Good afternoon,

UN Special Envoy to Burma Ibrahim Gambari has met top junta leaders, although arrests are still continuing in the country (http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=8853). It is difficult to see what the envoy can do, though and nothing is likely to change without more effective external force. This of course includes the China angle (http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/IJ03Ad03.html). Information on the unknown number of dead, injured and detained is hard to find (http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=8850) and journals have been forced to stop publishing for lack of anything they are able to report (http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=8851).

US Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns has expressed America’s desire for the true restoration of democracy in Thailand and the removal of the army from politics (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/10/03/politics/politics_30051141.php). That is not likely to happen any time soon, with chief of the junta General Sonthi Boonyaratkalin having now been confirmed as deputy prime minister (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/10/03/headlines/headlines_30051119.php). Junta-appointed ‘prime minister’ General Surayud Chulanont is, however, planning to become ‘interior minister’ as well (http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/03Oct2007_news01.php). Five ‘cabinet members’ have resigned over share ownership scandals. Let’s hope General Sonthi has sorted out his portfolio with full transparency, eh? Oh. ‘Someone inside the government’ is trying to prevent a debate on the ethical behaviour of the ‘cabinet’ in the junta-appointed NLA (parliament substitute) (http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=122278).

The sea is getting warmer – too warm for the turtles, who are facing some upheaval as a result (http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/03Oct2007_news09.php). The number of sea turtles on Malaysia’s beaches has declined from 2,000 to 500 over the last decade.

Back tomorrow.