Quite a few pundits are predicting increased violence, and it’s true that something’s got to give. The PAD is now calling on the First Army Region to “subdue” the government.
That royal cremation begins today (Friday), and the PAD has promised to suspend all political activity for the duration, no speeches or anything, so anything new is unlikely to happen before Monday or Tuesday.
Oh, and it turns out that female protester who was blown up in the October 7 violence and whose funeral they made such a big deal about really WAS carrying a bomb. She had it concealed under her clothing, and a tear-gas canister hit her and exploded, thus detonationg the bomb. Talk about bad luck! But that’s what you get for carrying bombs around with you, I say.
This is from the Senate’s final report on the matter, and it is no cover-up. The Senate is very independent and is blaming the prime minister AND the police for everything anyway. That was just one very unlucky girl who got caught up in a “Cause” with a capital C by some very unscrupulous people.
Well, how about that?
Any further information on the other cases of lost limbs and deaths during the protest?
Sam. it strikes me that this might be a great time for you to go visit your aunt in the country.
Soon.
The lost limbs and fingers and such were all from the poor-quality Chinese tear-gas canisters. Unlike higher-quality ones in the West that apparently don’t explode with enough force to rip something off a body (or so I’m told), the Chinese ones go off with a powerful bang. That girl would probably have lost something in the explosion, but she had the poor luck to be carrying a bomb. The government has reportedly now gotten rid of their stockpile of Chinese-made tear-gas canisters.
The other death, the guy who’s bomb-laden vehicle blew up, is still mysterious. There seems to be some question even about whether it was his vehicle or not! Looks to be, but there is some doubt. But it was most definitely not a car bomb; just an SUV carrying bombs, like for distribution to people like that girl who was blown up.
Don’t worry. They’ll never take me alive!
Interesting news from Friday. A small crowd of 150 pro-government protesters gathered in front of the British Embassy and burned British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Foreign Minister David Miliband in effigy. They were protesting the UK’s cancellation of the visas of Thaksin and his wife. What makes this especially interesting is this took place on the first day of the six-day royal cremation for the king’s sister. That may not seem significant to people in the West, but that is fraught with significance, considering the high connotation of disrespect that carries. (A Brit told me he thought maybe he’d start telling Thais he was American. What a switch from recent times!)
Here is a report on how the crisis is exposing a class struggle. The BBC’s Jonathan Head has been stationed in Bangkok for quite some time.
And here we see that Thaksin and his wife, Pojaman, just ended their 32-year marriage. Many see it as a shrewd “business move” to protect their assets, as most of them seem to be in her name. The main reason her UK visa was cancelled along with his was because she was his spouse, and this article seems to think this will make it easier for her to reapply for one. But since she has herself been convicted and sentenced to prison in a different case, I’m not sure how that could help.
This is something I’ve been worrying about for some time, there seems to be way too much bad blood being purposedly and machiavelically brewed in Thai society.
The Thais throw around the term “civil war” pretty loosely. They seem to tack it onto any sort of disturbance these days. What’s going on now is nothing new, it’s just that it’s been awhile since they’ve seen it, but this sort of situation pops up every now and then. 1991-92. 1973-76. Looks to be once a generation or so. This is the latest incarnation. Thaksin is clearly at the root of it this time.
Thailand has always been the most Machiavellian society I’ve ever encountered. It’s just that it gets really hairy when the principals start manipulating the Common Folk into proxy wars a la the old Soviet Union/US regional battles.
A small related update: Looks like Thaksin is in Dubai now, as he looks for a new home now that Britain has kicked him out. Story here.
The story does not mention it, but I happen to know there is no extradition treaty between Thailand and Dubai.
Why do you know this? :dubious:
Oh, that would be telling. 
Now Thaksin says he will announce his return during another phone-in to supporters next month in the National Stadium. Story here. I’m guessing he does not believe they’ll dare arrest him. Whether they do or not, it will definitely result in some action in the streets whenever he arrives.
Siam Sam, Ale, and etc. - thank you for keeping us updated through the weeks of weirdness. I have to admit, I am slightly agog, and reading the ongoing saga is good for a boggle a day, at least.
Stay safe; when in doubt, hide with the lesbians (you’ll come out broke but in one piece, theoretically, 'cause at least if they’re hiding bombs they have to go out with you)!
Well, they’ve certainly not wasted any time. No sooner did the ceremonies for the royal cremation ended yesterday (Wednesday) than a bomb went off in the wee hours of this morning among the protesters still holding Government House. Breaking news here and here. The way the toll is given is a little confusing, but it looks like one dead and 12 injured; that will probably rise. (The English is a little wonky because The Nation seems to load its website stories immediatelyy, before they can be worked on.)
BBC TV has already picked this up and said it was a “hand grenade” tossed in. CNN link here; it gives the toll as one dead and 23 injured so far.
One of the stories from The Nation says: “Police were not allowed to check the explosion scene which the PAD guards cordoned off.” You gotta love Thailand! These “PAD guards” are simply hired goons with no official authority at all.
We may be in for a hot weekend. Rival rallies are scheduled for both anti- and pro-government groups, with Thaksin phoning in to the pro- group again, just to stir the shit a little more. The PAD – the anti-government group – is pissed off about yesterday morning’s grenade attack that killed one and injured 30-something (the first linked story below says 26 injured, but BBC TV and other sources say it was in the 30s). The PAD leaders are saying Sunday will be the start of their (latest) “final offensive” and that they will move on parliament again; the last time they did that, it resulted in the October 7 violence. Both sides are out for blood right now. This could be very interesting indeed.
As if that’s not bad enough, on Thursday there was an angry crowd of teetotallers picketing the Stock Exchange of Thailand, because of the listing of a local beer/liquor company. Traffic was tied up all over the city as a result! And they’ve vowed to return.
Man, everyone seems pissed off these days.
I’d say that the problem is that they are not pissed enough, in the British sense at least…
I wouldn’t blame them for trying considering the current situation.
I am SO glad I am in Japan right now, where the weather is cool, the trains are awesome, and there is no trace of political instability.
Sam…go visit your Aunt…in Europe!!
Another grenade attack in the wee hours of the morning at Government House, about five hours ago. Two guys were seen using a grenade launcher to fire it, then they sped off on a motorcycle. Eight protesters injured in this one, just outside the grounds. Story here.