The Final Countdown

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I have been asked quite a few times now about the political situation here in Thailand. Well, the basic thing seems to be that the "Yellows", consisting of some wealthy families and the Thai educated middle class, claims that the government party around prime minister Yingluck and her family are corrupt and buying votes. At least the first seems to be largely true. Yingluck is supported by the "Reds" - a group of protesters against the yellow protesters.

Now the government has promised new elections on February, 2nd but the Yellows don't want that because Yingluck will most likely be re-elected. So the Yellows want the whole government to resign and a constitutional council should govern Thailand and make consitutional changes and reforms until there can be another election. But that in itself is not democratic. So the whole thing is pretty much a gordic knot (and I guess you know how Alexander the Great solved that?). Meanwhile the army had brought 8000 soldiers to Bangkok to stop all kinds of violence. But the army was the one who revolted a few years ago which led to new elections and the old prime minister (brother oy current one) to flee Thailand and live in exile. And then there is another movement "Two Yes - Two No" wanting to make changes inside the democratic system (see http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/389249/i-will-vote-pheu-thai-if) .

Bangkok Post is a good source if you want to know more and be updated on todays "Bangkok shutdown" - the big demonstration by the "Yellows".

The thing that frightens me most is this video here :

because to me it shows clearly how far the current situation has gone from a facts-based discussion rather to an emotional way of dealing with the situation. The video is shown in TV and at all local gatherings of the protesters (although I can not distinct Reds from Yellows very well, because the colors have long been mixed, and both parties "love the king" and show the Thai flag.

I just hope that all goes well and that I got it all right. It is a bit confusing. You can read the Bangkok post if you want to know more.

A good, basic summary is also here: http://www.thaizer.com/politics/who-are-the-yellow-shirts-and-red-shirts/ or here http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-13294268

I, however, am in Khanom, far from the scene. There will be protests in 50 provinces, mabye in Nakhon Ai Tammarat and Surat Thani, the closest cities, but here it will stay calm. So I am in good health and shape, don't you worry. But I do fear for this beautiful country and the most fantastic people in the world.

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Comments

[Bernd]

CHAPEAU !!
lieber Florian hab mit Interesse deine Berichte verfolgt und wollte dir gleich schreiben, endlich jetzt also chapeau, congratulations and jubilations and respect !!! ich bin sehr beeindruckt wie du das machst, das ist doch sicher extrem anstrengend bei der Hitze, und dann das Gepäck und dein Körper ist ja auch kein Fliegengewicht und manchmal noch bergauf !! dann seh ich dass du das ja auch sehr budget orientiert machst also nochmals Kompliment, hätt ich dir nicht zugetraut, sah in dir immer mehr so ein couch potato, jetzt hast du dich befördert zu einem bike tomato (humorig konzipiert, ist aber als Anerkennung gemeint.) Was tut am meisten weh ? bei mir war es der Arsch und das ganze Gestell, als ich 1988 an einem Tag in 17 Stunden den GANZEN Bodensee umrundet habe, 230 km, und am übernächsten Tag dasselbe nochmals in anderer Richtung, damals war ich 43 so wie du also weiterhin Ohren steif halten, zumindest kriegst du das herrliche Thai Essen mir geht es in Eisenerz, Steiermark recht gut, nicht so gut mit dem Essen zuviel Braterl-Schnitzerl bin seit 2 Jahren hier nach der Scheidung LG Bernd Bernardo da Pinci EvE Eremit vom Erzberg

[FloRider]

Der Arsch!
Hi Bernd, vielen Dank für Deinen Kommentar. Am meisten tut mir der Arsch weh... aber im Moment bin ich ja für einige Wochen hier in Khanom und fahre nur so 20km täglich, für morgen habe ich dann wieder mal 60km geplant. Über 200 wäre aber noch ein großes Ziel :-) Ich freue mich dass Du mitliest... auf einen Braten und ein Schnitzel hätte ich auch mal wieder Lust :-)