“We have to use all means to stop the elephants from joining the political rally,” said Lieutenant General Prayuth Chanocha, commander of the 1st Army.

You know you’re in a sticky situation when elephants start getting involved in politics. The army could surely deal with the odd elephant, but the story going around Bangkok at the moment is that 99 of the beasts are preparing to descend upon Thailand’s capital from northern and north-eastern provinces. But are they pro-Thaksin, or just anti-junta? Perhaps we’ll never know.

The elephants, if they make it to Bangkok, will be accompanying a herd of villagers who are disgruntled at the possibility of the Thai Rak Thai political party being dissolved next Wednesday. Thai Rak Thai and the Democrat Party are on the chopping block for allegedly breaking the law during elections last year. The leaders of both parties have said they will accept the court’s decision, although there are rumblings of mass protests (as ever) if the worst should happen. The elephants, thus far, have refused to comment.

If thousands of villagers turn up with 99 elephants on Wednesday (remember that 9 is an auspicious number here) I’ll be out there with my camera to see just how it is possible to “use all means to stop… elephants.” The Nation reported today that there would actually be 198 elephants! Even better. Doomsday next Wednesday will either see a convoy of enraged animals rampage the city or else the world’s largest ever game of street elephant polo.

Check points have been set up to stop the elephants entering Bangkok. I don’t know how easy it would be to conceal 198 elephants, so we’ll have to wait until next week to find out if they make it.

Techno’ tags: Thailand, Bangkok