Good afternoon,

The military junta’s attack on democracy and the rule of law continues (http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/12Jun2007_news01.php). The charges are of course absurd. Army henchmen are also trying to place blame for any future violence on Thaksin and his supporters (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/06/12/politics/politics_30036638.php). Clearly, agents provocateurs are already in action among the many thousands protesting against dictatorship. Yesterday, several thousand monks tried to storm one of the gates of parliament as part of their protest to make Buddhism the state religion of the country. Former deputy prime minister and head of UNCTAD Supachai Panitchtpakdi seems to think that if the jackboots explain their position to the international press, all will be well (http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/12Jun2007_news04.php). That seems unlikely.

EGAT – the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand – has announced a six billion dollar (204 billion baht) project to build a nuclear plant by 2020 (http://www.bangkokpost.com/Business/12Jun2007_biz29.php). Nuclear power has been tried before but abandoned over fears about safety and because of the discovery of natural gas. However, power demand is projected to continue increasing in the foreseeable future and alternatives are running low. There seems to have been no meaningful discussion of alternative forms of energy.

A young man with an extra finger is facing discrimination in his fight to get into technical school so as to become a railway engineer like his father (http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/12Jun2007_news02.php). The extra finger has (suddenly) been reclassified as a ‘disability’ which will disqualify him from continuing his studies.

More fresh comment every day at http://www.aseanaffairs.com.

Back tomorrow, one way or another.