Closing Suvanabhumi Airport b/c of PAD

[Loburt]

morals? like respect of rules, law, order, public safety, consideration for others?

it would be nice if the government had those qualities too.

justification for what is happening right now Loburt?

c'mon mate, what is happening now is not acceptable, and where does it end? the resignation of the present PM? I somehow think not - they want the full gambit, and if the only way they can get it is violence and disruption, they will go for it.

Mr Abhisit being very quiet......maybe keeping a low head and counting how much cash he has to whip up a few more protests and gunshots.....alledgedly!??!?!?!?

i didn't say the PAD was justified in what it is doing.

what i said is that both sides have done much to contribute to this situation reaching this point.

and the government's lack of respect for the rule of law, basic morals and public safety is part of that.

[AYJeezy]

I've skimmed most of the posts, great responses from some people. For me, having studied Political Science in the New Old World, I think that Thai people will suffer, no matter which side wins. The PAD are showing that their not-so 'civil disobedience' can pay some dividends if they win. If the UDD stay entrenched, sure enough the same old dog and pony show will be seen. The real loss, however, comes to the people who think that any one of these sides can demonstrate a 'real' form of governance. If either side cared for the country, they wouldn't take away the biggest resource that this country has; it's tourism draw. I honestly think that Thai people (every socio-economic level) need to realize that this ongoing circus is going to hurt them in the long run. The ground is being set for some (insert adjective here: facist, religious, power-hungry, Stalinist, Titoist, etc) zealot will rise to power and the same old skit happens. Half of me thinks the UDD is letting the PAD continually do these things to show people the 'evil' that they are capable of, while the PAD wants people to see the 'evil' that the UDD has caused in the past and will continue to wreak in the future. The end game situation is a lose-lose for Thai people and those living in Thailand.

[MisterMatlock]

everyone can have a opinion in a democratic society, i know many high level people in the army and they support pad as do most educated people

What "high level people in the army" do you know? What percentage of "educated people" support the PAD? What constitutes an "educated person"? I know "educated thai people" who can't STAND the PAD... Unless you're willing to throw a few names in the discussion, don't bother with these kinds of posts. "Everyone can have an opinion in a democratic society"????? Everyone except people who don't support the PAD (according to their rhetoric.) So what are you saying? Are you saying that poor, uneducated people do NOT have a say in a "democratic society"? Are you saying that the "high level" people in the army and the Thai "academics" should be the ones who decide what happen in this country? Maybe you could clarify some of your "opinions"...

[MisterMatlock]

morals? like respect of rules, law, order, public safety, consideration for others?

it would be nice if the government had those qualities too.

justification for what is happening right now Loburt?

c'mon mate, what is happening now is not acceptable, and where does it end? the resignation of the present PM? I somehow think not - they want the full gambit, and if the only way they can get it is violence and disruption, they will go for it.

Mr Abhisit being very quiet......maybe keeping a low head and counting how much cash he has to whip up a few more protests and gunshots.....alledgedly!??!?!?!?

i didn't say the PAD was justified in what it is doing.

what i said is that both sides have done much to contribute to this situation reaching this point.

and the government's lack of respect for the rule of law, basic morals and public safety is part of that.

I totally agree with Loburt on this point. What Thailand NEEDS is a government that at least has SOME consideration for the wants/needs of the general public. BOTH sides of this conflict are being controlled by puppet-masters who are out SOLELY for their own financial gain and political power. Seems that being elected to government here is a license to steal. And it's sad.

[BJ]

When do any of these people use morals?they are holding not only their own people at bay,but Internationals.

If the Government can't or don't have enough guts and power to remedy it,they should call for Military Rule for a while.

Surely if they gave the power to the military they could,would clear the streets.

[MisterMatlock]

well we canot all have the wisdom as you, you are typical of someone who thinks he is the only peron who is right about things, i know many people from the old thai rak thai and army when i did work with the red berets no one is right but sometimes you need to do what is wrong,

I don't think anybody cares who you know OR where you worked... Why not share some concrete reasons for what you said? Try answering some of the questions I posed from your last post... I'd be VERY interested in reading your responses. If you want to take a position in a forum like this, go right ahead. But be prepared for someone to ask you about your views. I never claimed to have "wisdom beyond other people". I merely asked you to clarify/justify your remarks.

[Norfolkinchance]

everyone can have a opinion in a democratic society, i know many high level people in the army and they support pad as do most educated people

would that be a democratic society that doesn't respect a democratic election result?

i would have thought, as an American, you would realise how difficult it can be to stand by democratic election decisions - you just had the stupidist person on the planet, surrounded by other idiots as advisors but as your country elected him in democratically (twice for some strange reason) you kept with him for the full term - didn't camp outside the whitehouse or start shooting people and letting off bombs, closing sea ports and airports (crippling the economy - not sure most educated people would agree with measures that risk toppling foreign investment, exchange rates, Thai bourse, toursim).

Bush's approval rating is now something like 18%, whereas the population of Thailand lays split pretty much 50-50 for and against, which is why this problem is really not so easy to define or solve

[LakeGeneve]

I was booked to fly out this afternoon for a few days but I guess I'll have to wait and see how things are tomorrow.

Annoying, yes. Will I lose money, yes. Do I think the sky is falling in, No.

A very good question was asked earlier regarding how it is that the security authorities do not have the ability to secure key sites in Bangkok when notice is given regarding a 'final battle'. One would think that with informants in the PAD crowd ,and given how long it takes to get around BKK with 20 000 people, that the police would have been able to have some idea what was going to unfold at the airport. If they had a contingency plan it would have not been too difficult to intervene. Your talking about a small group up against the States unlimited resources.

Though it is perhaps reckless and desperate of the PAD to target the airport it is a very discerning move by the leaders. It has certainly made a major splash of publicity to infuse renewed pressure on the govt. If your aims are to up the ante and increased pressure on the gov then I would have thought it was a pretty smart move. However, if Somchai lands in CM and declares a state of emergency later today then there will be little point in maintaining the airport blockade.

At least nno airport trolleys will be stolen during the blockade!

The Thai economy is not going to fall apart because the airport is closed for a few days or because jittery tourists change or defer travel plans due to misplaced fears of insecurity in thailand. The fundamentals were already in place with the coming cycle of downturn. Tourism numbers were, and will go, down because of the bigger global picture

I trust that there is a similar level of outrage amongst most members loss of a million thai jobs in the manufacturing industry in the coming months, the violence in the south by both seperatists and state security forces, and the fact that this govt is pursuing economic policies to fleece the state whilst cycnically engaging in undemocratic means to survive.

And Loburt is completely on the money when he says that there are thugs everywhere in this society. So if your not there and you read that a gun was discharged then consider the following as a start;

1) thug PAD security guard,

2) govt agent provocateur,

3) police member,

4) military member,

5) DAAD thug,

6) in situ security guard scared shitless,

7) taxi driver,

8) motorbike taxi driver,

9) the guy down the soi who watched war movies too many times,

Images of alleged PAD and DAAD members attacking each other should not be seen as either unique or isolated. Such politically motivated violence does occur more regularly than most of us think. And unfortunately it has done so for many years.

Oh and don't expect a thorough or professional criminal investigation into anything.

[frankenburner2]

well we canot all have the wisdom as you, you are typical of someone who thinks he is the only peron who is right about things, i know many people from the old thai rak thai and army when i did work with the red berets no one is right but sometimes you need to do what is wrong,

Agree with MM who is actually offering an opinion.

And by the way...it is generally accepted that if you are going to attempt to enhance your position by dropping names, that you actually drop a name. Nevertheless, name dropping doesn't necessarily mean your opinion will carry any weight anyway. I shook hands with Nicholas Cage on set of Bangkok Dangerous a few years ago....doesn't mean I'll be nominated for an Oscar anytime soon.

[LakeGeneve]

I totally agree with Loburt on this point. What Thailand NEEDS is a government that at least has SOME consideration for the wants/needs of the general public. BOTH sides of this conflict are being controlled by puppet-masters who are out SOLELY for their own financial gain and political power. Seems that being elected to government here is a license to steal. And it's sad.

Truer words were never said.

However, if Somchai lands in CM and declares a state of emergency later today then there will be little point in maintaining the airport blockade.

Just saw this breaking news on The Nation;

The spokesman of the People's Alliance for Democracy announced Wednesday that the protesters would occupy and shut down the Suvanarbhumi International Airport until Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat resigns.

As Somchai is going to hang on at all costs, it seems that this tactic will only lead to the troops being sent in. Sigh....

[sunsnow]

Sad that PAD was allowed to occuby the airport, They gave the warnings about doing so on Monday and still the government was ***** not to move in to block them from doing so.

Or well, maybe they are pretty wise. Pad wants to die, they need to die. They need to invoke the coup by military, that is the only way.

Because government has in way maybe played this game perfectly. They have the resources also to play this game forever. In pure thai way this is face saving standoff game that the government is playing. As long as they don't do what in any other country would have been done and move to disperse the growds, then screw economy or what non-Thais think of them, all that matters is to save their own faces inside Thailand.

So yea, I understand why government is not using normal measures to disperse them. And no, I dont understand why they are not using normal measures to disperse them.

[GM]

Has any member of the royal family (the King or any of his representatives) come out and made a formal statement on this?

[sunsnow]

No.

But queen has attended PAD member funerals.

[Norfolkinchance]

there is a conspiracy theory as to why no Royal has actually come out and said anything, but if you were to mention it even in passing, you would probably end up getting deported!

as for the idiots shooting guns last night near don muang - one guy behind them holding a portrait of the King above his headd, seemingly as a claim of Royal support/endorsement?!?!?! Come on!!!?? Surely that kind of thing has to be shot down, or gives credence to other idiots perhaps?

[MisterMatlock]

there is a conspiracy theory as to why no Royal has actually come out and said anything, but if you were to mention it even in passing, you would probably end up getting deported!

as for the idiots shooting guns last night near don muang - one guy behind them holding a portrait of the King above his headd, seemingly as a claim of Royal support/endorsement?!?!?! Come on!!!?? Surely that kind of thing has to be shot down, or gives credence to other idiots perhaps?

Well, we're safe from that now since the frigging airport is closed for business.

[AAAum]

i have no idea why PAD doing that.... they asked to go to the control tower.... just for the fight plan?!!!!!!!!!???

come on... flight plan doesnt contain "Somchai's seat number".... !!!!!!!!!

**sigh**

it's such a MESS!!!

[Dr_Sassy]

there is a conspiracy theory as to why no Royal has actually come out and said anything, but if you were to mention it even in passing, you would probably end up getting deported!

Well, we're safe from that now since the frigging airport is closed for business.

LOL makes sense

[MisterMatlock]

there is a conspiracy theory as to why no Royal has actually come out and said anything, but if you were to mention it even in passing, you would probably end up getting deported!

Well, we're safe from that now since the frigging airport is closed for business.

LOL makes sense

More sad than funny I'm afraid...

[bigcatbus]

i have no idea why PAD doing that.... they asked to go to the control tower.... just for the fight plan?!!!!!!!!!???

come on... flight plan doesnt contain "Somchai's seat number".... !!!!!!!!!

**sigh**

it's such a MESS!!!

I remember some time ago one illegal immigrant passed all security guards easily and this was be a big scandal in the Suv airport authority.

But now situation is so nice... Just try to imagine what will be in this situation in my country... Airports is a military objects all over the world.

[sunsnow]

bigcatbus is correct. You can't get around the fact that Thai airports are extremely vunerable it seems. Airports ARE military targets, and they should be protected as such from terrorists, foregin forces and from any rioters (that might be good cover for terrorists to hide in growds to do their own evil deeds).

[AAAum]

now PAD moving to the head office.... Area Control Service.......

once again!!!! what's the point?????

errr... what's the "RATIONAL" point...i mean...

:x

[bigcatbus]

In the end, all that will be left is domestic manufacturing, farming and tourism.

No tourism to be correct. No one will have a "dream vacation" with danger to life and ruined plans.

[Jay7]

"Dear everyone, I was planning to fly back home today to face trial, but alas, the airport was closed. See you another time. Love, TS."

[sunsnow]

http://www.matichon.co.th/mtc-flv-window.php?newsid=1227612022

You can see how much they do good for the royal image. Mmm, true royalist at action. These guys should be charged with lese majeste, not some dude who self-published a book 3 years ago, sent a copy to Thai authorities to be accepted and sold 7 copies and is now waiting for trial. If he is not sentenced before the 6th of December, who knows how long he will end up sitting in jail. For what? For potentially offending (?) royal family when these nuts are out there waving kings pics and shooting people. mmm, tasty crap, hot steaming and idiotic pile of bs

(Yea, I know, this type of behavior is typical to any group on streets. What ever the cause from better childcare to anti-globalization, all groups tend to unfortunatly gather also more or less of these anarchists who are there to cause havoc of their own pleasure)

[bigcatbus]

now PAD moving to the head office.... Area Control Service.......

once again!!!! what's the point?????

errr... what's the "RATIONAL" point...i mean...

:x

For example, to control flights. To give incorrect instructions to airplanes, which will lead to crash.