Bangkok shutdown

[Jeffrey O'Neill]

I was in BKK for Songkran in 2010 when the red shirts were having their fun. Wasn't too scary except for the night that Saladaeng BTS got hit by some RPGs. I missed that by a couple of a trains. After that Silom looked like a war zone - barbed wire every 50M with soldiers out n about. The Thais seemed OK with it as I saw lots of locals providing them with food and drinks, and for us tourists it was a chance to get some pics alonged the barbed wire or with a group of soldiers.

I really don't know how this situation is going to be resolved. The yellow shirt elites think the rural poor red shirts are too much like peasants and lack the education and income to be relied on to vote properly - ie too many of their votes are bought. I understand this view to a degree, but you can't aspire to be a democracy if most of the country is not deemed worthy to vote.

As for the Red shirts and their support for the Shinawatras, it's mostly due to the increased spwending they've provided int eh rural areas, some of which has been good, but very costly with their above world price floor for rice. It's really hammering the budget, especially with the level of corruption and illegal imports of rice from Cambodia Vietnam Laos being onsold to the Govt at the higher price.

I'll be there in a couple of months so really hoping things have settle down, but I'm pessimistic that the country wont fall into some smoldering civil war once the King departs.

 

[BensAdventures]

I was in BKK for Songkran in 2010 when the red shirts were having their fun. Wasn't too scary except for the night that Saladaeng BTS got hit by some RPGs. I missed that by a couple of a trains. After that Silom looked like a war zone - barbed wire every 50M with soldiers out n about. The Thais seemed OK with it as I saw lots of locals providing them with food and drinks, and for us tourists it was a chance to get some pics alonged the barbed wire or with a group of soldiers.

I really don't know how this situation is going to be resolved. The yellow shirt elites think the rural poor red shirts are too much like peasants and lack the education and income to be relied on to vote properly - ie too many of their votes are bought. I understand this view to a degree, but you can't aspire to be a democracy if most of the country is not deemed worthy to vote.

As for the Red shirts and their support for the Shinawatras, it's mostly due to the increased spwending they've provided int eh rural areas, some of which has been good, but very costly with their above world price floor for rice. It's really hammering the budget, especially with the level of corruption and illegal imports of rice from Cambodia Vietnam Laos being onsold to the Govt at the higher price.

I'll be there in a couple of months so really hoping things have settle down, but I'm pessimistic that the country wont fall into some smoldering civil war once the King departs.

I was also there in 2010, and I felt safe until there was a gun battle on one of the main motorways, 25kms from the protests, that was my time to get out, soon after things got VERY wild.

Agreed about when or if this ever will be resolved sufficiently! I've got many Thai friends and the general consensus is that for some countries, democracy is not utopia, Thailand is one of those countries!

I'm back in March, hope it all calms down before then, but I'm not confident.

 

[Hvr]

I thought I could see the Conrad from Phloen Chit a couple of weeks ago. Didn't look too far.

Certainly walking distance but can be slightly hard to find the first time you go there because it isn't actually on Wireless Rd, but behind a shopping centre and office block.

 

[Homer]

I've got many Thai friends and the general consensus is that for some countries, democracy is not utopia, Thailand is one of those countries!

That's certainly a common view among the yellow-shirt Thais that I've spoken to. The oft-cited example is China with a largely uneducated rural poor.

 

[Cynicor]

Well thank you for that. Will make it a bit easier to find!

 

[Colster]

Bangkok Lock Down - Emergency declared for 60 days - travel advice?

Hi All,
Am taking the mini Colsters plus Mrs Colster on a holiday to Thailand at the end of Feb. JQ Star to HKT for 8 nights (that's how long the flight will seem), then flying up to BKK for two nights before coming back QF Y. Not to worried about the time in HKT, but am a little concerned about what BKK will be like on the 8th of March....

Some options would be to extend the time in HKT, and then fly straight to BKK to hop on the QF flight (avoid going into the city) or stay with the itinerary...

Thoughts?

Colster

 

[Cynicor]

Re: Bangkok Lock Down - Emergency declared for 60 days - travel advice?

I'll be there on Saturday so I'll let you know!
The Thais are amazingly nice and this sort of thing rarely hampers tourists too much (I have heard, not been during a protest). The only issue would be if violence is widespread but it seems ok so far.

 

[JohnK]

Re: Bangkok Lock Down - Emergency declared for 60 days - travel advice?

Hmmm. I am supposed to be there from 23 February until 01 March.

 

[cmdwedge]

Re: Bangkok Lock Down - Emergency declared for 60 days - travel advice?

Thailand | Travel advice | Smartraveller: The Australian Government's travel advisory and consular assistance service

Don't ask us. Ask people who figure this stuff out for a living (DFAT).

 

[Anna]

Re: Bangkok Lock Down - Emergency declared for 60 days - travel advice?

If you decide to go, make sure your travel insurance will cover you if you have a problem arising from the civil unrest. Many policies have exclusions for that kind of thing.

 

[Colster]

Re: Bangkok Lock Down - Emergency declared for 60 days - travel advice?

Already looked there and saw the same... was more interested in people's prior experience with previous BKK red shirts v yellow shirts... and whether the thoughts were if the unrest would continue that long, but thanks for the link anyway

 

[RooFlyer]

Re: Bangkok Lock Down - Emergency declared for 60 days - travel advice?

Don't forget in one of the previous phases of this protest, they shut down the airport (can't remember which side that was). So tourists/tourism is not immune. One way for the protesters to really squeeze the government is to get at the economy.

And see if your travel insurance has an exclusion to the effect that if stuff's happening before you leave, you can't claim if it affects you when you go.

 

[cmdwedge]

Re: Bangkok Lock Down - Emergency declared for 60 days - travel advice?

Already looked there and saw the same... was more interested in people's prior experience with previous BKK red shirts v yellow shirts... and whether the thoughts were if the unrest would continue that long, but thanks for the link anyway

There are reports of grenades being thrown at protesters, and nightly drive-by (well, ride-by) scooter shootings. I wouldn't take my wife and kids there right now.

 

[BensAdventures]

Re: Bangkok Lock Down - Emergency declared for 60 days - travel advice?

There are reports of grenades being thrown at protesters, and nightly drive-by (well, ride-by) scooter shootings. I wouldn't take my wife and kids there right now.

I was in BKK for the Red Shirts Riots in 2010 and generally felt as safe as any city in the world, but I left just after shots started to be fired in places not surrounding the protests. Thai's are extremely resilient, and they handle these issues and bounce back quick, but I'm due there in mid March, and I'll be watching very closely. If the State of Emergency is still in place, I won't be going.

 

[Happy Trails]

Re: Bangkok Lock Down - Emergency declared for 60 days - travel advice?

Can't say I noticed anything amiss when I arrived yesterday.
Even in 2010 the trouble was pretty much confined to a few city blocks.

 

[joyvee]

Re: Bangkok Lock Down - Emergency declared for 60 days - travel advice?

I have attended two Yellow shirt demonstrations when they were in Lumpini Park several years ago. Went to assembly point outside MBK this year and talked to people. Thais were interested in telling me why they felt the need to participate in the demonstrations, some of them for the first time this year. They also told me to be careful and look after myself.

One can never make allowances for loose cannons, whether they be armed political activists or out of control speeding cars which kill pedestrians as they cross with the green lights.

I will be going back early next month to BKK and will be prudent, careful and vigilant. Not sure what the reaction to the State of Emergency will be. The ABC AM program stated that the Red Shirts have gutted two top stories of a large building in BKK. Not sure why that may have occurred or its possible planned use.

All trains are running normally so it should be easy to get around. I intend moving around BKK and re visiting some of the sites I haven't seen in 15 years. Happy travelling. JoyV

 

[joyvee]

Re: Bangkok Lock Down - Emergency declared for 60 days - travel advice?

Sorry I forgot to answer question about "What next and for how long?" That is the same as asking how long is a piece of string. No answers are possible. No crystal balls available.

I checked with my insurance and if I am participating in a demonstration then I may not be covered. If I am an adequate distance away and misfortune befalls me then it can't be connected with my deliberately placing myself at risk and there fore I will be covered. Even if DFAT issues the highest advisory to avoid travelling to BKK , this will not negate the insurance cover as it is advice only. Be wise to check with your company.

Will also keep up with news, ask the locals and avoid "hot spots."

My sister is also travelling to BKK next week so we both have confidence that it will a safe journey to BKK. JoyV

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Re: Bangkok Lock Down - Emergency declared for 60 days - travel advice?

Already looked there and saw the same... was more interested in people's prior experience with previous BKK red shirts v yellow shirts... and whether the thoughts were if the unrest would continue that long, but thanks for the link anyway

i have been there several times during previous protests and while there is heightened security, as long as you stay away I can't really see any problem.

one occasion Silom Road was in the thick of things, and there was a curfew... my hotel was on Sathorn Road but there was hardly any evidence of the protests aside from increased traffic, even being as close as one major road away. the military had put up some barricades and it would have been extremely difficult to find yourself in the middle of it unless you were deliberately trying to do so.

I missed curfew one night (didn't even know it was on) and nothing happened.

Even if the airport was stormed again - it would be inconvenient... but i wouldn't expect my life to be in any danger.

 

[Hvr]

Re: Bangkok Lock Down - Emergency declared for 60 days - travel advice?

I was there in 2008 and flew into BKK when the yellow shirts were storming the airport. I spoke to my insurance provider (QBE) and they assured me that I was covered. However, I was aware that many people had their insurance claim declined and their insurance company was very quick to tell them so.

When I spoke to DFAT (at BKK AP) they were surprised that my insurance company had agreed to provide coverage. Of all the people they spoke to I was the only person they heard about who had been given positive news. When I claimed I was paid everything within a fortnight.


WRT the actual incidents I always cringe when I see Farangs in Thailand attending demonstrations and commenting on things they do not know about.

Whilst some locals did want to talk about the demonstrations I always declined saying that I was a guest in their country and did not understand the situation therefore I wouldn't comment. This was generally well received.

FlyerTalk has some excellent resources on the ground and they update things as they unfold.

Stay safe and make contingency plans. There is no guarantee that this series of demonstrations will be restricted to BKK. For example Chiang Mai is well known as a red shirt area and the residents there may have some of their own protest action if they deem it necessary.

 

[joyvee]

Re: Bangkok Lock Down - Emergency declared for 60 days - travel advice?

I agree with most of the above although there are always exceptions to generalizations about " falangs" which some perceive to be a derogatory term.
Thai culture and emerging democratic practice are complex. Not that it is perfect in US as per consequences of GFC and current Australian govt practice about boat people where Indonesian police are more forthcoming than our spokesperson.

Democracy is still a work in progress and British history has some interesting examples in its evolution.

As well as opposition to Ying Luck and her brother's influence there are large numbers of rice farmers, previously ardent supporters of the government, who are owed billions of unpaid baht .... they are not happy either

. The situation is extremely volatile and it is not the time to think it would be an adventure to put oneself into a demonstration for new holiday experience.
Use commonsense and avoid conflict hot spots.
Some years ago an experienced Aussie war journalist was killed in BKK by a rare richocheting bullet. Violence is unpredictable. There are lots of alternative places to enjoy in Thailand. JoyV