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Widespread violence has broken out once again in the Thai capital of Bangkok. Anti-government protesters, loyal to Thaksin Shinawatra, the exiled former prime minister, clashed with armed soldiers and local residents on Monday.
Thai soldiers fired automatic rifles in the air and sprayed tear gas in a bid to end days of mass demonstrations. Two members of neighbourhood watch groups were shot dead. Four soldiers were wounded by gunshot. The rest of the injured suffered from teargas inhalation, bone fractures, and gunshot and shrapnel wounds. – Telegraph.co.uk
Since the government declared a state of emergency on Sunday, the most celebrated festival in Thailand, the Songkran (celebrated from 13 to 15 April), has been a quiet event as many of the official celebrations have been cancelled. The political turmoil has overshadowed the festivity.
As the Bangkok Post states, ‘The tough crackdown on the red shirt protests caused safety concerns city-wide. Most people chose to stay home rather than risk being caught in the turmoil.’
The Songkran Festival, or the Thai new year, is an important event for the devout Buddhists of Thailand as revellers typically throw water over one another in the severe summer heat. People roam the streets with buckets of water, or water guns, turning it into a water fight. The throwing of water originated as a way to pay respect to people, capturing the water after it had been poured over the Buddhas for cleansing and then using this "blessed" water to give good fortune.
Unfortunately, the annual celebrations have come to a halt this year. Thailand’s Foreign Office is still advising travellers heading to Thailand to “carefully consider their plans.” It adds that the political situation in Thailand remains “volatile and unpredictable”.
Let’s hope these violence will come to an end soon, and the Land of Smiles can regain its peace once again.
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It was a shame, all the violence going on around Songkran time this year, but I have to say in the south of Thailand we still had a good time. Lots of people watching the news think that the protests going on are effecting the whole country, but in the parts of Thailand south of Bangkok it’s business (and fun) as usual.
Lots of people watching the news think that the protests going on are effecting the whole country