The political situation is calm at this time. Protesters are still camped outside of Government House in Bangkok sleeping in the street, demanding the resignation of the Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej. He is remaining defiant and will not relent to the protesters’ demands.

The embarrassment this is causing Thailand throughout the world is hurting the people of Thailand. Tourist must be thinking twice at this time about booking holidays to the capital. All people have a right to express their views in a democratic society, I am all for this. But there is a right way and a wrong way, this is the wrong way.

The PAD protesters can voice their grievances, but do it through the right channels. What they are doing now is piracy, how any Thai person could trust a government that acts like this wouldn’t be possible, would it? If they succeed in their quest, is it really what the 60 million Thai people want or just the supporters of the PAD.

The political history of Thailand’s governments read like a comedy. How can a country’s politicians keep getting things so wrong? There have been 17 constitutions since 1932. Most governments can learn from previous governments’ mistakes. Sadly this doesn’t seem to be the case here.

Today the Army chief Gen Anupong Paojinda has advised Prime Minister to think seriously about dissolving the House. Clearing the decks would allow the people to “make a new decision” at a fresh general election. In the meantime, Mr Samak would head a caretaker government and remain in power long enough to supervise a major military reshuffle in August. Part of the reason Gen Anupong doesn’t want Mr Samak to resign is because he fears that his replacement will not be as compromising with the military.

A House dissolution, however, is technically impossible at present because the no-confidence motion filed by the opposition Democrats has been put on parliament’s agenda. Under the 2007 charter, the prime minister is not allowed to dissolve the House during a no-confidence session.

The opposition may “remove the lock” by withdrawing the censure motion if the government sought its cooperation.

A source said Gen Anupong ordered all army units to remain on standby and stay neutral as senators echoed calls for the military to stay in their barracks.

Mr Samak was reportedly angry at the police’s failure to hold back the protesters.
During the march, police equipped with shields and protesters pushed and shoved each other briefly. Four police officers, two of them women, sustained some injuries and were treated at the Police Hospital.

Police have deployed armed officers to protect the Government House to prevent any intrusion. A Deputy Police spokesman said his superiors are worried about intrusion there because it is national government venue and serves as the image of the country.

So far there hasn’t been any violence and I hope there isn’t. I feel sorry for traders in the area of Government House as traffic has been brought to a standstill. People living in the area must be so frustrated but the PAD doesn’t care about them, they are too focused on toppling the government to think of their fellow country men.