Deepening division in Thailand - 20 April 09

The social division between Thailand's rich and poor has deepened following recent protests and violence, and the prime minister has moved to try to defuse tensions by calling for constitutional amendments.

Abhisit Vejjajiva has given political parties two weeks to come up with proposed changes he says will be put to public debate.

Al Jazeera's Marga Ortigas reports from Bangkok.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• thailand
• political
• unrest
• social
• divisions
• marga
• ortigas
• aljazeera

[LaoIssan1]

Stand up and fight for your right Lao Issan red shirt, and fight the power. Thailand belong to you.

[HatedWar]

you talking from your (_I_) ass, not from your (-?~) brain.

[OzDelphi]

"This is not democracy."

Neither was the military coup in 2006 and the tearing up of the constitution. Or the PAD takeover of Government House and the airports. Or, all the other military coups, or His majesty the King's dislike of politicians, but apparent approval of military dictators like Field Marshall Sarit.

Democracy in Thailand? Nope. Maybe in 50 years.

[devilmirror]

Red shirts are irrational and extremely violent. The former prime minister, Thaksin, said in one of his video that he paid 500 bahts to these red shirts.

Red shirts caused violent to the level we have not seen before. They were ready to blow to gas trunk in the middle of Bangkok. Million of people would have been killed if the red shirt had succeeded.

Red shirts killed two innocent people on the street while, to my best knowledge, no people were killed by military.

This is not democracy.

[Yowzoe]

As an American who taught English in Thailand in the early 90's, I find AlJazeera's reporting on these tragic times there intelligent and nuanced.

The Thai government, in fact each successive Thai government, has a lot to answer for. The military and the business mafia are ugly drags on real democracy.

It's complicated. AlJazeera doesn't dumb things down, usually. I'm impressed.

They are head-and-shoulders above such hack outlets as Russia Today, or its analogue in my country, FAUX News.

[elsambotron]

I live in Eastern Bangkok. We had thursday and friday off from from school but today we came back. Things seem the same as they always do. The news makes it look more widespread than it is. niamtxiv your comment down below was very ignorant you really know nothing about Thailand

[cheddyrod]

Life in general is pretty calm. When you see a mob gathering then don't go down that street. The reports from AlJazeera are better than most news broadcasts, much better than CNN, BBC or the local news. The red shirt rebellion ended last Wednesday, so right now things in Bangkok have more or less returned to normal although we are under an emergency decree (martial law). I live in northern Bangkok so the only action I personally seen was the military check points. So how are things in Tacoma?

[mtlsoul]

Wow, Thailand is in some deep stuff. If anyone from Thialand reads this, let me know what its like from over there.

[GiovannaNYC]

Division is the world theme of 2009.

In 2010 is will be war!

[niamtxiv]

turns to communist. i hope my dad's prophecy comes true. thailand will be doomed.