The Magic Kingdom

*

There wasn't any way out, or through. The heat was stifling. He stood on the brdge and watched the endless parade of red shirts. As far as the eye could see the road was choked with vans, trucks and busses filled with the red shirts, cheering, waving singing, playing loud music. It all appeared cheerful as they waved and clacked their plastic clacker toys; smiling up at the watchng crowds, many taking pictures on their mobile phones; many waving in cheerful response, or support. As many point out, their call for elections is not unreasonable. There is heightened security in the streets this morning and his moto driver, whisking him from the hotel to the Bangkok Sky Train, takes off his 'official" jacket and hands it to his son. "Police', he explains, although it is not really much of an explnation.

There were days when the universe called out to drink flahing bars, cold beers in the bottom of fridges, shattered days and shattered psyches, good time girls beckoning, oblivion, communion, relief. But beyond the oblivion, beyond the border of the real, lay the most appalling despair, the most appallng states of mind, and he couldn't bear it, not now, not again. He put himself in harms way and instead found himself back at meetings, watching the flashing lights whistfully out of windows, caring nought for what was said, letting everything wash over him, letting the past be the judge of the future. The past is a troubled country, lets not go there, he said cheerfully, as the internet shop owner gave someone an explanation that it might happen today, it might happen tomorow, he was not sure.

None of us are sure, of course, and the winds and threads of every day life, of disturbed days and threatened psyches, of loud mouthed yanks and rich white men, saying the same things they have said for years, washed over him into an over archng scepticism, sad always, relieved always, here at the end of days and the end of life, at the end of specific courses of action which should never have been. It was all too true. He would be free; he would take these courses of action, he would make brief friends; but it would all wash away, as every one he had ever known had washed away. Such bitter friendships, in memory only now. The sing song voices surrounded him. The crowded trains of the Bangkok rush hour spoke of a future, of a million ants, of a cowed and obedient people, of a future he could never have imagined, not in his life time, not in this place.

And yet there it was; the spectacular city scapes, the crying, crawling signs, the heat coming off in waves as skyscraper after skyscraper stepped off into the distance, here, high above the streets, the dirt, the chaos. There was an amazing level of social order considering the crowds. Six young women to each men, that was what he counted time and time again as he checked the gender makeup of the packed train carriages. Good girls, far from the bar girls, they clung to their boyfriends, if there was one, and they looked neat, perfect, in their tidy, ironed uniforms. It was the heat of the hive, the makeup of the hive, here in the air conditioned carriages. There was no relief. No one smiled; none laughed. The few old women he saw looked seriously unhappy. Yet a pregnant woman was immeditely stood for; or a man made way for the giggling, bejewelled, laughing, obviously silly bar girls.

They don't value education; only five parents showed up; one of the English language teachers said. That was the message. And yet here, he looked for relief. He missed his children. The heat mounted. Lampini Park was crowded in the mornings; and each time he forsook all hope, swore this was it, the swan dive from the top into the end of life, the morphine stream, something happened and he emerged, still thinking, still alive. Asia was full of old men, old FBI agents, aging, charming English crims, people who had done the right thing all their life and people who had done the wrong thing all their life. They ended in the same places; they ended in the same bars; switching, swapping yarns, gathering apace the quickest ease, the easiest way out, the most colourful stories. Money allowed that.

THE BIGGER STORY:

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/avoid-thailand-gatherings-aussies-told-20100316-qacp.html

Avoid Thailand gatherings, Aussies told March 16, 2010 - 8:59AM

Australians presently in Thailand have been told to avoid large political gatherings as anti-government protests continue in the capital Bangkok.

Thailand's prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is resisting the demands of tens of thousands of activists who want him to dissolve parliament.

Abhisit has blanketed Bangkok in security as protest leaders vowed to collect blood from their supporters and splash it onto government headquarters in a symbolic sacrifice.

Australia wanted the political situation in Thailand to be resolved "peacefully and peaceably", Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said on Tuesday.

"We are advising Australians to exercise a high degree of caution and, in particular, stay away from large gatherings of people," he told Sky News.

Australia was "very pleased" the Thai government had not used the military to quell protests.

"We urge Thailand and its people to resolve these matters peacefully."

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2010-03/15/c_13211933.htm

BANGKOK, March 15 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Monday morning rejected the anti-government protestors' demand of House dissolution by noon while the latter decided to take further steps to push the government to give in, including a blood-scattering strategy.

In a nationwide broadcast following a special meeting of the leaders of the coalition parties, Abhisit on Monday morning confirmed there will be no House dissolution by noon as the red- shirts demanded one day before.

He said the government will not meet the ultimatum or dissolve the parliament by Monday noon. And the decision was made out of consensus of all the coalition parties, said the prime minister.

Abhisit's remarks were a response to an ultimatum read by one of the red-shirts leader midday Sunday, which demanded the government to dissolve the parliament within 24 hours or they will step up pressure during their rally in Bangkok.

The government is receptive to the views of the red-shirt protesters, Abhisit stressed in his address, although he was not able to respond to their ultimatum for a House dissolution by Monday noon.