Thousands of anti-government protesters gather as they march to Department of Special Investigation (DSI) in Bangkok on November 30, 2013. NDTV
Thailand On The Brink -- Mark Fenn, The Diplomat
As the capital Bangkok braces for a shutdown, the turmoil looks set to continue.
Thailand is no stranger to political turmoil but the current unrest looks set to be a protracted and especially bitter affair, raising the very real possibility of civil war.
The stage seems set for a showdown between anti-government forces, backed by powerful vested interests, and a flawed but democratically elected government that enjoys mass support, especially in its rural heartlands.
The conflict is being waged between rival factions of the elite, but also on class, ethnic and regional fronts. Predicting the future in Thai politics is futile, but more mass protests and bloodshed on the streets seem inevitable.
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My Comment: Thailand is already battling a Muslim insurgency in the south .... but this political crisis has the potential to deeply fracture the country that will all but guarantee the military becoming involved to stabilize the situation.
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