The RED SHIRT Crisis in Bangkok!

[PigDogg]

RIP

The followings are 15 of 18 victims killed when red shirts protesters battled with soldiers.

1 Mr Ampon Katiyarat, 43

2 Mr Yuttana Thongcharoenponporn, 23

3 Mr Paison Tipkom, 37

4 Mr Sawat Wangam, 43

5 Mr Hirouki Muramoto

6 Mr Tawattanachai Kladsuk, 36

7 Mr Thotsachai Mekngamfa, 44

8 Mr Charoon Charnmaen, 46

9 Mr Wasant Puthong, 39

10 Mr Tawil Pomsantia, 43

11 Mr Kanueng Chatteh

12 Private Patapon Puriwatprapan

13 Private Anupong Muangrampan

14 Private Singha (last name unknown)

15 Sgt Chamnien (last name unknown)

[PigDogg]

I sit here wondering what Private Singha was like. His name jumps out at me, well because of his name. What were his dreams and ambitions? Did he have a girl back home in the provinces? Mama, papa, brothers and sisters? Was he a quiet bloke or the life of the party? A young life ended much too early.

[kevin4252]

Surprised at those ages myself, tv here, (USA), had short vids of the

melee at one of the barricades, all red shirts, well, the unmasked ones

appeared to be teens.

[pampamsam]

One thing for sure, Pvt Singha picked the wrong color when he attended the military draft lottery on his 21st birthday.

Another thing for sure was his family couldn't afford the payoffs needed to avoid conscription. That's why was on duty in Bangkok instead of attending Uni or working.

Cannon fodder as they used to say...

[pacman]

The news reports here show some ugly scenes with lifeless bodies being carted off & blocked streets full of red shirted protesters.

I can just imagine the phones ringing in Travel Agencies all over Oz tomorrow with people wanting to cancel their trip.

It is an ill wind that blows no good.

[Juri]

NUN told me yesterday that a lot of "rookies" for the red shirt comes from her town....

...with the promise they get 1000.- Bht/day they was send by bus to bkk, not knowing for what and why they fight....but knowing every day brings 1k.....and this is lot of money for a little Isaan village...

...so that minds the hope for a quick end, most of them stay now one month and call home for send money.....and wishes for Songkran, 'cause they want stay longer for make more good money..........  

[f0xxee]

I am driving up to Udon tomorrow night for Songkran after I finish business in HH.
HH is very quiet for red shirt activity understandably, as there are so many road blocks its taking an extra 30 minutes to do the BKK run. It is however booming with BKK refugees hoping to escape the violence and uncertainty.... I have never seen HH so busy. With KaoSarn Rd being the location of yesterdays problems I am guessing there may be an influx of backpackers today and tomorrow.
It will again be interesting to see what the folks in Udon have to say about all this.

[ts33a]

When would this come to an end. Yellow shirts, red shirts and so on. Who is loosing at the end of all of this. Thailand. What a shame. Yep I just called my travel agent and canceled my trip to LOS although I was not planning n staying in BKK but there are no assurances that the airport would not be closed like last time.

[EyeMahk]

(ts33a @ Apr. 11 2010,19:05) Yep I just called my travel agent and canceled my trip to LOS although I was not planning n staying in BKK but there are no assurances that the airport would not be closed like last time.

Only my opinion, but this is pretty drastic action to take.

[azza33]

I agree - i fly out Friday night to BKK via KL.

Worst case, if BKK airport is shutdown, i'll fly into Phuket.

If all airports are shut, ill take a boat from Penang/Langkawi area. Where this is a will there is a way

[gizmo]

Let's just hope it does'nt come to that!
I'm arriving on the 17th, but going straight
to Pattaya!

[Rocket J. Squirrel]

(azza33 @ Apr. 11 2010,19:59)  

I agree - i fly out Friday night to BKK via KL.

Worst case, if BKK airport is shutdown, i'll fly into Phuket.

If all airports are shut, ill take a boat from Penang/Langkawi area. Where this is a will there is a way  

When the airport was closed last time, I re-routed to Singapore and used its airport as a place to decide. Suvarnabhumi was still closed so I changed plans and visited Cambodia instead. No big deal. Bkk opened up a week later and it was business as usual for me. I like to travel with no plans.

Juri's post really saddens me and PD adds the human element to all of this. It is so unfortunate when young people die in the name of something they don't understand.

I really hope that this gets settled soon, not just for tourism but for Thailand and its people.

I have no idea what is best for Thailand, but I know it is not this.

RJS

[spare wheel]

scary stuff.

SW

[spare wheel]

Part 2

[SamplerDoc]

Thanks for the Video finds SW.
So many words and thoughts go thru ones mind..........

This stand off does not look and feel like it was before and that was the no concern and business as usual vibe as they voiced their thoughts.

This is certainly a very dangerous situation that has a very high chance of becoming even worse as the weeks go on.



Surely there will be some tourists killed if they share they same low IQ as the guy in video 2..................geez.