Bangkok shutdown

[JohnK]

What do you suggest they do? Let everyone run riot as much as they want?

Accept the government elected and stop rioting.

 

[drron]

Will be there late June.Our first visit was on the 20th May 1992-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_May_(1992)

Despite the tanks on the street we did not at any time then feel threatened.

 

[burmans]

What do you suggest they do? Let everyone run riot as much as they want?

Agreed, while I am sure the army's motives are not pure someone needs to take some control here as the situation was getting progressively nastier.

 

[burmans]

Accept the government elected and stop rioting.

And who would you like to enforce that given the police are clearly unable to?

 

[amaroo]

This declaration causes you to relook at the wording of your travel insurance policy

Indeed.

We're with TID and their policy reads....

We will not pay for any of the following:
5. A loss that arises from any act of war (whether war is declared or not) or from any rebellion, revolution, insurrection or taking of power by the military.

 

[Musongman]

I have been going through this sort of stuff in Thailand for the last 10 years. With the exception of the BKK airport shut down a few years back, foreigners are rarely inconvenienced, especially if you stay away from a small area in Bangkok CBD, and better still go to Pattaya or another resort area! The Thai way of doing things cannot be compared to any other system, mai pen rai folks!

 

[drron]

And who would you like to enforce that given the police are clearly unable to?

The police could enforce the situation except that they tend to be on a different side to the Army.Lots of reports of off duty policemen being involved in the previous Red Shirt problems.Army hierarchy in the past were loyal to the Yellow shirts-probably not as solid now though.

However the reason it is all a problem now is that the King's health is not good.The Crown Prince is a divisive figure but ordinary Thais will still be swayed by their king.As well the Bangkok elite will have to be wary as there is still the lese majestere laws outlawing criticism of the King.
Thailand Protests And Instability - Business Insider

The Crown Prince has recently been appointed to the Defence Council and put in charge of the Royal Guard meaning he is definitely the favourite in the succession stakes.The problem for the establishment is that he is seen to be very friendly to mr Thaksin.I read this article in the economist on my flight to DFW which describes the situation-
The future of Thailand's elite: Helplessly hoping | The Economist

 

[Happy Trails]

As long as the airport stays open I'm not too concerned.
Even then I have plan B.

 

[burmans]

The police could enforce the situation except that they tend to be on a different side to the Army.Lots of reports of off duty policemen being involved in the previous Red Shirt problems.Army hierarchy in the past were loyal to the Yellow shirts-probably not as solid now though.

However the reason it is all a problem now is that the King's health is not good.The Crown Prince is a divisive figure but ordinary Thais will still be swayed by their king.As well the Bangkok elite will have to be wary as there is still the lese majestere laws outlawing criticism of the King.
Thailand Protests And Instability - Business Insider

The Crown Prince has recently been appointed to the Defence Council and put in charge of the Royal Guard meaning he is definitely the favourite in the succession stakes.The problem for the establishment is that he is seen to be very friendly to mr Thaksin.I read this article in the economist on my flight to DFW which describes the situation-
The future of Thailand's elite: Helplessly hoping | The Economist

OK, so the police are unwilling rather than unable, it still rather leaves my question open. If the police and unable/unwilling to enforce then who are you suggesting should do so?

PS, that's really a questin for JohnK but happy for others to express their opinion on it too.

 

[djd]

Based on information received from a friend in BKK an hour ago, away from the protest sites people seem to be going about their business as usual. What's happening at the protest site is unknown.

 

[drron]

OK, so the police are unwilling rather than unable, it still rather leaves my question open. If the police and unable/unwilling to enforce then who are you suggesting should do so?

PS, that's really a questin for JohnK but happy for others to express their opinion on it too.

Seems simple to us westerners but a lot more convoluted for the Thais.Even though the Army top brass would mostly be on the side of the old elite a lot of their men aren't.Hence probably why the Army is not calling this a coup.

 

[JohnK]

As long as the airport stays open I'm not too concerned.
Even then I have plan B.

My fiancee tells me not to worry. The airport should be OK to get in/out of Thailand.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Accept the government elected and stop rioting.

Agreed but neither side are capable of doing so. This move by the military is an attempt to keep the peace. Numerous people have died in recent weeks and the yellows were planning to have another mass protest this weekend with the aim to topple the government.

Its an incredibly complex issue and I have also been in and out of bangkok and Thailand continuously for a decade. Ill be in bkk on monday evening again and have no intention to change my plans at the moment. As others have said. .. as long as you remain clear of the protest sites foreigners will be and have been mostly unaffected. Except of course during the airport shut down of 2007 which considering the economical impact on the country I think would be unlikely to reoccur.

 

[burmans]

Seems simple to us westerners but a lot more convoluted for the Thais.

I'm certainly not in the camp of thinking its simple, I agree with Aussie_Flyer that is very complex and can probably do without the simplistic non-solutions being proposed by some.

 

[kpc]

As others have said. .. as long as you remain clear of the protest sites foreigners will be and have been mostly unaffected. Except of course during the airport shut down of 2007 which considering the economical impact on the country I think would be unlikely to reoccur.

...sorry to be pedantic....2008 actually; a 5-10000 person conference in Bangkok I was attending got cancelled 3 days before I was due to fly into BKK.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

...sorry to be pedantic....2008 actually; a 5-10000 person conference in Bangkok I was attending got cancelled 3 days before I was due to fly into BKK.

quite right, the 2008 shutdown of the airport was utterly absurd. I was fortunate to have just left the country the week before

 

[drron]

...sorry to be pedantic....2008 actually; a 5-10000 person conference in Bangkok I was attending got cancelled 3 days before I was due to fly into BKK.

May have run into you if it had not happened.The shutdown was actually OK for us as the day before flying-we were still going anyway-mrsdrron had another of her falls and had a very sore painful knee.So we were able to cancel without penalty and without using insurance.The bad thing though was we were flying BA on one of their pay J fly F promotions.

 

[AviatorPJ]

As long as the airport stays open I'm not too concerned.
Even then I have plan B.

Good to have a plan B ,but it should ionvolve access to an international airport in Thailand. I'd favour HKT over others.

 

[BensAdventures]

Indeed.

We're with TID and their policy reads....

We will not pay for any of the following:
5. A loss that arises from any act of war (whether war is declared or not) or from any rebellion, revolution, insurrection or taking of power by the military.

Not covered with Covermore either... that changes things possibly for me. I'm due there in 10 days for an overnight stop, but then back a week later for 3-4 days. I'll keep an eye on things.

 

[N860CR]

I was in Bangkok a few days ago and will be there again on Friday. Honestly had no idea anything was going on.