ASEAN security precautions in Hua Hin

Super Joe · Post by **Super Joe** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 5:18 pm

hhfarang wrote:The traffic hassles began today and will really get worse over the next couple of days as they block two lanes of Phetkasem road for Asean only. They are coning off the two middle lanes (one in each direction) with nailed down cones forcing everyone to drive in the second lane (next to the parking lane). That's trucks, buses, autos, and motorbikes confined to one lane in each direction! I had to go from the south end of town today (south of the flyover) to the north end (Hua Hin Hospital) and back and it was a total nightmare

Didn't see that myself, just come from Takiab into town and back an hour ago and after getting on Petchakasem heading North after going under the flyover you could drive in middle lane and outside lane, did a u turn at Soi 94 and around Soi 80. There was some coned stretches dotted along keeping you in that lane.

Got stopped at the Takiab army check-point for no sticker, army guy looked inside the car, asked me where I going to and live, then let me drive on.

SJ

Post by **hhfarang** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 5:57 pm

Yeah, at the south end of town they've mostly got the cones ready sitting against the curb but at the north end they already have lanes blocked off. Get ready...

Post by **crazy88** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 6:49 pm

The ones in my soi are very smiley and efficient .To go through town just use the roads that run parallel to petchkasem .Have not seen a block on any of them YET .We shall see

Crazy 88.

Post by **Lung Per** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 7:03 pm

crazy88 wrote:The ones in my soi are very smiley and efficient .To go through town just use the roads that run parallel to petchkasem .Have not seen a block on any of them YET .We shall see

Crazy 88.

There are army checkpoints on the Klong Road as well. They check your car or motocy for sticker, enter your sticker number in their laptop. Wonder for what reason and what they will do if people "get lost" once entered the control zone. Will they release the hounds??:shock:

Super Joe · Post by **Super Joe** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 7:03 pm

Yeah, and certainly where the road blocks are and it's down to one lane it's gonna be painful. At least the checks if they pull you to one side are quite short as it seems to be being done by Army only, apparently just looking for dodgy people.
There was none of the usual checking driving licence and everything else to justify a fine. They seem a happier, more friendly bunch too all smiling at you, maybe cos they don't see farangs so often.

SJ

Post by **thaiorchid** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 8:09 pm

Thank you Thailand and ASEAN for making the lives of the expatcommunity in HH so exciting by changing the traffic-routines of HH for a whole week.
Gives us something to talk (moan) about in forums and in the bars.
Yes in the coming week it is going to take a little longer to get from A to B, we could learn a little from the Thais in that respect, bumper to bumper-traffic, you hardly ever see the Thais loose it in situations like that. On the other hand they do not have all the important meetings to attend as the white man !

A succesful summit in HH will be benificiary to all of us running any kind of business here.

HHF. Might even do the real-estate prices some good?

[crazy 88] "The ones in my soi are very smiley and efficient"
[SJ] "They seem a happier, more friendly bunch too, all smiling at you"

What did you guys expect: Torture ?

thaiorchid

Post by **seasides** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 8:38 pm

Permanent secretary for the interior ministry:

"He expressed his confidence that the enforcement of the security act will not affect to locals' everyday life."

http://tannetwork.tv/tan/ViewData.aspx?DataID=1019782

Post by **hhfarang** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 8:44 pm

apparently just looking for dodgy people.

And there's certainly none of those in Hua Hin!

A succesful summit in HH will be benificiary to all of us running any kind of business here.

You could be right in the long run, but in the short run I know visitors who are going somewhere else to avoid the hassle... and residents that are leaving town or staying home for the duration. That can't be good for any business in the next week.

Super Joe · Post by **Super Joe** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 9:13 pm

thaiorchid wrote:[SJ] "They seem a happier, more friendly bunch too, all smiling at you"
What did you guys expect: Torture ?

It does actually say in the paragraph you lifted the above from, what might be expected. But you seem to have a habit of bypassing the details while tripping over yourself to get those hilarious wind-ups out.

Please feel free to inject some humour in them sometime soon

SJ

Post by **mr lonely** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 10:31 pm

Just back from a beer or three soi 102 to town centre. All clear no BIB in sight, road clear , only cones are in the town centre

Post by **seasides** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 10:53 pm

Here's another take, sent by a friend:

http://absolutelybangkok.com/abhisit-in-wonderland/

So the Internal Security Act ISA is declared now?

Super Joe · Post by **Super Joe** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 1:43 am

A wee bit sensationialistic that article, IMO.

Just come back through the Takiab checkpoint just after midnight and there were only 4 Army on duty, there was about 30 odd this afternoon. No sticker yet and they just waved me through, didn't have to stop like earlier. Was expecting it to be stricter after dark.

SJ

Post by **hhfarang** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 8:33 am

I live outside that southern checkpoint so I will go through it every time I go to town. They young military guys there are indeed friendly and smiling and the first time I went through, even though I had the sticker, they stopped me to give me a sheet of paper apologizing for the inconvenience and explaining what the heightened security was all about. It was in English so I suppose they are only giving these to foreigners. I keep it in sight on my dash now so they won't keep giving them to me every time I go through the checkpoint... maximum wait at that checkpoint so far was well under 5 minutes but I had to wait longer at the north end of town yesterday due to one lane traffic (near the palace). Three lanes were converging to one right in front of Golden Place.

Post by **sandman67** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 2:15 pm

Asean security ready 'as planned'
Security preparations for the Asean summit are going as planned, acting police chief Pateep Tanprasert said on Tuesday.

About 4,000 members of the security forces have been deployed to guard the Asean summit. Pol Gen Pateep said. More would be on stand-by if needed.

He said leaders of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) had not informed police of their intention to hand a letter to regional leaders during the summit, which begins on Friday. Police would keep a close watch on them. he said.

Hesaid there should be more protests about traffic in Hua Hin and Cha-am during the summit, as one lane will be used for Asean delegations only.

My emphasis

So there you go.... your inconvenience has now become some quip to amuse the journalists. Nice attitude Mr Policeman.

Maybe we should take a leaf out of the muslim community of Phukets book. Whenever the plod mess with them they seem to get 500 blokes together, arm emselves and block the roads with trucks.

Post by **Ken** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 7:06 pm

Well Mr Sandman67, I am certainly well away from it. Now in one of your favourite haunts if I remember right - Roi Et City Hotel.

Will be checking out beer garden later. Tough life, but somebody's got to do it.