Bangkok's peaceful protest surprises tourists

[kingalfred]

around MBK today

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[kimamey]

This time, i agree with TAT, people will remember the protests of 2010 and the burning of BKK by the reds. Leaders on stage talking about benzine and making BKK burn. Now these protests are different, while i do admit there has been violence to but not on the same scale.

How much violence was there on day 1 of the red protest ??

And how much military force was used against them ??

Apples and oranges so far no..

It's not possible to compare them until this one finishes.

[kimamey]

I have been living in Thailand for many years and have witnessed the 2010 protests with my own eyes on a daily basis. Small numbers and violent. Thaksin earlier said that he needed 300,000 people to topple the govenement. He couldn't get them so he had to resort to a different strategy.

Again, Youtube can be an easy source to educate yourself if you are still not clear about what happened 2010.

i don't need to look @ youtube. i don't need to look at how someone chooses to distort event after the fact, i was in bkk the entire time as it happened. i saw regular Thai motionless and bloodied being taken to hospital. Thai making a shrine where a person fell with instant donations for the family of the person just killed (btw watching people with nothing empty their pockets for a dead stranger's family was quite moving and something i'll never forget). i can tell you one thing, thru the entire ordeal, i did not meet one average 'man or woman on the street' who didn't identify themselves as pro red shirt. seriously- not 1. even as it increasingly harmed their livelihood, they got kinda pissed, but never changed.

like i said, i don't really have a dog in this fight- not my fight and neither choice is very appealing. that said, most countries thru history do not fare well when self chosen elites decide that they should run a country as an unelected committee and ignore democracy because they feel the populous is too stupid to make the correct choice (their choice) in free elections. perhaps there is some history that you watch on youtube that differs...

mate, your full of shit anfd you know it. The reds started the violence after they were given what they wanted, the reds started the shooting, bombing and fires then the army retaliated but dont let the truth get in the way of your biased bullshit rave.

first, i'm not your mate, pal.

second, it's amazing how people try to colour others biased in an attempt to deflect their own. I HAVE NO BIAS-asshol_e. jesus. are you really that thick and BIASED that you can't figure that out from what i said. the only seemingly biased point was that history leans in favour of democracy vs govts run by unelected self appointed elites. i don't view that as bias, i view that as FACT.

i felt at some point the Abhisit govt had to do something about the protests. thing is, they were losing steam. he took a violent unnecessary route. the aftermath was elections and the red shirts showing their overwhelming majority at the polls. obviously, he miscalculated- innocent people died because of it and he lost his party's hold on power. unable to win elections, they're taking this route.

to show my LACK of bias.... The PM trying to get that amnesty crap done ALSO miscalculated and gave the elites an opening to do what is happening now. stupid arrogant move. the whole lot are more concerned with themselves than the Thai people- both sides. khao chai mai?

here's the deal- the yellows don't appeal to enough voters. when a political party cannot win an election, that's a fair clue that they are out of step with the majority of citizens. so... change platforms to appeal to the center, or continue losing. or, as you see it, protest against the will of the people and eschew elections in favour of.... an unelected self appinted group of people who cater to a minority of voters and who are just as corrupt as the current admin.

btw, i suppose you disagree with the below as well- right:

Death of Sergeant Phongchalit Phitayanonthakan[edit]

Sergeant Phongchalit Phitayanonthakan (จ่าอากาศเอกพงศ์ชลิต พิทยานนทกาญจน์), aged 51, of the Royal Thai Air Force's Ground Security Force Corps was shot and killed by friendly fire at an Army checkpoint at 1:20 AM of 17 May. Phongchalit and a Pilot Officer Aphichat Songyong (เรืออากาศตรีอภิชาติ ซ้งย้ง), aged 26, were wearing plainclothes and driving an unmarked Vigo pickup truck to the Saladaeng Intersection checkpoint at high speed. Army troops at the checkpoint reported being fired upon by the people in the truck.^[43] The Army troops manning the checkpoint fired on the truck causing it to lose control and hit police vehicles parked nearby. The two men were taken to nearby Bangkok Christian Hospital, but Phongchalit was dead on arrival. Aphichat was injured, and later picked up from the hospital by commanders of the RTAF Ground Security Force Corps. The commanders had no comments about the circumstances of Sergeant Phongchalit's death.^[44][45][46] Phongchalit was one of the two troops killed in the extended 13–19 May military crackdown.

Death of Fabio Polenghi[edit]

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban claimed that Italian photographer Fabio Polenghi was killed by a grenade launched from a terrorist M79 grenade launcher and died side-by-side with a soldier.^[47]However, numerous reports including one by the International Federation of Journalists noted that Polenghi was shot.^[48][49][50] Autopsy results showed that Polenghi died from a high-velocity bullet that entered the heart, and caused damage to his lungs and liver.^[51][52] A reporter from Der Spiegel who was with Polenghi noted that he was photographing from the protesters' side and was running from advancing soldiers.^[53] The Italian Embassy announced it was pursuing its own investigation.^[47]

In May 2013, the results of a lengthy investigation in Thailand revealed that Fabio Polenghi, 48-years old at the time of his death, was felled by a .223 calibre bullet from a soldier's weapon and was running away at the moment he was killed. Testimony from journalists Michel Maas, Manit Kamnan and Bradley Cox were included in the proceedings.^[54][55] Polenghi's work had appeared in Vanity Fair, Vogue, Marie Claire, and Elle.^[56]

It's worth pointing out that the deaths in 2010 that have been investigated so far were carried out in contravention of the ROE.

[Baerboxer]

It's not surprise is amazed that the government doesn't do something about this. They wonder how can the government let these thugs do this. It would never happen in their country.

Depends where they come from. But, assuming you mean Western democracies then you're right. A government as corrupt as the one now caretaking would have been impeached and facing criminal prosecution a longtime ago in the West.

[darren84310]

Misleading headline. How has the protest surprised tourists?

Uuummm!!!.... Maybe because they were led to believe it could be a violent protest.

[flynn]

TAT could use this video. Very informative for tourist. Not 100% accurate, but very very close and neutral. Good enough for tourist to understand.

Americans should look at there own history of keeping the poor people down &quoting j Lennon at the end, when they tried every trick in the book to stop his green card,

[XpatMike]

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) was instructed to post photos of Bangkok shutdown on its online media to show the world the non-violent political protest in the capital, a senior official said.

Instructed by whom ???

Also how do they have the Jan figures complete ??

I think they always plan ahead what they want to lie next month....so I am sure they have the Feb 2014 figures as well.

This expression really irritates me - you CANNOT plan for the past!

[DGIE]

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) was instructed to post photos of Bangkok shutdown on its online media to show the world the non-violent political protest in the capital, a senior official said.

Instructed by whom ???

Also how do they have the Jan figures complete ??

I think they always plan ahead what they want to lie next month....so I am sure they have the Feb 2014 figures as well.

[Sydebolle]

Well, I for one wait for TAT to proclaim, that the entire protest is actually a tourist attraction and has drawn another 415.31% more quality tourists to Thailand. Extra flights planned to Lopburi, Bangphra and Khemmarat offered daily by Thai Airways International which forecasts a load of 143%.

What a load of crap is all this ………..

[DGIE]

Misleading headline. How has the protest surprised tourists?

Not misleading at all imo. Perhaps the tourists were expecting something similar to 2010 but instead witnessed peaceful and well organized protests.

They have not harmed any tourist anyway and have not burnt buildings and buses.

[topt]

Well, I reckon since the protestors are getting 500 baht/day, they could care less about the impact on those that are less fortunate and have no other choice but to try to support themselves and their family. These 'people' have as much value as the other 'people' to whom Suthep so often refers. At least you acknowledge who made this woman's life a little better even though it may have 'upset' her employer.

" I reckon since the protestors are getting 500 baht/day"

Proof please.

I have plenty of sources both inside and outside of Bangkok -- and these are people with no reason to lie. Up to you whether you want to believe it or not. I think it is very common knowledge. Enough said. I also have it from very reliable sources that the PDRC 'security' guards or 'peoples' police' have vans full of weapons.

I can confirm that some people living near Loei were being offered 700 baht a day and yesterday I seem to remember in another thread someone saying protestors from the south were geting was it 1 or 2k per day?

[tingtongteesood]

...oh...don't worry...just stay another 3 or 4 days....

Always one isn't there, some 'Nostradamus' who knows exactly what is going to happen. And there you were thinking day 1 would lead to violence, day 2 almost over and still none. You must be super disappointed...

[tingtongteesood]

This time, i agree with TAT, people will remember the protests of 2010 and the burning of BKK by the reds. Leaders on stage talking about benzine and making BKK burn. Now these protests are different, while i do admit there has been violence to but not on the same scale.

How much violence was there on day 1 of the red protest ??

And how much military force was used against them ??

Apples and oranges so far no..

There are several things to keep in perspective. First, the earlier days of the red-shirt protests were not particularly violent. Probably on a similar scale as these have been, with some killings and some incidents.

Second, this gov't is determined not to use some of the cruel tactics used by the Democrats against the Red-shirt protesters, although it remains to be seen whether they can hold to that promise.

Finally, a lot of the people in this protest are from Bangkok and there is a tendency for people not to poop on their own doorstep. During the Red-shirt protest, the majority of people were from outside of Bangkok and that made for a very different mindset.

I don't think we can adequately look at it until it is over. And it ain't over yet.

There are several things to keep in perspective. First, the earlier days of the red-shirt protests were not particularly violent. Probably on a similar scale as these have been, with some killings and some incidents.

No the scale of the reds was quite a buit smaller and whilst they did start out non violent for a short time, they also closed down the main shopping district for 2 whole months. At least the current protests stayed away from doing that for 2 months.

Second, this gov't is determined not to use some of the cruel tactics used by the Democrats against the Red-shirt protesters, although it remains to be seen whether they can hold to that promise.

Those 'cruel tactics' were used against armed rioters who were out to cause violence and chaos, what did you expect them to do, just sit back and watch ? The army took a lot of crap and reds beat up a lot of soldiers and stole a lot of guns before the army reacted. And the only 2 reasons PT don't do the same now is the much maligned army sees sense and said no, they are mostly peaceful and force is not warranted and number 2 Yingluck doesn't want to be indited as a murderer as her cronies have done to her rivals.

Finally, a lot of the people in this protest are from Bangkok and there is a tendency for people not to poop on their own doorstep. During the Red-shirt protest, the majority of people were from outside of Bangkok and that made for a very different mindset.

This may well be true to a certain extent but a very very small one in this case and remember a lot of the protestors are from other cities too.

I don't think we can adequately look at it until it is over. And it ain't over yet.

Truest thing in your post.

[tingtongteesood]

This time, i agree with TAT, people will remember the protests of 2010 and the burning of BKK by the reds. Leaders on stage talking about benzine and making BKK burn. Now these protests are different, while i do admit there has been violence to but not on the same scale.

peacefully demonstrated today... BUT TOMORROW? May not be so peaceful

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I see we have a second red Nostradamus scaremonger, very sad indeed...

[mdmayes]

It was more of a celebration than a protest atmosphere.

[gerry1011]

Hopefully the tourists won't see the truth

Sent from my HTC One using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[The Blot]

The PDRC is showing the world that Thailand can protest peacefully too. This is very welcome news for the world and should improve Thailand's image.

Yeah right. after 1 day... What an improvement... The world is still laughing

[stoli]

Misleading headline. How has the protest surprised tourists?

How is this misleading? Read it slower.

[Gandtee]

Oh Goody, goody! I wonder why my Thai visa site re Yingluk persuaded to remain, was blocked, citing 'unusual activity on my computer???

[presscamera]

Oh come on don't go there. Don't compare a violent mob that killed, looted and burned down parts of Bangkok with peaceful protestors. Bangkok's image is luckily improving so no need to make up stories again LivingLOS

From my memory the Reds started setting fire to buildings after the Army went in and killed 90 people

[stoneyboy]

It's so peaceful no one knows it's happening.

[Africanteacher]

A bit early to use 'peace', I think. I'll only scream 'peace' after the protesters leave the streets with minimal life threatening incidents.

[Thai at Heart]

They still obviously haven't worked out that what surprises tourists is that in thailand it is apparently legal to.just commandeer the centre of the capital city put up stages and block roads and NOONE attempts to stop you.

[harvardsum]

I just saw the video on dictatorial democracy. I find the commentary in this video and the underlying premise of the BKK protest somewhat flawed. By and large political systems are created to manage the interests of the majority. If 75% of voters are adequately served by the incumbent Government, as evidenced by the relative peace in all other Thai regions, then Koon Suthep at best can only claim to be representing 60 - 70% of the 25% voters pool. Which works out to be about 17.5% of the country's electoral population. Koon Suthep should not give the impression that the PDRC is serving the interests of the Thai population. (The mainstream people do not want to be served by the righteousness of the PDRC.) If the protest is about protecting the legitimate interests of future generations of the 17.5% segment, then it really does not take a genius to work out the necessary reforms to safeguard the interests of these future generations. Articulating reforms, sharing power to ensure minority interests are fully safeguarded, is not exactly rocket science; and even getting UN's help to supervise electoral practice so as to outlaw money politics may not be difficult, and so is enshrining all such provisions in the Constitution. But one caveat: Instilling a collective will in the Soul of the Nation henceforth to stamp out graft on every level of society will take a much, much longer journey, abetted not in the least through painstaking education, public ethics forums and the process of moral revival.

[Publicus]

The general rule of thumb is that protests are messy business. But this particular protest has become a model for them. It is peaceful, exuberant, and in an unintentional seal of approval from the administration, is now not only being plugged as a peaceful demonstration, but the protest has now even become a tourist destination ! If anything, the path towards victory for the protests now seems clear, as the administration has now backed itself further into a corner regarding the contemplation of future retaliation. This makes it much, much more difficult for them to assume that stance. The aim of the protest is to wear the administration down, and it's inevitable that that will happen at some point. The remarkable and noteworthy thing is that it is doing so through peaceful means. And what we have been seeing on TV has really told the tale. Some will look at the protest with bemused scepticism, take out their abacus and say " Did you see that photo ? Look ! Look ! There's only five people under that tree ! " But for normal observers, it is quite a spectacle. And a remarkable one at that. Imagine, masses of people on the streets having a great time, waving flags and blowing whistles. And that - is the power of the people.

Very uplifting, romantic, creative post out there in la-la land.

[Chao Lao Beach]

Tourist arrivals at Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports have decreased from 52,000 people in November to 49,000 people in December and 47,000 people in January – a 20 per cent drop from the same months last year.

Published on Jan 14th. I call B@llSh1t. (or little white lie)

[gerry1011]

A bit early to use 'peace', I think. I'll only scream 'peace' after the protesters leave the streets with minimal life threatening incidents.

Peaceful is not really a word that should be used when referring to these yellow thugs...

Sent from my iPhone...

[LivinLOS]

There are several things to keep in perspective. First, the earlier days of the red-shirt protests were not particularly violent. Probably on a similar scale as these have been, with some killings and some incidents.

No the scale of the reds was quite a buit smaller and whilst they did start out non violent for a short time, they also closed down the main shopping district for 2 whole months. At least the current protests stayed away from doing that for 2 months.

So a shopping district or the entire city ?? Or in the case of the previous unresisted yellow outing of a democratically elected government, the countries airport !!!

Second, this gov't is determined not to use some of the cruel tactics used by the Democrats against the Red-shirt protesters, although it remains to be seen whether they can hold to that promise.

Those 'cruel tactics' were used against armed rioters who were out to cause violence and chaos, what did you expect them to do, just sit back and watch ? The army took a lot of crap and reds beat up a lot of soldiers and stole a lot of guns before the army reacted. And the only 2 reasons PT don't do the same now is the much maligned army sees sense and said no, they are mostly peaceful and force is not warranted and number 2 Yingluck doesn't want to be indited as a murderer as her cronies have done to her rivals.

The yellows have stolen weapons.. The yellows have acted similar but dont get characterized as the same.. If the reds had marched on a government office who refused to closed and told them they would be dragged out into the streets, as the PDRC did yesterday, they would have been tear gassed and water cannoned.

Theres a reason the red set up defense and were more proactive in barricading etc.. Because they had to be. You simply cannot argue that there has been anything like even handed treatment for the 2 groups.

the bangkok authorities are providing them trucks, roadsigns, refuse help, sandbags, assistance at every turn.

Finally, a lot of the people in this protest are from Bangkok and there is a tendency for people not to poop on their own doorstep. During the Red-shirt protest, the majority of people were from outside of Bangkok and that made for a very different mindset.

This may well be true to a certain extent but a very very small one in this case and remember a lot of the protestors are from other cities too.

Its not as much where they are from as how they are treated by the 'locals' around them. For one its with assistance, for another it was with contempt.. a contempt that resulted in live bullets and 90 odd dead.

[DocN]

...oh...don't worry...just stay another 3 or 4 days....

Always one isn't there, some 'Nostradamus' who knows exactly what is going to happen. And there you were thinking day 1 would lead to violence, day 2 almost over and still none. You must be super disappointed...

I know, you are experiencing the world around you very selectively, but as far as heard or read, there were threads of kidnapping (or even killing) from both sides, several shootings, "bombs", the looming thread of an air-security-takeover...

All things you will clearly find in a dictionary, if you look up the term "peaceful"!

And "no", I am not dissapointed- it's great that nothing more happened...yet!

But I guess, in your little world of yellow fluffy rabbits, things will stay this way forever...peaceful...and no coup on the horizon!

Isn't it great to see the world through the eyes of a child?!

...a 4 year old child?

[evadgib]

Utter tosh. All it will take for this place to erupt is for a car to backfire then all hell will break loose!