What happens next?

It can come as no surprise that the red shirts plan to rally at Sanam Luang, what is crucial here though is that it puts the army and police in a very delicate situation.

If the rally turns even remotely violent then the police or military have two choices: first, they respond with force. This will play into the hands of the reds' leaders, who can then expose the double standards of the authorities. This will further expose and pressurise the people behind them, all the while raising the indignation of not just the reds but also neutral observers.

Option two is to do nothing again. This will simply cripple the new government just like the old one, and also make people wonder just what the heck the military and police need such a huge budget for, if they do absolutely nothing.

We would all hope the reds make a peaceful, democratic protest, but given their anger this may be asking a lot.


Is there anyway out of this predicament?

Score one for the PAD

Source: gettyimages.com

Samak's comment that he would "disperse protesters with force ('if you want to try to resist, go ahead')" was a botch. Chamlong and co know well that the PM is famed for his temper and ill chosen words.

Chamlong responded to the threat by instructing PAD protesters (did I mention they are back on the streets?) to take cameras with them to the protest to capture any use of force for the world to see.

CNN reported it, and the PAD scored some propaganda points.

Samak left it to the equally charming Natthawut Saikua to spin it as "a tactical move, not a real threat"