CrazyExpat

A very unique sort of blood drive is currently underway in Bangkok. Outside Government House, hundreds of Thais have lined up to donate their blood to the cause- the political cause, that is. The bags of blood are not intended for medical use, but are instead being ceremoniously splattered on the gates and pavement of Government House, a visceral and highly visible symbol of anger with the Thai government. The congealed blood decorating Government House is simply the latest stunt of the latest protest against the latest government in Bangkok. Once again, tens of thousands of protestors clad in red have shut down parts of Thailand’s steaming capital in an attempt to force the current prime minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva, to dissolve Parliament. Like the last few times the Red Shirts stormed Bangkok, the likely outcome of the protests will be a messy clean-up job, a handful of deaths- already, two soldiers were wounded when grenades were fired on a Bangkok military camp- and another blow to Thailand’s vital tourism industry, already shaken by the week-long takeover of Bangkok’s international airport in 2008. What we are not likely to see, however, is any sort of meaningful political movement away from the vicious cycle of political in-fighting and corruption that has plagued Thailand’s government and effectively divided the country for the past several years. For those who haven’t been able to keep a close eye on political developments in the Land of Smiles, the current political crisis in Thailand is, on the most basic level, a conflict between the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), commonly known as the Red Shirts, and the New Politics Party (PAD), or the Yellow Shirts. The Red Shirts, led by the exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a 2006 military coup and recently convicted in absentia of corruption, are made up largely of the rural poor, a vast constituency that swept Shinawatra’s party to victory in the 2001 and 2005 elections. The urban elite, wealthy business owners, and royalists comprise the bulk of the Yellow Shirts, who are led by Prime Minister Vejjajiva. Since the 2006 coup, both parties have alternated between dominating the government and staging massive protests against the government when out of power. At the moment, the Red Shirts want the Vejjajiva administration, which they consider illegitimate, to call elections, which the UDD is likely to win, as it has in the past. The Yellow Shirts, who came into power after a Thai court disbanded the UDD’s predecessor, contend that elections will not resolve the country’s political crisis, and vow that Vejjajiva will serve out the final two years of his term. At the root of the political rancor between the Red Shirts and the Yellow Shirts is a deep societal divide between the two parties. The Yellow Shirts represent the urban elite, and are determined to create a government that supports the interests of that elite. Unfortunately, the Yellow Shirts find themselves at odds with the wishes of the Thai majority, who continue to champion Shinawatra’s populist policies and leadership. The Yellow Shirts have chosen to deal with the tricky issue of the desires of the masses by contending that Shinawatra is hopelessly corrupt, which is true, and that rural Thais are too poorly educated to be responsible voters, which is not. For the past few years, politics have been stuck in a repeating loop: popular votes put the Red Shirts in power, then judicial rulings (and a military coup) find some pretext of electoral fraud or party misdemeanors as an excuse for their removal, paving the way for the Yellow Shirts to take power. Repeat. Compounding the issue is widespread national anxiety over the health of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Thailand’s beloved, long-reigning monarch, who has been a force of stability and constancy throughout the political altercations of the past fifty years. The current cycle of power struggles and protests is not likely to stop anytime soon, though Shinawatra’s power diminishes each day he is forced to stay outside the country. If the Vejjajiva administration lasts another two years, which is likely, then it must call for elections and respect the results. In the meantime, however, the Red Shirts and the Yellow Shirts might choose to do something more productive than protest in the streets: they might look for new leaders. If there is to be any sort of meaningful reconciliation between the political parties both Vejjiajiva and Shinawatra must be replaced by more centrist figures. Vejjiajiva is simply too much a member of the elite class to be accepted by the majority of Thais. Born in England, educated at Eton and Oxford, he is seen as out of touch with the rural Northeast, where locals like to joke that he’d need a passport to visit them. Shinawatra may be popular in that region, but he will never be accepted by the entrenched interests in Bangkok. Charges of corruption and extrajudicial killings during his controversial war on drugs will continue to plague him, as will his inability to return to Thailand without getting arrested. Without new leadership that can be seen as viable by both parties, Thai politics will remain as it is. This is not to say that the country is doomed. Despite the seemingly irreconcilable aims of each side, we should not expect the implosion of Thailand that so many Southeast-Asia watchers seem to relish predicting. As rambunctious as Thai politics may get, they do not hold hostage the well-being of the country, which has a remarkable resilience. Moreover, the political system does have a method of self correction, albeit not the most desirable kind- the military coup. Since becoming a constitutional democracy in 1932, Thailand has seen the military step in a total of 18 times. And yet the country soldiers on. However, Thailand holds the potential for more than it is currently achieving. And to reach that potential, some measure of compromise and stability must be introduced into the political situation. Without effective governance, the country will not be able to reconcile the effects of the rising gap between the rich and the poor, maintain growth in vital industries such as tourism, and commit to building the social and educational infrastructure the country needs. If Thailand seeks to continue calling itself a democracy, then it must effectively take on the political challenges posed by being one. Across the Aisle: The PSA Blog » Understanding Thailand’s Troubles

Reporting from Bangkok, Thailand Protesters seeking to drive the ruling party from power doused the grounds of the Thai prime minister's residence with plastic bags of their own blood Wednesday as they continued their attempt to draw attention to their cause. At the same time, the number of red-shirted protesters camping out across Bangkok dropped by about half, to roughly 50,000, and the Thai stock market hit a two-year high when it became evident the disturbances had been contained. On Sunday, more than 100,000 demonstrators opposed to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva had gathered in Bangkok and pledged to remain until he dissolved parliament and called new elections. The protesters poured gallons of their blood from plastic jugs on Tuesday at the gate of the prime minister's office. Abhisit has not responded to the blood-dousing protests at his office and his residence. He has stayed away from his home since Friday, taking refuge at a military base and otherwise maintaining a low profile. Many of the protesters hope that former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a 2006 coup amid corruption charges and is now in self-imposed exile, will return to power. Riot police protected their eyes with their shields as blood-filled plastic bags arced onto the prime minister's driveway Wednesday along with buckets dumped onto his front gate, leaving coagulated gobs sticking to police boots. The protesters argue that Thailand's traditional centers of power, including the army, wealthy businesspeople and those aligned with the monarchy, aren't representing their interests. "We will curse them, the aristocrats, the powerful people!" Nattawut Saikua, a "Red Shirt" leader, yelled into a megaphone to a throng outside Abhisit's compound Wednesday. "We will curse them with our own blood!" The government has derided the blood curse as a photo-op, and the Thai Red Cross Society has deemed the move wasteful and unhygienic. From an organizational perspective, however, it has rallied Red Shirt supporters, according to Pitch Pongsawat, a political scientist with Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University. "They've shown their audience that they're fighting the government by hurting themselves instead of shedding others' blood," he said. Many poor upcountry Thais support Thaksin, who earned a fortune in the telecommunications industry, for his social policies. After the coup, some of his allies were voted into office, but most were subsequently forced out by court rulings for bribery and fraud. Thaksin, who was stripped by the Supreme Court last month of nearly $1.4 billion of his $2.3-billion-plus fortune on the grounds it was amassed through abuse of power, was in touch this week with his supporters by phone and video from Montenegro, where he has business interests. Protest leaders blame an inner circle from the pro-establishment "Yellow Shirt" camp of engineering the rise of Abhisit's coalition government, which remains weak. "We're just poor people, with no weapons, coming to fight for new elections," said Tunyaluk Chancharoen, 48, a saleswoman, who arrived in Bangkok on a passenger ship chartered by the Red Shirts. "We're not going home until it's over." The protest originally aimed to draw a million followers. By midweek, most of those still in the capital were encamped at a traffic circle. Though the protests have remained largely peaceful, soldiers and police have remained on alert, and experts warned that the movement's lack of leadership could still allow violence to flare. More than 30 countries have cautioned their citizens to avoid parts of Bangkok, and Thai officials say the country has lost $31 million in travel cancellations. Despite the protesters' waning numbers over the course of this week, leaders have promised to keep up the pressure by rotating in more demonstrators from the provinces. Thai prime minister's residence is latest target of blood-dousing protest - latimes.com

(Reuters) - Ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has Montenegrin citizenship and arrived there earlier this week, officials in the Balkan country said on Wednesday, as thousands of his supporters protested in Bangkok. World A brief statement from Montenegrin national police said Thaksin arrived on a private plane from Dubai on March 13 at the Adriatic coastal airport of Tivat. "Mr. Shinawatra is a Montenegrin citizen and is now located in Montenegro," police spokeswoman Tamara Ralevic said in the statement. "Police authorities have no basis to take any action against Mr. Shinawatra." Thaksin was ousted in a military coup in 2006 and was later sentenced in absentia to two years in jail for graft. He fled shortly before his sentence was given and lives mostly in Dubai. Local media have previously reported Thaksin had a Montenegrin passport but the government has yet to explain why the country of 670,000 people granted him citizenship. Thaksin was seen on the Montenegrin coast earlier this week. The police statement Wednesday was the first confirmation of his presence by the authorities. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE62G2QM20100317

Thailand’s anti-government protesters call it a “symbolic sacrifice for democracy”. Bangkok’s royalist elite dismiss it as a PR stunt. The government condemns it as faux “black magic”. Health workers call it a revolting waste of a precious resource. And many others get squeamish simply talking about it. The blood-letting, blood-splashing and blood-pouring by thousands of anti-government protesters in Bangkok has drawn mixed reviews and raised eyebrows even in superstitious and politically-charged Thailand. Bags of blood were poured on the gates and fences of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva’s heavily guarded house. Some were hurled into his compound. Some hit the roof and then burst, spraying droplets of blood. That came a day after blood was poured in front of his office and at his Democrat Party headquarters by the red-shirted protesters, who are supporters of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra. In all, protest leaders claim they collected 600 litres of blood from 60,000 people – about a few teaspoons each — although media have expressed doubt about the figure, which if correct means there was enough blood to fill about 10 typical bathtubs. Reporters and photographers tried in vain to avoid getting hit with bags and droplets of unscreened blood. One soldier was taken away when he said he felt faint at the sight of glistening blood flooding slowly under the gate of the prime minister’s office. “Hundreds of litres of blood of the common people are mixing together to express one common demand — and that demand is for Abhisit to get out!” said protest leader Nattawut Saikua, standing atop a truck-turned-makeshift stage outside the premier’s residence on Wednesday, as thousands of supporters rattled their plastic clappers in the rain. The controversial shock tactic grabbed headlines and captured public attention, but it also raised more questions than answers in mostly Buddhist Thailand which is heavily influenced by Hinduism and superstitious beliefs. On Tuesday, several television channels broadcast live an unorthodox ritual in which a man dressed like a Brahmin priest in white robe cursed the premier as he appeared to bless the blood. That sparked a big debate on Internet web-boards about whether the man was a real priest and whether the ceremony was reminiscent of ancient Khmer black magic. Even as the government dismissed the move and Abhisit was still seen smiling Wednesday, the premier’s Democrat Party is taking no chances. On Tuesday, party workers covered a sacred statue of “the Goddess of the Earth” in the compound of the party headquarters with canvass before the protesters arrived to prevent blood from splattering on the golden deity. A government health team in quarantine suits rushed to the area after protesters left to hose it down with water and antiseptic as other workers repeatedly scrubbed the blood-stained ground. On Wednesday morning, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thuagsuban led a ceremony, lighting incense, offering flowers, and splattering holy water from the Temple of Emerald Buddha “the Goddess of the Earth” statue to beg forgiveness. “It’s bad omen. I can’t believe any democratic movement would resort to this sort of distasteful black magic,” said Chinnaworn Boonyakiat, a party executive and the country’s education minister. The use of black magic, astrology and superstitious ceremonies are common across Thailand’s political spectrum. Thaksin has been accused of seeking to channel the spirit of a 18th century king, a coup leader who toppled him was widely known to consult astrologers, and journalists often quote fortune-tellers about political future of the country. But as the shock begins to subside, observers are wondering what’s next for the protest movement dominated by the rural and urban poor. Many protesters are begining to tire after several days on the streets in scorching tropical heat with little more than wet towels and umbrellas for cover. Big question remains: Will the “red shirt” leaders declare victory and call off their protests now before resuming in future or will they resort to less peaceful and more controversial measures and risk confrontations with authorities in one last effort to force the government to call elections? Arrested man had 1,600 knives in Chicago home - Yahoo! News

ANGKOK - THAI police said on Tuesday they have arrested a Japanese man accused of defrauding people of some US$62 million (S$86.7 million) through investment scams in his home country. Mamoru Nagano, 65, was arrested in the upmarket Sukhumvit area of Bangkok on Monday at the request of the Japanese embassy, said Colonel Wiwat Kamchamnan from the immigration police. Nagano is accused of violating investment law in Japan, defrauding a large number of people of a total of 5.6 billion yen in Hiroshima city. 'He is under detention and will be deported to Japan,' Col Wiwat said. Nagano arrived in Bangkok one month ago on a tourist visa, and his arrest came after his Japanese passport was revoked by the embassy on Monday, the police officer said. -- AFP Japanese held over massive fraud

hiang Mai (Mizzima) – There is no let up in Burmese people visiting Thailand despite demonstrations by the Red Shirts in capital Bangkok, according to the Thai embassy in Rangoon. "More and more Burmese are applying for visa for tourism purposes mainly for the Thai Water Festival," said an embassy official in Rangoon. Thailand's airport statistics reveal that there were a little over 5,000 visitors from Burma during January and February 2010. However, the number has now already gone over 6,500 so far this month.red-shirt-demo4 An agent from the Bangkok-based Association of Thai Travel Agents also confirmed that there is so far no link between tourists coming to Thailand and the on-going protests in the country. They expect more tourists to come to Thailand because of the water festival in April. Thailand celebrates water festival this year on 13-15 April. A travel agent’s official in Bangkok said, "About 8,000 Burmese tourists came to Thailand during last year's water festival. This year, the number will not to be less than that". She added that supporters of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra are making demands to the government. However, tourism will be affected if the protesters seize or block the airports. Among the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Malaysia is the country which accounts for the most tourists to Thailand with an average of more than 100,000 Malaysians visiting Thailand every month. The demonstrators in Bangkok have been demanding that the Thai government dissolves parliament and holds fresh elections. The protests have been on for ten days now. Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted in a military coup in 2006. British-born Abhisit Vejjajiva, assumed office after the resignation of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, who was ousted after mass protests in November 2008, that shut down Bangkok's international airport. Burmese flow into Thailand despite Red Shirt protests

Across the United States, out of work employees are struggling to find new jobs while workers unhappy with their current positions are hesitant to leave, fearing that they will be unable to find something better. Worst of all, most economists forecast the U.S. unemployment rate to remain high for at least the next several years. One possible solution for job seekers: consider relocating overseas to countries with low unemployment rates and a need for skilled workers. (Understanding the business cycle and your own investment style can help you cope with an economic decline. Find out more in Recession: What Does It Mean To Investors?) IN PICTURES: How To Make Your First $1 Million Countries with Low Unemployment Rates The recent recession has been global in nature, meaning that many countries worldwide have experienced elevated unemployment rates. Nevertheless, there are still countries with reasonably robust employment. These countries generally fall into three broad categories. * The first group includes European nations with relatively strict laws against firing employees. These countries also have relatively stringent hiring laws, so finding a job here may be somewhat difficult. However, most of these countries are pleasant places to live, are safe and offer unmatched recreational and cultural opportunities, which means that the effort required to relocate to these places may be well worth it in the end. According to the International Monetary Fund and the CIA World Factbook, Norway, Switzerland, Denmark and Austria currently have unemployment rates significantly lower than the United States. In fact Norway, with its oil wealth, had an unemployment rate last year of only 3.3%, roughly 1/3 of the United States' current 9.7% reading. (The misery index measures a combination of unemployment and inflation, but what does it mean for your finances? Fin out, in The Misery Index: Measuring Your Misfortune.) * Rapidly growing Asian countries - such as Thailand, Singapore, Macau, South Korea, Malaysia and Hong Kong - comprise the second group of countries job seekers might consider. Relocating to these countries may represent somewhat more of a "culture shock" to workers used to living in America; however, the exotic nature of these places may also turn a stint overseas into a true adventure. Additionally, Asian economies are among the fastest growing and most dynamic in the world; time spent there can be exciting and carry the feel of working and living where the action is. Even Japan has an unemployment rate of only approximately 50% that of the U.S. Although Japan has not grown rapidly in the last ten years and is considered to be one of the most expensive places in the world to live, it is still one of the world's largest economies, and a very safe place to call home. (If you think an exotic locale may be just the place for you, read Get A Finance Job Overseas to find out how to make it happen.) * The third group of countries to consider is small, relatively sheltered economies that may be wealthy due to natural resources or tourism. Many of these countries do not report economic data on a timely basis, so unemployment reports are relatively dated. Nevertheless, the most recent reports available, combined with anecdotal evidence, suggest that countries such as Kuwait, Abu Dhabi, Lichtenstein, and a host of off-shore tax shelters such as the British Virgin Islands may still be places where it is possible to find a job. Although many of these countries' economies are less well-diversified than those in larger nations, if any of these destinations sound appealing to you, they might be worth a further look, particularly if you work in tourism, financial services, or natural resources. (This widely watched indicator of economic well-being also directly influences the market. Find out more in What You Need To Know About The Employment Report.) Factors to Consider The first and most important thing to consider is whether or not the country in question would be an enjoyable place for you and your family to live, for a period of time. Factors such as the stability of the country's government, the underlying strength of the country's economy, and the safety of the country (crime, terrorism, etc.) are all important considerations. Additionally, many countries give preference to domestic workers by requiring foreigners to obtain a work visa. As work visas can often be difficult to obtain, examine closely the visa requirements of the countries you're considering. Also, remember that if you have a visa obtained from your employer, your residency in the country may be contingent upon your working at that company. If you quit (or are fired) you may lose your visa, and may have to move home in relatively short order. (Before you jump on the plane, understand the rules and regulations in place. Find out more in You CAN Afford To Study Abroad.) The Bottom Line With the U.S. economy struggling, now may be an attractive time to consider relocating overseas. This article has briefly examined several countries with relatively robust labor markets. Use this article as a starting point, and then draw up a short list of countries you and your family might consider moving to. Research your choices thoroughly, and if you eventually wind up taking a job overseas, you could be in for the adventure of a lifetime. (Don't let a shoestring budget trip-up your vacation plans. Find out more in Globetrotting On A Budget.) Read more: Countries With The Lowest Unemployment Rates

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SURIN, Thailand (Reuters Life!) - Sujet Salee is a Thai boxing champion with an impressive fight record, but the 29-year-old also stands out among his peers for another reason: he's blind. Lifestyle Sujet, who was born blind, has won five consecutive matches and drew once since he has started his boxing career in October 2008 against opponents who are blindfolded during fights. Prize money for each match he won has been 1,500 baht ($46). Sujet, who is Thailand's most famous blind boxer, trains six days a week for several hours, the same routine as other boxers in Por Cherdchai boxing camp in Surin province, 457 kms (284 miles) northeast of Bangkok. But he is the only one that can't see his opponents. He said he wants to follow in the footsteps of his father, a boxer who died five years ago. "When I was young my father was a boxer, but none of my brothers took boxing as a career. I wanted to be a boxer like my father, but I'm blind, I didn't think I can do it. But I made up my mind," said Sujet. Sujet's career choice is unusual compared to most other blind people in Thailand who work as masseurs, make handicrafts or sell lottery tickets. Sujet said he had also enrolled for a massage course but turned it down because it did not inspire him. He said his body is more into boxing. "I will do my best as my body allows me to do, to find out where is the top of this career for me," he added. During training, all Sujet needs is extra coaching from his trainers, who adjust his posture and basically see for him. His body balance is different from sighted people, but when fighting against a blindfolded opponent, his senses are sharper: he often knocks out fighters with his elbow as it is his "weapon," his trainers say. "When he touched his opponent on the ring, he attacked instantly. His sense is good, which gives him an advantage over blindfolded boxers," said trainer Sirowat Somboon. Por Cherdchai boxing camp was established in less than a year ago and Sujet is one of its 15 boxers. Camp owner Cherdchai Sangketkij, who lost his eyesight more than 20 years ago, said he wanted to give blind people a chance to pursue alternative careers. Blind boxing is not supported by Thailand's disabled athletes association, which considers it as a violation for the rights of the handicapped, but Cherdchai claims the sport is safe and hopes it will become a national sport for the blind. "I would like the people in the national disable athletes to consider boxing to become a sport for disable in the national level. I think the blinds can do boxing," he said. Muay Thai, or Thai boxing, is a centuries-old hand-to-hand combat technique - a martial art which became a rite of passage for Thai men. Thai boxing has always been a traditional route to fame and fortune for poor men living in Thailand's rural areas. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6290V920100310

PATTANI, Thailand (Reuters) - Unknown assailants shot dead three people and burned their bodies in Thailand's predominantly Muslim deep south, police said Thursday. The victims, who were all Buddhist technicians working for a local telephone company, were gunned down in Pattani province while driving in a pickup truck, which was set alight after the attack, said Police Lieutenant Colonel Duantae Jutanan. More than 4,000 people, among them Buddhists and Muslims, have been killed in six years of unrest in the rubber-rich region bordering Malaysia, which was an independent sultanate known as Patani until annexed in 1909 by predominantly Buddhist Thailand. Separatists are blamed for most of the attacks, which often target Buddhists and Muslims associated with the Thai state, such as police, soldiers, government officials and teachers. In some instances, Muslim villagers accuse government-backed vigilante groups of extrajudicial killings, a claim repeatedly denied by security forces and state officials. No credible group has claimed responsibility for near daily drive-by shootings and bombings, which continue unabated, despite a massive counterinsurgency effort. The government has sought to tackle the unrest with a five-year $1.9 billion stimulus to reduce economic disparity and minimize the influence of insurgents, but many locals believe the measures will be futile. Three shot dead, burned in restive Thai south - washingtonpost.com

BANGKOK — Thailand’s seemingly unending political crisis is likely to reach another moment of tension this weekend with huge opposition rallies that organizers say they hope will paralyze the city and bring down the government. While pledging nonviolence, protest leaders say they will gather hundreds of thousands of mostly rural supporters for mass rallies and blockades of government offices, starting on Friday and building over the following days. Thousands of buses, trucks and farm vehicles are expected to converge from neighboring provinces in what one organizer called the Maoist tactic of “the forest surrounding the town.” The government, warning of violence, has invoked the Internal Security Act, which effectively hands control over to the military, with the right to impose curfews, set up checkpoints and restrict the movements of demonstrators. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva warned last week of unspecified acts of “sabotage.” This week he canceled a planned visit to Australia because of the urgency of the situation. The weekend plans are the latest pressure points that have wearied many Thais over the past four years. Thailand has become “a nation cursed to live in a constant state of anxiety,” said the daily newspaper The Nation. The image of a rural invasion of the capital emphasizes the complex and deepening divisions in the country, which in their simplest terms pit the rural poor against an urban establishment whose primacy is under threat. Thailand’s rural underclass found an electoral voice under the former prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, and has rallied to his defense since he was ousted in a coup in 2006. He now lives abroad, evading a two-year prison term on a conviction for corruption. “Our aim is to topple the government, force them to make a choice between suppressing us and stepping down,” a protest leader, Jaran Ditsatapichai, said last week. It is not the first time that one side or another in alternating street campaigns — known by their clothing as the red shirts and the yellow shirts — has announced that goal as governing power changes hands. This time it is the turn of the red shirts. “We’ve heard that many times before,” said Pavin Chachavalpongpun, an expert on Thailand at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore. “Every time, they say it’s going to be the final showdown. Do they really believe that a final showdown will put Abhisit out of power?” More unsettling, he said, is the possibility that other groups with other agendas might instigate violence. “If it turns nasty it might not be because of the reds,” he said. “Right now there are so many factions all over the place. Even within the reds and the yellows, so many factions. We don’t know who is allied to who. The whole situation creates a context in which a third, fourth, fifth hand can take advantage.” The red shirts have been violent in the past, but some analysts say violence at this point would discredit them and strengthen the position of the government. The planned demonstration is a continuation of tensions since early 2006 that have included blockades of government buildings, the occupation of Bangkok’s two airports, the disruption of a meeting of regional heads of state, two particularly violent rallies and a military coup. A year ago, a demonstration by tens of thousands of red shirts touched off some of the worst violence in years, leaving two people dead and more than 120 injured. The most recent moment of anxiety was just two weeks ago when the government warned of a violent reaction when the Supreme Court found Mr. Thaksin guilty of concealing his wealth and of abusing his office. It confiscated $1.4 billion in frozen assets but allowed him to keep nearly $1 billion that he had earned as a telecommunications tycoon before taking office in 2001. There was no violence, and this weekend’s rally is in part a deferred reaction to that verdict. Analysts say that the ruling has opened the door to a new round of legal cases against Mr. Thaksin and that he is unlikely to see any of that money soon. Using other money available to him outside Thailand, he is believed to be financing much of the red shirt activity and has rallied supporters from his refuge abroad, mostly in Dubai. In a Twitter message earlier this week, in an increasingly familiar plaintive tone, he said, “I would like to urge those who love democracy, justice, equality, and those who think that I have been bullied without mercy and humanity, to join the rally.” As his physical absence has lengthened, the red shirt movement has fragmented into sometimes hostile factions, and many insist that their movement is in support of democracy more than of Mr. Thaksin. But the divisions often seem to have less to do with ideology than with a struggle for wealth and power. Mr. Thaksin’s supporters among the rural and urban poor are in the majority, and their vote has helped win the last three general elections for parties that back him. Mr. Abhisit’s government took office through a parliamentary vote in December 2008 when a court disbanded the governing pro-Thaksin party for electoral fraud. If the red shirts can bring down the current government and force a new election, they reason, Mr. Thaksin’s side could step back into power. Their opponents argue that Mr. Thaksin was corrupt, that he was destroying democratic institutions and that he has manipulated the poor majority with populist measures like cheap medical care and various forms of financial assistance. The yellow shirts, who demonstrated against previous pro-Thaksin governments, have proposed a constitutional amendment that would put more electoral power into the hands of an educated elite while limiting the influence of the rural vote. It was the yellow shirts who blockaded the prime minister’s office for months in 2008 and closed down Bangkok’s two airports for a week. Tourists fled the country, and in an effort to reassure them, the government announced a $10,000 insurance package for any who might be harmed by political violence. Last week, with the new moment of uncertainty approaching, the government spokesman, Panitan Wattanayagorn, said the insurance offer was still good. Thailand Braces for Political Rallies in Capital - NYTimes.com

Thai authorities have started deploying 50,000 troops on to the streets of Bangkok ahead of rallies by anti-government protesters that they fear could turn violent The demonstrations by the so-called "Red Shirts", who support fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, begins on Friday - two weeks after the kingdom's top court confiscated $1.4 billion of the tycoon's assets. Suthep Thaugsuban, the deputy prime minister, who is overseeing the security operation, said "full deployment" of 30,000 soldiers, 10,000 police and 10,000 civilian volunteer forces had begun. "If protesters intrude into army bases or police stations, the government will use armed force to crack down immediately, as we consider them terrorists," he said. The government has invoked a tough internal security act that allows it to call out troops, impose curfews and ban gatherings. Checkpoints are being set up in and around Bangkok to search protesters for weapons as they arrive from the provinces, mainly their strongholds in the rural north. The Reds, who resent what they see as an elitist and undemocratic government, say they expect up to 600,000 people to attend the main rally on Sunday but insist it will be peaceful. The government estimates that 100,000 protesters will turn up. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva warned that there could be "sabotage", while Thailand's main airport, which was besieged by protesters in 2008, said it had made contingency plans for the rallies. The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) said it too had prepared measures to ensure that trading was not affected between March 12 and 15. Thaksin, who made his fortune in telecommunications, has been egging on his supporters via text message, videolink and his Twitter page from his self-imposed exile in Dubai, where he is living to avoid a jail term for graft. The Reds have held a string of protests since another court decision removed Thaksin's allies from government and brought Abhisit to power in December 2008, after a blockade of Bangkok's airports by rival, royalist "Yellow Shirts. Thailand deploys 50,000 troops in preparation for Bangkok protest - Telegraph

Phnom Penh – Cambodia tested its Soviet-made BM-21 multiple rocket launcher firing 200 rounds in a mountain region of Kampong Chhnang province, some 80 kilometres north of Phnom Penh. The exercise, which took place yesterday, is raising concern among leaders of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) that it might send the wrong signal to the world. Diplomatic relations between Cambodia and Thailand are strained and a military escalation between the two neighbours is still possible. ASEAN Secretary General Dr Surin Pitsuwan noted that test-firing the rocket launcher could be perceived as a sign of regional instability. "We are very concerned with such development," he said, pledging a closer look at the situation. Cambodia fired about 200 rounds from its Soviet-made BM21 rocket launcher in the mountains of remote Kampong Chhnang province within a range of 20 to 40 kilometres. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen reportedly said that the exercise was to prepare for the defence of his country and not about showing any military capabilities even though Cambodia and Thailand were at loggerheads. Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday that Thailand had no problem with the test, as it was a normal practice for a country to conduct military exercises. Thailand and Cambodia have long outstanding border claims over an area surrounding the ancient Preah Viher Hindu temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The World Court ruled in 1962 that the temple belonged to Cambodia but it did not settle the issue of sovereignty over the disputed surrounding area, which has seen clashes between troops from the two sides. When Cambodia named fugitive former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra as its economic advisor late last year Thai-Cambodian relations took a nosedive. Mr Thaksin is on trial in Thailand where a court has recently ordered the confiscation of half of his wealth. Carlyle Thayer, a military expert at Australia’s University of New South Wales, said the launch was “a bit of theatre” on Hun Sen’s part to maintain the support of the Cambodian military. CAMBODIA – THAILAND Phnom Penh fires 200 rockets, ASEAN leader concerned it might lead to military escalation | Spero News

While the number of Russians flying abroad for winter holidays has recovered from last year's low, many sun-loving tourists are turning away from the previous top destination, Thailand, to more affordable Egypt. Encouraged by discounted tickets, 34 per cent more Russians flew abroad this January than a year previously, according to figures from the Federal Air Transport Agency. Egypt overtook Thailand as the most popular getaway, with cheaper diving and trips to the Pyramids beating the more costly attractions of the southeast Asian country. "There was a slip on all destinations last year," said Maya Lomidze, executive manager of Ator, a Russian travel agencies association. "Egypt was first to adapt its prices to the crisis, and this made it even more popular." Goa is another popular destination for Russians seeking to escape the winter blues, attracting downshifters, yoga and meditation-lovers. Some tourists choose to chill out in the Indian state for several months in between jobs. "I love this country because I feel free there," said Ksenia Belova, who likes travelling in India. "It's a carefree country and people are very nice and easygoing." Moscow News - News - Cut-price winter sunshine From February, however, Russian tourists visiting India will have to have health insurance due to food poisoning and other health risks. For the last few years Thailand was top of the pops for Russian sun-lovers, with Russians' enthusiasm surviving even a bout of bird flu in the country in 2004. But this winter public unrest in the country forced tour operators to cut back on flights there. Recently Cuba and Dominican Republic have become more popular with Russians, but flights to the Caribbean have been badly affected by the outbreak of swine flu in Mexico and Haiti's earthquake this winter. "The main problem with Caribbean countries is a lack of flights there, because air carriers are not interested in flying that far," said Lomidze. Even the Haiti quake did not put off Russians travelling to the next-door country, the Dominican Republic, which shares an island with Haiti, instead taking advantage of half-price deals. For Russians looking for sightseeing rather than beach sunbathing, another favourite, Turkey, also draws tourists in winter. The key attractions for walking around are Istanbul, the centre of the historic Ottoman Empire, the city of Edirne and Antalya on the Mediterranean. This January 37,000 Russian tourists visited Turkey - 15 per cent more than the same time last year, Ator reports. Israel, with its large Russian-speaking population, has had visa-free entry with Russia since September 2009, which has made it easier for Russians to visit religious sites, family and friends there. Tour operators say going abroad became 15 per cent cheaper this year, due to helpful currency fluctuations. Some European countries hit by the economic crisis, such as Greece and even Britain, could be up to 20 per cent cheaper to visit this year, say tourism experts. And for those looking for a budget Mediterranean-style experience, visa-free travel to Albania - available for the first time this year - is experiencing an upsurge of interest, say tour operators. Tour packages to Albania, with its picturesque Adriatic coastline, come in cheaper than those to Italy, Greece and Montenegro.

BANGKOK — Around 850,000 migrant workers in Thailand have met a deadline to start a registration process, the labour ministry said Thursday, as rights groups made renewed calls for a halt to the policy. Thailand had ordered 1.3 million eligible citizens from neighbouring Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos to begin the process of registering and verifying their nationality by Sunday or risk deportation. To enter the process migrants must pay registration and medical fees of 3,800 baht (116 dollars) -- a large sum for people who mostly have low-paid jobs in the manufacturing, agricultural and domestic sectors. The full registration process takes two years to complete and will eventually entitle the migrants to claim temporary work permits. "Some 850,000 migrant workers met the deadline" said Supat Gukun, a labour ministry official. The 1.3 million are eligible because they registered for different one-year work permits last year. Thai authorities estimate there are up to another 1.2 million unregistered migrants in the country who will not be eligible for the new process. Human Rights Watch said the registration system left migrants open to abuse. Unscrupulous officials and employers will now be able to threaten unregistered migrants with deportation in order to extort money, said the group's Thailand expert Phil Robertson. "The abuses against migrant workers will more than likely increase as a result of more migrant workers becoming undocumented and therefore vulnerable," Robertson said. The New York-based rights group released a report last week that documented a pattern of systemic abuse against migrant workers, from extrajudicial killings to torture, arbitrary arrest and extortion. Myanmar citizens are particularly fearful, rights activists said, as a deal between Thailand and its military-ruled neighbour means they must return home to register, where the workers say they could face persecution. Thailand's government said a task force would be dispatched to deport unregistered workers but has not yet announced any firm plans to do so. "Immigration police and labour officials will check at every factory, and if they hire migrant workers without a permit then those people must be repatriated," said another labour ministry official, Thanich Numnoi. Thailand's economy relies on migrant workers from its poorer neighbours, but in recent months the country has become tougher on immigration at its borders. "This process doesn't acknowledge the benefit or importance of these people for the economy," said Andy Hall, a rights activist with the Bangkok-based Human Rights and Development Foundation. "They need these people but they are not willing to give them their rights." Thailand, which is seeking a seat on the UN Human Rights Council, has been heavily criticised in recent months for its crackdowns on migrants from neighbouring Laos and Myanmar. In December Bangkok sparked outrage when it defied global criticism and used troops to repatriate about 4,500 ethnic Hmong from camps on the border with communist Laos, including 158 recognised as refugees by the United Nations. Earlier last year hundreds of ethnic Rohingya migrants from Myanmar were rescued in Indian and Indonesian waters after being pushed out to sea in rickety boats by the Thai military. AFP: 850,000 migrants register in Thailand: ministry

Thailand has refused to grant a visa to the sister of the Dalai Lama because it does not want to anger China. Jetsun Pema, younger sister of the Tibetan spiritual leader, was due to be giving a keynote speech at a festival of Tibetan culture in Bangkok But the Thai Foreign ministry said her visa request was denied over fears her presence could be linked to politics. China regards Tibet as an integral part of its territory, and considers the Dalai Lama a dangerous separatist. About 30 Tibetan exiles living in India have been granted visas to take part in the Festival of Tibetan Spirituality, Arts and Cultures, which gets under way in the Thai capital on Friday. But the guest of honour is missing from the list. Jetsun Pema, the 69-year-old sister of the Dalai Lama, was supposed to be giving a speech, with the working title Tibet: My Story. But the Thai government has decided that telling her story could be interpreted by China as a political statement. A spokesman for the Thai Foreign Ministry told the BBC: "Thailand has a long-standing policy of not letting any person use Thailand as a base to criticise or undertake activities detrimental to other countries." The growing trade between Beijing and Bangkok may also have been a factor. Ironically, in trying to avoid a potential diplomatic spat, the Thai government may well have injected into the cultural festival the very element of politics it was trying to avoid. BBC News - Thailand refuses visa to Dalai Lama's sister

Thailand has intercepted a record two tons of elephant tusks that authorities say were smuggled into the country from Africa. Thailand is seeking to be removed from a blacklist of countries involved in the illegal ivory trade. Thai customs authorities say they seized 239 elephant tusks at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport, worth an estimated $3.6 million, late Wednesday. The officials say the haul weighed more than two tons and was the largest bust in Thailand's recent history. The seizure followed a tip that illegal ivory from South Africa arrived on a plane from Dubai. The ivory was labeled as telecommunication parts destined for Laos. But Tanat Suvattanametakul, director of the airport's cargo clearance customs bureau, says the cargo declaration was false. "They need to import to Thailand but they just declare the transit to Laos," said Tanat. Thailand is a major transit point for trafficking wildlife products, much of which goes to markets in China. Thailand is hoping to be removed from a blacklist of countries involved in the illegal trade at a March conference of parties to CITES, the convention on international trade in endangered species. Sulma Warne is a program officer with Traffic, an organization that monitors the illegal trade in wildlife. He says the record bust should help Thailand's image, but says there are additional steps the country needs to take to crack down on smugglers. "The fines and the punishments that are handed out tend not to be significant enough for people not to engage or re-engage in such criminal activities. So, we would certainly like to see the enforcement or the punishments ramped up," said Sulma. Customs officials say a Thai national tried to pick up the shipment of illegal ivory and was detained. But it is not clear if any charges were made. The United Nations banned the international trade in ivory in 1989, but smuggling continues and ivory traders often disguise illegal sources as domestic stockpiles. Thailand Makes Record Bust of Illegal Ivory | Africa | English

BANGKOK -- A court ruling on whether Thailand's deposed leader Thaksin Shinawatra should lose his fortune for alleged corruption could become the latest flash point in four years of sometimes-violent political unrest that has exposed deep divisions in Thai society. The government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is hoping Friday's decision will lead to a return of stability, but it has hedged its bets, imposing a security crackdown around the country and offering safe houses for the court's judges, claiming the pro-Thaksin "Red Shirt" movement may be planning violence. Political passions have led to years of off-and-on street protests, pitting those who view Thaksin as a corrupt demagogue who bought his way to power against those who benefited from his populist policies and see the military coup that ousted him in September 2006 as a grave injustice orchestrated by a ruling elite scared of change. The refusal by Thaksin's opponents to accept the results of post-coup elections that saw his allies return to power led to their occupation of the seat of government for several months and seizure of the capital's two airports for a week in 2008. A court ruling that led to the fall of the pro-Thaksin government and Abhisit taking power through parliamentary maneuverings fueled the ire of the Red Shirts, who last year rioted and disrupted a conference of Asian heads of government. Now, says government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn, "People expect the system to resume functioning normally, the parliamentary system and the economic system. Although we continue to have political differences, the wishes of the people are clear." ad_icon Actual evidence of a return to normalcy is slim. Red Shirt leaders boast of plans for a "million-man march" sometime after the verdict. State television nightly broadcasts dire warnings of the nefarious intentions of Thaksin and his followers, repeatedly showing footage of Red Shirt rioting last April that had to be quashed by the army. Newspapers publish endless speculation about a coup in the offing. The Supreme Court will rule on whether Thaksin, a telecommunications mogul, illegally parked his fortune with family members because he was not allowed to hold company shares while prime minister and whether his 2001-2006 governments implemented policies to benefit his businesses. If it finds Thaksin guilty - the almost universal assumption is that it will - the court will also decide whether to seize some or all of the $2.29 billion chunk of the family fortune frozen in Thai banks. For Thaksin's opponents, says political scientist Thitinan Pongsidhirak of Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University, the case marks "the final act of Thaksin's political decapitation, on the premise that the Red Shirts, the instability, are all because of Thaksin, plus his money, his corruption, manipulation and abuses of power." "The bottom line is: Are these Reds really about something more than Thaksin? His opponents will say 'No, They're all because of Thaksin.' Instead of saying that the Red Shirts have genuine grievances. Instead of acknowledging that they exist, listening to them." Such a state of denial, he warns, only intensifies their movement. Thaksin's supporters say the charges against him are an outrage, part of a vendetta carried out by a ruling class that felt threatened by their hero's popularity - he won two landslide election victories - and is determined to prevent his comeback. Thaksin - who denies all the charges against him - fled into exile ahead of a 2008 conflict of interest conviction that resulted in a two-year jail sentence. As he trots the globe cutting business deals, he sends his followers messages - on blogs, through Twitter and by video - bemoaning his fate and exhorting them to keep up the fight. Opponents say Thaksin was a megalomaniacal crook of unbounded greed, who also sought to usurp the power of the country's revered constitutional monarch, King Bhumibol Adulyadej. His supporters, primarily from the country's poor rural majority, which benefited from Thaksin's innovative social welfare programs, feel robbed of their democratic birthright. But the Red Shirt movement also encompasses many who while not necessarily Thaksin supporters, feel the coup and subsequent court rulings against his allies are symptoms of greater injustices in Thai society, which has long been dominated by those with ties to the military and palace. Friends and foes of Thaksin alike doubt the court verdict will clear the air. The Red Shirts - nicknamed for their attire but formally called the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship - "have been fighting against dictatorship for three years and we will keep on fighting," says one of their leaders, veteran politician Veera Musigapong. Whether Thaksin's money is seized in whole or in part, or released, is irrelevant to the group, he says. "Our political gatherings will continue, according to our plan to bring back democracy and to overthrow the current government." ad_icon A prominent Thaksin critic thinks a guilty verdict will erode the former prime minister's legitimacy with the public, but not end the schisms in Thai society. "Even if the assets are seized, the conflict will continue," says Suriyasai Katasila of the People's Alliance for Democracy, the group that has been the public face of the anti-Thaksin movement. "Thaksin will carry out his revenge against his opponents. The clashes of opinions will persist and are not likely to cease for the next couple of years." Thaksin ruling could further inflame Thai unrest - washingtonpost.com

That is scary.

You should be able to edit your own posts for up to 30 mins. I just added this in the Admin. Let me know if there is more we can do. Thanks!

Yes, and they seem to be happy to compete with anyone. Their phone is competing with Apple. They have rolled out a service to compete with Facebook and Twitter. They have announced a plan to offer high speed access, 100 times faster than anything on market, to some cities to get high speed going faster in USA. They seem to really want to have their hand in everything.

here are very few developing countries in the world where public policy has been effective in preventing the spread of HIV and AIDS on a national scale, but Thailand is an exception. A massive programme to control HIV has reduced visits to commercial sex workers by half, raised condom usage, decreased the prevalence of STIs (Sexually Transmitted Infections) dramatically, and achieved substantial reductions in new HIV infections.1 Thailand, though, is also a reminder that success can be relative. Its well funded, politically supported and comprehensive prevention programmes have saved millions of lives, reducing the number of new HIV infections from 143,000 in 1991 to 19,000 in 2003.2 Nonetheless, more than one-in-100 adults in this country of 65 million people is infected with HIV, and AIDS has become a leading cause of death.3 Unless past efforts are sustained and new sources of infection are addressed, the striking achievements made in controlling the epidemic could now be put at risk. Factors such as an increase in risky sexual behaviour and a rising number of STI cases have led to concerns that Thailand could face a resurgence of HIV and AIDS in coming years. The first case of AIDS in Thailand occurred in 1984.4 For the next few years, gay men, sex workers, injecting drug users and tourists were more commonly affected than other groups. The government took some basic measures to deal with the issue, but an epidemic was not yet apparent. Most of these measures were aimed at high-risk groups, as the government believed that there was not yet sufficient reason to carry out prevention campaigns among the general public. At the same time, public awareness of the issue was increasing. The case of Cha-on Suesom, a factory worker who became infected with HIV following a blood transfusion, was widely broadcast through the media after he agreed to allow his story and identity to be publicised in 1987. He became well known after appearing on TV shows and in national newspapers, allowing the public to appreciate the human side of the epidemic. Cha-on and his wife had both been fired from their jobs as a result of his HIV-positive status, and the injustice of this situation helped to increase public sympathy for people living with HIV. 6 Between 1988 and 1989, the HIV prevalence among injecting drug users rose dramatically from almost zero to 40%. The prevalence among sex workers also increased, with studies in Chang Mai suggesting that 44% of sex workers were infected with HIV.7 The rising level of infection among sex workers led to subsequent waves of the epidemic among the male clients of sex workers, their wives and partners, and their children.8 The prevailing view was still that HIV and AIDS had come from abroad and were mostly confined to a few individuals in high-risk groups. It was still not generally recognised that the epidemic would spread more widely. One government official insisted that the situation was under control, and stated that: Some members of Thailand’s parliament proposed that all foreigners should be required to pass an HIV test before being admitted to the country.10 In keeping with the view that the threat was limited, the government only spent $180,000 on HIV prevention in 1988.11 The 1990s It was not until 1991, when a new Prime Minister, Anand Panyarachun came to power, that AIDS prevention and control became a national priority at the highest level. The new prime minister took several important steps that have since been credited with helping to slow the epidemic. Firstly, the AIDS control programme was moved from the Ministry of Public Health to the Office of the Prime Minister, which increased its political influence. The budget increased almost 20-fold to $44 million in 1993.12 Secondly, a massive public information campaign on AIDS was launched under the leadership of cabinet member Mechai Viravaidya, a well-known Thai AIDS activist and politician. Anti-AIDS messages aired every hour on the country's 488 radio stations and six television networks, and every school was required to teach AIDS education classes. The high-profile campaign was initially unpopular with the influential tourism industry, and tourism indeed temporarily declined. However, once AIDS had a prominent place on the national agenda, opposition to the measures gradually faded and support increased.13 Thirdly, and perhaps most importantly, the '100 percent condom program' was initiated.14 This programme aimed to enforce consistent condom use in all commercial sex establishments. Condoms were distributed free to brothels and massage parlours, and sex workers and their clients were required to use them. Brothels that failed to comply could be closed. Without this programme, it is estimated that Thailand’s national HIV prevalence would be ten times higher than it currently is.15 A number of repressive policies, such as mandatory reporting of the names and addresses of people living with HIV who attended hospitals, were also repealed.17 From 1992 to 1996, the National AIDS program received dramatic increases in funding; the government provided it with more than $80 million annually by 1996. The second ‘National Plan for Prevention and Alleviation of the AIDS Problem’, which covered the period from 1997 to 2001, maintained the previous effective programmes, whilst adopting a more holistic approach, which included mobilizing the efforts of communities and people living with HIV/AIDS.18 Between 1996 and 1997, a randomised controlled trial was carried out to study the provision of short-course AZT (zidovudine) to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Bangkok. This study showed that AZT reduced transmission of HIV from mother to child by 50%.19 Following this, a number of pilot programs were initiated in Thailand.20 21 The successful results of the pilot studies led doctors in most provinces to demand government support for short-course AZT to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV. By 1999, AZT was being used in most hospitals in Thailand.22 Then in the late 1990s, the Asian Financial Crisis resulted in a significant reduction and reorientation in the 1998 budget for AIDS prevention and control. Funding for medical interventions (including antiretroviral drug and treatment of opportunistic infections) was scaled back significantly. Support for condom distribution was also reduced.23 By 2000, domestic funding for HIV and AIDS prevention was roughly one quarter less than it had been in 1997.24 2000 onwards In 2000, combinations of antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) started to be used to treat people living with HIV in Thailand. This therapy, sometimes known as HAART (Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy), can prolong the lives of people living with HIV and delay the virus from progressing to AIDS. In subsequent years the number of people accessing ARVs increased dramatically, significantly reducing the number of people dying from AIDS. In 2000 the government also started a national system to monitor its mother-to-child transmission of HIV programme.25 In 2003 the government made an official commitment to ensuring adequate treatment for all people living with HIV, and set targets to improve treatment access. As these plans have been carried out, the third "National Plan for the Prevention and Alleviation of HIV/AIDS in Thailand" (which runs between 2002 and the end of 2006), has worked towards the target of reducing HIV prevalence to less than 1% and providing access to care and support for at least 80% of the people living with HIV and other affected individuals. By the end of 2007, national HIV prevalence was 1.4%, down from 1.8% in 2003 and more than 2% a decade earlier. HIV and AIDS in Thailand

BANGKOK, Thailand - Thailand's attorney general wants all of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra's 2.2 billion-dollar fortune to be seized by the court in its ruling this month, the office said in closing arguments Tuesday. Chief of the attorney general's team, Sekesan Bangsomboon, said the 121-page final document had been submitted to the Supreme Court "to explain why the assets should be seized and we have asked the court to seize all of it." Thaksin is living in exile to escape a two-year jail term for graft handed to him in absentia in October 2008. On February 26 the Supreme Court will decide whether the fortune of the telecoms tycoon -- frozen in the months after he was deposed in a coup in 2006 -- can be seized by authorities. Thaksin's lawyer submitted a closing statement on his behalf in late January, denying that the former leader used his power as prime minister to obtain his wealth. Thaksin's ex-wife, Pojaman Damapong, argued in her closing statement that many of the assets that prosecutors argue were transferred to her by her then-husband, in fact belonged to her before the marriage. "With our evidence, we have asked the court to lift its request for the assets seizure," Pojaman's lawyer Somporn Pongsuwan said. Thaksin loyalists are stepping up anti-government demonstrations ahead of the court date. The government has begun to deploy at least 20,000 extra security forces across the country in case of a populist backlash if the court rules to seize Thaksin's fortune. Despite staying abroad since August 2008, Thaksin remains a divisive figure in his homeland. Both his opponents and supporters have staged numerous mass rallies over the past year, which have sometimes turned violent. Thailand aims to seize all Thaksin fortune: attorney general | ABS-CBN News Online Beta

PATTANI, THAILAND: Suspected militants shot dead two Muslims and a Buddhist and wounded two other men in a fresh series of gun attacks in Thailand’s troubled south on Wednesday, police said. A 45-year-old Muslim villager was killed instantly when two men on a motorcycle opened fire as he rode his motorbike home from a mosque in the province of Pattani. Militants in Thailand’s southern border provinces commonly carry out shootings from motorcycles and target victims also riding motorbikes. In a similar attack in Pattani, suspected militants shot the assistant to a village leader, a 47-year-old Muslim man, as he rode home from a market. He later died of his injuries. A 47-year-old former government volunteer was also shot dead by two gunmen at a bird singing competition in Pattani. At least three suspected militants in neighbouring Yala province hid by a roadside and fired at a car carrying a 35-year-old Buddhist soldier and a 39-year-old village leader, wounding them both. More than 4,100 people have been killed since shadowy separatist militants launched an insurgency in the Muslim-majority southern region in January 2004. Militants target Buddhists and Muslims alike and have never publicly stated their goals. Tensions have simmered in the region, formerly an autonomous Malay Muslim sultanate, since it was annexed in 1902 by mainly Buddhist Thailand. -- AFP NST Online Three killed in Thailand's insurgent south

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Red-shirted supporters of ousted Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra are gearing up for mass protests, but their goal of bringing down the government looks difficult, and stirring up violence will not help their cause. Mindful of unruly protests last April, the government is tightening security in Bangkok to prevent "hard-core elements" from starting riots this month, saying it had evidence Thaksin's supporters may resort to violence. Clashes, however, could undermine popular support for either "red shirts" -- the mainly rural supporters of Thaksin -- against protesters clad in yellow - the royalists, urban elites and the military. "Widespread violence on the scale of April 2009 is unlikely in the near term. The reds are in disarray and they have learned from the April riots. They may opt for a battle of attrition instead of an all-out showdown," said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political science professor at Chulalongkorn University. Thitinan said conflict would continue to flare up and subside as long as the "red shirts" felt they were economically and politically marginalised by the elite. Protests, he said, were more likely to take the form of a "drawn-out, topsy-turvy grind" rather than a showdown. But he said neither violence nor even a coup could be ruled out if current Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva fails to heal divisions. "Abhisit's inability to bridge the divide means that pro-Thaksin forces can still win the next election. The army's current high command would rather see a coup than an election." "Red shirt" protest leaders predicted on Tuesday more than a million people would rally on Bangkok in their "final gathering" for a February 26 court ruling on whether Thai courts can confiscate $2.3 billion of Thaksin's assets. http://af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFTRE6191V820100210