I am normally a metblogger on the Bangkok page, but I’ve been on vacation in New York.

General Assembly week provides New Yorkers with opportunities to attend luncehons, lectures and discussions with world leaders. Last week I attended a luncheon with Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra on what was his last day as Prime Minister; it was that evening the Thai military overthrew his government in a coup.

The speech was ironically titled “The Future of Democracy in Asia” .

A questioner asked Thaksin if he could return political stability to the Kingdom. Thaksin confidently answered yes, but he must have known what was on the verge of happening. In retrospect, he seemed very calm. He sat at an adjacent table eating a chicken vinaigrette salad. During his speech, he joked with the audience. Afterwards though he was whisked away in a motorcade past protesters. The next day, those same protesters were cheering outside the UN on 1st, holding signs that read “Thaksin RIP: 1949-2006″