Article in today's Bangkok Post:
There is still music in the air. Several waiters are working, but only a few customers are seated.
Dancers wait in the doorway of King’s Castle 3 on Patpong, where customers have been in short supply lately. THITI WANNAMONTHA
To, a 35-year-old pub manager on Silom Soi 4, welcomes me to his lonely bar. He has lost 90% of his customers since the red shirts moved to Silom, costing his large pub more than 50,000 baht per night.
By day, Silom Road is the heart of Bangkok's financial district, home to numerous banks, brokerages and consultancies. But once the sun sets, the street transforms from a busy business centre into one of the world's most infamous red-light districts.
You have Patpong Road, famous for its rowdy clubs, go-go bars and open markets flaunting the latest knockoff bags, watches and Hollywood movies. Soi Thaniya boasts dozens of high-end clubs catering to an ever-shrinking population of Japanese expats.
And then you have Soi 2 and Soi 4, the centre for the capital's gay nightlife. Pubs, bars, restaurants, saunas and massage spas can be seen left and right, catering to Thai and foreigners alike and open until the wee hours of the morning.
At least up until two weeks ago, anyway.
Bloody skirmishes between security forces and anti-government red shirts have taken a heavy toll on business, particularly the grenade attacks on April 22 on Silom Road that claimed one life and injured scores of others.
Residents of Silom Road express anger and indignation about how their lives and livelihoods have been all but held hostage by the political infighting.
Jatuphon, 35, has spent much of the past decade on Silom Road since starting his gay tourist magazine, Bangkok Variety in 2000. Most of the advertisers in the handout are entertainment venues located on Soi 2 and Soi 4.
``My customers complain a lot about the situation,'' said Mr Jatuphon. ``Many bars have to close earlier and that definitely affects their income. Some of them asked me to extend the terms of their credit.''
He added that his publishing business has been struggling ever since yellow-shirted protesters shut down Suvarnabhumi Airport in December 2008. Business picked up again late last year, only to plummet when the red-shirt protests started this year.
``When the yellow shirts closed the airport, the number of foreign tourists dropped, but Thais still came. This time it's different. Thais are worried about their safety and have simply stopped coming to the area.''
Politically, Mr Jatuphon said he was not a yellow-shirt supporter, but he absolutely opposed the tactics used by the red shirts, who seem intent on trying to force the government from office by disrupting daily life in the capital.
``I didn't agree when the yellow shirts closed Suvarnabhumi Airport. And I certainly disagree with what the reds are doing today,'' he said.
``I don't agree with them and I'm not afraid. Gay people have a different point of view about politics. Normally we don't want to get involved, but we are ready to express our opinions if we cannot bear it anymore.''
Advertising in the free Bangkok Variety has fallen 40% to 45% in recent weeks, and could decline further if the situation is prolonged, Mr Jatuphon added.
Nearby, Pop, a 24-year-old regular to the area, said he was scared about the threat of new violence.
``I don't dare come to Silom nowadays. I'm afraid of what might happen. Instead, I might go to the bars near Chatuchak Market or Ratchadaphisek, but it's not really the same,'' he said.
To's pub on Soi 4 planned to celebrate its 12th birthday next month before the protests reached Silom. ``If the political situation does not ease by next month, the owners of the pub may have to consider closing their business,'' he said.
``This is not just a pub for gay people. We are like a community. Silom is the destination for both gay tourists and gay foreigners who live in the country,'' he said while watching his waiters group together for a dance.
``I want everybody to respect the law and I am looking for the government to enforce it,'' he added.
As I entered Silom Soi 2/1 to interview the manager of @Richard's Pub and Restaurant, I realised it was empty.
Narongsak Thammavaraporn, the 39-year-old manager, said that normally eight to 10 tables would be taken during dinner time. ``Now we are lucky just to get a few customers in the early hours,'' said Mr Narongsak.
His establishment has lost more than 50% of its typical revenue since the night of the bombs. ``Most of the guests here are foreigners and they are quite concerned about the situation. They are confused about what happened here because they receive information from the foreign press that is quite different from the Thai press.''
The two managers worried that the protests in Silom would not end anytime soon. However, there is still no leader among entrepreneurs in the area to push their concerns to the government.
``We have not laid off any employees yet. We just put them on holiday and make sure those who do come to work will be safe by keeping our eyes on the situation,'' said To.
``If this disturbance is not over soon and we really have to close our business down, I just want to ask, who will be responsible for that?'' said Mr Narongsak.
|