The Real Thai Crisis

April 15, 2009

Wall Street Journal Asia

Songkran, the traditional Thai New Year which falls in mid-April, is usually a joyous event when people splash water on each other and dance in the streets. This year, however, it will go down in history as the "black songkran" -- and a black day for Thailand's fragile democracy. That's because this crisis is fundamentally different from the country's previous uprisings, and potentially more damaging.

ILLUSTRATION: Reuters📷

Superficially the scenes may look similar to past riots, only more violent. "Red shirt" protesters loyal to ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra disrupted an important regional meeting at a hotel in the beach resort of Pattaya last weekend, hurling Molotov cocktails at the police and the army, and blocking roads and intersections not only in Bangkok but also at several provincial centers upcountry. They demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and new elections. After days of violence, thousands of protesters yesterday surrendered to military forces in Bangkok, ending their siege of Mr. Abhisit's office, at least for the time being.

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