Thailand’s junta has relinquished military rule in favour of pseudo-democracy in which a pro-military party governs with a narrow parliamentary majority. There are no obvious near-term triggers for political turmoil in Thailand, but the country’s fundamental political and social divisions have not been bridged, and there is potential for future conflict. In the deep south, the Malay-Muslim separatist insurgency continues, while the dialogue process appears moribund. Crisis Group aims to reduce the risk of escalation in the south and limit medium-term threats to political stability by supporting strengthened democratic institutions and promoting substantive peace talks.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered relief agencies to rush help to five southern provinces hit by severe floods, deputy government spokeswoman Rachada Dhnadirek said on Sunday.
April 2021
Tensions continued to mount among Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt ahead of Addis Ababa’s planned second unilateral filling of Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam in coming months. In apparent warning to Addis Ababa and preparation for possible escalation of inter-state tensions, Sudan and Egypt 31 March-5 April held second joint military exercise since Nov 2020. New round of talks among Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan on filling and operation of Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on Blue Nile river broke down 6 April. Cairo same day denounced Ethiopia’s “lack of political will to negotiate in good faith”, while Khartoum vowed to “consider all possible options to protect its security”, denouncing Addis Ababa’s rejection of its proposal for quadripartite mediation by AU, EU, UN and U.S. to break deadlock in AU-led negotiations. Ethiopia’s water minister Seleshi Bekele 7 April said Addis Ababa would proceed with second filling of dam during forthcoming rainy season bet
Southern provinces still submerged by floods
Southern provinces still submerged by floods
PATTANI: The monsoon in the southern region has now started to ease, but many areas especially those near the Pattani river remain submerged by flood waters. The water level in the Pattani river has been rising since a reservoir upstream had to start discharging water.
Photo: NNT
The water level in the Pattani river this morning (Jan 9) was close to overflowing into areas beside it, much of it water discharged from the reservoir at Bang Lang Dam upstream. It is likely that water will flood business areas in Pattani’s city center, if water from Yala flows in this direction over the next couple of days, reports state news agency NNT.