Political un-rest and rally

[STW_Ryan]

A video for you to ponder (apologies, it's a little one-sided and the hitler segment was unnecessary, but a nice counter-balance to the rather one-sided media in the west).

[cozza]

STW_Ryan,

Brilliant...it is a nice counter balance.

The Hitler stuff is a bit excessive but I think it is closer than the stuff in the news here...

Pracha tipatai...my ass!!

[STW_Ryan]

Yes the hitler thing for me really should not have been there (Godwin's law and all that) but the rest does counter-balance, and so long as you accept it for what it is (ie far from unbiased) it's a good complement to the local media which should also be accepted for what it is (far from unbiased). Always good to get info from all sides in these situations.

[Siani]

I think there is significant difference from last week.

What exactly?

You are basing what "you think" on a generic statement from the foreign office of ONE country?

TAT is requesting that the British foreign office downgrade their warning level to keep it in line with every other country.

Also, reading numerous Thailand orientated Forums, Blogs and News sources provides a more rounded opinion.

No I am not basing it just on the Foreign office. I am basing it on News reports and online forum comments. I am sending you this link..the article was written 30/04/2010. Expats that have to go to renew thei visas at the border..surely it must be a little dangerous to travel in cetain parts. I am not there at the moment but had planned to come out mid June.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/w ... 112556.ece

[sargeant]

sorry siani i cant get your link up 404 error whatever that is

[Big Boy]

The link works for me.

The 404 or Not Found error message is an HTTP standard response code indicating that the client was able to communicate with the server but the server could not find what was requested.

[Siani]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/w ... 112556.ece

It should work..I just tried it again. If not go to Times on line (Google) then go to
1. World News
2. Then "Asia News" (Grey box on right)
3. The "Thai protesters storm Bangkok hospital"

[moja]

It worked for me but it was very very slow.

[STW_Ryan]

It's worth noting that the US are giving similar advice to the UK at present. Bangkok is mostly risky because of its unpredictability. Unless you're glued to twitter 24/7 it's hard to know exactly when something's gonna kick off. Friends in BKK have had a number of close calls.

[Nereus]

It's worth noting that the US are giving similar advice to the UK at present. Bangkok is mostly risky because of its unpredictability. Unless you're glued to twitter 24/7 it's hard to know exactly when something's gonna kick off. Friends in BKK have had a number of close calls.

Yes, that is a very good point. It depends a bit just what you have to do in Bangkok, and where it is, as it is possible to go about your business without even being aware of what is happening.

But you can not be sure. I was along Vivaldi (sp) Highway, and in Zeer just last Saturday, and although I try and keep up with what is happening, I could have very easily been there on Wednesday without thinking about it.

[caller]

STW_Ryan, This bunch are ruining the country and they cannot even see the big picture.

As they see so little, if anything, that is tangible from the 'economy', I guess they're not that bothered? Maybe if they did, they wouldn't be where they are?

Today was dumb and seemingly not sanctioned, but to call them a bunch of hillbillies is a wee bit off the mark, when its apparant they are anything but. Just checkout their facebook page.

Personally I have found the reporting fair, but do the round of news sources to ensure as best I can, a balanced view.

Those in the UK can listen to the recent 'Hardtalk' interview with Abhisit here.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00s8js3

Note: No unmentionable's.

Its worth watching, albeit 23 minutes long. Just watch the eyes! I love it when he mentions that 'we have some political differences' and then, 'but its becoming controllable'. Also interesting when he said 'Martial Law' can only be enforced by the Army! He doesn't have the power to do so - huh!! He did mention that he had been elected 7 times as an MP, which was more than Thaksin? Whilst he did well in some areas of the interview he struggled in justifying the way he even became PM, which isn't surprising really.

Verdict: He's part of the establishment and happy with the status quo. I wonder if that will be enough?

[margaretcarnes]

There may well be genuine people amongst the red shirts, but as far as I am concerned, any "leader" that threatens a Hospital is a terrorist, and should be shot on sight:

Bangkok Post
Published: 30/04/2010 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: News

Red shirt protesters are threatening to storm Chulalongkorn Hospital again on Friday to ensure the government is not using it to harbour troops.
Payap: Leader of the charge on Chula
United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) leader Payap Panket and a group of red shirt supporters and guards yesterday searched hospital buildings as they believed it has become a hide-out for security forces.

Hospital director Adisorn Patradul insisted there were no soldiers inside the hospital and barred the red shirts from conducting a search, but later allowed Mr Payap to enter.
Chaos erupted when dozens of red shirt protesters suddenly followed Mr Payap and the guards to search a building. The group later left and threatened to return for a new search at 10am today.

Chulalongkorn Hospital, which is located next to the red shirt rally site on Ratchadamri Road, on Wednesday evacuated patients from buildings near the site to wards along Henri Dunant Road. The hospital will close its out-patient service today and suspend all surgery for safety reasons. Only emergency cases would be handled, Dr Adisorn said.
The Medical Council of Thailand has urged red shirt supporters to clear the rally site near the hospital to allow emergency cases access.

It issued a statement yesterday asking the UDD to retreat at least 100 metres from the hospital's entrances on Ratchadamri Road as the protest was disrupting the hospital and threatening the morale of medical staff.
The demonstrators have blocked the hospital's entrances which mainly are used to transfer patients for emergency treatment.

''The hospital must be fully prepared for any life-saving matters and patient transfer for emergency treatment. Therefore the involved parties must step away from the hospital area and avoid any activities which may disrupt hospital operations,'' the statement said.

Council president Somsak Lohlekha demanded that red shirt supporters stop exploiting the hospital area for political purposes.
''Never before have hospital and medical staff been obstructed in their work as much as this,'' Mr Somsak said.
Dr Somsak said he was disappointed with the red shirts, who are reported to have tried to block ambulances taking injured people to the hospital.

10 years ago a group of about 10 Burmese occupied Ratchburi hospital. They were shot. Reports at the time said that the group included a young boy.
Granted - the Burmese had already been given one chance when another group of insurgents had been flown back over the border. If Thailand allow the Reds to act like this again they are sending a clear message that some can get away with this unacceptable behaviour, and some can't.

[MrPlum]

The BBC's 'coverage' has been a joke. They have completely ignored the hospital invasion and covered things from a very pro-red viewpoint, selecting only to cover events which make the reds look good, and ignoring those that don't. Frankly I'm disgusted that the BBC are so utterly incompetent. Al Jazeera does seem a little more impartial and willing to point out that all sides are equally committed to the art of being complete and utter bastards.

Why incompetence? The BBC IMO long ago become just another cog in the propaganda machine. The only free press is online and that is being undermined by attacks on 'net neutrality'. http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/04/11-4

[sargeant]

To the BBC critics i just wonder if having their main journalist (who is not here anymore) under threat of arrest if he returns to thailand could (possibly maybe go on have a small side wager) something to do with which slant they put on things

[sargeant]

A man from Phichit went to the Democrat Party head office Friday and asked the party to help send him and 24 friends back home.

Kirkkiart Kulthonbodi came to the Democrat head office at 4 pm.

He said he joined the rally on Tuesday and was told he would be paid Bt200 or Bt300 a day.

He said he has not received any money so he and 24 friends decided to go home but they did not have money.

The man said 18 of 25 men from Phichit had their ID cards seized by some rally organisers.

Kirkkiart said he will have to return to the rally site to sign his name at 6 pm before sneaking out again.

Democrat MP from Phichit, Naraphat Kaewthong, took the man's phone number for contacting him later.

The Nation

Nice of them to NAME the guy and where he comes from IF it actually happened

I will bet it wont happen again sneak in and out or not