Does anyone know the political standpoint of either of the 2 main protagonists in this current crisis? All I can discover is that red shirts are pro Government and yellow shirts are anti Government. I cannot find anything to say which parties are left wing socialists or right wing conservatives, or where any party fits on the political spectrum, let alone a manifesto. Maybe they are somewhere on a Thai language site but I would appreciate it if anyone could lead me to an English language site containing this information.

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There's no such divide in Thai politics as the western left-right.

It's all about the elite politicians whatever shirt they are wearing on that day, they change pretty often.

You can not comprehend this by your standards.

For example, the reds say they represent the poor, but that only applies to northern poor, far south poor they don't care about.

They also have a billionaire leader that closest referens in the western world would be Berlusconi and Putin.

The yellow shirts don't exist more, except in the red minds, all against the reds must be yellow.

"Unfortunately, the gullible are in abundance. They are those who mistakenly believe Pheu Thai is synonymous with democracy, and any criticism of it would mean you are a fascist, elitist coup supporter who hates democracy. Personally, I’m only lukewarm about democracy, but everyone should hate stupidity."

Voranai Vanijaka

There's no such divide in Thai politics as the western left-right.

It's all about the elite politicians whatever shirt they are wearing on that day, they change pretty often.

You can not comprehend this by your standards.

For example, the reds say they represent the poor, but that only applies to northern poor, far south poor they don't care about.

They also have a billionaire leader that closest referens in the western world would be Berlusconi and Putin.

The yellow shirts don't exist more, except in the red minds, all against the reds must be yellow.

"Unfortunately, the gullible are in abundance. They are those who mistakenly believe Pheu Thai is synonymous with democracy, and any criticism of it would mean you are a fascist, elitist coup supporter who hates democracy. Personally, I’m only lukewarm about democracy, but everyone should hate stupidity."

Voranai Vanijaka

i didnt notice abhisit and his ilk were any great beacons of democracy

to the OP -- if you find the answer you have solved Thai politics !!

Hitherto there has been no grassroots movement on either red or yellow sides. They were (still are?) the paid lackeys of the two main rivals in the power struggle. But there are now divisions within these divisions, and there is possibly a beginning of a grassroots movement on both sides, who can see through their previous role as the pawns of their sponsors. But without the money to fuel these protests, ordinary Thais would be unlikely to participate. For one thing it's not in their nature, (or culture) - they would prefer an easy life, rather than fighting - but they have no experience of what the alternatives are to a feudal system. That system was relatively benign previously, but the scales are beginning to fall from eyes, and brainwashed minds are beginning to be opened by social media. Knowledge is power, and that genie is out of the bottle, and wont go back in.

I find it hard to believe that the middle class protesters in Bangkok are being paid. Where is the money coming from. We all know that at various times the redshirts have been paid and the money has come from Thaksin, but where is the money coming from to pay the anti Thaksin protesters?

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Politics in Thailand is the politics of patronage.

Politics in Thailand is the politics of patronage.

That's the best summary I've ever read of the situation. The groups don't have well formed platforms and what they supposedly believe/represent changes rapidly depending on what is most convenient at the time. Non of them are particularly fond of Democracy except when it works in their favor (the 'red shirts' for the past decade). They all complain about corruption and pledge to fight it yet they are all equally corrupt. All the major families clamor to be in power or retain power as it is immensly profitable. At the end of the day, real power lies with the military which is not under civillian control as in the west but is rather an independent institution that does as it pleases (hence the 16 coups since the country became a constitutional monarchy in 1932 and numerous lesser military interventions and attempted interventions).

I find it hard to believe that the middle class protesters in Bangkok are being paid. Where is the money coming from. We all know that at various times the redshirts have been paid and the money has come from Thaksin, but where is the money coming from to pay the anti Thaksin protesters?

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Apparently the latest is they have not been paid (as promised) ...

IMO the most recent showing of middle class masses at the Bkk rallies is a glimps into an honest grass roots movement and as others have stated they do not have the heart for a long fight do they are more window dressing than true fighters.