Government’s latest Covid-19 restrictions spark civil disobedience campaign

[webfact]

 

By Areeya Kunawaradisai

 

The hashtag #กูจะเปิดมึงจะทําไม (“We’re staying open. What are you going to do about it?”) trended on Thai social media on Wednesday following the country’s latest Covid-19 restrictions, which prohibit restaurant dine-ins and mandate a 9 pm closing time for one month.

 

Thailand tightened its Covid-19 restrictions from June 28 after prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha declined to call for a lockdown of the capital to control the outbreak that began in April. These latest restrictions were announced in the middle of the night on June 26, prompting criticisms and complaints from citizens nationwide.

 

On Tuesday night, one Facebook user and restaurateur took matters into their own hands and began a campaign, which sparked the trending hashtag, calling for other restaurateurs to band together and allow customers to dine-in — with Covid-19 measures in place — despite the ban from the government.

 

Full story: https://www.thaienquirer.com/29165/__trashed/

 

-- © Copyright Thai Enquirer 2021-07-01

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

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[Rampant Rabbit]

Admittedly a difficult  situation deserves  hashtag # "selfish ferkers" and #cretinous  morons in charge clueless  govt.

[sammieuk1]

#there is still plenty of grass to eat stop moaning and get mowing will be the generals favoured response ????

[Tarteso]

Civil disobedience campaign ?

 

Not good idea for a Country that ruled by military with submarines. ????

[ChipButty]

Whats taken Thai people so long to start kicking off? 

[MasterBaker]

they need first to ask TAT to give numbers of people who will come to dine if they open restaurants, then try few sandboxes in Thong Lor and Silom areas

[ThailandRyan]

41 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

Whats taken Thai people so long to start kicking off? 

Well that is a loaded phrase as we know 53 truly kicked off yesterday, but I get what your saying.

[Fex Bluse]

Wow. So many regular posters told us how obedient the Thais are and how it was one reason the Thai Covid response was top of the world. 

 

These posters have been perfectly silent for weeks now. 

 

Where have you all gone? 

[WineOh]

I don't blame them!

Let me know who is serving ale and i'll be there later.

[tonray]

1 hour ago, ChipButty said:

Whats taken Thai people so long to start kicking off? 

They had  to wait until the latest Lakorn finished the current season.

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, Tarteso said:

Civil disobedience campaign ?

 

Not good idea for a Country that ruled by military with submarines. ????

Thais are increasingly getting tired of jumping from one foot to another at the whim of an inept government. 

Prayuts inability to procure enough vaccines for the entire population, not just favoured tourist spots is abysmal.

Vaccines not arriving in a timely manner has led directly to this latest rise in infections.

The governments deliberate blocking of private enterprises to secure vaccines is widely known. 

People are out of work, losing salaries, losing businesses, they all have families and commitments.

They are not going to abide by the latest knee-jerk and go broke... while the rich elite government do nothing.

[mikebell]

Manna from Heaven to RTP.  They don't need to depend on Hot-line stoolies for their beer money.

[webfact]

Backlash against government: Restaurants plan civil disobedience and "bars in the streets" protest - court case looms

 

Picture: Thai Rath

 

Restaurant owners in Bangkok furious about the ban on in-house dining and drinking of alcohol have initiated a civil disobedience campaign. 

 

Thai Rath reported that they could stand the regulations no longer and the owners believe they have the support of the public.

 

It could see mass demonstrations of people eating and drinking in the street if organisers get their way. 

 

Also a group is taking PM Prayuth Chan-o-cha and his embattled government to court after the latest ban.

 

Regulations that were announced late Saturday for Bangkok and surrounding areas and far south provinces restrict in restaurant dining as well as close construction camps effective Monday last.

 

A hashtag called "#goo ja pert meung ja thammai" is now trending on Twitter. 

 

This uses strong language in terms of personal pronouns and perhaps equates with "Why the hell shouldn't we open", notes Thaivisa. 

 

Thai Rath who reported on the story called the latest rules a "lockdown", something that the government and CCSA has tried to play down.

 

The people behind the hashtag are calling for a three pronged approach that will begin with what they called a "flashmob" that appeared to be the simultaneous streaming of a concert from the Junk House Music Bar to participating restaurants spread across police jurisdictions.

 

The second stage is called "Open" where restaurants will open for dining, serve alcohol, allow people to listen to music with Covid-19 protocols such as social distancing in place. Support was promised for those participating if they are subject to police action.

 

Thirdly if that proves fruitless will come the "market place + mob" phase. Food will be sold on the streets. Beer bars with music will be opened on streets too. 

 

The organisers said that people would support this so that the authorities would be told in no uncertain terms what they thought of the ban. 

 

The hashtag was now trending, said Thai Rath with 2,800 shares. 

 

Meanwhile Daily News reported that a group called "Prachachon Beer" were planning to go to court.

 

They are suing the government for not being able to allow to open. 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2021-07-01

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

[canopus1969]

I wish them well but.......

[RandolphGB]

At least some Thais are finally starting to fight back against this nonsense. 
 

Drop all restrictions now. 

[Walker88]

I haven't seen any massage parlors that are closed, despite "only foot massages are allowed", under Covid-19 restrictions. Unless a customer has a particular fetish, I don't think too many feet are being massaged, and that the contact taking place inside the parlors is at a rather non-socially-distanced range.

 

.....but nobody can sit in a restaurant to enjoy a meal, much less have a glass of wine with it.

[unblocktheplanet]

4 hours ago, ChipButty said:

Whats taken Thai people so long to start kicking off? 

Lotta good it did in EU. Frankly, I think any customer would be nuts to eat in anywhere but a restaurant completely empty except for the staff, as I did ob my way home from my 1st vax. Soi 3/1 was dead as a doornail but my fave opened just for me.

(Michelin likely doesn't give stars for felafels...)

[Boomer6969]

For anyone, who has been monitoring  the consequences of the current workers migration  from the Capital to the provinces, resulting in rapidly rising Covid numbers everywhere, it should be obvious that  a total lockdown should have been imposed a week ago. Arguing that this would cause damage to the economy would be nonsensical as the cost of the full scale epidemic will far outweigh the impact of a 6 weeks full lockdown. 

 

Sadly the Government is indeed in a very weak position as they are totally unable to provide any counterpart besides meager  cash handouts. The only way to make tougher restrictions acceptable now is to come up with an effective vaccination campaign based on proper RNA vaccines. We are at a stage where people need hope more than money.

[WineOh]

Best of luck to all involved!

 

just set up a metal table in the street and start selling buckets, songkran style! Dont forget the 10 ft speaker and topless dancing girls…

 

i’ll be right down! 

[robertson468]

3 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

Well that is a loaded phrase as we know 53 truly kicked off yesterday, but I get what your saying.

Apathy and being used to being suppressed, even from School Days.

[RandolphGB]

6 minutes ago, Boomer6969 said:

For anyone, who has been monitoring  the consequences of the current workers migration  from the Capital to the provinces, resulting in rapidly rising Covid numbers everywhere, it should be obvious that  a total lockdown should have been imposed a week ago. Arguing that this would cause damage to the economy would be nonsensical as the cost of the full scale epidemic will far outweigh the impact of a 6 weeks full lockdown. 

 

Sadly the Government is indeed in a very weak position as they are totally unable to provide any counterpart besides meager  cash handouts. The only way to make tougher restrictions acceptable now is to come up with an effective vaccination campaign based on proper RNA vaccines. We are at a stage where people need hope more than money.

 

Please stay in your house. It's too dangerous for you outside 

[Caldera]

I'm all for civil disobedience in a country that has the kind of government that Thailand is plagued with.

 

That being said, this particular act of defiance in this particular situation looks very reckless to me. What good is it to "stay open" when hospitals already cannot cope with Covid-19 cases?

 

[Lionrock2312]

Not sure why people find this funny, must be the salty ex pat lot up in Issan

[Lionrock2312]

1 hour ago, RandolphGB said:

 

Please stay in your house. It's too dangerous for you outside 

I think you better had

[Anton9]

43 minutes ago, Caldera said:

I'm all for civil disobedience in a country that has the kind of government that Thailand is plagued with.

 

That being said, this particular act of defiance in this particular situation looks very reckless to me. What good is it to "stay open" when hospitals already cannot cope with Covid-19 cases?

 

They cannot cope because they are full of asymptomatic people

[jacko45k]

1 hour ago, Walker88 said:

I haven't seen any massage parlors that are closed, despite "only foot massages are allowed", under Covid-19 restrictions. Unless a customer has a particular fetish, I don't think too many feet are being massaged, and that the contact taking place inside the parlors is at a rather non-socially-distanced range.

 

.....but nobody can sit in a restaurant to enjoy a meal, much less have a glass of wine with it.

Non sequitur,

Illegal activities in MPs not got much to do with restaurants.....but as far as I know, open everywhere except Bangkok.

[RubbaJohnny]

Carrot and stick, gongs or violence have worked well by the governors for such a long time they cannot comprehend science and why the virus isn't listening to their commands.

 

Endless broken targets figures, TAT and re-opening dates they have no control of when other nations will allow folks out and with inbound quarantine most people with jobs unlikely to be able to enter.

 

Most visitors to Thailand this year will be illegal immigrnats smuggled in by the "connected' to replace the dead builders,maids and gardeners, fish fileters , oh and of course the endless variations of Covid. Once you realize teh state apparatus is not to serve the citizen but protect the rich the inaction becomes understandable. Of course farangs below soi dogs.

 

Gamma here we come.

[Globaleyes]

2 hours ago, Boomer6969 said:

We are at a stage where people need hope more than money.

 

Er,  not if you have exhausted your savings over the last 18 months, will imminently be out of business, and are worried about paying for rent and food. Hope doesn't fix these things.  The 'cure' is fast becoming worse than the disease.

 

[trainman34014]

6 hours ago, ChipButty said:

Whats taken Thai people so long to start kicking off? 

They are too busy falling asleep at the wheel !

[wombat]

todays post of optimistic optimism from within a country where the military is in charge.
what could possibly go wrong?