April Fools Day is now in Thailand. It is always interesting to see what other cultures absorb from each other- I never thought April Fools Day would make an appearance in Thailand. I don’t think many Thais know and understand what April Fools Day is- I found it difficult to explain what it is and why we have this kind of day in the USA.

I picked up the Bangkok Post to a small headline on the front page “Reds rule out talks on All Fools’ Day”. The leader of the UDD (redshirts) said this “It is All Fools’ Day, which is not a good day to hold any talks (with the government)”. I had to giggle, would the Thai government really play an April fools joke on the red shirts by extending false concessions? Sweating through a bowl of noodles at lunch I had to laugh at the image of negotiations about to conclude, red shirts joyous at winning the negotiations and suddenly the PM stands up and says “April Fools”!

Yes, it would be a great April Fools joke, it would also be one of the most egregious abuses of April Fools jokes in history. And, the resulting riot from the protesters would be no joke.