The Redcoats Give Thapae Gate Back To The People

[Ulysses G.]

The reds took down their baricades a while ago and traffic is back to normal. Apparently someone convinced them not to piss off their friends.

(The other red thread is broken).

Edited April 10, 2009 by Ulysses G.

[moneyshot]

Good to hear common sense prevailed ;-)

[BigSnake]

Yeah they just OFF to have some real fun splashing some water for three or four days, my guess they will be back at it around the 19th of 20th of April. CHILLOUT Red Shirts.

[IanForbes]

(The other red thread is broken).

Funny how that happens, isn't it.

[Loaded]

The reds took down their baricades a while ago and traffic is back to normal. Apparently someone convinced them not to piss off their friends.

(The other red thread is broken).

is that a good thing?

[rixalex]

Apparently someone convinced them not to piss off their friends.

By "friends" you mean yourself i take it?

[annabel]

is that a good thing?

Not really as apparently they have been called to Pattaya where the Asian Summit is now being hosted, as after handing over their Famous/ Infamous letter they have vowed to be back tomorrow in double force of the 3,000 that are already there... ..

Will it EVER end ?? And if it does ...HOW????

[endure]

[annabel]

From Bangkok Post

"As far as I know, the red-shirted protesters are flocking to Pattaya to interrupt the Asean+3 summit. But if they move to block the Motorway, that would be trouble for us as it is the national logistics link to Laem Chabang deep-sea port and to Rayong and Chanthaburi provinces," he said.

While the route is not yet interrupted, overseas buyers have started to ask whether the port may be blocked.

"We are worried that if this concern persists or worsens, our consumers will shift their orders to Vietnam or China instead," he said.

So it's not only that it will affect tourism but the whole international business it has which includes esports of textiles and furniture and many other industries and whatever ...... ...and then what ....why is every body only seeing the repercussions on tourism ....? It's far bigger than that .....yes tourism is a major ....but here are other majors in the loop ...And worried they will shift teir orders to Vietnam ...? Hello ...it's already happening ...I have a French buyer here in Chiang Mai tomorrow morning who are doing exactly that ...Shifting factory and all to Vietnam cause it's too insecure here ....Ostriches ...wake up

[Ulysses G.]

Apparently someone convinced them not to piss off their friends.

By "friends" you mean yourself i take it?

I mean most of the Northern Thais. Although I do have some sympathy for the reds, I would prefer that the present government be allowed to try to solve some of the countries problems before holding new elections.

[Loaded]

Watching tv reports last night about the protests and watching the red shirts just push past the police and walk past smiling soldiers, won't Thailand learn that it needs a force of some type to deal with civil disorder. The police has plenty of shiny patrol cars with flashing lights and loud sirens but the only time they're used is to escort VIPs. They are just not trained to police at all. The army, by nature, will be either on or off and when they're on, there will be bodies. Constantly rent-a-mob, whether yellow or red, does what it wants.

Edited April 10, 2009 by Loaded

[WinnieTheKhwai]

I completely agree. I'm of the same opinion as Ulysses, sympathetic to the Reds, but not opposed to giving Abbysit a chance.

[rixalex]

I completely agree. I'm of the same opinion as Ulysses, sympathetic to the Reds, but not opposed to giving Abbysit a chance.

Precisely what not is happening.

[rixalex]

The reds took down their baricades a while ago and traffic is back to normal. Apparently someone convinced them not to piss off their friends.

And do you really think they took down the baricades for concern of pissing off their "friends", or do you think they saw the poor turnout they had managed to muster and quickly thought better of it?

[Ulysses G.]

I am repeating what Thais told me, but it makes sense. There was a decent number of reds and the crowds seemed to be happy that they were there, but if they had tied up traffic for too long, people might have become resentful. Leaving after they made their point was pretty good PR actually.

[elektrified]

Watching tv reports last night about the protests and watching the red shirts just push past the police and walk past smiling soldiers, won't Thailand learn that it needs a force of some type to deal with civil disorder. The police has plenty of shiny patrol cars with flashing lights and loud sirens but the only time they're used is to escort VIPs. They are just not trained to police at all. The army, by nature, will be either on or off and when they're on, there will be bodies. Constantly rent-a-mob, whether yellow or red, does what it wants.

I saw on the news last night that the red-shirt mob even took control of a water cannon from the soldiers and then proceed to fire the water cannon at the soldiers! Now that is embarrassing!

[Ricardo]

The reds took down their baricades a while ago and traffic is back to normal. Apparently someone convinced them not to piss off their friends.

(The other red thread is broken).

Perhaps someone told them, there might be an Aids-Awareness Parade somewhere else, so they went to support it ?

The timing of their action, just before the biggest tourist-fest of the C.M. year, is surely unhelpful to anyone whose job depends on tourism ? But at least they backed-off. So that's all right then.

Edited April 11, 2009 by Ricardo

[debcmai]

I completely agree. I'm of the same opinion as Ulysses, sympathetic to the Reds, but not opposed to giving Abbysit a chance.

Precisely what not is happening.

But, what if giving Abhiset a chance means that not too far down the road, 70% of govt. ministers are appointed and only 30% are elected by the general population? This is most definately the PAD's proposal to guarentee that the more populous regions of the country no longer get to decide who leads the govt. I know I would be nervous about giving him a chance if that were at stake. Can you imagine this in our own home countries. There would be more than just red shirts in the streets. I think, in all they have composed themselves, pretty well.

[tigerbeer]

There is a procession of at least few thousand vehicles at the moment on the superhighway in front of Carrefour and Index Living Mall. I think they are headed to Saphan Nawarat and Muang.

[Ricardo]

I passed (going into town) a parade of Red-Shirts (coming out of town) near the City Hall at about 2.30 this afternoon. Some 300 people with motorbikes & pickups, displaying pictures of Thaksin, were occupying both lanes north-bound, with a long tail-back of normal traffic behind them, as they moved towards City Hall.

Several of them were directing traffic at the intersection with the 2nd ring-road, since there didn't seem to be any BiBs in the area, must have been time for PC Plod's tea-break !

The mood seemed fairly good-natured.

[brennanstimpy]

I think these red coats are making a much better name for themselves than the yellow bellies. It is so odd to me that everyone seems to say that they talk to their Thai friends and they say give "Mark" a shot or they don't like the reds, who are you talking to? I have yet to speak to a Thai in Chiang Mai that isn't pro red. Although I am talking to locals in their language, and not to any that have money or businesses, hel_l, most of them can't speak English for that matter.

[girlx]

I have yet to speak to a Thai in Chiang Mai that isn't pro red.

really? most of the thais i have talked to think they (red shirts) are wanke_rs and should learn to think for themselves.

[Ulysses G.]

Most Thais that I have talked to in Chiang Mai - poor and wealthy - were sympathetic towards Thaksin and the reds, but don't like the way things are going. I think that they will lose their support if they keep this up.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Go Reds!!

[IanForbes]

Most Thais that I have talked to in Chiang Mai - poor and wealthy - were sympathetic towards Thaksin and the reds, but don't like the way things are going. I think that they will lose their support if they keep this up.

I agree. From what I read, and what I understand about politicians, Thaksin was smart and just did his bribing where it counted. He's no better or worse than any other political leader in Thailand. They ALL have their hand in the cookie jar. It is the same the whole world over. As I stated previously on another thread, the yellows could have done the same thing and stayed in power prior to Thaksin taking over. But, they had things all their own way for several years and didn't want to share. Eventually, that comes home to bite you. Because Thaksin was personally rich prior to being elected he was able to bribe the reds and get into power. He eventually got that back by bribing the reds with their own money. His biggest problem was he believed he was beyond reproach and that bit HIM in the azz.

It is one thing to have peaceful protests in front of government house and it is something entirely different blocking public airports and public transportation routes. The yellows started it at the Bangkok airport and were successful. Their actions were basically condoned by you know who. It only stands to reason that the reds would try similar tactics.

I just hope it all gets settled soon. And, for personal interests, before I would like to return. Good luck to all that have businesses to take care of. This is certainly going to affect tourism for a long time. I've already been advised by my government not to go back to Thailand before it is settled.

[piercefilmlid]

Most Thais that I have talked to in Chiang Mai - poor and wealthy - were sympathetic towards Thaksin and the reds, but don't like the way things are going. I think that they will lose their support if they keep this up.

UG, I agree.

I detect some weariness, maybe even embarrassment, at the continual disruption and protest, pictures of which are beamed around the world.

Common sense might suggest that the new PM is given a chance, but I am not holding my breath on this.

Mark

Edited April 12, 2009 by piercefilmlid