Good evening,

Newly elected governor of Bangkok Sukhumband Paribatra has unveiled his new policies for the capital. They include: “… bolstering the city's economy, reviving tourism, allowing street stalls to operate seven days a week, expanding green areas, and boosting the quality of city-run schools to be on par with prestigious demonstration schools.” Khun Sukhumbhand, who succeeded former governor Apirak who was obliged to resign because of corruption allegations, does not appear to have explained how these many auspicious outcomes would be managed or who he was planning to ask to pay for it all. He also appeared to suggest that the BMA should take ownership of the Skytrain and Subway systems – not sure what their current operators will make of this. Is it going to be forcible expropriation or is he just an over-promoted person with precious little grasp on the complex circumstances involved in governing a large city?

More than one thousand villagers in Mae Sot in Tak Province have filed civil suits against mining companies they accuse of poisoning the environment with cadmium, causing them many severe health problems. The presence of cadmium in the soil has been confirmed by government agencies but the source of it has not been established – the mining companies deny that their zinc mining activities are involved at all. The court will presumably make some decision about culpability, hopefully based on evidence.

General Anupong Paojinda has denied that the army had anything to do with the deaths of hundreds of Rohingya refugees. Various other denials have been issued, with equal levels of credibility. As Bangkok Pundit points out, the only problem with these denials is that they are contradicted by the evident facts.

Back tomorrow.