Good morning,

The pro-democracy movement is growing, with demonstrations being held in a number of provincial centres around the country. The rightist media is now portraying this as a ‘pro-Thaksin movement,’ even though it is very clearly not the case that all the red shirt protestors are in favour of the ousted Prime Minister. Even otherwise occasionally sensible commentators are now trying to portray this as a struggle between elites with no relevance to the ‘ordinary people.’ Nothing could be further from the truth – the only hope for the ‘ordinary people’ of Thailand is for the restoration of democracy and the punishment of those guilty of crimes against the people.

The Industrial Production Index shrank by another 23% in February as the disastrous economic recession continues. Automobiles and electronics were the biggest losers, although production is pretty much down across the board. The reliance on a comparatively small number of export products (e.g. the one ton pickup truck) is being revealed as particularly dangerous.

Four presumed insurgents have been shot dead by government services in the south, while two villagers have also been murdered. However, fear not because the puppet Abhisit government has four strategies to solve the problems so cunning that they could be awarded etc and so on. The puppet PM apparently said: “…the four strategies to be implemented in the region include improving the economy, public utilities, judicial system and human development.” So that’s all right then – anyway, all of this blathering can be ignored because the military will not let him do anything in the south, as everybody knows well.

Back tomorrow.