Among academic journalists, and other commentators on Thailand, there are two very different views of the conflict that has steadily grown over the last six years the first argues that this is an uprising of the downtrodden, especially farmers from the poorer northeast and far north, demanding a better deal, and being fiercely resisted by an elite, jealous of its power and privilege; underlying this uprising is a great division in income, wealth, power, and opportunity in the society. The second interpretation argues that the social division is illusory or unimportant, and that this is a battle among elites, essentially between former Prime Minister Thaksin Shiawatra and his enemies and his enemies, with ordinary people being used as paid pawns in the struggle.