| Having lived in Thailand for the last two years I | | | | meeting with the Cambodian leader about six |
| have experienced their military coup of 2006 as | | | | months ago. There has been a military build up on |
| well and their path back to democracy. The coup | | | | the border near this temple in the last few |
| was bloodless and the only person I am aware of | | | | months... |
| getting hurt was a taxi driver who rammed a | | | | So ... between the conviction and some actions |
| tank park in the street because he was | | | | and decisions that are not particularly cared for by |
| frustrated with it being in his way. The Thai | | | | the general population many Thai People are not |
| people's path back to democracy was well | | | | happy with the current Prime Minister. The |
| planned and quite structured by the military who | | | | opposition party is staging protests and has been |
| was governing Thailand after the coup. Initially a | | | | for the past 3 or more months (as of early |
| new constitution was written that afforded more | | | | September 2008). Peaceful protesting is a healthy |
| protection against governmental abuses. This | | | | expression of democracy, when the government |
| constitution was accepted by the Thai people | | | | allows people to express themselves in the open. |
| through a referendum vote. After accepting this | | | | The protests became unhealthy last week. The |
| constitution, the people then had a general election | | | | protesters were met with a rival group of |
| where the same ruling party (renamed as the PPP | | | | "anti"-protesters supporting the current |
| Party) that was ousted by the coups was voted | | | | government. The two groups clashed and resulted |
| back in. This party was voted back in for several | | | | in a death and over 40 injured people. The clash |
| reasons; one being the people living outside of | | | | led to a "state of emergency" declaration by the |
| Bangkok was enamored with the promises of | | | | government causing concern for the situation |
| money through governmental programs and tax | | | | throughout the world. |
| cuts. The second reason was, as it turns out, | | | | But to put things into perspective, Thailand is still a |
| there was vote buying, which we found this out in | | | | very peaceful place to live, for everyone. The |
| a recent conviction of the leading party's leader of | | | | clash of political groups was an isolated event and |
| voting fraud. | | | | seems to be remaining just that. Thai people |
| The current Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej has | | | | should be commended for not allowing the |
| made some huge political blunders both internally | | | | situation to get out of control and allowing the |
| and internationally such as bringing Thailand close | | | | violence to escalate. The emergency declaration, |
| to fighting with Cambodia over the border line | | | | however, is worrying people wishing to visit and |
| surrounding the Preah Vihear temple which was | | | | therefore hurting the economic situation here by |
| settled in 1962 by the World Court. The Thai | | | | impacting tourism. So we are all waiting to the |
| People always felt cheated about this and PM | | | | politicians to solve their conflicts so Thailand can |
| Samak had "solved" the problem in a one day | | | | return to "the Land of Smiles". |