Thailand imposes curfew for 3 more nights

[TotallyOz]

Thai authorities on Thursday imposed a curfew for three more nights in Bangkok and 23 other provinces to quell conflict in the aftermath of an army offensive against anti-government protesters.

 

A meeting chaired by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva "agreed to impose the curfew to better secure the area and curtail their activities", said Dithaporn Sasasmit, spokesman for the army-run Internal Security Operation Command.

 

A curfew was ordered in Bangkok and 23 provinces Wednesday night between 8pm and 6am to control looting and arson that broke out after the deadly campaign to close down the "Red Shirts" six-week occupation of central Bangkok.

 

However, the new curfew would be shortened to between 9pm and 5am, Dithaporn said, "to lessen the effect on the public". - AFP

 

Channel NewsAsia - Thailand imposes curfew for 3 more nights - channelnewsasia.com

 

[Gaybutton]

I have just received word that the curfew hours will be from 9:00pm to 5:00am. That's a new time. Last night it began at 8:00pm. Now it will begin at 9:00pm and end at 5:00am.

[Guest fountainhall]

A great number of fights arrive in Bangkok after 9:00 pm. Are taxis bearing passengers going to Bangkok hotels immune from the curfew? If not, what on earth are they supposed to do?

[Guest lvdkeyes]

Good question!

[Gaybutton]

If not, what on earth are they supposed to do?

Nothing has been said officially that I've been able to find, but I doubt very much that Thai authorities are going to expect incoming passengers, especially since many probably would not even know about the curfew, and even more especially at a time when Thailand needs all the tourists it can get, to end up being forced to remain in the airport until 6:00am. That would be ridiculous even for Thailand.

[Gaybutton]

Pattaya under curfew for a further 3 days – UPDATE

 

On Wednesday Night at 8pm, Pattaya Police backed up by Pattaya City Hall Security Officers began a tour of the city and ordered all establishments, including Bars, Discotheques, Banks, Shopping Centers and Convenience Stores, to comply with a Curfew order issued by Thailand’s Prime Minister earlier on Wednesday. The order came into force at 8pm and lasted until 6am on Thursday and we have been informed that a further 3 days of curfew are planned from Thursday until Saturday starting at 9pm and finishing at 5am until the situation in Bangkok and other provinces, where rioting is taking place, is brought under control.

 

Here in Pattaya this could not have come at a worse time as the city struggles to continue life as normal while 150 kms away in Bangkok, fires have been reported at over 20 separate locations around the Thai Capital as the remaining Red Shirts refuse to leave the Capital quietly.

 

On Wednesday Night we toured the city which was mostly in darkness as bars and shops were ordered to close. There were rumors spreading earlier on Wednesday evening that a bomb had been discovered at Big C in North Pattaya which had been closed since early evening. This rumor was found to be untrue and the center had been closed due to the curfew order.

 

With many 24 hour convenience stores closing, panic buying began and Police were called to one minor incident at a store in Soi Neun Plub Wan which led to no arrests and was brought to a conclusion quickly.

 

We can report on another incident which occurred on the overpass leading to Highway 7 in Central Pattaya where someone placed a tire on the overpass and set it on fire. Police are not sure if this is related to the Red Shirts or a prank by local youths. It is currently being investigated by Police.

 

We must inform people currently residing in Pattaya that if you are caught breaking the curfew, you may be liable to arrest and could be fined, although it appears that authorities are not enforcing these curfew regulations in a strict manor here in Pattaya.

 

http://www.pattayaone.net/pattaya-news/20966/breaking-news-pattaya-under-curfew/

[Guest Schadenfreude]

Air passengers can travel to and from airport during curfew hours

 

วันพฤหัสบดี ที่ 20 พ.ค. 2553

 

BANGKOK, May 20 (TNA)

[Guest fountainhall]

Passengers arriving from overseas will be offered express transportation service from Suvarnabhumi Airport on three routes to Ratchapisek, Silom and Sukhumvit at 10 pm, midnight and 2 am. Passenger vans will be of service around the clock.

Unless I have missed something (I was unable to open the web link), this is another example of utterly ridiculous thinking on someone's part. If I am a tourist arriving at 21:20 after a 16 hour flight, get my bags and am outside the airport at 22:01 having just missed the 22:00 passenger van, what am I supposed to think if I have to wait a further two whole hours before I can get transport in to the city. It's madness! And once I am dropped off at one of the three drop off points, what am I supposed to do? Stand by the side of the road and hope no soldier sees me?

 

Maybe the vans drop people off at hotels. But what about those going to apartments? And what of those going to other parts of the city? Even if these vans drop everyone off at their intended destinations, you could still spend a good two hours or more in the van before you get where you want to go if each passenger has a different destination. It's lunacy - and yet another nail in the tourism coffin!