Thaksin Bails

In the latest chapter of the long political saga here, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra apparently decided last week that corruption charges against him were getting a bit too warm, so he and his family headed for England. His wife had recently been sentenced to three years in jail for tax evasion.

Orderly street protests continue, but are now held outside the British Embassy (“Return Thaksin Home!”) rather than near the current prime minister’s office. Some people say the real issue is what kind of democracy the country wants. Lots of versions have been tried in Thailand, from business-friendly to king-friendly to army-friendly, but none have really stuck.