Time to wash away the pain

Posted by admin on April 12th, 2010 filed in Bangkok, Culture & customs, Expat life, Understanding Thais, Visiting

This year’s Songkran celebration could not have come at a better time. There’s no doubt that the entire country needs a break from the strife which has gripped the nation over the last few weeks. Bloodshed in Bangkok is no way to start the most important festival in the Thai calendar. But, with all due respect to the dead and mourning, to allow the recent unrest to mar the week’s celebration would undoubtedly cause yet more suffering.

This time last year was dubbed ‘the battle of Songkran’ after red shirt activists used the celebration to settle old scores and stir up trouble. Two people lost their lives in the mayhem and plenty more were injured. The good nature of the Thai people has never been drawn into question. But the motives of the UDD leadership certainly can be, as the only true beneficiary of the continued demonstrations is a living in exile with corruption charges hanging.

Twenty-one people have just lost their lives in order to get Thaksin back into power. What would realistically change for his supporters if he did? Very little. But Thaksin has 76 billion reasons for wanting the government to call an election, and that is indicative of why efforts to see him re-throned have not yet waned. Perhaps things can return to normal for just a short while and Songkran can heal old wounds, if only temporarily. There has been enough blood spilt this April already.