BURMESE CRISIS

I cannot really add anything to what has already been written and published, other than my personal experiences and feelings. Bangkok is just 400 miles from the devastated region yet we felt nothing from the cyclone here in the Thai capital. I was at the FCCT (Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand) earlier this week. They've had an influx of journalists covering the disaster from Bangkok because they can't get visas to get into Burma. For the first time in a long time the FCCT will be open at the weekend and has a press conference about the continued efforts to get aid into the country.
Thailand can and must play a key role in alleviating the current problems. Thai PM Samak is about the only person who seems to have any sort of relationship with the Burmese regime. Samak was planning a trip this weekend but was told the Burmese Government would be too busy to see him.
Some sources are reporting that many Burmese people are selling up and trying to get to Thailand. That spells possible trouble for the Kingdom and is another reason why Samak and the Thai leaders should do as much as they can to get aid into the devastated region.