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Unlike a lot of my friends, I don't feel any joy in today's court ruling overturning Measure 36. I feel instead immense relief that a gross injustice, inflicted by the voters of Oregon on our gay and lesbian neighbors, has been undone. The joy I feel is for my friends who can finally join with those they love in matrimony. They are those who make today a good day.
May. 19th, 2014
Thai army declares martial law
May. 19th, 2014 04:21 pmThis is not good.
The background is that Thailand has been in a political crisis going back to 2006 between reformers and royalists. Recently things got so bad that there has been speculation that civil war is immanent. Today Thailand is waking up to news that the Army has surrounded the television stations and is cracking down on dissenters. This kind of move sometimes stops the chaos, but just as often it starts a rebellion.
China, the US and Japan all have vested economic interests in Thailand, primarily cheap industrial labor. Count on them to interfere in this crisis.
The army in Thailand has announced the imposition of martial law amid political crisis "to keep law and order".
The army has also granted itself wide-ranging powers to enforce its decision.
The background is that Thailand has been in a political crisis going back to 2006 between reformers and royalists. Recently things got so bad that there has been speculation that civil war is immanent. Today Thailand is waking up to news that the Army has surrounded the television stations and is cracking down on dissenters. This kind of move sometimes stops the chaos, but just as often it starts a rebellion.
China, the US and Japan all have vested economic interests in Thailand, primarily cheap industrial labor. Count on them to interfere in this crisis.