Suvarnabhumi PAD Protest Continues

[kevkev1888]

Any updates on what the police are not going to do next?

Next?

I wasnt aware they had done enything yet????

[OlRedEyes]

Is the circus still in town?

[blaze]

Any updates on what the police are not going to do next?

The police certainly seem reticent- why do you suppose that is?

[Insight]

woman with her foot blown off on Oct 7th

How could someone lost her foot when the police used tear gas? What did they do that the police had to use tear gas? Answer please.

I've heard no talks about that woman since then. Where is she now?

Not sure about the woman, but I can show you a an auntie of a colleague with half her face missing who is going through lengthly reconstructive surgery.

These tear gas things also went pop. The people investigating the incident discovered that before they got fired.

[digitele]

So, my question is assuming the airport is cleared:

-How long would it take to re-open?

-Meaning after cleanups, repairs etc. Does it need to be re-certified as in like when it first opened?

Please list what that would entail. I can't see it going from red light to green light too easily.

This might be a real hassle as prolonging to agony further for travellers.

Sullivans law: "Murphy was an optimist"

HOW CAN YOU EXPECT ANYONE TO ANSWER THIS? What a silly question, who knows what they have done inside the terminal. Assume the worst is the whole place is on fire and burnt to the ground, or the best is they have done nothing. How about from 1 hour to 5 years, somewhere in that time frame. Not even the authorities could answer this!

So, I guess you don't know. Also, don't yell at me fool. 12 post expert, Slap-Slap!

[seri thai]

woman with her foot blown off on Oct 7th

How could someone lost her foot when the police used tear gas? What did they do that the police had to use tear gas? Answer please.

I've heard no talks about that woman since then. Where is she now?

DONT ASK-GOOGLE!!

BANGKOK, Thailand — Thai riot police used a cheap Chinese tear gas that contained an explosive powerful enough to rip craters in the ground to disperse crowds of anti-government protesters last week, an investigator said Monday.

The investigation by forensics experts and a human rights commission could explain why several protesters had limbs and feet blown off and three died in clashes last week with police, who insist they only fired tear gas into the crowd.

Investigators found that police used three types of tear gas — from China, the United States and Spain — but "relied heavily on tear gas made in China," said Pornthip Rojanasunand, director of the Central Institute of Forensic Science.

Click here for photos. (WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT)

Pornthip said an experiment showed that the Chinese gas contained high levels of RDX — a chemical commonly used to make bombs and not a standard component of tear gas intended for crowd control. Pornthip's institute conducted the investigation as part of a probe into the clashes by the National Human Rights Commission.

[tropo]

He said Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat was obligated to restore order quickly or he would risk being seen as a lame duck.

Risk being seen as a lame duck? Are they kidding? A lamer duck you could not find.

[vladaman]

You can't let terrorists to win. The biggest mistake of this Government was not to take action sooner. What is next, when somebody doesn't like a Goverment - BTS protests or taking over International Hotels?

I suggest to turn off the electricity and during a night use some tear gas and fresh cold water. This is far from being peaceful protest. What shocks me is who can support these people and people who agree with this kind of protests.

[globalmenace]

I for one am trapped from going back to Thailand, it's costing me money to rearrange my travel and to stay away, I am being forced to stay away from my family. I cannot manage my business. Are you saying I shouldn't have any rights?

And the list could go on. In the end, who will this affect? Regular people in Thailand. Honest people struggling to make a living.

Bah.

Pretty melodramatic sounding, but untrue....Nobody is keeping you out of Thailand, only 2 airports in Bangkok. If any of the things you list were that urgent, there are literally dozens of ways to return and take care of them.

The borders are open, numerous international airports in Thailand are open, the roads are open and free to travel, the internet is still operating, the phones and faxes still work.....Private aircraft still fly.....there is no martial law.

Of course it's not a life or death situation (for me). Your solutions are not very realistic either. I considered taking a taxi from Mexico to Thailand but it wasn't so practical. I also considered flying to neighboring countries and/or other airports in Thailand, but as the airport in Bangkok is the 18th largest in the world, the whole region has come to a halt in terms of transportation. I'm on a waiting list for Taiwan to Phuket as well. If you have a private jet at my disposal, I would be honored to take you up on it. I'm not a billionaire, just a regular person trying to make a living. And for now, my only options are to re-arrange flights, pay penalties, stay up all night long distance to Thailand. In any case, I am definitely not the most affected by this mess, and I am aware of that. Thai people keeping the airports closed are destroying their own country.

Here Here! The irony is that the PAD posters articulate such principled statements about democracy and the right to demonstrate out of love for their country, when what they are doing is assuring that Thailand will be taking a HUGE step backwards once all the dust has settled, an order of magnitude. You can't do business with a country that is so irresponsible and unreliable as to allow the takeover of a major air hub. If that is allowed, what will the next surprise be from Thailand? That will not be lost on your regional neighbors, trading partners and potential tourists. I love Thailand, married a Thai, visit all the time. But my God, Thailand REALLY screwed the pooch with this one.

OK with me though. I look forward to a crashed baht, uncrowded beaches and better service on my next trip.

And Thai's did it all to themselves.

[Insight]

Any updates on what the police are not going to do next?

The police certainly seem reticent- why do you suppose that is?

Could be gearing up for something big, like they were doing ready for 3pm and 8pm yesterday.

[seri thai]

I am in no way going to say I have captured the Thai perspective. What I will say is that there are lot of people utterly sick and tired of the whole thing including PAD, UDD, government and Thaksin and Sondhi. People writing on here tend to have a politicsal persuasion. A lot of ordinary people dont care or have time or inclination to care about politics.

My wife went to the local hairdresser before. This is where all the really important news gets passed around. No one had a clue about or any interest in what was going on at SVB. All the talk was of husbands, children's schooling, illness and recovery, etc.... Nothing different.

Who is the minister for Thai hairdresser saloons anyway?

Maybe he/she could do a better job running the country!

I nominate Khun Pornthip, hang it all, make her PM as well!

[tropo]

What shocks me is who can support these people and people who agree with this kind of protests.

Incredibly, a lot of Thaivisa posters support these thugs.

[ironhut]

Can someone please tell me when the PAD mercenaries will (leave/be removed from) the airport so the we can get on with our business???

[old wanderer]

Furthermore it look like on Tuesday Dec 2, the entire PM party and supporting parties will be banished from politics for 5 years.....WHY??? Corruption, vote buying.

Forgive my ignorance on this subject... I've been wondering about the dissolution, but can't find many comments.

If there is a real possibility of this happening, then why are PAD holding the country hostage now? Why haven't they waited it out, and 'if' by chance it doesn't happen, only then exercise their rights to protest?

They are demanding that the present party in power step down.. but (as stated by the BBC) if they do, due to the overhanging dissolution, there won't be enough time to form a new party (not sure who this works... those who can still run?).

So, it's a forced stalemate for now, with the world watching and waiting for Dec 2. Some (as we know) are an unwilling, captive audience.

I am about to go out, but allow me to answer your question:

Constitution Court yesterday set a Tuesday deadline for its acceptance of closing statements from the three ruling coalition parties - People Power, Chart Thai and Matchima Thipataya - involved in the party-dissolution case.

The court is expected to rule soon, perhaps as early as Wednesday, to dissolve the parties, automatically ending the Somchai administration.

What sparked this whole protest was the current government was trying to convene and amend the Constitution and delete those sections that made this type of corruption illegal, and also mandated a 5 year suspension from politics for anybody found guilty.

Furthermore they wanted to do away with the Privy council, which would emasculate the Monarchy and the power it has to grant Amnesties...They wanted the Government to have that power....hence the Thaskin clan and getting a clean slate.

For these reasons the protesters have refused to stand down, and wait.

Why nobody will get their hands bloody removing the protesters, the government is about to be terminated, so until the situation is clear, who is willing to risk their future on a lame duck PM and party.

Yes it is costing the country now, but the other option to allow Thaskin and clan to return to establish a permanent fiefdom, is way too costly to take the risk. I imagine Thaksin is going a bit nuts trying to direct this from Hong Kong, and nobody is willing to stick their necks out. (I sometimes wonder if the fact the Pojaman was not able to return on the 25th like she planned has also played a part in this.)

If you remember, or bothered to watch closely, the current PM (brother-in-law of Thaskin) was not able to get the support, or votes, until his wife arrived the 2nd day, went in with a shoulder bag looking pretty heavy, and came out empty, then the votes happened.

Hope this answers your questions.

[hungryhippo]

HOW CAN YOU EXPECT ANYONE TO ANSWER THIS? What a silly question, who knows what they have done inside the terminal. Assume the worst is the whole place is on fire and burnt to the ground, or the best is they have done nothing. How about from 1 hour to 5 years, somewhere in that time frame. Not even the authorities could answer this!

So, I guess you don't know. Also, don't yell at me fool. 12 post expert, Slap-Slap!

No one knows so what do you expect us to answer?

Also why do you assume more posts equates to a better opinion? Please stop the ape chest beating.

Can someone please tell me when the PAD mercenaries will (leave/be removed from) the airport so the we can get on with our business???

Yeah, sure let me go get the pad leaders on the phone and ask them..

Edited November 29, 2008 by hungryhippo

[seri thai]

maybe thai police can buy some of that russian experimental gas to pump into the airport like russian swat did a fear years ago with that tchechen terrorist problem in a theatre... if half of them die, so what ... that mean still half of troublemakers alive

economy is in crisis all over the world and they let those pad criminals take over a major income for the country

thai police do not have water cannon ? mace ? clubs ?

time to go put the thrash out !

They let Thaksin do that to and look what he did!

Armchair generals. If you feel so strongly, put the beer down, put the red shirt on and do it yourself. Watch out for the old ladies with hand clappers tho, they'll 'ave ya!

[barcelonatio]

Need to remove the PAD from the airport by any means possible... this isnt rocket science, this isnt that hard.

-Cut power/water

-blockade roads into the airport

-rubber bullets, tear gas, water cannons

-jam mobile phones

Overwhelm them with a superior force. If you need to use force do so - after warning them what will come if they do not disperse.

maybe thai police can buy some of that russian experimental gas to pump into the airport like russian swat did a fear years ago with that tchechen terrorist problem in a theatre... if half of them die, so what ... that mean still half of troublemakers alive

economy is in crisis all over the world and they let those pad criminals take over a major income for the country

thai police do not have water cannon ? mace ? clubs ?

time to go put the thrash out !

Protesting political issues is one thing... hi-jacking an international airport is another. For the PAD gonads to hide behind "freedom of expression" or such BS is a load of crap. This is not about "inconvenience" for foreigners and Thais it is about fairness and the difference between right and wrong and being a civilised nation. What about all the other countries in the region (Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, etc.) whose tourists usually use BKK as a base? ... and now have cancelled their trips? How can PAD justify screwing up people's livelyhoods in neighboring countries that have absolutely nothing to do with Thai politics?

Yes... water canons, rubber bullets, tear gas etc. should be used after plenty of warning to get their anti-democratic butts out of the airports.

Can you imagine in the U.S. a bunch of Republicans taking over LAX with handclappers because they didn´t like the election results? Puh-leeze.

[chrislarsson]

Just heard on CNN that this airport closure is costinig Thailand $1.4 million per day.

I cannot believe the cost is that low...no way!

That may be the cost the airport authority is loosing from lost airport tax revenues (700B * number of departing passengers per day).

I have no idea how much this will end up costing th Thai economy, but the final cost will be huge and will be measured in billions of dollars and hundreds of thousands in job losses.

I wonder if the people here defending the rights and freedom to protest, will think the same way when they will start feeling the pain from this mess next year.

[Koo82]

They are fighting against a government that has bought their way into power through duplicity, lies and vote buying. You would be negligent in your duties as a citizen of your country if you didn't do everything possible to oust these politicians who corrupt the word democracy and everything it stands for

Wake up! EVERY party bought votes. They couldn't win after buying votes so now they support the PAD to pull the PPP.

Sondhi is having 200 years in jail waiting. He has nothing to lose so he just fights like a rat.

[ollieq]

SAD not PAD.

[Chaichara]

That doesn't include crippling the whole nation by shutting down essential services and preventing the government from functioning normally.

The French do it all the time - they are statistically the world masters at destroying their economy through disruptive political and industrial action...

[Koo82]

Something that several of the people posting in favor of peaceful protest are forgetting:

The limit of your personal rights and freedom is the place where the personal rights and freedom of other people begins.

You cannot claim your right to protest or any other right while you are stepping on the rights of other people.

I wish they could understand that.

[seri thai]

Furthermore it look like on Tuesday Dec 2, the entire PM party and supporting parties will be banished from politics for 5 years.....WHY??? Corruption, vote buying.

Forgive my ignorance on this subject... I've been wondering about the dissolution, but can't find many comments.

If there is a real possibility of this happening, then why are PAD holding the country hostage now? Why haven't they waited it out, and 'if' by chance it doesn't happen, only then exercise their rights to protest?

They are demanding that the present party in power step down.. but (as stated by the BBC) if they do, due to the overhanging dissolution, there won't be enough time to form a new party (not sure who this works... those who can still run?).

So, it's a forced stalemate for now, with the world watching and waiting for Dec 2. Some (as we know) are an unwilling, captive audience.

I am about to go out, but allow me to answer your question:

Constitution Court yesterday set a Tuesday deadline for its acceptance of closing statements from the three ruling coalition parties - People Power, Chart Thai and Matchima Thipataya - involved in the party-dissolution case.

The court is expected to rule soon, perhaps as early as Wednesday, to dissolve the parties, automatically ending the Somchai administration.

What sparked this whole protest was the current government was trying to convene and amend the Constitution and delete those sections that made this type of corruption illegal, and also mandated a 5 year suspension from politics for anybody found guilty.

Furthermore they wanted to do away with the Privy council, which would emasculate the Monarchy and the power it has to grant Amnesties...They wanted the Government to have that power....hence the Thaskin clan and getting a clean slate.

For these reasons the protesters have refused to stand down, and wait.

Why nobody will get their hands bloody removing the protesters, the government is about to be terminated, so until the situation is clear, who is willing to risk their future on a lame duck PM and party.

Yes it is costing the country now, but the other option to allow Thaskin and clan to return to establish a permanent fiefdom, is way too costly to take the risk. I imagine Thaksin is going a bit nuts trying to direct this from Hong Kong, and nobody is willing to stick their necks out. (I sometimes wonder if the fact the Pojaman was not able to return on the 25th like she planned has also played a part in this.)

If you remember, or bothered to watch closely, the current PM (brother-in-law of Thaskin) was not able to get the support, or votes, until his wife arrived the 2nd day, went in with a shoulder bag looking pretty heavy, and came out empty, then the votes happened.

Hope this answers your questions.

Who watches the Watchmen?

Indeed

[cmsally]

Why can't they simply cut off electricity, running water and all means of access to both airports. They would have been out of there by now unless they wanted to starve to death. Isn't that simply common sense for a siege situation.

Who is going to fit the bill for these services. A person I was talking to today reckons that electricity etc bills for the siege period at airports and govt house are simply not going to be paid. AOT and govt are simply going to point their finger and say; we weren't using them, it was your responsibility to cut them off, tough luck.

So who ends up paying the bill - the Thai tax payer.

[old wanderer]

Can someone please tell me when the PAD mercenaries will (leave/be removed from) the airport so the we can get on with our business???

Simple too answer.....when the government leaves, they will leave....

And they are Patriots not mercenaries.

[hammered]

Has anyone seen the government today? Have they made any statement?

[magisterludi]

Everytime I read posts from people who have such hatred for Taxin or who show such dogmatic support for the PAD, or the PPP or anyone for that matter, I always wonder how those people affected your life so much, or how the other side would make it so much better.

I arrived in Thailand during the Taxin administration. Everything was good for me. I was there during the coup, everything was good for me. I was there during the Military dictatorship, certain immigration agenda made my life a bit more difficult, but it was good for me. And as long as my normal life or the life of those I love is not destroyed, I cannot say that I will insult anyone trying to defend any of the parties involved.

I guess I am just curious to know how (from those with extreme opinions)...why did you become so extreme?

All I am trying to ask in my posts is: what is the need for average Thai people to damage or destroy their country either supporting or condemning any of the ruling parties?

Any of the extremists out there care to instruct me?

[Koo82]

Give me a freakin break. The PM really needs to just step down, since it really IS a proxy government in power.

Who do you suggest take over running the government?

The elite group already has a name to be submitted for the PM position.

[digitele]

No one knows so what do you expect us to answer?

My point was system checks by foreign experts, aviation officals, timeframe for that regardless of state of equipment.

Also why do you assume more posts equates to a better opinion? Please stop the ape chest beating.

I did not hit you in the chest......

[JuniorExPat]

Furthermore it look like on Tuesday Dec 2, the entire PM party and supporting parties will be banished from politics for 5 years.....WHY??? Corruption, vote buying.

Forgive my ignorance on this subject... I've been wondering about the dissolution, but can't find many comments.

If there is a real possibility of this happening, then why are PAD holding the country hostage now? Why haven't they waited it out, and 'if' by chance it doesn't happen, only then exercise their rights to protest?

They are demanding that the present party in power step down.. but (as stated by the BBC) if they do, due to the overhanging dissolution, there won't be enough time to form a new party (not sure who this works... those who can still run?).

So, it's a forced stalemate for now, with the world watching and waiting for Dec 2. Some (as we know) are an unwilling, captive audience.

I am about to go out, but allow me to answer your question:

Constitution Court yesterday set a Tuesday deadline for its acceptance of closing statements from the three ruling coalition parties - People Power, Chart Thai and Matchima Thipataya - involved in the party-dissolution case.

The court is expected to rule soon, perhaps as early as Wednesday, to dissolve the parties, automatically ending the Somchai administration.

What sparked this whole protest was the current government was trying to convene and amend the Constitution and delete those sections that made this type of corruption illegal, and also mandated a 5 year suspension from politics for anybody found guilty.

Furthermore they wanted to do away with the Privy council, which would emasculate the Monarchy and the power it has to grant Amnesties...They wanted the Government to have that power....hence the Thaskin clan and getting a clean slate.

For these reasons the protesters have refused to stand down, and wait.

Why nobody will get their hands bloody removing the protesters, the government is about to be terminated, so until the situation is clear, who is willing to risk their future on a lame duck PM and party.

Yes it is costing the country now, but the other option to allow Thaskin and clan to return to establish a permanent fiefdom, is way too costly to take the risk. I imagine Thaksin is going a bit nuts trying to direct this from Hong Kong, and nobody is willing to stick their necks out. (I sometimes wonder if the fact the Pojaman was not able to return on the 25th like she planned has also played a part in this.)

If you remember, or bothered to watch closely, the current PM (brother-in-law of Thaskin) was not able to get the support, or votes, until his wife arrived the 2nd day, went in with a shoulder bag looking pretty heavy, and came out empty, then the votes happened.

Hope this answers your questions.

An excellent post, thank you, I just wanted to highlight it to make sure it gets it's fair share of eyeballs.

JxP