Political un-rest and rally

[BaaBaa.]

It looks as though the trouble is spreading.

It's not though, there's no significant difference from last week.

Doom Mongers. Meh!

[Siani]

I am not sure if the Foreign office advised not to travel to Thailand last week? Only last night I heard of it, I could be wrong. If there is no significant difference from last week, why are they advising people not to travel? This also was reported...
"The Foreign Office said "substantial numbers of troops" were deployed in central Bangkok and there had been protests and violent incidents in other parts of Thailand including popular tourist destinations such as Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Ayuthaya in the past week.

Thailand has seen growing tensions between anti-government protesters known as Red Shirts and security forces.
At least 26 people have been killed and nearly 1,000 wounded in clashes and yesterday protesters forced Bangkok's elevated train system to close during rush hour

[mars]

Advised people not travel to Bnagkok last week Siani

This week advised people not travel to all of Thailand

[Siani]

Yes Mars, that is what I thought. So I think there is significant difference from last week. I hope it ends soon.

[charleyboy]

The next couple of months would have seen 4 family members plus 4 friends visit me from the UK.
They have all cancelled their flights/holidays.
I'm just a small fish in a big pond.
What is the true effect on the economy?

[BaaBaa.]

I think there is significant difference from last week.

What exactly?

You are basing what "you think" on a generic statement from the foreign office of ONE country?

TAT is requesting that the British foreign office downgrade their warning level to keep it in line with every other country.

Also, reading numerous Thailand orientated Forums, Blogs and News sources provides a more rounded opinion.

[margaretcarnes]

I think there is significant difference from last week.

What exactly?

You are basing what "you think" on a generic statement from the foreign office of ONE country?

TAT is requesting that the British foreign office downgrade their warning level to keep it in line with every other country.

Also, reading numerous Thailand orientated Forums, Blogs and News sources provides a more rounded opinion.

Regardless of whether there is a change from last week or not BaaBaa - the YouTube link which you posted on 29th presents a pretty graphic image which to many people will appear to be representative of what is happening all over Bangkok - if not all over Thailand. You have to admit that it doesn't look a very safe place to be. It was also an AlJazeira broadcast. A news channel which is available now to many in the UK, and which is becoming well respected for it's coverage.
Add to that the increasing numbers of people who follow YouTube - even if they don't watch regular TV news - and it's hardly surprising people are becoming concerned about travel to Thailand regardless of any FCO advice.
And of course the TAT will ask the FCO to downgrade it's advisory. If it didn't it wouldn't be doing it's job!

[Nereus]

There may well be genuine people amongst the red shirts, but as far as I am concerned, any "leader" that threatens a Hospital is a terrorist, and should be shot on sight:

Bangkok Post
Published: 30/04/2010 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: News

Red shirt protesters are threatening to storm Chulalongkorn Hospital again on Friday to ensure the government is not using it to harbour troops.
Payap: Leader of the charge on Chula
United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) leader Payap Panket and a group of red shirt supporters and guards yesterday searched hospital buildings as they believed it has become a hide-out for security forces.

Hospital director Adisorn Patradul insisted there were no soldiers inside the hospital and barred the red shirts from conducting a search, but later allowed Mr Payap to enter.
Chaos erupted when dozens of red shirt protesters suddenly followed Mr Payap and the guards to search a building. The group later left and threatened to return for a new search at 10am today.

Chulalongkorn Hospital, which is located next to the red shirt rally site on Ratchadamri Road, on Wednesday evacuated patients from buildings near the site to wards along Henri Dunant Road. The hospital will close its out-patient service today and suspend all surgery for safety reasons. Only emergency cases would be handled, Dr Adisorn said.
The Medical Council of Thailand has urged red shirt supporters to clear the rally site near the hospital to allow emergency cases access.

It issued a statement yesterday asking the UDD to retreat at least 100 metres from the hospital's entrances on Ratchadamri Road as the protest was disrupting the hospital and threatening the morale of medical staff.
The demonstrators have blocked the hospital's entrances which mainly are used to transfer patients for emergency treatment.

''The hospital must be fully prepared for any life-saving matters and patient transfer for emergency treatment. Therefore the involved parties must step away from the hospital area and avoid any activities which may disrupt hospital operations,'' the statement said.

Council president Somsak Lohlekha demanded that red shirt supporters stop exploiting the hospital area for political purposes.
''Never before have hospital and medical staff been obstructed in their work as much as this,'' Mr Somsak said.
Dr Somsak said he was disappointed with the red shirts, who are reported to have tried to block ambulances taking injured people to the hospital.

[charlesh]

Blocking and barricading roads and now hospitals. Searching buses, buildings. A virtual state of anarchy. These hillbillies are losing all credibility and a state of martial law must surely be on the agenda!

[pharvey]

Blocking and barricading roads and now hospitals. Searching buses, buildings. A virtual state of anarchy. These hillbillies are losing all credibility and a state of martial law must surely be on the agenda!

Agree 100% - getting way, way beyond now. Problem is...... what's a real solution?

[pharvey]

Thai Government in control?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8650870.stm

[STW_Ryan]

The BBC's 'coverage' has been a joke. They have completely ignored the hospital invasion and covered things from a very pro-red viewpoint, selecting only to cover events which make the reds look good, and ignoring those that don't. Frankly I'm disgusted that the BBC are so utterly incompetent. Al Jazeera does seem a little more impartial and willing to point out that all sides are equally committed to the art of being complete and utter bastards.

[pharvey]

Have to say I've been a big fan of the BBC, but coverage of the Thai protests has indeed been extremely poor.

[STEVE G]

Blocking and barricading roads and now hospitals. Searching buses, buildings. A virtual state of anarchy. These hillbillies are losing all credibility and a state of martial law must surely be on the agenda!

I think the Internal Security Act in force at the moment is basically martial law, but it hasn't acheived much.
Personally I'm now at the airport checked in and my partner is heading back to Issan and I'm quite happy to be getting out so that we don't have to worry about the airport staying open, or routes to it getting blocked or anything else.
If you can stay in Hua Hin indefinately then you're highly unlikely to have a problem, but if you need to get in and out, it might be a different matter entirely.
Another point is that I'm nine days late because of a volcano which you could hardly be blamed for, but if you can't get back to work because you went to a country that has a FCO warning in place, you might not get any sympathy!

[cozza]

STW_Ryan,

Was just about to post the same thing about the Aus medias bias coverage. Seem to cover all the stuff where the Reds are "fighting for equality" but not where they storm hospitals and fire grenades at sky trains. I am sick of hearing how the Reds are fighting for equality and democracy while being bare handed. Since when does bare handed mean brandishing a gun or grenade launcher.

This bunch are ruining the country and they cannot even see the big picture.