I need some new photos
The protest by the United front for Democracy (UDD) / Red Shirts rolls into its second week. With little results to show in its quest to remove prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and force the formation of a new government in Thailand.Vejjajiva has barricaded himself in a fortified army barracks, refusing direct talks with Red Shirt leaders. He travels when needed by helicopter so he can stay untouchable by the protesters.
The Red Shirts position is that Vejjajiva and his party gained power unconstitutionally in 2008 when the government dissolved Mr. Thaksin's party and so the present government is illegal. Though they seek non violent change but are willing to give there blood for the cause. Latterly drawing there own blood and using it in there protests.
Last Saturdays protest dew an estimated 65,000 protesters as the Red Shirts attempted to draw from the rank and file in Bangkok.
Today the government extended the Internal Security act and will use armed solders at check points, government buildings and military bases. Up to now the 30,000 plus security forces were unarmed but due to a couple of gernade incidents this has changed.
On a different topic, I'm writing this in Saigon where the Vietnamese government has blocked access to Facebook. Though my postings on Blogger show up there. I can get at Facebook via a proxy server but can't add or edit content. Governments - can't live with them and can't live with out them.
