Good morning,

Pot and kettle time round two: junta-appointed deputy commerce ‘minister’ Oranuj Osathananda has been forced to resign because of her excessive, secretly-held share holdings (http://www.bangkokpost.com/topstories/topstories.php?id=121952). ABAC polls suggest that a majority people believe that the third pot-kettle merchant, junta-appointed interior ‘minister’ Aree Wongarya is still clinging to his perks, having lost the last shreds of his dignity when he accepted the junta’s coin last year (http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/24Sep2007_news01.php). They are turning on each other now: junta-appointed prime minister’s office ‘minister’ Thirapat Serirangsan has called on Mr Aree to resign, to which he replied by casting aspersions on Mr Thirapat and his relationship with the anti-democracy mob ‘People’s Alliance for Democracy’ (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/09/24/headlines/headlines_30049999.php).

The Burmese monks protests are escalating, with as many as 15,000 now taking to the streets to protest against the repressive military junta under which the long-suffering Burmese people have been enduring (http://www.bangkokpost.com/topstories/topstories.php?id=121953). Nuns are also in attendance in the protests against the ‘evil dictatorship’ (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7009323.stm). The monks also surrounded the much-revered Shwedagon Pagoda. Another 10,000 monks have gathered in Mandalay (http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=8703). As they march, they chant the Metta Sutta, the Buddha’s words on loving kindness.

Eight of a twelve person army patrol were injured after being ambushed by twenty insurgents in the south of Thailand (http://etna.mcot.net/query.php?nid=31788). A woman was shot in front of her home and gunfire was aimed at a school, which is now closed for the safety of students and teachers. Three Muslim people, one a female school teacher, have also been shot dead in their homes over the weekend (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30050004). Junta-appointed ‘prime minister’ General Surayud Chulanont is on some sort of a jaunt in America.

Back tomorrow.