Word: thailandâ
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Golf clubs aren't the usual accouterments of anti-government protestors, but the demonstrations gripping Bangkok this week haven't exactly been normal. For three days now, thousands of members of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) have occupied Thailand???s halls of power, camping out near the offices of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej. In the early morning hours of Aug. 29th, protestors - some armed with bamboo poles, others with sporting gear more often associated with the Scottish highlands - managed to evict hundreds of police offers from the grounds of Government House. After celebrating their victory, the demonstrators snoozed...
...Samak, who initially campaigned as the heir to Thaksin's political legacy. (Thaksin's party was dissolved during army rule and he was also banned from politics.) This time around, the PAD's allegations are similar and its leaders are repeating claims that they are taking action to protect Thailand???s monarchy from a dissolute government. But unlike Thaksin, Samak has close connections with the palace. And though the former Bangkok governor made his earlier career as a blustery hard-liner, Samak has so far kept his resolve to use restraint against the PAD protesters occupying his offices...
...problems, ranging from underwhelming economic growth to rising consumer prices. But with a respected fortuneteller predicting the demise of this government, many Thais aren't confident that Samak will survive long enough to accomplish much. The question, then, is whether Samak's successor might have more time to fix Thailand???s troubles. On this point, sadly, Varin the soothsayer isn?t talking...
...hands of such pragmatic diplomats, Chinese foreign policy is likely to retain Chou En-lai's approach: pragmatic, outgoing and de-emphasizing ideology. Enjoying formal relations with well over 100 countries?including cordial ties with most of the key countries in its own region like Japan, the Philippines and Thailand???China is unlikely to return to narrow xenophobia...
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