One Night in Bangkok

This is me at the Red Shirt rally, 9 April 2010, Bangkok. I was the only foreing looking person I saw there and I was recieved warmly.

I had one night in Bangkok after flying in from Singapore and leaving by night train to Chiang Mai. My friend Sang met me at my hotel and we went for dinner and then the evening got really interesting.

First a little background info. I doubt that the political situation in Bangkok is big news back home but here it gets 24/7 coverage. A few weeks ago I mentioned the peaceful revolution of the red shirts against the existing government. For a little history of what is happening, in 2005 there was military coup which ousted then PM Taksin and a military government installed themselves. There has been opposition to the military rule all along and earlier this year the general populace began to demand an opportunity to elect a new leader. This movement to reestablish democracy is known as Red Shirts. Their actions to date have been totally peaceful but intentionally disruptive. (For one thing tourism, a major economic factor, is down 35%.)

Well, back to the story. After we ate Sang suggested we go to the Red Shirt rally. I asked if he felt like it was fine for a farang (foreigner) to be there and he assured me he would not put me in harm's way. We went and there was almost a carnival atmosphere. On the main stage were orators and performers. I could understand only the word America and asked Sang for a translation. What the speaker was saying was the in America the black people were once slaves and the lowest in society and now a descendant of black people is President. The comparison cast America in a very positive light for a change which of course was pleasing. I am glad not to have listened to so many fraidy cat who advised me to stay away. I was warmly greeted and felt perfectly secure.

Today (2 days later) on the news I see some ambulance activity and it seems as if tempers are heating up. Sang tells me there will possibly be a resolution today. I am hopeful the self installed military government will do the right thing and allow free elections in this democratic country. Interestingly the soldiers who are positioned around the city to control the crowds are referred to as "watermelons", green uniforms on the outside and red on the inside.