Thailand's red shirt revolution

Now the red shirts have managed to disrupt the ASEAN summit in Pattaya, to considerable embarrassment of the government.

Not surprising, given that nothing was done to stop the PAD from seizing buildings and airports last year. The message sent to them was that blatant violence can be used to achieve their means.

This protest was inevitable anyway: there was plenty of discontent in the masses bottling up against the royalists and the elite. With little way to vent their anger, it was inevitable that it would come to this.

Now it's a question as to whether the army decides to get involved, and on who's side. If things come to a head, the power struggle between Thailand's elite and masses could well turn violent.

Either way, this problem isn't going to be solved anytime soon. And the region ends up as the losers.