pathetic Ty! People like you know full well that this man’s corruption knows no bounds. And you still expect ordinary people to be able to produce evidence against him & corrupt others in a justice system that has been deliberately nobbled to favor the rich, powerful & corrupt. You have obviously confused yourself. In case you hadn’t noticed, there are more than two sides in this argument. The Thaksinites and their enemies act like there can only ever be two sides to the argument. Some of us have no desire to remain the slaves of either side – having found both completely deficient in the way they run the country.
^ Heclau – You seem to be saying how can we possibly expect Thaksin – as an integral member of the elite – to be any less corrupt than his poo-yai partners-in-crime in the uniformed services.
‘Student’ has a right to expect a much better deal from those who constantly tell us they know better. You intellectuals have totally lost the plot. Are you seriously proposing we cut a piece of slack for the parasite Thaksin just because he is just as corrupt as the rest of his awful class. Truly pathetic.
Especially since it is corruption that has actually rendered this country incapable of taking any real action against criminals in suits. Corruption is destroying an already very weak system of justice.
Thaksin has NOTHING to teach anyone here about democracy or justice. Furthermore, I don’t even view him as a competent businessman – since he only seemed to do well when he could fix the rules to suit himself. He was also a lousy policeman. And precisely what did they teach him about criminality at Sam Houston University?
Not quite sure whether you are suggesting something or uncomfortable with something. Hypocrisy is a more deeply imbued characteristic than many of us appreciated. Even the way we phrase questions and replies to them carries a great deal of hypocrisy. Part of hypocrisy also lies with our human double standards propensities, one time going one way another time another, to suit the way we deem things to be. Reports of violence and details that are factual and supportable do not often go together, and that is one of the issues in this Red vs. Yellow thing. The first time I saw violence involving the Red and Yellow was when the Yellow were in Udorn and the Reds came in and destroyed their stage, all without any police objection or government condemnation. Surely there is some hypocrisy there.
Frankly, I am really interested in seeing point for point the who, what, where, why, when and how of each incident rather than cite numbers or occasions and assign blame to this side or that. Any of my defenses of the Yellow, by the way, are of course somewhat prejudicial, and will be amended based on hard evidence. the issue of the airport, for example: the idea that the airport was not shut down by the PAD is unacceptable to most readers here, I think. Yet, people go on saying they are not prosecuted because they are the PAD, and don’t say anything about not being prosecuted because they may not have done anything wrong, in that instance.
That today the president of the Legislative constitutional drafting committee comes out and says the government should thank the PAD is poison to most of you, I believe. But when I watched the PAD coverage and the UDD coverage, it was black and white in the extreme. Of course the PAD did not provide a lot of balance when it came to Ungpakorn and others, but that’s the Yellow shirts. But a lot of their TV coverage was relatively decent compared to the UDD’s TV coverage in which some on stage were actually calling for Prem and Abhisit’s murder!
As to current body count, by the way, is it not UDD-caused two civilian deaths and government zero? Or am I being misled?
Come on Taro, you can do better than this. Maybe he got the amount wrong and meant to refer to the Democrats 2000 baht handouts which people did line up for?
I talked to some Red Shirts who escaped being shot. They said the soldiers fired into the crowd not in to air.
I dont think they were brainwashed/trained for violence .
I dont think they were paid anything for protests.
I heard the violence was done by outsiders posing as RedShirts, some felt it might be Newin’s (blue ?) or Suriyasai Katsila’s (PAD) people or other Third Hand as Sidh says – these Redshirts were bewildered – they just did not know.
What chilled me was the total desperation/ resignation/hopelessness on their faces.
BUT they hate the present Govt -They were ready to die.
As a visitor, I was totally nonplussed to see this.
What injustice could engender such deep hatred that they were ready to die ? These are not fanatic Muslims but Buddhists.
“how do you suggest the “national heroes” are going to be able to come into play?
do you think the “national heroes” should just wait for their opportunity or should they try to build or attach to a constituency that will carry them into position to implement their objectives?”
David Brown: Please read the article Sidh linked to for a clue.
PS, Do you really think it is worthwhile focusing all you rage on a man who is nearly 89 years old?
(I would have thought nature will take it’s course sooner or later)
I support neither Red nor Yellow. Both were disruptive and, in the end, barbaric and lawless. So, how come the Yellows seem to exist with such impunity? A disturbing number of people are so quick to condemn the Reds (to everlasting torment in hell – I’m gathering this mostly from comments in Thai), yet seem content to leave the Yellows untouched on their ridiculously righteous high horse.
Are our memories that short? Or are those supporters really so brainwashed – to actually not see any violence and rampant lawlessness in the Yellows’ actions over those many, many months: occupying and defiling government offices (costing millions in repairs), shooting guns in the street, diverting traffic, beating police officers, brandishing sticks and batons, inspecting regular civilians in their cars as they drove up to the useless airport – and they continue to act like they own the country.
Are there any analysts out there who support neither Red nor Yellow? We need balance and impartiality. In the meantime, it would be a relief if more people would acknowledge the hypocrisy of it all, without waving a flag for either side.
A first rate article. Well done.
You write that the role of the monarchy is changing, and we may well be in for a switch perhaps as important as 1932. But I wonder if what we are seeing is more of a fight for _all_ political authority – not just between monarchy and critics – but within the critics as well. I think we all know Sondhi Limthongkul was talking about himself when he said ‘we fight for the King.’ Thaksin is also talking about himself when he criticizes Prem. Are we actually watching a fight between the non-royals for who has the largest voice, and the old elite don’t really have someone to counter them?
Interesting to see massive corruption as the point most often offered as the reason why Thaksin is bad for Thailand, given that he has been convicted on only one flimsy case in which his wife was the actual wrongdoer. If I remember correctly, there were other much bigger allegations of corruption against him, e.g. the kickbacks for Suvarnabhumi Airport, including the infamous CTX machines. This suggests to me that too many important and influential people would be implicated if those other cases were to be investigated and brought to trial.
And as to why Thais don’t care about his carte blanche death sentence on drug dealers or the Tak Bai and Krue Se incidents? Probably for the same reason. If we are to have rule of law as promised by the Abhisit government, all these cases should be pursued without fear or favor, and let the chips fall where they may.
The Reds have dispersed now and it may be an irony that the riots may have contributed to a lower death tally over the Songkran holiday, notorious for high casualties on the road. I will be sleeping a bit more soundly tonight, that is certain.
Well put Ngandeeleg #9 and #11. PMThaksin’s wild, extremely high-risk gamble seem to have put a huge dent in his and his Reds credibility in the country and internationally. Dantampa #12 may emotionally proclamation on the “death of journalism” but the huge footages of Reds excessive violence as well as the security forces reactions provide ample evidence otherwise. Surely this is NOT the way to ‘fight’ for democracy – and worse, especially if the ‘fight’ gets totally muddled up with the very personal interests of one man. Just to investigate Dantampa’s grief further, if we only read today’s ‘Postbag’ from Bangkok Post, maybe there are grounds for ‘biased’ journalism as the ~10 letters were almost universal condemnation of the Reds and PMThaksin (a rare event from my almost daily reading of the column):
But then there’s also more evenhanded opinion pieces from KhunRosana Tositrakul, who condemns both the coup makers and PMThaksin, and David Streckfuss piece, calling for all – PMThaksin and co, coup makers, PAD and UDD to be held accountable in the court of law:
I thought the political cartoon on the editorial is also a classic, with a poor farmer’s family on a buffalo disoriented by the traffic light which has Red foot-clapper light, Yellow hand-clapper light and Green tank light! I hope the next evolution in Thai democracy sincerely addresses their livelihood more, while also transparently engaging them in the process.
Frankly, and it is worth mentioning, I am also very surprised by huge improvements in crowd/riot control that is, apparently, much more planned and purposeful and a huge contrast to the haphazardness of the recent (Oct 7th comes to mind) – even very recent pass at the ASEAN summit. That clearly made the critical difference and PMThaksin did not get the bloodshed nor the coup that he seemed to desire.
What next for the Red? It is probably best to end this marriage of convenience. For one those that are fighting for PMThaksin’s interests should separate themselves from the others that genuinely want political reform – as the minimal lesson from these very dramatic past few days is that you can’t get one with the other…
The whole thing now seems to have backfired badly against Thaksin and he will probably now quite correctly be facing treason charges for inciting violent insurrection which will make it hard for any amnesty to include him. His interviews claiming pathetically (in English) that the military was hiding dead bodies of protestors and (in Thai) talking about red shirts lining up to receive their Baht 500 payments make him loose even more credibility as the “champion of democracy”. I wonder what his next throw of the dice will look like.
As Sidh has said, Thaksin has yet again tripped on his own impatience. Those who genuinely want to campaign for social and politcal reform should dump him fast and find alternative sources of funding.
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Crackdown on the reds?
nganadeeleg #61
thank you for your lazy response… David Streckfuss’ article is good but gives no practical advice on how the wished for heroes might appear and act
I have no rage at Prem, I just asked you if you think he and his senior generals are helping (or in case he dies right now) have helped advance Thailand toward your institutional ideals… do you think they have?
I am hoping you will answer a simple question (just once please)
Thailand’s royal sub-plot
Many may have missed some online footage from yesterday morning showing Thai soldiers shooting the protesters. That footage also showed a body being thrown in a military vehicle, and someone cleaning up blood. A couple of hours later, there is new footage showing the army shooting up in the air. And, most Thai’s considered to be in the red camp do not have the access to Internet that many in the yellow camp have.
One cannot properly take one side unless they have found all of the facts for both. The facts of any matter do not become false simply because you choose not to believe them. The most blind people in the world are not those who are blind in the eyes. Those who are most blind are those who refuse to see.
Here are some interesting tidbits for some of you to consider.
Thaksin has faults, and many. But, he accomplished much in bringing the poor a little better standard of living. But then, the royalists feel that the poor are too ignorant to vote.
There is evidence that the royalists were getting fed up with what they considered to be more respect for Thaksin than there was for the monarchy, and this fueled the 2006 coup.
Where was the military when the airport was shut down last year?
The yellow protesters at the airport were paid. Sadly, the yellow protesters were paid with bogus 1000 baht notes.
The red shirts are mostly working class. They lose much of their meager wages to come and protest.
I believe Thailand must either move towards a British type of government where the monarchy is loved and respected, or they may default to becoming more communist.
Thailand’s crown prince
Some problem about king’s family.
However our king himself is very good.
There is no any Thai politician dare to declare against him.
Or else “the politician” will be kicked by Thai people (especially from rural area).
Thailand’s royal sub-plot
P.S. to Khun Ralph Kramden,
It’s another Aphisit gov scheme. This one is 500 Bht for the elderly over 60 years old (hence Thaksin’s mention of his own soon to be 60 years of age). The 2000 Baht scheme is for people with salary income under 15000 per month.
All the same, one can hardly believe the seriousness many of the Yellow Shirts are now taking this issue. It’s all over the internet.
Photos of the crisis in Thailand
Thaksin’s desire to create martyrs for his great cause (essentially pride and 73 billion baht) is unsuprising. His call for the red shirts bring their children along for the cause is also true to form. What I find much harder to comprehend is the motivation behind Jim Taylor, David Brown & co’s collaboration in the creation of fictional martyrs when the real thing failed to materialize. Are they really so desperate & disapointed?
Thailand’s royal sub-plot
The charge that “Taro” (#5 above) and many Yellow Shirts are now making on the internet must be ranked among the stupidest in recent years, along side perhaps one about Thaksin’s name on Thai flag.
When I listened to that particular speech live, I got it right away that Thaksin meant to be a sarcasm on the Aphisit gov’s 500 Bath for the elderly (over 60 years old). I have since listened and watched that part of the speech many times and each time still have the same understanding, which by the way any normal, non-paranoid Thai listener would have get it.
Like the issue of Thaksin’s name on the flag, or the issue of the tiny Thai flag with the words “Long Live the King” on it in some pro-Thaksin rallies, this 500 Bahts accusations by the Yellow Shirts shows how paranoid, stupid bunch of people they are. I have absolutely no doubt that it explains a lot why they are ‘royalists’.
Thailand’s royal sub-plot
^ Pathetic Ty! People like you know full well that this man’s corruption knows no bounds. And you still expect ordinary people to be able to produce evidence against him & corrupt others in a justice system that has been deliberately nobbled to favor the rich, powerful & corrupt. You have obviously confused yourself. In case you hadn’t noticed, there are more than two sides in this argument. The Thaksinites and their enemies act like there can only ever be two sides to the argument. Some of us have no desire to remain the slaves of either side – having found both completely deficient in the way they run the country.
Thailand’s royal sub-plot
^ Heclau – You seem to be saying how can we possibly expect Thaksin – as an integral member of the elite – to be any less corrupt than his poo-yai partners-in-crime in the uniformed services.
‘Student’ has a right to expect a much better deal from those who constantly tell us they know better. You intellectuals have totally lost the plot. Are you seriously proposing we cut a piece of slack for the parasite Thaksin just because he is just as corrupt as the rest of his awful class. Truly pathetic.
Especially since it is corruption that has actually rendered this country incapable of taking any real action against criminals in suits. Corruption is destroying an already very weak system of justice.
Thaksin has NOTHING to teach anyone here about democracy or justice. Furthermore, I don’t even view him as a competent businessman – since he only seemed to do well when he could fix the rules to suit himself. He was also a lousy policeman. And precisely what did they teach him about criminality at Sam Houston University?
The yellow lesson
Not quite sure whether you are suggesting something or uncomfortable with something. Hypocrisy is a more deeply imbued characteristic than many of us appreciated. Even the way we phrase questions and replies to them carries a great deal of hypocrisy. Part of hypocrisy also lies with our human double standards propensities, one time going one way another time another, to suit the way we deem things to be. Reports of violence and details that are factual and supportable do not often go together, and that is one of the issues in this Red vs. Yellow thing. The first time I saw violence involving the Red and Yellow was when the Yellow were in Udorn and the Reds came in and destroyed their stage, all without any police objection or government condemnation. Surely there is some hypocrisy there.
Frankly, I am really interested in seeing point for point the who, what, where, why, when and how of each incident rather than cite numbers or occasions and assign blame to this side or that. Any of my defenses of the Yellow, by the way, are of course somewhat prejudicial, and will be amended based on hard evidence. the issue of the airport, for example: the idea that the airport was not shut down by the PAD is unacceptable to most readers here, I think. Yet, people go on saying they are not prosecuted because they are the PAD, and don’t say anything about not being prosecuted because they may not have done anything wrong, in that instance.
That today the president of the Legislative constitutional drafting committee comes out and says the government should thank the PAD is poison to most of you, I believe. But when I watched the PAD coverage and the UDD coverage, it was black and white in the extreme. Of course the PAD did not provide a lot of balance when it came to Ungpakorn and others, but that’s the Yellow shirts. But a lot of their TV coverage was relatively decent compared to the UDD’s TV coverage in which some on stage were actually calling for Prem and Abhisit’s murder!
As to current body count, by the way, is it not UDD-caused two civilian deaths and government zero? Or am I being misled?
Thailand’s royal sub-plot
Come on Taro, you can do better than this. Maybe he got the amount wrong and meant to refer to the Democrats 2000 baht handouts which people did line up for?
Crackdown on the reds?
I talked to some Red Shirts who escaped being shot. They said the soldiers fired into the crowd not in to air.
I dont think they were brainwashed/trained for violence .
I dont think they were paid anything for protests.
I heard the violence was done by outsiders posing as RedShirts, some felt it might be Newin’s (blue ?) or Suriyasai Katsila’s (PAD) people or other Third Hand as Sidh says – these Redshirts were bewildered – they just did not know.
What chilled me was the total desperation/ resignation/hopelessness on their faces.
BUT they hate the present Govt -They were ready to die.
As a visitor, I was totally nonplussed to see this.
What injustice could engender such deep hatred that they were ready to die ? These are not fanatic Muslims but Buddhists.
t4e
On the Songkran crisis of 2009
To the victor goes the spoils, that’s all I can say. Ok maybe a little bit more.
Just to recap:
Pads occupy streets, govt house, disrupt economy and kill prople. -Army chiefs ask Govt to resign.
Reds occupy streets, govt house, disrupt economy and kill people – Army brings in border division and hose down demonstrators
Only IQ 40 required to decipher message.
I am all for peace, but one have to be at least intellectually honest.
Crackdown on the reds?
“how do you suggest the “national heroes” are going to be able to come into play?
do you think the “national heroes” should just wait for their opportunity or should they try to build or attach to a constituency that will carry them into position to implement their objectives?”
David Brown: Please read the article Sidh linked to for a clue.
PS, Do you really think it is worthwhile focusing all you rage on a man who is nearly 89 years old?
(I would have thought nature will take it’s course sooner or later)
The yellow lesson
I’m having a hard time dealing with hypocrisy.
I support neither Red nor Yellow. Both were disruptive and, in the end, barbaric and lawless. So, how come the Yellows seem to exist with such impunity? A disturbing number of people are so quick to condemn the Reds (to everlasting torment in hell – I’m gathering this mostly from comments in Thai), yet seem content to leave the Yellows untouched on their ridiculously righteous high horse.
Are our memories that short? Or are those supporters really so brainwashed – to actually not see any violence and rampant lawlessness in the Yellows’ actions over those many, many months: occupying and defiling government offices (costing millions in repairs), shooting guns in the street, diverting traffic, beating police officers, brandishing sticks and batons, inspecting regular civilians in their cars as they drove up to the useless airport – and they continue to act like they own the country.
Are there any analysts out there who support neither Red nor Yellow? We need balance and impartiality. In the meantime, it would be a relief if more people would acknowledge the hypocrisy of it all, without waving a flag for either side.
Thailand’s royal sub-plot
A first rate article. Well done.
You write that the role of the monarchy is changing, and we may well be in for a switch perhaps as important as 1932. But I wonder if what we are seeing is more of a fight for _all_ political authority – not just between monarchy and critics – but within the critics as well. I think we all know Sondhi Limthongkul was talking about himself when he said ‘we fight for the King.’ Thaksin is also talking about himself when he criticizes Prem. Are we actually watching a fight between the non-royals for who has the largest voice, and the old elite don’t really have someone to counter them?
Thailand’s royal sub-plot
Interesting to see massive corruption as the point most often offered as the reason why Thaksin is bad for Thailand, given that he has been convicted on only one flimsy case in which his wife was the actual wrongdoer. If I remember correctly, there were other much bigger allegations of corruption against him, e.g. the kickbacks for Suvarnabhumi Airport, including the infamous CTX machines. This suggests to me that too many important and influential people would be implicated if those other cases were to be investigated and brought to trial.
And as to why Thais don’t care about his carte blanche death sentence on drug dealers or the Tak Bai and Krue Se incidents? Probably for the same reason. If we are to have rule of law as promised by the Abhisit government, all these cases should be pursued without fear or favor, and let the chips fall where they may.
On the Songkran crisis of 2009
The Reds have dispersed now and it may be an irony that the riots may have contributed to a lower death tally over the Songkran holiday, notorious for high casualties on the road. I will be sleeping a bit more soundly tonight, that is certain.
Well put Ngandeeleg #9 and #11. PMThaksin’s wild, extremely high-risk gamble seem to have put a huge dent in his and his Reds credibility in the country and internationally. Dantampa #12 may emotionally proclamation on the “death of journalism” but the huge footages of Reds excessive violence as well as the security forces reactions provide ample evidence otherwise. Surely this is NOT the way to ‘fight’ for democracy – and worse, especially if the ‘fight’ gets totally muddled up with the very personal interests of one man. Just to investigate Dantampa’s grief further, if we only read today’s ‘Postbag’ from Bangkok Post, maybe there are grounds for ‘biased’ journalism as the ~10 letters were almost universal condemnation of the Reds and PMThaksin (a rare event from my almost daily reading of the column):
http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/15025/udd-brings-disgrace
But then there’s also more evenhanded opinion pieces from KhunRosana Tositrakul, who condemns both the coup makers and PMThaksin, and David Streckfuss piece, calling for all – PMThaksin and co, coup makers, PAD and UDD to be held accountable in the court of law:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/15022/no-people-power-crusade-this
http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/15024/a-call-for-real-national-heroes-stand-and-be-judged
I thought the political cartoon on the editorial is also a classic, with a poor farmer’s family on a buffalo disoriented by the traffic light which has Red foot-clapper light, Yellow hand-clapper light and Green tank light! I hope the next evolution in Thai democracy sincerely addresses their livelihood more, while also transparently engaging them in the process.
Frankly, and it is worth mentioning, I am also very surprised by huge improvements in crowd/riot control that is, apparently, much more planned and purposeful and a huge contrast to the haphazardness of the recent (Oct 7th comes to mind) – even very recent pass at the ASEAN summit. That clearly made the critical difference and PMThaksin did not get the bloodshed nor the coup that he seemed to desire.
What next for the Red? It is probably best to end this marriage of convenience. For one those that are fighting for PMThaksin’s interests should separate themselves from the others that genuinely want political reform – as the minimal lesson from these very dramatic past few days is that you can’t get one with the other…
Thailand’s royal sub-plot
I now declare Thaksin’s supporters, You are officially People of 500 Baths (PO500 group)
Keep up your work. Your daily 500 bahts will make you rich one day. ^_^;;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5K6bGlnirgk
Imagine the gridlock: Is this how it’s going to happen?
The whole thing now seems to have backfired badly against Thaksin and he will probably now quite correctly be facing treason charges for inciting violent insurrection which will make it hard for any amnesty to include him. His interviews claiming pathetically (in English) that the military was hiding dead bodies of protestors and (in Thai) talking about red shirts lining up to receive their Baht 500 payments make him loose even more credibility as the “champion of democracy”. I wonder what his next throw of the dice will look like.
As Sidh has said, Thaksin has yet again tripped on his own impatience. Those who genuinely want to campaign for social and politcal reform should dump him fast and find alternative sources of funding.
Montesano on Thailand’s crisis
Thanks, Polo … Please drop me a line at my ISEAS e-mail address some time; it’s on the Web-site.