who woulda thought...

that of all 3 countries we've been to so far for our project, that Thailand would be the most unstable...  Tomorrow night we take an overnight bus to Bangkok and are actually leaving Thailand a week early because of the protests. 

From NPR:
Anti-government protesters dug into their encampments around Bangkok and rejected talk of negotiations Sunday after a monthlong standoff escalated into clashes that killed 20 people in Thailand's worst political violence in nearly two decades.

Bullet casings, rocks, pools of blood and shattered army vehicles littered the streets near a main tourist area where soldiers had tried to clear the protesters, who are demanding that the prime minister dissolve Parliament, call early elections and leave the country.  Foreign governments issued warnings for citizens visiting Thailand, where tourism is a lifeblood industry.
On Sunday, protesters showed off a pile of weapons they had captured from the troops, including rifles and heavy caliber machine-gun rounds. More than half a dozen military vehicles, armored personnel carriers, Humvees and a truck, were crippled by the protesters, who ripped off the treads of the armored cars and stood on them triumphantly.  The demonstrators had captured several Thai soldiers who were later released.

On Sunday, the protesters broke into a satellite communications complex in a northern Bangkok suburb, forcing the operators to restore the Red Shirts' vital People Channel television station, which the government has twice shut down.

Jatuporn Prompan, a leader of the Red Shirt movement that contends the current government is illegitimate because it does not reflect results of the last elections, said Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's hands were "bloodied" by the clashes Saturday night.  "Red Shirts will never negotiate with murderers," Jatuporn announced from a makeshift stage. "Although the road is rough and full of obstacles, it's our duty to honor the dead by bringing democracy to this country."
But another protest leader, Veera Musikapong, called on followers to refrain from further violence against government forces and cooperate with authorities who might come to investigate Saturday's clashes.  "Please don't tarnish the victory we are very close to winning now," he said ahead of funeral rites for 14 dead demonstrators.  Government forces Saturday night moved into a protester-occupied area around Bangkok's Democracy Monument, near the backpacker mecca of Khao San Road. The push instead set off street fighting.

Each side blamed the other for the violence. Red Shirt leaders accused the military of opening fire into the crowds, while army spokesman Col. Sansern Kaewkamnerd accused protesters of firing live rounds and throwing grenades.  Government spokesman Panithan Wattanayakorn said the military only fired live ammunition into the air. He said authorities have found grenades, assault rifles and homemade weapons among the protesters.

Four soldiers and 16 civilians were killed, according to the government's Erawan emergency center. At least 834 people were injured, according to the emergency center. The deaths included Japanese cameraman Hiro Muramoto, who worked for the Thomson Reuters news agency. In a statement, Reuters said he was shot in the chest and the circumstances of his death were under review.