Bombs near Bangkok's airports
Oh dear. It goes from bad to worse. There goes tourism for the foreseeable future. For people who have never been to Thailand this makes visiting Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia and Vietnam a whole lot more appealing. I lived in Thailand and even when there were protests, coups and bombs I never saw the situation getting out of control. But this latest development — three blasts close to Suvarnabhumi and one near Don Muang — is a very bad sign.
I don't have much more to add. I hate the situation and I hate the PAD for bringing this on the country.
Truly agree, it is tragic that this moronic 'group' (using the term loosely) is going about like headless chickens causing chaos.
What strikes me is that these people don't seem to understand the damage they are doing. What are they trying to achieve exactly?
When I see TV reporters 'live' at the scene in front of a gaggle of PAD supporters, all smiles and smirking, it angers me greatly. They (PAD) look as though these vague 2 mins of fame have made it all worthwhile.
What do you think should happen next?
I've only been in the country for 6 weeks but it seems obvious to me that the authorities MUST step in. Although many in these ranks are sympathetic to or support the cause, and it gives the PAD a tangible cause for protest about.
Surely it is the only way to salvage the diminishing reputation the country has!?
Hope you manage to get into the country ok next month.
Attempted coup before the King's bday next week?
c'mon man, you should know from living here that this is hardly surprising. the airport staff agreed to close the airport cos they knew it would give them a few days off work and keeping it open would involve too much hard work. far easier to shrug and say "mai pen rai", "we are thai people / this is thai culture" or some other nugget of lazy indifference. foreigners stranded at the airport make up a tiny tiny percentage of the total number of people in the country. outside of the airport life just goes on as normal. same shit different day in thailand.
I have spent a lot of time there in the past and now reside and work in Thai Town LA USA.
How is it, that people who do not live there and have not read up on all aspects of Thai political life can condemn hundreds of thousands of Thai people as moronic, who obviously have a problem there. Is it because it upsets their particular agenda? The unfortunate part in all this is that people do suffer due to the greed of others and it is generally not the perpetrators of the problem.
This is not a small group of people but a large part of the population. The political scene in Thailand has always been fragile and has a lot to do with the normal life there of bribery and corruption. This seems to have gotten even bigger over the years, mostly with the leaders at the top of political scene there.
Hear Hear! The "authorities" MUST step in to save the diminishing reputation of the country!
As if…
How often and how much longer will we have to bear this nonsense? This is Thailand, the Land of the Thai, where they do what they please and how they please. This is not the Land of Farangs where everything should be geared to ensure the pleasure of expats and tourists!
When are you going to get it? What would you say if the Thai started to dictate what your own country should do and not do? (Actually they probably would… Anyway, I digress…).
To be able to assemble and to demonstrate is a fundamental right that not so many people have in the region. The motivation of the protesters or their right or wrong is irrelevant. Who is to judge that one protest is worthy and another is not (Let me think… fox hunting, Iraq war….).
This right scores high above the right of expats to move around or tourists to enjoy the beach. And by the way, the reputation of the country should be the less of YOUR worry.
And as a matter of fact, my Thai partner is flying to Thailand on Monday, PAD permitting and I will be travelling there the following week, again PAD permitting. As mush as I hope a solution is found by then, I am not going to get on my high horse blaming the PAD or anybody else for crashing my holidays…
To date, the news occupies 1.5 minutes in the news… And only because some Brits are stranded in the Airport and some yanks wantto go home for Turkey days (See the BBC website for the video).
So relax, enjoy your stay in the Land of Smile, and mind your own business, mindfully and peacefuly!
;-)
I lived there for more than three years until about two months ago. I have not spoken to a single Thai person who supports what the PAD is doing. The PAD does not have the support of the whole country and it certainly does not have big enough support in Bangkok for this.
It's not about the reputation of the country. It's about PAD trying to overthrow the government. I certainly don't think that the PAD has a "fundamental right" to carry guns and occupy the capital's two airports.
The moronic protesters are untouchable coz one LADY backs them. I guess you guys know who !! I've heard from CNN.
@Roger, the 'you are a foreigner and therefore mind your own business' line works for some things but the fact is that the situation will affect the economy, which in will, in turn, affect you/your wife/family.
Dangerous to allow a minority to take such action which fundamentally affects the majority – in any country. Yes, you have a right to a civil protest, plain to see that this is not civil.