[AFP] Myanmar ophans flee to uncertain refuge in Thailand
[A sudden offensive against ethnic Karen rebels by Myanmar's military junta has caused what aid groups say is the biggest exodus of refugees from Myanmar since 1997, with some 4,000 people fleeing for safety since the start of June.
Just weeks ago the group of 96 destitute orphans fled their children's home in Myanmar to the sound of mortar shells and crossed into Thailand.][AFP] Thailand bans protests in Phuket at ASEAN meeting
["I am telling all parties.... No kind of rally is allowed in Phuket. We will not designate an area for demonstration, we will not allow protest representatives to show up or mount a road blockade -- even peaceful rallies are not allowed," defence minister General Prawit Wongsuwon told reporters.]
BP: Slight overkill?
Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.
This government, probably because they don't have any real mandate from the people, are terrified that they may look bad again. Without actually realizing that they look like an oppressive Burmese clone by declaring a SOE or calling out the army every time want to do anything. The PM can't even travel around the country without taking the army and his own private militia to outnumber the protesters against him.