Yes sorry haven’t written for a while. The UDD protests start today! I’m posting these locations and keeping everyone updated with most recent political stuff. Am just about to head to the mall, but will write more when I get back.
Total locations to avoid – 33 locations!! THIRTY THREE! How ridiculous is this!
Here are the locations to avoid – from March 12th to….indefinite (Hopefully by next week it will all be over).
List of Locations to Avoid
1. Supreme Court of Thailand
2. Criminal Court
3. Bangkok Bank Silom
4. Bangkok Bank Nana
5. Kasikorn Thai Bank Nana
6. Siam Commercial Bank Headquarters
7. Grand Palace
8. Siriraj Hospital
9. Major Cineplex Rachayothin
10. BigC Rachaboonrana
11. Central World
12. Central Ladprao
13. Prannok Market
14. Minburi Market
15. Daokanong Market
16. Pattawikorn Market
17. Arun Amarin Intersection
18. Rom Klao Intersection (Near Ramkhamhaeng)
19. Kaset Nawamin Intersection
20. Kaset Nawamin Market
21. Kaset Nawamin at Wat Praditmanutum
22. Nawamin Intersection
23. Narathiwat Intersection at Silom
24. Silom Intersection at Rama 4 (Chulalongkorn Hospital)
25. Saparn Kwai Intersection (Ladprao)
26. Klongtoey Intersection
27. Ramkhamhaeng Rd.
28. Ram Intra Rd.
29. Tee Wa Karn Bangkok
30. Suan Luum
31. Pratumwan Princess
32. Pratumwan
33. Utantawai
Warning 2: Avoid taxi drivers who wear red shirts….
because….they might take you hostage! (!!!)
I was shopping with Dianna and Jeab at ZARA last week. Dianna was looking for a coat to wear in the UK, and the only available coats at ZARA were wind-breaker material- trench-ish coats available in bright yellow, orange, and hideous lime green.
I absolutely loved the bright yellow coat, especially worn withdark blue jeans, it looks fabulous. Reminds me of cute paddington bear raincoats. There I was, in ZARA, pleading for Dianna to consider the bright yellow coat, when Jeab hushes me and says, “Stacy, you can’t ask her to buy a bright yellow jacket, esp. with the political situation! ”
WHAT!?!? So now Bright Vibrant Yellow and Beautiful Bright Chinese Red is hijacked from our fashion wardrobes in Thailand!!?!??!
Those PAD bitches!!!!! UDD protesters!!!
Before, I refrained from posting about the PAD hijack of the Suvarnabhumi airport which cost me an arm and two legs – in terms of personal expenses for being stranded in HK, and the indirect effect on my business.
What is with mob rule in Thailand? What has Thailand succumb to?
The former PM – Somsak (PPP ) was elected by popular vote in an GENERAL ELECTION December 2007. In early September 2008, he was removed from office on the account of conflict of interest. The caretaker prime minister during that transition time was Somchai Wongsawat, and the PPP party nominated him to be head representative of their party, and through national assembly vote, he beat Abhbisit 298-163, thus becoming Thailand’s official PM in late September 2008.
His tenure didn’t last long, and he actually goes down in history as the first PM who never stepped in the Government House. (read this article)
In December 2008, PAD hijacks Bangkok airports, and knowingly bludgeons the Thai economy. The Constitutional Court dissolves the PPP and bans its executives from politics for 5 years. PM Somchai is removed from office. The un-banned political parties form a majority coalition, nominates Abhisit as their leader, and wins the national assembly vote.
So what we have is a precedent set:
–> screw general elections –> mob rule –> protest force resignation of PM or force Constitutional Court to make a ruling that will remove the PM –> ban current governing executives from politics for 5 years –> nominate favourable party –> wait for 3-4 months–> opposing side starts the cycle all over again. (Well done! AMAZZZING THAILAND!)
PM Abhisit is not a democrat. He is a technocrat. He believes that the most skilled not-most popular person should lead the nation. In a general election, his Democrat party, will never win because the majority of Thai peoplestill favour TRT/PPP/Puea Thai (it’s the same party, under different names since all were previously dissolved and execs banned from politics). Whether the rural folk of Thailand prefer the TRT/PPP/Puea Thai because they are paid to, or because they are not educated enough to see that the Democrat party would do a better job, doesn’t matter. If the Democrat party wants to take office, it should do so by aggressive campaigning and by educating the masses as to why they are the better party to elect. But instead, PM Abhisit was a silent partner in the PAD fiasco, and suddenly appears when all dust has settled. <<—my conspiracy theory opinion.
And now here we are, the UDD (the group that supports the Thaksin) is starting the process all over again. Staging protests, road blocks and now they smashed into the 14th ASEAN Summit – effectively cancelling it and embarrassing Thailand and PM Abhisit in the process.
Honestly, I can’t help siding with the UDD (gasps of shock anywhere?). Technocrats are dangerous. Yes, PM Abhisit has a solid academic background. Fabulous, he went to Eton and studied at Oxford. Bravo well done. But his political experience? His life experiences? His connection to the MAJORITY of Thai people?
How dangerous is it to assume that the rural folk don’t know what’s best for them?
So, instead of educating the majority of Thais on what is the better choice, the elitists pull strings and manage to ‘elect’ (through national assembly – senate + house of representative votes) one of their own to rule the nation? How ideal is it for the elitists to cripple our economy and nominate the best most knowledgeable leader to lead us out of this economy crisis?
Very ideal indeed.
On Wednesday morning, in the car, as we were approaching the tollway-booths, I noticed a 2-km long – bus/car/truck UDD entourage. UDD protesters being brought into Bangkok by the masses. Sitting in their non-airconditioned buses, cheering, playing loud thai country music, dangling their arms from the window shouting and laughing! Very kampung style. I wish I had my camera.
Thai PM Motorcade Attacked
Did you see how the UDD protesters, opened the driver-side door of the PM’s Toyota Fortuner?
What is the PM doing in a Toyota Prado??? And why don’t they have the doors locked? And how can a helmet smash into the rear window glass?
In the Bangkok Post, I saw photos of the protesters pushing through the human barricades, and this one woman was losing her balance – and in the photo she is smiling. Smiling like this is all a game. Smiling like, I am really giving them 300 baht worth of work! I have such good work ethic! hee hee!
At the ASEAN Summit, there were 8,000 police officers to manage the safety of the delegates and the whole entire area. At 1 pm today, a few hundred protesters stormed in, broke through the glass doors, and took over the ASEAN Summit media centre at the Royal Cliff Beach Hotel in Pattaya.
A soldier was quoted in today’s Bangkok Post (April 11th 2009) saying ” We can only do our best to delay the march. But once they break the barriers, we can’t do much to stop them, after all, it’s their taxes that pay our salaries too.”
If that soldier’s sentiment was representative of Thailand’s security forces, then the ASEAN Summit was doomed for cancellation from the beginning. The summit was cancelled, and all the ASEAN leaders flown out to safety. PM Abhisit declared a state of emergency in Pattaya.
And so mob rule triumphs once again in Thailand.
Thai politics is truly a random. Somewhat predictable but at the same time very illogical. Thai politics is tiring, and for us folk being affected by all this political instability, it is downright annoying.
And despite of all this annoyance/frustration, I am still here. Why oh why…
Perplexed and yet slightly amused,
Stacy
PM Samak was asked to resign because he breached the constitution, he had private employment during his term of PM.
The cooking show, Tasting and Grumbling (what a catchy name) was the ultimate down fall of his political term as PM. Apparently, he was asked to appear on 4 episodes, and was paid 20,000 baht per episode.
*gasps* 20,000 baht!
Quite frankly, that is considered peanuts compared to what I was given a quotation to hire emcees for a talk show….I agree – taking money from a private firm is bad, very bad…but..er hmm…how about as honoraria? debatable no?
But that’s besides the point, it is quite amazing (AMAZING THAILAND!) that they can oust him based on this charge. Rather that using any of the bazillion-and-one reasons to have him removed, he was caught red handed wearing an apron and frying chillies.
Nigella Lawson, I love you, if you do get into politics, please remember to give up your Nigella empire – yes that’s right, Nigella Express and Nigella Feasts have to get axed too.
In my opinion, finding a man who enjoys cooking is quite a feat. Few and far between.
Thank you for punishing a man who has a passion in cooking, so much so that he unknowingly sacrificed his power and position for it.
Even though we are now under a state of emergency, life goes on as per usual, no signs of social unrest. Like I said yesterday, Thailand operates in bubbles, as long as you do not go right to the heart of the protests, then you’ll be fine.
For tourist travelling here, the only concern you should have is traffic due to strikes, but as for today (the 1st day of the strike) there is no real problem.
No bombing, no riots, no military crack downs.
I only advise not to book with Thai Airways because they are being stupid and delaying flights as a show of support to the PAD. As for the shut down of smaller international airports (Krabi and ChiangMai) if you are en route, they will most likely direct the flight to Bangkok’s International Suvarnabhumi Airport and I HOPE that the flight carrier would arrange for bus transport to your original destination.
If you are stuck in the airport when there are protests, I believe they will send you to Bangkok to catch your flight.
Living in Thailand is safe, but you need to acquire patience to handle these small nuances.
For the past week, there have been protests in Bangkok led by a group called PAD – People’s Alliance for Democracy. They should be called – People’s Anti-Democracy.
First off, I’m okay and safe, my family are okay and safe. If you are checking on me, thank you I’m fine. 🙂
As I was writing to my relatives this morning, Bangkok operates in bubbles. Here in the business district, there is no inkling of protests – except for the affect on the Thai economy and stock market. But physically, no sign of distress. Near my home? life goes on as per usual. Sunny bright days in Bangkok.
I’ve been reading alot about the political turmoil, and the reason why I am saying that the PAD is actually anti-democratic is that they need to use violence/coercion to overthrow the government, if they ever tried to request for a referendum (which…is an on going process believe it or not) the majority of Thailand – her Rural people, will vote in favour for the PPP (People’s Power Party) because their policies favour the rural folk, not to mention the sweet money the rural folk get from the PPP to vote in their favour.
PAD peaceful protest? Storming of government houses, the television station, this is far from peaceful. A few days ago I read in the Bangkok Post a few days ago, a really stupid article about the PAD requesting 100 underpants donations, because the protesters have not gone home for the past 4-5 days and they need to wear new undies (for hygenic reasons) —- Me: “…….”
The protesters are breeding filth and germs and if they lasted camped out for much longer, there can even be an epidemic spread. Oh, and for 100 baht, anyone can get a PhD certificate(in political science I believe..)granted by the PAD – to certify that within the past few days of joining the protests they have learnt sooo much that they are granted a honorary certificate from Ratchadamnoen University. 10,000 to 50,000 certificates have been purchased.
Granted, I’m not saying that Thaksin was the greatest PM ever – in fact I fully agree that he was corrupt. As for Samak (PM), I’m not sure if he’s corrupt, but he is a big mouth NATO (No Action Talk Only) or more like…a WAST (Wrong Action Stupid Talk) <–term just created. Honestly ? which country is so blessed to have a PM/President that is heaven sent from God? There will always be lobbyist to support or to denouce the current government. In Thailand’s case, with the PAD they had alot of centralised power, and connections to ask …43 state labour unions to go on strike! of which…
The Thai Airways Union to stir up !@&(!*&@ delaying their international flights..
EGAT (electricity) and the Metropolitan Works Authority (water) to stop suppling utilities to Government agencies..not to mention communications..
80% of Bangkok buses will stop running.
Great. thats so fabulous. I am very disgusted with all these labour unions, especially Thai Airways and the Transportation. Its not about showing your support, which you are free to do, but they must understand the repercussions of their actions. If Thai Airways is planning to brand itself as a top quality service airline, and airline that cares about their customers, they are doing an extremely fab job. As for the transportation, all innocent apathetic Thais will be affected. Yes, all these unions want to pull leverage, but at whose expense?
The government did not use force against the protesters. It was the protesters themselves that clashed. Two parties – UDD (United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship) and PAD – one pro government (UDD) and one anti government (PAD).
The protests are a breeding place for mob aggression, after several days of protests, tireness and frustration, fights broke out:
Note that the protesters with the batons beating other protesters are not in police uniform – they are civilians.
The government only declared a state of emergency after the death of one protester.
I don’t see how Thailand can ever help itself out of the mess it makes. You have protesters who are 1/2 paid to be there, and 1/4 following the trend and fighting for a cause they know nothing about (because its cool. believe it or not, I know someone who knows someone who is like that), and 1/4 genuinely know what’s going on. The PAD protests and protests but they never have a proposition as to what is better.
As a fully trained adjudicator, I would fail the opposition party, as all their claims – have no substanial basis to overthrow the current government. The people are unhappy.
Everyone is unhappy. Look at the United States, run by a very special President – George W. Bush. You don’t see the Democrats on the street causing chaos and asking to overthrow the Republican party. If the leader was democratically elected then he should rightfully serve his full term, despite how shitty he is.
November 30th marks the end of the State of Emergency. Let’s see how this progresses…
My Life in Bangkok 