What to do next, government ponders it options as protesters continue there demonstrations.
For four hour the red shirted protesters lay siege to the Election Committee headquarters. Demanding the an inquiry be made into the legality of Abhisit Vwjjahiva party. Once reassured that it was being investigated they withdrew.
Last week a series of talks between the two sides lead no where so it seems more chaos in the streets of Bangkok is the order of the day. Army spokesman Samscern Kaewkamned told "The Nation" newspaper in Bangkok if they pushed the Red Shit leaders to hard violence would ensue.
The government announce 11 major intersection where protesters were banned from demonstrating. In response the demonstrators designated 9 major intersection where they were to establish mobile demonstrations at today. While Pm's office minister, Satit Wongnong stated - "the government will attempt to enforce restrictions on all (highway) routes", and that seems to mean that a state of emergency has been declared today after a protest at the Parliament.
With all the pushing and shoving going on now in Bangkok it is easy to loose scope as what this is all about. So here is a Doug quick moment in history-
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawata was elected to office with the highest number of votes on record in 2001. Though most of his following is in the countryside of Thailand, workers/ red shirts. While major cities like Bangkok are home to fewer people than in the countryside they have the money guys and societies movers and shakers who run the show, while the country side has mostly workers. So with in this lays fertile ground for political problems.
Thaksin was one of the only politicians to court the vote of the workers outside Bangkok. Once in office he passed legislation for health care covering the poorest of the poor, created mini grants to help create new income opportunities for the poor and along with those social changes balanced the countries budget.
In 2003 he attached Thailand's drug problem with gusto , maybe with a bit too much gusto according to some accounts, as in 8 months it was reported up to 2000 drug guys were killed and 51,000 arrested.
Meanwhile, he was accused of corruption in his own business dealings and after the coup pulled him from office was convicted in absenteeism for corruption while in office.
He was over thrown by a military in a bloodless coup in 2006 while out of the country on state business and the military took control. After a period of time elections were held for a new government but before the election Thaksin's party was forced to disband. Resulting in the opposition party of Abhisit Vwjjahiva, backed by the military and the King winning the election and gaining control of the government.
Which brings us to the reason the Red Shirts are protesting for a new election as they believe that the election that put Abhisit Vwjjahiva's party in power was illegal.
