Chiang Mai Airport Beseiged But Open And Operational

[Los78]

This is the problem in Thailand. It seems that the army giving orders and telling the government what it should do. The army was not elected. It has not right to interfere with the government. The army has no role in politics except protecting the people.

[permanent_disorder]

I think all centers of larger cities are pro Democrats/PAD as there are usually the better educated/more wealthy/business people who are usually supporter of PAD and Democrats.

But Chiang mai for sure is not a city in which the PAD want to have a showdown with the red ones.

please can you bring the source for your claims. in other post you also havd the numbers in %.

i would also like to see the statistic that proves that better or higher educated are PAD supporters or the business people are mainly PAD supporters.

and i doubt that PAD supporters and democrats supporters are the same group of people.

[PeaceBlondie]

Gosh, I went outside the house today, and past the airport around 5 pm, wearing a nice Lanna shirt in Chiang Mai. It was...RED! But the trim was gold, which looks kind of yellow. There is the solution for the sartorially sharp farang. Wear yellow and red. And green, orange, pink and purple.

[Crushdepth]

This is the problem in Thailand. It seems that the army giving orders and telling the government what it should do. The army was not elected. It has not right to interfere with the government. The army has no role in politics except protecting the people.

How many more times would you like the army to say 'we will not stage a coup'?

The army is doing its best to stay out of trouble but its in a pretty difficult position. Things would improve if a number of ex-politicians banned for electoral fraud - who have no right to intefere with the government - would stop trying to install their relatives and puppet nominee Prime Ministers.

[h90]

Hand on your heart, do you really think they would try anything in Chiang Mai?

In the urban center of Chiang Mai there IS considerable support for the Democrat Party, and possibly even PAD. It's definitely 'possible'. Not sure if it's 'likely' but at the very least it provides an opportunity for Red minded people to do something to show THEIR voice.

I think all centers of larger cities are pro Democrats/PAD as there are usually the better educated/more wealthy/business people who are usually supporter of PAD and Democrats.

But Chiang mai for sure is not a city in which the PAD want to have a showdown with the red ones.

Outside Bangkok and the South, there are very few places where PAD has any real following.

The so called city centre middle class perceive they are better educated, but knowing the Thai system it is all relative.

North East cost is partially strong PAD, but yes the rest not. But Bangkok center and the south is a huge area.

[Thai at Heart]

This is the problem in Thailand. It seems that the army giving orders and telling the government what it should do. The army was not elected. It has not right to interfere with the government. The army has no role in politics except protecting the people.

How many more times would you like the army to say 'we will not stage a coup'?

The army is doing its best to stay out of trouble but its in a pretty difficult position. Things would improve if a number of ex-politicians banned for electoral fraud - who have no right to intefere with the government - would stop trying to install their relatives and puppet nominee Prime Ministers.

The army should have no more input than to follow orders. Unfortunately, we know this not to be the case in Thailand, but it is a case that should be remedied sometime in the early future. The role of the army and the police force should be redefined so there is no ambiguity. What sort of a situation is it where people long for the army to come out to solve the problem. They have in their time been a huge part of the problem with their meddling.

Now the police aren't allowed to do their job and the army refuses to follow orders. Sounds like a failed state to me. Where in the world do people want the army to step in other than Thailand.

Thai Army Generals should learn to say "No comment" and should run a mile when anyone asks them for a press conference.

Edited November 26, 2008 by Thai at Heart

[Thai at Heart]

Hand on your heart, do you really think they would try anything in Chiang Mai?

In the urban center of Chiang Mai there IS considerable support for the Democrat Party, and possibly even PAD. It's definitely 'possible'. Not sure if it's 'likely' but at the very least it provides an opportunity for Red minded people to do something to show THEIR voice.

I think all centers of larger cities are pro Democrats/PAD as there are usually the better educated/more wealthy/business people who are usually supporter of PAD and Democrats.

But Chiang mai for sure is not a city in which the PAD want to have a showdown with the red ones.

Outside Bangkok and the South, there are very few places where PAD has any real following.

The so called city centre middle class perceive they are better educated, but knowing the Thai system it is all relative.

North East cost is partially strong PAD, but yes the rest not. But Bangkok center and the south is a huge area.

Patently not huge enough however. Don't forget half of Bangkok and the coastal industry is filled with migrant labour from Isaan.

[HamSabai]

This is the problem in Thailand. It seems that the army giving orders and telling the government what it should do. The army was not elected. It has not right to interfere with the government. The army has no role in politics except protecting the people.

How many more times would you like the army to say 'we will not stage a coup'?

The army is doing its best to stay out of trouble but its in a pretty difficult position. Things would improve if a number of ex-politicians banned for electoral fraud - who have no right to intefere with the government - would stop trying to install their relatives and puppet nominee Prime Ministers.

Listen! The role of the army is not only to "not stage a coup" but to defend the country when it is in peril and not in the jurisdiction of the police anymore. In that case, from a minority of violent fanatics driven by fascists leaders who engaged in illegal and thoughtless criminal actions, because of the lack of support from the public, such as taking the main international airport.

[aries27]

If the PAD has a leader who is credible and acceptable to most (the Thais - civilians and the military), this whole thing would be a done deal, sooner than later.

Edited November 26, 2008 by aries27

[grandpops]

If the PAD has a leader who is credible and acceptable to most (the Thais civilians and the military), this whole thing would be in a can, sooner than later.

Mind you, they would need some policies as well. We have been trying for 3 hours now to get the PAD apologist to state what policies they should have.

Even more interesting is that they will not come out and state that the PAD should form a party.

A PAD Political party would get the ass kicking of the century if it stood in Thailand. Thats why they dont do it

[permanent_disorder]

Somchai lands at Don Mueang military airport, continues flight to Chiang Mai

Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat landed at the Don Mueang Military Airport at 5 pm Wednesday but continued his flight to Chang Mai shortly after, a well-informed source said.

The source said Somchai dropped at the military airport to pick up certain key Cabinet members and continued his flight to Chiang Mai immediately.

It was earlier expected that Somchai would hold an urgent Cabinet meeting at the military airport upon arrival.

The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingne...newsid=30089480

---

Somchai lands in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai - Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat has landed at the military airport in Chiang Mai Wednesday evening.

He arrived at 6:15 pm. A lot of supporters in red t-shirts welcome them at the airport.

Sources said Somchai flew from Peru to Chiang Mai without stopping at the Don Mueang military airport.

They said Somchai initially planned to land at the Don Mueang military airport but changed his mind in the last minute.

The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingne...newsid=30089482

-------------

my own short comment: so somchai is back, but just have a look at the "nice" reporting style done by The Nation and their "informed" sources. keep this in mind for the next time when you read in The Nation "the source said...". classic example. a joke paper, mostly.

[aries27]

Exactly what I meant, Grandpops..

Watch out, events like these can unfold very fast. Better not sleep tonight...

[jitagon]

Dangerous stuff with closing Suvarnabhumi airport

OOOOooooOOOhhhh

[jitagon]

I've just come back from Chiang Mai airport and it is a sea of red shirts and BIB at the entrance to the airport. Cars and other vehicles entering the airport are being closely scrutinised by the pro-government supporters. I saw more than a handful of protesters armed with sticks, clubs, poles and pieces of wood.

Anyone heading to the airport be aware that they will have to pass through two lines of pro-government supporters. The traffic is fairly heavy as well.

The crowd was fairly good natured when I was there but given how many people are armed (in addition to the weapons mentioned above I saw catapults, flails made out of heavy duty cable and other stuff) it could easily get out of hand.

More pictures here.

Wot no AKA 47s?

[jitagon]

Exactly what I meant, Grandpops..

Watch out, events like these can unfold very fast. Better not sleep tonight...

You're kidding right?

[jitagon]

Hand on your heart, do you really think they would try anything in Chiang Mai?

In the urban center of Chiang Mai there IS considerable support for the Democrat Party, and possibly even PAD. It's definitely 'possible'. Not sure if it's 'likely' but at the very least it provides an opportunity for Red minded people to do something to show THEIR voice.

I think all centers of larger cities are pro Democrats/PAD as there are usually the better educated/more wealthy/business people who are usually supporter of PAD and Democrats.

But Chiang mai for sure is not a city in which the PAD want to have a showdown with the red ones.

Outside Bangkok and the South, there are very few places where PAD has any real following.

The so called city centre middle class perceive they are better educated, but knowing the Thai system it is all relative.

And you Know This For Certain - How? Well, where are their counter demonstrations then, come on, where are they? Yoohoo!

[aries27]

Not kidding about the events happening fast. But I will sleep of course.

[jitagon]

This is the problem in Thailand. It seems that the army giving orders and telling the government what it should do. The army was not elected. It has not right to interfere with the government. The army has no role in politics except protecting the people.

How many more times would you like the army to say 'we will not stage a coup'?

The army is doing its best to stay out of trouble but its in a pretty difficult position. Things would improve if a number of ex-politicians banned for electoral fraud - who have no right to intefere with the government - would stop trying to install their relatives and puppet nominee Prime Ministers.

Listen! The role of the army is not only to "not stage a coup" but to defend the country when it is in peril and not in the jurisdiction of the police anymore. In that case, from a minority of violent fanatics driven by fascists leaders who engaged in illegal and thoughtless criminal actions, because of the lack of support from the public, such as taking the main international airport.

You're talking about Taksin's Fan Club, right?

[ChiangMaiThai]

http://news.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews...126-103657.html

>CHIANG MAI, THAILAND - A gang of government supporters in the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai shot dead an anti-government activist on Wednesday, police said, as a political crisis threatened to explode into civil unrest.

The gang dragged the victim, a man in his 50s whose son ran a small anti-government radio station, from his car before shooting him, police lieutenant-colonel Atipol Thongdaeng told Reuters.

[scouse]

Who is Pee Nong?

[jdinasia]

If the PAD has a leader who is credible and acceptable to most (the Thais - civilians and the military), this whole thing would be a done deal, sooner than later.

Why? the PAD is not wanting to take power. It isn't a PAD 'coup'. They just want the vestiges of Thaksin's influence removed from Thai politics.

[sbk]

There are literally quite a few threads where this news can be reported, thanks but we need to keep this one pertinent to the CM events.

[Johpa]

Outside Bangkok and the South, there are very few places where PAD has any real following.

The so called city centre middle class perceive they are better educated, but knowing the Thai system it is all relative.

North East cost is partially strong PAD, but yes the rest not. But Bangkok center and the south is a huge area.

Some may see a geographic component, but after having attended one of Sonthi's stump speeches to his supporters here in the US during his visit last year, I was certainly able to see the far more dangerous ethnic sub-context to the red/yellow divide that lies underneath the class conflict But the demonstrators on both sides seem to be clueless to the real story of the jockeying for power and position amongst the contesting elites in anticipation of future events so that they might be able to grab some of the spoils that may result from the inevitable vacuum.

[jdinasia]

Here is a rundown on Sondhi, One of the main directors of the upheaval at the airport. It certainly looks like he is no stranger to graft and cronyism. Notice that Taksin and Sondhi were both in the sattelite biz and were set to make billions. Only one problem though..... there was only room for one on that cash cow! This is just bad blood and the people are being dragged through the mud on both sides. It is really a shame because most of their incomes will stay under 400 dollars per month.

From Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sondhi_Limthongkul (for the entire article)

.....................

Wikipedia? Come on Man.

Wikipedia Shmickipedia, the facts are the facts......and that is a good thing to have sometimes.

man.

Wiki is not known for 'facts' as any registered user can make changes to some articles. Look at the history of the one you are posting for particulars

[MiG16]

watching on TV the incident of clash between red shirts and yellow shirts, where eventually one PAD supporter was beaten to dead

very sad.....

havent found links online of this incident ...

missed the part in the TV news what time the incident took place.

can others confirm?

[Scott]

I hope the airport stays open. When groups start gathering, security becomes a problem, even if they are not ill-intentioned.

[aries27]

How much are they paying?

Didn't say except:

"The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide."

But if you can get your story published or just your name, then you can email all your friends to it and you will be "famous".

[Larry]

Gee...why do I keep thinking about the American civil war? Here we have the Reds against the Yellows, instead of the Blues against the Grays.

The NAWTH will rise again!

Soon we'll witness the Lanna Liberation Front under Thaksin II (there was a King Taksin from the north 250 years ago).

They still have some war elephants somewhere....I think in Surin......

All they need is a slogan. Let me suggest one... Eat Khao Soi or Die!

Just heard about the death......so humor is not appropriate. Sorry!

Edited November 26, 2008 by Larry

[h90]

watching on TV the incident of clash between red shirts and yellow shirts, where eventually one PAD supporter was beaten to dead

very sad.....

havent found links online of this incident ...

missed the part in the TV news what time the incident took place.

can others confirm?

Might it be this story from http://www.thailandoutlook.tv/toc/ViewData...?DataID=1010826

might not be airport related:

FLASH NEWS: Pro-govt Supporters Kills Father of PAD Supporter

UPDATE : 26 November 2008

Members of the 'We Love Chiang Mai 51" group have shot and killed the father of a pro-PAD supporter in Chiang Mai Province.

Members of the red t-shirt protesters belonging to the pro-government 'We Love Chiang Mai' group have surrounded the Vihok radio in Chiang Mai Province. The group has attacked Setha Jiamkitwattana, father of Terdsak Jiamkitwattana, while they were on their way home. Setha was dragged from the car by the protesters. He was beaten and shot dead.

Terdsak tried to rescue his father but he was unable to do so. He also said the red t-shirt protesters prevented the ambulance from entering the scene of the crime.

Military units have been dispatched to the area. However they have been unable to reach the radio station, and therefore are only able to stand guard around the outer perimeter of the area.

[sassienie]

cum on you re-eds.