Political Chaos in Bangkok

The last few weeks in Bangkok has been one massive headache, fueled by anxiety and mounting frustration with the political strife permeating every corner of Thailand.

Bangkok’s political struggle and its major players, the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) which overthrew Thaksin Shinwatra’s government in 2006, and  the People Power Party (PPP) which took office after the collapse of the military rule. In the past weeks, demonstrations has escalated as PAD occupying the Government House has moved onto Bangkok’s international airport, Suvarnabhumi, and domestic airport, Don Muang.

Among the issues were allegations of corruption and and tax evasion, leveled against Thaksin and his current “proxy” government. Thaksin’s populist economic polices and attempts at decentralizing power was challenged by the PAD as it was not in line with the status quo. Thaksin is widely, and deeply, supported by the rural Thais because of his policies to reduce health care costs for lower class and affordable business loans. The World Bank estimates are that during Thaksin’s tenure poverty fell from 21.3 percent in 2001 to 11.3 percent in 2004, and farming incomes rose by around 40 percent. PAD consists mostly of businessmen, intellectuals, academics, and activists who are mainly from Bangkok, where the urban and “old” elites reside.

The PAD are arguing for electoral reform, which in essence would restrict national suffrage to those who are educated and informed. This would mean that 70 percent of the population would be left without the right to vote, and power would be transferred to an assembly which would appoint judges and furthermore, that MPs be elected on the basis of occupation and rank.

Following the seige of the Government House in August 2008, the PAD took it’s fighting power to the grouds of Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport and soon after, Don Muang. The sit-in protest brought Bangkok to its knee, stranding thousands of travellers and costing millions of dollars in its aftermath. This move to topple the government was rather strategic and proven to be quite effective. While the international community admonished such disruption and inconvenience to its foreign nationals, they were reluctant to get involed in “domestic issues. ” Each day that the PAD occupied the airports, the deeper the frustration and uncertainty of the future of Thailand’s democracy.

The PAD friendly Constitutional Court had to forge a face-saving exit for the PAD and expedited the trial against the PPP for electoral fraud, which then issued a ruling against the PPP on Tuesday, November 2, 2008. The Constitutiona Court, in a predictable move, ordered the disbandment of the ruling party and several members of the cabinet ministry from entering politics for 5 years. However, Reuters reports:

Whatever the final opening date, Thailand looks set to remain politically riven and chaotic for much longer.

Dissolution of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) will heal none of the basic rifts between Bangkok’s royalist elite and middle classes, who despise ousted and exiled leader Thaksin Shinawatra, and the urban poor and rural masses who love him and continue to vote his allies into office.

Reuters also noted that despite the changes, the disbanded party is still in charge.

Even though Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat — Thaksin’s brother-in-law — and several cabinet ministers were banned by Tuesday’s court ruling, most MPs have survived and simply switched to a new “shell” party.

Parliamentary numbers suggest they have a comfortable majority, and acting Prime Minister Chavarat Charnvirakul said parliament would convene on December 8 to select a new prime minister, the third in as many months.

Plummeting tourism and the looming global recession will inevitably affect Thailand in 2009. As the world buckles down for the ominous recession, the political chaos in Thailand may be a disincentive to travel to the Land of Smiles.