T he Gecko hears that Khmer Rouge radio, famous for some of the most outrageous

propaganda ever broadcast on the face of the planet, is expanding. It seems that

the KR has recently started a Thai-language service which will beam the thoughts

of Chairman Pot across the Land of Smiles. "Sawasdee KRup! This is the voice of

the Central Committee." It will be interesting to see the Thai reaction on this

one.

Forklift drivers around the world may be interested to know that the

guy who drives the one at the port of Sihanoukville makes about $5,000 per

month. Not a bad month's pay by international standards. The deal is that anyone

wanting to unload a container must slip him five bucks, otherwise his lift

doesn't load. With over a thousand containers coming in each month its only a

matter of simple math to figure out why he drives home in a shiny Mercedes at

the end of the day.

Some travelers riding in a gasoline convoy got

stopped up north recently by the KR and were robbed of their dollars and riels,

only to have the riels returned before the KR then stole some monk's umbrellas.

What was scarier was when the trucks came across a forest fire on both sides of

the road. The driver stopped, revved the engine and then bolted through the

flames. Passengers and petrol made it safely to their destination.

Remember when the KR fled Phnom Penh before the elections leaving two

hungry and not so happy German shepherds in their compound? Well, when the DK

boys came back to town they wondered where were the dogs, only to find them in

the possession of the police across the street. For a dog-sitting fee of $200

the canines were returned.