Good afternoon,

The Preah Vihear temple complex has been closed by Cambodian authorities after more clashes between Thai and Cambodian forces led to two dead on either side and another nine Thai soldiers injured. In an obvious lie otherwise unsupported assertion, Democrat spokesperson Thepthai Senpong has claimed that Thaksin Shinawatra was also in Cambodia at the same time. Perhaps Khun Thepthai would be better advised monitoring the bizarre statements continuing to emanate from the Foreign Ministry. The PAD’s KAsit Piromya has likened Khun Thaksin to the Dalai Lama. As Bangok Pundit sagaciously observes, Kasit is ‘pure comedy gold’ – although making Thailand a laughing stock in the eyes of the world is perhaps not what is normally expected from the Foreign Minister.  

Coup leaders and their cronies are starting to become worried. More lies are being thrown about by the right. A large demonstration by the pro-democracy red-shirt movement tomorrow is, it is rumoured, going to be the time when it all kicks off – then again, there have been such rumours before.

Some 900,000 volunteers are supposed to be given three days of training with a view to helping them prevent drink-driving deaths over the forthcoming Songkran holiday. Apparently: “Other activities aimed at reducing the casualties include providing massages to weary drivers and checking their blood pressure.” Does that mean volunteers have the power to stop vehicles and insist on administering medical interventions? Will it be the police doing the massaging? What does it mean? Probably not quite so much as the headlines would have us believe.

My review of the The Merchants’ War by Charles Stross has now been published at Bookideas.

Back tomorrow – yesterday of course was Chakri Day and a public holiday, which I had forgotten about until hearing it on the radio last Friday.