Letter from Thailand - July 18, 2008

Dear Reader,

Sawatdee kha from Thailand.

Big news in Thailand this week is the ongoing demonstrations just over the border in Cambodia. Some Thais are angry that Cambodia says it owns the land that houses the Preah Vihear Temple, whose ownership is being disputed by both countries. The temple, which stands on the border of Cambodia and Thailand, has only recently become important when it was named a UNESCO World Heritage site. Thailand is jealous that Cambodia has it and they don't.

The temple itself sits on land that is part of Cambodia, the steps that are the access to the temple sit in Thailand, so many people in Thailand have decided Thailand owns the temple. You've got to hand it to the Thais - right now there is an ongoing governmental crisis that is damaging the Thai economy, and over a government that may be kicked out by the people or overthrown by the military. So, said government has been making a big deal out of the temple fiasco in an attempt to move the spotlight off itself. Meanwhile, more than 1,500 Thai and Cambodian troops are facing off on the Thai-Cambodian border. What is wrong with these people? Cambodia has barely anything, Thailand already has some of the world's most amazing buildings and scenery - why are Thais being so selfish with Cambodia?

In other important news this week, the Thai budget airline One-Two-Go has declared it will not be flying any more flights until September, due to high fuel prices. However, skeptics in Thailand (of which I am one) think this has more to do with the pending lawsuits against it by family members of people killed in the One-Two-Go crash in Phuket last year. The problem in Thailand is the system is still so corrupt that One-Two-Go could effectively go out of business, meaning family members wouldn't be able to sue. Then it could re-open under another name and continue business as normal. You've gotta love the corruption right?