Party's Over As Troops Descend On Bangkok Red-Light District

[webfact]

Party's over as troops descend on Bangkok red-light district - Scene

by Patrick Falby

BANGKOK (AFP) -- Bored bar girls have been abandoned by customers in Bangkok's notorious red-light district, now festooned with razor wire after armed troops descended to block anti-government protests.

The usual crowds of sex tourists, curious holidaymakers and expatriate regulars have evaporated from the Patpong nightlife strip, replaced by troops patrolling its neon-lit alleys armed with assault rifles.

"I've owned this bar for five years and this is the worst business ever," said Pungpoyn Thambun, 40, at Kiss bar where only a handful of clients were watching women writhe on stage in bikinis.

"Because of the Red Shirts, many foreigners don't come here. Business is no good," she said under the flashing disco lights.

Heavily armed Thai security forces swooped on central Bangkok Monday, taking positions to block "Red Shirt" protesters from bringing their month-long anti-government campaign to the capital's financial hub.

The troops spilled over into the nearby Patpong strip, which after dark is usually heaving with touts enticing passers-by into colourfully named go-go bars like Super Pussy and Bada Bing.

It is also home to a famous night market, well patronised by tourists including families who spend the evening browsing the stalls of knock-off handbags and pirated DVDs.

But on Monday night the market was closed and about half of the bars were shuttered as the intimidating knots of soldiers, rows of military trucks and piles of riot shields repelled the usual crowds.

"It's bad for Bangkok, it's bad for everything," said a 28-year-old hostess who gave her name as Meow. "It's bad for me too because there's no customers."

"Every night there's a night market here. Tonight, nothing. I can't make any money," said 55-year-old bartender Uvaraporn Conchum, pointing to the troops who now outnumber tourists.

Many of the venues that did remain open were largely empty, while at others like the Electric Blue Club, soldiers slouched incongruously outside as their night duty wore on.

"We're losing money -- 40 percent less customers than we usually have," said Oung, a tout for Superstar bar, as she sipped a vodka tonic. "We don't know how long it will be a problem."

After weeks of protests which have become part of life in the Thai capital, not all of Patpong's patrons were put of by the men in uniform.

Jerome Allaim, a 34-year-old expatriate Frenchman, still reckons Patpong is "certainly the nicest place to find girls in Bangkok" even though troop deployment "doesn't impress".

"I'm not worried or scared. It'll pass. Thai people will find a solution," he said.

Italian Andrea Ra, 37, who sat at a bar while 10 go-go dancers in fishnet stockings stood on tables bouncing to heavy bass music, said she had not been put off a return visit.

"It's not dangerous. Thai people are very friendly so I don't think anything will happen," she said.

Asked if he had a minute to chat about the military presence, a grey-haired man in a Hawaiian shirt and baseball cap pawed a hostess and retorted: "No, I only have a minute for her, not for you."

-- ©Copyright AFP 2010-04-20

Published with written approval from AFP.

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

[Juzrelax]

Good to hear that the primary national assets are well protected.

[TAWP]

AFP reporter getting payed to sit in a go-go and bother other customers...I love the hypocrisy as it just proofs that sex sells and that they are willing to cash in on it, no matter what high horse they might pretend to be on.

[londonthai]

patpong is far away from prathunam, where the protesters are.

why soldiers have decided to park on this very street and close the night market is beyond me - there are many other roads and places where they can be positioned (if they really have to be on the streets and not in the barracks) without obstructing the public.

blaming the reds, instead of blaiming the army, is illogical

[dekestone]

I know there are some on this forum who don't get the satire of "Notthenation.com". maybe they will now.

http://www.notthenation.com/pages/news/getnews.php?id=882

[quiksilva]

Its not illogical at all, the army didnt just turn up arbitrarily so they could get close to the Patpong bars, the Reds threatened to take over Silom Road.

[thepodest]

patpong is far away from prathunam, where the protesters are.

why soldiers have decided to park on this very street and close the night market is beyond me - there are many other roads and places where they can be positioned (if they really have to be on the streets and not in the barracks) without obstructing the public.

blaming the reds, instead of blaiming the army, is illogical

Dude are you kidding me ? You criticize the army for obstructing the public yet you overlook the fact the for WEEKS, Reds have taken up the street where the biggest hotels and shopping hotels are located, causing huge loss of revenue. They were planning to take the Bangkok's financial district as their next move, until the army came in and prevented that from happening.

Edited April 20, 2010 by thepodest

[Guest]

AFP concentrating on sex in one tiny street while other agencies are reporting about the business district. AFP have really hit rock bottom with this pathetic piece of 'reporting'.

[Chaimai]

blaming the reds, instead of blaiming the army, is illogical

The army would not have been there at all if the reds were not rallying/threatening to move to Silom.

[Jimmu]

patpong is far away from prathunam, where the protesters are.

why soldiers have decided to park on this very street and close the night market is beyond me - there are many other roads and places where they can be positioned (if they really have to be on the streets and not in the barracks) without obstructing the public.

blaming the reds, instead of blaiming the army, is illogical

Funny that! I can see the reds from the area! Not far off at all!

[ozzieman05]

Red shirts want to look after families in Issan

we have a great method

stop the girls making money and sending it home

then they will ave to come and fight for us

[neverdie]

Jerome Allaim, a 34-year-old expatriate Frenchman, still reckons Patpong is "certainly the nicest place to find girls in Bangkok" even though troop deployment "doesn't impress".

Imagine putting your name to that call .

Seriously, it takes all types

[NamKangMan]

Slightly off topic, but, whilst the Red Shirts have protested and shut down the business district and caused the deployment of the Army and Police, on mass, has anyone considered the cost, to the current Government, of "fighting this domestic battle?" The Red Shirts can live on a cup of boiled rice a day, and we all know Mr.T is "chipping in" a few baht for them, but, economically, it's possible, the Government will not be able to sustain the prolonged cost of Army, Police and emergency services deployment.

All of these personel have to be paid, fed, housed etc. The logistics for all of this is very costly to Thailand. To some degree, as far as the defence forces of Thailand are concerned, Thailand is at war. Wars cost a lot of money and they are in this one alone, not with any "richer" allied countries. Add to the cost of the defence force, the local Police, Fire Brigade and Ambulance involvement, all staff at 24/7, and this mounts up to a HUGE bill, for the Government. The day may come when they can't afford to pay their Army, Police and other emergency services, plus, all the support staff for them.

Further compounding this cost is, which is on topic, the economic cost, in real terms, to the country. Not much money is "coming in." So, tourism, imports, exports etc etc are not generating their normal income. However, tourisms is the talk on TV and we know for a fact this is down.

The current Government must have a "cut off point" for funding all of this. After all, Thailand is not America, The UK or The EU.

I'm not sure The World Bank would be interested in loaning money to Thailand for this "project."

We all know the Red Shirts are "hitting" the Government, economically, but has anyone considered the economic cost of this "domestic war?" It's this cost that could bring down the Government, not the loss of tourism etc.

The Army, Police etc all have families and bills to pay. If you can't pay these people, there will have to be another coup.

Edited April 20, 2010 by NamKangMan

[Boater]

Jerome Allaim, a 34-year-old expatriate Frenchman, still reckons Patpong is "certainly the nicest place to find girls in Bangkok" even though troop deployment "doesn't impress".

he will be broke by the time he is 35 then

[jackr]

"Because of the Red Shirts, many foreigners don't come here. Business is no good," .

Ahh, diddums. I'm sure you have a bit put aside after years of fleecing those very foreigners.

patpong is far away from prathunam, where the protesters are.

why soldiers have decided to park on this very street and close the night market is beyond me - there are many other roads and places where they can be positioned (if they really have to be on the streets and not in the barracks) without obstructing the public.

blaming the reds, instead of blaiming the army, is illogical

It's totally logical and actually clever thinking; that they have claimed the top tourist draw in the area, which will thus have the effect of keeping innocent Thais and foreigners out of harms way. At the end of the day, a tacky market and a bunch of go-go bars is neither here nor there. Plenty more elsewhere in the city.

As for illogical; how's tens of thousand of paid protesters holding a country hostage?

[BEENTHEREDONETHAT]

Slightly off topic, but, whilst the Red Shirts have protested and shut down the business district and caused the deployment of the Army and Police, on mass, has anyone considered the cost, to the current Government, of "fighting this domestic battle?" The Red Shirts can live on a cup of boiled rice a day, and we all know Mr.T is "chipping in" a few baht for them, but, economically, it's possible, the Government will not be able to sustain the prolonged cost of Army, Police and emergency services deployment.

All of these personel have to be paid, fed, housed etc. The logistics for all of this is very costly to Thailand. To some degree, as far as the defence forces of Thailand are concerned, Thailand is at war. Wars cost a lot of money and they are in this one alone, not with any "richer" allied countries. Add to the cost of the defence force, the local Police, Fire Brigade and Ambulance involvement, all staff at 24/7, and this mounts up to a HUGE bill, for the Government. The day may come when they can't afford to pay their Army, Police and other emergency services, plus, all the support staff for them.

Further compounding this cost is, which is on topic, the economic cost, in real terms, to the country. Not much money is "coming in." So, tourism, imports, exports etc etc are not generating their normal income. However, tourisms is the talk on TV and we know for a fact this is down.

The current Government must have a "cut off point" for funding all of this. After all, Thailand is not America, The UK or The EU.

I'm not sure The World Bank would be interested in loaning money to Thailand for this "project."

We all know the Red Shirts are "hitting" the Government, economically, but has anyone considered the economic cost of this "domestic war?" It's this cost that could bring down the Government, not the loss of tourism etc.

The Army, Police etc all have families and bills to pay. If you can't pay these people, there will have to be another coup.

I believe that the troops are fed and housed regardless of what is happening, so it is just another day in that respect.

[lannarebirth]

I know there are some on this forum who don't get the satire of "Notthenation.com". maybe they will now.

http://www.notthenation.com/pages/news/getnews.php?id=882

It's not that no one gets the satire. The problem is, it is often hard to distinguish between that which is real here and that which is satire.

[sangfroid]

I know there are some on this forum who don't get the satire of "Notthenation.com". maybe they will now.

http://www.notthenation.com/pages/news/getnews.php?id=882

It's not that no one gets the satire. The problem is, it is often hard to distinguish between that which is real here and that which is satire.

:D

[jdinasia]

patpong is far away from prathunam, where the protesters are.

why soldiers have decided to park on this very street and close the night market is beyond me - there are many other roads and places where they can be positioned (if they really have to be on the streets and not in the barracks) without obstructing the public.

blaming the reds, instead of blaiming the army, is illogical

Perhaps you have missed the Red threats to invade Silom and se up a stage at Bangkok Bank (note the proximity to Patpong) ....

[Juzrelax]

Slightly off topic, but, whilst the Red Shirts have protested and shut down the business district and caused the deployment of the Army and Police, on mass, has anyone considered the cost, to the current Government, of "fighting this domestic battle?" The Red Shirts can live on a cup of boiled rice a day, and we all know Mr.T is "chipping in" a few baht for them, but, economically, it's possible, the Government will not be able to sustain the prolonged cost of Army, Police and emergency services deployment.

All of these personel have to be paid, fed, housed etc. The logistics for all of this is very costly to Thailand. To some degree, as far as the defence forces of Thailand are concerned, Thailand is at war. Wars cost a lot of money and they are in this one alone, not with any "richer" allied countries. Add to the cost of the defence force, the local Police, Fire Brigade and Ambulance involvement, all staff at 24/7, and this mounts up to a HUGE bill, for the Government. The day may come when they can't afford to pay their Army, Police and other emergency services, plus, all the support staff for them.

Further compounding this cost is, which is on topic, the economic cost, in real terms, to the country. Not much money is "coming in." So, tourism, imports, exports etc etc are not generating their normal income. However, tourisms is the talk on TV and we know for a fact this is down.

The current Government must have a "cut off point" for funding all of this. After all, Thailand is not America, The UK or The EU.

I'm not sure The World Bank would be interested in loaning money to Thailand for this "project."

We all know the Red Shirts are "hitting" the Government, economically, but has anyone considered the economic cost of this "domestic war?" It's this cost that could bring down the Government, not the loss of tourism etc.

The Army, Police etc all have families and bills to pay. If you can't pay these people, there will have to be another coup.

Take it out of Thaxsin's frozen funds, that'll make him happy.

He's own money being used to support the Govt to disperse the protesters that he's paying to be there.

[123ace]

patpong is far away from prathunam, where the protesters are.

why soldiers have decided to park on this very street and close the night market is beyond me - there are many other roads and places where they can be positioned (if they really have to be on the streets and not in the barracks) without obstructing the public.

blaming the reds, instead of blaiming the army, is illogical

Londonthai. You have managed to discredit your far red position and all your earlier bleeding heart comments with this latest comment above. I can see right now the red barricades abutting Silom Road. This police / army action has so far saved a key commercial district from falling in to the hands of a group whose sole intention is to disrupt and inconvenience.

It is the reds that are wilfully obstructing the public. You may not be aware that Rajadamri Road has now been shut down by them for their rather limited 'agenda'.

[TonyH]

Perhaps the reds will get even more angry when they find out that their daughters and grand daughters main family income has been stopped!

[traderjm]

patpong is far away from prathunam, where the protesters are.

why soldiers have decided to park on this very street and close the night market is beyond me - there are many other roads and places where they can be positioned (if they really have to be on the streets and not in the barracks) without obstructing the public.

blaming the reds, instead of blaiming the army, is illogical

Hahahaha, where do you guys come from?

So if the REDS were NOT out breaking the law everyday you think the Army would be on the street still?

of course it's the RED's fault.. good lord man use some common sense.

[TonyH]

Slightly off topic, but, whilst the Red Shirts have protested and shut down the business district and caused the deployment of the Army and Police, on mass, has anyone considered the cost, to the current Government, of "fighting this domestic battle?" The Red Shirts can live on a cup of boiled rice a day, and we all know Mr.T is "chipping in" a few baht for them, but, economically, it's possible, the Government will not be able to sustain the prolonged cost of Army, Police and emergency services deployment.

All of these personel have to be paid, fed, housed etc. The logistics for all of this is very costly to Thailand. To some degree, as far as the defence forces of Thailand are concerned, Thailand is at war. Wars cost a lot of money and they are in this one alone, not with any "richer" allied countries. Add to the cost of the defence force, the local Police, Fire Brigade and Ambulance involvement, all staff at 24/7, and this mounts up to a HUGE bill, for the Government. The day may come when they can't afford to pay their Army, Police and other emergency services, plus, all the support staff for them.

Further compounding this cost is, which is on topic, the economic cost, in real terms, to the country. Not much money is "coming in." So, tourism, imports, exports etc etc are not generating their normal income. However, tourisms is the talk on TV and we know for a fact this is down.

The current Government must have a "cut off point" for funding all of this. After all, Thailand is not America, The UK or The EU.

I'm not sure The World Bank would be interested in loaning money to Thailand for this "project."

We all know the Red Shirts are "hitting" the Government, economically, but has anyone considered the economic cost of this "domestic war?" It's this cost that could bring down the Government, not the loss of tourism etc.

The Army, Police etc all have families and bills to pay. If you can't pay these people, there will have to be another coup.

I think the courts should rule to confiscate the red leaders bank accounts (after all they are wanted criminals) and divert the money to compensate shop owners who have lost millions, this will also hopefully help to stop the flow of cash transfers from Taksin

[WinnieTheKhwai]

You probably didn't notice, but it's less and less about Thaksin.

This misunderstanding may very well turn out to be the establishment's downfall.

[ozzieman05]

You probably didn't notice, but it's less and less about Thaksin.

This misunderstanding may very well turn out to be the establishment's downfall.

What he is trying to say is Taskins money is getting less and less

Funny the amount of protestors is falling in an equal degree

wonder if that means something

[bkkjames]

You probably didn't notice, but it's less and less about Thaksin.

This misunderstanding may very well turn out to be the establishment's downfall.

a bit late in the game to try to change your tagline winnie.

[whiterussian]

Funny the amount of protestors is falling in an equal degree

The Bangkok police (taken over from local forces) have road blocks around the country, which I do not critisise, but it's a factor for sure.

Edited April 20, 2010 by whiterussian

[gingging]

Jerome Allaim, a 34-year-old expatriate Frenchman, still reckons Patpong is "certainly the nicest place to find girls in Bangkok" even though troop deployment "doesn't impress".

Imagine putting your name to that call .

Seriously, it takes all types

most of the girls guys marry look like they worked patpong

except the ones that married hi so gals (nana and cowboy girls)!

Edited April 20, 2010 by gingging

[Ayutthaya69]

good to ear patpong no customer its the worst place i remember 7 years a go there 1 bars trye to ripp me off for 4 heineken 4500 baht so i never go there when i go Bangkok allways go on Khao San Road no bars there trye to rip me off lol