Sunday, May 23, 2010: Clean Up
This morning I went over to Black Swan for a full monty fry up. Afterwards I took the BTS over to National Stadium station and began to walk back towards Central World, or what was left of it. Seeing photos or news footage of the destruction is one thing. Seeing it first hand was another.
I saw something I didn't expect though. A true testament to the nature of the people here in Bangkok. There were hundreds of folk out cleaning up the mess. Scrapping the Red Shirt's posters off of things or scrubbing away the slogans they'd spray painted everywhere. Gathering up the litter they'd left and washing and sweeping the filth and ash off of the road in front of Siam Discovery all the way over to Chitlom. Some of the people seemed to be part of some civic group but many were just folk out to see the damage for themselves who joined in.
The roof of Siam Square from the Siam BTS
Note that above these buildings are little apartments
No time has been waisted replanting
Soldiers around but keeping a low profile
Cleaning up the Siam Center
Cleaning
People scrapping off Red Shirts posters
Another view
More fire damage
And more
A Red Shirt poster depicting the PM as a vampire
The destroyed Theatre
Another view of the Theatre
Cleaning up
Formerly someone's shop
What was once a restaurant
What might have been an apartment
Another shop
Damage
A view from the Sky Walk
What was a bank
People cleaning
Walking towards Central World
Central World
Another view
Walking East
Clean up continues
Cleaning the filth off the street
Sweeping the water into the drain
Buddha survives the fire at Central World Trade
Clean up
Garbage collected
Central World and the Zen Department Store
The collapsed portion of Central World
Cleaning the intersection
Still smoldering
A view from the street
Battle damage
Fire Truck
Hosing down the ruins
Another view
And another
Ambulance
Damage and a Fire Truck
Former advertising
Food donated to the Security and Fire Crews
Damage done
Heading back towards MBK
Damage
Another view of damage
And another view
Close up
Looking back at Central World
Across from the Paragon
Destruction
More destruction
ATMs
Near Siam Square
Another view
Someone's little shop
The collapsed roof of the Theatre in Siam Square
Another view of the Theatre
The Theatre
All staff now unemployed
One of the hundreds of small budget clothing stores destroyed in Siam Square
Another look at the Theatre
The roof
How many times did I go up these? Many times.
Cleaning in front of the Siam Center and Paragon
Heading back from The National Stadium BTS Station
Saturday, May 22, 2010: Quiet
There was a huge thunder storm last night. I have never been even remotely afraid of thunder and lightening however after the storm woke me I found myself flinching with each boom.
This morning it is sunny for the time being. It looks like there might be rain later. Thai TV is playing Saturday morning cartoons and Power Ranger type nonsense which suggests things are returning to normal.
8:10 pm
Today was pretty quiet. The BTS is supposed to be operational but it certainly isn't anywhere near me. There were Cops up by the Seltzer building but they were keeping a low profile. The curfew has been lifted else where in the country but remains in here from 9:00 pm until 6:00 am.
They are still finding weapons and such like as well as bodies in the burned out buildings. At this point it's unknown if they are looters or Red Shirts who got caught in the fires or if its shop owners or mall employees who got trapped.
One thing to keep in mind is that many of the shops and banks that were attacked where in four or five story walk ups. Setting them on fire resulted in what ever offices or apartments were above the targets going up as well. It is a miracle the fires didn't spread more than they did.
Pool
Bird
Friday, May 21, 2010: Bangkok Weeps
Cloud
Morning Sky
7:00 am
So much damage and destruction.
One thing that is becoming clear to everyone here is that these fires weren't just the acts of an angry mob on a rampage. They were planned in advance and some very specific places were targeted.
The TV News is showing a photograph of a Fire Fighter laying on the ground who'd been shot. Most of the fires came with snipers. What kind of a person shoots at a Fireman?
Now it is interviews with weeping shop owners who lost everything. These folk aren't "elites". They are just people who were trying to make a living like everyone else. Little family businesses completely destroyed.
I keep wondering about the people who owned and worked in the two musical insturment shops I frequented in what was the Central World Trade. I have been buying gear from one for many years. Much of my Korg gear, my Mirco Korg, my mini Kaoss Pad, and Kaossilator as well as some pedals came from a shop called Music Concept. The Hardwire Delay was the last purchase I made there. I never would have thought that the last time I went in there would be the last time I went in there.
The wonderful Electric Mandolin that I got for myself on the 30th anniversary of my 16th birthday came from a store called Rock Planet which had an amazing selection of pedals and stompboxes. The staff at both of these shops were just the best examples of why I love living in Thailand. Friendly, warm, polite and no pretensions. It just breaks my very heart to see what has happened to them.
And these are just two of the hundreds of stores and shops now gone.
The death toll as of last night was at 51.
12:12 PM
This morning at around 10:00 am I could hear a gong or bell tolling to the North East. I've never heard that before.
6:14 pm
The curfew remains but it would seem the worst of this is over for the time being. The Red Leaders kept threatening that if their demands weren't met or if they were moved out from the protest sites that civil war would follow. I think that was the civil war. With out funding, with the leaders detained, and with Seh Daeng dead and Thaskin on the run I think the Red Shirts are done. At least that's what I hope.
They are still arresting folk and the investigations and forensics begin. Snooty people from the first world should not snear at the concept of Thai Police Forensics. Their Chief of Forensics, Khunying Porntip Rojanasunan, has been a thorn in the side of the Police in the past because of her loyality to the truth.
They are still finding bombs and weapons that belong to the Red Shirt Guards. Those arrested are not getting bail. All the regular folk who were in the protests but not part of the Red Shirts Gladiators have been transported home for free. There is going to be funds to help those who lost businesses in all the mayhem.
The new crazy rumour is that the people who did all the shooting, looting and mayhem were speaking Khmer and Burmese. I think it might be difficult for Thais to admit that Thais can hurt other Thais.
One of the best pieces I've read on this whole thing was in the Globe and Mail online of all places. It gives some excellent background and lays the blame exactly where the blame belongs. On Thaskin.
Curfew
Thursday, May 20, 2010: Bangkok Smoldering
Morning sky
7:00 am
I just woke after not much sleep. It seems pretty quiet outside now. There doesn't appear to be any fires nearby but the smoke from what ever remains from Central World is still drifting to the north.
The Red Shirts set Big C on fire early in the morning so some of them must be still running around.
One of the TV Stations is showing footage of Central World going up as well as a other buildings around the city that were attacked. There are some more reports of the Red Shirts running wild up country.
8:24
I am watching live footage of front end loaders and bulldozers clearing the remains of the Red Shirt barricades over near Lumpini. That is a good sign some of this is over. If there were armed Reds in the area they wouldn't have the civic guys in there.
The price of the Baht hasn't changed much from yesterday morning even with all this destruction. I could really go for a Black Swam fry up but I'm not quite ready to venture out. Maybe this weekend if it is still standing.
The area around what was Central World is still off limits due to fears of snipers.
The US State Department is urging restraint on both sides.
It looks like the Reds burned down the mall near the Victory Monument too. I wonder what the death toll of people who were caught in these fires will be. The press seems to lump everyone not in uniform with the Red's causualties which might be why the Reds were sniping at locals for fun.
I wouldn't want to be a Red Shirt leader who took incoming money
transfers from Thaskin today.
One thing I believe is that if Seh Daeng, the Red's military adviser, hadn't been shot by Nicolas Cage or Jason Bourne this would have been much worse. If he'd been around to coordinate things there would probably still be fighting and burning going on.
The curfew continues until further notice.
1:30 pm
I did go out briefly this morning. Everything is pretty quiet around here and things looked normal with the exception of parts of Asok and Sukhumvit that had been torched briefly yesterday afternoon. There were Cops lounging around on the Sky Walk who judging by their various states of sleep had been up all night guarding the intersection.
From the looks of the damage the Red Shirts had set tires or a car on fire right in front of the Sheraton Hotel but it had been cleared and all that remains is the damaged road. Towards Asok there were several other spots that had been set on fire as well as unused fuses for molotov cocktails and some make shift sticks to light off things from a distance laying on the ground.
The Cops must have come down hard on them and cleared them out quickly as the buildings they were going after were pretty obvious by where the fires were started; The Sheraton, Robinson's, the Weston and the Exchange Tower. If the strip next to the Sheraton had caught a whole area of little apartments and walk ups would have burned down.
I walked over to Robinson's and picked up a few more items then headed back to Old Gregg's.
Center One over by the Victory Monument which is a ten minute walk from my old digs at SOL was destroyed. I guess if there are no upscale malls to burn down the Red Shirts will take what they can find.
The big fuel depot down by the river has been under threat for some time as well. The Government is taking that seriously.
The more of the Red Shirt Leaders have surrendered. The rabble rousers are now asking the rabble to stop rioting.
The fire count for the last 24 hours is now 35.
Cops resting after enforcing the curfew
Officer Ham
Catching up on the news
Damage from yesterday's failed attempt by the Red Shirts to take Asok and Sukhumvit
Damage near The Sheraton
The bike gives away the scale
Damage on Asok
Unused molotov cocktail fuses in front of the Seltzer building
fuses
7:00 pm
I just had a run and a swim. Now I'm back up at Old Gregg's. I can see smoke off in the West and there are some helicopters about. There is nothing online about it yet but clearly there are still lots of the Red Shirt Black Guards running around causing trouble. Curfew starts at 9:00 pm tonight but I imagine it will be a little more seriously enforced.
It would look like lots of trouble up country still.
This might be what I'm seeing with the smoke.
The news is showing rioting up country as well as photos of Thaskin and the very dead Seh Daeng hanging out and being chummier that Frodo and Samwise. The Red Shirt leaders who have been arrested must be all falling over themselves to provide things like that to avoid death.
One major error the Red Shirts made was photographing and videoing everything they were doing, as well as their preparations. As they have been arrested the Cops have taken their cameras and are now using what they found on them to prove the Red Shirt Black Guards were very well armed and trained.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010: Bangkok Burning
Morning smoke
7:00 am
This morning I was woken up by the sound of helicopters flying over to the south. I can see smoke rising in the West.
Reports of soldiers standing by to go in on Bangkok Post's website. They're saying "Tanks" that means armoured cars from what I'm now seeing on TV. It looks like they started moving into position at 4:00 am.
I can hear shots. The helicopters are staying high up.
7:40 am
Footage on TV of soldiers and APC's going towards the Red Shirt barricades. They are saying the soldiers going up don't have M-16s, only riot guns. Which is true from what I can see except some of them have Heckler & Koch assault rifles. The fellows I'm seeing look like the same guys who were over near the Residence of the Princess and MBK during the coup in 2006.
Footage of more troops standing by. These have M-16s.
8:00 am
That's a lot of smoke. There is no way that is from tires even if you spell it "TYRE". That sort of smoke is from a burning building.
The Post is saying the Reds set the Narcotics Control Building over near Din Daeng on fire. The news is showing some burning buildings but the one I'm seeing looks like one of the Hospitals near Lumpini is on fire.
8:15
Troops have cleared part of Silom.
TV Footage of some Red Shirts legging it. I think when this is all done there will be a shortage of taxis.
I was seeing that Hospital. Reports are the smoke is from tires but that Hospital looks like it is on fire.
Lots of bangs off in the distance.
11:50 am
I had several things to take care of this morning which required me to go out. I could clearly see fires burning to the south on Rama IV when I did. There were Cops mustering up at Sukhumvit and Soi 31, arriving in vans and putting on their riot gear.
I was amazed to see some Farang woman woman riding a bicycle with her little kid on the back. Unbelievable.
TV coverage
TV Footage of the 4:00 am operations
Soldiers and APCs prepare to storm the barricades
Another view of smoke
Smoke
Heading out at 9:30 am
Smoke too close to home
Some idiot with her kid riding around on a bike
Cops mustering at Soi 31
Cops arriving
Suiting up
Brits will be happy that The Londoner Pub remains open
News of the assaults on the protest sites
1:11 pm
A fire just broke out north of us. It looks like its on Sukhumvit near the Weston.
Lots of smoke, like a building is on fire not just some tires.
Shots.
Fire up towards Asok
Not good
If the Government or the Cops can come up with enough proof Thaskin is paying for this he will have to share a cave with Bin Laden.
It looks like they arrested some of the big Red Shirt leaders. They are parading them on TV being taken into custody.
I heard a bomb go off close by a few minutes ago. More smoke, more fires to the North. Rumours that Central World Mall is on fire. What a shit storm. Most of the Red Leaders have surrendered but the goons are running around setting fires and looting.
2:25 pm
Mean while out of town the Reds are threatening violence if their demands are not met.
Yikes, the power went out for a moment.
Central World is burning. So the Reds made good on their threat to burn it down. Nice. Thanks, Thaskin. But the Army has cleared Lumpini Park.
Bizarre. I can hear shots, see smoke from fires but I can hear a rooster crowing and to the east construction on a new building continues as if this is any other day. Welcome to Bangkok.
The news is showing the army in one of the Red Shirt camps. News men helping to carry soldiers who've been shot. Cops showing captured weapons and 5.56 ammo and a big bag of weed in the Red Camp.
Bangs and pops continue outside. I've got the blinds closed, not for fear of sniping but if something big goes off I don't want glass coming my way. Amazingly people in buildings near by are sitting out on their balconies.
Operation Mayhem continues out side of Bangkok. Cars and buildings burning up country. Udon and elsewhere by the looks if it. I would expect martial law or a curfew tonight. They will need to track down the guys running about the Westfold burning as they go.
The Paragon is on fire. Grrrr.
4:10 pm
The power is off in our area. Amazingly I get wi-fi down by the pool. There was a multitude of sirens heading towards Asok and Sukhumvit. The word on the street is that the Reds tried to or did set a fuel truck on fire up that way. Also we lost our cell phone signals briefly.
Birds chirping, trees, plants flowers swaying in a lovely breeze. Which unfortunately smells like smoke. The pool itself is closed off in case of things landing on swimmer's heads. but there are various expats and locals sitting around out here reading.
The Bangkok Post building is being evacuated. Red shirts are moving towards it with intentions of burning it down.
Word on the street is troops and cops now have orders to shoot anyone setting fires or looting.
The Red Shirts have set fire to Siam Square and apparently the low cost theatre there has collapsed. The Siam Square area is full of small shops that are by no means upscale.
4:19
8:00 pm curfew tonight. I can hear more shots. Big ones, 7.62. M-79s going off.
Smoke is less to the north. But there are fires all over. Need to save my battery. More later.
The pool is closed
No service while the Cops move into Asok
6:19 pm
The power came back on after about an hour so I've relocated to the comforts of home. A last minute food run was made to the Grocery just in case. I've been stock piling water and foodstuffs for about a week but I thought it best to make one more run up before I get trapped inside Old Gregg's or a band of Red Shirts loot and burn down the store. It was a frenzy inside. Expats of various types, Japanese, Chinese, Farang, and local Thais were buying out the place. I spent about 100 bucks which in Thai grocery terms is quite a haul.
One thing I'll say is as awful as what is happening is, and it is truly awful, you see the real quality of some people in this sort of situation. The various humble security guards, the staff in shops, people out and about all have shown such concern for me and each other in this situation. In many ways Bangkok is like New York or London in that if you live here you know what it means to live here. There is a real strength of character among the various Thais I've dealt with today that is polar opposite to the shitheads who've set the city on fire because they didn't get their way.
The Red Shirts threaten violence from even before they arrived in March. They threatened violence all through there stay and now they are running around trying to burn the place to the ground. Their excuse of being poor wore thin long ago around this town. There are lots of poor people in Bangkok and they are now the ones hiding in their little apartments hoping these fires don't spread.
So... For now I am safe in my place and stalked up for the curfew.
Central World Trade won't survive the night.
12:40 am
One last post before I sleep. Things are quiet outside. I can't see any fires but that burning building smell is heavy. The Nation has a good round up of the fires and the mayhem.
Central World Trade is done. The nice folk at the nice little shops who sold me my Khim and my Mandolin are now either without a business or a job. Them and about 14,000 other people.
The death penalty is being considered now for some protesters.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010: Another Day
9:00 am
Everything is shut down again today. 24 hour type shops also seem to be locking up, possibly due to fears of looting. Yesterday one of the Red Shirt leaders asked the Reds not to loot because it might not go over well with the locals. He also said they should try to befriend the locals. I am not sure if that means not to shoot at them or burn their cars as well. It does seem a bit late to try and make nicey nice though.
The Army hasn't moved against the main protest sites yet. I would speculate they have to sort of Rama IV first. There are a few news items that aren't really news such as the Reds sniping at locals and Thaskin paying for all this.
Food and necessities are also low in some areas.
7:30 pm
Things were very quiet today. I didn't hear any shooting at all. That doesn't mean there wasn't shooting else where but it does feel like an improvement.
This morning the Cops were on all the Thai channels showing video footage, a lot of from Red Shirts lines of Red Shirt Guards running about with rifles and guns, firing them, making gasoline bombs and so forth. One frightening bit of footage was the Red Shirts surrounding an Army truck, taking the guard on the back and the driver and beating the living shit out of them after taking their weapons which they both amazingly chose not to use. I think it was only the rescue workers who managed to stop them from beating them to death. This program contained something I've never seen here on government reports or announcements; English subtitles. The authorities must realize that they are losing the propaganda war outside of the Kingdom.
One interesting thing to hear are the many rumors that go around, some from the Government side, others from the Reds. Most of the Red claims border on ridiculous, such as the one about Soldiers hiding in the Hospitals near Lumpini. That one resulted in the Red Guards going in and scaring the staff and patients and making themselves look like a bunch of thugs. The other claim that they have made from day one was that there would be a "crackdown in the next 48 hours". The Red Shirt leaders have been saying that for so long its become sort of a joke. The newest claim though is the soldiers who are doing the shooting are all speaking Khmer. Considering Thailand has ongoing border duffies with Cambodia the notion that Thais have brought in Cambodian troops is beyond ridiculous.
Thaskin's Farang lawyer was on some British news show talking nonsense and the interview was re-broadcast on Thai TV. While he was going on with the Thaskin points about the Red Shirts being peaceful innocents they played video of them shooting, trying to burn stuff and so on. The British interviewer actually took him to task on a few points which was nice to see.
Meanwhile the Cops have arrested Seh Daeng's right hand man.
The "holiday" has been extended to Friday. The BTS and MRT will remain closed as well.
Fire is the big danger now. If fire trucks can't get in the fires can spread.
The smoke from burning tires
Monday, May 17, 2010: The City is Closed
9:00 am
It was clear ealier but now it has clouded over again and it looks like rain is coming. That might help with the issue of fires.
The city is closed today. The BTS and subway are closed until Wednesday.
The death toll is up to 35 now. Aparently tourists are hiding in the basement of the Dusit. Why would you stay in a Hotel that close to the Red Shirts to start with?
The Bangkok Post has a pretty good opinion piece on how the Red Shirt leaders miscalculated things.
Rain! My laundry!!
I'm sure everyone will be relieved that the wind was blowing away not towards the apartments so nothing got soaked. That was a lot of rain.
I can see some smoke coming up from over towards Central World but not a lot. It is probably just more burning tires. Time to find breakfast.
10:20 am
Reuters news service like most of the internation press just can't seem to believe that the Red Shirts have guns.
"Thousands of armed troops struggled to throw a security cordon around Bangkok's commercial center Saturday battling protesters armed with petrol bombs, rocks and, according to the government, possibly guns and grenades."
Possibly? Turn on the TV here and you can watch them shooting back. Never mind there month of grenade and shooting attacks prior to this crack down. Now it would seem now that the Red Shirts will shoot at anyone who tries to leave their apartments in the effected zones.
With that in mind considerations of legging it out of here before its too BADWOLF to leave are now in the making.
2:10 pm
There a great deal of shooting now. Shots every few seconds instead of one ever few minutes. Mixed calibers as well with a few big thuds which I would assume are M79s.
Seh Daeng, the Red General has died.
The CRES has issued a 3pm deadline for the Reds to leave the area around the Rajprasong rally site.
2:51 pm
I just got a call informing me that there are a lot of soldiers up at Sukhumivt near Asok. I was warned off going up that way but I may have no choice as I'm not having Joop Joop walk back that way alone.
3:52 pm
I can see smoke rising to the north west. It looks like it would be near Petchaburi between Nana and Asok.
4:11 pm
Now I'm getting warnings that the Reds are burning tires and stuff up at Asok but I don't believe it as I would be able to see or smell it.
Gunfire over at Phayathai Hospital. That would be north of where I lived in 2008.
5:00 pm
Time to collect the Joopster. Wish me luck.
7:00 pm
Back. That was tame. The biggest danger I encountered was two European tourist who smelled like they hadn't showered since March. Other than that all was quiet.
I got a text (sms) from Bonhomme that said " Appears to be a guy with a rifle on top of one of the buildings between Soi 26 and Sukhumvit"
My reply: "Cop?"
Bonhomme: "I can't tell his affliation"
Me: "Nicolas Cage?"
We watched some of the local news. It was mostly shots of soldiers milling around and the Red Shirts setting an unending supply of tires a blaze. They also seem to have stolen a petrol truck and parked it somewhere near Lumpini then started firing at it trying to set it off. I wonder how disappointed they were it didn't explode like in the movies.
Walking back everything was shut down. The motorcycle taxis seemed to be out in force all up along Sukhumvit. The transit is shut down so they may just be hoping for fares. The ones at the top of my street were all drinking and listening to the Red Shirt radio show. They might go on some sort of Red Shirt rampage later when they are drunk enough. This is the main reason I wanted to get Joopster back before it got too late.
One thing I saw that was just baffling was some silver mulleted Farang guy walking along up Asok carrying his half-white baby. What sort of idiot would walk around at dusk during civil unrest with his baby?
Sunday, May 16, 2010: Sunday Rain
Morning sky
10:30 am
I am currently at the Black Swan having breakfast. I walked Joop Joop over to work at 9:30 am and then came here. The BTS seems to be closed still.
Big dark clouds and rumbling thunder have rolled in this morning and it is due to rain. I doubt the rain will stop what is going on but at least it will break the heat.
The Army continues to push in towards the protest sites so with the number of protesters and the area they stretch over I'd be suprised if this ends any time sooner than mid week. The conflict will go on after this though. As long as Thaskin is still running around.
I'm glad the Army took Asok a few weeks back as if the Red Shirts had managed to set up there they would have also been able to set in in Queen Sirkit Park and this would be going on down the street from me. Also taking Asok down to Rama IV would have given them control of several more key intersections.
The international news flaps it's collective arms at the images of soldiers shooting and people running. The big cheeses of various countries tut tut and urge restraint.
Here's a question.
What country in the world would allow thousands of supporters of a former Prime Minister take over key sections of their capital city for two months, shut down the city, storm a hospital, set off bombs, fire grenades and shoot at police and citizens? Anyone?
Looking back at how this has unfolded several things are clear. The original attempt to move the protesters out in April wasn't well thought out. They went in at the wrong time of the day and underestimated what the Red Shirt reaction would be. I was at the Paragon the day the Red Shirts took over that section and it was clear even then that they were absolutely spoiling for a fight. How the Cops and Army couldn't see that is a mystery to me.
However the Reds lost all tatical advanges when they barricaded themselves in to these areas. As long as they were moving around there wasn't much anyone could do. Once they had set up in specific areas the Army were able to box them in, prevent them from moving out and ultimately able to prevent any reinforcements or supplies from coming in.
Everyone felt pretty awful after the shootings and deaths in April but what ever moral high ground the Reds gained in that was lost when they started firing grenades at the locals and BTS and when they stormed the Hospital. A lot of folk had been crititical of the Government for not moving on them quicker but now it looks like the Government just gave them enough time to show their true colors and completely lose face. Then the Red Shirts refused to take the peace offerings that were generous enough to anger the Yellow Shirts and Multicolors and the dead line came. As Thai's would say "sum num na".
BTS is closed
6:50 pm
I came back from the Swan and could see lots of black burning tire smoke coming up from Rama IV beyond Queen Sirkit Park. I was knackered from two late nights in a row so I slept for a bit then got up and did some recording. I checked the TV at around 6:00 pm and officials were making some sort of speech, interupting programs on every Thai channel. No subtitles or translater so I can only assume they were talking about things being shut down until Wednesday. No martial law or curfew has been declared yet though.
Bonhomme called me a few minutes back, he can hear M79s going off as he is closer to Rama IV than me. He can also see the Reds blocking part of it with barricades and smoke. I went out on the balcony and could hear the Red's loud speakers barking away what ever operation mayhem instructions or pep talk they constantly play. I could hear some shots and cracks from my place too.
The Monday and Tuesday days are "holidays". Again the Nation has a good round up of the events. For me it is time to swim, then go over to make sure Joop Joop is okay.
8:49 pm
Swam. Ate.
It sounds quieter out, although I heard one crackling volly that sounded like armalite shots while I was swimming. Most of the shooting has been single shots so this stood out.
The death toll has risen, and Thaskin is seeking "help".
This is rich.
Robert Amsterdam, a lawyer acting on behalf of the fugitive Thaksin, has issued a statement calling upon the international community to respond to the Thai government's violent crackdown on protestors in Bangkok.
Mr Amsterdam said the use of live ammunition without warning on unarmed, peaceful protestors represents "a disproportionate response" in violation of the Thai constitution and basic human rights under international treaties. He called upon regional and global leaders to "issue a joint declaration in favor of an immediate cessation of violence by government forces and a return to democratic process."
Unarmed? Peaceful? The Red Shirts are unarmed and peaceful? Really? Tell that to the people killed at Silom BTS when they shot a M79 at the station. What rules of engagement have the Red Shirts followed over the last month?
9:12 pm
Time to go out.
11:30
Back.
Watched some news coverage from the local stations.
One thing for certain is that the real heroes of this whole unpleasant situation are the ambulance crews, rescue teams and ghost truck drivers who have been risking life and limb to pull the wounded out of from the fray. I watched footage of these guys creeping up to fallen police and soldiers and bringing them back as well as going into the Red Shirt ranks and pulling their wounded out. There was footage of them bringing wounded from both sides into the same hospital. I hope the international press will bother to notice these very brave guys.
Saturday, May 15, 2010: It Continues
Morning sky
7:35 am
It is a lovely morning out. Unfortunately the violence continued through the night and will no doubt continue today.
Taxis have blocked the highway near Din Daeng.
The Nation has a pretty good round up of yesterday's events.
The Army is preventing more Red Shirts to come down to reinforce their ranks here so there might be spill over fighting else where.
8:35 am
The death toll from yesterday is now at 16.
8:55 am
More sirens.
2:19 pm
I was out and about from 11:00 am on. I had some breakfast and headed up towards The Seltzer Building. Things on this side of the no go zone seem normal. The some of the staff at the Starbucks in The Seltzer are from the Paragon and recognized me having served me ice lattes for many years. I talked to them briefly, they seem annoyed and embararssed by the Red Shirts.
I can hear helicopters but I can't see them. I can also hear shots coming from the direction of Central World.
An update on today from The Nation
Swim
3:20 pm
I had a swim which was nice considering the temperature. Also swimming provides me a way of not thinking about what's going on and not worrying about people I know. Except when helicopters fly over. They seem to be flying very high up for obvious reasons. No shots that I could hear though, which is good. I have to out again for a birthday party of all things.
For all my Canadian family and friends who seem to think this sort of thing could never happen in Canada all I have to say is "Oka".
Apparently the Army has posted warnings they are using live ammo in certain areas.
The troops were shooting rubber bullets over by Lumpini again. That is what I must have heard earlier.
One thing about the Red Shirts no one seems to see the irony of is their name; the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship. For people against dictatorship they certainly do a lot of dictating. Now they are demanding a cease fire. If the government has decided to send in the soldiers and shoot one of your leaders in the head it is somewhat unlikely that you are in a position to demand anything.
Time to go to a Birthday party.
1:31 am
Just back from the Birthday party. There were cops up near Asok, three vans worth all milling about with no jackets as if they were either coming on or going off shift. There were also a 'ghost trucks' roaring by indicating more trouble.
The death toll is now at 22 and there is no sign of this letting up.
What a nightmare.
Rescue Trucks parked up near Asok
Arrested Reds on the late news
More footage from the day
And more of some Army guys taking cover
Friday, May 14, 2010: Red Shirt Report
Morning sky
8:00 am
There were clashes last night however as far as I can tell, from what little information there is, the Red Shirts have not been driven out of their strong holds. So far there is only reports of about 20 injured and one dead.
12:30 pm
The Cops and Army have fired tear gas and rubber bullets at Red Shirts over near Lumpini and the Lumpini Bazaar.
The Khlong over towards my old stomping grounds is closed as is Sala Daeng.
1:39 pm
Helicopters.
Also bangs coming from over across to the West. I can't tell what the bangs are because of the distance but now it has stopped.
It's HOT out. It must be at least 40 C.
1:42 pm
That's definately shots being fired. Bangkok Post online reports the Troops shot tear gas at the Red Shirts. That may be what I was hearing, that or shotguns firing rubber bullets.
More helicopters go by.
2:00 pm
The Nation is reporting their are more troops headed to Wireless Road, and that the Troops and Reds are shooting at each other which is probably what I am hearing.
I wonder if standing out on my balcony is a bad idea.
3:00 pm
Quiet enough outside now. The Red Shirts are supposedly burning tires or "tyres" at the Brits spell it over on Rama IV but we're facing the wrong way to see it.
3:34 pm
The BTS is due to shut down by 4:00 or 5:00 pm depending on which news source you listen to. Apparently a French journalist got a bullet in the leg, as did a Thai camera man.
Protesters tried to take an Army check point which resulted in an "exchange of gun fire". I fear the butchers bill will be higher today than it was on April 10th.
4:15 pm
Thaskin is calling for "talks". Suddenly he's worried about Police using violence. The same Thaskin who gave the Police a free pass to shoot anyone deemed "a drug dealer" with no due process resulting in about 2000 people dying in a few months. Even His Majesty the King wanted an explaination about that.
I'm surprised Thaskin's list of suggestions don't include giving him back his 76 billion baht and making him Prime Minister again.
4:26 pm
First reported death of the day. I'm certain with the shooting that's been going on there will be others.
6:10 pm
The sun is beginning to sink. I think I may need a swim.
Sun set looking towards trouble
11:10 pm
Swam then went for dinner with some fellow expats at the Rang Mahal and had some outstanding Indian food. The restaurant is on the 26th floor of the Rembrant Hotel so we had an excellent view of the city. Everything looked so normal. I saw a bit of news footage from today afterwards. A burning bus, some ambulance guys pulling wounded Red Shirt guards out Lumpini Park.
The death toll is now at 7 which seems rather low considering how long the fighting has been going on. Sala Dang BTS was hit by Red's M79 Grenades.
A car bomb was found and disarmed.
I have to say how bizarre this is. I never ever thought I'd see the day where something like this would happen here. I know for those who don't live here or who have never been every where beyond The Shire is scary and full of dragons. But to see some guy laying wounded in Lumpini Park where I've walked and sat many many times it's beyond strange.
The battles are continuing from what I'm reading on the Nation's website and at Bangkok Post.
This will be going on all weekend I fear.
Sirens outside.
Everyone in the country must be on line right now. The internet is going 1995 speeds.
Watching the March 28, 2009 HAROLD gig to cheer myself up. The ending with Wally Jericho is truly outstanding.
11:55 pm
I've been awake since 4:00 am. I think it is time to sleep. More updates tomorrow.
Thursday, May 13, 2010: Red Shirts
A number of my friends and family have expressed some concerns about my safety with "The Red Shirt" situation in Bangkok. So here is what has been going on and some photos I've taken over the last two months.
No matter what you've seen portrayed on CNN this situation is not simply a matter of poor verses elites despite the Red Shirts wrapping themselves in the social justice flag. This is all about former Prime Minister Thaskin and his minions trying to get back into power and or give some pay back for the Thai Courts seizing 76 Billion Baht of his assets. The Reds came down on Bangkok a few days after the Courts ruled against him and have basically shut down the city since mid-March.
When they first arrived they drove around "protesting" in huge numbers, snarling up traffic and causing some confusion but nothing more. Then they began occupying various locations such as the areas near Pantip, Central World (formerly World Trade), the Paragon, Siam Discovery, Siam Center and over near Silom and Lumpini Park. Mixed in with the Red rank and file were black shirted "Gladiators" who were clearly there to serve as security and if needs be mix it up with the Police or Army.
On April 10th the Army attempted to move the Red Shirts out of various places but it turned into battle and 23 people died while nearly 1000 were injured, some seriously. I was very close to this event as it began and was stuck on the BTS when it was shut down. I managed to get some British tourists back to their hotel and get home safely.
After April 10 everyone seemed to step back and both sides blamed each other for starting it. The Electoral Commission voted to dissolve the ruling party for some infractions dating back to 2005 so everything seemed to be over. Except the PM's party had the right to appeal, which they did, and the Reds didn't leave.
Over the weeks following Song Kran the Reds shot M 79 grenades at some locals counter protesting them closing down the area near Silom and managed to kill a few people, injure many and damage the Silom BTS station. I heard at least one of the explosions from this attack from my apartment.
The week following the Silom attack the Reds stormed a Hospital on the notion that there were troops "hiding" inside. There wasn't. But they managed terrify the staff and patients and the hospital was evacuated. That blunder was a major loss of face for their movement.
The Army set up not far from where I live just over two weeks ago. These troops were older and better kitted up than the 19 year old conscripts that they used on April 10. They were there for about a week then relocated.
The current Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva set up a road map to try and defuse the situation which the Red Shirts accepted but continued to change their demands, made more demands, and refused disperse. Today was the dead line for the Reds to go home. At 6pm tonight a huge area of the city was blocked off, all the way from just West of where I live now to the intersection near my old place.
The Reds arrive in March
The Red Shirt convoys became almost common place in March
Red Shirt's black shirted "Gladiators" ready to mix it up
A soldier watches the procession of Red Shirts
A Gladiator
Traffic problems
Thaskin's face on a brand new red polo worn by a food vendor
Gladiators on the back of a pick up
This rally was in early April prior to taking over the areas around the Siam BTS
Thaskin's image is everywhere
The Red Shirts head towards Chitlom
April 10th, Reds set up road blocks on Sukhumvit while I flee the other way on foot
Reds take over several areas including in front of Siam Discovery
Bomb sniffing dog near The Black Swan
One of several water canon trucks parked near by
Expanded barricades near Siam Discovery & MBK
Barricades
One of many posters near MBK
The Red's Siam Center camp from the Skywalk
Another view
The Reds camp under the Siam BTS Station
Troops with TAR 21 rifles and shotguns guarding near Asok BTS
8:00 pm
The Nation website is reporting that the guy organizing the Red's armed wing, Lt Gen Khattiya Sawasdipol also know as Seh Daeng, who has proven to be a major thorn in the side of the authorities was shot in the head near the Red Shirt's Silom camp and is in "Serious Condition".
Clearly this is kicking off again.
11:00 pm
Some kind of kick off over near Lumpini. Or a continuation of earlier perhaps. Ten injuries reported from rubber bullets.
11:51 pm
Not much more news. Losing Seh Daeng will be a major set back for the Red Shirts. I have to be up at 5:30 am to run so for now I'm off to bed.
