Thailand: The Looming Crackdown

Thailand's military took steps April 20 to harden its policy on the opposition Red Shirt protesters. The move includes permission for soldiers to fire rubber bullets — and live ammunition, in some circumstances. It appears that both sides intend to escalate the conflict in the near term. However, even when the protests are eventually resolved, the enduring tensions between the military and civilian government, the rural and urban regions and their political patrons, and the loss of the Thai monarch as a pillar of stability will prevent long-term stability from taking root in the country.