Bangkok Diary : A desire to roam and flares of protest

World Mirror

Written by Sunil Deepak

Tuesday, 30 September 2008

It is my first day in Bangkok. I am determined to go around the city, even if it means waking up at five in the morning with a five hour jet lag and walking around like a zoombie. Every day some non-work related visit, even if it is very small. The meeting today was never ending, starting at nine and going on till eight in the evening. We didn't even have a lunch break, and while others were eating I made my presentation, which meant that no one asked me any questions!

However, in spite of all my good intentions, by the time I came back to the hotel, I was so tired that I immediately went to bed.

I had the meeting at UNCC and I found time to sneak out and take a look at the protesters outside. They have blocked many roads just outside the parliament house. There is a huge screen showing some leader thundering against corrupt government leaders. "Thaskin get out", is written on a huge board. But the whole place is almost empty. Perhaps it is the heat?

But isn't Thaskin already out, why is PDA (people's democracy alliance) still continuing its protests? Somchai, the new prime minister is Thaskin's brother-in-law, someone says. Someone else says that PDA is not just democratic idealists and radical revolutionaries; it also has power brokers, old military men and other lumpen elements.

I don't know the country or its politics well enough to express any opinions, but I am impressed that the government can allow protesters so much space and autonomy in the middle of the city centre, for months. There is no police inside the protest area, it is covered by barbed wires and PDA persons control that you are not carrying any guns or bombs inside.

[courtesy : Sunil Deepak's blog ]