<p>The recent unexpected death of former Prime Minister Gen Prem Tinsulanonda &ndash; What?&nbsp; Yes I know he was 98 but I would have put folding money on him reaching his century, wouldn&rsquo;t you?&nbsp; As I was saying, the death of Gen Prem has had us reviewing the 1980s when he presided over a series of fractious coalitions in a system of semi-democracy or semi-dictatorship, take your pick.</p>

<p>As Thailand’s time under a military regime drags on for a year and a half without any prospect of an election in the near future, an independent writer and democracy activist says that political reform is just an empty promise if the Thai military does not reform itself.</p> <p></p>

<p>PDRC “Buddha Issara” apologizes to military personnel for gun attack | “Man of the State” fails, next is Abhisit's turn at mediation | Yingluck supports Abhisit's role but Suthep won't | EC and Government agree to hold elections on 20 July amid Abhisit’s call for delayed polls</p> <p></p>

<p>A member of Prawase Wasi&rsquo;s reform committee has proposed tax increases, in VAT in particular, to implement the government&rsquo;s welfare programme.</p>