Good afternoon,

The year’s weirdest story has taken a new turn. After listing thirteen common herbs as ‘hazardous substances’ for no readily apparent reason, the Industry Ministry initially claimed it would withdraw the listing as a result of the wholly predictable public outcry. Today, the Bangkok Post reports that not only has the Ministry not acted with respect to the herbs but has instead delisted a number of actually dangerous substances – including sulphur, copper sulphate and cobalt-60. Since the Democrats are now in charge, people naturally assume there is some form of corruption involved and suspect certain individuals of benefiting from this decision. Ten companies, for example, are facing criminal charges over sulphur importing problems over the past few years and this new ruling could save them billions of baht in fines. I have no idea what is motivating the relevant department but this is the legacy of being part of a Party and its leadership for which corruption is a synonym. It’s a wonder that people voted them into power. Eh? Oh.

Some of the buses on Bangkok’s resplendent boulevards are up to 54 years old – and most are older than is really desirable, given that so many of them belch out endless clouds of black smoke and are inefficient in using fuel. Well, the Transport Ministry is planning new regulations to reduce the age of active buses. So that will mean more testing and form-filling – let’s hope it is conducted in a spirit of transparency and willingness to comply strictly with the rule of law and not pass tea money around.

The Airports of Thailand (AoT) lost 1.7 billion baht in the fourth quarter of last year, which is the first recorded loss since listing on the Stock Exchange of Thailand in 2004. The reason is the seizure of Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang Airports by the heavily-armed anti-democracy PAD mob in December. No charges have yet been brought against the ringleaders of this disgraceful series of acts, even though every moment was televised and the crimes and thei criminals who committed them are ,in most cases, well known to the public. See story 1.

Back tomorrow.