Believe me, for the head of the army to come out and say even this much, it’s a blunt warning that the situation had better get resolved and soon … or else. So much happens behind the scenes here that it’s a real indicator of the frustrations being felt by all sides.
Nothing much today. Just a pre-dawn attack by some presumed red shirts in which they used an M16 to shoot four security guards at a protest rally site, killing one and wounding three. Got away.
Sunday night and things really have quieted down a lot amid the holiday season. (Over here, both New Year’s Day and New Year’s Eve are always official holidays, and the government awhile back declared Monday the 30th one too for this year so as to make a long holiday weekend. Traffic is really good now, because everyone’s left the city.)
But a giant firecracker blew up amid the protesters today, injuring five. It was the second one thrown into the crowd in two days, so now they’re shoring up their barricades. And protest leader Suthep has told his followers to be sure to take care of unfinished business over the holiday, because immediately afterward they’re going to “seize Bangkok.” I guess that means yet another “final” showdown.
Thanks, as before, for the updates. Stay safe.
Still mostly quiet for the New Year’s holiday. Traffic is great with so many people out of town. But the lower ranks of the police are grumbling about their “sitting duck” status as per orders from the higher-ups. There are some pent-up emotions just waiting to burst forth in a bloodbath given the chance.
Are you serious, or humorously exaggerating?
No, I’m serious. The sense I get is the lower ranks of police are angry at having their hands tied and are chomping at the bit to bust a few heads.
And the police higher-ups are now saying they will not hinder the protesters in shutting down all of Bangkok after New Year’s. Hmm. Sounds like we’re in for an interesting few days.
The wife and I wandered around the Ratchaprasong Intersection last night (Monday night) to view the New Year’s and Christmas decorations. That’s right smack dab in the middle of Bangkok and usually lit up really well with the decorations this time of year. But we’d heard the lights and decorations were somewhat more subdued this year, and sure enough we found they were noticeably less than in the past, although it was still done up some. Most of it seemed to be private though, done by this or that business. There was still a lot going on in front of the big Central World shopping center (the largest in Thailand) at the intersection, but even then it was less than what could be seen in the past.
That intersection is the site of many political rallies by both sides – Central World was gutted by arson during the 2010 riots, and the intersection was Ground Zero for all the mayhem – and it could simply be the city doesn’t want any protesters stealing or burning decorations.
And just to show that no situation in Thailand cannot get more bizarre no matter how bizarre it already is, the protesters are now sporting homemade “bulletproof” vests made from hospital X-ray film.
Tell me they don’t think they will really work!!!
They will probably work just as well as they did for the Lakota Sioux. 
I have no doubt they think they’ll really work. Tradition, ya know. Next door in Cambodia there comes a sporadic stream of reports of some poor schlub buying a special amulet or getting a special tattoo whose magical powers makes him immune to bullets, and then he has a friend shoot him to test it out. Hilarity ensues.
You’ve just gotta belieeeeeeeeve!
Protest leader Suthep has set January 13 for the final takeover of Bangkok. One of the tactics to be used will be the old standby of cutting electricity and water to homes of caretaker ministers and at all government office buildings.
(They’re called “caretaker” ministers because the government has resigned but still has to run the country until the new election.)
People are starting to get a little freaked out about what might happen come January 13. Protest leader Suthep is vowing to paralyze all of Bangkok. I’ve heard some analysts speculate what it would mean for the economy if the city shutdown lasts into March. What the fuck??!? I would hope at that point it would finally be time to call out the army, if not before.
And rumblings are being heard from the red shirts, who are vowing to “open the country” if the protesters close Bangkok. I have no idea what that means, but it could turn nasty.
If I were you I’d stock up on groceries and all other kinds of necessities. Candles and matches maybe, if they shut the power off.
Bird seed!
This way, if worst comes to worst and it isn’t safe to go out, you can just hunker down in the apartment. It’s probably good that you aren’t on the ground floor.
Bird seed?
Baker is referencing my long-running pigeon thread. 
We have a pigeon couple raising babies out on our balcony. And we are in fact well stocked with birdseed, so they won’t have to worry.
Protest leader Suthep has announced 20 major intersections that will be seized and blocked from January 13. Although we don’t live in Khlong Toey district, the Khlong Toey intersection is not far from us. Chaos is almost assured. But some feel a Constitutional Court ruling due next Tuesday could defuse the situation. If they rule to ban from politics for five years all the Senators and MPs who tried to force through illegitimate constitutional changes – all of whom belong to the ruling party – that would essentially leave the Democrats as the only ones left to run in the February 2 election, assuring them of regaining power and negating the need to keep seizing stuff. Although these people seem crazy enough that they might just seize Bangkok on January 13 anyway even if the court ruling is favorable.
It truly is amazing a group like this can openly plot the seizure of a capital city and overthrow of the government. But the army and police are treading so carefully due to the 2010 riots, which were carried out by the red-shirt supporters of the present government. Back then the Democrats were in power, and current protest leader Suthep was a deputy prime minister at the time. This whole current round of trouble was sparked by the present government bringing death-penalty charges against Suthep for his role, whatever it was, in the deaths of the 100 or so rioters in the streets in 2010. The present prime minister doesn’t want the tables turned and find similar charges levied against her a few years down the road like she’s doing to the Democrats now. It’s an impossible situation.
Exactly! I am just amazed… and appalled. Has Thailand truly become ungovernable?
Apologies if this has been asked (and probably dismissed as stupid) before…
The King is pretty universally revered, as I recall - is there any chance that he can step in (with military support, of course) and say “That’s it. I’m taking over. All elected positions above X level are void. We’re starting the whole shebang again. Anybody disagree?”
Ruffles and flourishes and details to be determined - but might he get away with it? It does seem to be turning into a revolving mess over there.