Santiphap

In Thai the word for peace is santiphap. At this point it is something that everyone here is wishing for.

If the news is something you avoid the headlines here are the red shirt protests in Bangkok. Sparknoted to it's most vulgar simplicity the Red Shirts (a group of Thais mostly comprised of the lower and middle classes) are unahppy with the current prime minister and are holding protests until he steps down, or a fair election is held. Their foes are the wealthier and more elite Yellow Shirts. The current prime minister is supported by the yellow shirts, the previous prime minister (who was ousted and fled the country) is supported by the red shirts. Over the last few days the situation has escalated more and more. Over 900 are wounded, 21 have died and the red shirts have taken over numerous buildings, streets, hotels, malls in Bangkok and government buildings even here in Chiang Mai.

From where I sit in my apartment things appear normal. Bangkok is a 12 hour drive away and the streets of Chiang Mai are bustling as this week also happens to be the biggest festival of the year, the Thai new year. However, it is impossible to avoid the truck loads of red shirts barreling through the city, or the red flags waving from car and taxi windows. Chiang Mai is comprised almost exclusively of red shirts and although they won't shout it from the roof tops they will quietly wear a red wrist band, or red bandana to show their support.

Thailand is usually a place of such softness and peace that this new current feels unsettling and wrong. All we can do is hope for a resolution.

So, paix, paz, pace, peace, ukuthula, hedd, damai, ashtee, santiphap.

In whatever language you've got, please ask for it.