Bangkok Reports

[Giotto]

...
The Reds are well organized and well funded. Those in the zone are paid 800-1000 baht a day, which is a lot of money for a country boy.
...

Nauskas,

Sorry, if I will meet an idiot within the next few days will call him Nauskas.

I have been in the "red zone" many times during the past weeks and talked to the red shirts. Yes, there are some which are paid to be there. Especially before the 10.04., when 27 people were killed. Some of the people staying over night were paid.

I cannot give an estimation about how many were paid - but I am quite sure that even then it was not more than 25 % of the crowd.

After the 10.04. the situation changed dramatically. I could understand the argumentation that there are some "strange" groups now which have joined the demonstrations, groups that would also do their job for the yellow shirts. I would definitely agree with that.

But not many are willing to take the risk to get killed for being paid a bit for staying at Rajprasong Intersection under the actual circumstances.

I am definitely critical towards the political intention of the red shirts, and I think they gave away the chance for a compromise last week.

But to simply talk bullshit does not help anybody!


Giotto

[Fon Tok]

Guys, There is a major gunfire / battle right now happening in Lumpini park. Since approximately 40 min. . Perfectly choreagraphed by the west. I know that I don't know Thailand. And I definitely are not a specialist in military tactics. I have anyway no idea what all this is all about. Stupid me!
But you guys better stay in your hotels!Giotto

Good advice!

From what I saw and photographed today, the 'green shirts' are not fuckin' around!

[Giotto]

veen_NT: RT @vaitor: rama 4 gasoline tank on fire... people going crazy because they think everythings exploding any minute
Sunday, 16 May, 2010 11:32:13 PM

veen_NT: The gasoline tank report happened around 30 mins ago - will bring you update.
Sunday, 16 May, 2010 11:35:07 PM

tulsathit: RT @captainwreid: @tulsathit Sounds like major gunfight happening in Rangnam/ Victory monument
Sunday, 16 May, 2010 11:37:29 PM

That's only the information from The Nation Blog of the past few minutes, on a Sunday close to midnight.

- Perfectly choreagraphed by the west
- Its careful, it is calculated and it is more or less restrained.

Not!

Guys ... make up your own mind, I am really tired. I don't need any discussions about this issue.


Giotto

[Giotto]

From another blog, 7 min. ago:

From friends at Maneeya Bldg, "Trapped inside the office. Gun fire, snipers and explosions very close now" /via @agnesdherbeys

Sala Daeng Update: "Serious gun-battle going on at end of Lumpini Park Intersection (to Sathorn)" /via @agnesdherbeys

Urgent: Belgium embassy closing on Monday. "The embassy is not far from the areas where the violence is taking place". /AFP

Urgent: "For security reasons, it has been decided that the embassy will close Monday", a Belgian foreign ministry spokesman said.

Sala-Daeng Update: 6 explosions and gunfires heard from my place in suan plu. Sound like it came from rama 4. /via @polanskiman

Update: 2 separate firefights going on within Bangkok. Phetburi/Ploen-chit area & Sala-Daeng (In the last 15 minutes). AVOID

'31' people have died, '230' have been injured in the Thai capital during 3 days of violent clashes, emergency services said Sunday. /AFP

Update: The violence has claimed 61 lives and injured about 1,700 people since mass demonstrations began in Bangkok in mid-March /AFP

.....

Most of the actual problem zones are OUTSIDE of the restricted zone around Rajprasong intersection!



Giotto

[Giotto]

...
I can't think of a better choreographed drama in the west.
...

Guys,

There is a major gunfire / battle right now happening in Lumpini park. Since approximately 40 min. . "Perfectly choreographed by the west."

I know that I don't know Thailand. And I am definitely not a specialist in military tactics. I have anyway no idea what all this is all about. Stupid me!

But you guys better stay in your hotels!


Giotto

[Primo Bolan]

Thanks for the update Nauskas!

[Nauskas]

Fireworks are going off all night tonight. I can hear very sustained firecrackers, along with probably real ordnance.

The Reds are well organized and well funded. Those in the zone are paid 800-1000 baht a day, which is a lot of money for a country boy.

Even supposing there really are 5,000 reds left, if you saw the number of soldiers here, there is little chance its gonna go outside the box. Water cannon trucks have been parked in many locations outside the outer perimeter. Tourists risk running into the many coils (un-deployed, but prepositioned) of razor wire set up all over the city in case its needed. (even as far as Asok)
There has been an exceptional amount of planning and contingency in Bangkok.

It is unfortunate so much of foreign media is blowing a lot out of proportion. Even the maps at BBC are not accurate, having walked those lines.

This thing is as much a PR campaign using media as it is location based thing. I can't think of a better choreographed drama in the west. Its careful, it is calculated and it is more or less restrained. Thai military is mostly just shooting without aiming at anything, hence the stray bullets and few casualties. Soldiers are carrying serious firepower, of the most modern available.

[Naughty]

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.

I agree that the probability of attacks on tourists is low.

I also think that the probablility of attacks on tourists is higher than it has ever been.

As the desperation of the Reds rises and the government seeks to justify its actions, the possibility of a random attack increases. It is rouge elements of either side, provocateurs if you will, and opportunistic criminals, even non-Thai's, that present the greatest danger.

"Desperate times bring desperate measures".

[Giotto]

What is new here ? its the same map I posted earlier with a bigger zoom

Nauskas,

I am very sorry, but I missed your post.


Giotto

[Nauskas]

New Google map of the hot zones:

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

What is new here ? its the same map I posted earlier with a bigger zoom

[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.