Readers looking around today for a quick analysis of the current political strife in Thailand, and its possible ramifications, will appreciate this piece from Reuters.

With leaders arriving for the East Asia Summit it looks like the protests are going to continue at a number of key sites. As a footnote, I wonder what the Burmese Prime Minister, General Thein Sein, will make of Thailand’s current showdown as he drives in to Pattaya. He, and his advisors, will no doubt find the whole episode instructive, particularly with their own attempt at parliamentary democracy looming just over the horizon. Of course we can only speculate on exactly what lessons the Burmese delegation will take away from this weekend’s Pattaya excursion.