Human Disorder

Since 2005, the yellow-shirted People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), has fought two governments in Bangkok and now looks to be protesting the border along Cambodia. Many in the region are worried that the protests will distract from upcoming elections and feel that PAD’s protests are meant to undermine them. In addition, there have been legitimate threats of violence in the previous weeks throughout Bangkok.

The Uproar

Just recently the yellow shirts rivals, the red shirts held a protest of 30,000 people in response to Thailand’s political divide. It’s not the protests that worry many in the area, however, it’s the arrests made late Monday evening of several activists with homemade bombs. The threat of violence is very real and very imminent.

What They Want

PAD wants the 2000 memorandum of understanding on the border revoked, Thailand to pull out of the Unesco World Heritage Committee and disperse Cambodians from the border area. Chamlong Srimuang, the PAD leader will not stop until these three demands are met. This has led to the threat of using force if things are not resolved amicably. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva believes that these demands are unreasonable and that Srimuang is really doing this to cause his government to be overthrown. He doesn’t think the MoU should be revoked and questions the timing of the yellow shirts protests. However, making things worse for Vejjajiva is the fact that the yellow shirts rivals, the red shirts are also protesting Vejjajiva and with both parties uniting, Vejjajiva will not be reelected.

Whatever the yellow shirts motives, it’s clear both parties are unhappy with the economic downturn and hardships many Arab countries are seeing as well. Both the protests in Bangkok and Cairo mimic each other in that they were formed quickly and around the same time.