AFTERMATH
Philippine Airway gave tip for visitors to post-coup Thailand

BANGKOK: -- Philippine Airline's inflight magazine offers passengers a range of tips for visiting Thailand including not wearing red and how to take a selfie with soldiers.

Saying "Thailand is very safe for tourists," the magazine also recommends that visitors carry either their passport or a copy with them at all times.

It also advises against carrying a copy of George Orwell’s dystopian novel. "1984", pointing out that this could lead to their being mistaken for anticoup protesters.

The Telegraph online recently noted that the book had become a popular symbol of protest following the May coup.

The website also posted a copy of a tweet from Joe Black, who took a photo of the tips in the magazine.

The tip included avoiding getting into debates about the pros and cons of the coup especially in public.

It further said the Foreign Office makes no mention of the novel in its advice for Britons heading to Thailand, but warns: "It's illegal to criticise the coup and you should be wary of making political statements in public. You should monitor local news and social media for developments."

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Philippine-Airway-gave-tip-for-visitors-to-post-co-30240449.html


-- The Nation 2014-08-07

"It also advises against carrying a copy of George Orwells dystopian novel. "1984", pointing out that this could lead to their being mistaken for anticoup protesters."

The Telegraph online recently noted that the book had become a popular symbol of protest following the May coup."

Has it? News to me, but then again it is a quote from the Telegraph. Terrible paper.

Edited August 7, 201411 yr by Bluespunk

a Joe Black tweet?

Has Brad Pitt assumed his fictional character on a smart-phone?

"It also advises against carrying a copy of George Orwells dystopian novel. "1984", pointing out that this could lead to their being mistaken for anticoup protesters."

The Telegraph online recently noted that the book had become a popular symbol of protest following the May coup."

Has it? News to me, but then again it is a quote from the Telegraph. Terrible paper.

I think in the earl days of martial a lone protester was sitting read this when arrested. He was also eating snacks apparently

"It also advises against carrying a copy of George Orwells dystopian novel. "1984", pointing out that this could lead to their being mistaken for anticoup protesters."

The Telegraph online recently noted that the book had become a popular symbol of protest following the May coup."

Has it? News to me, but then again it is a quote from the Telegraph. Terrible paper.

I think in the earl days of martial a lone protester was sitting read this when arrested. He was also eating snacks apparently

Yeah, i do remember that one incident now. As I recall he looked like he'd been snacking a lot more than reading.

Nothing about jet skis? Dodgy jewellery and the emerald buddha being shut? Or Has the Junta cleaned that all up then?

How to take a selfie with soldiers?

Has the Philippines gone mad too?

"It also advises against carrying a copy of George Orwells dystopian novel. "1984", pointing out that this could lead to their being mistaken for anticoup protesters."

The Telegraph online recently noted that the book had become a popular symbol of protest following the May coup."

Has it? News to me, but then again it is a quote from the Telegraph. Terrible paper.

I think in the earl days of martial a lone protester was sitting read this when arrested. He was also eating snacks apparently

Yeah, i do remember that one incident now. As I recall he looked like he'd been snacking a lot more than reading.

There was more than the one incident but if it suits you to downplay peoples resistance to the coup, carry on. Oh and by the way it was forbidden to eat sandwiches in a political manner, dangerous subversives that they are.

eating sandwiches in a subversive manner has always been a nefarious act of belligerent defiance....

How about some clear does and don'ts?

1) Do smile a lot, even when the jet ski scammers rip you off.

2) Do pretend that everything corrupt about Thailand came from Thaksin retroactively

3) Do loudly state how much you also love the yellows (even with a convicted leader)

1) Don't talk about succession

2) Don't remark that the military just might harbor a few criminals

3) Don't act like Thailand is supposed to be a sensible place

"It also advises against carrying a copy of George Orwells dystopian novel. "1984", pointing out that this could lead to their being mistaken for anticoup protesters."

The Telegraph online recently noted that the book had become a popular symbol of protest following the May coup."

Has it? News to me, but then again it is a quote from the Telegraph. Terrible paper.

I think in the earl days of martial a lone protester was sitting read this when arrested. He was also eating snacks apparently

Yeah, i do remember that one incident now. As I recall he looked like he'd been snacking a lot more than reading.

There was more than the one incident but if it suits you to downplay peoples resistance to the coup, carry on. Oh and by the way it was forbidden to eat sandwiches in a political manner, dangerous subversives that they are.

You are joking, I hope. If not, it would be better to go home or stay where you are.

"It also advises against carrying a copy of George Orwells dystopian novel. "1984", pointing out that this could lead to their being mistaken for anticoup protesters."

The Telegraph online recently noted that the book had become a popular symbol of protest following the May coup."

Has it? News to me, but then again it is a quote from the Telegraph. Terrible paper.

I think in the earl days of martial a lone protester was sitting read this when arrested. He was also eating snacks apparently

Yeah, i do remember that one incident now. As I recall he looked like he'd been snacking a lot more than reading.

There was more than the one incident but if it suits you to downplay peoples resistance to the coup, carry on. Oh and by the way it was forbidden to eat sandwiches in a political manner, dangerous subversives that they are.

Never said was only one incident only I don't recall them. Resistance? Well if you call posing for the cameras resistance then guess it was.. I don't recall it being much of a movement, up there with the sad hunger games salute fad for me. Nor do i recall hearing that people were not allowed to carry the book around, that being my original point.

As for eating sandwiches, not sure what you are saying there. Yes I was cruel about the 1 person I recall being very briefly detained, but he did look like he had worked hard on the eating aspect of his protest.

How to take a selfie with soldiers?

Has the Philippines gone mad too?

Pinoys have never been known for being the sharpest knives in the drawer...

And don't pick mushrooms in the forest.

This a subtle article, designed to ever so gently, to steer tourists away from Thailand.

Slow news day?

"It also advises against carrying a copy of George Orwells dystopian novel. "1984", pointing out that this could lead to their being mistaken for anticoup protesters."

The Telegraph online recently noted that the book had become a popular symbol of protest following the May coup."

Has it? News to me, but then again it is a quote from the Telegraph. Terrible paper.

I think in the earl days of martial a lone protester was sitting read this when arrested. He was also eating snacks apparently

Yeah, i do remember that one incident now. As I recall he looked like he'd been snacking a lot more than reading.

There was more than the one incident but if it suits you to downplay peoples resistance to the coup, carry on. Oh and by the way it was forbidden to eat sandwiches in a political manner, dangerous subversives that they are.

And your comment is not downplaying ? Did you see the 'protestor' thugs attacking the soldiers at Victory Monument, vandalizing the vehicles, throwing things at the soldiers ? The particular incident in question with the book reading, sandwich eating butterball was purely a publicity stunt with dozens of reporters in tow to make sure it was seen. They deserved to be arrested for gross stupidity !

Edited August 8, 201411 yr by tingtongteesood

Yeah, i do remember that one incident now. As I recall he looked like he'd been snacking a lot more than reading.

There was more than the one incident but if it suits you to downplay peoples resistance to the coup, carry on. Oh and by the way it was forbidden to eat sandwiches in a political manner, dangerous subversives that they are.

And your comment is not downplaying ? Did you see the 'protestor' thugs attacking the soldiers at Victory Monument, vandalizing the vehicles, throwing things at the soldiers ? The particular incident in question with the book reading, sandwich eating butterball was purely a publicity stunt with dozens of reporters in tow to make sure it was seen. They deserved to be arrested for gross stupidity !

My comment was the very opposite of downplaying - if you can't even see that it's pointless discussing any further. "Deserve to be arrested" - What a telling comment.

How to take a selfie with soldiers?

Has the Philippines gone mad too?

They've been slightly mad for quite some time, but as the Filipinos say: "After 300 years in a monastery (Spanish colony) and 50 years in Hollywood (American colony) what do you expect?"

it certainly wouldn't do any harm if a few Thai people read it though.

It also advises against carrying a copy of George Orwell’s dystopian novel. "1984", pointing out that this could lead to their being mistaken for anticoup protesters.

yea, right, ask your average thai;

what is 1984 about?

who wrote it?

have you read it?

and i guess the answers will be:

eh?

what?

why you so serious?!

Serious heh heh - we were headed to the airport, in a few days following the 'planned' farmer blockade.

in the meantime, I scared the missus multitudes by uttering loudly boorish "babababoor" - "babababoor" everytime I saw Suthep on the tele.

I didn't care if it was in a bar, 7-11, or in a shop or wherever - it just drawled out automatically - with a smile though

But I did add a baboon scatching the top of his head motion too... just for effect

Edited September 4, 201411 yr by tifino

"It also advises against carrying a copy of George Orwells dystopian novel. "1984", pointing out that this could lead to their being mistaken for anticoup protesters."

The Telegraph online recently noted that the book had become a popular symbol of protest following the May coup."

Has it? News to me, but then again it is a quote from the Telegraph. Terrible paper.

"It has effectively banned criticism by the media and arrested pro-democracy protesters for such innocuous acts as reading books in public that are critical of totalitarian regimes, such as George Orwell's "1984"." http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/07/04/thailand-politics-idUSL4N0PE17F20140704

"Since then, the army has moved to silence critics. Those protesting military intervention have gathered in flash mobs in shopping malls and staged silent readings of George Orwell's "1984" novel, but numbers have dwindled in recent days." http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/06/11/us-thailand-politics-movie-idUSKBN0EM13R20140611

"The junta has banned meetings of more than five people and at the weekend flooded Bangkok with thousands of troops and policemen. Opposition to the coup has been limited to small flash mob protests, and they have for the most part been peaceful.

Some protesters have expressed defiance through the use of a three-fingered salute inspired by the hit film "The Hunger Games", where the gesture symbolized rebellion against a totalitarian regime.

Others Bangkok protesters have sat in groups of less than five reading books about civil disobedience or that criticize authoritarian government, such as George Orwell's "1984"." http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/06/05/us-thailand-politics-resistance-idUSKBN0EG10820140605

"Police in Thailand arrested eight people Sunday for demonstrating against the nation's increasingly repressive military junta, including a man who was dragged away by undercover officers for reading a copy of George Orwell's "Nineteen Eighty-Four" outside one of Bangkok's most luxurious shopping malls." http://news.yahoo.com/thai-police-detain-8-anti-coup-protesters-132400465.html