More violence in southern Thailand this week. Two bombs have been found and diffused in the past two days. The bombs were planted in shopping centers in accordance with a recently discovered terrorist plot. Both bombs were reported prior to explosion and no one was injured.

A form of poisonous seaweed has been discovered on the coast of Thailand. In the past three months, five people have fallen ill from the consumption of seabass that are known to feed on the seaweed. The seaweed has been found to contain the ciguatera toxin, which is very harmful to humans. The species is known to thrive in warm waters, and scientists have inferred that the increase in ocean temperature due to global warming has caused its population to skyrocket. This is the first time such a problem has presented itself. The intergovernmental panel on climate change expects ocean acid levels to increase dramatically within the next 40 years due to an increase in carbon dioxide. Meteorologists have predicted that flooding in Thailand will become an even greater problem, and the Thai government has estimated that 7oo million (U.S.) dollars will be needed annualy to deal with climate change problems.

A Thai editorial discussed the possibility of U.S. intervention in Burma with a tone of severe disgust for the current administration. The piece cited the Bush administrations lack of international credibility and respect, and called for China to rise as a new leader in global crisis intervention.

Nuon Chean, the highest ranking survivor of the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia, has been arrested for genocide today at his home near the cambodian-thai border. From 1975 to 1979, Khmer Rouge was responsible for the brutal murder, torture, and enslavement of at least 1 million cambodians. Chean was flown to Cambodia's capital, Phnom Penh for trial as the road from the thai border to the capital is dirt, and littered with land mine craters, bandits, and the constant reminder of the atrocities commited by the regime. As a personal aside, Cambodia is one of the most emotionally devastating places to visit that i can even imagine. The border is packed with land mine victims, disfigured and poor, asking for change from travellers that pass. Throughout the country glass towers have been erected containing the bones of the dead that fell casualty to Khmer Rhouge. I suggest everyone visit at least once in their life time only to understand the necessity to never allow this to happen again... anywhere.

General Anupong has promised to return the thai army to their barracks and keep the military "out of politics". Though the pre-coup political officials may return to the political arena in the upcoming december elections, the government has decided to make the establishment of government democratic and will have no need for an army to be present. The general has said that even if the old officials are to be voted into the new administration, thus dominating the house and regaining control of the country, "we must accept the public's decision."

On September 19 of 2006, the thai military led by their general carried out a military coup overthrowing the regime of the former prime minister. The coup was to propel thailand towards a true democracy, though one year later, little progress has been made. Democratic elections have been set for this december, and are expected to be carried out as scheduled. Supporters believe that once the elections have been held, stability can be returned to the country. Since the coup, economic problems have grown, with factories closing and unemployment increasing. Violence in southern thailand has also increased. The Bangkok post cites the increase in killings of non-combatants, whereas prior to the coup targets were limited to security officers, government officials and buddhists. (If you were unaware, as i was before i entered thai borders, southern thailand is involved in an informal civil war in which thai islamic fundamentalists are attempting to take over southern thailand under islamic rule) Stopping this violence, as one can imagine, is a primary focus of the dishevelled thai government at this time.

Urban Bangkok

Welcome to the weekly report of the urban metropolis of Bankok, Thailand. A few years ago I had the oppurtunity to explore this city and have since been fascinated with its people and culture. This is a place in which the trends of the American urban dynamic are seldom seen as manifested in cities like New York and Chicago. The asian culture, though different from America shares similar problems. As the population of Bangkok approaches 10 million, the city is faced with familiar problems like traffic control due to overpopulation, HIV, and civil unrest in the form of terrorism. More news to come...