When prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was forced out of office last September, most Thais breathed a sigh of relief. It might not have been democratic, but at least the handover of power to a military junta was relatively tranquil. Girls even danced around the tanks in Bangkok's Siam Square.
All that may be about to change. A bubbling brew of corruption, ethnic resentment, terrorist threats, backstage politicking - and even black magic
- threatens to throw Thailand into turmoil.
The latest development is the surprise resignation this week of the provisional regime's finance minister, Pridiyathorn Devakula. And it comes amid swirling rumours that the mercurial half-Chinese ex-premier wants his job back.
In between giving interviews about how much he's enjoying his
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Corruption, terrorism and black magic threaten to tear apart the Land of Smiles, says
sean thomas
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retirement and improving his golf handicap, Thaksin (left) keeps popping up in odd places - Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan - to make statements which suggest he might be interested in a return to power. Today, he is due to address the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London, where he will doubtless drop the same hints.
In Thailand, his supporters remain noisy actors on the political stage, despite threats of prosecution. The latest pro-Thaksin move is a blatantly propagandist new TV company, which the government has tried to suppress.
Then there is terrorism. On New Year's Eve, Bangkok was hit by a series of small bombs. Three people died. At first the government sought to blame Thaksin, or elements within the military inimical to the new regime. But CCTV footage has shown that a known Thai Muslim terrorist was in the vicinity of the attacks, 
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