Scared to Wear Yellow
By Richard Barrow 
Monday 1st December, 2008 | 546 words | Category: General | 22 feedbacks »
An anti-government demonstrator kicks a suspected pro-government supporter after detaining him in Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport on December 1, 2008. REUTERS/Stringer (THAILAND)
I had to pop out just now in the car to go and run an errand in town. I forgot I was wearing a yellow shirt as today is Monday. I hadn't change after coming back from school. My neighbour was really scared for me and told me that I should go back and change first. Things are getting scary on the streets. Hardly anyone wears yellow these days. And if they do, then only on Mondays. Hardly any teacher at my school wears yellow in case they are associated with the PAD. Some parents told me that they told their children not to wear red or yellow when they go out any more. What my neighbour said to me is true. In particular if I go out late at night. If I keep my head dead and mind my own business then, as a foreigner, I am sure I wouldn't be bothered. However, if I accidentally hit someone with my car, who happened to be a red shirt, then I could find myself in a sticky situation. If they had a gun or other kind of weapon, then I could have been beaten up if not killed. This is how bad it is getting on the streets these days.
We are now getting daily reports of people being beaten up on the streets for either wearing the wrong colours or saying the wrong thing. In Thailand at the moment, if you don't support the PAD (the yellow shirts) then it means that you are supporters of Thaksin (the red shirts). There is no middle path even though this is supposedly a Buddhist nation. Even at our www.ThailandQA.com forums, normally docile members are starting to get angry with people who voice their disdain of the PAD. In Chiang Mai, a group of red shirts attacked a man for watching anti-government broadcasts on television. In my home province of Samut Prakan, a 70 year old man got into an argument with a group of people who were complaining about the airport siege. The old man was a yellow shirt and had just come back from the airport. He went home and came back with a gun. He shot dead one man and shot the other two in the back as they ran away.
Probably a good enough reason for me not to go out tonight wearing a yellow shirt. I have always presented the case that Thailand is a safe place to live and to bring your family on a holiday. But, I am genuinely concerned about my safety and a little scared. Many people believe that we could very well be on the brink of a bloody civil war. The red shirts have made it very clear that they will fight any coup attempt. With two sides not willing to compromise and both saying that they are right, the future of Thailand doesn't look bright. But, I love Thailand enough to know that I wouldn't abandon her and that I will stay here through thick and thin.
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22 comments
we have our annual 4 colours sports day in January, t-shirts were ordered last week, and there is some confusion now - some teachers don't want to be in the yellow or red team! but too late now to change to two more acceptable colours and cancel the t-shirt order. (again, I am glad to be captain of the blue team, as always.)
this is insane. I've been wondering if yellow shirts will be in the streets for father's day on Friday? I hope so. that would mean things are improving.
in the meantime, hopefully our kindie kids won't get into trouble with their red uniforms :-)
Your point about a "middle path" is interesting. Personally, I don't think Thailand has ever been a Buddhist nation, it's just a veil to hide their real feelings. If you want to see a real Buddhist nation - go to Japan. So much of Thai society and culture is about pretense - the feigned respect of position, the open attitude towards different values, the adherence to age-old Thai traditions.
I think what we're seeing emerge right now is the real Thailand.
In a country with a population of over 60 Million there have been less than 200 people killed or seriously injured since PAD started its idiotic crusade, an extremely small number compared to the numbers killed in extremist fighting in the Sth East provinces in recent years.
If people are afraid to wear yellow then it shows what most sensible correspondents are saying, that PAD are loosing steam and the support of the majority. I would also believe the violence being instigated is also out of desperation, PAD knows it has lost favor with both Thai's and the international community, loosing face is something Thais do not take very well.
It is really sad that even colours can be politicised by the PAD. Though "highly educated" like they claim to be, they are acting like hooligans. In a bid to strengthen their legitimacy, they are wearing yellow while claiming that they are "fighting for Nai Luang" This is absurd and absolutely unacceptable.
So, yes we are nominally Buddhist as a whole, and I'm sure that could be said the same as in Europe and America as being Christian.
I don't hide the fact that I support the government not because they are capable but because the democrats are worse and that the PAD are just moronic( excuse me for my choice of words) bunch of hooligans who has totally tarnished what ever good name thailand is left with.
Oh yeah, by the way, we'll get to leave on Monday out of U-tapao...or Suvarnabhumi if that opens. At least we have a date to leave. Hooray!
It's just common sense.
Never expect politics ANYWHERE to be anything more than drama and tactics...
These times will subside, but not as quickly as the economic downturn...
When prosperity returns, so will easier feelings.
You can rock the boat all you wish, but you'd better be a good swimmer.
Take care to protect your own,etc...
Some things never change do they?
As long as I can still travel in 2 weeks then I will be back in Bangkok but both my red and yellow shirts will stay here in UK.
Natalie, not everyone lives in Bangkok. In the provinces, we have more red shirt supporters. The same goes for my neighbourhood. Everyone around here was saying the same last week: Do not go out at night wearing a yellow shirt or you will be asking for trouble. Like I said in my blog, I don't believe, as a foreigner, I would face any direct danger, however, it is not worth the risk. I have been here long enough to have seen people being killed for minor infractions.
It is amazing, now that the seige of the airport is over, people have become more relaxed. Yesterday I had to walk to school wearing a yellow shirt as we had a ceremony for the birthday of H.M. The King. There were a number of other people also wearing yellow. Though not as many as last year. It will take time, but I think the colour yellow will again be associated with His Majesty. Though I fear we have not seen the end of the "yellow shirts" and the "red shirts".
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