Thailand stand-off continues. Situation seems to be going out of hand with the Government under Abhisit Vejjajiva on the defensive. Though on the defensive and the situation aggravating a determined, adamant Abhisit Vejjajiva with the army on his side has launched a mounting offensive against the equally offensive “Red Shirts”-the so called supporters of the ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra who leads the fight from his exile.
According to the latest CNN report, 18 persons are already killed and several hundreds mortally wounded with the stand off continuing showing no signs of a compromise solution the death toll is likely to rise.
Ever since Shinawatra was ousted from power on charges of corruption and fled from country his supporters, thousands of them are determined to bring him back from exile and install him as the Prime Minister of Thailand. How come Shinawatra a business tycoon and notorious for corruption could find a large number of supporters one might be inclined to enquire. The simple truth is being a shrewd, astute ruler he was a pastmaster to sweep his misdeeds under the carpet. I mean corruption in this context. He did a lot to the social sector and endeared himself to the society at large. The formation of the militant outfit “Red Shirts” was a consequence of this and the determined “Red Shirts” are sparing no chances to oust the incumbent, Abhisit Vejjajiva by waging relentless struggle against the army.
Rumours are rife with reports of the army leaders or a section of them - means a chasm among the army hierarchy itself might in the end force Abhisit Vejjajiva to leave the hot seat. Thaksin Shinawatra, the Robinhood reminding me of Kayamkulam Kochunni who was a great thief and looter of Kerala origin whose mission was the welfare of the downtrodden or the have-nots in the society, could find himself in the saddle in the immediate future after a namesake election process. All possibilities rest upon the ultimate stand of the army. Thailand on the boil reports at present flash across the visual media, and widely covered in the print media.
IRAQI TURMOIL
Iraq seemed to be somewhat calm, uneasy calm is the apt word, till a few months away. Such a feeling was around not only among Americans, Britians and their allies, even such a fond thought was widespread even the world over. With many other issues of international importance drawing the attention of all what actually emanates from the war ravaged country is something distressing. As in Pakistan, yes, it is not a war ravaged nation, agree, suicide bombings on daily basis are coming out with huge numbers getting perished as consequences of it.
America, Britain and their allies so also the Iraqi Government were starting to breath easy infact, but against their expectations, Sunni-Shia divide and divisions within the Shia groups itself, create havoc in Iraqi cities and towns through unexpected suicide bombings thus holding the entire Iraq to ransom ever since the war and the gruesome death of Saddam Hussein at the hands of U.S allies. Their troops after “successful accomplishment” of their mission were about to return their respective lands and some already called back what would be their next moves? A clear message to the Iraquis to get lost or set your house in order message-most probable-or once more into the battle arena? Whatever be their next moves Iraq is poised to evolve itself into a towering inferno, in the days to come, thanks to the Americans, and Britains. George W Bush and Tony Blair must be feeling excited.
Greek recession
After the somewhat successful escape from the recession of 2008 which first originated in U.S while George.W.Bush was in the White House as President and the whole mess fell upon his successor Barack Obama and as initiated by him a resolution was passed in the Congress, The Federal Reserve under its new incumbent Ben Bernanke, through fiscal stimulus, bailed out the crumbling financial institutions, and corporates. U.S and other nations across the world heaved sighs of relief. Though functioning under a regulated mechanism India unlike under the then U.S President Bush where unregulated economy was left loose (with no strings attached) India also could not escape the aftereffects of meltdown though to a limited extent. Barack Obama had to weather many a storm in the form of Republican onslaught one by one, commencity from the GoP’s opposition to the new Health Care Bill which would benefit more than 32 millions of Americans-a few leaders of GoP like Sarah Palin calling it “death panel” reform. Each reform that Obama concentrates upon passing like reining in of corporates, Wall Street et al through amendments of the law, the Republicans oppose the incumbent Government for its own sake like “terrorists go on a killing spree for its own sake………..”
The U.S. Recession of 2008 is somewhat under control though unemployment still remaining a head ache, now the tragedy has hit Greece and even its repercussions are felt around the world. The “talk of the town” now is the Greeke Conundrum. The Pulitzer prize winner Thomas L Friedman even went to the extent of calling Greece “the United States of Europe”. I feel this some sort of an exaggeration as Nobel lauraeate economist Paul Krugman put it compared to U.S.A, Greece is a small country and hence the comparison is in poor taste. Moreover American economy according to him, even during the meltdown of 2008 was in a much better shape than that of Greece.
Greek Prime Minister George Papandreau was on a whirlwind tour of European countries to plead fro rescuing his nation from the unprecedented recession, and the 27 member body was sympathetic to his pleadings and promised to extend help. IMF also came to the help of Greece of course with many a string attached. As someone put it, IMF stressed the need for running the Greek economy on an ‘economic diet’ by adopting strict austerity measures like reducing the wage hike by 20 per cent, pension by 10% and raiising retirement age by five years, thus cutting down the expenditure to help the nation wriggle out of a quagmire.
George Papandraeau stressed the need for the people sacrificnig hitherto comforts enjoyed by them for the future prosperity of the nation or atleast make it possible to bail-out. May 1 massive rally organized across Greece by workers in protest against the austerity measures to be adopted was displayed by CNN on the historic day. The rally had reported to have turned violent.
If Greece like Britain had stuck to its currency instead of Euro, such a pathetic situation would not have arisen. This is not to explain that British economy is in a better shape and in Britain one of the reasons which led to the fall of New Labour Party Government under Gordon Brown after 13 years of uninterrupted rule by that party was due to the shattered economy. But they have still the choice left.
To rescue Greece from an economic collapse is the collective responsibility of European Union and they should have to rise to the occasion. The very concept of European Union and the adoption of a common currency Euro by the community was itself a step in the wrong direction.
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