Apr 12 2009
Thailand Headed for Civil War?
Protests broke out in Bangkok today in the midst of a long power struggle that seems destined to throw Thailand into civil war. The “Red Shirts” are loyal to Thaksin Shinawatra. Thaksin took power in 2001 but went into exile rather than face a two-year jail sentence after being convicted of corruption.
The “Yellow Shirts” follow Abhisit Vejjajiva, the present leader. Abhisit is the fourth Thai prime minister in the last year. Thaksin’s brother-in-law was one of the others.
The middle class, the educated and the elite seem to back Abhisit. Meanwhile, the people from the countryside–who are poorer but larger in number–generally favor Thaksin.
Thaksin wants a revolution against the current government. Not surprisingly, Abhisit labeled the Red Shirts as enemies of the state and declared a state of emergency. The police queled riots in Bangkok early Monday but experts maintain more battles are coming.
