Chaos breaking out in Thailand

[MelissaB]

I just talked to my brother who lives in Thailand much of the year. Things are really deteorating rapidly there. He was working out in the gym in Pattaya and the manager came in and asked everyone to leave very politely. The manager said they were closing all malls and shopping areas immediatlely. Before he could leave the lights were turned out. When he went outside, the cars were backed up and not moving. The reports of murders in Bangkok are spreading and as well as reports of protesters being killed in other cities.

There are also reports of city halls being burned in several cities including Chaing Mai, Ubon Ratchathani, and Udon Thani. Also, some shopping areas have been destroyed.

One of the last things my brother said is that he is getting reports of soldiers in Chaing Mai going in with M-16 machine guns.

The young male Thais he knows want to go to Bangkok and fight. None of this is good and I doubt any of this is on the news at this point.

[SoCalDem]

1. Making me think of "the Year of Living Dangerously"..

I hope your brother hunkers down somewhere safe, and stays put.. It sounds like a very scary time to be there..:hug:

[MelissaB]

3. Thanks, SoCalDem!

He has an apartment there and is in for the night.

[Captain Hilts]

2. The news is covering it pretty well, actually. nt

[MelissaB]

4. Captain Hilts, have you heard news about the cities other than BKK?

I just got up and turned the news on and haven't heard anything.

[Captain Hilts]

5. I always start with the Beeb for regional news.

Gotta run to an appointment

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

[MelissaB]

6. Yes, thanks. It looks like most of the stories are about BKK right now

and not the other cities.

Also, the BBC was blocked in Thailand, but I believe it's back now. Also, DU is blocked in Thailand now and has been for a couple of weeks.

[MelissaB]

7. Ubon Ratchathani riot

In Ubon Ratchathani there was a riot around the Provincial building and rumors of up to six protesters killed. These are rumors and not confirmed to my knowledge, but caused a march of redshirts through downtown.

Photos of the Provincial Office: http://memock.wordpress.com/

[bullwinkle428]

8. I'm really concerned - a number of co-workers of mine are there

as my employer is in the process of preparing a new production plant for a growing Asian market.

I recall last year when the swine flu epidemic hit Mexico, and there was an immediate halt to travel. This situation in Thailand has been getting worse for some time, and I haven't heard a word about any kind of restrictions at this point.

[MelissaB]

10. I haven't heard about restrictions, either,

but I know the embassy for the US, Sweden, and I think a couple of more countries are closed. I wouldn't want to travel there until this situation is resolved. My brother was there for the last coup, but it was nothing like this.

[tekisui]

11. I have a good friend there now.

He is far away from any cities, though. And is quite and peaceful. I hope it stays that way.

[MelissaB]

13. I do, too, tekisui.

I don't know if it will or not, though. My brother is friends with young men from small towns and they want to go fight. :(

[tekisui]

9. I read this morning that the Red Shirt compound was seized

by the military and the leaders surrendered. The government is now trying to squash protests by telling the protesters that their leaders surrendered.

[MelissaB]

14. That's when all hell broke out. n/t

[MelissaB]

12. CNN just reported about what's happening in Thailand, but only in BKK

and not the other cities.

[pruple]

15. K&R

thanks for this info. there isn't enough coverage

[ThailandVisa]

16. Melissa is right

I am the brother in Thailand and I can say I have never seen anything like this. I have stayed out of Bangkok for the past 2 months because of this. When the Red Shirt General was murdered, I knew that things were going to get worst. I don't think we have seen this play out yet and there is much more to come.

I was really surprised as I am in Pattaya (far from the Bangkok city action) and no one thought it would spread here. All businesses have been closed and I have been told that there is a curfew in place (this is not confirmed) but there were police going around telling everyone to stay inside.

There is an Emergency Decree out and that means the police and stop any groups.

I live next to Central Plaza. It is an amazing mall on the ocean in Pattaya. It has 6 floors of amazing good. I came back around 5PM today and it was kicking customers to the street and the streets were backed up.

Many Thais are happy that the government is stepping in as it has affected their businesses. More are upset that the government are killing protesters.

In my opinion, only an opinion, this is the beginning and not the end.

[MelissaB]

17. Welcome to DU, Thailand Visa!

Please keep us posted and stay safe.

Are you able to connect to DU in the regular way or are you having to use a proxy?

[ThailandVisa]

19. DU is not available in Thailand

On my Internet provider, DU is not available. It has not been for a month or more. Thailand blocks many sites and DU is one of them.

I can now confirm that the police in Pattaya are closing ALL businesses and there is a curfew in effect. I went to talk to the police group in front of Central Department Store and they said it was true. They said the police are going around town to make sure the curfew is enforced.

I have also been told that two of the major shopping malls have been taken over by the Red Shirts. This was from my BF and I can't confirm it. This may only mean that the Red Shirts had them closed. I'll let you know if I hear more.

[ThailandVisa]

22. Facebook OUT

Facebook has been removed from several ISP's in Thailand. It is sad when you can't even friend someone during a crisis. :)

Also, the New York times posted some images of the problems in the North.

http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/05/19/images-of-unrest-in-northern-thailand/

[kenny blankenship]

18. Thai Stock Exchange Set On Fire

Thailand's Stock Exchange Set On Fire

[Wednesdays]

20. "The Thai stock market reportedly will be closed Thursday"

Ya think?
:think:

[ThailandVisa]

21. Yes

The Thai Stock Exchange was set on fire as was the Chanel 3 News station. Central World in Bangkok was burned so badly they think it may collapse.

[ThailandVisa]

23. Arrests warrants for former Prime Minister

Today, there were arrest warrants for 9 Thai for terrorism related to these incidents. Two hours afterward the court took away the warrant for Forum Prime Minister Thaskin. This only goes to show you the mess that the country is in right now. No one knows what the hell is going on.

[MelissaB]

24. Do you think the King can/will have any influence on what happens

in Thailand this time? The people usually listen to him.

[ThailandVisa]

25. I don't think so

He has stayed very quite during this. He has also been in the hospital since September. Part of the allegations is that the Red Shirts are trying to overthrow the monarchy. That is not accurate. However, I think that was put out so that it would impede the Royal Family from intervention.

You hear a great deal about the Royal Family here. But, you are not allowed to speak ill of them. The King is beloved and he did step in in a previous riot many years ago and yes, Melissa, the people do listen to him.

[mrJJ]

26. The Old Guard ...

A Blast from the Past

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSBKK9051020080104

Prem Tinsulanonda's band of EX military turned Businessmen group are the real power base in Thailand.

Machiavelli could have learned a few tricks from this sly old fox.

Being a "Royal Advisor" to the King has its privliges.

[ThailandVisa]

27. Curfew extended for 3 more days

After last nights curfew, many thought that would be it. I walked out onto my balcony last night in Pattaya and saw the streets dead. No traffic. No motorcycles speeding by. No bars open. The lights closed. You could actually hear the quiet. It reminded me of the silence I experiences in NYC after 9/11. It was pretty amazing for me as I have been living in Thailand on and off for over 7 years. I have never seen things like this. The Thai friends that got stuck in my apartment last night all slept on the floor. Don't feel too bad for them, that was after they went through all the beer, whiskey and food in my place. :)

Word just came out that the Prime Minister has extended the curfew for at least 3 more nights. This is now in effect from 10PM till 5AM each day. This means that even more businesses will loose out on the money they need to survive. The curfew is not just in place in Bangkok but in 23 other provinces.

[nadinbrzezinski]

28. Whatever you do, stay safe

And thanks for the reporting

[MisterP]

29. sort of reminds me of 30s Brazil,

with the fascistic Integralists fighting the populist, Antonio de Salazar-like Vargas