Bangkok Reports

[Nauskas]

60 mm Mortar 1000-3500 meters

It was an M-224 that was noted to have been used. Most likely it is old stuff with a range under 1.5 km. (Asok is beyond the spots like Sala Daeng or the box) Considering the reds are mostly packing sling shots, bows and arrows and fire crackers, it doesn't seem useful to blow it out of proportion.

Considering the only foreigners to get hurt have been reporters in the kill box, I find it highly unlikely anyone will target tourist zones or specifically civilian targets.

Much of the drama for both sides has been controlled to avoid issues outside the declared hot spot.

[Giotto]

Problem zones right now:

Bon Kai / Klong Toey / Rama IV: Gunfire / Lotus shopping center on fire

Wireless Road: Gunfire / Explosions

Din Daeng: Situation reported to be tense, red shirts with hand guns

Victory Monument

Thon Buri Bridge


Giotto

[Schubba]

spend the Sunday in my hotel on sukhumvit soi 2 and had a few walks in the area to biergarten and some oil massage. At 5 pm there were very few girls in biergarten. I passed by Nana 7.30 pm, all clubs were open, but those I looked into was almost empty - no or few girls. One place said it was too early and they will come later 10 pm!!. That is not normal. Else all street bars open and full of waiting and hungry girls :-)

The army has established a check point behind my hotel - the street before soi 2 along the high way. My hotel, who is following the situation, told me it was ok to go out if you against Asoke.

If you want to become suicide it is not guaranteed it will happen for you in this area :-) - better find a bridge and jump. What ever you do in life there is allways a risk. You shall just minimize it and only yourself can do it by taking precautions. So I will go out tonight to take care of the sweet girls in the empty bars.

[Mangofan]

Is it still possible to leave Bangkok? I live in Sathorn near Silom and was thinking of getting out to Pattaya to escape all this.

[Naughty]

Yeah... Take cover in the Fuhrerbunker-15-Thermae-Strasse . No I dont think he meant mortars like that.

Does the Thai military use toy mortars?

If the government doesn't stand down and resume talks there is going to be a blood bath.

[Primo Bolan]

60 mm Mortar 1000-3500 meters

81 mm 4600-5700 meters

107 mm 5600-6800 meters

120 mm 7200 meters


Asok is well within range of random or aimed mortar fire. Especially the heavier and far more lethal (but still highly portable and easily concealable) varieties.

Note that either side could launch a veiled attack on tourist areas with different motives, but the same results as far as the victims are concerned.

It is safest to leave Bangkok and keep a low profile wherever you go.

Yeah... Take cover in the Fuhrerbunker-15-Thermae-Strasse . No I dont think he meant mortars like that.

[Naughty]

If you do come, its probably better to stay near Asok. Its well out of Mortar range. Be safe everyone.

60 mm Mortar 1000-3500 meters

81 mm 4600-5700 meters

107 mm 5600-6800 meters

120 mm 7200 meters


Asok is well within range of random or aimed mortar fire. Especially the heavier and far more lethal (but still highly portable and easily concealable) varieties.

There is nothing that says the fire has to originate from within the "red" zone anyway. In fact, it would more likely not be fired from there as that area is heavily surveilled and too unstable.

Note that either side could launch a veiled attack on tourist areas with different motives, but the same results as far as the victims are concerned.

RPG's, hand and gun fired grenades, burst and single-round gunfire, and IED's also are a threat.

Random acts of violence are likely to occur as the overall secuity situation continues to degrade. Looting, arson, and opportunistic robberies and other crimes may occur.

DO NOT go outside wearing anything red, yellow, or any shade of green which could be mistaken as military camoflage. Women should be especially careful.

It is safest to leave Bangkok and keep a low profile wherever you go.

[Giotto]

Govt declares May 17 and 18 public holidays in Bangkok.
Sunday, 16 May, 2010 6:42:05 PM

We have to understand this a clear warning, that something is going to happen, if the red shirt leader will not clear the Rajprasong demonstration.

Sukhumvit road is blocked somwhere outside - to prevent new red shirts from entering the city. There are army trucks in Soi Nana, lots of soldiers in the lower Sukhumvit.

If you still need to go out (DON'T) it's Soi Cowboy or Soi 33 for today! Nana seams to be not a good idea right now.


Giotto

[Giotto]

New Google map of the hot zones:

http://maps.google.co.th/maps/ms?hl=...,0.111494&z=14

[Giotto]

First good news in days:

tulsathit: Urgent: CRES puts off curfew plan.
Sunday, 16 May, 2010 5:30:17 PM

tulsathit: CRES has thanked red leaders for allowing kids/women/old ppl to move out of rajprasong.
Sunday, 16 May, 2010 5:27:29 PM

Obviously no curfew today.

Some kind of talking is going on.

OK, guys, this might be the most dangerous time of the game, IF THERE REALLY IS A THIRD HAND PARTICIPATING!

Stay at home or at the hotels!


Giotto

[Primo Bolan]

11:00pm-05:00am

[Bangkok Xx Bob]

You can hear gunfire and explosions all night long.

Sorry my friend but that really is not correct. I'm not downplaying the situation but there are far too many media outlets stoking the fire.

[Nauskas]

Thai government added a 1 week delay to the start of the School year and instituted a curfew in the zone. Anyone on the street in the zone can be shot.

This is the best map I found:
http://maps.google.co.th/maps/ms?hl=...,0.045447&z=15

Those considering travel to Thailand may want to consider locations besides Bangkok or utilize travel waivers.

The Nana area is nearly dead, being only 1 KM from the Red Shirt Camp. You can hear gunfire and explosions all night long. Only a handful of food carts were even out on Soi 4 last night.

I was here after 911, Avian Flu and Yellow shirts. This is the lowest tourist flow I have seen in 15 years visiting. Even taxi drivers and working girls told me they are staying home in fear, but also no customers.

Most hotels now have more employees than guests. It is very easy to get a Hotel discount off Internet specials. I got a 20% reduction off the lowest prices at several hotels by asking. One hotel told me that not only do they have fewer guests, but some check-in for a few hours, after changing their plans to Pattaya or Phuket.

Soldiers have been out for over 3 weeks in all the tourist areas, but only Saturday did they deploy several hundred along Sukumvit, housing them at the tobacco factory nearby. Towards Wireless road, you will find armored personnel carriers and sandbag emplacements. The soldiers are very friendly and pose for photos with tourists

Both sides of the issues have kept the violence well contained. I have no fear of getting hurt, attacked or otherwise. The only real injuries or fatalities have been in the declared kill zone. Foreigners cannot go there without a press pass.

If you do come, its probably better to stay near Asok. Its well out of Mortar range.


Be safe everyone.

[Schubba]

Arrived yesterday to my hotel in soi 2 after a long tiring trip from Europe. The taxi driver had problems with accessing the hotel as some streets are closed at the moment. When I arrived at 3 pm the receptionist said I was their first guest today. The floor I stay on, I'm the only one, so here is rather quiet. Outside on the streets everything looks fine as usual, but little more quiet too. Soldiers are spread along sukhumvit up to Asoke especially at the train stations. 2 soldiers were guarding at Nanas the whole afternoon. In the evening there were plenty of activity in Nanas, but less customers the girls I spoke to said. I had a good time and didn't feel any danger, but of course things can changes. Further I'm not local, so I cannot fell how close and serious the fights are for the people.

Schubba

[Barko]

I don't know, but I have since days now this increasing feeling that this marks the end to the LOS as we mongers know it-after everything is over. I sure hope I am not correct. What also completely puzzles me is the absence from any news about/from the King. Disturbing.

"Disturbing" is the perfect word Frankfurter. This conflict, in essence, could be about the forced degradation of monarchical power. We foreigners who live in Thailand may be too close to the thing to see it as it really is. I personally have been dreading the day the King became too weak to maintain his aura, and I feel that this class dichotomy based conflict was inevitable, written in stone. The spark has always been there, Thaksin Shinawatra, with his incredibly conceited and corrupt vision of absolute power, fueled the explosion. (Each voter for Thaksin received 500 Baht, a fifth of Saeng Som whisky, and a free dinner... yeah Thais are a cheap date.)

The New York Times article addressing this issue today:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/16/wo...16king.html?hp

Distressing, depressing... disturbing. Bangkok will certainly take time to change, and our hobby will go on, but yes, a change is definitely on the horizon. Be prepared for it.