4 1/2 years ago in Bangkok - 2008

                                           Barricades outside Thailand Government House

      How time flies !  4 1/2 years ago, we had a thriving business in Thailand distributing test equipment from Germany. Now, we are distributing test equipment from Korea into Thailand, and although the going has been a little slow, I see tremendous upside to the future.

       During one of my trips in 2008, my then Sales Manager Tawatchai, brought me to witness firsthand People Politics in action. The "Yellow Shirts" or the popular movement helmed by several maverick businesspeople and tycoons decided to camp their supporters in the very Government House where the Puea Thai Party was holding office - or had the majority of the MPs in the Government. The then Prime Minister was a Mr. Somchai, who happened to be the brother-in-law of the ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra who was deposed in a coup de'tat.   

     The fractious nature of Thai politics while very interesting to watch from afar, has been ongoing for the last 6 to 7 years ever since Thaksin's Government was deposed. The current Government is run by his sister Yingluck who helms both the Puea Thai party and is the current Prime Minister democratically elected.

      I managed to sneak in to the protestors camp to take a look inside and it was a carnival. Lots of protestors had plenty of food, drink, and were entertained daily by numerous speeches fiery as well as entertaining and the camp-in occured for 4 months before, the situation took a turn for the worse in November 2008. The Yellow Shirts seized the 2 airports and there was fighting on the streets as the coup took effect. The Government was forced to resign,the whole country was in a state of shock as practically millions of visitors were denied exit and entry to Thailand for 7 days.

       It was a dramatic time for Thailand.