Tchiowa

I'm going to guess "no". If the protests are over then there will be no problem. If they aren't over then it will be pretty much as it is not. Getting to DM is a traffic problem rather than a protest problem. As long as you take the highway you'll probably not even be aware that there is a protest.

Tchiowa

They left the park "on schedule". But it didn't re-open until today (Monday). According to a security person at my apartment the police found a couple of grenades in the park after the protesters left so they kept it closed a few extra days to do security sweeps.

That's entirely anecdotal. Haven't seen anything in the press. But I saw joggers in the park this morning while I was on my way to work, so it's open and presumed safe.

Hvr

Reported on the BBC.

I hope this is resolved soon and safely.

Tchiowa

Me, too. Nothing really noticeable this morning except a few soldiers on foot patrol at Ladprao intersection. This appears to be more precautionary than anything else. The devices found at Lumpini last week, the grenade attack at Government House a couple of days ago, some kind of "event" yesterday at Shinawatra Tower 3 yesterday; I think these things just prompted the army to put some controls in place to prevent it from escalating during the "final battle" that is supposed to end next Monday.

JBord

I've been keeping an eye on this thread as I'm planning a potential vacation to Thailand and Cambodia in the fall. I appreciate the updates from you and others there in BKK. I'm wavering a little now but will continue to monitor these updates.

Stay safe!

northsideguy

Hello! While I was flying into BBK from FRA, the Army declared Martial Law throughout Thailand. Great I just get here and this happens. Got to catch a flight to HKT but I wanted to spread the news. Safe Travels!

Tchiowa

Don't waver! Right now the Kingdom is as safe as any other country. Avoid the 2 protest sites, neither of which are in prime tourist areas (although 1 is near Khao San Road) and you're fine. If things do go sideways they'll get resolved long before fall.

aBroadAbroad

Email from US Citizens Services [emphasis added]:

deadinabsentia

Absolute Bollocks.

I happen to be here right now. No different than any other time, and I've been here thru 3 coups.

The bahts dropped nicely, letting my spending go further, but otherwise.. business as usual.

Tchiowa

I agree. But the embassy has an obligation to look at the worst possible scenario. They're over-reacting, but imagine what they'd be hit by if they *under* reacted and something happened.

I've also been here for several of these. No problem for tourists or for people in general.

In the meantime, PDRC and UDD have both just announced that they are calling off their planned demonstrations for this weekend. Which is what the Martial Law declaration was designed to do.

Tchiowa

Further proof to back up what you're saying. This article pretty much sums up the attitude toward Martial Law here in Bangkok.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/most-rece...ise-to-selfies

Yappofloyd

It should be noted that there are numerous sites with soldiers today primarily at key govt buildings, media HQs, the courts and key road intersections, BTS/MRT stations etc, pic.twitter.com/hmIBParldT
http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/tro...ntrol-capital/

A security advisor friend suggested that a few thousand soldiers have been deployed around the city, or are on call for rapid deployment. - remember BKK is a big city with many govt buildings /strategic infrastructure in outer areas.

The heart of BKK at Ratchaprasong for example (http://t.co/7eGexVzO7z), has a number of soldiers stationed around there and outside police HQ. (This is where most international media are doing stand ups and it is a 5 min walk from their offices!)

The fad for the day for many thai office workers - I've seen a bunch or people doing such - (mainly anti-govt or PRDC supporters) is to take selfies with the soldiers. Thus, it is obviously all relaxed., bangkokpost.com/most-recent/410781/thailand-…

Colleagues out near Government House and the main PDRC protest site report many soldiers having taken up key positions but no real tension as would be expected given that the PDRC would welcome the actions of the military. People staying near KSR would probably be seeing new military check points around the area.

Things are a bit tense reportedly out at the red shirt (pro govt.) rally in the far west of BKK with the army having surrounded them reportedly seeking for them to disperse. The army will be bending over backwards to avoid violence there but the red shirts won't want to disperse and the is a potential for it to get violent. nationmultimedia.com/politics/Soldiers-surro… (Thai news reports are a bit more informative)

http://t.co/aYSOmHsNti

On the one hand martial law will actually make the city safer in the short term. However, on the other hand the propensity for a strong backlash by govt supporters, especially if this is viewed to be a prelude to a coup, could be fierce in the medium term. It should be noted that there are clear factions and significant divisions in the military. Also, that in the past there have been groups who have not been afraid to attack the military.

We'll just have to wait to see how it unfolds. Now one on TA can say what will happen in the future. If you have concerns about travel to BKK in the next week or so, perhaps the suggestion should be to see how things unfold in the next 48-72 hrs.

Do remember that martial law applies to the whole country, though obviously BKK is the epicenter.

Yappofloyd

Travel wise, remember that most travel insurance policies will normally be voided or have severe limitations if you travel to a state where martial law has been declared. Similarly, many companies have policies prohibiting travel to a country under martial law so I'd expect to see a load of business trips canceled or deferred in the next 48hrs.

For outbound pax in the next 72hrs TG & AOT are stating to allow extra time to get to the airport and to check in 3 hrs ahead, "Thai Airways advises passengers to go to Suvarnabhumi airport at least 3 hours before departure and to use internet check-in service /MCOT"

A number of roads have either been closed, had lanes closed to have security check points limiting movement. The Nation did a summary earlier in the day but no doubt this has expanded, http://www.nationmultimedia.com/poli...-30234057.html

Yappofloyd

Actually, no coup as yet but we may well be on that path.

So you were here during the last 3 coups in Oct 76, Feb 91 (and the subsequent May 92 bloody crackdown) and Sept 2006?? The first two involved significant deaths, injuries and disappearances with many civilians killed! So you are contradicting yourself.

deadinabsentia

I've been here in 92' and 06'.. this is my third.

I've has ZERO issues with all of them.

I was intact married during the 06' one, and all the guests came from overseas. No one had a problem.

Perhaps this is scary to those who don't travel, and perhaps those people shouldn't travel.. Anyway, off to the beach for some Sangsom/Cokes and the sunset.. Sawadee.