Good morning,

The Stock Exchange of Thailand dropped another 3% yesterday (http://www.bangkokpost.com/Business/17Aug2007_biz01.php), largely in response to the sub-prime scandal in America and the possibility of high-profile bankruptcies there. Exchanges throughout the region are feeling the pressure and the Philippine government has been supporting its currency, as has apparently the Malaysian. Chief of the SET blames external factors only (http://etna.mcot.net/query.php?nid=31098). There is, therefore, no need to panic (http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=120914).

The 8,000 Hmongs forced out of Thailand by the junta will be placed in a special ‘holding centre’ near to Vientiane (http://www.bangkokpost.com/topstories/topstories.php?id=120925). It might, depending on perspective, also be termed an outdoor prison, presumably. There is a story about 20 young long-necked Karen women in the north and their life (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/08/17/national/national_30045367.php). That is another story which could be written two ways, at least.

‘Bogus’ postal workers are being reported as delivering anti-junta constitution material (http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/17Aug2007_news01.php). Those dreadful anti-junta people, is there nothing to which they will not stoop?

Today’s article on Suite 101 is the first of three stories entitled “An Indonesian Economic Quickstep” (http://indonesia.suite101.com/article.cfm/an_indonesian_economic_quickstep).

Back on Monday, when we should have some kind of post-referendum result (and talk of extradition will magically disappear).