PAD armed with weapons at Bangkok demo last year. Violence did occur.
Things look set to heat up in Thailand again, with a large anti-Thaksin demonstration in Bangkok just being announced by the PAD (People's Alliance for Democracy). According to Thai TV stations, the PAD are annoyed with the amount of publicity exiled Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is still getting (not in Thailand as Thailand censors its news programs) and want people to know it.
The PAD, if you don't remember, are those delightful people that illegally closed Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok for over a week, stranding more than 300,000 tourists in Thailand and damaging Thailand's tourist industry. Not surprisingly, as Thailand is so corrupt, PAD leaders are still at large and have never been charged as the current PM, Abhisit Vejjajiva, was put in power by them.
With the PAD planning on demonstrating against Thaksin, this is likely to inflame the red shirts, who are supporters of Thaksin Shinawatra. Not likely to help Thailand's already unstable political system, what can you expect from the PAD though? They seem hell bent on destroying Thailand's image, tourist industry and democracy.
Comments
I had wondered about traveling to Thailand. Always wanted to go but it seems so troubled there now.
Good advice. Things sound pretty dicey there at present. Stay safe.
scary for tourists to get in the middle of a demonstration.
I'm staying put in Florida right now.
Just wait if you want to visit Thailand, you could visit by next year then.
I would go.
:)
Third culture kids examiner
Seattle stay-at-home moms examiner
pad love sonthi limtongkun
Thailand's a big place. Last year many tourists were affected by the BK Airport demonstrations, but many others just avoided Bangkok and re-routed their flights directly to Phuket, Samui, Krabi International Airports, continuing their holiday without disruption.
Quote from UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office is "There will be a large gathering of 'red-shirt' members of the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship on Saturday 14 November at the Bonanaza Resort in Khao Yai National Park, Nakhon Ratchasima Province. The event is likely to last all day and into the evening. You are advised to avoid this area if at all possible."
Hopefully the majority of people will understand the warning clearly refers to the demonstration area and NOT the entire country.
Thailand's a big place. Last year many tourists were affected by the BK Airport demonstrations, but many others just avoided Bangkok and re-routed their flights directly to Phuket, Samui, Krabi International Airports, continuing their holiday without disruption.
Quote from UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office is "There will be a large gathering of 'red-shirt' members of the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship on Saturday 14 November at the Bonanaza Resort in Khao Yai National Park, Nakhon Ratchasima Province. The event is likely to last all day and into the evening. You are advised to avoid this area if at all possible."
Hopefully the majority of people will understand the warning clearly refers to the demonstration area and NOT the entire country.
P.A.D. Very bad
Stay away from politic, and crazy demonstration all over the places in Thailand. Avoid red shirt, yellow shirt, blue shirt. These colors can cause you in trouble.
Get out of Bangkok as soon as you can. Go to Chieng Mai, Korat, etc.
Don't walk alone in the dark area at night. Beware of dirty wet restroom.
Hope for the Thai government not to let the demonstrators close down the new BKK International Airport again. That's a shame for Thailand, not too safe for tourists.
Nice country, nice local people, but bad social structure.
"Beware of dirty restrooms" - LOL, Joe the Thai Guy :-)
I lived in Thailand during the coup. was at my apartment in Bangkok when it happened. It was a big non event. Stay away from demonstrations and enjoy Thailand. I'd go back in a minute.
One glaring error, the majority do not support Thaksin, nor do the majority want him back. The past two elections proved that beyond any doubt. He was clearly in the minority, but due to coalitions, he was able to get in. Hardly a majority when you're a minority.
To Atom, are you yet another Thai trying to rewrite history? In the 2005 election, Thaksin won with a landslide victory with over 370 seats out of 500 possible. I'd say that's an enormous majority wouldn't you?
Makes me laugh how Thais often try to rewrite history to say why Thaksin should have been illegally kicked out of office. No matter what they say, Thaksin was illegally overthrown by a military coup and practically everyone outside Thailand knows it. Regardless of whether he was corrupt or not, he should have been charged and arrested and not kicked out by the military. That's not a democracy, it's a dictatorship. Poor Thailand :(
And Thaksin's problems started after he sold Shin Corp, and the PAD (that lovely group that seems to be now hell bent on destroying Thailand) demonstrated against him. Most of the present problems Thailand has can be traced back to the PAD, who should have followed legal ways instead of taking the law into their own hands.
Mark my words, if allowed to continue unchecked the PAD will destroy Thailand's economy, and they you all will be begging for Thaksin to come back.
PAD = BAD
I agree with Cassandra James - Asia Travel Examiner.
More than that, I think Mr.Thaksin was the best Thai Prime Minister. I can see how bad the government now running the country. It is so frustrated when I have to dealing with slow Thai red tape. They just sit down all day long, and not doing their jobs at all. Unless, you give them money under the table.
With this present government, everything in Thailand is going down the toilet.
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