Moving, moving...

"First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win" Mahatma Gandhi

I feel good to see Thai people and hear Thai language. I love the Thais - the way they are.

The Thais, as a nation, are fighting for democracy. At present they are divided into pro-goverment people, anti-goverment people and people who are sooo bored about it. Basically it's like in any other country. In Thailand, however, emotions are hot and the near future will show, how the Thais strengthen - or weaken - their relatively young democracy.

Following are a few excerpts, surfing the web. They are about Thailand - not about Thailand right now - however, the past forms today, doesn't it?!

- He is supposed to be a leader of the country, so how can he divide the country in such a way? Is he not able to see what is happening? Students, intellectuals, Monks vs. farmers, Urban people vs. farmers, South vs. North, West vs. Northeast?

- Thaksin and his supporters in the business lobby wanted to create a political party and government that would protect their own invested interests while restoring order in society.

- "We believe there is an urgent need for your government to take a number of measures that would enable Thailand to get a better ranking in the 2006 index" picked from an open letter written by 'Reporters sans frontières' - after Thailand's position slipped from around 60 in 2003/4 to position 107 in 2005.

- Phuket island, with floating bars set amid lush resorts with meticulously coifed foliage, rustic wooden bridges, stone paths and palm trees, remains untouched by the militants. But a recent harsh warning by the United Front for the Independence of Pattani, a feared guerrilla group usually referred to as Bersatu, included Phuket.

- The Thailand Elite Card, a privileged VIP card, designed to give huge privileges to wealthy foreign tourists visiting Thailand, is struggling to stay alive. One of the main promotion features of the VIP card and part of the Thai government's efforts to attract "Premium Visitors" to Thailand, is a claim that owing a Privilege Card, gives foreigners the right to buy and possess property and land in Thailand for residential purposes, but the exact legal status of such ownership is still very uncertain as it violates completely the current land ownership legislation in Thailand.

- Another major event designed to catch the female eye was the Miss Universe 2005 pageant in May 2005. Thailand outbid China and Chile with an offer of US$6.5 million (270 million baht) to the Miss Universe Organisation to host the pageant.

- For years, southern Thailand benefited from a diversion of visitors from other crisis-hit destinations like Bali, Sri Lanka and the Philippines. In December 2004, Thailand joined the club when the tsunami caused the largest level of tourist casualties among any of the affected Indian Ocean countries.

- The pattern of class struggle between the ruled and the rulers in Thailand, over the last 25 years, has shown that the working class is a force to be reckoned with. At different periods one side has had the upper hand, at other times fortunes have been reversed, or compromises have been reached. The struggle takes place constantly and will never be resolved until the struggle for socialism has been successful. This is the task of the Thai working class.

here's a couple of older entries

::: the love thing ...more

::: some definition here ...more

::: This student received an A+ ...more

::: just keep on counting ...more

::: Size matters - that's what we know ...more

::: For one thing we know ...more

...and for all of you who rather came for the old version, click yesterday - and the world will be the way you knew it - huah!!!...