At it again !!!

[snorter]

I suspect this may effect some forum members.............. if it goes ahead

15,000 THAI unionists told to strike


The chairwoman of the labour union of Thai Airways International Friday told 15,000 members of the union to strike in retaliation of police's brutality.

Chaemsri Sukchoterat said 15,000 members of the union would stop working immediately to respond to the police's use of force against peaceful protesters.

She said if the government did not stop using force against protesters, all 25,000 Thai workers would be told to stop working.

The Nation

[Denver]

And so it spreads..

Chaos !!

I've got my LLTK yellow t-shirt on, my rubber LLTK wristband, popped a colander on my head and I'm just off to man the Kamalalala Barricade.

My rudimentary Thai should have them convinced I am a local.

[alfredo garcia]

I've got my LLTK yellow t-shirt on, my rubber LLTK wristband, popped a colander on my head and I'm just off to man the Kamalalala Barricade.

My rudimentary Thai should have them convinced I am a local.

Give'm HELL, Denver. Make sure to put some trousers on. Get them to lower flight prices too.

[LivinLOS]

Aaaahh, is Samak doing his deals with the next coup makers?????

Anupong seems to be the calm status quo one.. Its Pallop thats the danger factor / anti Samak fear right now..

[LivinLOS]

Give'm HELL, Denver. Make sure to put some trousers on. Get them to lower flight prices too.

Surely the yellow thong is dress requirement for this bash.

[LivinLOS]

Looking at the news.. Airports blocked, Bangkok in an odd state.. Again tear gas and police in riot gear and just thinking. Could they have picked a worse time for high season bookings ??

I mean if your considering your winter break, thinking of where to have a couple of weeks relaxation etc this aint gonna help.

[Soupdragon]

Looking at the news.. Airports blocked, Bangkok in an odd state.. Again tear gas and police in riot gear and just thinking. Could they have picked a worse time for high season bookings ??

I mean if your considering your winter break, thinking of where to have a couple of weeks relaxation etc this aint gonna help.

IIRC last time there was trouble on the streets of BKK which was nothing compared to this it was reported that the Japanese, Koreans, and Malaysians cancelled booking on mass.

[snorter]

Anupong seems to be the calm status quo one.. Its Pallop thats the danger factor / anti Samak fear right now..

Now, this might sound like a wild theory but I'm becoming more and more conviced that Samak was a plant since before the last elections to ensure that the old power base maintained control even if the 'Thaksin Proxy' party won the election. He has many connections to the establishment going back to the '70s both military, royal and bureaucratic. He's certainly shown signs that Thaksin is not top of his agenda prompting the break-away MPs gearing up the 'For Thai' party (new TLT). I first thought he was just playing the game and grabbing a little piece of the pie while he could but now I think it goes deeper than that.

I think the old establishment has been back in control since the coup and are just using Sondhi, Chamlong et al as their 'barking dog' and are stage-managing the whole affair. The fact is that those who claimed to represent Thaksin were voted back in despite the imbalance caused by the expulsion from politics of the 100 or so TRT MPs. Thaksin is obviously still popular so the job's not finished.
The danger is if they can't pull-off their power plays without Panlop getting involved we may get killings at these confrontations.

I think - F*CK, I HOPE - Panlop hasn't got the muscle or influence to pull off a coup himself - then the country would be in deep shit.

[alfredo garcia]

Looking at the news.. Airports blocked, Bangkok in an odd state.. Again tear gas and police in riot gear and just thinking. Could they have picked a worse time for high season bookings ??

I mean if your considering your winter break, thinking of where to have a couple of weeks relaxation etc this aint gonna help.

Well, the poor just keep getting poorer as People Against Democracy give new meaning to the phrase "developing country".

[LivinLOS]

A number of protesters pushed through police barriers and stormed into the runway and the passenger building at Phuket Airport on Friday.

They committed vandalism by breaking windows at the VIP room.

The provincial governor was trying to negotiate with organisers from the local chapter of the People's Alliance for Democracy. Protesters said they were angry that the airport allowed the state carrier, Thai International Airways, to continue its flights.

The Nation

[muddyhoop]

AOT confirms all flights to and from Phuket, Hat Yai, Krabi cancelled


The acting president of Airports Authority of Thailand confirmed Friday evening that all flights to and from Phuket, Hat Yai and Krabi international airports were cancelled and the airports will be closed indefinitely.

Serirat Prasutanont, the acting president of the AOT, said the airports will remain closed indefinitely until the situation changes.

The Nation

[LivinLOS]

Now, this might sound like a wild theory but I'm becoming more and more conviced that Samak was a plant since before the last elections to ensure that the old power base maintained control even if the 'Thaksin Proxy' party won the election. He has many connections to the establishment going back to the '70s both military, royal and bureaucratic. He's certainly shown signs that Thaksin is not top of his agenda prompting the break-away MPs gearing up the 'For Thai' party (new TLT). I first thought he was just playing the game and grabbing a little piece of the pie while he could but now I think it goes deeper than that.

I think the old establishment has been back in control since the coup and are just using Sondhi, Chamlong et al as their 'barking dog' and are stage-managing the whole affair. The fact is that those who claimed to represent Thaksin were voted back in despite the imbalance caused by the expulsion from politics of the 100 or so TRT MPs. Thaksin is obviously still popular so the job's not finished.
The danger is if they can't pull-off their power plays without Panlop getting involved we may get killings at these confrontations.

I think - F*CK, I HOPE - Panlop hasn't got the muscle or influence to pull off a coup himself - then the country would be in deep shit.

Ohh I readily agree.. I think the man behind the curtain aspect of all this is that Sondhi is the face, but he wouldnt be the power.. Hes the one shouting and making noise but you might notice they dont present any actual plan of action or plotical manifesto.. Its purely a policy of 'not you'.. I think Samak was just too easy as Tackys nominee, cant say I think hes a secret Paddite tho, but hes clearly not the big hitter that many others are, hence is a weak figurehead.

Secondly I think that way Thai politics works is always with the power behind the fronts.. I think what were are looking at here goes all the way to the 'old guard' who have had thier fingers in the pie for decades.. V the new guard of the Toxin area.. The PAD is here to make sure the old guard retain thier grip on things without any need to allow a change. They wish to keep running the country as they always have with an inneffective government, a highly statified society and thier established industrial cliques.. toxin destablized things by letting the electorial power slip to the lower rungs who have never had any one give them anything, hence the kind of rabid support even tho txin was caught with his fingers in the cookie jar.. The rural majority kind of say "so what, at least he did something" and forgive him his sins.

Dont mistake this.. Its a true battle for the power of the country unfortunately its not between good and evil, that would be too easy.. Its between old evil or new evil.

Ohh and Pallop (it is Pallop BTW, Pallop Pinmanee พัลลภ ปิ่นมณี) does I think have enough army connections to be a major force in this.. Whats interesting of course is Tackys Police connections and in his time he was trying to lower army power and increase police power.. How that plays is anyones guess tho.

[snorter]

Dont mistake this.. Its a true battle for the power of the country unfortunately its not between good and evil, that would be too easy.. Its between old evil or new evil.

Ohh and Pallop (it is Pallop BTW, Pallop Pinmanee พัลลภ ปิ่นมณี) does I think have enough army connections to be a major force in this.. Whats interesting of course is Tackys Police connections and in his time he was trying to lower army power and increase police power.. How that plays is anyones guess tho.

Old evil v new evil, nicely put and wholeheartedly agree..

On Pallop, do you really think he could go up against Gen Prem, Gen Sonthi and now Gen Anupong and win? He'd have to cut ties with Sondhi and I don't think Chamlong would support it either.....

Hmmm, let's hope I'm right and you're wrong and that we never get to find out....

[11]

For the shambles at Phuket Airport ...

Protesters Block Access To Phuket, Hat Yai, Krabi Airport - Thailand Forum

Post# 137 has pics!

[LivinLOS]

Arent Pallop and Chamlong both young turns from that class 7 or whatever ??? I think those are likely to fall on the same side of the divide..

I wasnt trying to say Pallop could go it alone.. But by coming out and being 100% behind PAD and speaking what he said (I wish I had the text it was chillingly direct) leads me to feel he could bring enough power to the table it could swing it.

I think right now the army is a total unkown, theres been little support of Samak, theres been Anupong saying he wouldnt lead a coup, but that doesnt mean he would stop one.. Then you have a serious old school coup maker of the blood letting sort, who had no qualms at all about the Mosque massacre, has been involved in a multiple coup plots and the alleged bomb thing. Hes come out and planted his flag firmly in the PAD side.. I get the feeling a statement like that pulls a lot of military power with it.

As to Prem and Sonthi ?? Havent read how they have weighed in, no comment doesnt equal support for either.. Its all brinksmanship.

[LivinLOS]

Paddy was stuck at the airport BTW.. Said he had to walk through some fields to get out.. Then flag down cars to find a taxi to take them..

[LivinLOS]

PAD PROTEST: Phuket Airport overrun, runways blocked

PHUKET AIRPORT: At about 4:45 pm today, People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) protesters breached the main gate at Phuket International Airport, made their way into the main terminal and smashed the windows of the VIP lounge.

Several hundred protesters stormed the runways and airport officials have ordered a halt to all air traffic.

Police have been called in from around the island to supervise the anti-government rally, which had swelled to an estimated 10,000 protesters by 3:30 pm.

The THAI Airways Union has allowed their 15,000 staffers to stop work to show their support for the protest.

Earlier, at about 2:30 pm, the protesters used vehicles to block road access to the airport.

Tourists with outbound flights to catch have been forced to walk several kilometers with their luggage, then clamber over a two-meter spiked security fence.

The traffic tailback now stretches about five kilometers.

Some arriving passengers have been seen walking down Mai Khao Beach in a desperate bid to get out of the area without crossing the PAD protesters.

A growing number of passengers are now trapped inside the airport and the only movement seems to be though a back door at the airport’s staff housing complex.

Just before posting this news online, the Gazette received reports that about 1,000 protesters had marched to the PIA Director’s Office Building, just north of the main parking lot, and some 400 protesters breached the gate at the main entrance and were now heading to the airport, where the scene has been described as “chaos”.

Recent additions to the swelling number of protesters include hundreds of university students.

While the crowds gathered in Phuket chanting “fight for the King”, Phuket Senator Thanyarat Atchariyachai took to the PAD stage in Bangkok to drum up national support for their cause.

Protest organizers at the airport told Gazette reporters at the scene that they will remain at the airport until Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej resigns.

PAD members will close down airports in other provinces as well, they said.

There have been no reports of injury, however.

As the protesters prepare for tonight, supplies of food and drink have been arriving and a mobile ICU from Bangkok Hospital Phuket has been put on standby.

One German tourist who fought his way through the crowd to get out of the airport said, “Even if there is no tsunami, the people here know how to create their own disasters.”

PIA Director Wicha Nernlop said, “The PAD are destroying the airport’s assets, which makes no sense because we are not their enemy.”

He suggested that passengers with scheduled flights contact their airlines directly and try to postpone, if possible.

Phuket Provincial Police Commander Apirak Hongthong said that a meeting had been held on the issue, but did not say if or when police would try to forcibly remove the protesters.

Const Tongchai Keerat of Tah Chat Chai Police, one of about 90 officers at the airport, said he sympathized with the protesters because the government in Bangkok “is corrupt and embezzling money from the people”.

A group of officers at Phuket City Police Station told a Gazette reporter earlier today that the police would not harm the protesters “because our parents are among them”.

One action the police did take was to set up a checkpoint in Koh Kaew, near the entrance road to British International School, to prevent large vehicles carrying PAD supporters joining the protest.

The checkpoint has delayed traffic in the area.

A source from PIA said many luxury vehicles were among those blockading the airport access roads, indicating that “high-level” people are supporting the rally.

[LivinLOS]

Bangkok's Independent Newspaper

To me those comments could be read to think that Anupong is avoiding providing security that Samak needs ???

Kinda what I said above about you dont really know the full motives of the army side.. Say Anupongs non violence comments are 'read between the lines' the PAD can do as it pleases ??

[Denver]

Just got back from the Minimart. About six blokes in there watching the telly and sipping on thier Beer Lao's watching activities in BKK.

Chatting with the owner and he says that one or two from Kamala have gone up to the airport for the afternoon.

"I not go, hab shop, busy, you OK, no poblem tourist!" he added.

I stocked up on bottled water, cheese slices and 400 L&M Dang.

[snorter]

I did read the transcript of Pallop's comments and agree, it was scary stuff but I got the impression he was talking about leading the demonstrators and being far more confrontational in order to bring down the government in....what was it 2 or 3 days rather than having a coup...........but you never know with these feckers.

Chamlong and Pallop do go back a long way but Chamlong sees himself as some sort of peoples champion and has a history of demonstrating against military installed governments (92). He seems to pop-up, provoke popular revolt, pave the way for a coup, demonstrate again when he doesn't get a piece of the pie, lose, retire.........rinse and repeat. Not one of the real players, same level as Sondhi, but they'd both be up in arms if Pallop pulled off a coup (unless he locked them up of course..............or gave them a big enough piece of the pie.............aaahh, I see where you can go with this....he could round-up extra support)

I think Gen Sonthi and Gen Prem stand firmly in control alongside Anupong (their latest addition) and the likes of Anand and the other powerful elite families of Bangkok - but I think we already agree on that........... and Anupong saying there won't be a coup eh? Just like Gen Sonthi before the last one.

I'm off out LiL, been an enjoyable chat........cheers.

[LivinLOS]

I cant find the Pallop comments in full.. They were atypical in that he didnt dance around the subject as is so common in Asian dealing.. I guess military men are direct the world over ??

All I can find now is Bangkok's Independent Newspaper but even that highlight has

Giving an interview on Channel 3, Pallop said he would not stop in as long as his friend, Chamlong Srimuang, still leads the fight.

"But if I step in to lead it I'll use my way, which is not peaceful one," Pallop said.

"To reach our goal, sometime it has to be painful so that it could go ahead. It's possible that it could be similar to the May 1992 bloodshed."

I mean he even says it will be bloody, no messing.. I wish I could find what he said about how this was like lancing an abcess, a small pain for the greater good type thing. Hes one scary mofo !!


I still dont know how Prem and the 'pipe smoking devil' (Prasong) are really allied ??

One good thing is having a crash course in the Thai power players.. Wikipedia is great

[LivinLOS]

Here we go.. What was hinted this morning.

Egat workers to join protest

The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand's labour union promised that though some Egat employees would join the People's Alliance for Democracy protest and though power cut is possible, the majority of public would not be disturbed.

Somkuan Yavichai, secretary-general of the Egat labour union, said that as of Friday, about 500 employees have joined PAD. He expected that thousands could follow as they have filed "leave" applications.

He said the union would discuss with other unions of 43 state enterprises on joint actions, but the actions are not yet finalised, depending on future situation. He noted that even though Egat, Metropolitan Electricity Authority and Provincial Electricity Authority, join the protest, the generator would run as usual so as not to disturb the public. Egat union does not want the government to use force against protesters, he said.

"We insist that we won't cut power or cause troubls to the public who are Egat's clients. But if the government uses forces, we may launch some actions including cutting power. But the majority of the country would not be troubled by that," Somkuan said.

Egat's management issued a circulation, urging the employees to avoid the protest or break the law.

-- The Nation 2008-08-29

[snakebite911]

Looks like I've picked a good time to come on vacation. Oh well, still a week and a half to go, so may have calmed down by then.

[landofsmiles]

Three Thai airports close indefinitely after protesters vandalise Phuket terminal

PHUKET: -- Three major tourism-and-trade oriented airports in southern Thailand were closed late Friday due to People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) vandalism and interference with airport operations in three provinces.

Serirat Prasutanond, acting president of Airports of Thailand (AoT), said he had cancelled all flights at the three tourist-packed airports – Phuket International, Krabi and Hat Yai -- until further notice after anti-government protesters invaded Phuket International airport.

First Phuket airport was ordered closed indefinitely after more than one thousand PAD demonstrators forced their way into the passenger terminal, smashing glass doors and partitions, while others blocked airport entrances.

The closure order was made jointly by the Phuket provincial governor and the director of the airport, with all aircraft stopped from landing or departing as of 5 pm Friday in order to prevent further violence.

Before the closure was announced, protesters rampaged through the passenger terminal, causing much damage to property as the proceeded. PAD leaders called on the protesters not to destroy airport property, and they called on them to move outside to facilitate passengers to board buses.

The protesters later moved out as requested by their leaders, but the damage had already been done.

On Friday PAD protesters also blocked entrances at two other southern airports in Krabi, near Phuket, and at Hat Yai international airport, causing hundreds of passengers to miss their flights.

The blockade at the two airports had caused inconvenience to many foreign tourists.

Deputy Transport Minister Songsak Thongsri said security measures at airports nationwide had been tightened after security agencies had received reports that the PAD protesters planned to move against all upcountry airports if police break up the ongoing PAD demonstration in Bangkok.

State-owned Thai Airways International (THAI) labor union chief Jamsri Sukchotirat said all 15,000 members of the union planned to stop work after police used force against PAD protesters at Government House early on Friday.

If the government does not stop harsh actions against the protesters, the union would ask all 25,000 airline staff nationwide to stop work and join the protest, Mrs. Jamsri said.

In another development, Mr. Samak was holding talks with armed forces commanders in Bangkok. Details of the talks were still unknown.

--TNA/MCOT 2008-08-29

Always wondered what military presence there is in Phuket. You never see much about. Apart from the Third Fleet Naval base and something next to the Patong Merlin (communications?) there isn't any is there?

[Rasher]

For fcuk sake!!! The week before I travelled to Bangkok in September 2006 the was a military coup in Bangkok...

Now, in 2008, the week before I travel to Phuket the PAD protesters take over Phuket airport!!

What the fcuk have they got against an Irishman going on holidays????!!!! (don't answer that..!) I'm beginning to take this personally...

Rant over! Hope it's all sorted by next Saturday...doesn't do the tourist industry any favours..

Joe

[TV Channel 11]

We could not get on this website earlier, probably due to overload, but we tried to keep you informed:

1600 local time: According to our reporter at the airport, a number of protestors who got into Phuket Airport are now in the car park of the airport with increasing numbers of protestors outside. Tourists can still get in by foot only from the intersection 1 kilometre away near the newer road or bypass to Thepkrasatri Road. The arrival passengers also have to walk to same area. However some tour companies are arranging to meet their passengers at a back gate near staff housing.

Krabi Airport: about 400 members got through a fence into the airport’s ground near runway, and Krabi Governor is negotiating with the group to prevent any disturbance to flights. The schedules are quiet at the moment with next flight due at 6pm.

1645: Phuket Airport is forced to suspend all flights as the PAD members are now in the runway area and terminal. Some 100 university students have also joined the protests.

1708: PAD members now agree to move out from the Phuket Airport terminal and runway area to state their protest outside on the road in front of Phuket Airport after the provincial authority agreed to suspend all the flights.

1907: Krabi flights have been suspended since 17:20 after the governor negotiated with protestors. The rain however eased tempers, as protestors came off runway into the terminal.

1940: The Phuket Airport Deputy Director Yuttana Jitrob-Aree told reporters that the closure is expected to continue until mid-night.
Since the closure of the airport, 16 flights have been affected both incoming and outgoing. The incoming flights were re-routed to land at Suwannaphum Airport in Bangkok, while around 300 passengers were delayed in Phuket. According to Yuthana the negotiations with PAD concluded that they would allow a Thai Airways flight to take these delayed passengers to Bangkok tonight. It would be the only flight allowed before midnight.

[The Loop]

I've got my LLTK yellow t-shirt on, my rubber LLTK wristband, popped a colander on my head and I'm just off to man the Kamalalala Barricade.

Lets us know if you need any backup....Rosso.......or trousers D.5555

Give'm HELL, Denver. Make sure to put some trousers on.

Too funny mate..
What a sight that`d be..5555

it was reported that the Japanese, Koreans, and Malaysians cancelled booking on mass.

Tourism is LOS biggest export.There`s got to be a lot of concern by the powers that be about the long term ramifications from this.

They have obviously picked their target`s (airports,government house and now police headquarters in BKK) carefully.

Very surprising the baht is holding up so well with all the instability.

[22sye22]

For fcuk sake!!! The week before I travelled to Bangkok in September 2006 the was a military coup in Bangkok...

Now, in 2008, the week before I travel to Phuket the PAD protesters take over Phuket airport!!

What the fcuk have they got against an Irishman going on holidays????!!!! (don't answer that..!) I'm beginning to take this personally...

Rant over! Hope it's all sorted by next Saturday...doesn't do the tourist industry any favours..

Joe

lolllllllllllllllllllllllll

[22sye22]

i am getting this wright
the pad are protesting to get the priminister out of power by blocking roads to airports and rushing goverment buildings and the unions are thretening strikes if the police use leathel force and all flights to phuket are cancelled until further notice

[snakebite911]

i am getting this wright
the pad are protesting to get the priminister out of power by blocking roads to airports and rushing goverment buildings and the unions are thretening strikes if the police use leathel force and all flights to phuket are cancelled until further notice

Something like that. It has started to show up as small notices in the papers here as well, mainly considering charter tourists a bit worried about not getting back home.