Bangkok - a tinder box?

Bangkok today is like a tinder box.  Waiting to go up in flames.

The PAD protesters, thousands of them, are firmly embedded in Suvarnabhumi Airport.

The Army has refused to eject them.

The Police made a half hearted attempt last night. But they were outnumbered and overwhelmed by the numbers of protesters.  And some PAD protesters even kidnapped a policeman and drove him away at speed!

The Prime Minister asked the police to be gentle in evicting the protesters!

And both he and his cabinet have fled <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 />Bangkok to go north to Chiang Mai.

But there are unconfirmed reports on Thai television tonight that he has left the country.

And the airport occupation looks set to go on through the whole of the week.

So there is a power vacuum developing in Thailand tonight.

This afternoon, the other group -  The Reds – held their own demonstration at Sao Ching Cha, outside City Hall, down in the old part of Bangkok.  Many hundreds attended; maybe a thousand or so.  The site is dangerously near the ‘home’ of PAD supporters, Government House.

Yesterday, another hand grenade was lobbed into the grounds of Government House and some supporters were injured.  People tend to think that this is the work of The Reds.  No one knows!

But the people I spoke to at the demonstration were all very angry that the airport is now out of action.  They are angry with the Government, with the Army and with the Police.  And they are secretly angry with the Palace (for that, read the King) for siding (and perhaps actively supporting) the PAD.  Clearly the PAD now has the upper hand.  They are very well supplied at the airport, even with blankets and camp beds, as well as medical supplies and mountains of food! And they have very good connections;  and maybe influence in high places, or so it is rumoured.

Who knows who is in charge?

Who knows what will happen next?

This vacuum could be very dangerous, especially if the Reds start to take on the Yellows.

Power vacuums are always dangerous, especially when there are extremists waiting in the wings.