The Thai capital has entered a frozen mode since anti-government forces launched the "shutdown Bangkok" campaign Monday to try to further destabilize the elected government of Yingluck Shinawatra.
Having been on the streets of Bangkok now for more than two months, the protesters have vowed to deracinate from politics the deep-seated influence of Thaksin Shinawatra, the former prime minister and brother of Yingluck. They accuse Thaksin and the Yingluck regime of nurturing a culture of political corruption.
Leading the protesters is Suthep Thaugsuban, former Democrat Party MP and former deputy prime minister in the previous Abhisit Vejjajiva administration. Suthep clearly has a long list of insatiable demands — from rejecting the planned election of Feb. 2 to having Yingluck arrested should she refuse to leave the country for good. The protests have lasted so long apparently because they have gained solid support from various institutions including the monarchy.