I've been half heartedly following the politics in Thailand in the run up to today's elections. It wasn't even a forgone conclusion that elections would occur.
One party is much more popular and wins all elections. The other party represents the upper middle class, royalty, and the elites that have wielded power for decades if not centuries.
In the past political turmoil was settled by the army staging a coup or a politician with the backing of the army staging a coup. This time the king is extremely old, and the army doesn't seem to want to take power from a democratically elected and popular government.
Most of the shooting has been civilians shooting handguns, but today photos emerged of the first professional looking shooters, M16s, long rifles, and shotguns.
Today many in Bangkok are risking their lives to vote. An act that makes me think about something I take for granted. Many have already lost their vote due to blocked access to ballots, or blocked polling stations. The government has up to a couple months to hold votes in places they are currently unable to do so today.
So far the violence, even with the escalation to more gunfire, has been muted. A few dead, not scores, not hundreds. I'm hopeful that Thailand can make the transition to a more robust democracy, not a democracy that serves at the pleasure of the king, or at the pleasure of monied interests connected to the military, but by the will of the people.
I'd especially like to see the minority peoples in the north enfranchised. Though not Thai they come from the country of Thailand and they too should have citizenship.
http://www.nytimes.com/...
The pair below had a few photos of them including a close up of the muzzle of their rifle. Commenters said they were a shooter spotter team as in the army. I wouldn't know. Must be hard to aim without looking at the sights but much more accurate than the handguns people were using. Surprised more weren't killed.
notice the radio for communication, and vest for protection, not their first rodeo.
long gun
shotgun
All photos from Twitter. Despite it's rep as a laid back backpacker destination, sex tourism, and gorgeous katoys, Thailand also has a lot of guns and a lot of murder. Have never seen BKK like this though.