Good morning,

The new commander of the army is to be General Anupong Paochinda (http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/20Sep2007_news01.php). He has started by making the right noises about returning the army to the barracks and not mounting another military coup irrespective of the results of any general election. However, the reshuffle is organised by junta-leader General Sonthi Boonyaratkalin and the line-up of commanders of active forces is a little more concerning, especially if the ISOC laws are passed. The Nation is also following the line that Anupong is less likely to keep the military at the forefront of politics (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/09/20/headlines/headlines_30049611.php). This is MCOT on the same issue (http://etna.mcot.net/query.php?nid=31758).

A new report projects salary increases in Thailand rising 4.7% next year (http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=121853), which would be approximately in the middle of East Asia generally. Economic growth is projected to rise some 4-5% nest year (http://www.bangkokpost.com/Business/20Sep2007_biz39.php).

Discussions over the compensation payments to passengers on the One Two Go flight which crashed at Phuket airport have begun (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/09/20/headlines/headlines_30049612.php). Expect this to take some time to finalise.

Recent published articles at Suite 101 include these: The Fruits of Cambodian Growth (http://cambodia.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_fruits_of_cambodian_growth); The Battle of Chakirmout (http://asianhistory.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_battle_of_chakirmaut); Does Unionism Have a Future (in Thailand)? (http://thailand.suite101.com/article.cfm/does_unionism_have_a_future); India’s Look East Policy (http://easianaffairs.suite101.com/article.cfm/indias_look_east_policy) and Vientiane (http://laos.suite101.com/article.cfm/vientiane). There are more in the queue.

Back tomorrow.