Thai Fire

Bangkok is burning:

Thai premier Abhisit Vejjajiva has announced a state of emergency Sunday in Bangkok and surrounding areas after protests that forced the cancellation of a regional summit.

"The government has tried all along to avoid violence but the protest has developed and they have used actions incompatible with the constitution," he said in a televised speech.

The clampdown comes as police arrested the leader of anti-government protesters who wrecked the ASEAN meeting which prompted a threat of further action by supporters if he is not released.

Police said Arisman Pongreungrong was detained at his home in the capital following his return to Bangkok.

"The police went to arrest Arisman Pongreungrong at his house on the charge of inciting protesters to kidnap the prime minister and cause unrest in the country," a police spokesman said.

The Army has fired tear gas and live rounds of ammo into the crowds.

Thailand seems to start a revolution every few months. The protesters this time around support the former Prime Minister, who was tossed out in a coup during the LAST set of protests. Really awful.

...Matt Yglesias summarizes the situation here. The former Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, was a deposed populist now trying to lead a popular movement back into power. This is the culmination of at least three other popular movements, and speaks to the ineffability of democracy in a country which has a coup attempt every hour on the hour.