Political un-rest and rally

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Big Boy
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Re: Political un-rest and rally

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kendo wrote:Just watched the BBC news 17.30 BST the U.K ambassador Quinton Quayle has changed the foreign office advise to only essential travel to Bangkok, and for farangs to stay in there hotels and avoid large crowds.
I have a very bad feeling about whats going to happen, its such a shame for Thailand its so beautifull but so screwed up, the more i understand about Thailand the more i feel confused, i know that sounds like a contradiction but thats how it makes me feel.
There has been loads of campaigns on telly to visit amazing Thailand, but who the hell will think about this at the moment, we will see.
I feel sorry for my wife watching this on TV from the UK as i feel very sad and she is very quite, watching Thai against Thai.

Am i just being to sensitive or does anyone else feel very sad about this whole situation.

Kendo. :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:
It'll take a lot more than what's going on at the moment to make me re-consider coming to Thailand in October. The threat is confined to Bangkok - a place I hate anyway.

I was there for the 1992 uprising, which was worse than this one. As long as you stayed away from Bangkok there was no problem.

TV only gets viewers from bad news.
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Re: Political un-rest and rally

Post by BaaBaa. »

Big Boy wrote:It'll take a lot more than what's going on at the moment to make me re-consider coming to Thailand in October. The threat is confined to Bangkok - a place I hate anyway.
Same, fly out in 5 weeks, I was also on the 1st Emirates flight in after the yellows Suvarnabhumi debacle.

The thing is if you'd never been to Thailand you'd get the impression that Thailand was completely unstable and always having problems........................Oh, wait!
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Re: Political un-rest and rally

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Big Boy we are married to Thai's in the U.K i also dont like Bangkok, but for would be tourists a bit off putting to say the least.

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Re: Political un-rest and rally

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:agree:
For people who aren't streetwise to what is going, it must look terrible. For those of us who follow things closely, and understand the lay of the land - it isn't too much of a problem ............ yet.
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Re: Political un-rest and rally

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Big Boy wrote::agree:
For people who aren't streetwise to what is going, it must look terrible. For those of us who follow things closely, and understand the lay of the land - it isn't too much of a problem ............ yet.

Do we really understand this mayhem, i feel sad because i love Thailand and all this is just so damaging for everyone.

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Re: Political un-rest and rally

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It depends upon your definition of 'understand'.

If you mean the thinking behind the troubles, then the answer is no.

What I mean is that I know where the trouble is likely to be, and how to avoid it. It's a bit like a football fan at an away game. There are well defined no-go zones. If you wear your team's shirt into the other side's territory, you are asking for trouble, and will probably get it.

It is sad to watch, but it's been going on for a long time - TIT.
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Re: Political un-rest and rally

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Just found this on the FCO website.............

#

We advise against all but essential travel to the city of Bangkok, in light of ongoing political demonstrations and outbreaks of violence within the city. This advice does not apply to passengers transiting Bangkok airport on their way to other destinations in Thailand or internationally.

#

British Nationals should exercise extreme caution throughout the country, and avoid demonstrations and large gatherings, some of which have recently turned violent.
# If violence breaks out again British nationals are advised to remain indoors and to monitor the media and this website. Suvarnabhumi airport is operating as normal. The route to the airport from Bangkok city remains open.

# British nationals requiring consular assistance should call 02 305 8333 (in Thailand). British nationals are encouraged to register with our LOCATE service.

# The political situation in Thailand is volatile and tense. Violence could break out without warning. On 22 April a series of explosions were heard in Sala Daeng in Bangkok’s business district. We have received reports of injuries. One foreign tourist was injured on 21 April in a confrontation between red shirt protestors and anti-red shirt protestors, at Sala Daeng Intersection in Bangkok. In Khon Kaen on 21 April, red shirt protestors blockaded a military train. On 10 April violent clashes in Bangkok between anti-government (red shirt) protestors and security forces left 25 dead and many hundreds injured. The location of protests and outbreaks of violence in Bangkok is becoming increasingly unpredictable.

# A large number of protestors are based at the Ratchaprasong intersection on Sukhumvit Road. Many shops and businesses in the area closed and there is severe traffic disruption at the rally site and surrounding area. Protestors have set up a number of barricades and check-points on many roads connecting to the intersection to prevent security forces from entering the area. An Army spokesperson has been quoted as saying that the area around Ratchaprasong is very dangerous because violence could break out at any time.

# A separate group of protestors, who opposite the Red Shirts, have announced plans to rally at the Royal Plaza on Ratchadamnoen Road on 23 April, from 16:00 onwards, and at a number of additional locations within the city, including daily protests in the Silom area. There is an ongoing risk of clashes between these protestors and the Red Shirts.

# In response to anti-government protests in Bangkok, the Thai government declared a state of emergency in Bangkok and some of its surrounding provinces from 7 April 2010. This prohibits gatherings of five or more people in some areas and may restrict travel.

# There has recently been a spate of grenade and bomb attacks in central Bangkok, the majority of which have targeted Government or military buildings. See the Terrorism/Security section of this Travel Advice for details. In view of the possibility of further attacks of this sort, British citizens are advised to exercise extra caution when travelling in Bangkok and to report any suspicious devices to the authorities.

# We advise against all travel to the Preah Vihear (Khaoi Pra Viharn in Thai) temple area, due to violence in the area. See the Local Travel section of this Travel Advice.

# We advise against all but essential travel to, or through, the far southern provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and Songkhla, due to the insurgency in these areas. See the Terrorism section of this Travel Advice.

# There is a high threat from terrorism in Thailand. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. There have been a number of bomb and grenade explosions in Bangkok .


Kendo. :roll: :roll: :roll:
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Re: Political un-rest and rally

Post by margaretcarnes »

Unlike some I do like Bangkok, and the situation now around Sala Daeng and Sukhumvit is particularly worrying. Especially the targetting of Sky Train.
It won't prevent me travelling to Thailand but might - for the first time ever - make me think twice about visiting the usual haunts in Bangkok. The problems in the KhaoSan area over Songkran alone are enough to put off a lot of tourists, and now that it's affecting Patpong as well I'd love to see Abhisit finally get his act together and exert some authority. Unfortunately of course we know that it isn't quite so easy. Having a military presence on the streets is one thing - expecting them to do anything is quite another. And expecting the affect on tourism to be a prime concern is cloud cuckoo land.
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Re: Political un-rest and rally

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Here's The Nation's report of last night's incident:
Assailants fired M-79 grenades at Sala Daeng skytrain station

The bomb hits injured 25, including three foreigners

BANGKOK: -- Assailants fired M-79 explosives onto Sala Daeng skytrain station, injuring four, near the site where multicoloured protesters were confronting with the red shirts on Thursday night.

Two of the four were foreigners while the rest were Thais.

The first hits took place at 8.30pm. Police said three explosions, believed to be M-79 grenades, were fired at the third floor of the the skytrain. The explosions sent people waiting at the station ran out in panic.

The fourth explosion hit the roof of the skytrain station shortly after.

The fifth bomb attack took place in front of Bank of Ayudhya's Sala Daeng branch near Sala Daeng skytrain at 20.45pm. The blast injured three other people.

The blasts dispersed the protesters of multicoloured and red shirts who had confronted each other at Rajprasong Intersection since 5pm.


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Re: Political un-rest and rally

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3 to 5 have now died per a report. I have no sympathy any longer. One leader said "...we have our black shirt friends on the way to help us..." then after the event another leader said..."it's wasn't us..." No one but Red Shirts were in Lumpini Park and that side of Saladang. It's time for a final warning to disperse to allow those who would leave, to leave. :( Pete
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Re: Political un-rest and rally

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Refferance the 1992 uprising, i did not know about this, so done a little bit of digging around on Wikipedia there is a link to 9.30 minuite You Tube clip, i haven't put the link on because not sure if it of any relavence on this thread, there was also a rumble in 1976 so as Big Boy has said these demo's are nothing new.

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Re: Political un-rest and rally

Post by Arcadian »

We flew out of BKK on Thursday, there was a big police/military presence on the roads leading to the airport and lorries were being pulled over for inspection, otherwise everything seemed normal. When I spoke to people in HH about the troubles in Bangkok it was as if they were talking about another country altogether as they were not affected.
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Re: Political un-rest and rally

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The problem now, as I see it, is that clearing out the Red shirt protesters by force will cause a loss of life without solving any problems as it would probably lead to an increase in these type of attacks by the shadowy Black shirts.
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Re: Political un-rest and rally

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I see no solution to this - what we have here is civil war without the body count, train hijacking, grenades into public transport systems, civilians fighting civilians on the streets, and no law, order or control of it.

Thaksin must be laughing his arse off somewhere, he's single-handedly bought his own country to its knees.
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Re: Political un-rest and rally

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I know a little bit about LOS but you guys that have a lot more experience than me also can't see a sulution to this or any winners.
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