Will Live Ammo Be Used During Songkran?

[gguy]

I noticed a group of red shirts with unusual bulges in their pants waistbelt.

As I seemed interested, one red shirt lifted up his shirt to expose a handgun in the waistbelt.

I think I will avoid the Songkran and crowds for the time being.

[Jingthing]

Good idea. The mood in the streets was very weird today. Bound to get weirder.

[londonthai]

was it water gun maybe?

why would red dressed people parade through pattaya in the broad daylight with some real handguns and how can it be associated with songkran?

Edited April 11, 2010 by londonthai

[Jingthing]

Here in Jomtien, I have NEVER seen so many people out with red shirts. There was definite tension and frankly I think some hostility is going to be shown towards foreigners now, more than the usual rip them off mentality. I already felt it a little bit, picking up a vibe of what are you still doing here in the Red in the Land Land? Clearly, the successful reds attempt to gain martyrs to fuel their propaganda has had an effect on the masses, Pattaya being a heavily red area anyway. I think this is going to be the strangest Songkran ever here. Whatever puppet masters are pulling the strings of the massive red revolution operation know what they are doing and understand the psychological makeup of their support base.

Edited April 11, 2010 by Jingthing

[gguy]

was it water gun maybe?

why would red dressed people parade through pattaya in the broad daylight with some real handguns and how can it be associated with songkran?

It was definitely metal and I could see a handle and what looked the barrel of a gun outlined in the waistband of his pants.

Edited April 11, 2010 by gguy

[Jingthing]

You met a red gangsta/thug. Not too rare actually, even before the recent events.

[Ulysses G.]

Thay seem under control in Chiang Mai. Lots of red flags and red shirts, but, so far, everything is mellow.

[Dave the Dude]

Maybe he was pleased to see you

[mythBuster]

Ask the army, unless you believe that BBC, Reuters and AFP made up the stories of course. That happens more often on these forums. People can't help it, they work for companies that are owned by the elite and therefore simply need to become parrots. It is in the school system too, people are ought to follow the teacher, not think for themselves. Sometimes you start to believe that Farangs have seen their own footprints a long time ago on the toilet seat without realizing that they have lost the ability to be objective.

If your are independent and do not need anyone to survive you will realize that you should not echo the opinion of people that you serve or have to serve.

[niveknedwob]

Went to Pan Fa, "Democracy" Monument, Kok Wua, Tanao Road, Khao San Road today (had to take g/f home to Thanon Tanao when it seemed relatively 'safe').

Here is an extract from a "light-hearted" email I sent out to some people after the event .....

"..... Another sunny day here in Bangkok.

Even though it was a bit hot and humid we thought we’d try and get down to Sureeporns house at lunchime today … we couldn’t go last night because of a ‘bit of trouble’ in the area.

Took a cab to Sao Ching Cha (basically, but not literally, “Giant Swing”). Had lunch in a favourite little restaurant nearby and then walked up to Pan Fa.

Stood for a couple of minutes in front of a large stage on which there were a couple of dead bodies and some people who seemed to be attempting to paraphrase (in very loud, strong, emotive voices) the speeches from the Nuremburg Rallys (the 1933 to 1938 ones rather than the ones from 1923 to 1933).

Wandered down to DEMOCRACY Monument and climbed up onto a few abandoned armoured personnel carriers.

Somewhat strangely the MacDonalds at DEMOCRACY Monument was closed – could really have done with one of their tasteless fizzy drinks at this point.

Walked down to Kok Wua junction, thankful of the shade provided by the canopies erected by the people in red shirts. We knew that there would be a 7-11 open on Khao San Road.

Turned right into Tanao Road (if we had turned left onto Tanao Road then we would reach Sureeporns house within 500 metres). It was a bit difficult negotiating our way to Khao San Road … a matter of 200 metres … due to the bullet-ridden cars and pick-ups blocking the road. The building on the corner will certainly need a bit of exterior plastering to fill all of those bullet holes.

Had to pass a couple of hastily-fashioned ‘shrines’ located by some old, although extensive, bloodstains on walls and road – but we got to Khao San Road eventually. Boy, that cold Pepsi tasted good … and the fragrant cold towel pack did wonders for my head and neck.

Sureeporn bought a nice bright (read “gaudy”) shirt to wear over Songkran and a T-shirt that says “70’s Chick” on the front. We managed to bargain/haggle the price down much more effectively than all of the other Westerners that were wandering around shopping there.

Given the amount of damage evident on this side of Tanao Road we thought that we had better check that Swensens icecream and cake shop was still intact (luckily Burger King, located nearer to the junction, has been reduced to an ‘insurance claim’).

We wandered down the left-hand-side pavement, noting the numerous bullet holes in the metal screens of the various shops … which appear to the untrained eye to have been created by shots fired perpendicular to the premises … as if in some act of simple destruction. We got held up in our journey to Swensens slightly by a small crowd listening intently to a guy dressed in full Thai police ‘uniform’ (with the “Robocop” body armour) regaling the events of the previous night.

Having confirmed that the ‘destruction zone’ ended prior to reaching Swensens we walked back along the other side of the (almost 18m wide) street, noticing the same pattern of bullet holes through shop fronts.

Got hampered on this leg of our journey by a small crowd listening intently to a guy in a red shirt who was sitting by a pile of “Robocop” body armour regaling the events of the previous night. He also had a number of clear plastic bags full of liquid, of various colours … we didn’t manage to hear any explanation regarding what these were, or signified.

After we (re)negotiated the bullet-ridden vehicles we were once more back at Kok Wua intersection.

Went to Sureeporns house, went next door to a place for ‘char manao, preaw, preaw’ (iced lemon tea, extra sour), had a short walk around the temple grounds opposite then I came home in a cab."

Just my way of putting things over.

[bangkokrick]

Here in Jomtien, I have NEVER seen so many people out with red shirts. There was definite tension and frankly I think some hostility is going to be shown towards foreigners now, more than the usual rip them off mentality. I already felt it a little bit, picking up a vibe of what are you still doing here in the Red in the Land Land? Clearly, the successful reds attempt to gain martyrs to fuel their propaganda has had an effect on the masses, Pattaya being a heavily red area anyway. I think this is going to be the strangest Songkran ever here. Whatever puppet masters are pulling the strings of the massive red revolution operation know what they are doing and understand the psychological makeup of their support base.

I have been in Jomtien all day today and I never saw a red shirt. maybe you are just being a paranoid android again.

Cheers, Rick

[neverdie]

Here in Jomtien, I have NEVER seen so many people out with red shirts. There was definite tension and frankly I think some hostility is going to be shown towards foreigners now, more than the usual rip them off mentality. I already felt it a little bit, picking up a vibe of what are you still doing here in the Red in the Land Land? Clearly, the successful reds attempt to gain martyrs to fuel their propaganda has had an effect on the masses, Pattaya being a heavily red area anyway. I think this is going to be the strangest Songkran ever here. Whatever puppet masters are pulling the strings of the massive red revolution operation know what they are doing and understand the psychological makeup of their support base.

I have been in Jomtien all day today and I never saw a red shirt. maybe you are just being a paranoid android again.

Cheers, Rick

He can be a bit prone to exaggeration & is rather excitable too , I've told him a million times to calm down.

[bangkokrick]

Here in Jomtien, I have NEVER seen so many people out with red shirts. There was definite tension and frankly I think some hostility is going to be shown towards foreigners now, more than the usual rip them off mentality. I already felt it a little bit, picking up a vibe of what are you still doing here in the Red in the Land Land? Clearly, the successful reds attempt to gain martyrs to fuel their propaganda has had an effect on the masses, Pattaya being a heavily red area anyway. I think this is going to be the strangest Songkran ever here. Whatever puppet masters are pulling the strings of the massive red revolution operation know what they are doing and understand the psychological makeup of their support base.

I have been in Jomtien all day today and I never saw a red shirt. maybe you are just being a paranoid android again.

Cheers, Rick

He can be a bit prone to exaggeration & is rather excitable too , I've told him a million times to calm down.

LOL Neverdie

Cheers, Rick

[Jingthing]

Here in Jomtien, I have NEVER seen so many people out with red shirts. There was definite tension and frankly I think some hostility is going to be shown towards foreigners now, more than the usual rip them off mentality. I already felt it a little bit, picking up a vibe of what are you still doing here in the Red in the Land Land? Clearly, the successful reds attempt to gain martyrs to fuel their propaganda has had an effect on the masses, Pattaya being a heavily red area anyway. I think this is going to be the strangest Songkran ever here. Whatever puppet masters are pulling the strings of the massive red revolution operation know what they are doing and understand the psychological makeup of their support base.

I have been in Jomtien all day today and I never saw a red shirt. maybe you are just being a paranoid android again.

Cheers, Rick

Either a different part of Jomtien or you are color blind. I tell the truth. The number of red shirts on the streets today was amazing. They weren't in Truth Today red shirts. They were just red shirts. I am 100 percent sure most of the people wearing them were doing it to show their support for the red shirts. Sure in some cases a coincidence, but statistically impossible that many people RANDOMLY wore red shirts today. It was intentional. You can believe me or not, my vision is quite good.

Edited April 11, 2010 by Jingthing

[bangkokrick]

I think that if you walk around Pattaya looking at men with unusual bulges in their pants, you might wake up two days later with no wallet and a very sore bottom

Cheers, Rick

[bangkokrick]

Here in Jomtien, I have NEVER seen so many people out with red shirts. There was definite tension and frankly I think some hostility is going to be shown towards foreigners now, more than the usual rip them off mentality. I already felt it a little bit, picking up a vibe of what are you still doing here in the Red in the Land Land? Clearly, the successful reds attempt to gain martyrs to fuel their propaganda has had an effect on the masses, Pattaya being a heavily red area anyway. I think this is going to be the strangest Songkran ever here. Whatever puppet masters are pulling the strings of the massive red revolution operation know what they are doing and understand the psychological makeup of their support base.

I have been in Jomtien all day today and I never saw a red shirt. maybe you are just being a paranoid android again.

Cheers, Rick

Either a different part of Jomtien or you are color blind. I tell the truth. The number of red shirts on the streets today was amazing. They weren't in Truth Today red shirts. They were just red shirts. I am 100 percent sure most of the people wearing them were doing it to show their support for the red shirts. Sure in some cases a coincidence, but statistically impossible that many people RANDOMLY wore red shirts today. It was intentional. You can believe me or not, my vision is quite good.

Hey Jing I am so relieved to know that I am not on your ignore list because it's the first time that you have ever replied to me. Seriously I went out today with the family in Jomtien, spent most of the day on the beach, but never saw a red shirt. maybe I go to the wrong places????

Not that I want to see one anyway.

Cheers, Rick

[Jingthing]

Here in Jomtien, I have NEVER seen so many people out with red shirts. There was definite tension and frankly I think some hostility is going to be shown towards foreigners now, more than the usual rip them off mentality. I already felt it a little bit, picking up a vibe of what are you still doing here in the Red in the Land Land? Clearly, the successful reds attempt to gain martyrs to fuel their propaganda has had an effect on the masses, Pattaya being a heavily red area anyway. I think this is going to be the strangest Songkran ever here. Whatever puppet masters are pulling the strings of the massive red revolution operation know what they are doing and understand the psychological makeup of their support base.

I have been in Jomtien all day today and I never saw a red shirt. maybe you are just being a paranoid android again.

Cheers, Rick

Either a different part of Jomtien or you are color blind. I tell the truth. The number of red shirts on the streets today was amazing. They weren't in Truth Today red shirts. They were just red shirts. I am 100 percent sure most of the people wearing them were doing it to show their support for the red shirts. Sure in some cases a coincidence, but statistically impossible that many people RANDOMLY wore red shirts today. It was intentional. You can believe me or not, my vision is quite good.

Hey Jing I am so relieved to know that I am not on your ignore list because it's the first time that you have ever replied to me. Seriously I went out today with the family in Jomtien, spent most of the day on the beach, but never saw a red shirt. maybe I go to the wrong places????

Not that I want to see one anyway.

Cheers, Rick

Not on the beach, dude. More inland. There is more to Jomtien than the beach and you will find many of the real local worker people there. I have no reason to make this up. I hate the red shirt movement but recognize many of their people are good salt of the earth people, of course. I am not happy to see so many of them around showing support for what to me is now a movement for violence and anarchy, it makes me sad and afraid. Edited April 11, 2010 by Jingthing

[Tarqin]

If you move back from the beach down Soi 3 Jomtien you will find a huge number of Thais squatting in the half built buildings down there. This is real red shirt territory and they are currently more pissed off with farangs than usual for no better reason that the usual everythings gone wrong so the farangs must be at fault somehow mentality.

But don't go down there in daylight without a Thai escort and definitely don't go down there after dark.