Thursday, April 9, 2009

Protests Abound

The red shirts are taking their turn to protest and cause problems in Thailand. The new tactic is to block traffic. Taxi cab drivers are parking their cabs in the road and leaving them, adding to the congestion that already is Bangkok traffic.

ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) is meeting in Hua Hin this weekend, and the protesters are threatening to disrupt the proceedings. A few days ago, twenty protestors attacked PM Abhisit's vehicle. He escaped in a different vehicle, but not before a protesters smashed the back window with a motor cycle helmut.

The protesters have demanded new elections, but they should be careful what they wish for. I think the Thai people are just tired of all these protests. The protests and demonstrations have really disrupted people's lives. Whether your business is down because of the airport or street closures, or you sit in traffic for an extra hour because the streets are blocked, you feel the impact.

Its funny how both sides try to pressure the other by disrupting the economy and other people's lives. The problem with that tactic is that it only works if the other side really cares about the people. Neither side is going to give in to protesters, because they care much more about their own power than the welfare of Thailand or its people.

If the tale of the two women who brought the baby to King Solomon had been one red shirt and one yellow shirt, they would had him cut the baby in half, and then fight over which half they got.

No comments: