3 Airports closed in LOS...

[Torurot]

>>anyone have a tailor to recommend in patong?

Georges, Bangla Rd, LHS as your walking to the sea. Nepalese, not Indian.

[kahuna]

(Torurot @ Sep. 02 2008,19:48) >>anyone have a tailor to recommend in patong?

Georges, Bangla Rd,  LHS as your walking to the sea. Nepalese, not Indian.

That's an interesting approach...are you recommending that George's can somehow mend, sew or stitch the holes in the
Thai political and social systems with a needle, thread and a few pins perhaps...

Maybe it just needs a new zipper...

Actually here's an excerpt form the lastest from MSNBC...

MSNBC News Services
updated 8:43 p.m. ET Sept. 1, 2008
BANGKOK, Thailand - Thailand's prime minister declared a state of emergency in Bangkok on Tuesday, calling it the "softest means available" for restoring order after overnight clashes between government opponents and supporters left one person dead and 43 injured.

Under the sweeping powers that give the military the right to restore order, all public gatherings of more than five people are banned and the media is barred from reporting news that "causes panic."

Although the deployment of troops will come as welcome relief to the overstretched police, it raises the specter of an army seizure of power less than two years after the military kicked out then Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej gave no timeframe for how long the decree would stay in effect but said it would be over "moderately quickly."

"I did it to solve the problems of the country," Samak said in a televised news conference at a military headquarters in Bangkok. "Because the situation turned out this way, I had no other choice."

Army Commander Gen. Anupong Paochinda called a separate news conference in which he repeatedly stressed that the army's goal was to avoid violence.

"If the military has to get involved, it will not use force and will be on the people's side," Anupong said, adding that troops would carry only shields and batons if ordered into the streets. "They will not be armed, they will not wear bulletproof vests."

The overnight violence heightened a national crisis that started a week ago when opponents of Samak occupied the grounds of his office and refused to move until he resigned.

Shortly after Samak spoke, a new crisis confronted his government. The Election Commission recommended that his People's Power Party be disbanded for electoral fraud committed during December elections.

Calm returned to Bangkok's streets by morning, after Samak deployed troops with riot gear €” but no guns €” to disperse the two groups of protesters. Both sides retreated to their respective protest sites, about a 1/2 mile apart, keeping the area a flash point for further trouble.

Two dozen police vans and ambulances were parked down the street from Samak's office compound, known as Government House.

As a precaution, City Hall announced that 435 Bangkok public schools would close for three days. Some international private schools opted to shut for a week.

[rafepix]

Canadian government finally noticing what's going on there:

Foreign Affairs Canada (http://www.voyage.gc.ca/consular_home-en.asp) is advising Canadians travelling to Thailand to exercise extreme caution after the Government of Thailand declared a state of emergency in Bangkok yesterday due to ongoing violence between pro- and anti-government forces.

Travellers are also advised to follow the advice of local authorities and avoid gatherings and areas targeted by protestors. Significant political demonstrations have been reported in Bangkok and travellers are advised to stay away from areas where they might occur. As a result, significant traffic delays, as well as disruptions and suspensions to air and rail services, have been reported. Canadians are encouraged to verify travel schedules and services with local authorities or travel service providers prior to departure as further disruptions may occur and delays can be expected. Travellers may also encounter additional security measures, such as road checkpoints

[Guest]

On the other hand this may all work to our advantage in that everything will be cheaper:

¶ BANGKOK, Sept 3, 2008 (AFP) --Foreign travellers are cancelling their trips to Thailand in the wake of political turmoil in the kingdom's capital, the president of the Thai Hotel Association told AFP Wednesday.
¶ Prakit Chinamourphong said hotel cancellations had risen significantly since the government declared a state of emergency across Bangkok on Tuesday in the wake of deadly fighting among political protesters.
¶ "Cancellations of hotel bookings by foreign travellers have jumped following the government's declaration of a state of emergency," Prakit said.
¶ "They have been gradually increasing since protests began at Government House," he added.
¶ Chinese authorities issued a warning against travel to Thailand on Wednesday morning. Shortly afterwards a Chinese tour group cancelled a booking for 450 rooms for three nights in November, Prakit said.
¶ "That one group's cancellation alone has lost us around 6 million baht (176,000 dollars)," he said, adding that hotel occupancy in northern Chiang Mai had also been affected, dropping from an average 50 percent in low season to 30 percent.
¶ "We are entering high season period in October. If the political turmoil continues it will damage our business and it will take years to recover," Pradit said.

[Road Runner]

(kahuna @ Sep. 02 2008,12:27) "They will not be armed, they will not wear bulletproof vests."

The 'not being armed' bit sounds OK - but I'm trying to work out the logic in them not wearing bullet-proof vests?

Maybe they are expendable - they are only farm boys and labourers from Issan after all.

RR.

[sukhumvitpoler]

dont start fucking with bangkok airport - i am bringing a loaded weapon with a sack full of ammo

[BAM]

Funny with all of this going on I get a letter today from JW Marriott telling me because I'm such a loyal customer that they are giving me 2 free nights stay... Got a love the Riots when hotels start to give rooms away for free!!!! For sure I will take them up on this offer... it's worth $450

[Snick]

I'm waiting for my loyal customer card from Obsession, on Wednesdays its bar fine one , get one free.

[sukhumvitpoler]

any updates on this protest bollocks?

[SamplerDoc]

Gonna get worse

[sukhumvitpoler]

let it get worse once i am there, then it gives me an excuse to stay. woooooooo lets burn the airport down

[Guest]

From the BBC:
Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej has been ordered to resign after being found guilty of violating the constitution over a TV cookery show.
His entire cabinet has also been ordered to step down.
Mr Samak was found to have violated a ban on ministers having outside interests by taking money from a private company to host a TV show.
However, the ruling People Power Party (PPP) has vowed to re-appoint Mr Samak as prime minister.
The judgment, broadcast live on television and radio, was greeted with loud cheers and claps from Mr Samak's opponents, who have occupied his office compound since the end of last month.
However, Mr Samak has not been banned from standing again for prime minister, and it will be 30 days before the court's decision comes into effect.
Thailand has had its fair share of crises recently, says the BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok, but this is one that even the Thais are baffled by.
Mr Samak, a self-proclaimed foodie, hosted a popular television cooking show, Tasting and Grumbling, for seven years before becoming prime minister.
He continued to present the programme for two months after becoming prime minister, saying that any money he received was only used to cover his expenses.

You've just got to love Thai politics!