A monk drags a chair with his belongings past the burnt out Central World shopping mall in Bangkok, 20 May 2010 (Photo: AP)Brian Padden, VOA
Bangkok 21 May 2010
Bangkok is now recovering from 10 weeks of anti-government demonstrations that shut down much of the city. The Thai army removed the protesters by force Wednesday, in a military operation that left at least seven people dead and 88 wounded. While the government arrested most of the protest leaders, the divisions in Thai society that help create the protest movement remain.
An estimated 5,000 protesters, known as the "Red Shirts," occupied a three square kilometer area of Bangkok's business district for two months. Their leaders said they were a non-violent democracy movement representing poor and rural people.
But Naruemon Chabchumpon, Political Science Director at Chulalongkorn University, says the Red Shirts organization damaged its public image by its actions. For example, the leaders escalated their original demands for new elections to include arresting some Thai government officials, she said.
"Their demand is asking for early election and then the government proposed like a November election and they accept in the beginning, and at the end they are changing their demand every day," said Chabchumpon. "At that time I think the public in Bangkok feel that, start to wonder, what is their real demand."
When the military finally moved in to disperse the protesters they encountered armed resistance. Protesters shot at advancing soldiers and set buildings ablaze. The violence and destruction further alienated many in the city. Now, the camp is being dismantled and the area swept clean.
But Thai society remains divided.
Chabchumpon says to prevent unrest from reoccurring, the government needs to hold new elections and direct more economic assistance to the rural areas.
"In terms of the economic policy I think Thailand might have to start thinking about welfare state, to put more welfare to the rural areas because right now the rural people might feel that most of the budget go so much for urbanization," Chabchumpon said.
She adds, without political reconciliation, life in Thailand will never really return to normal.
An estimated 5,000 protesters, known as the "Red Shirts," occupied a three square kilometer area of Bangkok's business district for two months. Their leaders said they were a non-violent democracy movement representing poor and rural people.
But Naruemon Chabchumpon, Political Science Director at Chulalongkorn University, says the Red Shirts organization damaged its public image by its actions. For example, the leaders escalated their original demands for new elections to include arresting some Thai government officials, she said.
"Their demand is asking for early election and then the government proposed like a November election and they accept in the beginning, and at the end they are changing their demand every day," said Chabchumpon. "At that time I think the public in Bangkok feel that, start to wonder, what is their real demand."
When the military finally moved in to disperse the protesters they encountered armed resistance. Protesters shot at advancing soldiers and set buildings ablaze. The violence and destruction further alienated many in the city. Now, the camp is being dismantled and the area swept clean.
But Thai society remains divided.
Chabchumpon says to prevent unrest from reoccurring, the government needs to hold new elections and direct more economic assistance to the rural areas.
"In terms of the economic policy I think Thailand might have to start thinking about welfare state, to put more welfare to the rural areas because right now the rural people might feel that most of the budget go so much for urbanization," Chabchumpon said.
She adds, without political reconciliation, life in Thailand will never really return to normal.
9 comments:
Down ah thais for look down on Cambodia.
I told you before it happening, But you did not listening to the people asking for change.I believe that we can not change the future
Only buy time until it happen. May God restore Peace in that region.
Thank you!
Cambodia salutes the birth of the REPUBLIC OF ISAAN.
With the recent failed demonstrations in Bangkok, the Isaan people should start to think that they have been treated by the Bangkok society as second class citizens. On the same token, the Isaan contributed enormously to build up the Thai nation, both culturally and politically. Now Isaan should think where it originates from and plan for the future to survive herself.
This is nothing..?? Thai had abused and killed so many khmers people...Thai Gov't also supplied weapons to pol pot army to kill so many khmers, during 1979 Thais black soldiers abused and rape, shot and killed khmers refugee camp...in Khao I Dang Camp, Kampot Camp, Sit 2 Camp, Nang Chan Camp...
Thailand deserved some bitter lessons!! but still nothing??
Yep, two millions of khmers people had died...And the Stupid fucken Thailand got something to do with that too...!!!!!!!! don't just blamed on Viets alone!
when the government declared of winning that means there is more quiet problems to come. WATCH OUT
The poor young girls of red shirt are sitting on western man's mouth and they could not speak any more.
The West is keeping their mouth shut about democracy in Thailand. The red shirt need International help, but no body step forward.
If thing like this happened in Cambodia, every body jump in to critisize Cambodia.
Now, you know why Kmere Surin are so quiet compare to the Kmere Krom. This kind of action is not suprise to Kmere at all because we suffered from it in the past but for the world community, depend on who you are talking to.
There is no justic !!!!!!
Khmer Surins only knew how to kill and rape their own kind of people(Cambodian), but they are fucken chicken shits and scared Abhisit vejjajiva governments...
I praised Khmers Krom People, they are brave men and women...!!
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