Good morning,

Police reprisals against the pro-democracy demonstrators continued as nine leaders were ordered to report to police stations for a period of detention. They are accused of offences such as ‘using loudspeakers without permission’ and ‘holding illegal processions blocking traffic’ (http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/27Jul2007_news01.php). The nine are PTV executives Chatuporn Promphan, Jakrapob Penkair and Nattawut Saikua; PTV president Veera Musikhapong; Viputhalaeng Pattanaphumthai, spokesman for the Saturday Voice Against Dictatorship; Weng Tojirakarn, adviser to the Confederation for Democracy; Jaran Ditthapichai, former member of the National Human Rights Commission; Manit Jitjanklab, former chief justice of the Criminal Court; and Apiwant Viriyachai, a former Thai Rak Thai party MP. Pro-democracy demonstrators protested outside.

In another sign that Thailand is sliding back into the bad old days of personality politics without ideology comes with the announcement from Chai-anan Samudavanija that he is considering entering into politics once again (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30042577). The country is retreating from democracy, according to this story from the Asia Times (http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/IG27Ae01.html).

The junta continues its policy of deporting refugees from Thai soil as 40 Rohingya people were deported to Burma yesterday (http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=8002). Another hundred or so people will be returned to their parlous fate shortly. Thousands of Hmong people in refugee camps in the Northeast region are being sent back to Laos, although they are not really wanted there, particularly after the Vang Pao attempted coup story.

Today’s story at Suite 101 is “Climate Change in Southeast Asia,” the first of three articles on this subject (http://easianaffairs.suite101.com/article.cfm/climate_change_in_southeast_asia_1). If I have time, I will do another history one this morning and top up the World Affairs stream.

Back on Tuesday – Monday is a holiday because of the start of Thai Buddhist Lent (get up early, donate to monks, don’t drink etc).