As the most traumatic week in Thailand’s recent history draws to a close, a number of videos are beginning to circulate, which show some perspectives that international press ignored during the months building up to Wednesday’s crackdown and clearing of the Red Shirt encampments in the centre of the city. These videos, especially the first [...]
Bangkok 19 May 2010 – Thai Army and Police, supported by Armoured Combat Vehicles (ACVs) and Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), plus water cannon military vehicles, moved from several directions overnight to assault the barricades and bunkers built around the perimeter of the anti-government Red Shirt protestors’ encampment covering almost four square miles of central Bangkok. [...]
6 May 2010 – the British Embassy have today lowered their warning related to “the whole of Thailand” citing reduction of unrest and violence outside the capital. However, they are upholding their warning to avoid Bangkok other than for the most essential of travel. The update came in an email which included – A summary [...]
Following the assault upon, and cancellation of, the “ASEAN plus dialogue partners” meeting of Heads of State in Pattaya, Thailand last week by the red-shirted followers of ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the Thai government announced, late on Thursday 9th April, that there would be a closure of all government offices on Friday 10th.
This unscheduled holiday preceded and joined with the scheduled Thai traditional New Year (Songkran) holiday occurring from Saturday 11th April to Wednesday 15th April. These dates included closure of all Government and Post Offices within Thailand.
Following the violence and civil unrest that broke out in Bangkok over the Songkran / Easter weekend, instigated by the same red-shirted factions, current Democrat Party Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva instructed, on Tuesday 14 April, that Thursday and Friday 16-17 April would be an extension to the national holiday, in order to give the government time to make central Bangkok safe for people to return to their workplaces.
CHIANG MAI, Thailand, 2 Dec 2008 – It’s a long held truism that in order to win a war, a protagonist must know their enemy as well as, or better than, they know themselves.
Intelligence gathering, and application of the knowledge it yields, has for millennia made the difference between smaller forces winning a battle or campaign, and being overwhelmed and becoming margin notes of history, rather than lauded as heroes.
In the current battle of wills being conducted within Thailand’s capital, between – pro and anti government groups, the government itself, and alleged conflicting loyalties within the military and police forces, one of the key questions of the day remains unanswered – who is bombing the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) protest sites and members? And is it the PAD who have begun retaliating in a like manner against pro-government groups?
CHIANG MAI, Thailand, 27 November 2008 – Tensions escalated this afternoon and evening throughout Thailand as the country fears the civil disorder and protests against the current government may turn into a military coup or open fighting.
The pro-government United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) will call its red-clad supporters to disperse the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) demonstrators at Suvarnabhumi airport, if the government does not take direct action against them, UDD leader and political talk show host Veera Musikhapong said on Thursday.
Suriyasai Katasila, a leading member of the People’s Alliance for Democracy, announced Thursday evening that the PAD-led protesters would fight off police if they are deployed to crack down on the protesters at the Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports.
CHIANG MAI, Thailand, 27 November 2008 – Yesterday, the Thai Army Commander-in-Chief called on incumbent Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat to dissolve Parliament and hold new elections, in a move aimed at dissolving the current civil unrest.
This morning, a former chief advisor of the Thai Supreme Command, General Pathompong Kesornsuk, urged the current Army Commander-in-Chief, General Anupong Paochinda to stage a coup to prevent himself from being sacked by the government.
Late today, the government called a State of Emergency for the zones of all international airports throughout the kingdom. Such a move is the opening gambit for sending in police or military to clear the protestors.
The primary content of this post is taken from a discussion board thread I started on eBid on 3 Jan 2005. I’ve condensed it here and moved all the linked articles and other sites’ forum threads to a table of links at the bottom of the post. I open this blog-post with my closing forum-post [...]
