EMERGENCY rule means the suspension of normal rules during extraordinary times. For the Thai government, it seems to be the new normal. On July 6th the prime minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva, extended a state of emergency that he had declared in April during rowdy demonstrations by opposition “red shirts”. The army ended the protests on May 19th and red-shirt leaders are in jail or in hiding. In the aftermath, Mr Abhisit launched a national reconciliation plan, but without a promise of early e...