<p><font face="tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2">The recent article in the Economist of Dec 4 about the Thai monarchy has caused a lot of raised eyebrows among Thais. This is not simply because it treated speculation as fact but also because it curiously showed lack of understanding and research about the history of Thai politics and the basics of the Thai constitutional monarchy. </font></p>

<p><font face="tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2">The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) may have just put up Christmas and New Year lights around Siam Square along with their &quot;Amazing Thailand&quot; slogan, but the colourful lights pale by comparison to recent political dramas, which have proven far more surreal, even for locals.<br /> </font></p>

<p><font face="tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2"> THIS week&#39;s edition of the <a href="http://www.economist.com/opinion/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12724832">Economist</a> magazine has been banned in Thailand for articles critical of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, bookstore staff said on Monday, although it was unclear who ordered the ban. </font></p>

<p><font face="tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2">History repeated itself in Thailand this week when a top court for the second time in as many years dissolved the biggest political party, along with two of its partners, and effectively banned its leader and executive members from politics. </font></p>

<p>So the prophet said it over the weekend: &quot;If by dying the country will improve, let death visit us today. It&#39;s better than being alive otherwise&quot;. </p>

<p><font face="tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2">The &#39;broad and unclear&#39; provisions of Thailand&#39;s cyber crime act continues to baffle Netizens and civil society group, who have formed a group that seeks to amend the said bill. </font></p>

<p><font face="tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2">Organizers of the prolonged raid on the Bangkok international airport have insisted that they will bring down the government at any cost. In targeting the airport they have taken a dramatic strategic step and have also made a move of enormous symbolic importance.</font></p>

<p><font face="tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2">Next Thursday a court in Yala will decide on a very important case for victims of arbitrary detention and forced disappearance in Thailand. The court is due to give its view on what happened to Mayateh Maranoh, who has not been seen since he was taken away by a paramilitary group in mid-2007. </font></p>

<p>The Thai media industry will face a tough time making ends meet if the long drawn-out political turmoil in this South-east Asian country is not resolved soon. </p>

<p><font size="2">The Age of Obama is dawning upon us. And you don&#39;t need to be an American to soon be affected by it.</font></p>

<p><span style="border-collapse: separate; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px" class="Apple-style-span">To my profound regret, on the occasion of the royal cremation ceremony of Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana on November 15, I will be attending an important meeting held at Schumacher College in England; thus missing out on the chance to pay my last and final respects to the Princess.</span></p>

<p><font face="tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2">Human-rights lawyer Somchai Homlaor warned yesterday that any crackdown on criticism of the monarchy is essentially futile and will have a negative impact on the institution itself. </font></p>