Issue: ‘Abhisit’s violence, Thaksin’s power abuse’

May 18, p. 6: Thailand’s deteriorating political situation has made the “Land of Smiles” into an object of curiosity for my friends and colleagues in Britain. The country has started to “trend” online.  Thailand has become a topic of discussion in the international press that is equal in popularity to the New York bomb plot and Greek fiscal crisis. A person has to only pick up a copy of The Economist before realizing that the magazine has started to publish articles on the Thai crisis every week. The government of Thailand, dominated by the Democrat Party, has jumped into the information fray. It is slugging it out with the world media. Thai diplomats from Sydney to Kuala Lumpur have been writing letters to newspapers that insist that the situation in Thailand is peaceful.  However, the public — especially those who have closely followed Thai politics —  know that the situation is far from a settlement. Astute observers realize that Thailand is still very much in the middle of a crisis. Some media and political observer treat the crisis as a spectator sport. They overlook the crisis’ repercussions and the ways that it has transformed Thailand. There are many reports of body counts that are accompanied by surreal music and footage from the protest sites. (By Pokpong Lawansiri, London)

Back to normal: Thai girls eat ice cream as they walk on a busy street near Lumpini Park, where anti-government protesters were encamped, in downtown Bangkok, on Monday. The red shirts’ once-peaceful street protests ended in violence and a military crackdown last week, but many believe their movement demanding a change of government is far from finished. AP/Manish Swarup

Your comments:

Your article is exactly right! Let me add more; the current political turmoil in Thailand now has become a real struggle between the ruling elites, the rich, and the poor peasant farmers from the north and northeast. If it is not fixed, it will be the beginning of the end of our country.
Boone Bureenok
Korat, Thailand
 
I worked in Thailand during Thaksin’s reign and things did move forward. Of course he was a crook, but so is Abhisit.
Abhisit and his UDD wanted to hold elections in November after he had appointed a new army chief in September and yet the protests only turned violent after the military intervened.
What did the army do about the yellow shirts occupying the airport? Nothing!
Abhisit want to ban poor people from voting – what do you call that in the United States?
Fritz
Sweden

I have no idea how you could ever write such a biased story. Shame on you as a Thai citizen. Education does not seem to have helped you. Please respect yourself, your career, and your readers.
As a political student who is to be a World Bank scholar, you must do more homework before publishing an article such as this.
Watchara Laenoi
Bonn, Germany