At it again !!!

[snorter]

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

When you listen to or look at Abhisit, and the impression I just got from this Democrat guy.. I am baffled by how this party doesnt sweep to power given the other offerings ?? What have the democrats done so wrong ???

Fraud, corruption, abuse of power, human rights abuses.................pretty much, they've done the same as all the other govt.s during their time at the helm.

Essentially they are the 'old evil' that we discussed earlier in the thread...

[JayBee]

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

I am a believer you really can read and judge people on superficial perception and I only have to look at Samak to see a greedy, belligerent beady eyed untrustworthy person.

Cheney and Bush got elected, so go figure.

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

. I am baffled by how this party doesnt sweep to power given the other offerings ?? What have the democrats done so wrong ???

And what haven't the Republicans done wrong? Yet McCain and Obama are running neck and neck!

[JayBee]

Originally Posted by TanMan

I am talking to the air here, but "democracy" only works WELL when the wealth distribution of the population at hand ensures that people will vote for the benefit of their country and not just themselves.... but not have their vote purchased...

That is a very insightful observation, Steven, and right on the money! Could you please tell that to Geo. Bush with a "cc" to McCain.

Originally Posted by TanMan

Thailand does NOT have that situation, so "democracy" is a limited joke to me.... Democracy in Saudi ? Democracy in Iraq then...

Democracy in the US? If McCain gets in and things keep going the way they have been the past 8 years, that question will not be a facetious one any longer.

Originally Posted by TanMan

It all just make me giggle...

Easy to have a giggle at Thai politics, but I'll be crying, not laughing, if the day comes when the distribution of the wealth is so skewed in the US, that your premise applies here, as well, though that day seems to be getting closer and closer!

[Simbo]

Very good article here by the Director of the Institute of Security and International Studies, Faculty of Political Science, Chulalongkorn University

Bangkok Post | Top Stories | Analysis: Tyranny of a minority

[JayBee]

Originally Posted by Simbo

Very good article here by the Director of the Institute of Security and International Studies, Faculty of Political Science, Chulalongkorn University

Bangkok Post | Top Stories | Analysis: Tyranny of a minority

It is a good analysis of the current situation, however, it conveniently fails to see the elephant in the room, which is the coup.

[LivinLOS]

Originally Posted by snorter

Fraud, corruption, abuse of power, human rights abuses.................pretty much, they've done the same as all the other govt.s during their time at the helm.

Essentially they are the 'old evil' that we discussed earlier in the thread...

Well I am not that informed on the further back history.. But I thought Chuan was one that rules twice and left a pretty good legacy.. It could well be argued that Thaksin had it so easy based on the economic reform of the Leekpai era, Thaksin inherited a good and growing economy with which he reaped a lot of benefits and really after about the first half of Thaksins first terms its been downhill ever since.

Yes theres corruption, but I got the impression that it wasnt as rampant.. Of course it was during that period that Phuket based democrats got caught playing with sor por kor land titles (which we are still seeing the result of locally) that brought down the Chuen gov the first time, but to paint that as a 'democrat' issue rather than 'Phuket power figures' isnt really factual. Of course there were the usual run of the mill scandals, but thats Asian power more than a party issue in my mind.

From how I understood it Chuens policies were free market capitalism and increased large scale investment programs for forigen companies.. the big criticism was this didnt feed down, as per the TRT position and thier populist voice brought them down the second time. But if you look beyong the smoke and mirrors of the campaign stuff, Chuans gov laid the groundwork, got the ball rolling, Tacky inherited that and then sold off Thai assets via privatizations etc and got the money / goodwill.

[snorter]

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

Well I am not that informed on the further back history.. But I thought Chuan was one that rules twice and left a pretty good legacy.. It could well be argued that Thaksin had it so easy based on the economic reform of the Leekpai era, Thaksin inherited a good and growing economy with which he reaped a lot of benefits and really after about the first half of Thaksins first terms its been downhill ever since.

Yes theres corruption, but I got the impression that it wasnt as rampant.. Of course it was during that period that Phuket based democrats got caught playing with sor por kor land titles (which we are still seeing the result of locally) that brought down the Chuen gov the first time, but to paint that as a 'democrat' issue rather than 'Phuket power figures' isnt really factual. Of course there were the usual run of the mill scandals, but thats Asian power more than a party issue in my mind.

From how I understood it Chuens policies were free market capitalism and increased large scale investment programs for forigen companies.. the big criticism was this didnt feed down, as per the TRT position and thier populist voice brought them down the second time. But if you look beyong the smoke and mirrors of the campaign stuff, Chuans gov laid the groundwork, got the ball rolling, Tacky inherited that and then sold off Thai assets via privatizations etc and got the money / goodwill.

It was actually Chuan Leekpai's governments I was thinking of...........there was a whole plethera of scandals during his administrations............and human rights abuses. Admittedly not on the scale of Thaksin or Sarit or some of the others but there none-the-less. I also agree that a lot of Thaksin's successes were built on the back of the frugality of the democratic administration.

An interesting side note to this LiL, you remember a couple of weeks ago when we were discussing the Thai-Chinese issue? During the course of this thread and discussions of the political power players it's dawned on me just how many of the key figures are Thai-Chinese, 2nd and 3rd generation chinese immigrants..........led me to do a bit more looking and I found whole chapters dealing with this issue, how the chinese revolution of 1949 closed the route back home for many immigrants and how they intigrated into the Thai society and married into elite business families. Fully appreciate the idea of chinese influence in Thai society now!

[MassMoose]

Does not seem like a smooth road ahead in Thailand. Strikes planned and bomb going off in BKK.

UPDATE 5-Thai state unions plan strike to force PM out | Industries | Financial Services & Real Estate | Reuters

[LivinLOS]

Just came online to look for this info.. The TV was on but I wasnt paying attention, then when the news item finished both the girls here turned round and said on 3rd or 4th that there will be no electric or water !!! I am like WTF !! So 3rd or 4th, for one day or ongoing, regional or localized, all day or restricted hours, etc etc etc.. They both gave me that glazed Labrador look, and went back to eating !!!

[ultras*depor87]

At least one dead in Government House clash

The army interevened early on Tuesday after pro-government demonstrators attacked opponents occupying Government House and killed at least one protester.

source : Bangkok Post

It looks like this is turning bad

[TanMan]

Good catch...

Here's the link to the article:

Bangkok Post | Top Stories | Death on the street

[Petter]

Just came online to look for this info.. The TV was on but I wasnt paying attention, then when the news item finished both the girls here turned round and said on 3rd or 4th that there will be no electric or water !!! I am like WTF !! So 3rd or 4th, for one day or ongoing, regional or localized, all day or restricted hours, etc etc etc.. They both gave me that glazed Labrador look, and went back to eating !!!

Hehe it goes like this

Allies of the anti-government protesters from labor unions at utility companies have threatened to switch off water and electricity to certain state offices and were meeting Monday to plot their strategy.

"The tap water at the national police headquarters and at provincial administration offices will be cut off starting Monday," said Somchai Srinewest, head of the union at Thailand's Waterworks Authority, ahead of the meeting.

[11]

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej has invoked the emergency decree for Bangkok, effective immediately.

He has appointed Army Commander-in-Chief Gen Anupong Paochinda to oversee the situation in Bangkok. The Emergency Decree does not allow a gathering of more than five people. Moreover, the media has also been asked not to present news that would provoke the situation.

This follows this morning's clash between the pro-government Democratic Alliance against Dictatorship and the anti-government People's Alliance against Dictatorship, which resulted in at least one death and 43 people injured.

Depressing to wake up to this ...

[LivinLOS]

Highly likely the PPP violence was scripted, simply to hand power to Samak.

I know thats obvious to anyone following this, but maybe less so for those that are just reading bits and pieces.

[11]

SET opens down 2%

USD/THB 34.45 - THB weaker by 0.8% on last nights close.

Fairly muted reaction all things considered.

[pablo]

A report and perspective....

Thailand's New (Old) Politics - WSJ.com

[TanMan]

Originally Posted by 11

SET opens down 2%

USD/THB 34.45 - THB weaker by 0.8% on last nights close.

Fairly muted reaction all things considered.

So.... I have to ask...

11 meaning the 11th letter in the alphabet... means "K"

1..1 meaning 2?

You sure do sound/write like that nut job K2... just kidding of course...

[ivanlim]

I got in just hours before the airport closed.
and I got out of phuket just yesterday, 12 hours after it re-opened.
I wonder if I can do it again in Oct.

[Soupdragon]

GF sat watching Thai TV news just turned around and said "Surat Airport closed again by PAD".

[LivinLOS]

Japanese tourists cancel trips to Phuket

PHUKET: More than half of the Japanese tourists who planned to visit Phuket over the next week have canceled their bookings due to concerns over political unrest in Thailand.

Phuket Tourist Association (PTA) President Somboon Chirayus yesterday told the Gazette that despite the reopening of Phuket International Airport on Sunday, there have been many cancellations among foreign tour groups.

Cancellation rates among Japanese visitors are the highest, at about 50%, he said.

Mr Somboon, deputy managing director of Merlin Phuket Hotels and Resorts, said the direct flight from Narita to Phuket was now operating at half-capacity.

These flights had been nearly full every day before the recent increase in tensions in the capital and closure of Phuket Airport by protesters over the weekend, he said.

“I think we will need more time to make tourists understand that the situation [in Phuket] is back to normal,” he said.

It is still too early to judge the effect of the airport closure on Phuket’s tourism picture in the long-term, but the distress and inconvenience suffered by passengers who were unable to catch their return flights is bound to leave a bad impression, he said.

Embassies around the world are closely watching the situation here and the issuance of travel advisories warning against travel to Thailand would have a negative impact, he said.

Methee Tanmanatragul, President of Thai Hotels Association Southern Chapter, earlier told the Gazette that the airport closures by anti-government protesters cost Phuket more than 250 million baht a day in tourism revenue, and about 400 million baht per day was lost in the Southern region as a whole.

[Crustasian]

Well now they will have few line to put on the T Shirt of the yearly Phuket woes.

"2008 - Protests fcuk up tourist industry."

It will be a long to get confidence back.

[Dodger]

Have you seen the video's and pictures from last nights fatalities?? amazed me how many farang were involved?? Why would they be there?? rubbernecking??

'just happening to be minding my own business officer, when I saw this little darlin' in a yellow shirt, followed her down to the local park, next thing whammo!!, bumped into what I reckon to be some Millwall supporters'

[landofsmiles]

The airport is definitely OPEN and operating normally. Extremely quiet this afternoon though...just posted some pics here>>>

http://www.phuket-info.com/forums/ac...d=1#post515932

There's a very large number of police sat up at the Mai Kao Checkpoint just before the Sarasin bridge.

[repeter]

Anti-government protesters closed down Hat Yai International Airport Tuesday in a show of solidarity for fellow demonstrators in Bangkok which has been put under martial law.


Supporters of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), which has occupied Government House in Bangkok for the past week, blocked the entrance gates to Hat Yai airport Tuesday, prompting authorities to suspend flights.


Thai Airways International and the no-frills Nok Air were forced to cancel four afternoon flights between Bangkok to Hat Yai, 730 kilometres south of Bangkok, because of the closure.


Bangkok Post | Breaking News | Protesters close Hat Yai airport, again

[ultras*depor87]

I hope they will not block Phuket airport too ! I can see it coming....

[pablo]

"Monkey see...monkey do?"

Let's see if the "fake" PAD, respond in kind? 555555

[landofsmiles]

With threat to disrupt telephone and communications tomorrow do you think they might have a go at Internet providers too?

[Sirgezza]

Originally Posted by ultras*depor87

I hope they will not block Phuket airport too ! I can see it coming....

Good foresight

http://www.phuket-info.com/forums/ge...t-closure.html

[Mav]

Originally Posted by Crustasian

Well now they will have few line to put on the T Shirt of the yearly Phuket woes.

"2008 - Protests fcuk up tourist industry."

It will be a long to get confidence back.

l was thinking that yesterday Krusty.....Phuket certain has had it's share of world headlines in recent years.....would this be close:

2003: Sars
2004: Bird Flu
2005: Tsunami
2006: Landslide
2007: Plane Crash and Hash Bash


Actually.....think 2006 is wrong

[bangladiver]

_44978445_knife_ap466.jpg

BBC not scaremongering with this pic

other than possible inconvenience i don't think there is much for farangs to worry about

[ER]

Originally Posted by Dodger

Have you seen the video's and pictures from last nights fatalities?? amazed me how many farang were involved?? Why would they be there?? rubbernecking??
'just happening to be minding my own business officer, when I saw this little darlin' in a yellow shirt, followed her down to the local park, next thing whammo!!, bumped into what I reckon to be some Millwall supporters'

I was gonna ask Rex, the same question?
WTF is a farang doing behind Thai protest lines?????
I'd be steering well clear of any confrontations.

[Simbo]

Interesting to see that there's been very little reporting on the 10000 protesters at the US Republican Convention and the fact that the St Pauls cops have been using heavy handed tactics- wading in on them with tear gas, batons and smoke bombs. Democracy in action.

[ultras*depor87]

Originally Posted by Simbo

Interesting to see that there's been very little reporting on the 10000 protesters at the US Democratic Convention and the fact that the St Pauls cops have been using heavy handed tactics- wading in on them with tear gas, batons and smoke bombs. Democracy in action.

Are European coutries gonna issue a travel warning to their citizens traveling to the US ???? come on !

[Nanook]

Originally Posted by ultras*depor87

Are European coutries gonna issue a travel warning to their citizens traveling to the US ???? come on !

That would be the day! Can you imagine reactions in he US?

[22sye22]

is there any protesting still going on at phuket airportor have they all gone