Good morning,

Those who fail to learn the mistakes of the past are of course condemned to repeat them – thus, the Bhumjaithai Party: having been roundly rejected by the good people of Sakon Nakhon at this weekend’s by-election, the party will continue with exactly the same tactics (under the title ‘change of plan’) at next weekend’s Si Sa Ket by-election (the party does not have a candidate standing but will be ‘helping’ the Chart Thai Pattana candidate. Their new/exactly the same as the old policy? Spreading lies about Thaksin Shinawatra and intensifying the use of money politics: such as the One Village One Sportsground policy – here we are at a time of global financial crisis, with thousands and ultimately millions of Thai people losing their jobs and their livelihoods and a desperate need for new education, training and jobs and they are promising ‘sports grounds?’ Anyone would think this kind of nonsense was invented by rich people with no understanding of how the poor actually live. Eh? Oh.

One woman is in a serious condition as a result of the H1N1 virus but nobody else is apparently causing concern. There are now 774 confirmed cases in Thailand or 899 if this slightly later update is to be believed, which I suppose it is.

The latest round of disqualifications of MPs for holding shares they should not be holding is expected shortly – as ever, the opposition Pheua Thai party is expected to be disproportionately affected as, in a no way surprising development, the investigation into similar complaints filed against the right-wing military-PAD supported Democrat Party has not been completed yet.

Back – well, not entirely sure. I’m off tonight to Khon Kaen to do a gig for the Mekong Institute and will not be back before Friday evening. Not sure what kind of internet access I will get there or how much time. So I may not be back until next Monday; however, we shall see.