Good morning,

The Olympic torch has arrived in Bangkok amid some concerns about security and demonstrations. The plane carrying the torch landed on the military part of Don Muang Airport in the middle of the night. People (especially foreigners) are being warned not to protest about China, Tibet, human rights or, indeed, anything else. There will be a grand reception tonight at the headquarters of Kasikorn Bank, presided over by HRH Crown Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, who has a longstanding interest in Chinese culture. I’d stay away (not least because of the extensive rain storms being predicted) because no one is keen on insulting ‘Big Brother’ Chinese these days. Chinese officials, it is reported, do not trust Thai police enough to allow them anywhere near the torch. At least the martial law is being lifted in all but the three southern border provinces.

The Songkran Road Traffic Death Toll has risen to 324 people, from a total of 3,955 accidents occurring from April 11^th-16^th this year.

Foreign Minister Noppadol Pattama has urged authorities not to persecute those poor illegal Burmese migrant workers who survived the horrific deaths of more than 50 of their compatriots in a sealed truck the other day. It is common, in cases such as this which usually involve fewer numbers and are, therefore, lower profile, for the migrants to be swiftly prosecuted and kicked out. The whole system is rotten,

My not-terribly new article The Drugs Trade in Southeast Asia has been published at Newsflavor and a recycled Fireworks article has been published at Suite 101.

Back on Monday.

0-5, alas.