Good morning,

Junta-appointed ‘prime minister’ General Surayud Chulanont has denied a junta spokesperson’s claim that Al Qaeda is supporting the southern insurgents (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/01/19/headlines/headlines_30062767.php). However, the general noted, the insurgents are ‘inspired’ by the Al Qaeda network and that it was possible that funding and support was coming from somewhere overseas.

Nearly 1,000 athletes have gathered at Nakhon Ratchasima in order to take part in the 4^th ASEAN Para-Games (http://www.bangkokpost.com/Sports/19Jan2008_sport03.php). This is the biggest event of its kind in the Southeast Asian region – people often suffer from discrimination in addition to issues relating to their disability resulting from the attitude that some people have that reincarnated bodies or current luck reflect the karmic condition – i.e., if you have a disability, then it is because you have done something bad in a previous life. Not everyone believes this and people have told me that this contradicts the words of the Buddha and Buddhist teaching. Nevertheless, the feeling is there – it is what Glenn Hoddle said, for example, to attract the sack.

‘Irresponsible marketing’ by the Dee Dee brand people is being blamed for a bomb scare in the Lat Phrao area yesterday (http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/19Jan2008_news02.php). Yellow-wrapped packs were left at bus stops with handwritten notes telling punters where more could be bought. The police have sent the company a stiff letter, warning them about causing public chaos and wasting police time.

My article on an update on Thai politics, which I tried to publish at Suite 101, has been published via Triond at Quazen (http://www.quazen.com/News/Current-Events/Thai-Politics-Update.75342). Let us see if anyone reads it.

Back possibly tomorrow or else on Monday.