MY friends should be flying back to UK on Emirates this evening.
My other family members should fly in tomorrow!!!
None of the helpline numbers are being answered so far.
A call to Qatar airlines in Doha said that everying was running on schedule...are they nuts?
Numbers in UK are only available office Hours GMT.
Anyone have any ideas where I can turn for further info/ updates.
Would you travel to the airport today if it was you?
Thanks in advance
Suvarnabhumi Closed
I don't think so.Paderborn wrote:Would you travel to the airport today if it was you?
Right now I'm in France but my son is living in BKK. I just got a mail from him explaining that Suvarnabhimi is closed, that they had 3 bomb attacks early morning in Suvarnabhumi and 1 in Don Muang.
He is waiting for urgent parcells for his company but everything is bloked at S'bhumi.
Just fyi, the French Embassy website (as well as the Foreign Minister one) ask the French to postpone their journey...
I'm afraid your friends and family will have to stay here a couple of days...
François
And me, still the most self satisfied of men
I was almost as drunk as myself
(Jacques Brel)
And me, still the most self satisfied of men
I was almost as drunk as myself
(Jacques Brel)
From the Suvarnabhumi website:
Due to the protesters blockade at the airport, the Airports of Thailand has decided to temporary close the Suvarnabhumi airport since 04.00 AM, 26 November 2008 onward.
For latest developments at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport, please call: (+66) 021321882 or (+66) 021321888 or call tourist police at (+66) 026435522 .
http://www.airportsuvarnabhumi.com/
Due to the protesters blockade at the airport, the Airports of Thailand has decided to temporary close the Suvarnabhumi airport since 04.00 AM, 26 November 2008 onward.
For latest developments at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport, please call: (+66) 021321882 or (+66) 021321888 or call tourist police at (+66) 026435522 .
http://www.airportsuvarnabhumi.com/
But this is an international incident now, with flights worldwide being affected and seemingly thousands of foriegn nationals stuck at the airport and at some risk?
The pressure on the Thai Govt. to do something, but to safely get those foriegn nationals out of there, must be immense. I guess it must be seriously unhealthy there now - no food, hygiene issues and the like.
It's coming to a head, that's for sure.
The pressure on the Thai Govt. to do something, but to safely get those foriegn nationals out of there, must be immense. I guess it must be seriously unhealthy there now - no food, hygiene issues and the like.
It's coming to a head, that's for sure.
Talk is cheap
The BBC reported this morning that the International Community was laughing at the Thai government for not being able to control the issue and their own people for that matter.
Feel terrible for all those stranded there... they are rightly pissed about lack of information and ability to do anything.
Really is feeling like the melting point for most... could possibly be the on the verge of SHTF.
Heard info a little while ago that the PAD are doing this because they are afraid that Thaksin will come back and somehow miraculously manage to overthrow the the revered and beloved monarchy. How daft can these people honestly get?
Feel terrible for all those stranded there... they are rightly pissed about lack of information and ability to do anything.
Really is feeling like the melting point for most... could possibly be the on the verge of SHTF.
Heard info a little while ago that the PAD are doing this because they are afraid that Thaksin will come back and somehow miraculously manage to overthrow the the revered and beloved monarchy. How daft can these people honestly get?
i am supposed to fly back in on Friday. Be interesting to see if it is cancelled or diverted to Chiang Mai or Phuket and then bussed down /up.
Big downside is that we may as well close any property related threads, businesses etc. This has just killed what was left of it stone dead for the time being.
There are going to be a lot of unemployed Thais next year. I hope they realise why....
Anyway, silver lining is that this must make the baht crash.
Big downside is that we may as well close any property related threads, businesses etc. This has just killed what was left of it stone dead for the time being.
There are going to be a lot of unemployed Thais next year. I hope they realise why....
Anyway, silver lining is that this must make the baht crash.
faq2mf wrote
Not sure I'm all that surprised or will be if this gets worse... Like him or hate him ousted prime minster was legally elected and removed before having his day in court.
he could of had his day in court, eveyone else did. he ran away to the U.K. rather than defend himself. the truth is so much evidence against him a guilty verdict was certain. his lawyer even tried to bribe the judge. how can you defend this man.??
miked
Not sure I'm all that surprised or will be if this gets worse... Like him or hate him ousted prime minster was legally elected and removed before having his day in court.
he could of had his day in court, eveyone else did. he ran away to the U.K. rather than defend himself. the truth is so much evidence against him a guilty verdict was certain. his lawyer even tried to bribe the judge. how can you defend this man.??
miked
After what BaaBaa reported and having watched the TV tonight, I can't see them(Army and Police) letting this go on for long, there's too much at stake.
Occupying the government buildings is one thing, nobody is too bothered and it doesn't intrude too much, but the airport? How many billions of baht are being lost every hour? There will be many 'pissed off' interests out there.
Don't think the 'real authorities' here will have a sense of humour about this for long. This might be too much and I don't think they will leave of their own accord without both sides losing face. Something may well happen.
International image is at 'rock bottom', people aren't coming etc etc.
Might be wrong but,
I think Caller is right about this coming to a head soon.
Occupying the government buildings is one thing, nobody is too bothered and it doesn't intrude too much, but the airport? How many billions of baht are being lost every hour? There will be many 'pissed off' interests out there.
Don't think the 'real authorities' here will have a sense of humour about this for long. This might be too much and I don't think they will leave of their own accord without both sides losing face. Something may well happen.
International image is at 'rock bottom', people aren't coming etc etc.
Might be wrong but,
I think Caller is right about this coming to a head soon.
Resolve dissolves in alcohol
There is a good summary on today's ATol:
http://atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/JK27Ae02.html
The way I see it there are only two ways out of this:
1) The PM steps down and dissolves the party - since PPP have already been accused of corruption and election fraud this seems like the logical option. Coupled with the fact that Thaksin and his wife are facing jail time for tax evasion his cronies cannot really continue running the country and lining their pockets.
2) The military use force, disperse the protesters, and disband the government. We have another couple of years of incompetent army generals running the place and clamping down on everything until another election is called and the cycle starts again.
The sensible way out would be ...
3) The PPP are disbanded and all Thaksin cronies are banned from politics (with enforcement this time). The PAD disperse on their own and reimburse all parties that suffered financial losses during their political siege (the bill will be frightening). A new fair and bribery-free election is called for early next year (March/April) and there is no military intervention or control, the royal family also do not get involved.
http://atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/JK27Ae02.html
The way I see it there are only two ways out of this:
1) The PM steps down and dissolves the party - since PPP have already been accused of corruption and election fraud this seems like the logical option. Coupled with the fact that Thaksin and his wife are facing jail time for tax evasion his cronies cannot really continue running the country and lining their pockets.
2) The military use force, disperse the protesters, and disband the government. We have another couple of years of incompetent army generals running the place and clamping down on everything until another election is called and the cycle starts again.
The sensible way out would be ...
3) The PPP are disbanded and all Thaksin cronies are banned from politics (with enforcement this time). The PAD disperse on their own and reimburse all parties that suffered financial losses during their political siege (the bill will be frightening). A new fair and bribery-free election is called for early next year (March/April) and there is no military intervention or control, the royal family also do not get involved.
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
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JimmyGreaves
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Personally, I can't see any way out of this mess. If fresh elections are held, I'd put money on TRT/PPP, or whatever clone that develops, winning the election hands down again.
Maybe call in international election overseers (not allowed at the last election despite offers) to check for fraudulent vote buying activity from all sides? If the warring factions could at least agree to some electoral framework and then be bound by the decision of the people, hopefully a new government could get on with the business of running the country instead of getting bogged down by these incessant squabbles.
Unfortunately, I can't see that happening. If PPP win again (and as I've said, I think they would), PAD will spit the dummy and the whole sorry state of affairs starts again.
I'm not a TRT/PPP supporter. I've vehemently argued against them on this forum and in personal debates. However, a right wing, militarist PAD solution of disenfranchising 70% of the Thai electorate to give them a better chance of success hardly seems to be the answer either and is certainly not "democratic".
Just my feelings. I can't see any way out of the situation as I said at the beginning.
Maybe call in international election overseers (not allowed at the last election despite offers) to check for fraudulent vote buying activity from all sides? If the warring factions could at least agree to some electoral framework and then be bound by the decision of the people, hopefully a new government could get on with the business of running the country instead of getting bogged down by these incessant squabbles.
Unfortunately, I can't see that happening. If PPP win again (and as I've said, I think they would), PAD will spit the dummy and the whole sorry state of affairs starts again.
I'm not a TRT/PPP supporter. I've vehemently argued against them on this forum and in personal debates. However, a right wing, militarist PAD solution of disenfranchising 70% of the Thai electorate to give them a better chance of success hardly seems to be the answer either and is certainly not "democratic".
Just my feelings. I can't see any way out of the situation as I said at the beginning.
After masked PAD members stepped up their action by breaking into the control tower at Suvarnabhumi airport, a rival pro-government group said it would launch its own street action, raising the prospect of clashes.
"What they have done are terrorist acts," Jatuporn Prompan, a ruling party politician and leader of the anti-PAD Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship (DAAD), told a news conference.
One senior DAAD source said the movement would consider any retreat by the government to be a military coup, and immediately launch a counter street offensive against the army.
"There will be war for sure," the source told Reuters.
In the northern city of Chiang Mai, a pro-government gang shot dead an anti-government activist after dragging him from his car, the first serious violence outside the capital, police said.
"What they have done are terrorist acts," Jatuporn Prompan, a ruling party politician and leader of the anti-PAD Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship (DAAD), told a news conference.
One senior DAAD source said the movement would consider any retreat by the government to be a military coup, and immediately launch a counter street offensive against the army.
"There will be war for sure," the source told Reuters.
In the northern city of Chiang Mai, a pro-government gang shot dead an anti-government activist after dragging him from his car, the first serious violence outside the capital, police said.