In a handbag

I struggle yet again to explain something Thai to people abroad. This time it's the protests and clashes, why they are different and why nobody knows what's going to happen, really.

First things first: why are they protesting? Well, let's narrow 'they' down. There are three groups. One: the Democratic party members and followers who have stormed Government House and refuse to leave the lawn because they want the current PM Mr. Samak to leave because he is a vote buying puppet of Mr. Taksin who used to be PM and left for the UK because he didn't want to face the corruption charges in Thailand.

Two: there are the people that would like Mr. Samak to stay in office because he has vowed to help the poor like Mr. Taksin did, mainly by literally giving them cash (and according to the opposition taking it right back out of their pockets because they use the money to buy and use mobile phones on Mr. Taksin AIS network).

Three: a variety of often overlooked people that think neither of the two main groups are going to make a difference and want something else to happen. The reason why all these groups clash is obvious. They don't agree. But what makes these protests the most violent in decades is that this has all been festering for at least three years. But that's not the only thing that makes this time around special.

For the first time in Thai history the government has lost control over the media. Suddenly there are articles like this one in a normally loyal newspaper and what was worse: for an hour or two there was live coverage of heavy clashes between the riot police, protesters, bystanders and the press broadcast to the entire nation. People were outraged. And as a result even in rural Khon Kaen more and more people have started to clearly voice their opinion. Another first.

While everybody was expecting this thing to turn very bloody very fast unless Mr. Samak would step down, nothing like that has really happened (yet). How long cab a stalemate like that last? Suddenly there is even talk of a referendum. But the question is if that could really fix a society that seems to be torn between traditional values and market value. We can only wait and see.