You taking one tired cliche — the righteous popular revolt — and replaces it with another: a slow but steady movement towards Western democracy.

While the PAD protesters may be responding to failures of democracy, what evidence is there that their success represents “maturing democracy?” These are the same people that want to end the election of most of the parliament and replace it with appointees.

This is a power struggle, pure and simple. The PAD happens to be using a non-violent (for now) approach, but their only cause for protest is that they lost an election. The PAD says the vote is rigged, but I am reflexively deeply skeptical of this for a very simple reason: there are more poor people in Thailand than PAD people, and the poor frequently and enthusiastically support the current ruling party, just as they did former Prime Minister Thaksin. The line between vote-buying and Thaksin’s populism is a fine one, but I haven’t seen anything that suggests the ruling party doesn’t have widespread support. And when a minority faction uses illegal means (non-violent or otherwise) to seize political power, it ain’t democracy.

Best of luck with your wedding.

You may be interested in this post: http://commons.globalintegrity.org/2008/12/thailand-teething-pains-of-slowly.html

“Their broader demands are for Thailand’s directly-elected parliament to be replaced by a legislative body that is 70% appointed. Sondhi Limthongkul, a Thai tycoon (Thaicoon?), who is the group’s de facto leader says bluntly that – “Representative democracy is not suitable for Thailand.””

Somehow, the only think we understand here, is that some red and yellow supporters are compromising your wedding

I hope this we quickly come to a conclusion, for the sake of Thailand and your wedding