BIG-BIH 2010 Opens Despite Red Shirt Protests

20.04.2010 23:15

Opening Ceremony Bangkok International Gift Fair and Bangkok International Houseware Fair 2010

Regardless of the rumors flying around, speculating the cancellation or postponement of the event, the Bangkok International Gift Fair and Bangkok International Houseware Fair opened its doors on the morning of April 20, 2010.

Why would the event have been cancelled or postponed? We just happened to be in Bangkok last month, for the Thailand International Furniture Fair, when the red shirts started rallying. Six weeks later and the manifestations continue.

Who are these “red shirts”? The demonstrators are supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Sinawatra, overthrown in 2006 following a military coup, who are demanding the current prime minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva, resign from office immediately. As part of the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship, they believe that Abhisit is an illegitimate prime minister because he was appointed non-democratically.

The New York Times defines the clash as “the rural poor against an urban establishment,” referring to the red shirts as “Thailand’s rural underclass”. The red shirts will not stop their rallying until parliament is dissolved and there is a call for reelections.

For the most part the protests have been peaceful. Tragically, on April 10, 2010 there was a confrontation between the redshirts and the military ending with some 25 dead and over 800 wounded. It was at this time that many planned international attendees to BIG-BIH cancelled their trips to Bangkok, heeding the travel warnings to Thailand from 43 countries.

In such a tumultuous time, the country of Thailand has lost billions of baht. Businesses have temporarily closed as the red shirts take to the streets in front of the establishments, and tourists are deterred from vacationing in one of the world’s get-away destinations.

But this is not dissuading the Bangkok International Gift Fair and Bangkok International Houseware Fair from showcasing the latest goods on offer. Despite these challenging circumstances the fair is fighting to continue business as usual. The fair will run through April 25th at Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre.

Do not let these events deter you from seeing, purchasing, and loving the latest Thai design products! MyThaiDesign will continually update this site with designs from Thailand that should not be missed!

Go back

Your comments

Comment by Jennifer | 21.04.2010

My team and I wish you all a successful fair and hope that the political turmoil will soon be peacefully resolved.

Add a comment