By Thanong Khanthong

Thai Rath wanted Abhisit Vejjajiva to resign so bloodshed could be avoided, while the Thai Journalists Association suggested peaceful negotiations.

Prinya Thevanaruemitrakul, a law professor from Thammasat University, appeared several times on TV talk shows to urge peace talks. While Thaksin appeared on CNN, BBC and other international media outlets, to support the red shirts and denounce the military. International media, especially those who have had little sympathy for Abhisit's government, also came out in support of the red shirts.

This was all part of a grand scheme to prove that Thaksin reigned over public opinion both inside and outside Thailand.

However, things turned very quickly against Thaksin and his red shirts as the chaotic day progressed. Audiences around the world witnessed acts of sabotage and sheer lawlessness of the red shirts - a stark contrast to Thaksin's claims that his red-clad supporters were using peaceful means in their call for democracy.

It was not until late afternoon on Songkran Day that security forces managed to bring the plundering of Bangkok under control. In the evening, Abhisit sounded much more confident when he said the government was on top of the situation. The red shirts had lost control of all the 50 major traffic points and had to retreat to their stronghold near Government House.

Thaksin and his red shirts were losing the game because the Army chief, General Anupong Paochinda, was keeping a low profile, and the police could not do much because under the Emergency Decree the power rests in the hands of the PM alone.

Another most important factor that turned the tide away from Thaksin and the red shirts was that Bangkok residents were up in arms against them. People living in Nang Lerng, Phetchaburi, Sathorn and other areas attacked the red shirts, and Bangkok became a battlefield.

Thaksin's cronies rushed to submit a petition with His Majesty the King, begging him to intervene and end the crisis. Even Thaksin called on His Majesty to step in and calm things down.

"I urge His Majesty to please kindly intervene, otherwise the military and the government will kill more people. They are covering up everything - the local newspapers are spreading lies," he told Sky News.

He must be kidding! First he has his red shirts go around burning Bangkok and then he requests for Royal intervention.

The implicit message was that, in the absence of an intervention from the palace, the red shirts would continue ravaging the capital until the country went down the drain.

Luckily, this little trick did not work.

Abhisit stepped in to fortify his position, and by Tuesday he was clearly in control.

The red shirts had been subdued and public sentiment, both inside and outside Thailand, went against Thaksin and his supporters. People were backing Abhisit again.

The fugitive and his red-clad supporters were facing a setback - they never thought that Bangkok residents would rise against them. In fact, it became quite dangerous to even wear red and walk down the streets.

Before noon, the plug was pulled. Veera Musigapong told the red shirts around Government House to disperse, and the leaders turned themselves in to hear criminal charges.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban and Police Commissioner-General Patcharawat Wongsuwan tried to save their image by announcing on TV that a plot to bomb the Bangkok Bank and CP headquarters on Silom Road had been uncovered. Patcharawat also, personally and very politely, arrested Veera and other red-shirt leaders outside Government House.

Thaksin, and his ex-wife Pojaman, must have realised by then that they had lost their bet. The Bt10 billion or so they allegedly spent to finance their "people's revolution" had failed miserably.

Now it is time for Abhisit to clean up and declare triumphs as Thailand struggles to return to its feet.

Meanwhile, Thaksin and 13 red-shirt leaders face arrest warrants for their crimes against the state. -The Nation/Asia News Network