THE GOVERNMENT made another announcement at 4pm yesterday and like the previous ones, it simply went by. An hour later, the anti-government protesters were still at Rajprasong intersection, as they have been since Saturday.
With the protesters' spirit as strong as ever, it's no wonder that the Federation of Thai Tourism Associations demanded on Wednesday that if the government couldn't end the protests, it should dissolve Parliament and call an election.
Of course, many Thais disagree and are staying firm in their backing for the Democrat-led government. Meanwhile many others are pondering the political division with fear in their hearts.
No matter which side they are on, they share the same thought: what will it take to end this political stalemate, and what will be the consequences? Nerves are being shredded by the drama and people are desperate for a conclusion.
Images of deserted malls around the protest sites appear on TV every day. A seafood restaurant popular with foreign visitors reports it is no longer stocking up with fresh food, as tourists refuse to venture into the area. Local vendors are complaining that shoppers have disappeared at a time just before Songkran when business should be brisk.
Yesterday, The Nation received a visit from someone whose office is in the Amarin Building - just next to the demonstration site.
She reported that since Saturday all staff have been checking their cellphones each morning for message alerts on whether it's safe to go into work.
At work, they can hear the noise of the protests below. Hearts almost skipped a beat on Wednesday afternoon, when the roaring cheers of protesters were fed through speakers after Prime Minister Abhisit announced the emergency decree.
After work some staff have decided to join the red shirts, either to offer support or simply to experience the protest at close call.
Expats have also been getting a taste of the action, in an echo of events three years ago when malls were closed by yellow-shirt protests and the government failed to disperse demonstrations downtown or even keep Suvarnabhumi Airport open.
One positive from these two political episodes is the attitude adopted towards both sides by the army. They vowed not to use force, reminding everyone of their first duty: to protect the country and its people. That's good to hear, especially as we know that not every red shirt pays the taxes that fund the troops.
