Good morning,

Up to 90,000 contract workers at government sector hospitals are threatening to go on strike if their demand to receive benefits not currently being paid to them is not met. The benefits are due to be paid to the workers in the three southern provinces and were paid until 2006, when they were stopped on a legal technicality (before or after the military coup?). Workers are also asking for a rise in their basic salary of 6,800 baht, owing to the rise in commodity prices. The number of unemployed in Thailand is being forecast now at 1.4 million (3.7% of the workforce), if the economy continues at the same rate. Some more optimistic forecasts are provided but, if anything, these figures seem optimistic already.

The reason why the previous Democrat government of Chuan Leekphai was thrown out on its ear by the unhappy electorate was because of its relentless incompetence and corruption. One of the principal causes of that corruption was the so-called Land Reform Scheme, which ended up allocating huge amounts of land to rich people associated with the Democrat Party and the poor farmers even more disenfranchised and destitute than ever before. It is little surprise, then, the army-appointed Quisling Abshisit Vejjajiva has decided to/been instructed to re-introduce the scheme. The workshy PM claims that it will all be different now and no such corruption or illegality will take place, although he had precious little evidence to support this dubious assertion.

The Bangkok Post yesterday had a positive story about transgendered performers entitled ‘Are You Man Enough to be a Woman?’ The recent redesign of the paper (About which I was initially cynical and pessimistic) is actually producing some quite good stories.

Back tomorrow.

Slaughtered by the pernicious Swans. Tear down the stadium; sow salt into the furrows; abandon all hope. Can we get that Kaka guy in on a loan until the end of the season?