Don't get involved

Below is a piece from Pattaya daily News, these two are going to be in a world of shit. It's ok for foreigners to moan, but to actually get involved is a big no no! Chances are they are going to be get up close and personal with the Thai justice system and prison pretty soon

"Aussie & Brit Red Shirts Jailed in Bangkok Crackdown

An Irish-Australian man being held captive in a Thai prison has claimed, in an interview with the Australian media organisation the ABC, that he was merely a peace broker between the Thai military and anti-government protesters and that he was being detained on only minor charges. In addition a British man has been detained on terrorism related charges, accused of inciting a group of Red Shirt protesters in last Wednesday nights destructive end to the 2-month long occupation of Bangkok.

Bangkok, the 25th of May 2010 [PDN]: Ex-soldier Conor David Purcell [30] was arrested in Bangkok by police on Sunday, following a roundup of suspects involved in last weeks violence that left more than 50 dead and hundreds injured.

Speaking to the Australian media organisation the ABC, Purcell stated that he was merely a liaison between the military and anti-government protesters during the violent confrontations. He claims that he was the only one prepared to perform such a duty as rubber bullets and homemade missiles were being exchanged between the two groups.

Although he has maintained that he is only facing a charge for breaking the government imposed curfew, Australian officials and several Thai national newspapers suggest he will also face charges for inciting violence as well as various immigration offences.

Amidst the confusion are Purcells claims that he served in the Australian Defence Force, with reports ranging from him having trained as a sniper for a period of seven years to suggestions that he was merely a former soldier in the army reserves.

Youtube videos have now begun to surface of Purcell on the Red Shirt stage condemning the Thai military for shooting upon Red Shirt protesters. “I would like to ask the Thai soldiers do you come from Thai mothers? Do you have Thai sisters? I saw you shoot into Thai mothers, Thai sisters, Thai uncles.”

During his interview with the ABC Mr. Purcell claimed, “Last Saturday night I was tear-gassed and shot twice in the dark. It is against military regulations to fire into a crowd when it is dark,” he said in the video. They dropped tear gas on a crowd that contained women, some children, monks, journalists, reporters, businessmen.”

Another foreigner also embroiled in the aftermath of the, near 9-week long, protest in Bangkok is Brit Jeff Savage [49]. Savage was arrested in Pattaya by Royal Thai Police officers for allegedly inciting Red Shirt protesters to burn down the Central World shopping center in Bangkok, claims which he has strenuously denied.

Once again a Youtube video has appeared with Mr. Savage in a rage stating; “We are going to smash the Central Plaza mall to s**t and burn it down.” When asked about his involvement in the subsequent burning of South East Asia’s second biggest shopping center he stated; “I wasn’t there when it burned down but if I was I would have helped the b*****ds.”"

They are so in hot shit......

Sunny weekend

This past weekend as been great, the weather was unseasonably hot and on Sunday we took full advantage of this and went to see my Mum up at her caravan.
Elizabeth loves going up there because she can play on the beach all day, we spent a good chunk of time on the beach.
I hope this weather continues......


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Living in a curfew

Bangkok and other regions on Thailand are still experiencing curfews from 6pm - 5am. This means Thai's will be struggling with eating. It's not uncommon for most Thai Families to buy their evening meals from street vendors, it is a cheap way to feed a family. Trouble is that the curfew as made this difficult and shops and fresh markets are finding it hard to get new stock in on the shelves.

Things will hopefully return to something like normal by Sunday, and people will be able to eat more than packet noodles....


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On & On & On

I wish there was something else to write about than the problems that Thailand is experiencing.

Sadly because i'm married to nuch, she is very concerned as you would expect. Overnight there as been widespread looting and burning. A certain Shopping Number 1 complex in Pratunam as been burnt to the ground, all the staff will now loose their job and the business will probably go under.

.

It is a shopping centre that I know very well and know alot of people who worked there, I hope they are all ok and wish them the best for the future.

In the rest of Thailand, despite a curfew being in place several north eastern cities were victims to red shirt reprisals. In Udon a town hall was burnt to the ground and dozens of Bangkok Bank branches have been attacked including the nearest to where our house is in Patum Thani!

A thought must also be spared for the guys in Pattaya who visit Sin City for a good time, the curfew is in full effect throughout the city and all the night life as been closed down. I hope the Hotels have a well stocked cellar!!!!!

Full Shit hits the Fan

Thailand's problems struck a new low today!

The army moved in to clear the red Shirt camp in the middle of Bangkok. The Red shirt leadership seeing that the game was up appealed to its supporters to go home and live to fight another day.

Sadly about a 1000 hardcore red shirts went on a destruction spree, they burnt goverment building, shopping malls, looted shops and ATM's. This also caused the army to open full live fire zone's through out Bangkok. Up to now through the last five days to nearly 50 with hundreds wounded. it must be said that the deaths and injuries are civilian and a direct action of the live fire zones.

One well known shopping arcade is Central World Plaza as been set alight and is said to be in danger of falling down.

Come on Thailand, get yourselves together, or this will turn into a civil war, were there will be no winner, only a case of who lost the most....

Ram till I die

On a lighter note, I have just bought Elizabeth her first football top. Of course its a Derby County strip!!

Next season I will take her to some home games.

Live Fire in Bangkok

This weekend parts of Bangkok have been declared a live fire zone. This means that any person in the area is a target and subject to being shot.

In other news:

Guests at Dusit Thani forced to hide in basement

Over 30 killed and 200 injured in 3 days

No negotiations

Trouble in North East Thailand

Soldiers killing other Thai's

Rioting spreads to several new parts of Bangkok

US Embassy evacuates its staff

Thai PM shows no remorse

This is not the Thailand I know or want to know. I hope things get better soon, but I doubt it.

Anarchy in Bangkok

Below is what appears on The UK Foreign Office website


"Safety and security

Terrorism/Security


There is a high threat from terrorism throughout Thailand. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. You should exercise caution at all times.

We advise against all but essential travel to Bangkok, in light of ongoing political demonstrations, many of which have resulted in violence. This advice does not apply to passengers transiting Bangkok airport on their way to other destinations.

Anti-government ("Red Shirt") protestors have been holding large gatherings throughout Thailand since 12 March. There have been counter-demonstrations by opposing groups of "Yellow Shirts" and other so-called "multi-coloured shirt" protestors.

On 4 May, the Government tabled proposals designed to put an end to the stand-off, but withdrew there offer on 13 May following unsuccessful negotiations with the protestors.

The Thai Government declared a State of Emergency in Bangkok and some of its surrounding provinces (Nonthaburi and some districts in Samut Prakan, Prathumthani, Ayuttaya and Nakon Pratom) from 7 April. On 13 May, in an attempt to stop more Red Shirt demonstrators from joining the protests in Bangkok, the State of Emergency was extended to the provinces of Chonburi, Samut Prakan, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Ayutthaya, Khon Kaen, Udon Thani, Chaiyaphum, Nakhon Ratchasima, Si Sa Ket, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Nan, Lampang and Nakhon Sawan. This prohibits gatherings of five or more people in some areas and restricts movement. In addition the Thai government has invoked the Internal Security Act from 11 March and further security measures have been implemented to manage the protests. These measures include traffic checkpoints and searches of vehicles and/or people. By law, tourists are expected to carry their passports with them at all times in Thailand.

A large number of protestors are currently based at the Ratchaprasong Intersection in Bangkok. On 4 April, the government declared the intersection in Bangkok’s main shopping district and surrounding area a controlled area under the Internal Security Act and ordered protestors to leave. As yet, the protestors have not complied with the order.

Protestors have also set up barricades and check-points on many roads connecting to the Ratchaprasong Intersection and armed themselves with home-made weapons to prevent security forces from entering the area. They may also have access to other weapons such as grenades. In response to the Red Shirt defences, military troops and anti-riot police armed with live ammunition have taken up position in the nearby Silom area.

The Government has set up road blocks and checkpoints around the perimeter of the Red Shirt demonstration site at Ratchaprasong and are restricting access.

Pro-Government protesters have been gathering at the Victory Monument in central Bangkok.

Tensions remain high and several demonstrations in Bangkok have turned violent. On 13 May clashes between security forces and demonstrators near Lumpini Park in Bangkok left one person dead and several injured. On 10 April 25 people died and several hundred were injured after violent clashes between security forces and demonstrators.

On 9 May, a small improvised explosive device exploded on soi 6 Siam Square (near the Siam BTS station), no one was injured. On 7 May, a policeman was killed and five injured after a shooting outside the Krung Thai Bank on Silom Road, this was followed by a grenade attack in the early hours of 8 May: three grenades were fired into a police shelter near gate 4 of Lumpini Park, killing one policeman and injuring eight.

On 28 April there were serious clashes between troops and anti-government protestors as they travelled towards a rally site in Talad Thai in Pathumthani province (close to Bangkok’s second airport, Don Muang). One soldier was killed and at least 10 other people were injured. In the early hours of 28 April, there was an explosion at Bangkok Bank, Talingchan Branch (Bangkok). There were no injuries caused. A grenade attack against the military also took place on Henry Dunant Road (Bangkok).

In the early hours of 27 April, substantial numbers of troops deployed in Central Bangkok. On 26/27 April there were at least eight incidents in various parts of Thailand involving protestors setting up barricades, in some instances leading to clashes with security forces.

On 22 April, five grenades were fired from M-79 launchers at the skytrain (BTS) station at Sala Daeng and nearby areas, killing at least one person and injuring 75 others, including three foreign nationals. Tension continues to build in this area, which is patrolled by large numbers of armed troops. The Skytrain and the MRT (underground metro) are subject to disruption. Passengers should check local information before travelling.

On 18 March 2010, Molotov cocktails were thrown at the Second Cavalry Division in Bangkok’s Sanam Pao district, and grenades were fired at the Defence Ministry and the National Anti-Corruption Commission. No-one was hurt. On 15 March 2010, grenades were thrown into the First Infantry Regiment's Vipavadee Rangsit Road Barracks, injuring two soldiers. On 12 March 2010, three bombs exploded in the southern province of Surat Thani. No one was injured. Following the Supreme Court’s verdict to seize over half of ex-PM Thaksin’s frozen assets, there were two bomb explosions during the night of 27 February in front of Bangkok Bank Silom (central Bangkok) branch and Prapadaeng branches (outskirts of Bangkok). The Thai police defused an explosive device next to the Supreme Court in central Bangkok on 14 February. A small explosive device detonated near Government House in Bangkok on 13 February".

Not great is it? Corfu sounds loads better this year......

Maybe?

Maybe, just maybe there will be a solution to the political strife in Thailand.

PM Abhisit as drawn up a road map to fresh elections. Basically he will dissolve parliament in september (one of the red shirts main demands) and hold elections in november, the only party not to agree are the yellow shirts.

If the elections do go ahead, then the verdict will probably cause a new set of problems for who ever wins.

Bloody Cats

I'm not sure what is going on round our way? We seem to have a cat problem!
From nowhere about half a dozen cats have appeared. They're shitting every where, digging up gardens, killing birds and sitting on cars.
A day of reckoning is quickly approaching for this cat crew.....



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Reds loose the plot

Thailand has been wracked by political strife for the last couple of months. The anti goverment red shirts against an incubment goverment.
There have been too many deaths, but sympathy as been with the red shirts. This was till yesterday when they raided a Bangkok hospital in search if polce and soldiers. There weren't any and all they did was upset the staff and patients. After they're ordeal the pataints were given a choice of transfering to another hospital, most of the patients chose to transfer.
The red shirts said the hospital did this to make them look bad! I think they did a pretty good job themselves, things have got happen soon. This deadlock us killing Rhailand off.....


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