1. Isaac Kuan Ng Soon Zhou Tham Shi Yuan Gong Chen

2. January 23, 2006 3 days after Thai Telecommunication Act was passed out Thaksin’s family sold all stake in Shin Corporation to Temasek Holdings with tax liability exemption Temasek Holdings is a investment company of the Singapore government

3. Shin Corporation: Founded by Thaksin in 1983 Leading communication company in Thailand Sold at US$1.88 billion under regulations that individuals sell shares on the stock exchange Paid no capital gains tax

4. Thailand Securities and Exchange Commission investigated the transaction but did not find irregularities

5. Thaksin’s War on Drug policy intensified punishment policy for drug addicts Human Rights Watch reported 2275 killed The government reported around 50 “The UN is not my father, I am not worried about any UN visit to Thailand on this issue” Seen as undemocratic

6. The military junta investigated and concluded that 1400 of 2500 killed had no link to drugs Knowing that the orders were given from the top, they failed to give sufficient evidence to charge Thaksin with the murders

7. PAD demanded King Bhumbibol Adulyadej to appoint a new Prime Minister and Cabinet to resolve the issue The King dismissed it saying that it was undemocratic and irrational

8. Thaksin’s TRT won 66% votes but failed to win 20% votes from eligible voters in their constituency Led to by-elections PAD who boycotted the first election run in the by- elections but vowed to boycott it Petitioned to cancel by-election

9. TRT unofficially tallied results and announced that they won more then half of the votes And also won in every district with much more than 20% votes PAD petitioned results to be suspended and ignored results “PAD would go on rallying until Thaksin resigns and Thailand gets a royally-appointed Prime Minister”

10. Thaksin Shinawatra Elected Prime Minister from 2001-2006 Introduced populist policies but also accused of corruption and plotting to overthrow the monarchy Deposed in a military coup in 2006 after months of streets protests by the PAD Sentenced to conflict of interest and banned from politics Currently in exile

11. People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) Also known as yellow shirts Protest against Thaksin, seeing him as corrupt Generally made up of upper, middle-class and elite Supported by high-ranking army members Support a constitutional monarchy

12. People’s Power Party (PPP) Pro-Thaksin party Won elections in 2007 but faced portests by PAD Dissolved by court order in 2008 after being convicted of electoral fraud Democrat Party Formed the government in 2008 after the PPP was dissolved Faced street protests by the UDD in 2009 and 2010

13. National United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) Also known as red shirts Organised counter-demonstrations against the PAD Launched street protest against the Democrat Party government in 2009 and 2010 Both rural and urban supporters Claims the Democrat Party came to power undemocratically using a parliamentary deal rather than through a popular election Inludes many supporters of Thaksin

14. Before: Thaksin is accused of furthering the business interests of friends and family members and restricting press freedom 2005: PAD begins protests Jan 2006: The Shinawarta family sells their entire stake of Shin Corp to Temasek Holdings PAD accuses Thaksin of selling out his country and briefly storm Government House Feb 2006: PAD rally draws 5000-15000 supporters

15. March 2006: Both pro- and anti- Thaksin rallies Anti-Thaksin rallies take place in Bangkok’s shopping districts disrupting business and causing traffic jams April 2006: Snap elections are won by Thaksin’s party although boycotted by several opposition parties May 2006: Constitutional court invalidates April election September 2006: Thaksin deposed in military coup

16. 2007: Pro- Thaksin PPP wins general election 2008: PAD resume protests August 2008: PAD beseiges Government house Sept 2008: PAD clashes with pro- Thaksin demonstrators Oct 2008: PAD blockades Parliament and suppression by police leads to many injuries Nov 2008: PAD seizes Bangkok’s main airport Dec 2008: Constitutional court dissolves PPP and PAD stop protests Democrat Party forms new government

17. April 2009: UDD storms the site of the ASEAN submit, forcing its cancellation UDD takes control of several locations in central Bangkok UDD breaks into the Ministry of Interior and attacks the Prime Minister’s car Over 120 are injured when the army clears the protestors

18. 2010: UDD protest calling for the government to hold elections UDD set up camp in Bangkok Army fails to disperse protest and retreats leaving large amounts of equipment Hundreds have been wounded in the demonstrations UDD accepts plan for elections in November but refuse to disperse

19. Tourism Do not want to be caught in crossfire Turmoil everywhere No service Trade Lower Produce (e.g. Rice) No workers Inflation Demand high, supply low Poor and Weak Economy

20. Statistics: Seizure 0f the Bangkok airport by the PAD cost the Thai economy $US 100 million Also stranded at least 100 000 passengers Thai Baht value decreased 2010 protests may reduce economic growth by 2 percentage points Hotel occupancy rates during 2009 protests declined from the usual 65% to 30%

21. Deaths Riots Fear Low security Violence may erupt anywhere Divided People Rural vs. Elite

22. National embarrassment ASEAN submit had to be cancelled Policy Implementation Ineffective Inefficient Failure of democracy Both sides resorted to disruptive protests and violence Army intervention

23. Former Thai PM sees political crisis from Dubai - 14 Apr 09 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gl03mf5WH6Q Thaksin says he loves Thailand but paying protesters to burn down public places http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2aaEiR2M68&NR =1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2aaEiR2M68&NR =1

24. http://www.csmonitor.com/World/terrorism-security/2010/0411/Thailand- protests-Red-shirt-protesters-rule-out-talks-with-government http://www.csmonitor.com/World/terrorism-security/2010/0411/Thailand- protests-Red-shirt-protesters-rule-out-talks-with-government http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/8640 249.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/8640 249.stm http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/05/04/2890329.htm?section=justin http://www.rfi.fr/actuen/articles/112/article_3444.asp http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thaksin_Shinawatra#Anti-drug_policies http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005-2006_Thai_political_crisis http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People’s_Alliance_for_Democracy http://www.thaiphotoblogs.com/media/blogs/new/090408b.jpg http://static.guim.co.uk/sys- images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2008/09/04/crowd2460276.jpg http://static.guim.co.uk/sys- images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2008/09/04/crowd2460276.jpg http://photojourn.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/pic56.jpg http://ndn1.newsweek.com/media/41/thailand-protest-airports-wide- horizontal.jpg http://ndn1.newsweek.com/media/41/thailand-protest-airports-wide- horizontal.jpg http://www.thaiphotoblogs.com/media/blogs/new/090408a.jpg