Focus Jirakul grows up!

KTM train ride (Singapore-KL-Penang-Bangkok)

Thai exercise ad

Martial law

Martial law is the system of rules that takes effect when the military takes control of the normal administration of justice.

Martial law is sometimes imposed during wars or occupations in the absence of any other civil government. Examples of this form of military rule include Germany and Japan after World War II or the American South during the early stages of Reconstruction. In addition it is used by governments to enforce their rule, for example after a coup d'état (Thailand 2006), when threatened by popular protests (Tiananmen Square protests of 1989), or to crack down on the opposition (Poland 1981). Martial law can also be declared in cases of major natural disasters; however most countries use a different legal construct, such as a "state of emergency".

In many countries martial law imposes particular rules, one of which is curfew. Often, under this system, the administration of justice is left to a military tribunal, called a court-martial. The suspension of the writ of habeas corpus is likely to occur.

Singapore 2-0 Indonesia

It was all hands to the pump for a while, but in the end dogged defending won through against a determined Indonesia. Raddy Avramovic's gameplan worked like a dream, two early sucker punches from Baihakki Khaizan & Shi Jiayi respectively in each half rendering Indonesian dominance useless and shredding their confidence.

The Lions do need to be careful, as this soak & strike strategy can easily come undone against a more clinical team. Thailand & Co await in the semis.

PAD's classical conditioning

The Thai court finally acceded to People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) pressure & demonstrations by dissolving the Cabinet & banning the supposed Thaksin crony PM Somchai Wongsawat from politics for five years.

What does PAD have to say? Mr Sondhi Limthongkul only confirmed their victory & fulfillment of their aims. Chillingly, he warned that demonstrators would return to the streets if people they considered allies of Thaksin Shinawatra came to power.

In other words, PAD is saying,:
Give us government we are happy with or we will protest again. We brought our international airport to its knees & inconvenienced countless of innocent people (local & foreign) of their time & money, but you ain't seen nothing yet. We don't care if the government is elected lawfully or not.

And why not? In pandering to their demands, the Thai judiciary has effectively given carte blanche to all future demonstrators.

Indirectly, what they are saying through classical conditioning is:
If you protest long enough, hard enough, violently enough, you will get what you want. We will never use force to discipline you as we are afraid of you.

Mark my words: PAD will strike again, and many other like-minded power-hungry organisations, even Thaksin sympathisers, will be inspired to do likewise. Cue widespread anarchy, that perhaps even the great King may be powerless to arrest.

Fan Chan (My Girl)

Plot: Jeab hears that his childhood sweetheart Noi-Naa is to be married, so he makes the trip back home to his provincial village. As he does so, the memories come flooding back to his childhood in 1980s Thailand. He remembers always being late to school, so his father would have to give him a ride on the back of the motorcycle. After school, he would always play with Noi-Naa and her girlfriends while the neighborhood boys rode their bicycles and played football and Chinese fantasy characters.

My take: This is so sweeeeeeeeeeeeet. =]