I have been visiting Thailand regularly since 2004, and I’ve watched the political tension increase. From what I can tell, Thaksin Shinawatra, the ousted prime minister, has been funding the red shirts from abroad in a quest to revive his reputation, and more importantly, recoup the billions of dollars seized by the Thai government.

Mr. Thakisin has had the power to put an end to the bloodshed by calling off the red shirts. Ultimately, when the dust clears, he will be responsible.

Theodore Carl Soderberg, San Francisco