Here we go! Once again, folks, it's time to play 'Government of the Month.' If this keeps up and these people succeed, then I have a feeling that Thailand will find itself plunged into a financial crisis that makes the crisis Obama inherited look like a picnic.

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UDD PROTESTERS SHIFT PROTEST AIM TO TOPPLE GOVERNMENT

 

BANGKOK, Feb 26 (TNA) -

 

Leaders of the anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) announced Thursday they would intensify their protest to oust the Democrat-led government as their four-point list of demands has yet to be met.

 

The UDD made the announcement as the anti-government demonstrators, known as the Red Shirts because of their bright red shirts, continued to surround Government House for the third day on Thursday.

 

They demanded that Parliament be dissolved and new elections held, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya removed because of his links to the UDD's arch rival, the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) movement which seized the country's two main airports last year to oust the previous government aligned to the convicted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

 

The UDD leaders also criticised the government and the armed forces stating that military personnel being found mingling with the red-clad protesters for intelligence-gathering purposes.

 

They said they had evidence to substantiate their claim and would carry their protest to seek clarification on the issue from the army chief and the Region 1 army commander.

 

Deputy government spokesman Putthipong Punnagun denied the charges, saying neither the government nor the military authorised such an operation.

 

The UDD threatened to prolong their demonstrations and shifted their protests to several areas.

 

Some Red Shirt protesters were to march on the office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission Thursday afternoon to protest the graft busters appointed by the coupmakers who toppled Mr. Thaksin in September 2006.

 

(TNA)

I was glad to read yesterday that the UDD protest was "losing steam" as many of the protesters left the site.

 

I really like living in Thailand and have made many Thai friends. Most are not really thinking about the protest or why there is a protest. They are much more concerned about where the money will come from if even more tourists do not show up and if their parents can sell crops to make some money.

 

I noticed in last weeks Pattaya Mail there was a full page ad seeking business not to cut back on their advertising budgets. This seemed to me to indicate that ad sales must be declining as businesses find it more difficult to pay their bills.

 

Continued protest by any group will not be helpful right now to the regular Thai

The show must go on.

 

However, the big difference is that the army is in the hands of the yellow shirts.

 

I might just be a tad too optimistic, but I'll bet they manage to contain the Reds.