It’s become increasingly difficult to call the “red shirts” the DAAD party(The Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship). At one time the red shirts were synonymous with DAAD but with more and more groups joining their cause and donning the red shirts it’s become apparent that many in Thailand are dissolutioned with the political process that has been called democracy.
Today was D-Day for the red shirts with over 40,000 gathering in Bangkok to protest the government and it’s Prime Minister whom they feel was not democratically elected. The red shirts have taken a page out of the yellow shirts (PAD -People’s Alliance for Democracy)playbook and in speeches this morning leaders of the red shirt movement have declared they will shut down the airport at the end of the month.Of course this will probably piss off the blue shirts (club of operators of passenger vans in Bangkok) who will try and stop any closure of the airport. At least they are all color coordinated so you can tell them apart.
With the ASEAN summit beginning in a few days in Pattaya it seems that the political process will be played out at the beach. The red shirts plan on protesting en masse in Pattaya at all of the hotels and conference centers where the visiting dignataries will be gathering. Mix in the start of songkran and this could be a recipe for disaster.
I’m not sure how I feel about all of this at the moment. The red shirts definitely have a case and should be heard out. If they close the airport, which is a very real possibility , then I get some extra vacation time and if it plays out like it did when the yellow shirts shut down the airport then I might even get payed for my trouble.
Personally I would love to see the yellow and red shirts fade away to a united color that could bring Thailand’s people and classes together but I think that may be a tall order for a country struggling to find it’s political identity.
Anyone in Pattaya or Bangkok over the next few weeks might do well to stay away from wearing yellow or red shirts just in case.
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I hope the disillusionment you speak of doesn’t lead to another coup or worse still the return of “president” Thaksin.
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You have to look on the bright side Talen it’s good news for shirt sellers.
You are shortly due north and away from the troubles. Village life will seem a thousand miles from the trouble brewing in Bangkok and Pattaya. Take your girl, hard earned money and enjoy the simple village life. In a village the true colour is the shirt that hasn’t got a hole in it.
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See how red shirts are welcome by Thai people
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mu9DvaUEypQ
Pretty sweeping generalization you made there. Or did you mean to say See how PAD supporters welcome the red shirts in Bangkok?
I have to admit that Thaksin and quite a few of his cronies were very corrupt but they did manage to do one thing the PAD never have or will….recognize that the people of Thailand come from every province and not just the Bangkok Elite.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbWsTRvRoWI&feature=channel
looks like we have to be back to the situation before 1939 where Thailand united several states to one country and released that current national anthem. afterall, we could have better of separated based on our belief on democratic and judgefullness. national referendum on this issue might be very interesting issue now.
I think the strength will shift in favor of the Red Shirts as violence continues to deepen. Why? Currently, the protestors who are getting killed belong to the Red Shirts side, who will win public sympathy. Furthermore, the Thai economy will be harmed by the protests, which will lead to further public discontent for the current government.