Thailand is once again at the boiling point. Thousands of Thais protesting against their government are fueling fears of yet another military coup. Hopefully, the Thai military is smart enough to avoid making that mistake again. But the tensions are a reminder of the need for reconciliation in Thai politics. Elections have not resolved the issues that have roiled that country.
Demonstrators from the People's Alliance for Democracy are angry with what they see as the influence of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on the new government in Bangkok. Mr. Thaksin was removed from power by a coup in September 2006 and faces charges of corruption. He was banned from politics, but the head of the People Power Party (PPP), which won the December 2007 election, campaigned as a proxy for the former prime minister. The protesters insist that Mr. Thaksin is exercising power behind the scenes.
Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej — head of the PPP — warned last week that he would use the security forces to disperse the protesters. Although he has since retreated from that hardline stand, fear remains that the army will step in to resolve the situation. That's unlikely — and would be a huge mistake.