-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The declaration of a state of emergency in Thailand following violent clashes between anti-government and security forces marks the latest escalation in a long-running political crisis which has plunged the southeast Asian country into frequent bouts of disorder and instability . The scene from the streets of Bangkok on Monday showed widespread protests against the government . This weekend 's protests , which included forcing the postponement of a summit of Asian leaders in the southern coastal city of Pattaya and demonstrations on the streets of Bangkok , were orchestrated by red-shirted supporters of the controversial and corruption-tainted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra . Thaksin -- a multibillionaire media tycoon elected in 2001 on a populist platform that promised universal healthcare and cash handouts to poor villagers -- was ousted from power in a bloodless army coup in 2006 and has been in exile abroad since being sentenced last October to two years in prison after being convicted of a corruption charge by Thailand 's Supreme Court . But Thaksin remains a polarizing figure in Thailand , commanding substantial support in the countryside . Until last year , Thaksin 's allies had remained in power with the government headed by the exiled prime minister 's brother-in law , Somchai Wongsawat , despite disruptive protests by the opposition People 's Alliance for Democracy -LRB- PAD -RRB- , whose supporters dressed in yellow and represented Thailand 's traditional ruling class , suspicious of Thaksin 's populist model of democracy . But the PAD achieved its goal of ousting Somchai in December after a week-long occupation of the prime ministerial Government House offices and blockading Bangkok 's main airports , stranding thousands of tourists . Thailand 's Constitutional Court subsequently disbanded Somchai 's People Power Party for electoral fraud and barred Somchai from office for five years , paving the way for Thai lawmakers to elect opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva as prime minister . iReport.com : `` Red shirts '' take to streets But Thaksin 's supporters insist that Abhisit was not democratically elected and have vowed to protest until fresh elections are held . On Sunday , Thaksin told protesters via a video link from an unknown location that he would return home to lead them in a march on the capital if necessary . `` Now that they have tanks on the street and the soldiers are coming out , so it is time for the people to come out for a revolution , '' Thaksin said . Writing in a blog , CNN 's Bangkok Correspondent Dan Rivers said he saw five possible scenarios emerging from the current crisis . Firstly , Abhisit could call a snap election , which he would be unlikely to win because Thaksin 's allies continue to lead polls . Secondly , he could resign , resulting in the creation of another coalition which would struggle to unify the rival factions , leaving open the likelihood of further protests from one side or the other . Thirdly , Thaksin could return from exile to lead a red-shirted uprising ; a scenario which Rivers describes as `` messy and bloody . '' iReport.com : `` Numerous buses set ablaze '' Fourthly , the army could again intervene , as it has done in the past , although Rivers says that would do little to heal the deep divisions between both sides . Finally , Rivers said , Abhisit could choose to ride out the protests or `` get tough . '' But both strategies would likely damage his standing . `` Trying to ignore the protests will leave him looking even weaker ; ordering a violent crack-down may simply harden the resolve of the red shirts and provide fodder to their questionable claims that Abhisit has dictatorial tendencies , '' Rivers said .