Mayhem in Bangkok as protesters & police exchange fire. Airport closed

[Asi-Irish]

As a former long term resident of Thailand, I think this is a very sad state of affairs. The sooner this is sorted out, the better.

There must be some happy medium between a bandit government and a conservative, Royalist revolution.


Thousands of anti-government protesters partially shut down Bangkok International airport Tuesday.

All departing flights were canceled after the protesters broke into the passenger terminal, Serirat Prasutanond, the director of Suvarnabhumi airport, said. There are also demonstrators sitting on the road in front of the terminal, video of the protest showed.

Full story and video at link below:
Protesters force partial closure of Bangkok airport - CNN.com

[Asi-Irish]

At least four rounds of bomb attacks rocked Bangkok early Wednesday, injuring at least 12 people.

The number of explosions and injuries was still confusing at press time.

Three explosions were heard outside the outbound passenger terminal of the Suvarnabhumi International Airport at 4:30 am.
4 bomb attacks rock Bangkok - Nationmultimedia.com

[Joeyjoejoe]

The protestors are demanding an end to one person, one vote, they are completly anti-democratic and should be opposed.

BBC NEWS | World | Asia-Pacific | Q&A: Bangkok protests

[Truth.ie]

Saw some pretty vicious images on these protests, including one attempt to cut some poor guys throat. All the violence I saw came from people in yellow attire, who I now know to be anti Govt and pro Royalist. I would never support any campaign thats pro monarchy, particularly an impoverished country like Thailand. The mind boggles at humanity sometimes.

[coc]

A short while back The Economist dubbed the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) the Protestors Against Democracy, which I thought was pretty funny.

[Asi-Irish]

Well. It isn't as simple as it seems. The ruling party should be disbanded. They've been convicted of vote buying. They've rigged elections. They are up to their necks in corruption and are worse than the anti-government protesters.

Trust me. I know what I'm talking about. I've been to one of the protests and I know some of the people involved in the anti-government movement.

The problem is, they're appealing to the deep respect and indeed reverence that the Thai people have for the king to boost their appeal.

The thugs on the pro government side are far worse, and they have actually killed innocent protesters.

The current regime is made up of a bunch of crooks and murderers, controlled from overseas by Thaksin Shinawat who has been sentenced to 2 years in prison, and in my opinion should be sentenced to life in prison for the thousands of murders his regime committed in their "war on drugs" and the atrocities against the Muslims in the South.

[Centurian]

The current regime is made up of a bunch of crooks and murderers, controlled from overseas by Thaksin Shinawat who has been sentenced to 2 years in prison, and in my opinion should be sentenced to life in prison for the thousands of murders his regime committed in their "war on drugs" and the atrocities against the Muslims in the South.

I don't agree with that - I'm no supporter of Thaksin who has been rightly sentenced for corruption, but his war on drugs and enforcement of government control agains Muslim seperatists in the South were fully justified. Calling that "murder" is a bit rich.

Pathetic to see some resident foreigners wearing those yellot T-shirts - in sympaty with their "bar girl" (prostitute) "girlfriends" no doubt ....

[Asi-Irish]

I don't agree with that - I'm no supporter of Thaksin who has been rightly sentenced for corruption, but his war on drugs and enforcement of government control agains Muslim seperatists in the South were fully justified. Calling that "murder" is a bit rich.

Pathetic to see some resident foreigners wearing those yellot T-shirts - in sympaty with their "bar girl" (prostitute) "girlfriends" no doubt ....

You obviously have no clue what you're talking about...

And by the way, I went out with a Thai girl for 5 years. She was a well educated, decent woman, but no doubt you'd have labeled her a prostitute for being with a white man.

Watch the video below and tell me this wasn't murder.

I was in Thailand throughout the war on drugs. A hell of a lot of innocent men, women and children were killed during that reign of terror. The police were settling scores, putting their boots on the faces of decent people and planting drugs on people, then killing them for the share of the assets they were promised by Thaksin.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fk_ZEuE-70M]YouTube - Tak Bai Massacre (Part 1)[/ame]

[Asi-Irish]

And some snippets from the Thai press:

Time bomb - translated and summarized from Krungthep Thurakit; Author: Pracha Burapavithee; November 21, 2008
A weapon called M79 grenade launcher is now not being used, but anyone who has money can buy it at the Thai-Cambodian border. During the cold war ear, the US army produced the M79 grenade launcher for the war against Vietnam. On the past Tuesday, the weapon was used in the city war.

The explosion led to a death of a member of the People's Alliance for Democracy. Two were seriously injured and 21 other people were injured. We have to go on investigating to find out who runs this mission.

The M79 grenade launcher is not difficult to use. But what is the real question is how the police let such an incident happen. However, the bombing has intensified people’s hatred against the nominee government.

The PAD leaders agree to mobilize the mass action again at the Government House on November 23 from 2 pm onwards. The move aims to oppose the amendment of the constitution and stop the nominee government in every way.
It will be able to create a great pressure on the military led by Gen. Anupong Paojinda. Previously, his role was "above" the conflict.

Don’t risk the country - translated and summarized from Krungthep Thurakit; Column: Editorial; November 23, 2008
The People Alliance for Democracy’s announce to gather and surround the Parliament again on November 23 makes people anxious. They fear that the situation will be like October 7. It seems like the gathering will last longer than the previous one. It means that political turmoil could widen. Moreover, an unexpected situation could happen.

However, the gathering of the PAD is not as scary as the fight by its opponents. Several bombings against the PAD members could lead to a more violent situation. In addition, all the counterattacks by the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship and Thaksin’s phone-in make Thai people worried.

People are getting more scared day by day as they no longer know what the country is facing. We are now facing disharmony of thoughts and the global financial crisis, which is bigger than the previous one. The crisis starts at the center of the world, so it will create a bigger impact. To cope with these crises, the government and people should be conscious and rational. At this time, we are risking the country, which means all Thai people.

And the latest, just in...
Activist shot as Thailand rejects army call to go

[Centurian]

You obviously have no clue what you're talking about...

I do you know..... I spent 10 years working in Bangkok from 1993 to 2003 - I've forgotten more about Thailand than you'll ever know. Phoot Thai dai mai ?