Asia Sentinel (AFP)

‣ Before the military was unleashed – Thailand’s prime minister Abhisit speaking in a televised interview with army chief Anupong Paochinda in a show of solidarity with the military, flatly rejected a red shirt offer to call elections in 30 days and hold a vote 60 days later. He said: “There must not be a precedent that allows intimidation to bring about political change” » The full Reuters article – By Jason Szep.

‣ Would Abhisit’s party, which hasn’t won a nationwide poll since 1992, be in power if their “yellow shirted” supporters had not hijacked the airports and held them hostage for 8 days in 2008 stranding hundreds of thousands of travelers?

‣ None of the yellow shirts have been convicted for shutting down the airport, including Kasit Piromya, the current foreign minister who took part and reportedly said the protest was “a lot of fun.” » The full New York Times article. By Thomas Fuller.

‣ Abhisit’s Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban says (the 8 day) blockade of the two airports last year “caused no damage to aviation” so charges are baseless. » The full Bangkok Post article..

‣ Is Thai law biased? » Thai Supreme Court rulings are based on the military created constitution.
‣ Giles Ungpakorn, is now in England after the current government filed Lèse-Majesté charges against him.
He said, “The drafters will claim they are following the policies of the palace, but it’s much more complicated than that, …. Moreover, the monarchy is just one institution. There are 65 million other people in Thailand who deserve an equal say in how the country is run.” The (18th) Thai Constitution has a problem right from the start,… Giving power to unelected civil servants who tend to be very conservative is a step backwards.” » The full Asia Sentinel article – By Daniel Ten Kate.

Thailand’s martial law will continue for another three months, Abhisit’s military-backed government decided

Thailand’s army-backed government is now wielding overwhelming surveillance, imprisonment, censorship and other “state of emergency” powers across much of this Buddhist-majority Southeast Asian nation. The United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship, commonly known as the Red Shirts, acknowledge that they have been strangled and are struggling to stay alive. Thousands of cameras are to be installed all over Bangkok, making it probably the most heavily surveilled city in Asia.
“The government’s use of terrorism charges to go after Red Shirt leaders, as well as Thaksin, is inappropriate for what was mostly a peaceful political movement that did not target civilians,” said the Belgium-based International Crisis Group on July 5.
The emergency decree, described by the ICG as “draconian,” conveniently also” grants officials immunity from prosecution,” the ICG said. » The full Asia Sentinel article – By Richard S. Ehrlich – July 8, 2010

• WWS – World Wise School – The Blind Men and the Elephant -
  Overview | Students will develop sensitivity to others’ points of view.
  – Students will understand the importance of having as much information as possible before coming to conclusions. Go to this Building Society Lesson Worksheet.
• The Learning Foundation – Making Good Laws: “Is the Thai Constitution credible?” -
  Go to this Building a Healthy Society and Law Lesson.
• The New York Times – Learning Network – Democracy in Action -
  Overview | Students consider words that reflect their knowledge and opinions about democracy. Go to this Building a Healthy Society and ESL Lesson.
• The New York Times – Learning Network – Examining Military Coups Around the World -
  Overview | Students consider military coups and their aftermaths, research famous coups… illustrating those events, and write letters from the perspectives of ousted leaders examined during class. Go to this Law and Society Lesson.