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Picking up the pieces will be hard in the shocked aftermath of Thailand’s lethal political violence: the damage could cost €1 billion, and wounds from the social fissures won’t heal easily

‘AH, THAILAND, Thailand!” The polo-shirted Bangkok taxi driver, who has a heavy ring on each finger and intricate tattoo work on his arms, shakes his head in exasperation as we pass piles of smouldering tyres, not far from the scorched ruins of the city’s stock exchange. “Thai people do this to Thai people. I don’t understand why they do this.”