In Asia: Weekly Insight and Features from Asia

Since the emergence of Thailand’s Yellow and Red movements, many observers have maintained that Thai citizens are deeply divided into two polarized camps: one comprised of traditional ruling elites, the other, of under-privileged rural masses. On July 3, Thais head to the polls in the first national election since violent protests left 91 dead in [...]

> More

On September 8th, Thailand’s constitutional court rendered the decision that Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej must resign after being found guilty of violating a ban on ministers for taking money from a private company.  Article 267 of the constitution prohibits ministers from taking money from outside interests.  In this case it was for accepting money from [...]

> More

On February 28th, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra returned to Bangkok after being deposed by a military coup on September 19, 2006. He was greeted warmly and enthusiastically by thousands of his supporters. Upon his arrival, Mr. Thaksin was taken to the Supreme Court to face arrest warrant and was quickly bailed, and then taken [...]

> More

When Thailand’s military leaders carried out their coup on September 19, 2006, they justified their action by saying they had to suspend democracy in order to save it as they believed Thailand under Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s rule was irrevocably dividing the country. The military wanted to prevent Thaksin, who so ably manipulated the 1997 [...]

> More