Almost every day we are asked about what is happening in Thailand, is it dangerous to go there. Probably Russian media frighten people every day, and even the Foreign Ministry has already recommended refrain from traveling to bangkok. In principle, the capital can and the truth is not to go, but all sites are full of messages that unrest is taking place in Thailand without focusing on the fact that rallies are only in Bangkok. Yes, and in Bangkok itself, everything is wrong too scary. Since we live now in the epicenter of events, I I decided to tell a little about how it looks in reality.
Immediately I warn you, I am not strong in politics, so on this subject I will not write anything at all. And also no guarantees that tomorrow everything will be exactly the same as today. Actually, in any case, you Travel at your own risk.
The content of the article
- 1 UPDATE. Chronology of recent events
- 2 Map of demonstrations in Bangkok
- 3 Demonstrations in Bangkok
Contents
UPDATE. Chronology of recent events
I decided after the publication of the article to add to the beginning of the article the chronology of the events related to the strikes in Bangkok, as already past and future. Future, respectively, will update periodically. Description of the meeting, my impressions and photos, look for in the second part of the article.
December 28, 2013
Unfortunately, there is violence for two days. Several have already died man and suffered about a hundred. First the group is radically minded protesters attacked the Thai-Japanese stadium, where registration of parties for participation in elections is held, and as a result the policeman died. Then at night, unknown persons fired on the protesters. near the house of government as a result of one lost demonstrator.
The strangest thing is that when there were mass rallies involving 200 Thousands of people, there were no casualties, and when 500 people besieged the stadium, victims have arisen. They talk about provocations from pro-government forces in order to tighten the regime. The policeman was shot at a high angle, which also speaks of provocation.
January 4, 2014
The head of the rally, Colonel Suthep said that on Saturday On January 4, millions of demonstrators take to the streets and try block bangkok. It will be in the deposition of all government buildings, major road junctions, shopping centers. Suthep apologized in advance to the citizens for the inconvenience in the capital, and urged all non-demonstrators to leave city, for example, go to the resort to rest. Rally participants he said that they should stock up on water, food and clothing, because that the blockade can last for a long time, almost all the way to election.
The blocking date of Bangkok is postponed from January 4 to January 13. It is planned to block about 20 intersections. But promised to leave single lane for buses and ambulances. It also seems not to be block ground and underground metro, as well as trains. Airports also promised not to touch, but in Suvarnabhumi part was canceled flights from some airlines. More protesters want to disable water and electricity in government buildings. Thailand’s army is not Agree with the intention to block Bangkok.
January 13, 2014
The BKK blocking has started – Next to us at the Victory crossroad Monument is full of people, it is blocked. There is music playing and occasionally someone says something. But so far everything is different from previous ones. rallies, it was already, just more massively. Other intersections from planned overlapped too. It means to move around the center Bangkok preferably by metro (or on foot). But, of course, by roads drive cars, taxis, bikes, maybe a little less than usual, but drive, just not through those intersections that are blocked, the city big. Metro also runs, and the underground works up to 2 nights
Latest news, track here.
Intersection blocking map
T-shirts for 120 rubles
January 14, 2014
While there are no changes, BKK is blocked. However, the city You can visit and go to different places. Information that shopping malls or some attractions are closed, no. Everything works, tourists shop and go to the sights. Naturally, it’s better to use the metro / skytrain, well, and lay time for “wading” through the crowd (if you find yourself in places of congestion). Actually, the crowd is only on the designated sites, in other places the city lives a normal life. There are no emergencies.
I read that there is no one near the Monument of Democracy, which means You can go quietly to Khaosan. Several airlines have canceled flights to Bangkok, but the airports are operating normally.
January 15, 2014
We went by taxi today to our center for lessons with our son. Drove almost from Victory Monument and further north towards Chatuchak. If you don’t drive into blocked intersections, then about demonstrations and you will not know, everything is quiet and peaceful. With this cars on the road Little.
January 17, 2014
This afternoon a grenade was thrown right next to the opposition leader. Suthep during a procession in the Banthad Thong Road area. Wounded 36 person. Something is starting. Here you have a holiday with fun.
January 19, 2014
Another provocation. 2 grenades were thrown at Victory Monument RGD-5, 28 wounded. We live nearby, heard explosions, but did not pay Attention. However, everything is calm in the city, do not watch the news, do not go to the rally and you can not know anything about the existence demonstrations. In any case, it is better to avoid the main areas for rallies, and then you never know how you can get under the grenade.
January 22, 2014
A state of emergency is introduced for 60 days. Emergency mode allows authorities to declare a curfew, do not let in areas demonstrations, prohibit all sorts of gatherings, detain people on the street etc. What does this mean for ordinary tourists? I do not know yet, it may well be that nothing.
January 28, 2014
To write, frankly, nothing. Despite the state of emergency in the city too most: the protesters are on strike, the intersections are busy with them, as before. AT mostly crowds at the sites gather in the evening, because during the day all at work. Therefore, you are going to the center, watch all oceanariums and so on, do it during the day and, probably, better not at the weekend. Although the crowd It does not really interfere in principle, only provocations can be feared.
Walked to the Victory Monument, a bit cartographed.
Some live near Victory Monument
Camping at Victory Monument
Map of demonstrations in Bangkok
Here I found an updateable map in the open spaces with points where and what going on. All points are signed, so you need to click and read description. The map is updated not hourly, but rather promptly.
Demonstrations in Bangkok
Let’s start with the fact that demonstrations and rallies go only in Bangkok. In other cities, everything is calm. Therefore, if you drive somewhere on Samui or Phuket (and any other cities), then you absolutely nothing to worry about. Also, if you fly with transfer in Bangkok and at the same time the airport will be blocked. On the current moment it works and everything is in order, and it seems to be about the strike no one has spoken in it so far. Sure if that happens, then everyone will know about it at once.
Not all areas
Demonstrations are held not just in Bangkok, but only in several of its areas. Demonstrators have major venues where they are constantly, according to the type of the Monument of Democracy (Democracy Monument), which is located in the historical center of Bangkok near everything famous Khao San Road. By the way, palaces and temples work in normal mode. Bangkok generally lives on calmly with its life: work shops, subways, makashnitsa and so on. There is a chance that you arrive to Bangkok and generally do not notice, depending on where you walk will be A few photos from the Internet, since I’m on the main sites was not.
The main platform – the Monument of Democracy
Large crowds
Srach after the demonstration, but it is quickly removed
Near any site you can buy ribbons and whistles
Sometimes helicopters fly
Move protesters in the city
Periodically there are movements between sites, as well as the formation of temporary sites. For example, we live around Victory Monument and lately often we see how the crowd goes in one direction or another past our house. Also some days, they occupy the whole area around the Victory Monument, this is their temporary playground.
This is not a gathering of bikers, this is the movement of protesters
With children, on bikes and bicycles, with flags and smiles on persons
Someone is driving cars, or even in the trunk of a taxi
Often moving occurs on foot
Meeting on December 22
On Sunday, December 22 (there was a massive rally, many temporary sites) I went to Pantip Plaza for wiring, and there it is on Ratchaparop street near the Big C Supercenter and near Siam was a big the crowd flooded the whole street. However, all the malls worked like Pantip Plaza itself, which I needed. BUT a day later on Monday my mother went to this most big C, where else yesterday didn’t go up, and everything was fine there, as if not there were no demonstrations. I’m all writing to this that I’m just not need to go specifically to those areas, although I do not see anything straight especially scary about it. This is not a war, but peaceful demonstrations. You saw the crowd go, turned around and went the other way, if straight afraid. The same with the sites, we saw a massive a crowd of people – did not go inside the crowd.
Around Pantip Plaza road goes, and perpendicular to her street occupied by demonstrators
And there is the most perpendicular street. If you go further, then there crowd
No aggression
And the last thing I would like to say. Demonstrations in Bangkok not at all aggressive. Vote, rustle, whistle, declare with tribunes, sometimes even sing, but no more. The main contingent – it is middle class. Many come with children and even animals (saw dogs in bike basket). There was an episode a month ago, the code was crushed the bus and something else there but the feeling is that it was done for show. For a month and a half, the meetings of the victims are literally units. There is no Omon that batons all and takes away buses to jail. Demonstrators came to the house of government and calmly occupied him. They have no culture in the massacre, everyone is trying “bypass the corners” and give in. Therefore, the police even appears on the streets, but behaves calm and bored. Although use rubber bullets, water cannons and tear gas is not excluded when passions.
Pay attention to the hands go, almost dance 
Hour stood in traffic because of the demonstrators. Doused cars, nobody the glass did not hit
But it is always worth remembering that any crowd, even a crowd of Buddhists, unpredictable. There may be provocations, there may be unhappy cases. Also, things can go quite differently, as it is now, won in 2004 was tough in the south, judging by the video. In general, not worth it relax, as if going to Disneyland. Prime Minister, who wanted to take off, is still at the helm. And although the government dismissed and appointed new elections, still the question was not decided, here are the demonstrations. Someone even predicts civil war closer to the election (February 2).
Those who want to understand more in the subject can read here this forum thread. She is quite interesting.
And on http://blueskychannel.tv/ in real time show what is happening in the city and report the last the news is true in thai.
P.S. I read that the immigrant promised deportation to foreign tourists participating in the rally, so just take a picture and not participate
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