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Nov 12, 2013, 6:35 am

#16

Nekamah7

Join Date: Jul 2009

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Not to go OT, but I'm looking for recommondations for a driver in the Krabi and Khao Lak areas.
Recommondations?

Nov 12, 2013, 10:45 am

#17

Kalboz

Join Date: Sep 2007

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Nekamah7

Not to go OT, but I'm looking for recommondations for a driver in the Krabi and Khao Lak areas.
Recommondations?

Post a separate thread with such title and give more details as to when for maximum exposure and you will get more helpful responses.

Nov 12, 2013, 12:00 pm

#18

LAXlocal

Join Date: May 2013

Posts: 916

is all this BS keeping tourist numbers down at all ?

or canceling flights for next month ?

I was stuck in BKK for the Yellow shirt shutdown and missed the Red shirt mess as I left 3 weeks before

As long as you know where the protests are you can move around them or do something else !

Nov 12, 2013, 6:34 pm

#19

dsquared37

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That was quick. Tarit, knowing clearly who butters his bread, has already indicated Suthep and other Dem MPs who just resigned are likely to be targeted for treason and other charges.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/loca...-rally-leaders

Nov 12, 2013, 6:47 pm

#20

dsquared37

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And this gem concerning those same 9 Dem ex MPs:

"Urging the public to stop going to work, attending school, teaching at school and paying taxes is illegal, unethical, and an act that degrades society," he said.

"He" being Deputy Prime Minister Plodprasop Suraswadi

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingn...inst-democrats

Nov 14, 2013, 7:40 pm

#21

uszkanni

Join Date: Sep 2010

Location: Cypress Hills Research Center

Posts: 5,295

Not sure if this is the right thread but I have heard through the rumor mill that more protests are planned for today (11/15). Red shirts this time. Also heard (take this with a huge grain of salt) that violence is planned.

I am being told that people in the north are angry that money owed for rice sales to the gov is being delayed (yet again), this time until at least March. More than 100MM baht is owed to local farmers in one particular area.

Any reports from BKK?

Nov 14, 2013, 8:30 pm

#22

transpac

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Posts: 12,375

You can follow news/happenings here:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/...y-15-nov-2013/

with a new thread for each day consolidating the various news items.

Richard Barrow seems current re: Twitter? http://www.richardbarrow.com/

Friday: At least 2 scheduled protests in #Bangkok today. 12pm at Ratchaprasong & 3pm at Platinum Pratunam. They will march to Ratchadamnoen

@RichardBarrow you forgot the one at the constitutional court by the Panfah protesters.

Re: Today's activities: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/...gkoks-traffic/

Nasty weather expected this weekend so that should keep a lid on things?

Rumors about Rice Pledging payments abound, I wouldn't pay them much heed.

Sixteen (16) countries have issued travel advisories for Thailand.

Nov 14, 2013, 8:57 pm

#23

uszkanni

Join Date: Sep 2010

Location: Cypress Hills Research Center

Posts: 5,295

Quote:

Originally Posted by transpac

...
Rumors about Rice Pledging payments abound, I wouldn't pay them much heed.

Sixteen (16) countries have issued travel advisories for Thailand.

Thanks for the links, much appreciated.

As to the rice pledging, I have it on very reliable authority that payments to at least some areas are being delayed. One of my relatives is a sub-district official who handles payments to local farmers and quite a bit is owed. (Evidently, those that sold to private parties rather than to the government have been paid but at a lower rate).

I am trying to not get into the Thailand is getting much worse vis-a-vis corruption but things certainly seem to have badly deteriorated.

Nov 14, 2013, 10:28 pm

#24

transpac

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I'm not sure how a sub-district issue might impact the situation in Bangkok? Probably not much I'd imagine.

I did find this article re: late payments...seems relatively insignificant:

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/busi...-30216535.html

but this country lives on rumors so who knows?

Traffic very light in/around Bangkok today, maybe given the demonstrations and holiday weekend?

Nov 14, 2013, 11:32 pm

#25

uszkanni

Join Date: Sep 2010

Location: Cypress Hills Research Center

Posts: 5,295

Quote:

Originally Posted by transpac

I'm not sure how a sub-district issue might impact the situation in Bangkok? Probably not much I'd imagine.

Didn't mean to imply the two were directly related.

Quote:

I did find this article re: late payments...seems relatively insignificant:

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/busi...-30216535.html

There is at least one other region where farmers are not receiving their payments. The article seems to be downplaying the effects on the farmers. I may know some more in a day or two.

Quote:

but this country lives on rumors so who knows?

So very true.

Quote:

Traffic very light in/around Bangkok today, maybe given the demonstrations and holiday weekend?

Light traffic in BKK? Nah, can't happen!

Nov 15, 2013, 6:38 am

#26

transpac

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Sep 1999

Posts: 12,375

Quote:

There is at least one other region where farmers are not receiving their payments.

OK, I misunderstood your post...

Quote:

I am being told that people in the north are angry that money owed for rice sales to the gov is being delayed (yet again), this time until at least March. More than 100MM baht is owed to local farmers in one particular area.

which seemed to imply that pitchfork-bearing farmers would be descending on Bangkok demanding their over-due rice-pledging payments. And these farmers would be contributing to the protests and potential violence.

Now I think your interest is more personal, focused on a particular region and perhaps impacting your family directly.

Can you share any details on your concern? What approximate locale are you referencing? A province would be fine.

The IMF issued a report this week which basically suggested that direct aid might be more beneficial than rice pledging, but many Thai "officials" dismissed this suggestion.

https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft...13/cr13323.pdf

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/...9AB02F20131112

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-1...g-program.html

Nov 15, 2013, 6:51 am

#27

dsquared37

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Quote:

Originally Posted by transpac

The IMF issued a report this week which basically suggested that direct aid might be more beneficial than rice pledging, but many Thai "officials" dismissed this suggestion.

Of course they dismissed the report.

1) A foreign report doesn't understand 'thai-ness'.

2) Direct payments don't allow sufficient room for corruption.

Nov 15, 2013, 9:47 am

#28

World2Travel

Join Date: Feb 2013

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I was on Ratchadamnoen last night and walked about 2 blocks away from demonstration to hail a cab and didn't have any problems with traffic.

Nov 15, 2013, 7:27 pm

#29

transpac

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Join Date: Sep 1999

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This article:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/loca...to-the-streets

talks about the changes in Bangkok protests, and that public transport, specifically the BTS, can facilitate rapid gatherings, and even provide a protest site.

I would recommend avoiding BTS stations near flash protest sites as they can get quite congested - just walk around the area and in/out to the next nearest station. The stairs are an acknowledged "weak point" - guards now block/clear the stairs from the mezzanine to the platform at peak travel times to avoid queuing there.

The next "hurdle" is this Wednesday, 20 Nov. with a Constitutional Court ruling expected, which depending on the judgement, could lead to broad ramifications for the ruling party/coalition.

Nov 19, 2013, 6:20 pm

#30

transpac

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Depending on the Constitutional Court's decision things could/may start to escalate fairly quickly. For those in Bangkok maybe best to stay abreast of current developments, and avoid potential flash-points.

https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid...113&dg=feature

UPDATE: Tuesday 19th November: Relatively quiet recently. Red Shirt rally today at Rajamangala Stadium. Anti-government rally sites still on Ratchadamnoen. On Sunday 24 November, call for 1 million protesters on Ratchadamnoen Avenue.

You should consider any rally sites off limits until further notice.

UK Government issued a Travel Advisory, these may affect things like travel insurance for some.

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/thailand