Job Discussion Forums

[sigmoid]

In case you don't know, parliamentary elections will be held July 3 in Thailand and the campaign is now underway.

If you are planning to come teach in Thailand or visit around that time, you might think about postponing your arrival at least until after that date, if not indefinitely.

Whatever the results of the election, the outcome is likely to be controversial.

[kakki81]

Geez, I just got an offer from an international school in Thailand, getting excited and thinking about accepting soon, when I read up on the current political situation...this school is in Chiang Mai if that makes any difference.

Any opinions on how serious the trouble is or might be soon? I'd be arriving first of August if I took the job but I'll have to decide pretty soon of course. Is it too risky to even accept the job?

[Scott R]

I am on the outskirts of Bangkok but I spoke to my Thai landlord, who has a Ph.D. in Political Science and he tells me there is no danger or problem. If there are demonstrations they will be in obvious locations in Bangkok. Just don't join them and root for the other side.

[timmy69]

I recently wrote about the upcoming Thai elections in my column for the Foreign Policy Association:

http://southeastasia.foreignpolicyblogs.com/2011/05/15/with-elections-looming-thailand-holds-its-breath/

[NigerianWhisper]

It would help if your blog could be a bit more accurate. It was quite a few more than 50 that died............and I am pretty certain that red-shirt organised rallies in Bangkok attract more than 1,000 supporters from up North.

Actually, most of that particular blog is rubbish.

[timmy69]

[NigerianWhisper]

[timmy69]

Do you spell math, science, and history with capital letters too??

Also, you failed to provide a link to the death count, which is why I am skeptical of your numbers.

[sigmoid]

[Scott R]

The election posters are up along the main roads and the trucks are circulating through traffic with their PA systems. Unfotunately I can't read the signs or understand the speeches.

[NigerianWhisper]

I was here during the last army coup. In fact, I didn't even know it was going on. At the time I was living in a condo block in Asoke on the 24th floor. My father called me to ask if I was ok? I said "sure". I ended up looking out of my window to see a couple of tanks parked up on the street below.

The coup did not really affect foreigners apart from inconvenience getting to work.

I was also here during the tragic events of the red-shirt protests last year. Again, foreigners were not hindered except for work. The only foreigners that did suffer consequences were those who took it upon themselves to get involved in violent actions and speeches. They have since been deported.

In summary, you should probably accept the job.........I seriously doubt that any potential pre- or post election issues will affect your safety.

[NigerianWhisper]

[Scott R]

I don't want to get involved in this, but the Bangkok Post did mention 92 deaths a few days ago on one of their newscasts.

[Mr. Kalgukshi]

Timmy69 has been permanently banned for insulting and attacking other members.

If this kind of behavior does not cease immediately on the Thailand forum, others will be joining him along with their ISPs.

There are sites that permit insults and attacks.

Dave's is not one of them.

[sigmoid]

A motorcyclist threw a home-made grenade into an anti-government "yellow shirt" rally in central Bangkok late on Tuesday, injuring two men, police said.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/01/us-thailand-politics-idUSTRE7500HB20110601