<p>The government is coming under increasing pressure to stop the spread of red shirt support in rural areas. Ever since a major social contract was fractured two months ago, the country has seen a seemingly unstoppable spillage of red-shirt sympathy. </p>

<p><span>15 June 2048 </span></p> <p>The 38-year wait for truth and justice for those killed in the political conflicts of April and May 2010 finally ended today with the publication of the final report of the 12-year inquiry headed by former Supreme Court Judge Sawin Niwdeegate.</p>

<p>There has been some recent commentary about Thais posting in English in the blogosphere. While some have deplored the appalling language and personal abuse, drawing sad conclusions about the state of education in the country, others have speculated on what the unrestrained name-calling says about current society. But all have assumed that the posts have been spontaneous and untutored expressions of the emotions of the moment.</p>

<p>The controversy about foreign media coverage of the Red Shirt protests has prompted the Ministry of Culture into action. In an attempt to prevent incorrect information about Thai culture from being disseminated around the world, it has developed a method of counteracting the ignorance and bias of non-Thai reporters.</p>

<p>In order to facilitate the government&rsquo;s policy of reconciliation to heal the divisions in Thai society after the recent conflict, a new Centre for the Reconciliation of All Parties has been established under the leadership of Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban. The CRAP objectives include the restoration of a normal situation throughout the Kingdom and the achievement of unity among the Thai people.</p>

<p>So you misspend your teenage years doing a bit of drugs and a bit of aggro, maybe more than a bit of drugs. You&rsquo;ve managed to stay away from the law but done rehab and they&rsquo;ve set the psychiatrists and their pills on you. And you&rsquo;re cruising along day-to-day, no future, no prospects but no worries.</p>

<p>Your Excellency,</p> <p>The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Royal Thai Government presents its sincerest compliments to Your Excellency the Ambassador of the Philippines and wishes to avail itself of the good offices of Your Excellency, as Dean of the Foreign Diplomatic Corps, in order to communicate the following to the foreign diplomatic community in Thailand.</p>

<p>Perhaps the most surprising of the well-behaved, patient and good-humoured queues in the red shirt encampment has been the one for registration as members of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship. It may have been under canvas at the roadside, but the technology was as good as you will get in the more progressive government offices. Application forms were registered by computer and photo ID cards (proudly worn by everyone I talked to) were produced on the spot on payment of a 50 baht membership fee. A truly impressive level of organization.</p> <p>For what purpose?</p>

<p>&lsquo;The tension is palpable here at the Annual Awards Ceremony of the Thai Political Performing Arts, better known as the Political Oscars. It&rsquo;s been a year of upheaval on the Thai political scene and competition for some of the awards has been intense. Perhaps I can ask our political affairs commentator, Khun Thanongtul Sathitsophon, just how the awards are decided.&rsquo;</p>

<p>It is a hectic scene in the War Room of the Peace-Keeping Operations Command inside the 11th Infantry Regiment base.</p>

<p>A decade ago, a foreign volunteer was placed with one of the Agricultural Research and Development Centres that are dotted about the country and soon after her arrival she got to participate in a training session for farmers.</p>

<p>It is reported that National Human Rights Commissioner Dr Tajing Siripanit stated on national television that the Abhisit government would be justified in using force against the red shirt protestors at Ratchaprasong intersection &lsquo;because they were disrupting shopping&rsquo;.</p>