Good morning,

Amnesty International has called on the Thai government to cease the army’s systematic use of torture in the South. It says that Thai military forces frequently use torture and beatings to intimidate those suspected of being separatists, to compensate for poor intelligence-gathering and to try to obtain evidence. This has, of course, been going on for years – the military is routinely beyond the reach of governments, even those which have been democratically elected in fair elections. Consider how the PADemocrat government, given power by army intervention, is wholly unlikely even to bother to try to prevent the military doing whatever it wants. There is no point expecting Abhisit to show any integrity or suddenly to grow a backbone now.

Meanwhile, Abhisit has rewarded more senior PAD leaders by giving them lucrative ‘advisor’ posts when they should, of course, be facing trial for terrorism, kidnapping, murder and theft charges, among many others. The PAD also received the foreign ministry post as part of the deal brokered by (several disguised names deleted on second thoughts – safety first) to put the PADemocrats into power, thereby preserving wealth and power in its customary places. How effective the Silent, Judiciary Coup seems to have been. Presumably this will be the weapon of choice for the aforementioned to prevent democracy breaking out again in the future.

Exports are being forecast to shrink by 1.6% this year (I expect it will be more than that) owing to the global economic crisis. Exports are essential to the Thai economy, as is tourism, which was devastated by the PAD Disaster.

Back tomorrow, at some stage.