Our friends at CTRL ALT SHFT do a regular series of articles from all over the world called Postcards From the Edge. Their man in Bangkok, Alfred James, recently found himself caught up in the protests that have consumed the city over the last few weeks. Here is his report:

It is with great regret that I have to interrupt writing a comfortingly positive article about one of Thailand’s most famous festivals and replace it with a far more disturbing report regarding the current clashes between the Peoples Alliance for Democracy (P.A.D) and the Thai Police force. I guess by now the news will have reached British soil that the Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang Airports have been stormed by protestors and all domestic and international flights have been cancelled.

As I write I am also hearing of reports that three home made bombs have been detonated around the city. I have only recently stepped off a plane from Bangkok. There I visited the People’s Alliance for Democracy (P.A.D) camp outside the British Embassy (check the photos) and spoke with what I perceived as peaceful people protesting for democratic change. To briefly summarise the issues, the P.A.D and its members have become increasingly frustrated that nothing is being done to oust the current political administration, who they feel represent the same corrupt values as those of ex-leader Thaksin Shinawatra, who is currently in exile. The P.A.D also feels the Thai Embassy in the UK is not doing nearly enough to bring Thaksin and his henchmen to stand trial in the Kingdom on charges of corruption.

After my recent trip to Bangkok I was poised to write an article entitled ‘The Calm Before The Storm’, referring to my prediction that something big was about to happen; that the P.A.D were brewing up one last ditch attempt to oust the current administration and perhaps bring about military rule again - something that the majority of people here do not want. Seeing the prison style compound outside the embassy with its wheel-less buses, piles of sticks, hard hats, and aggressive poster campaigns, it was obvious that violence was again inevitable. During the last protests in 2005-2006, the police were accused of being too heavy handed and reports of rogue policemen becoming trigger happy were documented. This time around it seems police have allowed themselves to be overpowered in order to not cause controversial injury to the protestors. This time around, there have uncharacteristically been shots fired by P.A.D members at pro-government supporters.

The situation saddens me. I sympathise with both sides. I sit in a country divided by its longing for democratic stability and anger at consistent political corruption. The violence is the result of frustration; the result of two years protesting for change. The P.A.D has, for the most part, been ignored by the majority of the country who would, in all honestly, rather let the Thaksin era be a fading memory than an excuse to ruin what most see as a country moving forward into the new world. So, why have the protests ended so sourly? Maybe the majority of P.A.D members have little to lose; perhaps they feel that sacrificing their own lives to a lengthy jail sentence or even risking death is necessary in securing political equality for the future generations. The heavy handedness of the police during the last protests has definitely contributed to the present violence. The P.A.D now feel like an oppressed group.

Thailand’s economy relies on its tourism industry and the closure of airports and general instability has hit the country just at the beginning of its high season with many international visitors cancelling holidays. I have no doubt the airports will reopen soon and that the police and armed forces will quash this violence with minimal fuss. However, the reports of home made bombs worry me. If either side is branded a terrorist organisation, their voices will never be taken into account in a democratic parliament again. Both sides are now endangering the lives of everyday men, women and children who seek to live peacefully in the Buddhist Kingdom.

Next Friday 5 December is the King’s birthday. Hopefully, this may just be the event that settles the angry dust for a while and halts the current violence. No one would dare cause trouble and disrespect on the weekend of such an important celebration, would they? Now 81 years old and quite frail, one hopes the King will hang on long enough to encourage the people through this time of unrest and settle differences peacefully. I will be in Bangkok for the celebrations, airport status depending. I hope to report brighter news in the wake of the aftermath.