Good afternoon,

The government must make some serious efforts to tackle emergent and persistent decreases in exports for the next few years, according to former Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak. The global economic problems mean that Thailand’s largest export markets are suffering and cutting down on imports – exchange rates changes do not help either – which means that new markets will be required and real efforts to make Thai products more competitive. The current PADemocrat government has so far shown little understanding of or interest in the true nature of the problems but maybe they will wake up.

In another one-day long policy, Quisling PM Abhisit has apparently told the police to speed up in solving various long unsolved cases, claiming that this would help restore the reputation of the rule of law in Thailand. Mr Abhisit does not seem to have mentioned the fact that the problem with the rule of law in Thailand is dominated by the lack of prosecutions against the leaders of the anti-democracy PAD movement for numerous charges. He also does not appear to have thought about the fact that most of the cases are not unsolved but the results have been suppressed because they are embarrassing (and incriminating) for powerful invisible hand figures. Well, as has long been apparent to people living in Thailand and is now becoming clear to the rest of the world, Abhisit will say anything and do nothing in order to get power. He is unfit for public office.

Thailand (or Peter Reid’s Thailand as they have been officially renamed) will contest the final of the King’s Cup against Denmark, after the latter beat North Korea 1-0. Thailand, meanwhile, got past Lebanon 2-1 in a match which was, apparently marred by fighting between the teams and the visitors storming off the pitch feeling hard done to by some Thai tackling. I did not see the game and, indeed, had forgotten it was taking place so I cannot say whether the scuffling was serious or appeared to be justified in any way.

Back tomorrow – well, possibly. I am slipping off to Singapore tonight for Chinese New Year/my birthday celebrations and I am not sure how much time I will have available.

Anyway, football is all cancelled until the Wolves match.