AMAZING SCENES in Bangkok came last night as 40,000-plus supporters listened to an address by former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra from overseas.
But his stirring speech is not likely to trigger any reaction on Phuket.
Phuketwan has been puzzled that so many Thais from other parts of the country migrate to Phuket for work, yet there is no pro-government ''red'' presence.
Many of these people probably support Thaksin Shinawatra's government successors in their home provinces.
But on Phuket, what happens?
After all, the actual number of Thais living and working on the island is said to be double the official registered voter figure of 312,000.
We asked a leader of the local anti-government Peoples Alliance for Democracy and one known senior supporter of the PPP national government.
Both agreed that the ''red'' side of politics is extremely unlikely to be seen in a demonstration on the streets of Phuket.
The ''yellow'' anti-government groups have virtually universal support.
For those who missed it, Mr Thaksin's opening words were ''Good evening fellow citizens who love democracy. Can you remember my voice? I miss you.''
The peaceful Bangkok stadium gathering was much larger than any PAD protest in the capital to date.
However, on Phuket the PAD rules, as evidenced by the three-day blockade of the airport back in August.
The PAD has since acknowledged that the airport protest was a mistake and is unlikely to be repeated.
Activities since - protests marches, the peaceful occupation of the grounds of Provincial Hall, the handing out of CDs showing violence against protestors - have been conducted away from the parts of the island frequented by tourists.
Visitors and expat residents are advised, however, not to wear red shirts. Onlookers are likely to make jokes that you are a ''Government-paid infiltrator.''
Mind you, there's one kind of tee-shirt that has even more overwhelming support than the ''yellows'': Billabong.
It's just as well they are non-political.
There are, however, two Billabong factions, the originals, and the pirates. Both claim large numbers of supporters.
In Bangkok the continuing political standoff is likely to remain calm through to Loy Kratong on November 12, and beyond.
Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat is on an international tour this week, beginning with Laos. He will go on to Vietnam, India and then Peru for the summit of the Apec forum.
Essential Analysis:
Phuket PAD Protest Marches on Police HQ
with PHOTO ALBUM
Phuket protestors march on the island's police headquarters over violence in Bangkok. At intersections, officers show them the way; The Bangkok Post condemns the ''Andaman property blight.''
Phuket PAD protest Marches On Police HQ
Phuket Police Reinforce Airport As Precaution
Phuket International Airport is now being protected by 200 police as a precaution, the island's police chief says. Tonight, uncertainty marks the continuing political confrontation in Bangkok with reports of troops on the streets.
Phuket Police Reinforce Airport As A Precaution
Phuket PAD Reinforcements Bound for Bangkok
A day of tension follows police use of tear gas to break up an anti government protest outside Parliament House in Bangkok. On Phuket, a stream of PAD protestors take to the buses, bound for the capital
Phuket PAD Reinforcements Bound for Bangkok
Key Events: Protests and Phuket
December 23: Samak Sundaravej leads the People Power party (PPP) to election victory.
February 6: Samak unveils a cabinet made up of members of a six-party coalition which holds nearly two-thirds of parliamentary seats.
February 28: Former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, in self-imposed exile for 17 months, gets hero's welcome from supporters as he returns to Thailand and goes straight to court, where he is released on bail on corruption charges.
May 25: The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), a collection of anti-government groups, launches street protests calling for Samak to resign for seeking constitutional amendments they believe are aimed at helping Thaksin.
July 8-10: Court decisions force out of office three senior government officials and Yongyut Tiyapairat, the house speaker and PPP deputy leader.
July 15: A military standoff breaks out near a disputed temple on the Thai-Cambodia border, with the PAD accusing Samak of relinquishing Thai territory to help Thaksin with a business deal in the neighbouring country.
July 31: Thaksin's wife, Pojaman, is convicted of tax evasion and released on bail.
August 11: Thaksin and his wife go into exile in Britain, claiming they will not get a fair trial on the corruption charges mounting against them.
August 26: At least 35,000 PAD-led protesters raid a TV station, surround three ministries and break into Bangkok's main government compound in what they say is their ''final war'' against the government.
August 29: Scuffles break out between police and PAD supporters still laying siege to Government House. Protests spread. Hundreds of PAD protestors assemble around Phuket International Airport. Some reach the tarmac. Flights stopped at 3.50pm
August 30: Stranded passengers arrive at airport in hope of flights resumption. Airport General Manager Wing Commander Wicha Nurnlop says that in some ways, the airport blockade is ''worse than the 2004 tsunami.''
September 1: The protest at the airport is over. About 3.50pm a Thai Airways Boeing 777 from Bangkok touches down, first of the airlift in, and an exodus out.
September 2: Overnight clashes leave one dead and dozens injured in Bangkok so Samak declares a state of emergency in the capital, allowing the army to move in to help restore order. Thai Election Commission finds the PPP guilty of buying votes and recommends the party be disbanded.
September 3: Foreign Minister Tej Bunnag resigns. Army chief Anupong Paochinda tells Samak that despite state of emergency he will not use force to disperse anti-government protesters from Government House. Phuket resort occupancy rates slump to 30 percent and recovery could take two years.
September 4: Samak says in a radio and television speech that he will not resign. Cabinet later suggests a national referendum as a solution to the impasse.
September 9: Constitutional Court disqualifies Samak from holding the office of Prime Minister over paid appearances on a TV cooking show.
September 12: MPs vote for to elect a PM and Samak is the leading candidate but there are insufficient numbers for a quorum. Samak realises his position is untenable and steps aside.
September 14: State of emergency for Bangkok lifted but travel warnings by more than 20 countries remain in place.
September 17: Somchai Wongsawat, Thaksin's brother in law, elected as the new PM.
October 6: Thaksin and his wife apply for asylum in Britain.
October 7: Police use tear-gas, two die and about 500 protestors are injured during a demonstration march on Parliament House.
But his stirring speech is not likely to trigger any reaction on Phuket.
Phuketwan has been puzzled that so many Thais from other parts of the country migrate to Phuket for work, yet there is no pro-government ''red'' presence.
Many of these people probably support Thaksin Shinawatra's government successors in their home provinces.
But on Phuket, what happens?
After all, the actual number of Thais living and working on the island is said to be double the official registered voter figure of 312,000.
We asked a leader of the local anti-government Peoples Alliance for Democracy and one known senior supporter of the PPP national government.
Both agreed that the ''red'' side of politics is extremely unlikely to be seen in a demonstration on the streets of Phuket.
The ''yellow'' anti-government groups have virtually universal support.
For those who missed it, Mr Thaksin's opening words were ''Good evening fellow citizens who love democracy. Can you remember my voice? I miss you.''
The peaceful Bangkok stadium gathering was much larger than any PAD protest in the capital to date.
However, on Phuket the PAD rules, as evidenced by the three-day blockade of the airport back in August.
The PAD has since acknowledged that the airport protest was a mistake and is unlikely to be repeated.
Activities since - protests marches, the peaceful occupation of the grounds of Provincial Hall, the handing out of CDs showing violence against protestors - have been conducted away from the parts of the island frequented by tourists.
Visitors and expat residents are advised, however, not to wear red shirts. Onlookers are likely to make jokes that you are a ''Government-paid infiltrator.''
Mind you, there's one kind of tee-shirt that has even more overwhelming support than the ''yellows'': Billabong.
It's just as well they are non-political.
There are, however, two Billabong factions, the originals, and the pirates. Both claim large numbers of supporters.
In Bangkok the continuing political standoff is likely to remain calm through to Loy Kratong on November 12, and beyond.
Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat is on an international tour this week, beginning with Laos. He will go on to Vietnam, India and then Peru for the summit of the Apec forum.
Essential Analysis:
Phuket PAD Protest Marches on Police HQ
with PHOTO ALBUM
Phuket protestors march on the island's police headquarters over violence in Bangkok. At intersections, officers show them the way; The Bangkok Post condemns the ''Andaman property blight.''
Phuket PAD protest Marches On Police HQ
Phuket Police Reinforce Airport As Precaution
Phuket International Airport is now being protected by 200 police as a precaution, the island's police chief says. Tonight, uncertainty marks the continuing political confrontation in Bangkok with reports of troops on the streets.
Phuket Police Reinforce Airport As A Precaution
Phuket PAD Reinforcements Bound for Bangkok
A day of tension follows police use of tear gas to break up an anti government protest outside Parliament House in Bangkok. On Phuket, a stream of PAD protestors take to the buses, bound for the capital
Phuket PAD Reinforcements Bound for Bangkok
Key Events: Protests and Phuket
December 23: Samak Sundaravej leads the People Power party (PPP) to election victory.
February 6: Samak unveils a cabinet made up of members of a six-party coalition which holds nearly two-thirds of parliamentary seats.
February 28: Former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, in self-imposed exile for 17 months, gets hero's welcome from supporters as he returns to Thailand and goes straight to court, where he is released on bail on corruption charges.
May 25: The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), a collection of anti-government groups, launches street protests calling for Samak to resign for seeking constitutional amendments they believe are aimed at helping Thaksin.
July 8-10: Court decisions force out of office three senior government officials and Yongyut Tiyapairat, the house speaker and PPP deputy leader.
July 15: A military standoff breaks out near a disputed temple on the Thai-Cambodia border, with the PAD accusing Samak of relinquishing Thai territory to help Thaksin with a business deal in the neighbouring country.
July 31: Thaksin's wife, Pojaman, is convicted of tax evasion and released on bail.
August 11: Thaksin and his wife go into exile in Britain, claiming they will not get a fair trial on the corruption charges mounting against them.
August 26: At least 35,000 PAD-led protesters raid a TV station, surround three ministries and break into Bangkok's main government compound in what they say is their ''final war'' against the government.
August 29: Scuffles break out between police and PAD supporters still laying siege to Government House. Protests spread. Hundreds of PAD protestors assemble around Phuket International Airport. Some reach the tarmac. Flights stopped at 3.50pm
August 30: Stranded passengers arrive at airport in hope of flights resumption. Airport General Manager Wing Commander Wicha Nurnlop says that in some ways, the airport blockade is ''worse than the 2004 tsunami.''
September 1: The protest at the airport is over. About 3.50pm a Thai Airways Boeing 777 from Bangkok touches down, first of the airlift in, and an exodus out.
September 2: Overnight clashes leave one dead and dozens injured in Bangkok so Samak declares a state of emergency in the capital, allowing the army to move in to help restore order. Thai Election Commission finds the PPP guilty of buying votes and recommends the party be disbanded.
September 3: Foreign Minister Tej Bunnag resigns. Army chief Anupong Paochinda tells Samak that despite state of emergency he will not use force to disperse anti-government protesters from Government House. Phuket resort occupancy rates slump to 30 percent and recovery could take two years.
September 4: Samak says in a radio and television speech that he will not resign. Cabinet later suggests a national referendum as a solution to the impasse.
September 9: Constitutional Court disqualifies Samak from holding the office of Prime Minister over paid appearances on a TV cooking show.
September 12: MPs vote for to elect a PM and Samak is the leading candidate but there are insufficient numbers for a quorum. Samak realises his position is untenable and steps aside.
September 14: State of emergency for Bangkok lifted but travel warnings by more than 20 countries remain in place.
September 17: Somchai Wongsawat, Thaksin's brother in law, elected as the new PM.
October 6: Thaksin and his wife apply for asylum in Britain.
October 7: Police use tear-gas, two die and about 500 protestors are injured during a demonstration march on Parliament House.
