Thaksin Shinawatra is making news again.
His supporters, the Red Shirts are in a violent standoff with government forces over the demand for elections.
The business tycoon has been living in exile after the military staged a coup and removed him from power in September 2006. Since then he has been the target of the military installed government on trumped up charges of corruption, bribery, and real estate deals favouring his wife.
Shinawatra was forced to sell City to the Abu Dhabi oil magnate Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan after the Thai government froze his overseas assets in 2008. He had been City’s owner for two years and was responsible for bringing Mark Hughes and renewed optimism to City with his deep pockets.
Now, he stands accused by the government of bankrolling the UDD (National United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship), the anti government forces most popularly known as the “Red Shirts” who have are embroiled in an increasingly violent confrontation with the Abhisit Vejjajiva government. The UDD claim that the Vejjajiva government is illegitimate and is propped up by the military, the judiciary, and the Thai monarchy. The government has in turn issued a terrorism warrant against Shinawatra.
Shinawatra’s humble background before he became a telecom tycoon resonates with the poor and the rural peasantry, who support him in massive numbers. The Thai government’s dogged pursuit of him has stoked populist anger, mostly expressed in peaceful demonstrations till recently.
A state of emergency has been in place since early April with the military resorting to shoot to kill to quell the protests. On 10th April, twenty five Red Shirt supporters were shot and 800 wounded in a Bangkok public square. Anti-government forces and military have clashed repeatedly since then with more casualties on both sides. In the most recent episode 27 buildings were set ablaze in Bangkok.
Shinawatra speaking from an undisclosed location said:
“There is a theory saying a military crackdown can spread resentment and these resentful people will become guerrillas.”
There are now increasing calls to the Thai government to seek rapprochement with Shinawatra and break the impasse. Meanwhile, the stunning descent into violence has many Thais worrying about their future as a united country.