mrsouza

"From CRES this morning....

Bangkok and some provinces will be under curfew today from 11pm to 5am and the Centre for the Resolution for the Emergency Situation (CRES) has no immediate plan to repeal the emergency decree.

The curfew would remain in place today and the decision on whether to extend it would be made on a day-to-day basis, said Mr Suthep, who is the centre director.

Yesterday a curfew was declared between 9pm to 5am. The curfew was lifted in Pattaya. The centre had no plans to lift the emergency decree for the time being."

Isn't that bizarre? A couple of go-go bar owners whine, curfew lifted on day two.

Exactly! Merriam Webster: Violent or destructive acts (as bombing) committed by groups in order to intimidate a population or government into granting their demands <insurrection and revolutionary terror>.

Seizing an airport falls under a very destructive act in my book. Just as violent acts in order to intimidate do.

You gloss over the very definition example you chose to use.

Bombing at the airport?

Oh dear. Bombing is one example of "violent or destructive acts". Any attack on a country's infrastructure as a means to gain a political goal is considered an act of terrorism. It does not specifically limit the act to use of bombs. Over and out.

Ass! Airport seizure didnt involve any M-79's or RPG's! Nobody got hurt. Is that an act of terroism?

Well, once you sobered up you might want to read the definition of a terrorist act. Like your tag line and location, revealing.

Terrorist: a person who uses or favours violent and intimidating methods of coercing a government or community.

Concise Oxford Dictionary, 8th ed. 1990

Exactly! Merriam Webster: Violent or destructive acts (as bombing) committed by groups in order to intimidate a population or government into granting their demands <insurrection and revolutionary terror>.

Seizing an airport falls under a very destructive act in my book. Just as violent acts in order to intimidate do.

Considering the language and attitude I have seen in the last 4-5 pages, I now understand why the Thais don't want any foreign intervention in their affairs. Hilarious. We're supposed to be on the same page here, supposedly. But that is not working out very well, is it?

Ass! Airport seizure didnt involve any M-79's or RPG's! Nobody got hurt. Is that an act of terroism?

Well, once you sobered up you might want to read the definition of a terrorist act. Like your tag line and location, revealing.

Furthermore, I doubt burning down Central World represents an act of terrorism, irrespective of how bad their conduct has been.

That is simply foolish, I really hope you misspoke!

How about seizing an airport? Anyone arrested yet? Oh, forgot, they are the government now. At least the food and music was good...

I think direct comparisons such as this are far fetched and lack credibility and rational balance. Apparently an attempt at Red apologetics.

Having said that,.. I will grant you one thing; the airport seizure was clearly an act of terrorism and was completely unlawful. If the current government and in particular PM Abhisit are genuine on their promise of rectifying such behaviour in Thailand and to being "transparent" ("quote" from the Pm's TV speech on Friday evening) then they should include a full inquiry and pressing of charges and sentencing for those yellow leaders that were involved in the incident of the airport hijacking. That would be a bi-partisan and transparent application of justice and I fear that without such actions being exercised by the current government that they will lack credibility and be seen as being one sided and biased.

Such inaction will continue to fan the flames of resentment back towards the current Abhisit government whereas an inquiry and subsequent legal actions would give them massive credibility!

Agree 100%, and if you read my previous answer, that's exactly what I was trying to point out.

Furthermore, I doubt burning down Central World represents an act of terrorism, irrespective of how bad their conduct has been.

That is simply foolish, I really hope you misspoke!

How about seizing an airport? Anyone arrested yet? Oh, forgot, they are the government now. At least the food and music was good...

Let's see, how do describe your post - uninformed? wrong? stupid? Another moron excusing arson and looting with the old "yellows were at the airport". There is one person who spoke at the airport in the govt- and he has proved himself to be incompetent, most anti-reds will agree with that one. And that seems a big difference between the anti-reds and the red apologists- the anti-reds will criticize the govt, but the red apologists / cheerleaders refuse to criticize the reds, no matter how disgusting the red tactics. i guess amsterdam / thaksin won't pay anyone who wobbles off the script.

btw, small point- THE PAD LEADERS WERE ARRESTED. they turned themselves in. They are awaiting a court date. Just like the red leaders were for last April. Only the PAD leaders didn't go out and encourage a mob to burn down Bangkok. And they didn't flee the country. For the 400th time - the airport seizure was stupid. It pales in comparison to the damage done to Thailand by the reds over the past 2 months.

I did not excuse or apologize for anything and I do not take sides in this, because of a simple reason. If you ever seen a turf war in Thailand you would know how it plays out. If one corrupt party is trying to steal from the other corrupt party, does it make one of them right? It's been two years, and as far as I know, and Sondhi is still walking as a free man, despite the fact that there is a warrant for his arrest, or maybe it has been revoked? I honestly can't keep track anymore. Not only for the airport thing, but for the 100+ something bankruptcies and embezzlements he is accused of. Anyway, another story all together.

My point was, if one side is allowed to have bad apples and get away with it, why can't the other? Is that fair and square? I think we both agree all guilty parties, no matter what color, should stand equal in front of the law. As it's supposed to be.

If you insist that the legal system in Thailand is untouchable, I rest my case.

This is the kind of "proof" that will never stand up in any court, not even in Burma, but in Thailand it does, because the judges are sitting on any given chair. A youtube video? What a joke, it could have been cut fifteen times and taken out of context.

I could make a Youtube video in which it appears that Suthep or Abhisit told the people to set fire to it. It is just a matter of cutting and pasting.

Besides if I tell the yellow shirts to occupy the airports and they do it, am I to blame?

If I am not mistaken, some government guys (or state media) claimed the Youtube video of Thaksin in Montenegro was also fake, because he was actually dying in cancer or something. Suddenly he is more alive than ever.

You can't eat the doughnut and keep the hole.

The point is "it is very easy to make a fake video" Especially as low quality as this one. While I'm not saying this one is fake. Its not difficult.

In this case though I think this person has already apologized so must have admitted it.

My comment was not directed at you, but the how "evidence" is valued by the government. I have no doubt what so ever that the video is real, and the dude should get what he deserves. Complete moron, but sadly, too many of them around here.

Furthermore, I doubt burning down Central World represents an act of terrorism, irrespective of how bad their conduct has been.

That is simply foolish, I really hope you misspoke!

How about seizing an airport? Anyone arrested yet? Oh, forgot, they are the government now. At least the food and music was good...

Shirt colors are silly. I agree.

What I disagree about is that you're comparing that to absolute war and terrorism of natives by natives.

...thanks for some Chiang Mai red propaganda, but no one is buying it. Just watch the videos and listen to the leaders.

Propaganda? I don't take any sides in this conflict. I just pointed out the obvious, slight difference there.

Furthermore, I doubt burning down Central World represents an act of terrorism, irrespective of how bad their conduct has been.

That is simply foolish, I really hope you misspoke!

How about seizing an airport? Anyone arrested yet? Oh, forgot, they are the government now. At least the food and music was good...

This is the kind of "proof" that will never stand up in any court, not even in Burma, but in Thailand it does, because the judges are sitting on any given chair. A youtube video? What a joke, it could have been cut fifteen times and taken out of context.

I could make a Youtube video in which it appears that Suthep or Abhisit told the people to set fire to it. It is just a matter of cutting and pasting.

Besides if I tell the yellow shirts to occupy the airports and they do it, am I to blame?

If I am not mistaken, some government guys (or state media) claimed the Youtube video of Thaksin in Montenegro was also fake, because he was actually dying in cancer or something. Suddenly he is more alive than ever.

You can't eat the doughnut and keep the hole.

Yes, I have never ever witnessed a government official placing his own interest above anything else, never happens at the bottom no reason it should happen at the top, right?

I assume that was with a sprinkle of irony. Corruption in Thailand is like the Richter scale, exponential the higher you go.

Just guessing? Or day dreaming? You think this government would miss the chance of showing this huge cache of arms in situ if it existed? You think they wouldn't make the area safe before letting the journos in?

So you make excuses for them - they are either incompetent and missed the chance, or they are so caring for the lives of journalists that they forego the opportunity of showing the world this cache in situ and merely hope their spokesman will be believed.

Are you guys that gullible?

Farangs lapping up the government line. Keep it up - it makes for good reading.

Best part is, judging from posts on other parts of this forum, most people here would not trust a police man or government official with five baht. But lo and behold, now everything is suddenly swallowed at face value, without the slightest sign of critical thinking. Well, at least some past time fun during the curfew.

One interesting thing about this find is, what type of explosives were found? I doubt military grade C4 spread out in six cars is enough to blow up an area as big as Rajprasong.

Any experts here that might shed a light on this? Or maybe they just found Saddams lost WMD's?

I am an American, set to fly to Chiang Mai on Wednesday 26 May for wedding. How is the situation there? Have things calmed down? We are worried, but know news reports can be skewed. Input from people living in CM would be helpful to make a decision to come on 26 May, postpone trip, or cancel. Thank you!!

Dont miss that wedding, things are fine here. No need to listen to alarmists.

Been driving around through the city (muang) for a few hours, and there are no traces of either red shirts, vandalism or military. All back to good ol' laid back CM.

If something would happen tonight, it would probably be the gang of teenagers driving around last night. Nothing major.

Someone said on Twitter they saw soldiers in front of Kad suan Kaew an hour ago, but I guess its only for show. No reds there.

Red shirt's stage at Worarot Hotel is gone, their radio station shut down voluntarily. So. if nothing unusual comes up, I would say it's safe to say everything is back to normal.

Or it's the calm before the storm......

I just find it hard to believe that after all this time and the activity in BKK and other provinces by the reds, they capitulate so readily up here, particularly as it's Thaksion's back garden as it were. Or maybe that is it - Thaksin's given the word that he doesn't want his city wrecked?

Whatever the underlying reason, I sincerely hope we have sustained peace in our wonderful city.

Cheers,

Pikey.

I spoke to a few people "on the street", and nobody wants any problems here similar to what happen last night. Most people are reds, but that does not mean they want to trash up their country, and especially not their beloved city.

So I see very little chance of any major disturbances. Maybe a few kids looking for trouble, haven't we all been there ourselves.

Been driving around through the city (muang) for a few hours, and there are no traces of either red shirts, vandalism or military. All back to good ol' laid back CM.

If something would happen tonight, it would probably be the gang of teenagers driving around last night. Nothing major.

Someone said on Twitter they saw soldiers in front of Kad suan Kaew an hour ago, but I guess its only for show. No reds there.

Red shirt's stage at Worarot Hotel is gone, their radio station shut down voluntarily. So. if nothing unusual comes up, I would say it's safe to say everything is back to normal.

According to my friend who has a bar opposite Imperial Mae Ping, around 200-300 red shirts on motorbikes drove by screaming hooligan style, and then left. Possibly to Bangkok Bank as cm108 stated.

A friend was just at Nawarat bridge, he left when he heard gun shots. All businesses along Muang Road leading to Tapae Gate are closed.

Ou school has just told us that that there is a curfew been imposed in Chiang mai from 8 pm to 6 am.

Can anyone confirm this?

On the local CM tv channel they said the curfew include all SOE provinces (Chiang Mai). Now I hear conflicting reports, so, not sure.

That was my plan at first, waiting for the international release but I think they said it was postponed until end of May. I need to get one or two at least for app development purposes... I guess I could get one at the shop where you got yours, do you have a phone number - do you know if they still have one or two in stock?

As of yesterday they had one left, the demo, but it was in a good condition. I am sure you can get the price down even more though.

Phone: 053-202022, directions as above. Let me know if you take it, and what you think.

6,000 THB for the import duty? Does that include shipping? What's the percentage - how is it calculated?

I was planning on buying a few online on apple.com and have them remailed here in Chiang Mai. If there is in fact a 6,000 THB import duty I might just buy them here instead.

Thats what I read in the computer forum from some guy that had one shipped from the US. As always with Thai customs, it's a hit or miss. According to rumors at the local Apple Store they will be sold officially in about 2 weeks in Thailand. I doubt it, but might be worth waiting.

I can't figure out what is so great about them, but maybe I'm missing something. The screen is the size of a small laptop - so not that portable - and does not use e-ink for the reader function and does not have a usb port. Wouldn't a slightly bigger laptop give one a lot bang for their buck?

Hard to say what it actually is. It's great for coffee/bed/living room table. The great thing about it it's the feel of it, but it can never beat a laptop for serious work. If someone is not a technophile (like me) I guess you really have to try it out first to see if it's for you. I find it being a great ebook reader with more interactive possibilities than, let's say, Amazon Kindle.

I was offered a "lost and found" still in shrink wrap for 12k. Turned it down. Didn't see it (phone call) - it was a friend of a friend who had it - apparently "lost" from the back of a lorry - ready for the launch???

Your friend still offering it?

It is the mobile phone shop next to Tom Lay Cut hair salon.

Typing this on my new iPad. Got 500 baht discount. Thanks Orita.

So how much was it?

26,500. Not too bad considering import duty is around 6,0000.