That’s a good question. Â I’ve been watching Thai news (without Eng subtitles) about the roiling protests in Bangkok. Â The Red Shirts have been active in Chiang Mai city, pestilence too, global burden of disease camped out in a section of the old city that they ringed with old tires and a platform. Â I don’t necessarily understand all that is going on, decease nor all the background history but events are continuing to unfold as the Songkran (Thai New Year) week comes to a close. Long time Chiang Mai residents said that the number of people out playing water in the streets has been drastically lower than years before, probably because of the political tension. Â I’ve been hearing stories of Red Shirts recruiting villagers near where I live in Mae Ai, with promises of 20 000THB to go and add to the throng protesting in Bangkok.
As for me, I’m doing fine. Â Regular life hasn’t been affected by the protests. Â Please pray for peace and cool tempers to prevail amongst the protesters, government and military leaders.
If you want to read up more on the situation in Thailand:
The Nation – Thailand’s national, English-language newspaper
The New York Times – Thailand section
Wikipedia.org – Political unrest 2010
Global Post– real-time reporting