A sequel to Part 1 and Part 2. It’s been three years since our last street protests, so we’re about due.
They’re not exactly rioting … yet … but they are taking over and occupying government ministries and other state buildings. Latest story here. Some places they’re occupying, some places they’re surrounding. The police don’t want to get involved, and I can’t say I blame them. The labor union of Thai Airways, the national flag carrier, just this evening said all its members are free to take off two days to participate.
This all started with the prime minister, Yingluck Shinawatra, little sister and puppet of deposed PM Thaksin, trying to ram through a blanket amnesty bill that would have served to excuse her brother for his corruption conviction that he fled Thailand to avoid the prison sentence for. That did not go down well with a lot of people, and they’ve been holding street protests ever since October 31. And the protests just keep growing and are taking on a life of their own. The amnesty bill is now dead in the water, but the protests have grown into a movement to topple the government. Leading this side this time is Suthep Thaugsuban, a former deputy prime minister and Democrat Party boss. The Democrats are the opposition party. As much as I hate Thaksin, Suthep is just as corrupt, so I can’t get excited about him.
But everyone else is. I think protests have spread to about a third of the provinces, particularly in the South, long a Democrat stronghold. In fact, I heard that today, protesters down there in Phatthalung province forced the governor to blow on a whistle. (Whistle-blowing is the hallmark of the protesters. But my theory is it’s just a ploy to attract shopping-mall carpark attendants to join them.)
Compared with 2008 and 2010, it’s quite tame … so far. No telling what will happen. The government seems content to let the protesters do whatever they want to do in hopes they’ll run out of steam. But red shirts, the group who are staunch supporters of Thaksin and this government, are starting their own rallies, so rumbling in the street is not out of the question.
Oh, and while the rallies have been taking place for about four weeks, they’ve been marching through the streets and taking over stuff only since last weekend.
The Finance Ministry, seized a couple of days ago, seems to have become the de-facto headquarters of the movement. The government is emphasizing that no provincial halls upcountry have fallen … yet.
Countries are starting to issue advisories against travel to Thailand, or at least to be careful here. I can tell you it’s still pretty safe. Bangkok is a huge city, bigger than NYC, and the action is limited to non-touristy areas now for the most part. I would not worry at all about traveling here. That could change though. Five years ago, the anti-Thaksin force seized both of Bangkok’s airports, halting air travel. But I don’t think they’ll rampage through the city trying to burn it down like the pro-Thaksin faction did three years ago.
Just arrived last night, but did have to do some reassuring before I came. But I’ve been here before for such events, so I’m not alarmed. Back home they can’t quite understand that, and seem to enjoy starting conversations, “So I guess you’ll be headed somewhere else now!”, “Um, no actually I won’t!”
These are the same people who cannot imagine traveling without every room and event prearranged. They are stunned anyone would consider arriving anywhere without an arranged room!
Having come from a city freshly buried under several feet of snow, adjusting to the heat, and getting over the jet lag, are my priority at the moment. I’ll be right when I get to the beach, I’m sure!
Shame about the travel advisories though, you’d think someone in the state department would have by now figured out this is the Thai’s favorite way to change government!
Hope your trip is good. Buy a whistle to use in a pinch. They’ll love you for it. No problem finding one to buy these days.
The prime minister survived a no-confidence vote in parliament today (Thursday). The protesters promptly surrounded the Royal Thai Police headquarters and cut off their electricity. They’re threatening to cut off the water next unless the cops all leave. But the TV news said the power got restored.
Brought a whistle AND pink shirts with us! Spent part of the afternoon reading Bangkok Post with great interest. Nice to get some more info over what little is being reported in the west!
2bangkok.com is a good source too. Run by a friend of mine.
Protesters are out for a sixth day today (Friday), and they’re calling for the police to join them. The two sides are completely unreconcilable, and it’s going to be interesting to see what will happen next.
Really, there’s only one way this will ever end ultimately, and that’s with Thaksin’s death. As long as he’s alive, this will never stop. He’s only 64, so he could last awhile longer. Rumors have been rife for years that he’s dying of cancer, but I think that’s just wishful thinking. He is so reviled that I am honestly amazed they haven’t sent a hit squad after him.
Thaksin Shinawatra (pronounced Toxin, heh, Chin-Na-Waht. The -ra is silent and the Sh- actually pronounced Ch-). And here’s wishing you good luck in scoring a point!
The protesters have climbed over the gates at army headquarters, then opened them to let everyone else in.
Others have marched to the US Embassy to hand the ambassador a letter saying the present government has no legitimacy to govern. It’s not clear what the US is supposed to do about anything.
Thanks for the tip to 2bangkok.com, Sam. I bought a Nation today, it makes nice reading before my jet lag required afternoon nap! My appetite is returning, I’m adjusting to the heat, just had some roast duck over rice on the street, yummo!
Her. Kristie Kenney, whom the Thai press is always calling Kennedy. Quite a nice lady actually.
Heat?!? It’s cooled down a lot in the past month. I think now you actually have to be out of the shade before you can fry an egg on the sidewalk.
There have been some clashes outside of Bangkok between pro- and anti-government forces. The protesters seem to have left the army headquarters, but they’ve taken over part or all of the Government Complex on the northern edge of the city. This is an incredibly huge area, and it’s not clear how much of it is under protesters’ control, but Suthep, the leader, says it will all be under his control for sure this weekend, and he’s told civil servants not to bother going to work Monday morning.
And here is some, um, secret video of a Thaksin meeting.
The story in the link mentions 20,000 protesters in the aforementioned Government Complex – which is not the same thing as Government House – but that is a seriously huge area, and only 20,000 would be swallowed up inside it. It’s the size of some towns.
The main Immigration office is in the Government Complex. That’s where most foreigners in Bangkok have to go every 90 days to report their residency. I’m lucky in that I get to use a smaller Board of Investment-sponsored Immigration office in central Bangkok, but I wonder what all those other people will do if they can’t go there to report, or even to renew their visa.
U.S. media tends to lay too much stress on the ruling party’s “populist policies” and “electoral support.” Yes, she might win yet again if elections were called but her candidates pay typically $10 each to voters in many rural areas. Think what the corrupt gains of their Party must be to afford that! Many of her “populist” policies have been disasters. Her rice-buying program, which I commented on a few months ago, has not only cost the Treasury huge sums but has forced many farmers to take out high-interest loans since the government delays payment for the rice for several months. Also note that the higher rice price hurts, rather than helps, the majority of rural Thais: they don’t own the rice they harvest – instead they have to buy rice at the inflated price.
My daughter attends Yingluk’s alma mater and informs us that even in Chiang Mai – power center for the Shinawatra family – students and faculty are increasingly opposed to her. Many where we live are protesting by deliberately changing cell-phone service provider away from AIS, once part of the Shinawatra business empire. (Does Shinawatra still own part of AIS? I don’t know.)
Permanent residency takes a lot of hoops to jump through, AND it’s expensive. Not worth it to me. There’s also an unwritten rule that you must have children with a Thai wife to qualify, although that’s not one of the official criteria. I know at least one farang (Westerner) who was quietly told his application for permanent residency was rejected because he and his wife did not have children. Another friend’s Thai wife didn’t want children, so he bribed a doctor to certify he was sterile, and he did get permanent residency. (He has citizenship now.) But then he and that wife divorced, partially over the children issue, and he now has three children with his new wife.
The vast majority of farangs such as myself living here just renew their visas once a year and report their whereabouts every 90 days. Less hassle and much easier on the bank account. (Some of the unluckier ones have to leave the country every 90 days, but that’s not me.)
Exciting times indeed. I was in Bangkok for a week in December 2010, I think that must have been one of the quieter times politically as I don’t think anything untoward was happening.
I have a question, Sam - you seem to be posting your thoughts a lot more openly in this thread than previously, any reason for the change? If you’re able to answer, of course :).
No, I hadn’t noticed anything different. I wouldn’t say it’s more open than before. The only topic completely off the plate for me is the monarchy.
December 2010. That was just seven months after the burning of Bangkok. You should have been here that May. Hot times, indeed.
Meanwhile, the red shirts have been rallying in far eastern Bangkok, and violence has broken out. Gunfire, an explosion. Three shot. This is way out in Bumfuck, far from the central part of the city.
BBC also said a bus carrying red shirts into Bangkok from upcountry was attacked as it entered the city. Windows smashed, paving stones thrown. Looks like it may be heating up.
