December 28, 2007: Although still in exile, ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's political followers won the first elections in fifteen months. Thaksin will return from exile in a month or so, and his policies (populist, pro-business and tough on Islamic terrorism) will be back in force. This may not mean more violence in the Moslem south, because in the past year, police and troops have gotten a handle on the Islamic terrorists, and public opinion among Moslems is turning against the militants.