Thai Worries - (UPDATE) Political Upheaval Shuts Down Int. Airport

reply to post by khunmoon

Y. W. khun.
I thank you for the responses, and these new links.
Yeah, my signature sums it up right here in America, also, i'm afraid!

You're right- I see a small mention of the problems in Thailand on page 10 of the Chicago Tribune today. And a picture of police near Suvarnabhumi airport, in partial riot gear; helmets on, but visors still in the 'up' position...

Red shirts vs. yellow shirts... my goodness, if they clash, we'll see nothing but 'orange' ! just a little humor No, really, with both sides gathering in strength, and bombs going off, and everyone waiting for the decision on vote fraud; yikes!

I don't take all this lightly, as I see that you don't... Man oh man, life's supposed to get easier when we age, not more complicated!

From the pictures you posted (excellent quality, btw) I see what you mean; they look like they're ready for more kegs! just kiddin But looks are deceiving, we know they have an ex-general among them, and guns, and have announced thier intention to use them if needed.

I don't care for seeing military as the police, either, in any country. But if people start dying, in big numbers, directly because of thier reckless behavior, maybe it's needed in a limited capacity, only for the purpose of assisting to find a compromised solution. NOT rolling out in tanks!

If Handley's book is banned there, sorry, I shake my head at that a little.
Glad it won't ever be banned HERE!

Constitutional Court Outlaws Ruling Party

Just in,

Top Thai court bans ruling party

Thailand's constitutional court has dissolved the governing People Power Party and two of its coalition partners for fraud during the last election.

The parties' leaders, including Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, were banned from politics for five years.

But under the constitution, most of its MPs can keep their seats under another party name, and should be able to form another government, correspondents say.

Earlier, an anti-government protester was killed at a Bangkok airport.

The show goes on.

TRT, Thai Rak Thai (Thais love Thais) suffered the same fate, and now its reincarnation PPP, Peoples Power Party has to go down the line as well.

I don't know what it will mean, except for clashes between redshirts and yellowshirts.

Fighting in the street will now get serious. For Thailand NOT to lose face, authorities have to react now.

I can only see the military capable of restoring order, because Thais don't have the education of rational behavior.

But they have for obedience.

The party is over for now.

[edit on 2/12/2008 by khunmoon]

One picture says more than a thousand words.



EDIT couldn't dwnl pics I wanted. Here's another (hope it works)

The one I wanted is in a slide show here

[edit on 2/12/2008 by khunmoon]

I would be posting here in depth however I am stranded in a remote 3rd world country and longing to get back to Bangkok, although we have just discovered our flights are cancelled.
It seems the PAD are attempting to overthrow a democratically elected government, who everyone knows is the pupper government of the exiled meglomaniac Taksin.

The rural poor have been lied to and manipulated by this man. He seems to thrive in the media attention, making out that he is an innocent vicitim and that he could save Thailand if he is allowed back.

The Constitutionasl Court have found his party guilty. He is funding militant activity to stir up trouble amongst PAD protests and make them look like thugs. No doubt there are rogue elements within PAD as well.

The pro royalist stance is very thai, and ironically the power base of the rural poor in the norh do not understand his motives, as they too are blindly pro royal.

If anyone cares to post a link that could show that Taksin is a credible man who cares for his people I would love to see it.

He came in to power, sucked the country to fill his coffers and is charged already and has fled to escape jail. His modern business approach did perhaps provide some benefit for Thailand as a lot of recent governments have been slow, and all are riddled with corruption.

The PAD are just sick of the blatent way in which he virtually said he could fix the country as long as no one questions his personal gain for doing so.
He evaded tax in his sale to Singapore of one of his telecommunications companies.

Rural thai are fed a different line as they are isolated and uneducted. They are simply bribed whenever Taksin is exposed. The system of pay offs is too complex for a westerner who has not seen S E Asian systems, but believe me it is possible for an extremely rich man to bribe the right village leaders all the way to the electoral polls. He has a well oiled propaganda machine.

Now he sits abroad hinting that the violene would stop if he is pardoned.
He is evil. His rich chinese heritage of survival of the fittest (or richest) is sad and not typically thai, although common in chinese business ethic.

He is ripping the country apart.

It would be nice if the airports opened. The airports are administered by Taksin family who all benefitted in the millions on that project. It did not have to close.

So if anyone here on ATS has some news that shows Taksin to be a truely honest and humble man who cares for his diverse prolateiat, please post.
I have heaps of time to read on ATS now I am stranded.

People Power, Chart Thai and Matchima Thipataya parties disbanded



The announcement from Thai media.

Now the conditions of PAD seems to be fullfilled ...and the protest can end.

I doubt it will, because the same culprits, whoes parties now banned, will form new parties and go on with business as usual. Only person inhibited by the court order is Somchai, the PM, is out ...and that was the condition PAD did asked for to end the protests.

So com'on Chamlong, Sondhi, show some responsibility to your country.

But I'm not sure everybody is happy about the party is over. The bitter taste of victory.

reply to post by serpentine


Thanks for joining, serpentine.

No, you can't get find links proving Thaksin's credibility. Except from the business press. The Times interview maybe. Sure investors want him back.

..and afraid somehow, someday he will, now he have declared so.

Just out.


Bangkok's main airport reopens to cargo flights



So it is going back to normal. Passenger flights takes more IT than cargo, but I still hope it will be opened for arrivals by Monday.

Finally some good news.

Protester group allows Bangkok airport to receive incoming flights



The boarding procedure is dependent of fully working IT-systems. I figured that out. Arriving planes only need immigration's IT to be functioning.

I can only hope that the situation will be calm until the 8th of December, the date for a new government to be formed.

What comes then nobody knows.

The closest to an official confirmation.
www.bangkokpost.com...]Suvarnabhumi to welcome incoming flights



Here's a picture of the king who has birthday on Friday. He is the real reason for them to straighten things now.

reply to post by khunmoon


Great news! Glad the airports will start functioning again.

Nice picture of the king, khunmoon. He appears very young at 80.
Perhaps the declining on-line travel booking sites will perk up a bit.

Hope damage to the terminals isn't very bad, and the people can help form thier new leadership satisfactorily.

The picture of the king in my previous post comes from this article.




He didn't mention the present turmoil. We shall see if he will in his birthday speech on Friday.



[edit on 3/12/2008 by khunmoon]