Good morning,

The pro-democracy red shirt UDD movement has mounted a large-scale protest in central Bangkok and have surrounded Government House (but not entered it). Estimates of the numbers of demonstrators involved range from around 20-40,000 and the numbers will probably increase over the weekend as people come to Bangkok from around the country – although provincial governors have been instructed to prevent people from travelling (Freedom of speech? No. Freedom of association? No.). There has been no suggestion of violence so far – although the quisling and the usual useful idiots in the media are talking up the possibility, presumably to make it more convenient for the army to step in and use violence free from criticism.

A woman who, it is alleged, faked her own death in the 2004 tsunami and then had plastic surgery to change her appearance so as to avoid prosecution over eight billion baht worth of debts, has been arrested. Her husband has also been arrested – the police have been on their trail for four years, it is said, although since the man was arrested at the family home, it seems they may not have been giving the case their undivided attention.

The Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti has revived plans to create three new hydroelectric dams on the Mekong River. Environmentalists have already started to point out the damage this will cause, both to the immediate area and to the flow of water downstream (50 million people rely on the Mekong for income and/or protein). The Minister does not seem to care – the problem (perhaps the underlying issue for which this is a smokescreen) is that China has already built its own upstream dams and there seems to be a bit of back-room haggling with the Chinese government, including a visit to the Chinese Embassy to discuss political issues by a certain charismatic individual who is never involved in politics and will prosecute anyone who says he is.  

Back on Monday.

If we don’t play, then at least we can’t lose.

According to The Nation, re the demonstration: “DAAD co-leader Weng Tojirakarn urged the men to guard the protest site, which surrounds the Government House compound, at night, while women would relieve them during the day.”