Military coup in Thailand

[geosname]

It seems the first of the politicians who was in hiding has come out into the open and been arrested... how they deal with him and others could define the direction the country goes in.

[Away Days]

Geo do you think it will be safe travel there in November ?

[Robbie Earle's Perm]

Geo do you think it will be safe travel there in November ?

 

I'm going over to Patong to visit friends who work in the tourism industry there in 6 weeks. They say it's fine, other than Bangla Road closing earlier.

[geosname]

Geo do you think it will be safe travel there in November ?

 

At this point there is no way of knowing, it depends what the army do next and how the people react... its just a guessing game at the moment.

Arresting the political and faction leaders isnt a good sign, not paying the increased rice price will cause reaction in the NE paying it will create a reaction in the south... the next week or two should make it a little clearer.

[geosname]

I'm going over to Patong to visit friends who work in the tourism industry there in 6 weeks. They say it's fine' date=' other than Bangla Road closing earlier.[/quote']

 

Its precarious at the moment... no one has gone hard line yet... I could tell you about the army in control in the past that would probably shock you but at present they are being very cautious, the fact they didnt react when people were protesting the coup in Bkk is surprising.

[geosname]

Just thoughts and observations...

 

The army are in a difficult position, if they clamp down too hard they will inevitably damage the tourist industry, which is a large part of the economy, if they do it unevenly it will spark resentment in the differing areas. People may still arrive this season because they have booked and paid but will they want to return?

The two things that could return the country to normality quickly [comparatively speaking] are the King and condemnation that carries financial penalties, the King is now out of the picture, he endorsed the coup leader, so financial penalties are all thats left.

The rural ares are less affected than the urban as normality starts at 5am and finishes before 10pm usually. The cities and major approach roads are populated with army personnel.

The army consists of many conscripts, young men who by chance selected the wrong coloured ball from a bag, and the enlisted, it can be a dangerous mix, they are defensive of their own and have been known in the past not to show restraint.

It really depends on what the end game is, keeping the peace? keeping control?, the only people who really know at this point are the army leaders.... one of the major problems the army face when/if they hand back power is how to stop the political events of recent years recurring.

[geosname]

Just been informed the curfew times have been changed... from 10pm - 5am to 12pm - 4am

[geosname]

Just a local update.....

Several groups of army dog handlers and personnel arrived in Nam Pong yesterday, about 10 miles from the village where I live, looking for red shirt members and arms/explosives. District leaders were dispatched to the villages to calm the locals and to advise them to carry on as normal. Locals who have weapons, used for hunting rats etc, slipped away into the forest to hide their guns. It seems things are starting to happen in the background away from the media spotlight.

[geosname]

I dont know if it kicked off in Bangkok today after the large deployment of troops and police but the army have stated there wont be elections for at least 1 year

[JOHNNYAITCH]

This seems to be going on longer than one might have expected? And getting 'worse' not better.

[geosname]

This seems to be going on longer than one might have expected? And getting 'worse' not better.

 

The last one, which was short, was initiated by the king because of shinawatra, basically to wrestle power away from him then give it back to the people... this one was initiated by the army who then sought the Kings approval, I doubt it will be short, I dont doubt it will be painful, to the Thai economy and the people, perhaps not violently but certainly economically... it could get to a conflict situation if the red shirts kick off or there are better organised protests against the coup. The Thai army are not tolerant, they will not have a problem using force or the police to keep control.. the stories of past army control are not pleasant.

[geosname]

I had an appointment at the hospital today in Khon Kaen,,, second appointment at the dentist for root canal work ughhh!... the army were conspicuous by their absence, not a one.

I had to drive through the village they searched [see above] apparently they found one of the people they were looking for, they took him and his weapons away, there was a noticeable absence of red flags flying and no one has been around trying to raise funds for the cause or offering to pay people to protest... strange how a few tanks and machine guns change attitudes.

[geosname]

There hasnt been a great deal of interest in this thread so I wont update further.

[Caz or caz123]

Please carry on Geo...I'm very interested to find out how things are but just don't know enough to make comment.

[geosname]

Its a bit risky Caz, freedom of speech doesnt have the same meaning here, you can say what you want but it usually comes with the caveat "provided no one hears you". [or reads it]