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Thailand: Fragile Democracy In Crisis

Documentary photo story posted on 24 April 2009 by Masaru Goto

A member of the anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) walks past a bus torched by the UDD in Bangkok. Two days of rioting by the UDD left two people dead and some 100 injured.

Thailand is now a divided in two: The anti-government group called the National United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), or simply THE RED SHIRTS, and the others wearing YELLOW SHIRTS, the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD). PAD crashed with the Thai police in October 2008, left two people dead and some 400 injured.  Then, the ousted former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin called for a “People’s Revolution” in April 2009. Clashes between the two groups, the police and soldier left hundred injured and death again in the streets of Bangkok.

The crisis in Thailand is not over. And people are still living under the fragile democracy.

 


Thai soldiers prepare to move in and clear a roadblock set by the anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) in Bangkok.

 


A scene at central in Bangkok.

 


A member of the anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) prepares to throw a petrol bomb during a street fight against residents in Bangkok.

 


People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) Demonstrators beat up a police officer.

 


The People's Alliance for Democracy ‘s (PAD) protesters run away from tear gas.

 


The People's Alliance for Democracy’s (PAD) Demonstrators sheltering from tear gas.

 


A man tries to evacuate a female demonstrator who froze after tear gas exploded behind her. Clashes between police and the opposition group People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) who tried to block access to parliament.

 


The People's Alliance for Democracy’s (PAD) Demonstrators sheltering from tear gas.

 


Members of the anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) watch the bus they torched at a barricade in Bangkok.

 


A civilian walks next to a torched bike after extinguished a fire.

 


A member of the anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) sits at a roadblock with a reserve of petrol bombs and gas bottles in Bangkok.

 


A member of the anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), carrying a sword and slingshot, jumps on a motorbike to join a nearby street fight against residents in Bangkok.

 


A ten-year-old boy from the Northeast sleeps on the street at dawn at a roadblock set by the anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) in Bangkok. Two days of rioting by the UDD left two people dead and some 100 injured.

 


Red cross workers carry an injured demonstrator. Clashes between the opposition group People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) who tried to block access to parliament.

 


An elderly woman of the anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) cries as she learns their leaders have called to halt their protest at Government House in Bangkok.

 


A King and a Queen.

 

 


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