Last year, it was the yellow shirts who were protesting to remove the Prime Minister. After a "judicial coup" and some behind the scenes help from the military, they got there way. Now, after just three months, it's the red shirt's turn to protest.
April 8th was supposed to be D-Day, when the Prime Minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva, was given an ultimatum to step down and call for new elections - or else. Needless to say, he didn't budge. It should be pointed out, though, that last year when Abhisit was the leader of the opposition party, and the yellow shirts were making the same demands of his adversary, he was quoted multiple times as saying that "a dissolution of Parliament was the only solution". Now, he's arguing that stepping down would serve no purpose, and he will remain as PM - echoing the words of the previous PM who was in the same situation. So, here we go again.
Fortunately, the red shirts have kept clear of the airport (so far), and have satisfied themselves with blocking the Victory Monument roundabout - the equivalent of London's Piccadilly Circus. Taxi drivers, coordinated by the taxi radio network, parked their cars 3 and 4 deep at the roundabout entrances. No one could get in, and a few unfortunate people could not get out.
I hope the irony of blocking a roundabout is not lost on anyone.
Here are some pictures I took for The Nation, Thai Photo Blogs, and The New Mandela
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