Consequences

The good news is that the situation in Bangkok seems to be improving, due to the government pushing into the rebel camps, arresting Red-Shirt protesters and telling the rest to just go home. Which is really assuring especially for the city of Bangkok, which has definitely suffered some devastating consequences as a result of the protests that just kept on increasing in violence.

Not only has Thailand just suffered an incredible blow to their public image, internationally, but the capital itself has been physically, economically... (and other effects!)... damaged.


As you can see with this Reuters article, some banks were burned, shopping mall parts collapsed, tourists were basically prisoners in their hotel rooms, and several of the storefronts in Bangkok, in general, have been damaged from the clashes between government and Red Shirt personnel.

I was just reading this Bangkok Post article about the curfew, which is from 8pm-6am and will last for another week, saying how the curfew itself has been a little debilitating to the city, as many retailers need to restock at night - so, with the curfew, replenishing their means of profit is nearly impossible.

Several international investors are reconsidering putting more investments into Thailand..

To boost tourism in Thailand, AirAsia is apparently going to give away 10,000 free seats to non-Thai travelers, to go to Thailand between June and August!!


It's just said to hear that this sort of violence that severely disabled the city was caused by its own people. Yeah, they were protesting against the government, but I feel like it was their own fault for letting things get out of hand and affecting those (such as store owners, hotels, tourists...) who were innocent and had absolutely no control over matters. I mean, it's not like breaking those store windows and completely demolishing a section of a shopping mall is really going to make things better?
Sure, causing destruction grabs the attention of others, but how does one know that it'll necessarily get the right attention from the group that you actually want to intimidate, and not your fellow citizens?

I just find this interesting, especially because the Thai Department of Special Investigation has put up an official global alert for the arrest warrant against Thaksin Shinawatra with terrorist charges. Even Interpol has been approached for assisting in the arrest of Thaksin from the DSI.

Apparently, Thaksin might be hiding in this villa in Montenegro... or just, jet-setting around the world~

What I just want to know is, I wonder how Thaksin is feeling about the protests?

For example,

• Did he honestly think that if the protests were successful, that he'd be able to take over and be placed again at the head of the Thai government?
• Was his motive for supporting the Red Shirt protests financially+idealogically actually for the sake of his country, or for his own revenge against the current administration?
• With the heavy violence and destruction that occurred especially in Bangkok, was he thinking about the consequences on his country and its people..... and perhaps also how he would've taken control of the aftermath of the protests, if the Red Shirts had been successful and he'd be placed back in the President's office?