The Thai authorities have announced their intention
to clear Bangkok’s streets of thousands of homeless people ahead
of a meeting of world leaders next month.

Where will they go? The Thai Prime Minister and officials
have said that some would be sent for vocational training at army camps
or shelters, and those suffering from psychiatric disorders would be taken
to hospital.

But the Beetle noticed a discrepancy in what is being
reported: “Arrested immigrant beggars will be deported, prostitutes
will be sent to rehabilitation centres and insane homeless will be sent
to mental hospitals,” said Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

“There are no excuses for being a vagabond,”
Bangkok’s Governor told The Bangkok Post. “Everybody must have
a place to live.”

Give them a chance to go back home first, then put (the
rest) together in one place and feed them from the state budget like my
previous operation against street dogs,” Mr Samak was quoted as saying
by The Nation.