As the political crisis drags on, people on opposing sides seem to fight every time they chat and it seems one can hardly find a safe place to express opinions.

The most hazardous place to talk about Thai politics is in a taxi, as your destiny lies in the hands of the man behind the wheel.

Most passengers and drivers have a conversation but, at present, before you start to chat with a driver about politics, make sure you have similar views or you might be kicked out.

Taxi drivers are considered one of Thai Rak Thai's political bases. During Thaksin Shinawatra's reign, he has met groups of cabbies twice and given drivers new vehicles and homes in the "We Care" housing project.

Taxi drivers consume more news than most people because they spend their days listening to the radio.

Most taxi drivers have strident views on current issues, especially those that receive a great deal of airtime.

Here are some incidents from taxis, which show the dangers of political small talk:

lA columnist in Matichon Weekly, who usually takes a taxi, wrote in his "Fast Food Turakij" column that a taxi driver had a fistfight with a passenger over whether Thaksin should pay tax for the Shin Corp deal.

The passenger, a Thai Rak Thai member, got angry and challenged the driver to a fight and the driver obliged, after which they were arrested and fined by the police, the column said.

When the driver asked for the fare, the passenger willingly gave a tip, boasting that his "party leader had Bt73 billion".

lSupinya Klangnarong, secretary general of the Campaign for Popular Media Reform, who was sued by Shin Corp, said it was lucky that no drivers recognised her. But whenever she takes a taxi to the anti-Thaksin rally at Sanam Luang, drivers always ask why she wants to go there.

"I wouldn't identify which side I am on. Instead I'll find out which side they are on before I decide whether to continue a conversation. I once met a driver, who supports the anti-Thaksin camp who gave me a discount," she said.

If a driver was a Thaksin supporter, Supinya said she would try to win them over with complex political arguments - but this was usually fruitless.

lAn academic in political science at Chulalongkorn University was allegedly expelled from a taxi because he criticised Thaksin in a radio interview.

"The taxi driver pulled over the car and asked me to get off. I was angry so I told him I wouldn't pay the fare and the driver said he didn't care," the academic said.

lA newspaper editor who went to observe the anti-Thaksin rally at Sanam Luang on February 26, the so-called D-Day to oust Thaksin, said he did not dare tell the driver to go to the rally.

"I was not sure who the driver supported so I told him to go to Rajdamnoen Avenue instead of Sanam Luang. I was afraid that he might take me somewhere else," he said.

Reporters face similar trouble. As they sometimes conduct interviews or report news to their editorial offices while in a cab, they inevitably end up in rows with drivers.

lA female reporter from a business newspaper said she quarrelled with her taxi driver when talking about politics.

"When the quarrel was at its peak, the driver asked me to stop talking because he couldn't concentrate on the road. He only agreed to take me home because I am female," the female reporter said.

lA male political reporter said he was asked to get out of a cab while he was interviewing a source on the phone.

"He looked angry. I was stunned when he asked me to get out. I think he might have been upset when he heard that my source was criticising Thaksin," he said.

So for those who hate Thaksin, before getting into a cab, rather than telling the driver your destination, greet him with the query: "Thaksin?"

If they say "Get out" you are safe to get in. But if they reply with "Fight on", you had better close the door and wait for another cab.

For those who love Thaksin, do the opposite.

Jintana Panyaarvudh

The Nation