Thai army imposes night-time curfew across country

[marcusd]

Please enlighten me but I have a friend here who was here during the last coup. He says

NO NATIONWIDE CURFEW

NEWS and media was still running

TV Stations were not closed.

Is his wrong?

Or is this to prepare for some more serious news? To aviod panic and mayhem or is it because the army had news of some bad things about to happen?

The general has been very patient and moderate and this seems totally out of place for what he has been trying to achieve for so many months showing leadership and guidance which has been ignored until now.

[AussieSteve]

Just lost Asia News Channel, Aust Network, Fox News and BBC is this just my local cable provider (go down a couple of times a week) or have others lost these stations?

Yes I have lost all my stations too.

Plus I am flying to CM and back tomorrow arriving in BKK well after 2200. I think I might just park my car at DM airport and drive back home hoping my ticket will convince anyone that stops me that I can travel.

Wish me luck.

[MMarlow]

I planed to go up-country early morning 3 a.m. does that mean I can't go?

anyone knows?

Yes, everyone knows, there is a nationwide curfew between 10pm and 5am for everyone (except for travelling to the airports apparently) and it applies to you also.

Edited May 22, 2014 by MMarlow

[marcusd]

A quote from "game of thrones"

In time of war, majority ot the areas in any country seem peaceful...

Stop the drama on TV lol....

Bangkok is curfew to avoid any bombs or gunners... This aint bad news...

Might save some children....

Why is the curdfew NATIONWIDE as I have seen it first hand in Chiang Mai ... Not seen before.

[Oscar2]

Night time curfew means the destruction of the tourism industry and all the impoverished ladies working in Pattaya and Phuket will have to go back to the rice farms and earn 200 bhat a day. This is punishing the poor red shirts who no longer have their daughters and ladyboy sons send money back home to feed their families

these type of posts by newbies really get boring.

[Mac66]

Friends in Phuket telling me they are still out and about. Saying as far as Phuket is concerned the curfew is only for Bangkok.

[marcusd]

A quote from "game of thrones"

In time of war, majority ot the areas in any country seem peaceful...

Stop the drama on TV lol....

Bangkok is curfew to avoid any bombs or gunners... This aint bad news...

Might save some children....

Why is the curdfew NATIONWIDE as I have seen it first hand in Chiang Mai ... Not seen before.

[larsjohnsson]

On the streets outside my apartment it's like a normal day. All foodstalls and small restaurants are still open. And they have nany Thai people there. I can also see Petchaburi road from my balcony. And many restaurants with a lot of people sitting outside

[ukrules]

Hmmm. Hopefully this only lasts the next day or two.

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

If you have money deposited at Thai banks you better take it out. This will not be a 2 day coup.

LOL

[ThaiLive]

just had a message that Bangla Road in Phuket has just been shut down by a very large police presence, so yes its being enforced nationwide

[Maestro]

In my home country and I suppose most others also. If you have a travel insurance it's not valid now

Only if your insurace policy says so.

[marylin manson]

current time and date right now in Thailand is
10:01 PM

[fdbob]

Thais love being out at night and who can blame them, the weather is much cooler. It will be interesting to see how strictly this will be enforced...

As an aside, I have not seen one soldier on patrol in Chiang Mai. Just my personal experience...

Yes: I saw two soldier stations (?) near the airport and one near Narrawat Bridge this morning.

Haven't seen a soldier In Pattaya

[AussieSteve]

Just heard that schools have been closed until the 25th.

Yes .......that means I don't have to get up at 0500 to get the step daughter to the bustop at 0600.

But seriously why close the schools????

[phiber]

Airfare from Vienna/Munich to BKK, round trip went down to 560 EUR. Was 700.

Edited May 22, 2014 by phiber

[Overandout]

On the streets outside my apartment it's like a normal day. All foodstalls and small restaurants are still open. And they have nany Thai people there. I can also see Petchaburi road from my balcony. And many restaurants with a lot of people sitting outside

I'm probably not far from you and the busy soi that I can see from my place also is still fairly busy, taxis, lorries, motorbikes and vans going about like normal....

So what is it? A serious situation like some are saying or hollow unenforced words?

I'm not going to risk finding out by the way....

[amarka]

Well lets face it, the past few Governments and opposition parties have made a real mess of things. They have continually argued and caused countless problems for Thailand. Even after Martial law was declared the opposing political parties failed to reconcile and continued to argue and threaten violence. Therefore the military had no other option but to basically kick the politicians out and declare a Military Coup.

Thailand is in a very serious political situation with the major parties opposed to any sort of compromise. The continued political turmoil is damaging the country and its reputation.

A period of calmness is required and at this point in time only the military can provide this. Of course this sort of action is condemned by foreign governments, but i am afraid in Thailand things are slightly different and a Military Coup was probably needed to prevent a civil war, or at least very serious incidents.

The last Government was lame in any case, having lost all of its remaining power once Ms Shinawatra was removed from office, therefore a Coup is probably the most sensible thing right now, especially since the elected politicians were unable to serve the country properly...!

[pendingo]

My Thai wife has just switched off the telly and with a totally deadpan face says she's off to bed and is expecting me to join her anytime now.

C'est la vie.

Life goes on and tomorrow is another day.

Goodnight folks.

[smotherb]

Please enlighten me but I have a friend here who was here during the last coup. He says

NO NATIONWIDE CURFEW

NEWS and media was still running

TV Stations were not closed.

Is his wrong?

Or is this to prepare for some more serious news? To aviod panic and mayhem or is it because the army had news of some bad things about to happen?

The general has been very patient and moderate and this seems totally out of place for what he has been trying to achieve for so many months showing leadership and guidance which has been ignored until now.

this is not a coup, yet, martial law is for civil order, the government has not changed, stay calm

[michaeljordan]

Well

The baht will go to 40 soon and that is great news for the bar hoppers.

BUT

You cannot go out past 10.00

Not so good.

Bars need to open at noon now and close at 10.00.

[larsjohnsson]

In my home country and I suppose most others also. If you have a travel insurance it's not valid now

Only if your insurace policy says so.

Yes but every travel insurence in my home country say so

[brit1984]

22:05 update from bangkok (ladprao)...

tesco express, big-c mini, 7-11 all closed here now

street vendors, restaurants and pubs all open as normal

plenty of people on the streets on foot or motorbikes but not many cars

no tanks

Edited May 22, 2014 by brit1984

[avander]

Thais love being out at night and who can blame them, the weather is much cooler. It will be interesting to see how strictly this will be enforced...

As an aside, I have not seen one soldier on patrol in Chiang Mai. Just my personal experience...

Yes: I saw two soldier stations (?) near the airport and one near Narrawat Bridge this morning.

Haven't seen a soldier In Pattaya

I had an unverified report earlier tonight around 7pm that a small army and police convoy was travelling along Soi Khao Talo stopping at all of the bars to ensure that owners and patrons were aware of the curfew. Not long after the bars in our small stretch were closed. At the 10:14pm there are still many vehicles heading away, but none heading towards, Sukhumvit.

Edited May 22, 2014 by avander

[larsjohnsson]

All the buses I have seen the last ten minutes on Petchaburi road BKK goes without any passengers

[eddyxwb]

There goes our trip to Thailand next week. I had planned and reserved everthing and now I cannot go and enjoy the night life?

[deepcell]

and the night market? this people start working 3AM. I have some in-law that works 3AM also in markets.. then, stay at home until 5AM.. sounds reasonable

[AussieSteve]

Just heard that schools have been closed until the 25th.

Yes .......that means I don't have to get up at 0500 to get the step daughter to the bustop at 0600.

But seriously why close the schools????

Just realised that only means tommorow.......oops too many vodca's

[emilymat]

Still getting BBC and Fox News etc on the TV.

[JAFO]

Man some of the posts from folks in this thread specifically are absolutely hilarious. Typical westerner reaction, they always lose their minds. They think the world is coming to an end, never go home, planes stop flying, food get consumed, they might starve, be stuck, killed, robbed, executed.MWAHAHA. Keep the craziness going, I am LMFAO.....This is good stuff.

YOU'RE ALL GOING TO DIE.......

it bring this old comedy to mind .... ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hJQ18S6aag

Let's remember some of the westerners here, left their minds at the airport when they arrived!

^ Boy isn't that the truth. Hopped off the plane and their common sense and minds were erased. Most become Instant juvenile delinquents. Soon after they sober up some have a memory recovery, realized what they have done, then jump off a roof top in Pattaya.

[FangFerang]

Just heard that schools have been closed until the 25th.

Yes .......that means I don't have to get up at 0500 to get the step daughter to the bustop at 0600.

But seriously why close the schools????

It is a control issue, in my opinion. By closing the schools, the military government is showing they really have the power. In a similar vein, it is typical for Thai school administrators to not even tell the foreign teachers the calendar of Thai holidays. Again, it's a control (control-freak?) issue.

Many wait until the last moment to announce the October holiday beginning date or the late December holiday beginning date. Then they dock teachers who scheduled flights ahead of time in order to get a decent fair. The schools do that get to take back money and remind the farang 'we are in charge'. The military version seems just plain mendacious (and expected)