THAILAND:
Amid Emergency, Calls for Compromise Rise
By Johanna Son

BANGKOK, Apr 8, 2010 (IPS) - "I wish the red-shirt protesters will get tired soon and go home," Nicha, a 28- year-old receptionist, said soon after the Thai government declared a state of emergency as tens of thousands of protesters went into their fourth week of rallies here.

"But what do you expect, given that this government came to power in an unusual way?" asked Lek, an employee who says he agrees that the government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva did not come to power through an election.

These two views are quite far apart, but both recognise that the protests by the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) are not going to disappear overnight.