The Big Bang that wasn't

In one corner were the Reds - pro-government supporters, who came down from upcountry to provide moral support to Samak Sundaravej, the leader of the People Power Party who was removed from his post as prime minister on Tuesday by the Constitution Court for violating a conflict-of-interest law. Samak was also accused of fabricating some of the information he presented in court.

In the other corner were the Yellows - a loose alliance of anti-government groups comprising mainly members from the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and the opposition Democrat Party as well as ordinary folks who see Samak as an embarrassment for the country and would like to see him step down.

Both sides were ready for blood and prepared themselves to bang some heads, or so it seemed.

It all centred on a vote in Parliament yesterday on whether to reinstate Samak as premier. If Samak could manage to get a new lease on life, he would not put up with any excuses from the country's top brass. The PAD, the Democrats and the foot-dragging military wouldn't know what hit him. Payback for the humiliating retreat from Government House would be sweet.

The anti-government forces were also anticipating a war. PAD militias were digging in deep, ready to give it to the Reds. Their hands were still itching from the Tuesday night stick-fight and they wanted seconds.

On the political front, we were led to believe that the government coalition was thicker than blood. Just two days ago, government coalition partners were sounding like the minister at a Christian wedding - for better or for worse and till death do us part.

But come yesterday morning, it was every man for himself. With the exception of the opposition Democrats, who showed up in full force, hardly anyone was around when the roll call was taken in the Parliament.

Naturally, the Democrats milked the situation for all it was worth, asking House Speaker Chai Chidchob repeatedly to take a head count and even to officially acknowledge their nomination of Abhisit Vejjajiva as the next prime minister of Thailand. It didn't really count because the meeting lacked a quorum, but it was fun while it lasted.

For whatever reason, the Big Bang everybody was waiting for didn't happen. Perhaps the government coalition got cold feet? After all, there were lots of stories this past week about how scientists in Europe are replicating the conditions that prevailed at the Big Bang that created the universe some 13.7 billion years ago.

It appeared that the coalition partners were more concerned with being pulled into the deep chasm known as the Black Hole. Samak has often talked about "dark forces" and "invisible hands". It is believed that the cataclysmic suction powers of this Black Hole are so strong that not even a Khmer witch doctor from Buri Ram could rescue them should they get sucked in. Perhaps common sense prevailed, even for just a brief moment in Thai political history.