Just to take a breather from the Coup Threads.

Tonga's late king laid to rest

Funeral of King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV - 19/9/06

The capital came to a standstill for the farewell

Thousands of Tongans have attended the funeral of King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, who died last week at the age of 88.

The ceremony in the capital, Nuku'alofa, combined Christian and traditional rituals.

Representatives from 30 foreign countries watched as the late king's coffin was carried by 1,000 men to the official royal burial ground.

King Tupou IV ruled the Pacific nation for more than four decades, and was much loved by his people.

But his death is likely to fuel calls for greater reform.

Nuku'alofa came to a standstill as the people of Tonga said goodbye to their revered leader.

Buildings, roadsides and palm trees were covered in the customary black and purple mourning cloth.

For the past week, a constant stream of people has filed past the royal family's seaside palace, leaving flowers and other gifts for the king's widow. Thousands have also taken part in overnight prayer vigils.

Long illness

On Tuesday morning, amid cannon fire, the coffin was carried out of the palace by an army of Tongan men in traditional dress.

They were joined by dignitaries from dozens of countries. Among them were Australian Governor-General Michael Jeffery, Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester from the UK.

The prime ministers of New Zealand and Fiji, Helen Clark and Laisenia Qarase, also paid their respects.

King Tupou IV died last week in a hospital in Auckland, after a long illness.

His death is being marked by a month of official mourning, although the royal family will observe a six-month mourning period.

The late king will be succeeded by his son, Tupou V, who will be officially crowned when mourning comes to an end.

The new king is likely to face mounting pressure to introduce social reform.

Last year, thousands of Tongans took part in unprecedented demonstrations to demand greater democracy and public ownership of key national assets.

and this one made me smile:

New recruit joins Terracotta Army

The terracotta soldiers were created for an imperial Chinese tomb 2,200 years ago

A German art student briefly fooled police by posing as one of China's terracotta warriors at the heritage site in the ancient capital, Xian.

Pablo Wendel, made up like an ancient warrior, jumped into a pit showcasing the 2,200-year-old pottery soldiers and stood motionless for several minutes.

The 26-year-old was eventually spotted by police and removed from the scene.

Unearthed in 1974, the statues are said to be one of the 20th Century's greatest archaeological finds.

The ancient clay soldiers were created to protect the nearby tomb of the legendary Emperor Qinshihuang who united China over 2,200 years ago.

Police confiscated Mr Wendel's costume and sent him home

Mr Wendel is reported to have entered the museum on Saturday where he changed into his outfit, jumped over a barrier and took up a position on a pedestal he had taken along.

"I got to the area where he was supposed to be, looked around and didn't see him - he looked too much like a terracotta warrior," Hong Kong newspapers quoted a security guard as saying.

As Mr Wendel's "performance art" did not harm any of the ancient relics, he was not arrested or charged but given "serious criticism", the reports said.

Mr Wendel had his costume confiscated and was sent back to the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou, where he is studying.

and

Terracotta army could invade UK

Terracotta warriors

The life-sized army is often called the Eighth Wonder of the World

The British Museum is in negotiations to stage the largest exhibition of China's famed terracotta warriors ever seen outside their native country.

The London museum hopes to host the warriors towards the end of next year.

Two British Museum exhibitions are now on loan to China, as part of an ongoing collaboration with the country.

In 1974 in northern Shaanxi province, some 8,000 statues of warriors and horses were found underground near the tomb of first emperor Qin Shihuang.

Peasants digging a well made the original discovery that led to one of the greatest archaeological finds of the 20th Century.

Qin, who created the first unified Chinese empire around 220 BC, is regarded as one of the country's most ruthless rulers.

An exhibition of Assyrian artefacts from the British Museum has just opened in Shanghai.

British Museum director Neil MacGregor took part in talks about the possible loan of the terracotta statues on a visit to attend the opening.

"We are certainly hopeful that it will go ahead," said a British Museum spokeswoman.

A Treasure of the World's Cultures exhibition, assembled by the British Museum for its 250th anniversary in 2003, was displayed in Beijing earlier this year and will be shown in Taipei from December.

all stories from the Beeb www.bbc.co.uk/asiapacific

Well back ON the COUP, I kinda like this headline:

Deep South: Army wants peace talks but unsure who with

The army chief's plan to seek talks with separatist rebel leaders in an attempt to end violence in the deep South is making no progress as the army still has no idea who the enemies really are, security sources said yesterday.

www.bangkokpost.net

Well back ON the COUP, I kinda like this headline:

Deep South: Army wants peace talks but unsure who with

The army chief's plan to seek talks with separatist rebel leaders in an attempt to end violence in the deep South is making no progress as the army still has no idea who the enemies really are, security sources said yesterday.

www.bangkokpost.net

Weren't they going to hold talks awhile ago, in Norway (of all places ?).

Maybe I should volunteer to speak with the army, but only if they pick up the airfare, hotels and meals, in a place a little warmer that Norway (Rio de Janiero ?).

In other news, in sundays election the center-right coalition defeated the socialist-communist-green-party coalition. It's the third time since 1930 that they loose power, and they are all complaining that the country are going down the tubes now. Good riddence I say.

^ Elections in Sweden, that is. Not so sure the rest of Thaivisa's membership will be able to figure that out... And I agree it was high time for a change. Hopefully they'll do better this time than last.

*slabs forehead* Yes, somehow forgot the words 'in Sweden', sorry about that. =)

And yes, let's hope they don't fumble. With the lack of new good candidates for the socialdemocrats-party for the convention in march, the next election in 2010 might also go to the right, if they (center-right coalition) just head on through without fighting internally too much.