One Night In Bangkok

April 13, 2009 | Filed Under Main | 3 Comments

Thailand is my new favorite, dysfunctional democracy. Read this short synopsis carefully:

“Political tensions have simmered since [Former Prime Minister] Thaksin was ousted by a military coup in 2006 amid accusations of corruption and abuse of power. He remains popular in the impoverished countryside for his populist policies.
“His opponents — many in urban areas — took to the streets last year to help bring down two governments led by his allies, seizing Bangkok’s two airports in November for about a week.
“Parliament then appointed [Prime Minister] Abhisit in December after a court ordered the removal of the previous pro-Thaksin government citing fraud in the 2007 elections. Thaksin supporters took to the streets in protest, and their numbers grew to 100,000 in Bangkok last week. “

So last year, opponents of the government took to the streets, closed the airports and ousted the sitting government. This month supporters of the ousted government have taken to the streets to oust the newly appointed government. Now – why couldn’t these people have come out together? Where were the supporters last year when the other guy was kicked out and where are the opponents now? Are the protests meaningless? Where are their convictions? Is this just something to do instead of watching American Idol?

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3 comments so far
  1. Mike April 13, 2009 8:07 am

    Right…We have reality shows, they have the yearly “Ousting of the Government”! It winds up being about the same. And on your previous post, I interject Bill Hicks: “Your in a destroyer, they’re in an inflatible dingy. I think I see a way out of this!”

  2. mburma April 13, 2009 11:28 pm

    Frankly I think they are the same protesters in different colored shirts.

  3. kerry April 14, 2009 7:45 am

    Aside from the occasional violent flareups, I thought Bangkok ROCKED and would love to return.