MARK DAVIS: These protests started peacefully enough, but how did they get so out of control?
NICK LAZAREDES, VIDEO JOURNALIST: Well, you'd wonder if you were here a few months ago because the support for the protests was dwindling. But since the election tensions have been building and recently in the last few weeks, violence has really spiralled out of control. 20 people since the protest began have died - 11 of them in the last week. So things have been sparked, really when the government decided to move against the protesters - that was on 18 February. At that time, the police - there was a stand-off and the police have gone in to disperse the protesters and that's been the spark that's really lit the situation here. So I've been here since shortly after the election and this is what I've found.
REPORTER: Nick Lazaredes
Last week in Bangkok's historic centre, rising tensions boiled over into bloodshed. They've been firing bullets, so we'll just stay here for a minute. Basically, the protesters went after the police, pushing them down the road, and that's when they fought back... In just minutes, the city that was last year named as the world's top tourist destination, descended into violence and chaos. Four lay dead - dozens injured.
Thailand is tearing itself apart in a complex, political drama that's pitting the country's established elites against each other. Suthep Thaugsuban is the face of Thailand's citizens' coup - what he calls restarting democracy. Having brought Bangkok to stand still just days after the election earlier this month, this shrewd politician is on a crusade to purge Thailand of a government he claims is plagued by nepotism and corruption.
SUTHEP THAUGSUBAN, PROTEST LEADER (Translation): People from all walks of life are protesting against the government. Even public servants have made it clear that they're on the people's side. They no longer want to be used by the government. The government keeps holding on. But it can't for long.
While Suthep wants to topple the government, he also wants to bring down the dynasty he blames for Thailand's woes - the Shinawatra. Namely the Prime Minister, Yingluck Shinawatra and her brother Thaksin, he remains in exile facing corruption charges and many Thais believe that he still controls the country, using his sister Yingluck as a proxy.
PROTESTER (Translation): Yingluck is brazen and despised. So she's hit by this slipper. Like this. Like this and this and this. So we can think about how we and the whole country feels and we've all come out to get rid of Yingluck.
Over the past month, these marches through the streets of Bangkok have become a daily spectacle as Suthep exploits another deepening crisis of the Shinawatra government - the collapse of its multibillion dollar rice subsidy scheme. With no money in the government's coffer, impoverished rice farmers are facing ruin and Suthep has been marching the streets, drumming up donations - action that's led to an alliance between Suthep and Thailand's devastated farming community.
CHANTHANA SAIPRAYONG (Translation): He says he'll give each farmer 200,000 baht. And it's good he wants to help. So we can pay back our debts.
Suthep's pledge to help rice farmers provides a measure of hope but for Chanthana Saiprayong and her family, it's already too late. Last month, overwhelmed with debt and no means to pay it, her husband hanged himself.
CHANTHANA SAIPRAYONG (Translation): When I found him, I tried to hold him up. I looked at him. I was frightened and screaming. "Why did you leave me? How could you?"
It's become a common story in farming communities across Thailand, where, recently, a dozen suicides of farmers were reported in less than a week. Feeling abandoned by the government it's little surprise that their allegiance to Yingluck Shinawatra has wained.
CHANTHANA SAIPRAYONG (Translation): She promised things but didn't act. We farmers have to keep chasing up payment.
Thousands of angry farmers now joining the anti-government protests - the push to shut down Bangkok is gaining momentum and a showdown is looming. On February 18, with its capital under siege, the government ordered police to clear the city of protesters.
POLICE (Translation): We ask you to step back please - step back all the way. We ask you please not to force us. Do not force us. Step back.
CROWD (Translation): Lackey! Lackey!
Enraged by their presence, protesters quickly sized up the police and pushed them back.
POLICE (Translation): We're slowly withdrawing-please stay calm. We're slowly withdrawing-please stay calm.
Emboldened, protesters surged forward with their barricades. The police are clearly outnumbered. With gun shots comes pandemonium. Some protesters seem oblivious to the danger.
PROTESTER (Translation): We aren't afraid! We're getting rid of tyrants. We aren't guilty. We're getting rid of tyrants. We'll keep fighting.
With six dead, the clash marked a turning point for the protest movement and Suthep incites the crowds to revolt.
SUTHEP THAUGSUBAN (Translation): Now we have a crisis which requires special means. That's why you, the great masses, must rise up and fight.
Suthep's demands are clear - Yingluck must resign or he and his supporters will hunt her down and immobilise her parliament.
SUTHEP THAUGSUBAN (Translation): As soon as we know where Yingluck is, we'll move by convoy, quickly chase her and get her out.
Within hours, teams of provocateurs are dispatched on trucks, taunting Yingluck and her government through loudspeakers.
PROTESTERS (Translation): You abused your power by mistreating people. Son of a bitch! You think this fence can stop us if we really want to get in? We just don't want to because you're all hellish beasts inside.
As the struggle for Thailand's political future intensifies, Suthep has turned up the pressure on the Shinawatra dynasty. In recent days, he's called for boycotts of Shinawatra-owned business, that has sent their share value tumbling and in a sign of what is yet to come, thousands marched on the family's gleaming skyscraper, known as Shinawatra Tower.
MARK DAVIS: Nick Lazaredes there and Nick is still with us in Bangkok. Nick, it's looking pretty crazy there. Is the city still functioning? Can you get around?
NICK LAZAREDES: Yes, look, it is. You know what Bangkok's notorious traffic is like well that hasn't improved. In fact, it's considerably worsened. But, really, life goes on as normal here. These rallies and these protest sites are throughout the city and they've really taken over. Right here in the centre of the city where I am, the entire centre of the city has been taken over by protesters. There are virtually no police around. They've got their own security teams. Everything functions as normal but the government is on the run. Yingluck has - is in a safe house outside of the capital. For weeks she's been hounded wherever she goes and so have members of her cabinet. She's supposed to be appearing in court, in fact, on Thursday, but she's going to be in the northern provinces touring.
MARK DAVIS: Nick, do you have any empathy for Yingluck? I mean, she is an elected leader. She's done nothing wrong, whatever the sins of her brother were, and the people on the street don't sound like Democrats. They're not asking for an election. They're just asking for some installed government.
NICK LAZAREDES: Yes, that is an issue. I mean, I think with Yingluck, and empathy, I think she's - there's been some serious errors there. Moving against the protesters on February 18, they badly misjudged the situation there. She doesn't seem to have a total grip on reality, really. She doesn't seem to think that, you know, this is a terribly serious situation and that if she continues on, it's all going to go away. Another situation that was misjudged was the rice farmers. Those people, very, very angry, joined the protest in Bangkok and that's, really, the key reason that things started to get out of control.
MARK DAVIS: OK. Thanks, Nick. We'll have to leave it there. We hope to hear from you again on this one.
Reporter/Camera
NICK LAZAREDES
Producers
VICTORIA STROBL
DONALD CAMERON
Fixer
SUPREEYA RUNGNOBHAKHUN
Translations
KANYARAT RITTIDECH
Editor
WAYNE LOVE