Good afternoon,

Despite the Burmese military having started a crackdown on protests, the brave Burmese monks are prepared to continue their demonstration against the repressive military regime (http://www.bangkokpost.com/topstories/topstories.php?id=122049). Monks have been handing out pictures of wrongly-jailed democratically-elected prime minister Aung San Suu Kyi (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7011655.stm). There is a fear of violence by the army. If it occurs, there are apparently plans to evacuate Thais from the country (http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=122053).

Another one goes: junta-appointed ‘interior minister’ Aree Wongsearaya has been forced to resign for his role in holding excessive shares while being a ‘minister’ (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/09/26/headlines/headlines_30050301.php). People are going around saying that he and the other two junta-appointed ‘ministers’ who have been forced out for their behaviour have not broken the law (why did they resign then?) – but it is noticeable that cases against democratically-elected prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife have suddenly been put on ice (http://etna.mcot.net/query.php?nid=31856). Perhaps it is just a coincidence.

It is possible that head of the junta General Sonthi Boonyaratkalin will further strengthen the army’s stranglehold on Thai politics by taking the Interior Ministry post in addition to becoming Deputy Prime Minister responsible for (whose?) security (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/09/26/headlines/headlines_30050287.php).

My review of Shan Sa’s Empress has been published at Bookideas (http://www.bookideas.com/reviews/index.cfm?fuseaction=displayReview&id=3981) and I have several new articles at Suite 101 (http://www.suite101.com/writer_articles.cfm/jcwalsh).

Back tomorrow.