Thaksin rally

Don't buy into what the papers are saying too much, Vinlyn ... the government want a convenient excuse to invoke that securities act, allowing them to stick the army on the streets when the ruling is announced, without looking provocative to neutrals or in the eyes of the international community. Its all precautionary - they want a large presence so that any possible trouble is supressed very quickly. There is no way they are going to allow this one to get out of hand.

According to the news this morning they are saying that there will be a 'strong' millitary presence in most main towns and cities.

Possibly that indicates that troublemakers may well be thinking now that BKK will be too hot for them and are targeting elsewhere??

Possibly that indicates that troublemakers may well be thinking now that BKK will be too hot for them and are targeting elsewhere??

bleaky, so, who do you think fired off the RPG last night at the university and planted the C4 package at the court house in Bangkok?

Maybe "they" will take over the Phuket Airport like they did a few years ago?

Oops, that was the PAD (cum Yellow Shirts)...now the ruling junta!

Indeed, but the military presence is nowhere near as high as yet as it will be.

I aso disagree with the consensus that this will just be a BKK problem - and even more - just limited to the Dusit area. The PM will call Martial Law at the first sign of trouble. That is why he's moving his chess pieces into place already.

I reckon this isn't going be a good time to be in Thailand period. Anywhere.

I'd toyed wth the idea of going to Chanthaburi for a few days but friends there have told me nowt down. Protests are planned all over. What shape they will take is anyone's guess. If the ruling goes badly, count on disrptions and mayhem.
If (when) they take Thaksin's assets, the Red Shirts are going to see it as a further attempt to wipe their leader out and won't just go home and lick their wounds.

This is the flashpoint coming up. The possible climax to all of the recent political unrest. As Wilko said 'it could be a whimper or a bang'...I fear a bang.

I reckon this isn't going be a good time to be in Thailand period. Anywhere.

Yes, I agree. A lot of Thai people are fed up with the lack of any real solutions to the current situations (e.g., the red-yellow stand-off, the south, the economy, etc.). And, the news of government greed, graft and corruption just keeps coming on almost a daily basis.

There was a picture today of the "big guy" peeking out of his hospital window at the New Year's celebrations.

For the "powers that be," the "powers that were," and the "powers that wanna be" -- the stakes are definitely ratcheted up tight at the moment!

Farty: you will be safe in the arms of the tittie women in Nana or Cowboy.

Sam, why do you assume I disagree with you ("Don't buy into what the papers are saying too much, Vinlyn ... the government want a convenient excuse to invoke that securities act, allowing them to stick the army on the streets when the ruling is announced, without looking provocative to neutrals or in the eyes of the international community. Its all precautionary - they want a large presence so that any possible trouble is supressed very quickly. There is no way they are going to allow this one to get out of hand.")? All I said was that it wasn't THE BEST TIME to come to Thailand. Again, I didn't say not to come.

But I also don't blame the papers. I operate most often on one general maxim: Plan for the worst, hope for the best...reality will be somewhere in between.
Do I think there will be a civil war (as some do)? No.
Do I think there will be massive rioting? No.
Do I think there will be coup? Probably not.
Do I think there will be isolated significant problems? Yes.
Do I think it will all pass completely peacefully? No.

We are now entering the phase where people can make their predictions - wild or otherwise - and then after the date either ignore they own stupidity or revel in the glory of "I told you so" - in fact the situation is wide open and no amount of speculation will help.

Dick, I'll be 'indoors' for a few days either side for sure.

Mainwaring, thats the point. Would you rather be safe than sorry?

Speculation that you may or may not be caught up in a nation's worst political crisis in it's 'modern' political history? is not much use.

I'd say err on the side of caution and keep away.

It's OK for the likes of you and I who know the place and speak the lingo, but to a newcomer it could well be a terrifying experience.

terrifying experience? yep like finding out the LB in LBFM stands for laydee bhoy