Political un-rest and rally

[Nereus]

A bit more detail on the above incident from the Bangkok Post. Pete

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews ... hit-by-rpg

I would be a bit sceptical about some of this report. One report is saying "petrol", another "oil", when it is probably Jet A-1 Aviation Fuel. Most modern tanks are double wall, and I doubt that anybody could of got close enough to penetrate a tank with an RPG, never mind set it on fire, even if it was a single wall tank.

For the fuel to burn it has to vaporise and be mixed with air, and if there was a hole in a tank the flow of fuel would probably snuff any fire out almost immediately. The fuel also has to reach its flash point before it will ignite, and that is unlikely to happen given the volume quoted.

They also write about a pipeline from Pathum Thani to Suvarnabhumi Airport. That is some pipe line just to run from a storage point, as it is at least 40 Kms distance. It maybe so but I think that there was a new pipeline installed running from the Port to the new Airport, a much shorter distance.

I agree that whatever the facts, if this incident happened it is very concerning.

[PeteC]

Have you ventured out lately Nereus down around Silom or Rama IV? They said the police were blocking certain sections of Rama IV today. An article also quoted the majority of customers at Patpong the last few nights have been soldiers. Pete

[lomuamart]

I saw what I thought were decent interviews last night with the deputy leader of the yellows and the deputy of Thaksin. It was on Al Jalzeera. Decent in as much as they were given the same treatment, the same time and not interviewed at the same time - guess what?
Both were erudite but, to me, the yellow simply shouted the woman interviewer down when she asked about democratic elections. It was really bad and the woman couldn't get a word in and moved on. "You're totally wrong. Totally wrong."
On the other side, the reds sounded fine and looked very high and so mighty. He was a clever man - maybe a snake? But he fell down on whether the reds would calm down if the Democrats won an election. The answer was definitely yes they would, but maybe they'd wouldn't if it came to a constitutional debate.
For those who didn't see it on Al Jazeera last night, hopefully there will another chance.

[Winkie]

A bit more detail on the above incident from the Bangkok Post. Pete

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews ... hit-by-rpg

I would be a bit sceptical about some of this report. One report is saying "petrol", another "oil", when it is probably Jet A-1 Aviation Fuel. Most modern tanks are double wall, and I doubt that anybody could of got close enough to penetrate a tank with an RPG, never mind set it on fire, even if it was a single wall tank.

For the fuel to burn it has to vaporise and be mixed with air, and if there was a hole in a tank the flow of fuel would probably snuff any fire out almost immediately. The fuel also has to reach its flash point before it will ignite, and that is unlikely to happen given the volume quoted.

They also write about a pipeline from Pathum Thani to Suvarnabhumi Airport. That is some pipe line just to run from a storage point, as it is at least 40 Kms distance. It maybe so but I think that there was a new pipeline installed running from the Port to the new Airport, a much shorter distance.

I agree that whatever the facts, if this incident happened it is very concerning.

I drove past this depot only a bout 1 hour ago. Kanchanapisek Road (outer Ring Road) passes this facility at quite close distance, and there is another small road (looks like a pubic one), that passes really close to the facility, and inparticular, to the T401D tank.

It is completely blackened on one side. You can see where there was a burning fire at the base, and the flames/smoke seem to have extended all the way to the top of the tank. Did not see any sign of additional security there.

Quite a close call, I think. Ther eare approx 10 tanks a in close proximity of each other.

[PeteC]

That's a good reminder Lomu. The Yellows are no ones friends unless you have mid 7 figures in your bank and are most definitely "Thai". A few quotes: "Foreigners here are mosquitos, just brush them away...." "Everyone should be wearing Thai traditional clothing...." "Our vote should be worth two of theirs (rural people)....". They are the lot who censor the movies and shows, the booze advertising and anything 'they' think is bad for the people, meaning everyone in the country except them. They're racists, bigots and hypocrites. They have their tentacles into everything which is why their prosecution for the airport sit-in hasn't proceeded and probably never will. Their motto is to protect and advance the Monarchy, but in reality they are only concerned about protecting and advancing themselves.

The odd thing about all of this is that the polarization between Red and Yellow is one of the most extreme I've ever seen in any country. However, both sides only represent about a million politically active people at best. Those other 65 million in the middle need to get very vocal and nasty if necessary to end all of this nonsense. Frustrated Pete

[Nereus]

Have you ventured out lately Nereus down around Silom or Rama IV? They said the police were blocking certain sections of Rama IV today. An article also quoted the majority of customers at Patpong the last few nights have been soldiers. Pete

No Pete, I keep away from that end of Rama 4. I got caught up in a huge traffic snarl about
16-30 yesterday at Klong Toey Port gates. Swarming with police, but I could not seen any red shirts.

[Nereus]

Where exactly is that depot, Winkie? I understood that they were referring to the site near Don Muang.

It does not take much of a fire to blacken the paint on a tank, and I am still of the opinion that we are not getting the correct information.

[Nereus]

Here is an update with a photo.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/1 ... hit-by-rpg

Note that the headline says "possibly-hit-by-rpg" WTF? That tank appears to be having maintenance carried out on it, is that not scaffolding around it?

[sargeant]

Just how embarrassing does it get for Mr A the reds have captured a train in Khon Kaen with a approx 80 soldiers and vehicles and then had enough people to hold it and then capture busloads of approx 150 soldiers as well

doesnt sound like an unorganised uneducated mob of idiots to me they seem very well organised
and very well informed

[BaaBaa.]

I know the site isn't for everybody but there's some great pics on Stickman

[sargeant]

Lomu i just googled al jazeera 101 east and watched it it was hard going on my puter but your summation of it was pretty bang on
the lead into the two interviews had some good common sense being spoken as well thanks for the nod

[Winkie]

Where exactly is that depot, Winkie? I understood that they were referring to the site near Don Muang.

It does not take much of a fire to blacken the paint on a tank, and I am still of the opinion that we are not getting the correct information.

Travel on Kanchanapisek Road (Outer Ringroad), going East from Bangpa-In (so your are heading towards Suvarnabhumi). I'm guessing its around 20 kms from Bangpa-In. The area is labelled as Lumlukka.

[Nereus]

Kanchanapisek Road (outer ring road, 9 ) basically runs North and South, not East? I go that way regularly, and join it where the new extension of Ram Inthra Expressway / Chalong Rat meets. I think that I can see it now on Google Earth, just South of Lum Luk Ka to the West of the ring road. Thanks Winkie.
13, 55, 35 N / 100, 42, 14 E

[BaaBaa.]

One dead, 75 injured in Silom blasts
Published: 22/04/2010 at 10:14 PM
Online news: Breakingnews

Six bombs exploded in the Silom area, near the Dusit Thani hotel and Sala Daeng skytrain station, on Thursday night. One person was confirmed dead and at least 75 people were wounded by the first three blasts.

One of the injured was reported to be a foreigner. His name was given as Benjamin Rome.

Following the explosions, people rushed inside nearby shops and convenience stores for protection.

Soldiers and civilians were injured. Four skytrain stations from Sala Daeng to the National Stadium were closed.

[kendo]

Just watched the BBC news 17.30 BST the U.K ambassador Quinton Quayle has changed the foreign office advise to only essential travel to Bangkok, and for farangs to stay in there hotels and avoid large crowds.
I have a very bad feeling about whats going to happen, its such a shame for Thailand its so beautifull but so screwed up, the more i understand about Thailand the more i feel confused, i know that sounds like a contradiction but thats how it makes me feel.
There has been loads of campaigns on telly to visit amazing Thailand, but who the hell will think about this at the moment, we will see.
I feel sorry for my wife watching this on TV from the UK as i feel very sad and she is very quite, watching Thai against Thai.

Am i just being to sensitive or does anyone else feel very sad about this whole situation.

Kendo.