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Published on August 13, 2007

Don't bother asking JK Rowling about this - she probably has no idea.

Book 7 will be missing the customary foreword by Thaksin Shinawatra, our erstwhile prime magician.

Yes, that's right. Every time Harry has spoken Thai in the past, he's been introduced by Thaksin, in a deal cooked up by the local publisher, Nanmee Books.

Nanmee wasn't playing politics - it just thought it would be nice for the leader of the country to say a few words of greeting in the previous episodes.

But apparently there was a coup and Thaksin lost his job.

So what's wrong with getting Surayud Chulanont to say a few encouraging words in the foreword to "Deathly Hallows"?

The publisher isn't anti-coup or anything. It's just that Surayud is an interim premier - he's not going to be around for long. (And Chavalit Yongchaiyudh is out of the question, even though he's always been around and always will be.)

There's got to be a money-spinning angle on Thailand's quirky editions of the Potter series. Soopsip is thinking of floating a trial balloon on eBay to see if there's a market for Potter books with or without Thaksin's words of wisdom.

We'll let you know if there isn't.