My previous post on the Thai coup was somewhat hastily written before picking my mom up at the airport, and I haven't had much chance to make the follow-up that I'd hoped. My apologies for another hastily written update. An AP article in the Oregonian today reported that coup leader Sondhi Boonyaratkalin has announced that he will not call another election for at least a year. Presumably this year will be used to re-writed the constitution. The irony of postponing elections in order to draft a democratic constitution under military rule seems to be lost on them.   more »

Reports coming from Thailand are that a faction of the military has staged a coup and taken control of Bangkok. Thaksin, who is currently at the U.N. in New York, declared a state of emergency in Bangkok, while the army has declared martial law in the country. Troops have surrounded the King's palace, and are occupying the government house, but there seems to be little confirmation as to which side these troops are on. Earlier in the day, Thaksin ordered Sonthi Boonyaratglin, the commander in chief of the army, to report to acting Prime Minister Chidchai Vanasatidya - an order which removes him from his post in the Army. There are rumors that the two sides of the military were heading for a clash, but that remains to be seen. Eye-witness reports from Bangkok are that all is calm and orderly at the moment.   more »

For the better part of this year, I've been noticing an increasing trickle of news about physic nut plants in Burma. In all honesty, I'd never heard of or about the plant before, and I kept meaning to do some reading up on the matter so I could write about it. I guess I waited around long enough, because it looks like Naomi Mann beat me to it. But fair enough, she obviously did a much better job than I could have. To make up for my laziness I'm now getting around to using my powers of google and paste to share the knowledge.   more »