THIS IS THAILAND
A Week in Review: May 8-14, 2010
My Roadmap's better than your roadmap...
Seven days ago, it seemed only a matter of time before the political crisis in Thailand would be resolved. By the week’s end, we had become almost resigned to civil war. Read our week in review here...
While the red shirt leaders were meeting to discuss the government’s roadmap, not everyone was happy with the prospect of the rally ending and peace returning to Thailand. Some key players had already long since crossed the threshold of no return and for them it had become a matter of death or glory.
The self-appointed military advisor to the red shirts, and one of Thakisn’s most loyal servants, Maj. Gen. Khattiya Sawasdipol, was one for whom peace was not an option. Fearing that the more moderate red shirt leaders were close to negotiating an end to the occupation of central Bangkok, the always outspoken and controversial Major General, more commonly known as Seh Daeng (Red Commander), called in an extra 3,000 hard line reinforcements from Khon Kaen last Saturday.
Not surprisingly, Seh Daeng had been identified by the government as one of the main terrorist infiltrators of the reds, and he was in the process of being the first ever army general to be dismissed and stripped of his rank. He was determined to be a star player in this drama, one way or the other.
On Sunday, there were attacks on members of the election commission’s houses while M79 grenades were also fired at Bangkok Bank’s Ratchadapisek branch. Although the grenades were duds and failed to go off, they added to the worrying statistics of at least 42 bomb/grenade attacks since the “peaceful” protest began on March 12.
Monday was the deadline imposed by the government for the reds to accept the roadmap and disperse from their rally site. As the deadline passed, the reds announced their own road map, and not to be outdone by the government, it had 6 points.
The reds agreed to elections on November 14 and lower house dissolution between September 15 and 30. They also wanted the government to unlock the signal to their People’s Channel TV station with an independent committee to regulate its content as well as that of the yellow shirts’ ASTV channel.
Finally, they wanted the state of emergency to be unconditionally lifted and they would then disperse as soon as Deputy Prime Minister Suthep handed himself in to the police to face charges that he was responsible for the deaths on April 10.
Just when the reds were starting to make sense, they went on to say that the reason why the state of emergency should be lifted was because it was hurting investment and tourism, which was enlightening since most people mistakenly thought that it was because a large part of Bangkok was being held under siege by an unruly mob, because police and civilians had been taken hostage by the mob, because many businesses were forced to close, because people were being intimidated and attacked by the mob, because there had been 42 bomb/grenade attacks, or because the mob was setting up illegal road blocks.
Nevertheless, the fact that we were edging closer to a peaceful resolution was considered a positive sign, although the yellow shirts decided to interfere and complain that there had been some behind the scenes negotiations. While a government should never give in to mob rule or terrorism, the yellow shirts were hardly speaking from the moral high ground and were probably just feeling left out.
On Tuesday morning, Suthep dutifully went to the police so that the siege could end, but the reds cried that it was not the right police. Nattawut of the red shirt UDD said that Suthep must not surrender to the DSI because the DSI is under the control of the CRES which is headed by Suthep. More politicking from the reds was countered by more idle threats from the government.
Meanwhile, knowing that the noose was tightening around his neck, Seh Daeng commented during one of his many interviews that if the rally ended, he would be hunted and would have to go into hiding. After one of his phone conversations with Thaksin, he boasted to reporters that new, more hard-line red leaders were going to be brought in and that anyone not prepared to fight should leave the rally now.
The government’s latest idle threat was to cut water, electricity and communications to the besieged area of Bangkok, but under pressure from residents still living in the previously affluent neighbourhood, they finally relented.
There was a feeling of resignation that more bloodshed was now inevitable as the government withdrew its offer for early elections in the face of more delaying tactics by the reds. About 8 weeks too late, a tight perimeter was set up around the reds’ camp to prevent supplies and reinforcements getting in, although protesters remained free to leave at any time.
The atmosphere was like a volcano waiting to blow and as evening neared on Thursday, it erupted when Seh Daeng was shot in the head by a sniper. Red shirts later stormed the hospital where doctors were fighting to save his life, although they left without interfering in his treatment. In later clashes, one red was killed and ten injured after they attacked soldiers.
Skirmishes continued between troops and protesters on Friday around central Bangkok as reds inside the main camp were supported by reinforcements outside the army’s perimeter.
Under intense provocation, the army struggled to keep the rioters under control and the people of Bangkok safe, yet Thaksin announced that the army should stop killing people and enter negotiations. Unfortunately, that avenue had been thoroughly and patiently explored but had been turned into a dead-end by the reds.
Veera Musikhapong, Adisorn Piangket, Paijit Aksornnarong and Visa Khantap, four of the reds’ more moderate red leaders, quit as the reds moved further away from a peaceful resolution and deeper into a guerilla war. Bangkok was turned into a bloody battle zone and by the end of Friday, another 17 people had died and around 150 had been injured.
So how will this all end? It is clear that some people do not want the reds to accept any peaceful offer to end the rally, and they are prepared to sacrifice thousands of their heavily manipulated followers to achieve their personal goals.
It could be some time before we see an end to this conflict and many years after that before the scars finally heal.
Paul Snowdon – May 15, 2010
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Have your say...
Stuart
15 May 2010, 06:26
Paul,
First time I've read your page(sorry)
Your article is spot on.
Have sent it to all my family and friends overseas.
Keep up the good work,
Henriette
15 May 2010, 08:12
Dear Paul,
How sad it is to read all thos horrible news. I thank you for your
information which is much more then we read in the newspapers or on tv.
I sincerely hope that you and Tommy and Pim will be safe. I feel so sad
because to me the Thai are one of the most friendly people in the world. I
hope that your next news concerning this matter will tell us about
succesful negotations and that life will turn back to normal. Wish you all
the best, Henriette
Famespear
15 May 2010, 08:49
Thanks for this Paul. The UDD (Red Shirt) movement is an engineered marxist
revolution run by Thaksin and foreign investors to take over the country
and open it to exploitation. If you study geopolitics you'd know what's
really going on and why everyone leading this movement deserves to die.
They are putting at risk 65 million people's lives for their own selfish
goals and the government has a right to defend itself and this nation.
Simon
15 May 2010, 18:03
tis a sad day when the land of smiles turns into the day when everybody
even those in no way involved with the red shirt movement wears a red or
yellow covered shirt at their own peril and it is unsafe to explore the
beautiful city of Bangkok or "Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin
Mahinthara Ayuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom
Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya
Witsanukam Prasit"
Nelson
15 May 2010, 20:22
Hey Paul!
An excellent article!
Its been a while since i got to know whats happening back in Thailand...
Its really sad...Finally we get News that's genuine, definitely authentic
and spot on!
Cheers Mate!
Saravutti
17 May 2010, 22:54
Thanks so much Mr.Snowdon, for telling the story just as it is. I wonder
why some farang like Dan Rivers can't do this simple task.
