Leaders of 16 Asian nations meets in Thailand

This weeks news article does not have to do only with Thailand but in a historical meeting of 16 Asian countries in Thailand. These countries met to discuss ways of increasing economic growth in their countries, and not serve as countries that merely aid Western countries in producing goods and services. The countries including Thailand, India, and China, focused on strengthening central markets, and liberalize regional trade. There goal is to no longer have to rely on the West to purchase their products. Others results of the conference was the launch of Southeast Asia's first human rights watchdog,improved disaster management, and talks on military ruled Myanmar (heavily criticized for its human rights violations). The hopes of the 16 Asian countries is to eventually take down all trade barriers and overcome the current economic crisis, and several natural disasters in the region.

I think that the idea of these 16 Asian countries getting together and thinking of a new plan to better their economic conditions is great. Although their progress will probably be very slow, and will probably take a lot of effort from all the nations, it will be worth it once they can compare themselves economically to the western countries they are so dependent on right now. I also think that coming together is especially a good idea for these Asian countries with all the recent natural disasters that have been hitting their countries within the last year.

source
http://www.mercurynews.com/search/ci_13637996?nclick_check=1

Muslim Insurgents Confound Military in Thailand

My article this weeks continues to talk about the rising violence levels in Thailand within the past few months, and the anger of the Thai citizens over having to deal with this violence in their own homes. There are extraordinary numbers of citizens that carry around guns with themselves,and many of them find themselves hating the soldiers that patrol their streets because they represent the fear that they have to live with. As the years go by the insurgents causing all the violence are getting stronger and a lot smarter as well. They also hold many connection with powerful terrorist groups including Al Queada. Although many citizens say they are not scared many of them, inlcuding an army doctor do not walk in public without a gun of there own and a bullet proof vest on. The current goal of many of the soldiers is to once again get on the good side of the Malay Thais, they can often be seen handing out vitamin C to Thai children while patrolling the streets.

I think that insurgent violence in Thailand is very unfortunate, especially for the Thai citizens who are trying to live in those areas. It is sad that many of them live in constant fear and that they feel the need to walk around with their own protection because they can't always trust the soldiers to help them. I think that part of the problem in Thailand is that they do not have the stable government that they need in order to fight the insurgents. Especailly with all the military governments taking over, they are not doign what is necessary to help the people.

Thai Markets Tumble on Worries Over King

For the last 26 days the highly revered 81 year old king of Thailand has been in the hospital recovering from a fever, and fatigue. There have already been multiple statements that the king is doing fine and the only reason he is still in the hospital is to regain his strength. However there has still been widespread panic over the kings health and this has caused a tumble in the Thai stock market. Investors are dumping Thai assets in a panic over the kings health resulting in the Thai currency hitting a two-week low. The head of Thailand's stock exchange had issued multiple statements encouraging investors not to panic and advising them to trade very cautiously during this time. The king's illness has also had an effect on a majority of the Thai population. Buddhist Thai's especially revered the king and thought of him almost like a divine being, and many of them have been camping outside his hospital and praying daily for his speedy recovery.

I picked this article mainly because I thought it was very interesting what an effect the kings ordinary illness is having on the Thai people, and their economy. He is so highly revered that the whole country is affected when he only has a fever. I also chose this article because it shows the instability of the Thai economy, and the Thai currency, because it is so dramatically affected when something so minor occurs in the country.

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2009/10/15/world/international-us-thailand-king.html?scp=3&sq=Thailand&st=nyt

Thais protest peacefully against military government

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/09/19/thailand.protests/index.html?iref=newssearch


Thailand's past is full of violent attempts to take over the current government, however the last coup by a military group was one of the few bloodless ones. The people of Thailand were especially upset by the change in government because Thaskin, the former prime minister, was very loved for all the help he tried to give the people. A group of supporters decided to protest peacefully against this new government, and sat in a group in red colored t-shirts in front of the Government house. On the other hand there are equally violent Thais who broke through barricades to attack villagers over right to a village area on the border of Thailand and Cambodia. It is reported that they used catapults and sticks to fight each other.

I picked this article this week because it shows two sides of a very notoriously violent country. Although Thailand has had a past of extremely deadly and frequent coups the Thai people have started heading toward a more peaceful path. By peacefully rebelling, the Thaskin supporters got their point across to the military government without having to shed any blood.The article also show that opposite end of the spectrum with Thais fighting with catapults and stones over a temple area.