The British Foreign Office is saying: "If you plan to visit Thailand in the next few days you should consider the present situation when making your decision." Given there's no State of Emergency here I don't think those who opt to cancel pre-arranged trips will be covered by their insurance. The Nation is reporting that doctors at Chulalongkorn Hospital in Bangkok are refusing to treat members of the Royal Thai Police who were injured in yesterday's clashes. This is, according to the newspaper, because of their unhappiness about the levels of excessive force used. The Nation also reports that several MPs from the ruling People's Power Party were denied entry onto internal flights operated by national carrier Thai Airways. The captain was reportedly worried that the MPs presence of the flight might cause confrontations, whereas one politician denied passage suggested the mental state of the captain should be investigated. The Associated Press and others say troops stand guard on street corners in Bangkok. I can't confirm whether this is happening throughout the city; all I can say is that from my window I can't see anything unusual. I would think it's unlikely because of the fear it would create amongst visitors. Posted by The Bangkok Bugle

Apirak 991,018 votes (45.93%). He won 911,441 votes 4 years ago. Prapas 543,488 votes (25.19%) Chuwit 340,616 votes (15.79%). He won 334,168 last time Kriengsak 260,051 votes (12.05

This blog is an attempt to view recent media reports and street gossip from a scientific and forensic viewpoint. This is not taking sides, although I oppose the PAD tactics, I am simply examining the evidence. Firstly tear gas no matter how dispersed, does not and cannot cause skeletal injuries. As the medical reports confirm complete destruction of a limb requires High Explosives (HE). The first evidence clearly suggested that this HE was being carried in the pockets of some PAD members and accidentally exploded. The photographic evidence supported this. HE will explode if near a compression wave, such as a gas canister detonation. The PAD now countered this by saying the police used homemade bombs. Making HE is a complex industrial process, it is not like "black powder" which can be made from simple ingredients. Making HE requires the use of concentrated sulphuric and Nitric acids, not available at your local store. In theory the police could break open their bullet cartridges and collect enough powder to make a bomb, but why bother, if they need to do this to kill, then just shoot the bullets, in any case it still would not be HE. The charge in a bullet is a propellent rather than an explosive. Now the story grows, the police are using M26 antipersonel grenades, Now the fragmentation pattern and range of the M26 is very precisely known, it is basically the standard against which other grenades are compared. I see no injuries which are compatible...

In Thailand, the word 'mob' (ม็อบ) is often mistakenly used instead of the word 'protest' (ประท้วง ). I used to make a point to argue and correct this language use when friends and colleagues would mistakenly call a protest a mob. Especially so if they were reporters. And there is good reason. A protest is a legitimate function of democracy while a mob is a crazed group of thugs bent on violence and destruction. But when it is time to talk about the thoroughly anti-democratic People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), they are nothing short of an ugly mob of thugs bent on violence and destruction. A mob is a mob, nothing more and everything less than democracy

The confusion is high, with rumors, counter rumors and lies. On one hand, the police once again shows its extreme and shameful stupidity when a spokeman continues to repeat that police forces have used only tear gas… and that the other people suffered injuries probably by falling on the ground… when on TV you can see some horrible wounds… On the other hand, medias are adding fuel onto the fire, with “global” tolls for injured (like Nation with the total figures of 381… but with only 48 in hospital … or with sensational headlines like “ Black october ” (on Nation’s website). Black October refers to the massacre of october 1973, when security forces and mob killed… probably dozen of students… I mean : this is irresponsible. I can’t stop thinking that there is -unfortunatly- like a scenario, with the arrest of 2 PAD’s leaders last week… leading to higher tension… the first clashes monday, then the sudden resignation of Deputy Prime Minister Chavalit who was supposed to negociate with PAD… more riots. Who is responsible ? Left, right, both camps ? Or nobody ? And now the PAD demands a House dissolution… Could it solve the problem ? Of course not. I’ve got a bad feeling that the only question now is : how many people have to die before the army decides to intervene ? So more than ever, it’s difficult to foresee an end to the political crisis. And meanwhile… some people are looking with horror to...