1) Thailand has been stuck in a cycle of political instability for nearly a decade since a 2006 coup removed Thaksin Shinawatra from power, with the latest unrest sparked by an attempt to pass an amnesty bill that would have allowed Thaksin to return from exile. 2) The current protests are led by Suthep Thaugsuban, who in 2010 as deputy PM ordered a crackdown on "Red Shirt" protesters but is now leading similar protests himself, underscoring Thailand's lack of political progress. 3) With six key intersections still blocked and the economy suffering, the standoff risks further violence but both sides are unwilling to compromise, leaving the country in political deadlock with growing