Protests in Thailand

'Whether the rally succeeds in ousting Abhisitâ??s government or not, it marks a major milestone in the development of Thai politics. For decades, it was assumed that Thailandâ??s rural poor had no voice â?? that people from the rural areas would just accept whatever political decisions were made in Bangkok, even though the Bangkok elites comprised a small minority of the countryâ??s population. By and large, that assumption held: The elites, working through the monarchy, bureaucracy, courts, and Democrat Party, did manipulate Thailandâ??s political system to ensure they stayed on top, and the rural poor simply went along with any changes. Even when the rural poor elected a leader sympathetic to their interests, elites in Bangkok could bring down the government, through a coup, maneuvers in Parliament, or street protests.

Now, the reverse has happened. The elites have their leader, and the rural poor have come to topple him.

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