Thailand’s pampered protesters

NICOLAS ASFOURI/AFP/Getty Images

Theirs sounds like a candidate for The World’s Toughest Jobs. Protestors in Bangkok have, for the last 11 days, filled the street outside the office of Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, preventing him from entering his work space and demanding his resignation. They are members of the opposition group, People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD). The prime minister has called a state of emergency, and an army presence is visible in the streets.

I should have known better — these are not your typical protestors. Turns out, the discontents are better fed than many of the rural Thais who support the prime minister. Free food — even massages — is the street fare these days. The protestors use electricity from the government house’s electrical system to power the broadcast of fiery anti-government speeches. With all there is to see and do, it’s no wonder they won’t go home.

The mood in the capital says more about this crisis than just how organized (and well stocked) the demonstrations have been. The PAD grew from a movement of mostly urban elites, believing that democracy — which gives much political power to the country’s rural voters — is not a good idea. They lament the corruption of coup-ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and worry that Samak is more of the same. Instead of a popularly elected legistlature for example, the PAD prefers that the seats are appointed from above.

Is is a culture clash of the highest degree? With the elites out on the streets, the masses say they are suffering as tourism and other industries wait for the crisis to end. Neither the prime minister nor the protestors look ready to bring the stalemate to a close.

Rest assured, no one on the street will go hungry waiting.