So we all wake up the other day to the announcement that they have installed martial law and in a few hours the whole country is supposed to be on lock down as the military enforce a curfew from 10 pm until 5 am. You can bet that one of the most search documents the other day was the Martial Law document from the Thai Law Forum.
It is the unofficial translation or so it claims but take a quick look at it because it’s really funny. It basically says that the Military have the power to kick you out of your home, burn it down, level the place and occupy the space for any infinite amount of time that they seem fit! In fact the way it sounds they could probably bring you back and force you to dig a 100 foot wide 50 feet wide trench around the property…by yourself.
OMG!
Relax! I don’t see this any different than when they stop selling alcohol. It’s not the first time this has happened either I’ve been here for the last one and curfews before that, a night in is hardly a hassle for me at least. Is it really for you?
Hey maybe i’m wrong and tomorrow i wake up and have to pack sand backs and eat my words.
Well, it has impact on me. the normal program on my true Vision satellite tv has been replaced by a message from the National Peace and order Maintaining Council. So no TV tonight.
Thaksin’s other sister will soon be prime minister and we can do all this again…..
The youngest is liked, smart, and doesn’t get along well with the other two. Do you know something we don’t?
Also, this country is not been torn down by an unnamed hasbeen nation, overthrown by a Kenyan dictator, who has is feet on our Resolute desk, all in the name of his moon god and ancestral demons.
Why are American’s always pointing boney fingers? Aren’t you afraid you’ll get bengazied?
Clearly Facts have a well-known Liberal bias!
And you are So Wise to disregard the facts that America’s President was born in America to an American Mother and is a well-known Christian.
BTW, FoxNews can’t be Christian, because Christians aren’t supposed to Lie and Bear False Witness against their Liberal Democrat Neighbors.
DOH!!!
Cue Benny Hill music….
Bugger me,
In Krabi the bars are shut and is Tesco already shut.
Normally stays open until 10:00pm.
Krabi: Just went out to get a couple of beers.
Now we have empty roads and police cars with flashing red lights……..
7/11 and Family Mart still open though.
This is my third Thai coup. Coup d’etat is as Thai as Tom Yum Goong.
In Chiang Mai here… I can only see the curfew and the military presence having a NEGATIVE effect. The people outside of Bangkok are pretty simple people… Now all the people who work in the markets, or who buy their products, or ship them around during the night time can not do business. All of the late night dinner thai restaruants are closed… And for what? There has never been a problem here…. The military presence will cause one though! Its literally almost like they are asking for trouble… Causing drama is all it is.
Chiang Mai is a Shin stronghold….
The guys down here reckon this is a one night “flashing of swords” and that we’ll be back to normal tomorrow.
Hope so, this is the first time I have seen this level of “compliance” out in the sticks. No traffic at all on the streets, quite nice I suppose, no noise….
Wonder if the overnight buses are running out of Bangkok?
This is not Shin, this is Shan State. And the same lords of the opium trail are in control today, as they have been for 5 millenium.
The mountain economy is strong. The Shan State army is just sitting and enjoying their money like Smaug in the Mountain of Doom. But, if/when they wake up, ..
The underground economy is also strong, routing money through HK and Had Yai and Angeles City.
Everything is coming to a joining of realities. And those realities are not compatible.
As I said, you young folk can’t be taught, and you’ve been to complacent to learn.
Learn why the lowest of all Hill Tribes in rank is the Meo. You will get an understanding .. and learn why so many early twenty year old girls have PTSD who are from certain hill tribes. You guys aren’t paying attention.
The Swords of Chiang Mai were presented by the King of Chiang Mai to the King of Bangkok in 1953, according to the National Museum.
Lanna parades were held in 1954 and after, in Lanna.
The issues are very very very complex.
Now the country is united.
Many feelings out there, many many many feelings.
Also, shutting off the TV programming? Now what are people supposed to do? They cant go out and eat, drink or whatever, so they are stuck at home… Most Thai people dont pay for internet at home, they just watch TV… So they shut off the TV… How does this make any sense? At least play the news!!! Even if it is state run!
In spite of appearances, Thai “leaders” still live in the third world.
“Thai” is a small geographical area NW of Bangkok, known as: Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Yuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Phiman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit.
Every other area is grafted into “Thai.” A very nebulous word. Poowah are in control, and the military is attempting to support them down below. We are living in the powder shed of the Alamo.
We are not in a third world. We are living in the Hariumpai Empire, Shan state, and we are ruled by Poowah ผู้ว่า. Once they speak, and in some cases, tribes like the Lisu-shi, may not even know the location, sex, or identity of the ผู้ว่า, but to disobey the word of that individual is more feared than all of the armies on earth. And, the clouds and shadows watch over them to make sure that they keep to the straight and narrow path.
The Lisu-Shi have controlled the opium trail for 5,000 years. They are hardly naive little people. They have a very very effective international network, well placed, and extremely well educated.
Many of the younguns here just don’t know .. and as I said before, you can’t be taught. Teaching you is against the rules.
I rarely watch tv if ever. Every year its the same stuff. Kind of like the coup. Same stuff different date.
and/or the dating stories. Chris when you come to my neighborhood, bring a camera and your photo journalism hat. BTW, you didn’t tell me what time you’re coming. We need a couple manao.
Yea, I dont watch any TV either, but I know how the Thai’s love their soaps!
Kenny, you younguns don’t remember what we saw in the past. You can’t be taught what happened in 1985 in the mountains, and was allowed by this military of the North, and we can’t tell you about the 1970’s in Mae Sae and after.
Kenny, we can’t teach you, and your generation doesn’t know how to learn what we can’t say.
Many of us are exasperated. We want to speak, but we cannot. The Thai military knows what it is doing, it knows what it is capable of doing, and there is a world which normal people never see. The military knows. Older people know, and the hill tribes know.
Yingluck was here yesterday.
Others were here last week.
Learn this word: ท้าว
But don’t use that word.
it’s a good thing they did n’t wait 3 weeks .. there would be trouble if they shut down the Tv during the World cup !
I’ve never heard BKK so quiet as it is now. A few buses and taxis still running on sukhumvit.
it is hard to say how it effects the people there,as we are in aus.i was getting ready to book a hotel and flights, but the misses says hang on a while.i hope it is settled soon for the sake of the people who makes their living from tourism.buy a video player and that will fix the TV. problem.cheers
john from aus.
all the best Chris
Coming here on vacation…yeah i wouldn’t right now since everything is closed at night, it won’t last long though.
Yes curfew ok I just got back from Khonkaen, with my other half / Thai – they will get over it all – but I think it will take longer this time – Chris is right if they really want to they can do exactly as they like. with Joe Westerner !
We didn’t have any real hassles but you just never know . From what ive seen last say 3 years there has been a real shortage & decline in tourist’s! You would think the government would wake up! and realize they are chasing away their cash cows!
Thai are killing their own cash cow, with all the rubbish they go on with !
Governments all corrupt!! but its been the same for 50 years, its nothing new really!
previous imposition of curfew from 10 pm to 5 am has been changed to 12 a.m until 4 a.m. I am a singer in one of the hotels here in Bangkok but the advice was it’s ok to be late on the road as long as you have documented papers or relevant visas to show off once you’ve happen to be asked through the checkpoints.or stay away from where there’s a lot of rallies or crowded people that for sure they have no mercy of taking you to the precinct and be jailed for a night.