Bangkok Violence Escalating

[Tomcat]

Seems like the seize Bangkok thing will start on the 12th January and im glad ill be out tomorrow as there is no happy ending here.

 

It seems likeThailand was cobbled together from various ethnic groups and then tried to make out that everyone was in fact a Thai where in fact there are still many distinct groups like Lao , Malays and the list goes on and  it seems that the Yellows have a real problem on there hands this time and my guess is that the end game will be a more Federal System or even a break up of LOS. Civil war is a possibility according to some commentators in the BKK post

 

From the outside looking in, like watching CNN or the BBC,it looks more simplified than when your sitting here reading the newspapers 

[pdogg]

Seems like the seize Bangkok thing will start on the 12th January and im glad ill be out tomorrow as there is no happy ending here.

 

 

Imposing emergency law during 'Bangkok shutdown' may make things worse: Brass; Reds warn of backlash

The top brass disagree with the imposition of an emergency decree despite the People's Democratic Reform Committee's threat to "shut down" the capital on January 13 to force Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to step down, military sources said yesterday.

The armed forces have made it clear that the soldiers assigned to deal with the protesters will carry only batons and shields, so the emergency law would not be of much help to the government, a security source said.

The government is considering an emergency decree in light of possible civil unrest after PDRC leaders said they would stage a mass rally to step up pressure on the Yingluck government to leave office to pave the way for "reform" of the country.

At the Supreme Command Headquarters, a meeting of the commanders of all three branches and the national police chief was called to evaluate the political situation. Paradorn Pattanatabut, secretary-general of the National Security Council, which proposed the emergency decree, also attended the meeting.

Military sources said the top brass feared a repeat of the confrontation with protesters during the 2010 political riots. Besides, the military does not play a major role in riot-control operations, they said.

The security law was also not yet deemed necessary at this stage and in fact might aggravate the situation. It would undermine the country's image and the economy, especially the stock market, which is sensitive to political instability.

The sources said imposing the Internal Security Act and deploying police to control the situation were adequate. Security and intelligence officials have been instructed to monitor the PDRC's mobilising of protesters from January 5-8 to evaluate the situation.

Paradorn said a meeting with the government's Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order, which Yingluck also attended on Wednesday, discussed whether to levy the emergency decree to handle defiant protesters and brace for possible violence.

Security officials were informed that protesters from the provinces were being drafted to gather in the capital.

The officials will assess again on Sunday whether the situation is moving in the direction that the PDRC leaders have announced.

"If violence erupts or the situation develops into something that creates public terror, it fits the criteria that we can use to activate the emergency decree," he said.

Yingluck can enforce the emergency decree for three days and if she wants to extend the period, she needs the Cabinet's approval, he said.

The pro-government red-shirt camp said it would counter the PDRC with a "Bangkok open up" campaign.

Jatuporn Promphan, a core leader of the red shirts, told a press conference that the time had come for the people, red-shirt protesters among them, to stand up and fight against what he called the elite's network, which planned to recruit southerners to oust the elected government.

Seizing Bangkok would lead to civil war, he said.

"We are ready but it depends when we will make a move. If we lose democracy, we don't know what will happen. This month is the month of 'make or break'. Please wait for a signal from us. We will fight under peaceful principles," he said.

He also asked other provinces to stage warm-up rallies starting on Sunday, the same day that PDRC leader Suthep Thaugsuban has called for a dry run before the real operation on January 13. Further details will be disclosed later, Jatuporn said.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission and the Constitutional Court are moving in the same direction against the government - a manoeuvring in accord with the PDRC's declared Bangkok shutdown that, he claimed, will open the way for a coup.

Red-shirt leader Thida Tavornseth said a Bangkok shutdown would be a setback for Thailand and democracy.

Seizing the capital would cause problems for the public. The PDRC and the Democrat Party were only serving aristocrats who were intent on obstructing democracy, she added.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Army-against-crisis-decree-30223395.html

[Tomcat]

if some kind of a wide area curfew is imposed at night or it gets out of control i would think that Pattaya will be a lot  more busy than usual.

 

who would want to book a trip in BKK right now , another blow to the tourist trade.

[Snick]

I just saw a headline that authorities expect 10-12% tourist decline in 2014, I'd guess closer to 20% and worse for Bangkok itself.

 

Its very weird , government wants the election on 2nd but opposition is trying to block it, Electoral Commission wants is postponed and might resign to prevent it happening, army also wants a delay. But if there is a delay, then what ?

 

Strange Days

[stoolpusher]

Im booked in at Bangkok on the 12 Feb I hope its all done by then

[azza33]

 

who would want to book a trip in BKK right now , another blow to the tourist trade.

LMAO

[pdogg]

 

The People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) has revealed 20 major intersections, commercial and shopping locations where mass demonstrations will be held on January 13 so that the people could choose which place is convenient for them to participate.

 

The 20 places disclosed so far are Uruphong, Charoenpol, Hua Lampong (Bangkok Railway Station), Bang Rak, Silom, Sam Yarn, Phaya Thai, Ratchathevi, Victory Monument, Siam Square, Ha Yaek Lard Prao, Din Daeng, Prathunam, Rajprasong, and Lumphini.

 

Besides these 20 locations, there will also be small locations connected to these places where traffic jams could happen and therefore could be turned into rally sites, the PDRC leader Suthep Thaugsuban said.

 

These mentioned locations will be occupied by demonstrators all day and night with several activities to be held to entertain participants and educate them on national reform.

 

Suthep said the occupations of these locations would last several days and not just on January 13 but continue until the caretaker prime minister resigns which might take days, or weeks and months.

http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/pdrc-targets-20-major-sites-january-13-mass-demonstrations/

[pdogg]

 

He’d barely been elected when U.S. President Barack Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009.

 

Now, nominating Thailand’s embattled (caretaker) prime minister for a Nobel Prize of her own was the highlight of a speech made this afternoon by a Puea Thai Party election candidate and the deputy minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives.

 

A troop of Puea Thai Party election candidates gathered in the heart of Sukhothai province today and spoke on stage in front of 10,000 locals, who came to give flowers and support to the politicians.

 

Besides encouraging citizens to go to the elections on Feb. 2, Sunai Jullapongsathorn announced on stage that if Yingluck Shinawatra is elected the prime minister of Thailand once again, the party will nominate her for the Nobel Peace Prize since she has tried her best to compromise and settle the disagreements between Thais, Post Today reported.

http://bangkok.coconuts.co/2014/01/07/yingluck-be-nominated-nobel-prize

[rxpharm]

More grandstanding by Pheu Thai - she is certain to win the next election, the question will be can the government form? Doubtful as it looks like they will not be able to get at least 95% of seats filled due to boycotts, and another problem is  the case proceeding against the 308 previous members who voted for changing the senate to an all elected body, despite being advised not to by the Democrats and other constitutional scholars.

[deepthroat]

Fuck. Latest report (Monday 1/13 here in the States) from the NYTimes quotes some dickhead as saying they are going to shut down the air traffic control if Yingluck hasn't stepped down by Wed.

 

I'm supposed to fly Friday, arrive Sunday. I usually wire transfer $$$ from my USA bank account to my Kasikorn account prior to my trip, but I think with all the unrest I'd be best to put USA $$$ in my sock and bring 'em that way. Then I can deposit into Kasikorn at the Patts branch if I arrive safe. If for some reason the plane is turned away, then I'm not stuck trying to figure out how to get a couple thousand bucks back outta my Kasikorn account, especially as this could turn out to be my last trip for a few years (unless the thing with my live-in GF falls apart, which is always possible given my track record!)

[SiamSam]

 (unless the thing with my live-in GF falls apart, which is always possible given my track record!)

 

So you gots a "live-in GF" does ya!??! How do the felines and the rest of the 132 residents of Porcupine Tree take to that?

 

Well, I guess you and me has some good catchin' up to do, don't we? 

[pdogg]

Fuck. Latest report (Monday 1/13 here in the States) from the NYTimes quotes some dickhead as saying they are going to shut down the air traffic control if Yingluck hasn't stepped down by Wed.

 

I'm supposed to fly Friday, arrive Sunday. I usually wire transfer $$$ from my USA bank account to my Kasikorn account prior to my trip, but I think with all the unrest I'd be best to put USA $$$ in my sock and bring 'em that way. Then I can deposit into Kasikorn at the Patts branch if I arrive safe. If for some reason the plane is turned away, then I'm not stuck trying to figure out how to get a couple thousand bucks back outta my Kasikorn account, especially as this could turn out to be my last trip for a few years (unless the thing with my live-in GF falls apart, which is always possible given my track record!)

Make sure to bring new 100's DT.

 

100's get a better exchange rate than 20's/

 

Sometimes banks don't like old 100's

 

(btw, bad idea for Americans to have more than 10K USD in a foreign accounts as it triggers additional reporting requirements but u say u are bringing less)

 

See ya soon bro!  We can catch a Seahawk game! 

[xyzzy]

I'm flying in from Phnom Penh Friday and booked a car with one of the typical 1000 baht airport car pickup services yesterday. They didn't even mention anything about the BKK stuff. So far it appears to not be affecting the airport at all. I see the airport rail link has increased the number of trains per day to help out. But I am done with the BKK portion of my trip so only going to Pattaya. I almost decided to leave PP on the 12th to avoid any problems. But after reading news reports today (Tuesday afternoon in SE Asia) I feel pretty good about the airport situation. At least at this moment. But I didn't see the report about the air traffic control thing. That would seem inconsistant with what the yellows are saying/trying to do.

 

The US dollar is the real currency here in Cambodia. I wonder what would have happened if I brought some of the new $100 bills? I have not seen a single one of the brand new $100 here. But $100 is a big bill here and hard to break sometimes so I avoid them most of the time. I have gotten six $100 bills out of ATMs here and they are all the old style. I suppose they are accustom to the new $100 in Thailand by now.

[xyzzy]

I did find this on CNN.com:

 

The PDRC distanced itself from a group of protesters who threatened to shut down the stock exchange and an air traffic control tower at one of Bangkok's airports.

 

"We will stick with peaceful means to achieve our goal to reform," said Akanat Prompan, a PDRC spokesman. "We are trying to limit any possible damages to general public and businesses."

 

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/01/14/world/asia/thailand-protests/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

[SiamSam]

Sounds encouraging.

[Swedeman007]

Make sure to bring new 100's DT.

 

100's get a better exchange rate than 20's/

 

Sometimes banks don't like old 100's

 

(btw, bad idea for Americans to have more than 10K USD in a foreign accounts as it triggers additional reporting requirements but u say u are bringing less)

 

See ya soon bro!  We can catch a Seahawk game! 

 

 

To add a bit to the 100's response, some banks also do not like 100's that have any tears in them, even real minor ones. 

When you get your bills in the USA make sure they are crisp, and have zero tears, or large nicks on the edge and you will be fine when you go to exchange them. 

 

I had a pocket full of brand new 100's on my last trip and the exchange booth didn't blink twice, but counted them about three times before giving me my baht. -Swedeman007

[SiamSam]

My experience has been the exchange kiosks and banks like large denomination traveller's cheques. However they also count them a dozen times before handing over the baht. 

[xyzzy]

I got a couple of 100s at the bank before I left. They were brand new crisp new style $100 bills. Since they are putting the new bills in circulation probably easy to get good looking bills?

 

http://www.newmoney.gov/newmoney/Default.aspx

[Tomcat]

Swedenman is correct on the tearing issue

 

in BKK they check for tears and even small tears means the foreign bill is handed back to you. Also in BKK passport is required as well now to change up notes as most kiosk in SOi4

 

The banks should take torn notes out of circulation

[Quietguy]

The banks should take torn notes out of circulation

I think I read that the Bank of England will be introducing plastic based notes in 2016.

[SiamSam]

We've had them in Canada for years. I believe Australia was the first country to introduce them. The Canadian ones are different colours and are scented. The green $20s smell like celery; the red $50s like cinnamon and the brown $100s like cappuccino. Novel idea. 

[globetrotter]

And the $5 smells like an East Hastings st hooker

[PANIC]

i am booked to fly bkk on the 7th march,staying there only 3 days,then drive to patts until the end of march,i hope also that everything will be normal again

[stoolpusher]

I have canceled all but one night in Bangers if its ok after the first night I will stay longer.

[pdogg]

Btw, Abhisit lives on Sukhumvit Soi 31 if anyone wants to pop in and say hi on the way to Darkside.

 

 

 

Democrat party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said the bomb attack at his home last night was well organized.

 

He said that whatever violent incident happened at his home or at other houses of the party members and the party head-office was related and well organized by political groups.

 

They have weapon, he said.

 

He also said that the arrest of four suspects in Bang Na last night with hand grenades and guns were denied by the police that they were involved with the bomb attack at his home.

 

In fact, he said that the police should investigate and find out what they would do with the hand grenades and where. He called on all his party members to take care of themselves and stay alert.

 

A team of Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) police inspected Abhisit’s home on Sukhumvit 31 this morning. They found an  M 26 hand grenade pin at the scene.

 

EOD police said the attacker hurled the hand grenade across the protective net and the grenade fell on the roof of the room where Abhisit’s father normally stays.

 

But nobody was inside the house last night.

 

Six surveillance cameras around the house and nearby might have captured the attacker. However after the attack, the surveillance cameras were all removed by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.

 

The police said they were contacting the BMA to get the tapes to hunt down the attacker.