Good afternoon,

Eight more people have been murdered in the south by terrorists (http://www.bangkokpost.com/topstories/topstories.php?id=121179). Two public school teachers and six other Thai Buddhists were gunned down. A Muslim woman was killed during a drive-by shooting as well (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30046838).

The ‘duck noodle poet,’ Montree Sriyong, has won the SEA Write prize for 2007 (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/08/29/headlines/headlines_30046936.php). He has his nickname because of running a duck noodle restaurant in Hat Yai. He uses free verse rather than traditional Chantalak Thai rhyming schemes. Let us hope that this prize will result in English translations of at least some of his work.

Junta-appointed ‘prime minister’ General Surayud Chulanont has been complaining about the plan to introduce EU observers to monitor the fairness of the election, given that it will be held under martial law and many people are concerned that some political parties will be selectively impeded (http://etna.mcot.net/query.php?nid=31319). However, the ‘prime minister’ seems to think, not entirely accurately, that this will mean Thailand will be regarded as a ‘failed state.’

Back tomorrow.