Good afternoon,

It is December 26^th, Boxing Day, which is now remembered as the Anniversary of the 2004 Tsunami. More than 5,000 people were killed by the Tsunami in six southern provinces – with more than one quarter of a million around the world killed – and, even today four years later, some 400 bodies still remain in Thailand unidentified and unclaimed. It is not known, of course, how many of these unfortunate people were unregistered Burmese migrants. We should not of course forget the many thousands of Burmese still suffering the after-effects of Cyclone Nargis and denied proper assistance either by the Burmese government or by the international community, which has blocked so much assistance.

Apparently 75% of entrepreneurs are now facing cash flow problems – of course, pretty much all entrepreneurs suffer from cash flow problems on a fairly regular basis: it is, after all, the number one reason for the closure of small businesses (unless that has changed in the years since I last looked at the figures). The Labour Congress of Thailand has called on army appointed PADemocrat PM Abhisit to establish a panel to ensure business and workers are not cheated by the current economic problems, caused by the PAD Disaster and the global economic crisis. Previous Democrat governments have followed right-wing Washington Consensus style policies which failed before (after 1997) and would be wholly disastrous now.

On the way to the office, we passed a group of perhaps 200 (I find it difficult to estimate numbers accurately) motor cycle taxi drivers with red kerchiefs and other symbols to show their pro-democracy feelings. Red-shirts (it is a form of synecdoche with which we have become familiar) are promising to continue their protests until the current (and they believe illegitimate because of the silent coup that gave it power) government is brought down. Few people seem to think this government will last any longer than three months, when the first vote of no confidence becomes possible.

Back on Monday I expect.

Scream Bluebirds, scream as your boys are torn to pieces by the mighty Biscuitmen. Well, let’s hope so, eh?