Good afternoon,

The first of the rotten apples has fallen: Witoon Nambutr has been forced to resign as Social Development Minister after corruption allegations related to the purchase of tins of rotten fish which were then distributed to villagers. He is likely to be replaced by fellow Ubon Ratchathani PADemocrat MP Issara Somchai – the government apparently wishes to keep an Isan region MP in government, no matter how unsuited to office. It is like being the only Tory in Scotland – you have to be pretty poor not to get a front bench seat of some sort.

This is our Foreign Minister (one of the PAD quota in the cabinet, according to some people anyway) (thanks to Prachathai):

Quotes of Kasit Piromya on the PAD stage at Government House

Oct 15, 2008

(Source: mms://tv.manager.co.th/videoclip/11News1/Footage/Kasit_151008_H.wmv)

‘…Our politicians and generals have made a mistake that seriously jeopardizes the dignity of Thailand, by allowing Hun Sen, a fledgling, a rogue across the border, to give his ultimatum. Who the heck do you think you are, Hun Sen?’

‘Hun Sen has fought with us for 20-30 years since he was Khmer Rouge, gave in to the Vietnamese, and turned against us. He has always been hostile to us. Maybe it’s a feeling inherent in his blood. He can’t help it as he was born to kill Thais, and dislike Thais. So when there’s a chance to humiliate Thais, he won’t hesitate to do so. And, secondly, he might be insane. He‘s a Cambodian warlord who doesn’t know what peace is, or what negotiation is. He’d only gain from the dispute. The UN should be advised to send psychiatrists to cure Hun Sen.’

‘[Hun Sen] is the Vietnamese Communist Party’s underling. He might have been told to keep meddling with Thailand so that foreign investment would pour into Vietnam, instead of Thailand.’

This is the man who repeatedly spoke on the PAD stage in favour of seizing the two airports. The Pro-Democracy movement has as one of its main demands the removal of this creature, which the Quisling has refused.

More evidence of the ill-treatment of the Rohingya people by the Thai military has emerged after 220 people were picked up off the coast of Aceh after 21 days adrift with insufficient food and water.

Back tomorrow.