Lights dim on Bangkok’s nightlife as military tries to salvage legacy

By George Styllis 

 

File photo

 

BANGKOK — Thailand’s military government is crushing the spirit of Bangkok’s nightlife amid an intensifying crackdown that is forcing many bars and clubs to close early or indefinitely. With an election tentatively set for February 2019, the campaign appears to be a last-ditch attempt by the embattled government to impose social order and salvage its legacy.

 

Since the army swept to power in a bloodless coup in 2014, it has intermittently enforced curfews and arcane regulations to rein in the city’s rambunctious nature, but in the past year its efforts appear to have gained vigor.

 

Bar owners say military officials are barging into their premises demanding to see licenses they have long operated without or didn’t even know existed. In the raucous coastal city of Pattaya recently, expats and tourists were incredulous when authorities went into bars asking to see a license for those with dartboards.

 

Full story: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/lights-dim-on-bangkoks-nightlife-as-military-tries-to-salvage-legacy/2018/03/23/1e8c6780-2856-11e8-874b-d517e912f125_story.html

 

-- The Washington Post 2018-03-26

If their aim was to try and take away some of Bangkok's sparkle, and with it a good number of people's livelihoods with it they've done a damn fine job.

 

In short, the junta have been a disaster 

Why not just give all the prostitutes an uniform with a couple of medals or ribbons each? That would make everything legal.

14 minutes ago, webfact said:

Bar owners say military officials are barging into their premises demanding to see licenses they have long operated without or didn’t even know existed.

face it, the army wants to run the country as if it was an army camp

It was always going to be so! More to come with election delayed or tougher measures in law passed ! Army generals and their followers only know one way to do things! The way it will stop is if the troops turn on their officers!

 

 

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"...“The military government is on the back foot because its three main coup aims are unfulfilled. National reconciliation after a decade of conflict remains elusive, political reform and the new constitution are crooked and biased toward military interests, and graft remains widespread, including the generals’ own undertakings,” Thitinan said.

The government has also faced a barrage of criticism over its suppression of free speech, its plans to buy expensive submarines from China, and most recently its handling of a scandal involving Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan and his supposed vast collection of undeclared luxury watches.

Making a show of imposing social order, by moving against bars, is simply a distraction, political analysts say..."

 

This is a classic move by all authoritarian governments; if you cannot govern effectively, then blame the "crisis" on a lack of moral virtue. Members interested in Thai history should have a look at the situation in 76' and 92' to see the exact same kind of story/assertion.

 

Simply put, if you don't have results to crow about, blame the"mis-guided' youth.

 

Pathetic.

 

I thought this was about the energy saving move of switching out lights for an hour, was it Friday night about 8.30pm? My Mrs turned off the wall lights!

42 minutes ago, Samui Bodoh said:

"...“The military government is on the back foot because its three main coup aims are unfulfilled. National reconciliation after a decade of conflict remains elusive, political reform and the new constitution are crooked and biased toward military interests, and graft remains widespread, including the generals’ own undertakings,” Thitinan said.

The government has also faced a barrage of criticism over its suppression of free speech, its plans to buy expensive submarines from China, and most recently its handling of a scandal involving Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan and his supposed vast collection of undeclared luxury watches.

Making a show of imposing social order, by moving against bars, is simply a distraction, political analysts say..."

 

This is a classic move by all authoritarian governments; if you cannot govern effectively, then blame the "crisis" on a lack of moral virtue. Members interested in Thai history should have a look at the situation in 76' and 92' to see the exact same kind of story/assertion.

 

Simply put, if you don't have results to crow about, blame the"mis-guided' youth.

 

Pathetic.

 

Blame the mis guided youth or pesky foreigners!

Can't wait till they have gone back to their camps where they all belong. Party time again.

This is just garbage from the Washington Post, nothing to do with what is actually happening in Thailand.

 

There have not been intermittent curfews, there was one curfew after the coup that was lifted and never reinstated.

 

It wasn't the Military that enforced dartboard licencing it was either the local police or local government officials and that only happened in Pattaya and that is old news that has never been heard of since.

 

The rest of the article relevant to "entertainment" seems to be complaining about illegal street bars being moved on, illegal after-hours drinking places being closed and a late-night club that was subject to a successful drug raid being shut down! 

When you are incapable and unwilling to take a meaningful stand against corruption or seek the effective return to justice the powerful members of the elite that abscond overseas, it is much easier to disrupt local business and chase dartboard licenses and the elderly playing bridge. If you want "tough" on crime - look to China. 

The junta has done a pretty good job ruining Thailand :  increase the price of alcohol and other things, harass those who provide nightlife, create an overall mood of anger and resentment, empower civil the service so it is unaccountable.   

 

What is sad is that those in uniform are happy to follow a man that is, at best, insulting to one's intelligence.  It would be nice to see one man in uniform say "this is stupid, I am not doing this".   In Thailand, buffoonery and a uniform go hand in hand.

1 hour ago, z42 said:

If their aim was to try and take away some of Bangkok's sparkle, and with it a good number of people's livelihoods with it they've done a damn fine job.

 

In short, the junta have been a disaster 

"...they've done a damn fine job.

In short, the junta have been a disaster ".

Make up your mind, which one is it?

Just shut them all down, close everything or a week or so and see what happens.

Maybe the tourists coming here on a budget can pick up the revenue loss.

I was waiting for this to happen, only a matter of time.

 

Salvage their legacy? There is nothing worth salvaging!! How ironic this story is right next to a story titled "Thai Govt unlikely to ban deadly farm chemical". There's a legacy for ya. Of course, with Songkran just around the corner, there will be a few more announcements for the legacy, get your form guides out now and start betting on this year's numbers. A legacy is something that is left behind after the departure, and when does anybody think that that will really happen?

The Prime Ministers time in office has for the most part been viewed as a disaster and for good reason.

1 hour ago, z42 said:

If their aim was to try and take away some of Bangkok's sparkle, and with it a good number of people's livelihoods with it they've done a damn fine job.

 

In short, the junta have been a disaster 

The laws / regulations regarding early closing hours of night spots have been existing forever, only no one ever enforced them until Taksin came into power in 2001. The interior minister at that time has enforced the laws and all night spots were ordered to close at the correct time (between midnight and 2am depending on their licenses). Back then many people who made their livelihood around clubs areas (food stands and such) lost a big part of their income due to shortening working hours.

After the Taksin era things seemed to somewhat relax but from time to time the rules were enforced.

Sot it's not only the junta...

10 minutes ago, Just Weird said:

"...they've done a damn fine job.

In short, the junta have been a disaster ".

Make up your mind, which one is it?

Can,t you see that Z42 is just stating that the army has done a damn fine job of causing a disaster ? Duh !

1 hour ago, Darcula said:

Why not just give all the prostitutes an uniform with a couple of medals or ribbons each? That would make everything legal.

Naw... hookers get things done and on time. Far smarter than current crop running things in goverment...

They don't like dartboards because they see it as a metaphor. You get a lot of pricks in a dartboard.

Salvaging legacy? What legacy do they have?

1 hour ago, YetAnother said:

face it, the army wants to run the country as if it was an army camp

 

Than it would look like Soi 4 allover the place

It seems to me the Junta are hell bent on destroying tourism in Thailand as it clamps down on everything tourists come here for! 

1 hour ago, jacko45k said:

I thought this was about the energy saving move of switching out lights for an hour, was it Friday night about 8.30pm? My Mrs turned off the wall lights!

My gawd is yer face  that ugly!! (MODS THIS IS A  JOKE)

2 hours ago, Darcula said:

Why not just give all the prostitutes an uniform with a couple of medals or ribbons each? That would make everything legal.

That's a group where the jumper badges finally would make sense.

Bring back the curfew...

28 minutes ago, dave moir said:

It seems to me the Junta are hell bent on destroying tourism in Thailand as it clamps down on everything tourists come here for! 

And yet the numbers keep on climbing.

1 hour ago, Jeremy50 said:

Can't wait till they have gone back to their camps where they all belong. Party time again.

If obviously weren't around for Mr Purachai Piumsombun, aka 'Mr Clean' :)

2 hours ago, Darcula said:

Why not just give all the prostitutes an uniform with a couple of medals or ribbons each? That would make everything legal.

Where would you pin the medals? The ones in Walking Street hardly have a stich on 

It seems to me the Junta are hell bent on destroying tourism in Thailand as it clamps down on everything tourists come here for! 

[/quote

]To play darts?

Read the article. They are going after clubs illegally operating after 2am. How many expats on TV are out partying after 2? Mostly old farts so not many