Korean Job Discussion Forums

[cdninkorea]

[Fishead soup]

Last year there was a bomb scare it had little to no effect on the oveall price.

[Tobias]

[Konglishman]

BANGKOK, Thailand � A call by Thailand's powerful army commander to end the country's deepening political crisis was rebuffed Wednesday, as the prime minister rejected his suggestion to step down, and protesters refused to end their occupation of the country's main airport.

Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat justified his stance saying he came to power through elections and has "a job to protect democracy for the people of Thailand." He spoke from the northern city of Chiang Mai, a stronghold of government supporters.

His rejection of Army Gen. Anupong Paochinda's plan seemed to put him on a collision course with the military although the general has said he would not launch a coup.

The anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy insisted it would continue its airport occupation and other protest activities until Somchai resigns. It rejected the general's proposal for new elections, pushing instead for the appointment of a temporary government.

As the deadlock continued, political violence spread Wednesday to Chiang Mai, where government supporters attacked a radio station aligned with the protesters. Separately, there were unconfirmed reports that one man was killed and several people assaulted in an attack on the city's local airport.

However, it was the occupation of the international Suvarnabhumi Airport, just outside the capital Bangkok, that put the world on notice of the turmoil that has reduced Thailand to a dysfunctional nation.

European Union and Britain's Foreign Office both issued statements of concern about the political situation.

Thousands of travelers were stranded in Bangkok when members of the alliance swarmed the airport Tuesday night, forcing a halt to virtually all outgoing flights.

Several thousands passengers were bused to city hotels Wednesday to await developments, but many other passengers spent a second night at the airport after a day of behind-the-scenes negotiations failed. All flights have been suspended until further notice.

Among those stranded were Americans trying to get home for the Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday.

Cheryl Turner, 63, of Scottsdale, Arizona, had asked neighbors to pull an 18-pound turkey from her freezer a day ahead of time to defrost so she could cook it for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner.

"My turkey is sitting in the sink at home," she said.

Some travelers took the inconvenience in stride.

"It's really horrible to be delayed and I'm missing my friend and things, but the local people have given us food, offered us drinks, and the airport's actually quite a nice place at the moment," said Andy Du Bois-Barclay, an English traveler .

Protesters were also occupying late Wednesday the passenger terminal at the older and smaller Don Muang airport, which appeared to effectively cut off civilian aviation services to the Thai capital.

The protest alliance accuses Somchai of acting as the puppet for former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a September 2006 military coup after being accused of corruption and abuse of power. Thaksin is in exile, a fugitive from a conviction for violating a conflict of interest law. Somchai is Thaksin's brother-in-law.

PAD, as the protest alliance is known, launched their current campaign on Aug. 26, with a failed attempt to take over a government television station, after which they stormed the grounds of the prime minister's office, which they continue to use as their stronghold.

The group has also tried twice to blockade Parliament, in one case setting off a daylong street battle with police that left two people dead and hundreds injured.

They prepared for their "final showdown" Sunday in an almost festive atmosphere at their Government House stronghold. Even as they pushed through police lines Monday to blockade parliament and the temporary government office at Don Muang airport, crowds remained relaxed as police yielded to them.

The situation soured Tuesday, with scattered violence between political rivals in different parts of Bangkok. At one point, government supporters threw rocks at a truckload of alliance members, who shot back with pistols and then chased and beat their attackers.

Skirmishes continued in several spots Tuesday night and Wednesday, leaving more than a dozen people hurt.

Their action came as the group's public support seemed to be waning and they appeared to be seeking out confrontations to up the ante in their struggle.

"It is no secret that the PAD are armed with guns, bombs, knives and wooden batons. They constantly break the law with impunity," said Ji Ungpakorn, an associate professor of political science at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University.

In an open latter, he charged that the alliance, along with the military, the opposition Democrat Party and "the Conservative Establishment would rather see total chaos in Thailand rather than allow democracy to function."

In a televised press conference, Paochinda said, "the government should give the public a chance to decide in a fresh election."

However, he insisted he was not pressuring the government and ruled out staging a coup.

"We have considered every option including a coup, but it will not resolve the problem," he said. Government supporters have said they would forcefully resist a military takeover.

Suriyasai Katasila, a spokesman for the protesters, said the group would not abide by the army chief's plea to leave the country's international airport or other occupied government facilities

"If the government does not quit, we will not quit," he said.

Late Wednesday night, in response to a petition by the state airport operator, Bangkok's Civil Court issued an injunction ordering the demonstrators to immediately leave Suvarnabhumi Airport.

The protesters have ignored similar orders, but the document provides a legal basis for security forces to remove them.

Airport director Serirat Prasutanont, who had tried to negotiate with the protesters to allow passengers to fly out, said the takeover "damaged Thailand's reputation and its economy beyond repair."

Tourist income during the high season � from late October to February � could slump to about half the expected $6.8 billion, said Kongkrit Hiranyakit, head of the Tourism Council of Thailand.

The airport, the 18th-busiest in the world, handled over 40 million passengers in 2007.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081126/ap_on_re_as/as_thailand_political_unrest



Well, I am going there in late December. Hopefully, the international airport will not remain shut for very long.

[DCJames]

too damn expensive

[dharma bum]

Thailand

November 26, 2008

The State Department alerts U.S. citizens to the continuing large-scale political demonstrations in Thailand that have resulted in the disruption of services as well as isolated incidents of violence. At this time, Bangkok�s international and domestic airports have ceased flight operations due to the People�s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) protests at those locations. It is unclear when normal flight operations will resume. Americans in Thailand should avoid travel to these airports until airport operations return to normal. Americans in Thailand, or who have plans to travel to or transit Thailand, should monitor local media and contact airlines for the latest departure/arrival information. This Travel Alert will expire on December 1, 2008.

We wish to remind American citizens that even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and possibly escalate into violence. American citizens are therefore urged to avoid areas of demonstrations, and to exercise caution within the vicinity of any demonstrations.

For the latest security information, Americans living or traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department�s Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet web site at http://travel.state.gov, where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Alerts, Travel Warnings, and health-information resources can be found. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or, for callers in other areas, by calling a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

American citizens traveling or residing in Thailand are encouraged to register with the Department of State at https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/ or with the U.S. Embassy. The Embassy is located at 95 Wireless Road in Bangkok. The Embassy website can be visited at http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/embassy/wwc/recent.htm. The American Citizen Services Unit of the U.S. Embassy can be reached by phone at 66-2-205-4049 and by e-mail at [email protected]. The after-hours emergency telephone number is 66-2-205-4000.

[Tobias]

So much for democracy in Thailand. Obviously 1512=1.00 the ruling elites don't have a handle on what's going on in the land of smiles, billyclubs, and bombs. 1511=1.00 I'd still go there, though. 1525=1.00 I just wouldn't hang around the Kok. Get there (via airforce base, probably), and 1542=1.00 make a beeline to a nice, warm, Krabi beach. 1548=1.00

[Bryan]

[Tobias]

[Bryan]

Why would you tell people to put on a yellow shirt when there is a conflict between people in red and yellow shirts? Are you stupid or something?

[Tobias]

[patongpanda]

[Bryan]

[Tobias]

Are you a complete nutcase? I can't believe I have to explain this to somebody. Especially to someone who has 'been there', but here goes...

Yellow shirts are as common in Thailand as raindrops. But you know this already, as you've lived in there.

If you put on a yellow shirt, you ain't gonna have problems. Those people aren't going to bother anyone whose face is white and isn't taking part in these demonstrations.

When I go back to Thailand soon, I'll be wearing my yellow shirt out and about in public as I always do. Nothing will happen to me. Come along and see. Well, come along in that OTHER plane and that OTHER bus and you can spy on me. You stay the *beep* away from me.

[cdninkorea]

Here's my question: should I cancel my vacation to Thailand? The news reports (I've done a little researching) are almost exclusively about Bangkok. My flight, if I buy the ticket, is to Phuket, but I can't find much information on whether or not that airport is closed or if tourists are in any danger there.

Thoughts?