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keehah
8th April 2010, 02:27 AM
Telegraph UK: Military helicopters airlifted government ministers from Thailand's parliament Wednesday after angry protesters stormed the building in a dramatic escalation of their bid to topple the government. (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/thailand/7562499/Thailand-ministers-airlifted-to-safety-as-protesters-storm-government.html)
07 Apr 2010
Two Blackhawk helicopters landed under the guard of armed soldiers to rescue the deputy prime minister and other senior government figures after other lawmakers fled.

Red-shirted protesters, many of whom support fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, had forced their way into Thailand's parliamentary compound, smashing through the gates with a truck.

"Our mission is completed," Korkaew Pikulthong, one of the Red Shirt leaders, told the crowd after the politicians fled and the parliament session was cancelled.

When he learnt that the Reds were approaching, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva left a cabinet meeting there for a military barracks in the city's northern outskirts, where he has been based for most of the weeks-long protest.

The cabinet extended a tough security law Wednesday as protesters refused to leave Bangkok's main commercial district, where they have been since Saturday.

The demonstrators are mostly from Thailand's rural poor and working class and see Abhisit's government as elitist and undemocratic.
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Telegraph UK: A state of emergency has been declared in Thailand after "red shirt" protesters stormed parliament and government ministers had to be airlifted to safety. (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/thailand/7563626/State-of-emergency-declared-in-Thailand.html)
07 Apr 2010
MPs and officials were forced to use ladders to scale walls of the compound in Bangkok's old quarter after the mob broke down the gates with a truck invaded the grounds of parliament .

Hundreds rushed to the second floor where deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban and other ministers were still inside. He and others were rescued by army helicopters, accompanied by troops, which flew them from the scene.

In an attempt to contain the crisis, the Prime Minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva, enacted emergency law in Bangkok and surrounding areas, which paves the way for the arrest of key leaders of the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship and bans gatherings of more than five people.

The prime minister said the protests that have crippled Bangkok for more than three weeks could no longer be considered peaceful.

It is the fourth time since 2008 that emergency law has been declared in the capital because of political turmoil.

The escalation of protests by the "red shirt" campaigners loyal to the ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra represents the most serious challenge yet to the government of Mr Abhisit.

Tens of thousands of anti-government protesters - mostly made up of the rural poor - have staged weeks of rolling rallies in the capital demanding Mr Abhisit step down and call fresh elections.

They claim the government is illegitimate.

Mr Thaksin has sought to rally his supporters with a brief message through the micro-blogging service Twitter, praising their "courage, patience and unity."

Mr Abhisit has rebuffed the demands of the "red shirts", most recently in several days of face-to-face talks with leaders last week, prompting the demonstrators to swarm into the commercial centre of the city and forcing the closure of a host of shopping malls and major roads.

However, Mr Abhisit has cancelled a planned visit to Washington, though he still appears to be proceeding with an forthcoming trip to a summit of south- east Asian ASEAN leaders in the Vietnamese capital, Hanoi.

By imposing the internal security laws on Bangkok and several nearby districts Mr Abhisit will give more powers to the security forces to act to end the standoff.

But commentators say that the "red shirts" have the upper hand with the police and army apparently unwilling to act against the protesters who have roamed the city virtually unhindered by the security forces for days.

beefsteak
8th April 2010, 08:49 AM
Keehah,

In my mind, there is a definite relationship between lack of food, in this case the poor basically only have rice, and push back behavior highlighted in your two news articles.

The 100 year drought that part of the world is experiencing is severe. My soul is moved with compassion by the plight of the hungry.

Thanks for the headszup.

beefsteak

beefsteak
6th August 2010, 09:34 AM
Keehah,
It's been about 4 months since we heard from you about Thailand's terrible drought.

Do you have any updates?

I care.
beefsteak

joe_momma
6th August 2010, 10:07 AM
Talked with a couple of friends (Bangkok and Rayong) - things are relatively quiet according to them (Disclaimer - like many Thais, they are less involved in politics and world affairs than even the average American citizen.)

The recent idiots from the bombing are going to trial, Thaksin's redshirts "seem" to be quiet.

The local news is still pretty much not mentioning the rice crop (significant drought in the NE) or the impact of Chinese dams on the water levels of the rivers flowing through the country. This is part of the "never mention bad news" that makes working with Thais (and Asian cultures in general) challenging.

Tourism seems down (hotel occupancy) though the combination of this being the low season and the massive overbuilding in the past 5 years may be more to blame. The TAT (Thai Tourist Authority) is chattering away about the coming season - though their numbers are no more reliable than say BLS or CPI here in the states.

(Unspoken and an absolutely verbotten topic in the kingdom) - My impression is that the Thais are preparing themselves mentally for the passing of their beloved King - the monarch is something like the foundation of the entire culture and his passing will probably be the spark that brings all of the buried issues to a forefront.

Things to watch for
- Former PM Thaksin returning from exile after winning the next election (under what ever name Thai rak Thai covers itself)
- A military coup (Thailand has had many, many in the past 60 years so this is less drastic than it sounds) to remove the Thaksin administration
- Southern terrorism to spike (Muslim separatists) and a return to the military's "disappearing" of suspected activists.
- Significant protests in BKK proper as the rural farmers and police align against the military and middle class over power sharing

Dunno about a baht devaluation, though this may be likely as the Thais try to maintain a balance of trade to offset oil imports in a world of shrinking demand for their exports (assumption is that the rice crop will be low).

This could be an issue for a couple of reasons -
(minor) - Spratly islands are still a bone of contention (mostly China and Philippines) unless significant oil reserves are proven (then all bets are off)
- the ongoing temple dispute with Cambodia serves as red meat for nationalists in both countries (both countries are mutually dependent Cambodia needs Thai rice and hard currency, Thai needs Cambodia's hydro electric power)
- trade war (?) - if Thailand devalues the baht, Vietnam will have to follow suit to maintain market share - this could set off a worldwide race to devalue currencies (which won't help China's attempt to prevent a rise in the yuan)
- anti-Burmese sentiment - something like the illegal mexicans in the US - Burma's economy needs the baht sent home by these guest workers to keep their 'economy' afloat - civil strife often leads to anti-immigrant activity


Just my $0.02 - I'm hoping things balance out.


Keehah - if you've any on the ground information I'd love to hear from you.

Still Barbaro
6th August 2010, 10:51 AM
I keep in touch with people in Thailand also.

As for these divisions in society, I think there will be future issues/problems.

I think we'll have to see what happens when the King passes on.