Thailand is best known today for two things: First, having a reputation for engaging in one of the largest child sex trade operations in Southeast Asia. Second, for political conflict that came to a fiery crescendo in November 2008 when anti-government protesters besieged and closed down Bangkok’s international airport ending in December 2008 in the Prime Minister once again being ousted by Thailand’s highest court, apparently in response to the outcry of these upper-class protestors. Perhaps there is a cause-and-effect relationship.
Jeremiah 16: 10 And it shall come to pass, when thou shalt shew this people all these words, and they shall say unto thee, Wherefore hath the LORD pronounced all this great evil against us? or what is our iniquity? or what is our sin that we have committed against the LORD our God?
11 Then shalt thou say unto them, Because your fathers have forsaken me, saith the LORD, and have walked after other gods, and have served them, and have worshipped them, and have forsaken me, and have not kept my law;
12 And ye have done worse than your fathers; for, behold, ye walk every one after the imagination of his evil heart, that they may not hearken unto me:
13 Therefore will I cast you out of this land into a land that ye know not, neither ye nor your fathers; and there shall ye serve other gods day and night; where I will not shew you favour.
The land called Thailand, formerly Siam, was settled in the 6th century. After 400 years of fighting sporadically with the Cambodians to the east and Burmese to the west, the British gained a foothold in 1824; by 1896 Thailand had full independence. In 1941 Thailand became a staging area for Japan during World War II; in 1942 Thailand unseated the pro-Japanese government, and repudiated its declaration of war against Britain and the United States. Since then, through various rises and falls of various rulers and governments, Thailand has been in bed with doomed america, and followed her idolatrous and sinful ways. The constitution of Thailand has changed so often it is, according to a leading economist in Bangkok (in May 2007), the “least respected document in the country” (“Thailand set to make Buddhism the state religion,” International Herald Tribune, 5/24/07). At least they admit it in Thailand.
After a succession of coups and governments, Thaksin Shinawatra was elected prime minister in January 2001. In 2005 he made history being elected to serve a second term. After some controversy over his communications company selling for nearly $2 billion without him paying taxes, following a demonstration by 60,000 calling for his resignation, Thaksin dissolved the parliament in February, then resigned in April, then returned to the role of primary minister seven weeks later.
In September 2006, a military coup resulted in Surayud Chulanont being sworn in as prime minister, running Thaksin out of the country with charges of corruption. In September 2008 Somchai Wongsawat became prime minister.
An anti-government group, the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), shut down the Bangkok airport in November 2008, demanding Somchai resign, saying he is a front for his brother-in-law, the exiled Thaksin. This came after a series of acts by PAD including attacking parliament, police headquarters, and other government offices. This all came after a protest of October 7, 2008, which turned violent, with two people killed and 400 wounded in fighting between security forces and these anti-government protesters. PAD is made up of mainly middle and upper class people, who rallied in the streets until Thaskin was ousted in 2006, who protest against the poorer more rural citizens of Thailand. They are known for their yellow shirts.
When the anti-government group shut down Bangkok’s airports, Suvarnabhumi International Airport, and Bangkok's smaller mostly domestic Don Muang airport (with little resistance and no blood shed), Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat spent a Friday self-exiled 350 miles north of Bangkok, hiding from Thailand's army. The prime minister feared army officers might neutralize him so they could stage a coup. He finally declared a state of emergency and said police, navy and air force members would remove the mobs clogging the airports. He did not include the army because he did not believe the army would follow his orders. Now his schedule is being kept confidential.
Army commander General Anupong Paochinda, who helped oust Thaksin, said at the time that without more widespread violence, he and the soldiers he commanded would stay put in their barracks. Anupong would probably not bypass an opportunity to seize power and bank on the royal endorsement he has received from Queen Sirkit. (Thaksin meanwhile was found guilty by the Thailand Supreme Court of abuse of powers and sentenced to two years in prison.) PAD wants new elections, and a new government.
Meanwhile, these people who are supposed to be so religiously tolerant, engage in violent warfare with the Muslims who live in the southern provinces, where violence has plagued the area since at least 2004, resulting in the deaths of at least 2,000 people. You won’t be surprised to know that both sides – Buddhists and Muslims – blame the other for the violence.
Also meanwhile, in 2003 the government of Thailand had a “war on drugs,” because of the high rates of methamphetamine and cocaine distribution and use.
On November 29, 2008, CNN reported that violence was breaking out, with police throwing grenades at the protesters; and the protesters fighting back, pushing the police back. So the situation at this writing is unstable and violent. On December 2, 2008, the anti-government demonstrators declared victory and ended their occupation of the airports after a court decision forced the prime minister from office. This group is trying to remove any influence of former Prime Mnister Thaksin Shinawatra because they say he was corrupt. The Constitutional Court found that the Somchai’s People’s Power Party, the Machima Thipatai party and the Chart Thai party were guilty of fraud in the 2007 elections, which sent Somchai, Thaksin’s brother-in-law and many others into political exile. Deputy Prime Minister Chaowarat Chandeerakul became the “caretaker prime minister.” The anti-government group is also trying to get rid of the one-person-one-vote system. This is an unusual situation in that the more affluent are protesting against the oppressed and poor having power. At least six people were killed and scores injured in these clashes in recent months over who will be in charge in Thailand.
On April 12, 2009, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva announced a state of emergency in the capital city, Bangkok, because of intensifying anti-governments protests. This will allow officials to arrest and detail protesters without a court order and restrict gatherings. Dozens of protesters stormed the country’s interior ministry pelting cars with rocks, chairs, flags and sticks, as the Prime Minister escaped out the back. These protesters are still loyal to former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a 2006 coup. Abhisit will not resign. Shinawatra is calling for a revolt so he can get back in power. Power grabbing is such an ugly thing – on both sides.
