Recent Events Food for Thought

[bumper]

Saint this was in Udon correct?

[westerby]

i got caught up in a road block on the main road into town yesturday , the mob , and thats all they can be discribed as , certainly not demonstrators , where all liquered up and waving clubs about , the police were stood around scratching thier heads , even incapable of sorting out the traffic chaos . about as much use as a chocolate teapot !!!!!!!

Yes, I think that's a pretty accurate description of a mob. Looks like the Police are not sure what to do, looking for a bit of leadership, probably.

[rick]

Well, as someone who was caught up in the airport closure last year (was at airport when PAD arrived, got 9 days extra enforced holiday), at least PAD were very disciplined and their was never any worry about safety. Until yesterday the UDD protests were generally fairly good natured (plenty of smiles all round between protesters and army) and the reporters were in shirt sleeves. Today on Aljazeera news, now reporters are in full protective clothing (flak jackets and even some in helmets), fighting is with petrol bombs, buses used as unmanned blockade busters and more. This is much more serious.

Reports of 70 injured, but no deaths (hmm... official figures?). Guess it depends wether UDD go back to work after holiday or not, but next few days could be critical. Thaksin calling for revolution is pretty stupid, it will only inflame the situation. But with the economic situation as it is, the UDD supporters may feel they have little to loose.

Fortunately not coming back for a while, but hope it does not get to bad for all of you.

[bumper]

I would say that the level it has went to it would effect any farrang living in Bangkok for sure. Me I was planning to miss the water fight anyway so nothing changed for me. Wife and her Nephew went out and played today. Didn't go to Nam Prajak that had fun and not one problem.

[Laan Yaa Mo]

So...what damage to property and person has this alcohol-fuelled red-shirted mob done in Udonthani to date?

I hope nothing, but mobs are nasty and tend to leave their imprint somewhere.

Rick, I read that two people are dead from the recent activities in Bangkok.

[Laan Yaa Mo]

[quote="UdonExpat"]As a generalization, the yellows shirts are composed of the middle class, the business people and the royalists. The red shirts are the rural majority.

I know this is a generalization and doesn't cover all possibilities.

The man who many red shirts support was among the top businessmen in Thailand and became richer after entering politics.

You are welcome to draw whatever conclusions you wish.[/quote]

Yes, it is a generalisation, and part of the myth propagated by PAD. One of their leaders, Sondhi, actually worked with Thaksin for awhile.

In fact, Thaksin is supported by the great majority of the middle class/businessmen in the cities of the north and north-east of Thailand. He gets support from the middle-class in Bangkok too.

As you might remember from the demonstrations in Bangkok by the yellow shirts, many of those people were factory workers. However, at the top echelons of PAD, it does seem true that much of their backing comes from the groups you identified. They were also supported by the top leadership in the military.

However, Thaksin is not without support from some members of the army too. I would also argue that all of Thaksin's supporters are royalists too.

[bumper]

Ok we are all effected a far as confusion about the situtaion and our opinnions as firm as the protestors to whichever side. I suppose that is an effect to us. as to the Udon area the only thing I have heard of wa the one incident of intimidation reported in this thread. I have also read for a time the Thai Lao bridge was blocked in Nong Khai. But, that seemed to have veen resolved by Poilce and local volunteers working together. Song Kran happened here. The NBT TV station ( Governement operated ) in the Khon Kean area was supposedly blocked from broadcating, working here.

That is all that I have read.

Theres is another thread going with political thoughts and pretty much an ongoing blow by blow, So Tik how is the effecting you long ways away and I assume loved ones here?

http://www.udonmap.com/udonthaniforum/p ... ml#p162435

[Laan Yaa Mo]

Sawasdee khap khun Git...Happy New Year!

How are the Thai lessons? It gets better the more you practice...I think.

All of this is very worrying because you never know what might happen at any time. It would be nice to be with certain people now; however, I have been told that the little soi near Robinson's is peaceful enough, and her son and his friends are enjoying tossing water gently on one another.

She seems to be up on events in Bangkok even though the reporting on Thai tv and radio may be a little on the biased side. At least she knew about the injuries, deaths and who was doing what to whom.

After pointing out that there is little anyone like her can do to influence the political situation, she reminded me that even with all his faults , it was her feeling that Thaksin was a better choice than anyone else.

There seems to be a lot of very good information and some stimulating debates on Thai Visa in numerous threads.

I have to say the footage of the Thai photo-journalist dragging that red-shirted lady around by the hair was upsetting.

Let's hope there is a peaceful, maybe even negotiated, settlement to this soon.

The military has shown remarkable restraint. I have not heard too much about a police presence.

Sometimes it seems that Thailand is very polarised but the feeling persists that if elections went ahead tomorrow Thaksin would come out on top despite the best efforts of PAD, the military and the judiciary.

One would think that the red shirts would have lost some support by their actions; however, many people might see them as underdogs who are at a great disadvantage, in particular, when compared to the yellow shirts who were able to run around without worrying about facing any security forces.

Furthermore, I have a major distraction of trying to grade 40 essays over the holiday (Easter or Passover to some, and Songkran to others) in addition to having Thailand on my mind.

These are troubling and worrying times, and I hope everything is, and will stay, fine with you.

Who is posting these odd threads that no longer exist or ones that seem like pornography (no, I did not open the teenage one)?

This response is disjointed but it reflects how my mind seems to be operating at the moment.

Sohk dee der na khap

[bumper]

We all seem to be fine here in other words it's Bangkok. Thai is going fine a lifetime project I truly enjoy it when I have a good instructor. I will never get tones correct, I speak with an accent

If I were in your position, no knowing would be difficult. Not to worry we are all fine in Udon thus far.

Try this thread (Huge rallies spark Thai shutdown)

[Laan Yaa Mo]

Yes, the tones are a killer.

In a pinch, I will go high then low and hope the Thais can make sense of my utterances.

They do have trouble understanding me when I say the names of the towns of Khon Kaen and Loei. Somehow it is possible to muddle through.

It is good to hear that you are doing well.