The RED SHIRT Crisis in Bangkok!

[deepthroat]

Couple of quick tidbits gleaned from the latest news reports:

1. Appears that some locals are beginning to rebel against the rebellion:

"Among the smaller incidents reported from late on Monday, Channel 3 television reported that hundreds of "red shirts" had attempted to hold a protest at Ramkamhaneg University in the south of the city on Monday evening. When students resisted and riot police intervened, the "red shirts" agreed to hold their rally outside the university. Later a gunman driving past on a motorbike fired into the crowd and the demonstrators dispersed. Some minor injuries were reported."

2. According to the WASHINGTON POST

The American Embassy, citing security concerns, called off a town hall meeting scheduled Tuesday for U.S. citizens and announced the session would be held online instead.

[TTChang]

(f0xxee @ May 18 2010,07:52) ... and to be honest it strikes me as poor taste to be sitting in a bar watching society fall apart.

Better to be sitting in a Pattaya or HH bar, pretending it's not happening? If I felt guilty, I would exit Thailand immediately.  We are not sitting over a beer gloating, quite the reverse - very upset for Thailand and seeing the country we love .. falling apart.

Titian - it is impossible to say what the situation will be in 7 hours time, let alone 7 days ahead. So individual reports continue on this thread.  Plenty of internet/press coverage (but don't think they will be doing a bar-by-bar summary )

One thing may be of relevance, any travel insurance policy likely void if you are in Bangkok (mine is - even if a claim has nothing to do with the uprising). I've had discussions with AXA, and with several brokers. Ignore FCO advice - up to you (and holiday is 'non-essential' travel).  

I have spent 2 days in BKK, in soi 4 ........ but things were getting more restricted on the day I left (eg military checkpoint to get on the tollway). Will now stay away.  EZY bar was good last night  

[f0xxee]

Hi TT,

I think you missed my point, but you then captured it in your second sentence... no one will be doing a bar by bar summary. Guilt doesn't come into it, god knows theyt need what ever income they can get at the moment. I was thinking more about some jerks I saw in a bar in BKK when i got home cheering the TV news not more than 1k from Ratchaprasong every time a redshirt got belted or a policeman got hit. That for me is bad taste. As I ommitted that from my previous comments the fault is however mine.

I am not sitting in HH pretending it's not happening... in fact there is little else to think of at the moment for many reasons.. The impact on HH is different in that it is very much becoming a getaway from the heat in BKK by the BKK nationals that can afford it. My dearest friend here who works for me in Vietnam and i discuss the issues daily, as his son shoud be in school now in Sukhamvit, and he really feels his family safety is encroached upon.

[BlueBallz]

just got back from walking inside the "exclusion zone" near Petchburi Road/Panthip plaza area. Its very quiet. Luckily there are still some vendors selling food. That is a Godsend. We were chatting with a pakred taxi driver. I arranged for him to coe to the condo and pick me up in about 30 minutes. We negotiated a flat 300 baht fare, which is a bit more than the meter but not crazy. this saves me from attempting to get a TUK TUK on the strret to transfer me out of the zone with my bag. If he makes a little extra proift, good on him. As long as he isnt taking the piss. Going to the airport and on my way to The US of A tomoz. Thats basically it for my reporting from this area. I will spend the night by the Airport. hope the next time I get back , in about 8 weeks, traffic is as shitty as usual in this area.

BE CAREFUL OUT THERE-now more than ever!!

[PigDogg]

(BlueBallz @ May 17 2010,22:36) Thats basically it for my reporting from this area.  

Bon voyage buddy.

Public holiday extended until Friday.

[deepthroat]

Here's a bit from a new report. My question is: why don't the women and children leave the danger zone, rather than trying to stay but hide in a temple?

"Authorities warned the red shirts to leave their barricaded encampment by Monday afternoon, but the deadline came and went, raising questions over how long the military operation would continue and whether talks would work.

Public holidays have been declared until Friday.

WOMEN AND CHILDREN

Troops have thrown a cordon around the protest site, a "tent city" at the Rachaprasong intersection, paralyzing the heart of Bangkok. Hundreds of women and children have taken refuge in a temple inside the protest area.

On the outskirts of their encampment, small groups of protesters continue to challenge the soldiers, hurling petrol bombs and stones at a checkpoint on Rama IV Road leading to the business district, and burning tires in Din Daeng, scene of intense fighting over the weekend, Reuters witnesses said.

Army spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said "terrorists" have tried to stir trouble through random killings, targeting innocent people at rallies, rescue workers and journalists, including an incident on Monday in an apartment block under construction.

"A group of snipers dressed as soldiers were hiding on floors 24 to 27 aiming randomly at people, and that is being blamed on soldiers," he told a televised briefing.

Thai media reported a fire was raging in a row of deserted shops in the same area on Tuesday and firefighters were struggling to get into the area because of barricades.

Erawan Emergency Medical Center said on Tuesday that 38 people had died in the flare-up of violence since May 13 and 67 have been killed people since trouble started in April."

[lemontree26]

(Snick @ May 17 2010,22:38) Are those your pics, they're great -- hope you didn't put yourself into danger to take them.

Those are not my pictures.  They came from the website of a local newspaper.

I'm safe at home. I have no plans to go to LOS especially with the weak Euro.

[f0xxee]

(deepthroat @ May 18 2010,19:30) Here's a bit from a new report. My question is: why don't the women and children leave the danger zone, rather than trying to stay but hide in a temple?

Ah DT,

You have just stumbled across the great Pan SE-Asian gap in the understanding of Cause and Effect:

1. Why do Thais fill the back of the Toyota Vigo with 15 people who they supposedly love then set out for Songrak back in Nahkon Nowhere at 10pm in the evening full of piss?

2. Why do SE Asian in general ride scooters in long gloves and masks to avoid the sun but wear sandals or other inadequate footwear? And do it drunk?

3. Why do they drown in increasing numbers in places such as Phuket each year?

Why do they put thier children in danger in what is realistically a war zone? I can only say (and working here in a dangerous industry gives me plenty of fodder for reflection) is that they don't see past the immediate action to the consequences of that act.

Safety management and risk management are what keep falangs like me employed in SE Asia. Sad.. very sad but true.

[Lefty]

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE64C0L620100518


Reuters) - The Thai government dismissed proposed peace talks on Tuesday to end a nine-week crisis that has killed 67 people and threatened to tear the country apart, calling on thousands of anti-government protesters to disperse.

As talks unraveled, fighting erupted again in the Din Daeng district north of a central Bangkok shopping area occupied for six weeks by protesters seeking to topple Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, who they accuse of subverting democracy.

Troops fired warning shots as protesters burned tires and hurled petrol bombs, but the violence was substantially less intense than in recent days.

Several thousand protestors, who have adopted red as a protest color and broadly support former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, remain in a barricaded encampment in Bangkok's high-end shopping, hotel and diplomatic district, refusing to leave, though looking visibly worn down.

"Sure I want to go home but I want democracy first," said Chamlat Ladlao, a protester in his 50s from central Lopburi province. "I'd rather stay here, be proud and die fighting than die in my village when I'm old."

Government officials criticized a proposal from a group of 64 senators in the 150-member upper house who have offered to mediate peace talks and have urged a ceasefire.

Satit Wongnongtaey, minister to the prime minister, said talks could only take place if the red shirts end their protest -- a condition the protesters have consistently rejected.

"The government says we can only negotiate when the protest ends," he said in a televised statement.

The mostly rural and urban poor "red shirts" accuse the British-born, Oxford-educated Abhisit of lacking a popular mandate after coming to power in a controversial parliamentary vote in 2008 with tacit backing from the military.

Authorities warned the red shirts to leave their barricaded encampment by Monday afternoon, but the deadline came and went, raising questions over how long the military operation would continue and whether talks would work.

Public holidays have been declared until Friday.

WOMEN AND CHILDREN

Troops have thrown a cordon around the protest site, a "tent city" at the Rachaprasong intersection, paralyzing the heart of Bangkok. Hundreds of women and children have taken refuge in a temple inside the protest area.

On the outskirts of their encampment, small groups of protesters continue to challenge the soldiers, hurling petrol bombs and stones at a checkpoint on Rama IV Road leading to the business district, and burning tires in Din Daeng, scene of intense fighting over the weekend, Reuters witnesses said.

Army spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said "terrorists" have tried to stir trouble through random killings, targeting innocent people at rallies, rescue workers and journalists, including an incident on Monday in an apartment block under construction.

"A group of snipers dressed as soldiers were hiding on floors 24 to 27 aiming randomly at people, and that is being blamed on soldiers," he told a televised briefing.

Thai media reported a fire was raging in a row of deserted shops in the same area on Tuesday and firefighters were struggling to get into the area because of barricades.

Erawan Emergency Medical Center said on Tuesday that 38 people had died in the flare-up of violence since May 13 and 67 have been killed people since trouble started in April.

The protesters, mostly drawn from the rural and urban poor, and supporters of ousted ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, had initially demanded immediate elections.

[Lefty]

http://www.reuters.com/article....8328368

[ezflip]

Latest news about Nana. Just got this from Cindy (Cascade) less then 10 minutes ago.

Nana is partially closed. Most bars are closed. The girls (those who are resilient or nuts   ) have banded together and are in Obs, which is still open. Others have gone back to their hometowns. Some have gone to Pattaya.

There is army presence all over Sukhumvit/Nana area and not many customers.

Talk about dedication to her job. Cindy has decided to not go to work tonight. Her first time since the fighting has started. She did manage to lose her phone during one altercation 2 days ago. Glad to hear that she values her life more then some piece of technology.

[guydesavoy]

Seems the Red leaders are talking negotiations, but the protesters don't want a bar of it. Every time they address the crowd they get booed off stage...

http://twitter.com/tulsathit

[Lefty]

Well, some of the things in tulsathit's twitters sound promising...

[guydesavoy]

Yeah it does. Things seem to have settled down a tad in the last 24 hours.

Funny thing is, every time I see his name I can't help thinking about that Gene Pitney song

[thaibound]

(Snick @ May 17 2010,09:41) Straight to pattaya, then Samui, but remember to PM me your dates first.
BTW lots of hotel deals in Samui AND Bangkok Air is having a 2 for 1 sale on tickets to Samui.

thanks, snick
will do.
but who would i take to samui?
maybe a seat for my golf clubs this time?