December 28, 2007: Although still in
exile, ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's political followers won the
first elections in fifteen months. Thaksin
will return from exile in a month or so, and his policies (populist,
pro-business and tough on Islamic terrorism) will be back in force. This may
not mean more violence in the Moslem south, because in the past year, police
and troops have gotten a handle on the Islamic terrorists, and public opinion
among Moslems is turning against the militants.
