Good morning,

Thousands of monks and nuns are marching in Burma as part of the so-called ‘Saffron Revolution” (that being the colour of their robes) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7011607.stm). Monks are highly revered in the strongly Buddhist country and the repressive military junta face the question of whether or not to launch yet another military crackdown against the Burmese people (http://www.guardian.co.uk/burma/story/0,,2176570,00.html). The monks, in common with the great majority of the Burmese people, want to see the end to military rule and the return of democracy. The democratically-elected prime minister, Aung San Suu Kyi, has been held in house arrest for more than a decade. The role of the Chinese will be essential, since it has been their financial and political support has sustained the junta for many years (http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,2176620,00.html). US President George W Bush has ordered new sanctions against the country (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/09/25/regional/regional_30050164.php). America is the only country to have operated a consistent and rigid stance of boycotting the country while neighbours and European countries have been more ambivalent, partly for expedience and partly for post-colonial reasons. The discovery of oil and gas in Burmese territory have complicated the situation, since both India and China have powerful reasons for trying to secure regular access to the resources (http://burma.suite101.com/article.cfm/burmese_oil_excites_china_india).

The protests have spread across the whole of Burma, it appears, with protests in the Mon states as well as Rangoon (Yangon) and ethnic minority groups also having joined. Keep up to date with the latest developments courtesy of the Irrawaddy (http://www.irrawaddy.org/).

Proving that he has learnt very little from what is going on next door, junta-appointed ‘prime minister’ General Surayud Chulanont has offered a post in the cabinet to junta leader General Sonthi Boonyaratkalin (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/09/25/politics/politics_30050166.php). The junta leader will take the position of deputy prime minister in charge of security, perhaps because of his spectacular success in dealing with the southern insurgency. Workshy quisling Abhisit Vejjajiva, leader of the Democrat Party, has already leapt up like a useless, yapping dog to say what a good idea this is. I’ve said this before: Abhisit Vejjajiva is not fit for public office. 

A rare piece of good news: Bangkok residents will have to start registering their dogs or risk a fine of 5,000 baht and confiscation of the animal (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/09/25/headlines/headlines_30050084.php). Possibly confiscation will be negotiable for the more well-heeled residents, who can say? However, anything which removes some of the stray dogs from the streets must be a good thing, as far as I am concerned – and, yes, I would be prepared to shoot the damn things myself.

Back tomorrow at some stage.