Letter from Thailand - May 18th, 2008

Dear Reader,

Frustrations abound in Thailand this week as I've had problems with the agency I work through and, chances are, I'll be looking for another job (pity, as I love the job, but hate the agency).

In national news, most Thais are still consumed with the tragedy still unfolding in Myanmar (Burma). Samak, the current Thai Prime Minister, visited with the Burmese military junta this week and tried to negotiate with them. In most things, he wasn't very successful as the military junta is paranoid to the extreme. Samak did, however, get approval for several teams of Thai doctors and medical professionals to be allowed into Myanmar to help with the crisis.

On Friday, a team of Thai doctors sponsored by the King of Thailand was admitted into Myanmar as a sort of 'advance team', to try to figure out what it is the Burmese need the most. Almost 45,000 people have died so far with tens of thousands more likely to die if things don't change soon. Thankfully Thailand has been able to work with the crazy junta somewhat but, from what they are being allowed to do, it's still only going to be a drop in the bucket. Meanwhile, the military junta seem to think it's better to let all their citizens slowly die than to ask for and accept help. The sick logic that backs this is incomprehensible to most of us and a sincere reason why the Burmese should be creating their own revolution and overthrowing these bastards as we speak.

In local news, poor Thais are up in arms about the just approved increase in bus fares. Bus fares are going up on Thai buses between 1 and 2 baht per trip (about 3 to 6 cents per trip). For most Westerners, this seems like peanuts. But when you figure about 60% of Thais make less than $180 a month and they sometimes have to take 3-6 buses every day just to get to work, the increase is a lot of money. Meanwhile, the minimum salary for many Thai employees will be going up by 9 baht (27 cents) per day. This increase in bus fares though will take most of that increase, and the rapidly increasing food prices will do away with the rest.