Anarchy in BKK
Here’s a little map showing the red shirt occupied area in the center of Bangkok… although it seems that by now, they’ve spread in more areas than shown here.
The tiny red box in bottom of the map shows where my sisters’ house is.
The big red street that runs from left to right in the map, that’s Ratchadamri Road which is home to uber luxury condominiums, top-notch five star hotels, and even more upscale shopping boutiques. I’m told that the protesters have blocked traffic from normally 3 lanes on each side to a single lane. The rest of the street they’re using to pitch up tents and hang out in there. The hotels have sent tourists away and shut down their operations due to security concerns. And according to the article: ”One section of pavement down the street from the Four Seasons was devoted to an arsenal of crude weaponry where Red Shirts sharpened hundreds of long bamboo rods and piled them into tall stacks. Broken up pavement stones were heaped in other piles.”
Meanwhile, the soldiers and riot police are out in full force. Some red shirts wear bandanna that says “I’m not afraid of you”, but in a much a cruder language than how it sounds in English. The frustrated Bangkokians who have been restricted to stay mostly at home (since shopping malls and night clubs are all closed) and stuck in even worse traffic are now coming out to the streets to yell at the red shirts. It’s kind of unbelievable how the situation has deteriorate to this point, and even worse is the fact that it may not end any time soon.
I guess the frustrating part is that these red shirters actually think that they’re being heroic, when they’re just pawns for the bigger, more corrupt, politicians who always want to keep their people stupid anyway. I’ve always been fascinated with and supportive of protests, in a sense that I believe people should have the power to make their voices heard. But this is just putting protests in a bad name. It is mayhem. It is anarchy. And it is definitely not cool.
Some photos from daylife:
Two foreigners (bottom L) skateboard past “Red Shirt” anti-government protesters as they stand behind a barricade during a rally on Silom Road in the financial district of central Bangkok on April 20, 2010. Thailand toughened its stance against anti-government protesters, warning security forces would use live ammunition and tear gas in any fresh clashes.
AFP PHOTO / ROSLAN RAHMAN (ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP/Getty Images)
Anti-government “red shirt” protesters stand behind a barricade built with bamboo poles and tyres at an intersection close to the Silom Road financial district in Bangkok April 20, 2010. Thailand’s “red shirt” protesters called off a march to Bangkok’s business district on Tuesday after a stern warning from the army, but they threatened to stay in the capital’s shopping district “indefinitely”. REUTERS/Vivek Prakash
Anti-riot police stand guard at an intersection close to the Silom Road financial district in Bangkok, where pro-government supporters have gathered for a counter-rally near anti-government “red shirt” protesters, April 21, 2010. Thai anti-government protesters occupying an upmarket shopping area of Bangkok said on Wednesday they were open to talks through a third party to prevent bloody clashes with armed troops threatening to forcibly evict them. REUTERS/Sukree Sukplang
A group of pro-governement residents shout at “Red Shirt” anti-government protesters behind a barricade from a distance on Silom Road in the financial district of central Bangkok on April 20, 2010. Thailand toughened its stance against anti-government protesters, warning security forces would use live ammunition and tear gas in any fresh clashes. AFP PHOTO / Nicolas ASFOURI (NICOLAS ASFOURI/AFP/Getty Images)
And I like this banner: We have democracy already, you idiots. Although I’m not sure if writing in English is too effective.
Pro-government supporters hold banners and shout slogans asking for an end to the protests on Tuesday, April 20, 2010 in Bangkok, Thailand. Soldiers in full combat gear guarded other nearby sections of the capital in an increasingly tense standoff that has shuttered 5-star hotels and glitzy shopping malls and threatens to damage Thailand’s sunny image as a tourist paradise. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)
hey ann. thanks for a good assessment of the situation. i’ve been in total denial and just been hiding here in my little trailer bubble. i totally agree with you. all that’s been happening really does give protests a bad rep. these people are paid daily to be there. they are wearing blinders and are totally brainwashed. so sad for the rest of us. you should post the picture with the banner that says “we have democracy already” on FB. any plans to come this way to witness the mess in person???
malina palasthira on 22 April 2010kid teung,
xm
malina! thanks and miss you too!
man i’ve been glued to the internet and all the updates all week, hardly got anything done. it’s funny that you’re so close to it but reading my blog reporting from other side of the earth!
we’re a little too busy with work schedule on our end to go witness the mess, hopefully by the time we make it there, thailand will have a new shiny and totally non-corrupt government in power and everyone is happy…
hmm, ok, well.. we’ll certainly be back way before that.
ann on 23 April 2010I hope some compromise suitable to both the Red Shirts and Yellow Shirts will be reach soon. This horrible bloodshed needs to stop for stability and peace to return to Thailand.
Thai Songs on 23 May 2010