Blood on the streets

摘要

It has seemed likely, especially since it seized Government House in Bangkok two months ago, that the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy (pad) wants to provoke a violent confrontation that would prompt the army to stage another coup. This would achieve what the pad's protests had not: the removal from power of the elected administration led by supporters of Thaksin Shinawatra, the prime minister toppled in a 2006 coup.rnLast month the pad clashed with pro-Thaksin protesters. The government declared an emergency in the capital, asking the army to take charge of security. But the army chief, General Anupong Paochinda, did nothing. On October 7th worse violence erupted. Two people were killed and hundreds injured as police fought to stop the pad blockading the parliament building. This time General Anupong said his troops would help the police keep the peace. So, no coup-not yet, anyway.