I always believe Thais are pragmatic people and would resolve their differences through compromises. What happen here?
Surmise to say stakes are simply too high with the power struggles behind the scene this time round.
How could protesters rallied for 6 months without having to work? Reportedly most are women folks from well to do middle class. Guess these well fed ladies are evident to that!
Police in full riot gear, less firearms. Under orders to use minimal force literally gave protesters a free hand. PAD reportedly has powerful backers!
I think it is a sad situation for Thailand so much being destroyed in a week that took the country so many years to achieve!
Tensions are raised to flash point level.. just hope senses return to those who pull the strings behind and put the country back on road to normalcy.
Updated 9th Dec 2008
OMG, it was over for now! Survanarbhumi operations back to normal. But the country is counting the costs and people responsible for the mess walked free - truly amazing!
Guess this unfortunate episode deterred many visitors returning in the near future.. but not me!
3 comments:
I think you should have studied the political history of Thailand to gain a better knowledge before making such a comment of the PAD's rally. For the past 76 years since we took power from the King, Thailand never really had the true democracy. It was just a transition from the monarchy to military dictators in the past to the parliamental business dictators nowadays.The PAD is a loosely organised group of people of different classes and religions, a lot of them are educated elites, medical professionals, middle class businessmen and up-country people who can afford to buy sattellite dishes to get the correct information from various sources, not just only from the highly commercialized, state-owned TV and radio stations which are full of advertise-oriented biased comments and governmental propagandas, especially for the past 7 years. The power has never come into the hands of the majority of the people of Thailand. What the PAD requested is that the national resources and interests should be really transfered to the majority of the people of Thailand, not just for any family's or small group of politicians and high-ranked military and civil officers only. What PAD is doing is the re-building of our counrty to get the good values back and get rid of the bad habits of the Thai society as a whole.
Pardon my superficial view of Thai politics. There are many perspectives to the situation and I don't wish to be drawn into controversial discussions on this subject. This blog has no intent to be political by any means.
Just read an article from the Bangkokpost's Opinions page that commented on PAD in passing.
Title: Thaksin & the man who ought to be a star:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/7945/thaksin-the-man-who-ought-to-be-a-starnot-a-starving-writer
If I may quote"
Why do you want to be ruled by a tyrant who murdered his own people and took away our basic democratic rights? Why do you use the term "democracy" (United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship) to champion someone who is so contemptuous of it? Isn't that as hypocritical as the People's Alliance for Democracy shouting for an "appointed" government and prime minister, or taking the airports hostage? I take no sides."
Unquote
I take no sides too, no more than the view that Thailand is now at a cross road.
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