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US Warns Citizens Traveling to Thailand, Evacuating Staffs The United States has warned its citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Thailand and began evacuating non-essential embassy staff and families due to unrest in the country. "US citizens should defer all travel to Bangkok and defer all non-essential travel to the rest of Thailand," a statement said. "The Department of State has authorized the departure of all non-emergency US government personnel and eligible family members from Bangkok," the statement added. US warns citizens travelling to Thailand, evacuating staffs ____________________ Chulalongkorn Hospital will be Closed from Monday The Chulalongkorn Hospital announced at 11 am Sunday that its medical services will be closed from Monday until further notice. Chulalongkorn Hospital will be closed from Monday

PM Sends E-mail to UN Chief Published: 16/05/2010 Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva had sent e-mail to secretary general of the United Nations Organisation Pan Ki-mun to explain the situation, acting government spokesman Panitan Wattanayakorn said on Sunday. PM sends email to UN chief

Because they, as you are doing, look at it from the western point of view. You don't really need me to tell you that the Thai point of view is a different matter, do you? While some farang may get their Thai boyfriends out of the so-called prostitution business for altruistic reasons, I believe the real reasons most get them out, if indeed most really do get them out, are because of their own hang-ups about prostitution and that once the prostitute becomes their boyfriend, they don't want other farang to touch them.

Apparently the protest is far from over, even if the military successfully re-takes the streets of Bangkok. Let's post the latest news items on this thread since the other threads are getting quite lengthy. ____________________ Battle Rages On By The Nation Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva last night defended the government's protest-containment policy, arguing it was the best way to address Bangkok's security situation. The premier insisted there would be no turning back, although Natthawut Saikua, one of the protest leaders, asked for an immediate cease-fire and a return to the negotiating table. Yesterday saw deadly clashes between security forces and protesters at Bon Kai, Rajprarob and nearby areas of Bangkok, resulting in 22 deaths and 172 injuries. At noon, several grenades were launched from M79s in the Din Daeng/ Rajprarob area, resulting in many injuries. This prompted the security forces to step up their action by declaring the area a "live bullets" zone. Many used-car tyres were burnt by the protesters to create fire and smoke while large water and garbage trucks were used by protesters and militants to get close to the lines set up by security forces. In his nationally-televised speech from the 11th Infantry Regiment, the premier said after the clashes between protesters and security forces the containment policy aimed to restrict the number of protesters at Rajprasong, which was estimated at around 6,000 at the latest count. Battle rages on

Unfortunately, that is the most likely aftermath. I think the outcome will be that after enough bloodshed, the Red-Shirts will be routed from Bangkok and the Abhisit government will prevail. Thaksin will continue to cause as much trouble as he can. But what will Abhisit be governing? Thanks to the Red-Shirt uprising, he'll have half this country resenting him and the government more than they did in the first place. I think for a long time to come the government will have little choice other than to run a police state or risk the whole thing starting up again. I believe that no matter what ends up happening in Bangkok, extremists will start a campaign of terrorist tactics. I don't foresee the more radical Red-Shirts just giving up the whole thing and start tolerating the Abhisit government. As far as I can tell, Thailand is split right down the middle politically. I think no matter what happens in Bangkok, it's only the beginning of many more incidents to come until the election. Even then, no matter what the outcome of the election will be, the next government will still have to contend with half a country in support and half a country opposed. "A house divided against itself cannot stand." - Abraham Lincoln I think Thailand is already a house divided against itself. I think whatever happens after Bangkok, it's not going to be pleasant. I just hope someone with the intelligence, ability, and charisma comes along before Thailand self destructs entirely.

I don't know. Maybe that's the best idea of all. But don't declare war on Laos or Cambodia. Declare war on the USA. Become another 'Mouse that Roared.' Maybe that wouldn't bring the country together, but as long as the country is falling apart anyhow, why not make some money? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rbcbhjq_FxY

There are so many stories coming out now that keeping up with it all and posting it all here has gotten to be too much. If you are not reading the news sites yourself, in a nutshell the violence continues to escalate. There have been more injuries and deaths - on both sides. Acts of vandalism are becoming rampant. The Red-Shirts are threatening to seize government buildings. More troops are being sent to Bangkok. There have been no further reports published about Seh Daeng's condition. The Red-Shirt stalwarts are simply refusing to give in and by now they have to know their lives and freedom are at serious risk. Today a Thai court sentenced 27 Red-Shirts to 6 months in prison. The situation is expected to grow worse. ____________________ "There are causes for which I am prepared to die, but there is no cause for which I am prepared to kill." - Mahatma Gandhi

This is the most difficult moment of temptation resistance I have ever experienced.

Well, I make my own decisions despite the parameters of the poll. I checked off "stay put," but I also clicked on Cambodia anyway. That's because there was no selection that offered the option of staying put unless forced out. So, if I'm ever forced out, Cambodia is where I'm most likely to go, at least to start.

One of the questions that keeps popping up is what is keeping the baht so strong with all these problems going on. Maybe that strength's days are numbered: _____ Investors begin buying back dollars Published: 15/05/2010 More foreign investors have sold off some shares and bought US dollars due to the escalating political violence, Bank of Thailand (BOT) assistant governor Suchada Kirakul said on Saturday morning. Investors begin buying back dollars ____________________ Baht Weakens on Concerns over Renewed Violence: BoT BANGKOK (TNA) -- The baht has continued weakening because investors are concerned over the renewed violent clashes between the military and anti-government United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship-led protesters, according to the Bank of Thailand (BoT). BoT Assistant Governor Suchada Kirakul said foreign investors had apparently begun to sell the baht and remit the dollar home to a certain extent. Sales of the baht are still proceeding although the volume remains thin, she said. The spate of political violence overnight has shaken investor confidence. Some sold shares and brought money to invest in other instruments, particularly in bonds. She said the baht is now considered volatile by itself and in tandem with the global situation, but its volatility is not heavier than that of other regional currencies. Currency is still moving at an acceptable level. Although foreign investors sold the baht and purchased dollars to remit money home, earners of incomes in foreign currencies are waiting for the perfect timing to sell the dollar, resulting in a balancing of the currency movement. On a comment by a top economist that the baht was very likely to touch 31.5 to the dollar at year-end, Mrs. Suchada said the currency had both strengthened and weakened. Although Thailand has experienced internal and external difficulties, its economy continued growing partly because of the global economic recovery. She revealed the BoT’s Monetary Policy Committee earlier wanted to see the policy interest rate return to the normal level, but its hope was dashed by the current political crisis. (TNA)

Khattiya in Critical but Stable Condition Published: 15/05/2010 at 10:23 AM A doctor from Vajjira Hospital revealed on Saturday morning that Maj Gen Khattiya Sawasdipol, also known as Seh Daeng, is still in a critical but stable condition. Seh Daeng - the army specialist and supporter of convicted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra - receives regular anti-biotic treatment. No visitor is allowed except his daughter, Ms Khattiyaa. He was shot in the head on Thursday night as security forces surrounded the six-week anti-government rally site at Bangkok's Ratchaprasong commercial district. Khattiya in critical but stable condition

Here's the latest: _____ Subway, Skytrain Not Operating Published: 15/05/2010 Subway and skytrain suspend all services on Saturday until further notice. Skytrain stopped running since 4pm while subway stopped its service since 5pm on Friday. The suspension of the services came after the clashes between troops and anti-government protesters which left at least 10 people killed and more than 125 injured. Subway, skytrain not operating ____________________ Red Shirts Burn Public Telephone Booth in Front of Lumpini Boxing Stadium Red-shirt protesters set fire to a public telephone booth in front of the Lumpini Boxing Stadium at 8:57 am Saturday, Jor Sor 100 traffic radio station reported. The fire spread to nearby commercial building and fire fighters could not go in to put out the blaze yet. Sporadic gunfire and explosions were heard in the area. Troops also fired into the sky to warn protesters not to attack them. Red shirts burn public telephone booth in front of Lumpini Boxing Stadium ____________________ There has been no further word yet as to Seh Daeng's condition.

Don't forget Blue Ball, Pennsylvania

What you say makes a lot of sense to me. You did leave out one possibility, though. What about the idea of cutting off the head of a snake? I think you're right, but I can also see a scenario in which someone thought by taking out Seh Daeng, then the protest would quickly die without his presence and influence. It is obvious that whoever shot him was a skilled sharpshooter. But it would also have had to be someone who knew where Seh Daeng would be and when he would be there. The shooter would have had to select a place from which to shoot where he knew he would be close enough to his target to hit him, close enough to recognize him, but far enough away so that he could escape. Then there's the question of timing. About 7:00pm. That's just after nightfall in Thailand. It makes sense to me that there must have been a reason. The way I see it, the shooting had to have been planned hours or even days in advance and the shooter had to have been someone not only skilled, but someone capable of pulling off an assassination without hurting anyone else and making a clean getaway. And it would have had to be someone who had access to the kind of weapon capable of such an assassination. I see a conspiracy theory coming up. Who did it? Was it a lone assassin? A hired killer? And why? Why was Seh Daeng shot? Who was behind it? Why him in particular? Are the other Red-Shirt leaders now in danger of meeting the same fate?

I'm somewhat surprised there isn't already a barrage of speculation as to who shot Seh Daeng. From what has been published so far, it was a professional 'hit' by a skilled sharpshooter. Who was behind it? Abhisit denies having anything to do with it. The military and CRES deny having anything to do with it. Then who did? Was it a lone assassin acting on his own? Was it a conspiracy? Was Seh Daeng set up? Was there a second assassin on the Grassy Knoll? Don't get me wrong. I really do feel badly for Seh Daeng and I think shooting him was a terrible thing, but the incident has all the makings of a good Frederick Forsythe novel. Who shot J.R.? ____________________ Sniper 'targeted Khattiya from high-rise' By Thanong Khanthong The Nation Published on May 15, 2010 A sniper who shot Maj-General Khattiya Sawasdipol on Thursday appeared to have used a Winchester rifle with a .308 bullet and fired it from a tall building, a military expert said. The expert said the bullet, which struck Khattiya on the right temple before passing through his throat and the back of his neck, was travelling at an angle of between 45 to 75 degrees. "This can only mean that the sniper must be a real pro and stalking Seh Daeng from a tall building," he said. Khattiya collapsed unconscious the moment he was struck by the bullet at around 7pm, right in front of the underground MRT Silom station. He was rushed to Hua Chiew Hospital before being transferred later to the Vajira Hospital. He is now in a critical condition. Only a miracle can save his life, according to medical sources. Sniper 'targeted Khattiya from high-rise'

Especially when the only real change likely to happen in the long run would be replacement by another corrupt government. That's my opinion, anyway. The truth is, I'm finding it very difficult to even care who ends up prevailing. Maybe Thailand will end up with an Abhisit government. Maybe a Thaksin government. Maybe a military government. Maybe someone we've never heard of. But whoever it is, does anyone truly believe that in the "big picture" anything much is likely to change in the long run? Does anyone truly believe that five years or ten years down the road that Thailand and corruption will essentially be any different from what it is right now? I believe that whoever prevails, there won't be any less corruption. The only change I can foresee would be a different set of people profiting by it. Once the dust settles from this protest, how long do you think it will be before the next protests or the next coup? As for whoever ends up sitting at the Prime Minister's desk, "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn." The way things seem to happen in Thailand, whoever it is won't last very long anyway.

The Red-Shirts have blocked off Soi Day-Night? Why? What on earth is blocking off Soi Day-Night supposed to accomplish besides making it a bit more difficult for some to get to Sunee Plaza?

"The Marines are looking for a few good men. And YOU ain't it!" - Clint Eastwood, 'Heartbreak Ridge'

Yes, I've seen it. I posted last night on another thread that the state of emergency has been confirmed. But you would never know it. I haven't seen anything different in Pattaya at all. You live here. Have you seen anything unusual? I haven't been outside of Pattaya since last week. I think the state of emergency probably consists of roadblocks outside of Pattaya in an effort to prevent more Red-Shirts from going to Bangkok. That's just a guess on my part. Meanwhile, everything is perfectly normal in Pattaya. A technical state of emergency might exist, but on a practical level there really is nothing. The headline in that Pattaya One article says, "Message from Pattaya: Don’t be scared, everything is normal." I agree. I don't see any reason at all for people who had plans to come to Pattaya to alter their plans. I'll bet most farang present in Pattaya would agree with me. Everything is fine here, except the weather has been hot as hell lately. HeyGay, if you're reading this, why do I think you went to Saranrom Park despite all this madness . . . ?

Germany "urgently" advises against travel to Bangkok By Deutsche Presse Agentur Berlin - The German foreign ministry expressed "great concern" at the violent clashes in the Thai capital Bangkok on Friday, and "urgently" advised against travel to the city. The German embassy had scaled back its work to a bare minimum but remained open - unlike some other embassies - a foreign ministry spokesman said. Germany "urgently" advises against travel to Bangkok

I'm sure there will be differing opinions about justification, but the fact is that the Red-Shirts did take over a hospital and 5 patients died in the aftermath.

Did you ever get the feeling that the sound trucks in Bangkok ought to be playing music from Gotterdammerung? Sporadic explosions have been heard in the protest area. One car bomb has been found. 3 grenades were tossed at the Saladaeng BTS station. Protesters at Saladaeng placed Molotov cocktails into burning tires and rolled them at the soldiers. Traffic on Rama IV has been shut down. __________ Red Shirts Toughen Demands The red-shirt leaders Friday announced they would no longer compromise with the government and toughened their demands for the administration to comply with. The red-shirt leaders demanded Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to meet the five demands as following: 1) The government must cease fire immediately. 2) The government must withdraw troops immediately. 3) The government must lift the state of emergency immediately. 4) The House must be dissolved immediately. 5) Abhisit and Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban must resign and must not be in the caretaker Cabinet. Red shirts toughen demands ____________________ Natthawut Warns Big Tragedy Will Happen Friday Night Natthawut Saikua, a red-shirt leader, Friday demanded Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to dissolve the House immediately and pull out troops or a big tragedy will happen to the country at night. "If the prime minister does not order ceasefire, tonight will likely see a big tragedy. It is likely that Thai people will be forever feel pain in their heart because of what will happen tonight," Natthawut said. He said the prime minister must dissolve the House and stop using violence against the protesters. He said he did not mean the red-shirt protesters would use violence but confusion could prevail at night. Natthawut warns big tragedy will happen Friday night

Wounded Seh Daeng's Chance of Survival 'Low' Published: 14/05/2010 Maj-Gen Khattiya Sawasdipol has swelling of the brain and has little chance of surviving, Dr Chaiwan Charoenchokethawee, director of Vajira Hospital, said on Friday. "His chance of survival is quite low," Dr Chaiwan said in a television interview. Dr Chaiwan said Seh Daeng was on life support and still unconscious. Medical teams were monitoring his condition minute by minute. He confirmed that Maj-Gen Khattiya was shot once through the temple. Surgeons had operated to remove blood clots from his brain and reduce the swelling, he said. Wounded Seh Daeng's chance of survival 'low'

The British embassy has also closed. ______ British Embassy Bangkok: Closed to the public 14 May 2010 The British Embassy in Bangkok is closed to the public, due to its proximity to demonstrations in the capital. The Embassy has a team which will assess developments in order to continue to provide the most accurate and up-to-date advice possible to British nationals in Thailand and British visitors. The Consular Section is closed. If you require urgent consular assistance, please call 02305 8333 (in Thailand only) The Visa Application Centre at Regent's House is closed. Please do not come to the Visa Application Centre until further notice. Customers should keep monitoring the Visa Application Centre website for updates. The Embassy's visa section is also closed. As a result, customers may experience delays in the processing of their visa application. Alternative arrangements are now in place for Thai residents who need to travel urgently to lodge visa applications in other locations, please visit the Visa Application Centre website for details. Trade and Investment services are suspended. The situation will be reviewed day by day so please continue to monitor this website for up to date information on the Embassy's disposition. We also strongly recommend that you monitor our travel advice for further information and updates on the current situation in Bangkok. We apologise for any inconvenience. News

Thai Army Says it Did Not Shoot Protest Leader By the CNN Wire Staff May 14, 2010 Bangkok, Thailand (CNN) -- Thailand's army had nothing to do with the shooting of an opposition leader in downtown Bangkok, a military spokesman said Friday. The Thursday incident is under investigation, said Col. Sansern Kaewkumnerd, an Army spokesman. Downtown Bangkok's Lumpini Park turned into a mob atmosphere amid gunshots and explosions Thursday as anti-government protesters massed there. Video footage showed one protester dead on the pavement. There was also footage of Red Shirt movement leader Maj. Gen. Khattiya Sawasdipol lying on the ground, bleeding from a gunshot wound near the neck, as frantic protesters attempted to move him and get help. The renegade general is better known as Seh Daeng, or Red Commander. Thai forces were slowly getting control of the downtown area Friday, a government official told CNN. But sporadic gunshots could be heard ringing out from the area. Thai Army says it did not shoot protest leader - CNN.com