The Situation In Thailand Grows Worse

 

# 2999

 

 

 

The political situation in Thailand, once a hot zone country for bird flu – but one that has managed over the past 2 years to essentially control the virus – appears to be deteriorating.

 

A state of Emergency has been declared in Bangkok, and army troops are reportedly on the streets.  There are concerns that a coup may be imminent.

 

 

The headlines this morning are ominous.

 

Thai Leader Declares State of Emergency in Bangkok

By JAMES HOOKWAY and WILAWAN WATCHARASAKWET

BANGKOK -- Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva declared a state of emergency in the capital and surrounding areas Sunday as his government tried to restore order after antigovernment protesters stormed the venue of a major regional summit the day before.

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva declared a state of emergency in Bangkok.

 

Bands of antigovernment protesters roamed areas of Bangkok as the emergency decree was announced, with some smashing a car carrying Mr. Abhisit, and others beating up motorists who hurled insults at them. The protesters also commandeered public buses to try to block several major roads.

 

 

Thai PM Abhisit escapes from interior ministry

Sun Apr 12, 2009 9:12am BST

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva managed to escape from the Interior Ministry in Bangkok by car on Sunday after scores of anti-government protesters broke into the grounds, Thai television stations reported.

 

A Reuters reporter said soldiers had made no attempt at first to stop the protesters, supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra who was ousted in a coup in 2006, but later troops fired warning shots into the air.

 

Shortly before, the government had announced a state of emergency in Bangkok.

 

 

My twin brother Jim now lives in Thailand and was at ground zero for the riots yesterday in Pattaya.  He has been blogging steadily about this crisis now for about 72 hours.

 

Jim – also a former paramedic (insanity runs in our family)- has made his living as an entertainer since the early 1980’s, working on nearly all of the major (and some not-so major) cruise lines in the world.

 

Jim’s latest blog addresses the growing coup rumors circulating through Thailand.   I’ll let him take it from here:

 

 

Sunday, April 12, 2009

A Coup is Due?

The focus shifts away from Pattaya to Bangkok following the disruption of the ASEAN Conference here yesterday.

STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARED FOR BANGKOK, 5 OTHER PROVINCES
The government Sunday afternoon announced the state of emergency for Bangkok and some districts in satellite provinces. The government reasoned that protesters had committed violence in the areas so the government had to declare the state of emergency to restore normality in the areas.

The areas include some districts in Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan, Pathum Thani, Nakhon Pathom and Ayutthaya....

Military secure roads around Palace
The military has blocked the roads around Chitralada Palace Sunday afternoon after the declaration of the state of emergency

1,000 police armed with teargas head to Government House
About 1,000 policemen armed with teargases headed to the Government House Sunday afternoon apparently to make preparations for cracking down protesters.

Tanks mobilised in Bangkok
Tanks have been mobilised in parts of Bangkok as part of the government's policy to maintain order under the state of emergency as declared by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Sunday afternoon.

Army spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said the announcement of the state of emergency did not mean that the authority to implement the policy would rest in the hands of the army. He said the military was a part of the effort to enforce the policy, which also included police.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

All is quiet here in Pattaya. Apparently one TV Station is off the air (DTV) showing only a screen saying its broadcast is not available because ThaiCom had to comply with the state of emergency so it has to stop airing DTV.

 

As mentioned previously, you can follow the news live (in English) on the Internet at http://www.thailandoutlook.tv. Hopefully they can stay on the air (they are saying on air they may have evacuate their Broadcast Center at ASTV).

 

While I don't think I will be directly affected by any of this (most Westerners never are), I've stockpiled food, medicine, candles, extra cash and batteries for my SW Radio. I'll blog as long as possible, but if things deteriorate, Internet may go down as well...

 

I pray for Thailand and it's people...

 

Posted by Jim Coston at 2:29 AM 0 comments

 

 

Thanks Jim, and stay safe.  We appreciate your blogging on this crisis. 

 

You can follow Jim’s blogs on Have Banjo, Will Travel and can also find Jim on TWITTER as JCOSTON.