Thailand 2010 : Year Of Confrontation

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ANALYSIS

2010 : Year of Confrontation

By Kittipong Thavevong

The Nation

The political ring has been at its bloodiest, as conflicting interests boil over bringing death and devastation

Thai political history will record 2010 as a year of volatility and uncertainty - and one of the bloodiest.

Many significant political events and incidents took place throughout the year. Most resulted from years of confrontation between rival political colours and severe social division that led to distrust towards different elements and institutions in society.

The confrontation and distrust led to full-blown street battles and made 2010 one of the bloodiest years in the country's political history - with 91 deaths and some 2,000 injured. The victims included protesters, soldiers, police, rescue workers, journalists, and passersby.

However, unlike similar bloodbaths in the past, there was no public pressure strong enough to force out the ruling administration. The explanation could be that people understood the situation well, because they are aware there was something fishy (such as the presence of mysterious "men in black" attacking soldiers with war weapons and allegedly shooting protesters to increase the death toll), or because the government did a good job in covering up the incident and doing its PR work. And there could be other reasons.

Yet, many questions are still unanswered about the protest dispersal - which the authorities prefer to call "tightening of the protest area" - and the culprits, or masterminds, behind the deaths and injuries. Also, in the coming years, more work needs to be done to restore social unity and achieve political reconciliation.

This past year also saw increased popularity in the use of social networking media like Twitter and Facebook as political tools for certain groups to spread their views and to campaign against rival opinions. Scheduling of political gatherings and other activities were made through online social networks, in addition to conventional channels like phone calls or short messages.

The red-shirts' Songkran riots of 2009 were still fresh in the minds of Thais, and signs of more bad news came on February 26 when the Supreme Court's criminal division for political office holders ordered the seizure of Bt46 billion in assets of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's family. It was part of the money earned from the sale of Shin Corp shares to the Singaporean government's investment arm Temasek Holdings in 2006.

On March 12, two weeks after the court verdict, the red shirts - many of whom consider Thaksin their hero, and his proxy political party Pheu Thai their favourite - took to the streets of Bangkok in what would later become a 10-week-long rally against the government. During that volatile period, the entire country feared possible civil war as the red shirts kept demanding Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva dissolve the House of Representatives and call an early general election.

The red shirts roamed freely in and around Bangkok, prompting the government to impose a state of emergency in early April, which failed to deter more protesters from joining the protests at Phan Fa Bridge and the Ratchaprasong intersection. At the height of the red shirts' protest, the state of emergency covered 24 provinces but later the number was reduced gradually as the situation improved. On December 21, the government lifted the state of emergency in the four last provinces, including the capital.

There were frequent grenade attacks from M-79 launchers and shootings targeting state agencies and private businesses, including the Bangkok Bank. Home-made Bombs were also detonated and found at several locations in Bangkok and nearby provinces. Only after an accidental explosion at an apartment in Nonthaburi, which killed red-shirt bomber Samai Wongsuwan, did the bombing attacks cease.

Two rounds of talks between the government, led by the prime minister, and three top red-shirt leaders led by Veera Musigapong failed to bring about an agreement. The first government attempt to disperse protesters, at Khok Wua intersection on April 10, left 27 people dead, including Colonel Romklao Thuwatham, who led a successful dispersal of the 2009 riot. Among other dead victims were many civilians with gunshot wounds. Hundreds more were injured, including soldiers wounded when grenades were fired at them. Armed men in black were reportedly among fighters opposing the government security forces.

The government managed to force the red-shirt leaders to end their rally at the Ratchaprasong business district on May 19, but not before the deaths of 58 more people after the security forces began their "tightening of the protest area" on May 13. Despite the leaders' surrender to face charges of terrorism and inciting unrest, lootings and riots continued, with the torching of shopping malls and other buildings in the city. Government buildings in Udon Thani, Khon Kaen, Ubon Ratchathani, and Mukdahan also came under arson attacks by red-shirt protesters.

Senior Army commanders involved in the operation received promotion in the annual personnel transfers at the beginning of October, including General Prayuth Chan-ocha, who became the new Army commander-in-chief.

After the incident, the government appointed committees aimed at effecting reform and bringing reconciliation. The panels, led by respected figures like former prime minister Anand Panyarachun, social critic Prawase Wasi, and former attorney-general Kanit Nanakorn, came up with proposals that still need to be put into practice.

Another period of uncertainty followed later in the year. The Constitution Court was to rule on two separate cases on whether the ruling Democrat Party should be dissolved for allegedly misusing a state campaign fund and concealing a donation.

The court rejected both cases, by a majority vote, on grounds that procedures were not properly followed when the Election Commission brought the cases to court. It was good news for the ruling party's supporters and bad news for the red shirts and fans of the opposition Pheu Thai Party.

However, there have been no threats of further violence resulting from the dissatisfaction as the political parties - both in the coalition and the opposition - are in "election mode", looking ahead to an early general election promised by the prime minister.

-- The Nation 2010-12-31

[asiawatcher]

It may well have been the year of confrontation and we expats live in hope it will not be repeated. One thing for certain, now some yellow shirts have been jailed, it will mean there is more of a level playing field. The violence may temper but there is no doubt in anyone's mind - red is violent and yellow is peaceful. Not hard to figure out which side to align to even if you don't agree with the far right policies.

[whybother]

It may well have been the year of confrontation and we expats live in hope it will not be repeated. One thing for certain, now some yellow shirts have been jailed, it will mean there is more of a level playing field. The violence may temper but there is no doubt in anyone's mind - red is violent and yellow is peaceful. Not hard to figure out which side to align to even if you don't agree with the far right policies.

"Not hard to figure out which side to align" - Neither of them?

[lungmi]

It may well have been the year of confrontation and we expats live in hope it will not be repeated. One thing for certain, now some yellow shirts have been jailed, it will mean there is more of a level playing field. The violence may temper but there is no doubt in anyone's mind - red is violent and yellow is peaceful. Not hard to figure out which side to align to even if you don't agree with the far right policies.

"Not hard to figure out which side to align" - Neither of them?

Next year is the year of the rabbit.

Rabbits go where are good food and they avoid violence.

[saintofsilence]

I think next year will be the year of honesty

That was a weird dream I thought I was back home but woke up and realised I was still in thailand

Edited December 31, 2010 by saintofsilence

[Siam Simon]

It may well have been the year of confrontation and we expats live in hope it will not be repeated. One thing for certain, now some yellow shirts have been jailed, it will mean there is more of a level playing field. The violence may temper but there is no doubt in anyone's mind - red is violent and yellow is peaceful. Not hard to figure out which side to align to even if you don't agree with the far right policies.

"Not hard to figure out which side to align" - Neither of them?

Crikey! We agree on something.

Happy new year.