Babysitting the Red Shirts in Bangkok

Photo courtesy Reuters

What began as a good plan for peaceful protests in Bangkok last weekend has once again turned into what amounts to nothing more than a child’s tantrum for the Red shirts. There is no doubt that the Reds have major grievances with the sitting government and they should be not only heard but part of Thailand’s political process.

Although the protests last weekend didn’t draw the estimated 1 million marchers they still rounded up some very respectable numbers and paraded peacefully throughout Bangkok. Unfortunately they had no after plan. Once they made it to the main stage they demanded that the current government be dissolved and vowed to stay in Bangkok until this came to pass. What respect they had earned form Bangkok residents quickly dissolved.

What they should have done is demand a conference with the government to address their grievances. They made their point with the Bangkok march and from many reports a lot of Thai’s that were on the fence or firmly in the Yellow shirt camp started coming around to the idea that the Reds do have some points and should be heard. The fact that it was largely a peaceful protest really helped bring people to the table. At this point the Red shirt leaders should have made their speeches and asked the government for a sit-down involving all parties.

Instead the Red leaders demanded nothing less than the government be dissolved which later broke down into splattering their own blood around the streets. The Red shirt leaders saw this as a symbolic maneuver that would gain them much respect and news coverage for their cause. While it may have garnered news coverage it was in no way respectful. Most news coverage compared the blood letting to the excrement throwing the Reds had done in earlier protests. Not only was this a stupid stunt but it was potentially dangerous as well. The health workers that drew the blood should be admonished for taking part in such a ridiculous show of ignorance.

If the Reds want to be taken seriously they need to do two things immediately. First they need to unhitch their wagon from the shooting star that is Thaksin Shinawatra. Yes, Thaksin was one of the few people to ever look out for the rural Thai’s but he did so for his own benefit, not theirs. What Thaksin wants and what the red shirt movement really wants are two separate things and as soon as the Reds realize this the better off they will be without his presence within their cause.

Secondly they need to find new leaders within their cause that not only represent the people but do so in an intelligent manner. Throwing feces and blood is a great tactic if you want the people to view your cause as a baby throwing its toys out of the pram, not so much if you want to address the real social grievances you have. If the Red shirts can do these two things they stand a chance of not only being heard but having action taken on their behalf. Last weekends protest really had a lot of hope but they pissed what little they had gained away with their childish antics and refusing to leave.

Photo courtesy Reuters