The Political Situation in Thailand

This season has been a strange one for Asia.

In North Korea, Kim Jong Un has removed his Uncle from power.  China, Japan and South Korea are wrestling over new restricted airspace.  The Philippines were devastated by typhoon Haiyan.  And political demonstrations are now popping up in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Thailand.  Analysts say its a result of a clash with a majority-takes-all politics and the shifting of money and power with the new rising middle-class.

The US State Department is optimistic, no travel warnings or restrictions have been imposed.  But we're all keeping a close eye.  Bangkok has a couple of important English-language papers that I invite you to visit (though, keep in mind, media there is highly politicized and must be read with healthy skepticism): The Nation and The Bangkok Post.  Please feel free to visit the US Embassy in Bangkok's website as well. 

We thought we'd explain briefly what's at the heart of the protests in Thailand right now and how we will assuredly avoid them.

Thailand's oldest political party, the Democratic Party, has grown weary of losing elections.  They haven't wielded power since the early 90s, and their old Bangkok, old money, pro-market membership is disgruntled.  The party has thus taken to the streets (as they have in the past), to air their grievances.  They have formed the People's Democratic Reform Committee under Suthep Thaugsuban and are calling for the majority party, the PTP, led by Prime Minister Yingluck and her powerful family the Shinawatra, to step down. 

Suthep Thaugsuban, Leader of the PDRC (protest)

Abhisit Vejjajiva, Opposition Leader and Leader of the Democratic Party

The much younger, more rural, pro-farmer majority party, the Pheu Thai (PTP), has accommodated the demands of the PDRC and has called for reelections.  By royal decree, seats in the House will be decided upon again in early February.  Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has become caretaker premier of the government until February 2014, but she is now being asked by the opposition to step down entirely and cede power over to a make-shift, non-elected People's Council.  Analysts and academics have no faith in that proposal.       

 Yingluck Shinawatra, Prime Minister

Jarupong Ruangsuwan, PTP Leader

The situation on the streets of Bangkok:
Currently there are political protests surrounding government buildings in Bangkok.  Brief violence did break out on November 30, but police have since retreated and allowed protestors to voice their dissent and occupy previously barricaded areas. 

Given this state of affairs, our group will steer entirely clear of government buildings and political gatherings.  If numbers and dissent continues to increase, we will divert our stay in Bangkok to some of the country's more quiet, frankly more beautiful, quarters to the north and south (Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, etc.).

For now, we are taking careful note.  The Tourism Authority of Thailand's Situation Update is a good place to stay linked into.