海角大神

In most cities, gridlocked streets in the morning are a cause of complaint among commuters. Not so in Bangkok this week, where the return of traffic was a welcome sign that Thailand鈥檚 capital could be getting back to normal after protestors barricaded major roads for weeks.聽

鈥淚鈥檓 pleased things are finally back to normal,鈥� taxi driver聽Chitirot Sarakham聽said聽Wednesday聽as he waited patiently in a static lineup of cars in Bangkok鈥檚 central business district. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been bad for business. People don鈥檛 take taxis when the roads are closed."

After nearly two months of antigovernment demonstrations aimed at "shutting down Bangkok," protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban announced last week that all but one of the protest sites would be dismantled. He said the move was tactical and designed to allow demonstrators to concentrate on disrupting government ministries. Insiders say it was also motivated by spiraling costs and safety fears after a spate of grenade attacks and shootings in which four children were killed and scores injured.

For residents like Mr. Chitirot, who relies on the city functioning at full capacity to make a decent living, the end of the blockades comes as a huge relief.

But if the streets are returning to normal in the capital of Southeast Asia鈥檚 second largest economy, the chances of a resolution to Thailand鈥檚 political crisis have not significantly increased. Rather than retreating, the core of Mr. Suthep鈥檚 followers have merely regrouped inside Bangkok鈥檚 largest park, where they insist they still have the numbers to topple the government. Observers say the possibility of Prime Minister Yingluck Shiniwatra being forced out of office by the courts 鈥� widely seen as sympathetic to the protest movement 鈥� is looking increasingly likely. Meanwhile, signs of a truce across Thailand鈥檚 bitterly divided political lines are yet to materialize.

Even the status of Prime Minister Yingluck鈥檚 caretaker government has been called into question. Thirty days after a snap general election was held, no result has been announced and parliament has not been able to convene, according to a group of Thai scholars.

Park turned protest headquarters聽

Lumphini Park, usually a haven for joggers, picnicking families, and tourists in downtown Bangkok聽now聽resembles聽more of a refugee camp or military training base.

Rows of tents crowd the once manicured lawns, the public pool聽is聽padlocked shut and trucks packed with demonstrators parade around the running track playing patriotic songs. The numbers of people camped out in the park have spiked dramatically since other sites were shut over the weekend. According to one of Suthep鈥檚 aids there are now up to 2,000 people camping in the park and many more who join in activities during the day.聽

鈥淚 arrived in Bangkok two days ago and came straight here with my suitcase,鈥� says businesswoman Manee Kaewthuam in Lumphini Park, who聽flew from London where she currently lives to join the antigovernment movement.聽

鈥淲e鈥檝e got to make sure there is a constant supply of people here, we won鈥檛 give up until Yingluck leaves,鈥� Ms.聽Manee says, adding that security concerns since the recent shootings and grenade attacks in Bangkok mean campers have been warned by protest leaders聽to be extra vigilant.聽

Protesters dressed in bulletproof jackets and army fatigues are stationed at every entrance and leaders of Suthep鈥檚聽People鈥檚 Democratic Reform Committee聽(PDRC) movement have started issuing ID cards for park dwellers.

鈥淚 can鈥檛 imagine how dangerous it can get at night if the security guards don鈥檛 have a screening system,鈥澛燼聽PDRC spokesman told a local newspaper聽on Monday. 鈥淓verybody should know who is sleeping next to them.鈥�

Tighter security for demonstrators inside the park has been matched by an increased military presence on Bangkok streets,聽with over 100 new checkpoints set up around the city. The move was announced by Thailand鈥檚 army as a measure to reassure the public聽that聽the city is safe, but there has also been speculation on social media that this is a sign Thailand鈥檚 all-powerful military is ready to move if violence escalates.聽

Legal challenges聽

鈥淭he crisis is far from over,鈥� says Thai political scientist Puangthong Pawakapan, assistant professor at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok. 鈥淭he feeling is Yingluck will step down soon now that she is being investigated by the anticorruption commission鈥�but her party will replace her with another leader.鈥澛�

Yingluck has been charged with negligence in connection to her role in managing a controversial government rice subsidy聽program聽that is allegedly riddled with corruption. The聽program, which paid rice farmers above market rates for their product has run out of funds.聽Its聽collapse prompted thousands of farmers, usually core supporters of the government, to join protests in Bangkok in February, adding to pressure on Yingluck. She has been ordered by the national anti-graft commission, the NACC, to defend herself before聽March 14聽or face criminal charges that would likely force her out of office.

But even if the prime minister resigns, most say the crisis will not be over until both sides agree to enter talks to negotiate a solution.

鈥淏angkok residents are tired of the disruption even if they are against the government. But they are scared to challenge Suthep or encourage him to compromise,鈥澛燤s.聽Puangthong says, adding that pro-government Red Shirts largely based in the country鈥檚 populous north should also be prepared to tolerate discussions with the opposition.