In May 2010, Bangkok erupted in flames.  Some 91 Thai were killed, over 2,000 were  injured and 400 were arrested in a military crackdown resulting in  emergency rule after a nine week siege by the Red Shirts, a populist political movement consisting largely of farmers and factory workers from the country’s rural areas. They supported the ousted and exiled prime minister and former telecommunications magnate Thaksin Shinawatra. Although the opposition Yellow Shirts representing the Bangkok establishment and the Thai military regained control the government, large anti-government protests erupted in September, suggesting potential trouble ahead, especially since the country’s revered 82 year old King has been in the hospital for over a year.  Despite the turmoil and uncertainty, the country’s GDP rose 7.2{fe681502a50b39155a3ca75d1ea8a550fe0ee8275f6f89ef466f508ac0f80879} last year.

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