Is Thailand safe?
 

I am thinking go to Thailand in early October, but am very concerned about the political crisis.

Anyone currently in Thailand? Is it safe there?
-------------------------------------------
Airports shut down:
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2008/08/...7311220013748/

Crisis deepening:
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/stor...%7D&siteid=rss

Away from the demonstration hot spots BKK is same as usual. This will play out over the next few days and I wouldn't worry . The King has made it clear he does not want violence on the streets and Samak therefore has one hand tied. The army are trying to keep out of it and will only get involved if there is a threat to the monarchy. This is politics Thai style and with tourism crucial to the Thai economy the PAD are targeting secondary airports because of their frustration after 4 days of protests being basically at stalemate as Samak refuses to either eject them or negotiate with them. I dont think any-one knows where this will end, but give it a few more days.

Living and working in Thailand, I consider life going on as normal. I have yet to see any of the protests. Mind you, I do not go out much, usually just home and work.

State of emergency announced in Bangkok
 

State of emergency announced in Bangkok
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/brea...ewsid=30082271

Strikes
http://www.bangkokpost.com/topstorie....php?id=130252

Death at clash
http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_....php?id=130253

Yet, still, life goes on almost completely normally for almost everyone. Don't fall victim to CNN syndrome.

Absolutely! I've been in HK for a few days. Flew back into Suvarnahbumi last night....completely normal.....no tanks or soldiers to be seen ! The troops who are in BKK are unarmed and there to keep the 2 sides apart around the hot spots. I now think Samak will go by the end of the week.....meanwhile back here in Jomtien the sun is shining and the boys are as cute as ever....... :)

-- Last night, (wed.), I drove in a taxi with a friend from B*BYL*N SAUNA to Democracy Monum't. and saw no signs of any demonstrators.
- This forenoon I walked-around in that area and all seemed to be quiet; a few of BKK's Finest seen, a couple of their larger vehs. parked out of the way, but otherwise All quiet on the Western Front.' - as one says.
- Fingers, legs and eyes all crossed - d*mn uncomfortable - but one must do what one can for democracy - ha! ;)
-- Bibi.. --

Two Ramkamhaeng University students shot
 

Two Ramkamhaeng University students shot on the way to PM's residence

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/brea...ewsid=30082653

Two Ramkamhaeng University students were shot as they and other students were marching to residence of prime minister in Buengkhum district.

Lardprao police chief Pol Col Somsak Bunsaeng said two men on a motorcycle shot the students, injuring two.

The injured were among about 100 students who marched to Samak's residence to protest against his government.

The shooting happened although police have provided safety along the way.

The march started from the university through Lamsalee Intersection to Soi Nawamin 81 where his residence is.

I wonder how many people were shot in Kansas yesterday? I feel MUCH safer in BKK at the moment than any where in the gun fixated, trigger happy US of A !! Really "e" .. you gotta be kidding us !!

If you Google you will find that the murder rate (that is number of murders per thousand of population) is higher in Thailand than in the USA and has been for a very long time.

Biggles did mention Kansas which had an annual murder rate of 28 per 100,000 in 2005 versus Thailand's 8.47 per 100,000 in 2000. He was also talking about people being shot (not necessarily murdered as was the case with the two RAM students).
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0004902.html

-- I did just that:
http://www.nationmaster.com/
01.- Colombia.........0.617847 per 1,000 persons;
02.- RSA. .............0.496008;
03.- Jamaica .........0.324196;
14.- TH. .............. 0.0800798;
17.- Seychelles ..... 0.0739025, (vacation there, anyone?);
24.- USofA. .......... 0.042802;
46.- Great Britain ....0.0140633;
64.- Qatar.............0.00115868.
- source: 7th. UN. Svy. of crime-trends - 1998-2000..
-- E&OE!

-- From an admittedly amnesis memory of reading
http://www.baht-stop.com
wch. is basically Pataya-centric - quite several or MORE months ago - the chances of a farang dying there from some unexplained death are significantly higher if one is/was a Brit.! For some strange and unexplained reason not a stat. that HBM's. Embassy in BKK. is all that keen to make known ;-(.

Well it took 2 weeks.... but Samak has gone...and it really looks like the PPP is crumbling. A farang friend of mine who lives in BKK (with Thai friends in high places) was quietly told to stock up with food and plan to stay home this week...... so we may see the final act soon ! Anywaythe state of emergency has been cancelled as business is now suffering ... and Thais know they have to be all smiles again for the looming high season. ... and (despite the stats) I still feel safer walking here at night than Kansas in daylight !!

(Bangkok Post)
"The government will lift the state of emergency in Bangkok on Sunday after just 12 days in effect.
The decision was made at a Saturday night meeting between acting prime minister Somchai Wongsawat and Army cief Gen Anupong Paojinda.
They agreed the state of emergency was merely damaging the country, and the political situation was under control."

Believe that and you'll believe anything! It won't bring the tourists back.

Some relatives and I just came back from Hatyai and everything seemed okay. We did see people being bussed off to BKK to take part in the protests (they were handed hard hats as they got on the bus, I was told) but apart from that, it was business as usual.

On the day we took a van in, there were 10 big buses and 15 vans (each seating 12 people) from Malaysia at the border. It was a long weekend in Malaysia but on the day we came out, there were 2 big buses and six vans, so it seems as if normally cautious Malaysians aren't too worried about going into LOS for their regular shopping expeditions.