PawyiLee

3 casings from M16 and nearly 100 from AK47... it's no wonder that the police assess that the AK47 was the main weapon used.

The unexploded grenade found on the bus in the area would also tend to back up the theory that the M16 bullets were fired mistakenly, as a clip contains a lot more than 3 bullets and the grenades are fired from the same weapon. The weapon has 2 triggers (one for bullets/one for grenades) and in the hands of someone inexperienced, he/she could have inadvertently pulled the wrong trigger.

This is good evidence that no competent gunmen were involved, so that narrows it down to army troops.

...It was fun living in a Banana Republic for a while and enjoying the dream....

Thailand is a Banana KINGDOM, though the fact that ex-PM Thaksin now has a passport from a Banana Republic says he is enjoying a different dream.

...People outside Thailand are now thinking it's not just the brothel of the world but also a banana republic of Asia....

One of the better kept secrets is that Atlanta, Georgia, is the brothel of the world. Another well-kept secret is that bananas evolved here in mainland Southeast Asia, so there are 1000s of varieties, not just the one or two as found in banana republics. For what it's worth, Thailand is a Banana Kingdom.

Now that he's of no further use, the power behind Abhisit may want to tidy up things. I wouldn't automatically assume Thaksin is behind this.

My wife is of a similar opinion, but is not quick to assume the power behind Abhist is to blame, either. Sondhi crossed people a long time ago who may just now be seizing the opportuinity to get even. Plus, whoever contracted the hit would have been contracted by another, and each cutout concerned only about the color of the money, not the color of the undershirt. Only thing for sure is that we'll never know, for these people don't write memoires. Even if they did, we would never know how much was fiction. Speaking of which, you should read "Democracy Shaken and Stirred" reviewed here http://www.2bangkok.com/2bangkok/thaimedia...ndStirred.shtml

Using พี่ as a first-person pronoun indicates the writer is of the same generation, but older. Ending sentences with ค่ะ indicates she is a she, most likely of the first, but possibly of the second category. But the question was this:

The bad news is, you are not acting like you are your girlfriend's friend.

***

Besides all the above I strongly believe that the present PM is genuine in his concerns for the rural population,but this is along term plan. If somebody expect this can be dun in few years they are mistaken. Improving the rural areas will take 2 or 3 generations, anybody think different is not realistic. And its all start with education, education and education.....

***

Last year I visited friends who had a rice farm in Nong Saen(the rice center in Thailand). The paddy fields where so dry that the earth was broken. They had a pond full of water and the pumps and pipes to distribute the water. I asked them why you don't pump water in the fields, There answer was staggering, not yet dry enough and anyhow one of this day's the King will send rainmaking airplanes. And they continued to drink there Mekong and Singha in a food stall near the road with their friends.

This my friend is also Isan. So don't put all the blame on the rich in Bangkok.

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I'm just replying to these points of yours. You're right it is a long-term project, but you don't seem to know it has been going on since the reign of Rama VI. I live in Isan and know a farmer from Michigan who is farming here, and like you, thought his Isan neighbors were dumb. He has since found out they know their land a lot better than he does, and, while they all still have a lot to learn, his learning curve was steeper than theirs. I put the blame on the rich in Bangkok, and on the farang community, for not knowing what is really what out here.

They would collect all the brides but vote for the person they like

Are you thinking of Chalawan, king of the crocodiles?

I am just telling you exactly what they told me. They said, "Khun Debbie, I don't know about corruption...what I know is, first time in 20 years, my students have books."

I've lived in a small Isaan village for 10 years, and know what "Khun Debbie" says is true. That being said, it is impossible even for natives, let alone farangs, to sort out who is responsible. My screen name, Pawyi Lee, is in honor of "Phu Yai" or Village Chief Lee, hero of a 1960s song critical of a Central Bangkok program to invest in Isaan, that some say was inspired by an American CIA "hearts and minds" agenda. Bungling undoubtedly occurred, but just as undoubtedly investment occurred. A great deal of the investment in Isaan has also originated in personal investments by various members of the Royal Family, not just the King and Queen, but also the Prince and the Princesses. And then our little village school, whether it had books or not, was established in 1923 along with quarters for teachers. Undoubtedly progress has been greatest in the past 20 years, and it is impossible to sort out who is responsible, but many of the natives showing that they indeed have "hearts and minds," are exerting ever more responsibility for their own fate, every day.

อย่าเสี้ยมเขาควายให้ชนกัน - yàa sîam kăo kwaai hâi chon gan

Don't egg fools on.

• อย่า yàa do not, don't, never
  
• เสี้ยม sîam sharpen, point; instigate, abet, arouse; pyramidal, conical
  
• เขา kăo antlers; animal horns; hill, mountain; he, she, him, her, they, them
  
• ควาย kwaai buffalo, carabao; fool, simpleton, dunce
  
• ให้ hâi let, permit, allow, consent to; get someone to do something; give, offer to
  
• ชน chon collide with, hit, bump against, strike, crash, run into, butt; complete, get close to, near; fight, battle, knock against, struggle, encounter, clash with, oppose people,
  
• กัน gan together, jointly; one another, each other; keep out, prevent, set aside, resist, obstruct
  

Thaksin will speak live on BBC World in 'a few minutes.'

Edit: Thaksin - "When I said revolution, I meant 'peaceful revolution.'" Ducking questions about funding saying "I'm just giving 'moral support.'" Now flat-out denying funding the demonstrators...

Claiming "many people have died, I have proof."

Thaksin just dithered. BBC's Jonathon Head then reported he can't find any bullet-riddled corpses.

What does this mean ได้ขวิ่ช้างกั้งอ่บเป็นพระยา อย่ซิลืมชาวประชาผู้ ขี่ควายคอนกล้า

I sometimes get asked by taxi drivers what my opinion is of the red/yellow shirts and I want to say something (politely) along the lines of 'I don't really have an opinion on that' or 'I'm not sure, it's such a complex situation'...

If you don't want to criticise about it, you can say"ผมเป็นคนนอก ไม่อยากยุ่งเกี่ยวกับเรื่องการเมืองของประเทศอื่น ขอไม่ออกความเห็นนะครับ".

'I don't really have an opinion on that' - ผมไม่มีความเห็นในเรื่องนี้

'I'm not sure, it's such a complex situation' - ผมไม่แน่ใจครับ สถานการณ์มันซับซ้อนจนเกินกว่าจะเข้าใจได้

This is a country that bets lots of money on blood sports, so there must be an equivalent to, "I don't have a dog in that fight." "อย่าเสิยมเชา" comes close. I have pix of an illustration of the latter saying taken at That Phanom, but don't know how to post it. The full expression:

"อย่าเสิ้ยมเขาตวายให้ช่นกัน"

เสี้ยมเขาควายให้ชนกัน - To incite a quarrel.

How about ไม่สนไก่ชน

One could always quote the words of พล.อ.เปรม ติณสูลานนท์ - General Prem Tinsulanon, the chief of the Privy Counsel, "ผมไม่เกี่ยว", (I am not involved). It would be as useful for you as it is for him, and, the taxi driver would immediately understand the double meaning.

But if you say that, the taxi driver might think you are really the secret mastermind behind the country's political struggles!

This is a country that bets lots of money on blood sports, so there must be an equivalent to, "I don't have a dog in that fight." "อย่าเสิยมเชา" comes close. I have pix of an illustration of the latter saying taken at That Phanom, but don't know how to post it. The full expression:

"อย่าเสิ้ยมเขาตวายให้ช่นกัน"

My wife suggests not using any expression with Thai for dog or kwai, but something more along the lines of, "I don't care for cock fights." The best I can do is, "ส่วนผม ผมไม่ใดเลี้ยงไก่ชน"

I AM SITTING HERE INENGLAND THINKING TO MYSELF WHAT DO THESE THUGS CALLED RED SHIRTS WANT AND I HAVE DECIDED THAT THE DO NOT WANT DEMOCRACY ONLY WAR.MR THASKIN IS ONLY NAFTER ONE THING COMPLETE CONTROL OF THAILAN.WHY ISNT THE ARMY OR POLICE STOPPING THESE THUGS AND I SALUTE THE LOCAL PEOPLE IN PATTAYA IN THEIR BRAVE STANCE.

I HAVE INVESTED A FAIR BIT OF MONEY INTO THAILAND BUT NO MORE.I LOVE THAILAND BUT I AM AFRAID THAILAND IS HEADING INTO CIVIL WAR.

DAVID BOULDING

Good points - Abhisit is a very well educated guy. Although Thai, he was born and educated in the Uk. His degrees are genuine not bought or forged. I think he is well able to outsmart the criminal mob!

I am a big Abhisit supporter, but his intelligence won't help now. Other than the Blue shirts, there was really no other security at the hotel. Clearly, there was something else going on.

Not really. He was born in the UK, went to Eton, a top school and gained a 1st in PPE from Oxford which makes him exceptionally well educated and undoubtedly infelligent but that does not infer common sense, morals or foresight. And he is Thai after all so no amount of time in the UK changes the genes....

Which are Chinese.

One could always quote the words of พล.อ.เปรม ติณสูลานนท์ - General Prem Tinsulanon, the chief of the Privy Counsel, "ผมไม่เกี่ยว", (I am not involved). It would be as useful for you as it is for him, and, the taxi driver would immediately understand the double meaning.

But if you say that, the taxi driver might think you are really the secret mastermind behind the country's political struggles!

This is a country that bets lots of money on blood sports, so there must be an equivalent to, "I don't have a dog in that fight." "อย่าเสิยมเชา" comes close. I have pix of an illustration of the latter saying taken at That Phanom, but don't know how to post it. The full expression:

"อย่าเสิ้ยมเขาตวายให้ช่นกัน"

Army chief denies existence of secret US jail in Thailand

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"There's no secret jail for torturing terrorist suspects in (the northeast Thailand province of) Udon Thani," Gen. Anupong said. "There's no secret place in Udon Thani. Anybody can visit every district or village."

***

He's right; they were choppered from Ubon RTAFB to an army camp west of Yasothon. No prisoners there now, of course, and you can visit the army camp to play golf!