“Things Are Not Yet Bad Enough”

Tens of thousands of people stuck, a country on the brink, bloodshed looming and the impossibility of making sense of anything anymore – but the crisis is not yet bad enough for the military to enter the fray. That’s what a well placed security official tells absolutely:

“We wait for things to get really bad. With the last coup nothing was solved, we were just like a referee intervening. When we do it again then we’ll make sure that there is no chance in the future that the two parties can fight anymore.”

The current main problem: The silent majority is not yet vocal enough. “If the confrontation goes on,” tells us the source, “the silent part of the population might sart saying something.” But they’re shouting loud and clearly, I said, just read the newspapers.

“That’s not yet a strong enough rejection,” says the source, insisting that “he” puts “his” hopes on the silent group. To this end there has to be more talk in the streets and in the press. Most crucial is, he says, that “certain people” who were supplying the PAD “start to think carefully.”

The security forces want to be confident to be welcomed before they start moving in. To them it’s still an open guess how the silent majority reacts. “When they cease to be silent, then the army feels more confident to do what they have to do.”

This is how the Thai army always functioned: “We can’t do anything yet. Wait until the very last moment.”

Now that’s a lesson in higher Thai logic, isn’t it – and here some of the classic physiognomy of the protesters, elderly moms & dads:

Photo by Patrick Thorpe

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Comments

16 Responses to ““Things Are Not Yet Bad Enough””

ThailandSocial on November 28th, 2008 11:08 am

You know in some ways this is really amazing. I can’t think of another country that would allow a relatively peaceful takeover of an international airport.

Quality comment? 0 0
JJ on November 28th, 2008 12:49 pm

Fascinating to observe the final self-destruction of the PAD and how they dare to drag down everyone in the name of an increasingly lunatic ideology.

Suriyasai, once a beacon of hope, adds insult to injury with assertions that the PAD only adhere to their right of peaceful protests.

Causing hardship to tens of thousands, burdoning the country with a loss of an estimated 4 billion dollars just since Suvarnabhumi’s closure, being more isolated by the hour and with Chamlong warning of a people’s uprising …?!?!

Looks like their backers will have to drop them finally.

I sense a major silent “purge” ahead.

Because the PAD have an ultimate final threat up their sleeve – threatening/exposing/denouncing their own backers.

Quality comment? 0 0
SBThailand on November 28th, 2008 2:09 pm

If the military isn’t hearing the call to squash the PAD and clear the airports, then either they aren’t listening or they don’t like what they hear. Either way, they are being neglectful of their duty to keep the nation safe from terrorists. Taking over an airport is an act of terrorism, period. It doesn’t matter why or what your intentions are, it is an act of terrorism. There are weapons involved and the entire movement should have squashed the moment they breached the airport. Even if PAD is viewed as a “peaceful” protest, God/Buddah/Allah help us if some not-so-peaceful terrorist decide to have a “protest”!

Quality comment? 0 0
eh on November 28th, 2008 3:07 pm

No offence but haven’t the military got more pressing matters at hand than be talking to a one-man-band blog?!

Quality comment? 0 0
None on November 28th, 2008 3:38 pm

It is far too early to rule out the PAD and it´s backers. The situation is now extremely dangerous. The backers of PAD (the XXXXX + the military + the courts) have far to much to lose in this game, so the outcome is most certainly some sort of arrangement to oust the government followed by widespread chaos. I hope I am wrong.

Quality comment? 0 0
BangkokDan on November 28th, 2008 8:51 pm

Looks like it’s too late for a coup anyway. Imagine the world’s reaction if a government is sacked that tries to end illegal airport blockades and evict trespassers holding a country hostage by terrorist means.

BangkokDan

Quality comment? 0 0
kingsman on November 28th, 2008 9:03 pm

Royalist puppets antagonizing foreign visitors to get at the Thaksin puppets. Then they will apologize. It will not be sincere, nor will any outcome of this current turmoil. India’s tragedy grabbed the attention carpet from below the PAD’s feet, maybe they are really looking for that kind of attention?

Quality comment? 0 0
Fonzi on November 29th, 2008 1:39 am

BKKDan-

I agree with your point. It is amazing that there has been no international outcry already.

This is a very bad precedent for the future.

I am not one of these people who believes there are terrorists under every rock, but I do believe the threat exists.

Suvarnabhumi is a huge airport that takes in millions of foreign passengers every year.

The fact that one can be overrun quite easily and that act can be used to bring down a government is frightening.

This crisis in Thailand is probably giving terrorists the idea that they can take over airports with weak governments all over the world and there would be a weak reaction.

Quality comment? 0 0
bosunj on November 29th, 2008 4:53 am

Some people have apparently drank way too much of BushCo’s neo-CON “terrorist” kool-aid! Next you’ll be blaming it on Al-Qaeda! Get a grip! The American’t expat contingent is much to shrill for it’s own good.

Quality comment? 0 0
Lek on November 29th, 2008 8:41 am

Hey! I think the call here – from foreigners? – to have the military intervene is tough to understand.

The military moving in now, will not change anything and this is what the PAD would want, as their main goal of the current government exiting is reached and a “wise men decision making forum” (vs. democracy) will take over.

The Military knows that it will have to return to elections, and would instantly create the same situation again, but the country would suffer internationally even more.

People may complain about the country to let the PAD close down airports, but as one writer here pointed out rightly, its relatively low violence. The police needs to engage and the political parties.

I am surprised to see that the silent majority is not on the street – do we as a nation care?

I am also surprised where Abhisit is? What happened to him? Is he the opposition leader? The best ever opportunity for him to show his leadership qualities.

Remember as the new Russia democracy was under thread from the communist remains? Jelzin stood in front of the parliament on a tank to defend democracy – unforgotten.

The true sad story is, there is no Jelzin. There is no leader with fundamental democracy belief to fight for what is right.

Note that the PAD actually do have an agenda. They do try to prevent Somchai government to defer changes in the constitution with an amnesty for others.

It’s a very exciting and important time in Thai History now. The next 20 years or more of the nation are at stake. A closed airport is a small price to pay.

Quality comment? 0 0
SBThailand on November 29th, 2008 9:22 am

bosunj, I may be an American calling the PAD exactly what they are – terrorist, but I am not the only person calling them that. If you read, even Thais are starting to figure out that they are extremist terrorist. I am glad you are cofident in Thailand’s response to the over-running of an international airport. I, however, am not!

Quality comment? 0 0
Demos on November 29th, 2008 10:04 am

bonsuj -

You have a lot of balls talking about shrill.

Your blog epitomizes far left wing hysteria of the worst kind.

Next thing you will be telling us that the recent terrorism in India and the occupation of the Suvarnabhuni was caused by Dick Cheney and Halliburton.

When Obama comes in, wonder how you going to blame the neo-cons for every evil in this world.

Quality comment? 0 0
El Cid on November 29th, 2008 1:21 pm

4 billion would be about six days of the total GNP of Thailand. Unlikely that the airport closures are even close to that in economic effect. Added to that, since the PAD are anti-government and the government puts out the economic numbers, it would be prudent to be skeptical.

Quality comment? 0 0
porntip on November 30th, 2008 7:09 am

That is brilliant! We have to express our sentiments to our government. They fooled us! They enriched themselves! Why not share it to the masses!

Let’s fight!

Quality comment? 0 0
The Old China Hand on December 2nd, 2008 3:02 pm

I was thinking of going to my favourite karaoke tonite.

Never a dull moment in the LOS.

Praying For A Jet Plane: To the music of John Denver’s Classic.

My backpack’s packed
Im ready to go
Im standin here outside my bungalow
I hate to wake you up dear Khun Somchai
But the PAD is bitchin’
Its early morn
The Tuk-Tuk’s waitin
Hes blowin his horn
Already Im so broke
I could die

So screw me and smile for me
Tell me that my flight’s mai me
Trap me like youll never let me go
cause Im praying for a jet plane
I know I won’t be back again
Oh teelak, I want to go

Theres so many planes on the ground
So many times you screwed me around
I tell you now, I will pud jing jing
Evry shithole I go, Ill remember you
Evry criticism I make, Ill make of you
If I make it home, Ill ditch your fake thai bling

So screw me and smile for me
Tell me that my flight’s mai me
Trap me like youll never let me go
cause Im praying for a jet plane
I know I won’t be back again
Oh teelak, I want to go

Now the time has come to lift off
One more time
Thai tells me to piss off
Then closes its ears
and sends me on my way
Nightmares about the days to come
Where the hell I am going to stay
Somewhere cheap, that I wont have to pay

So screw me and smile for me
Tell me that my flight’s mai me
Trap me like youll never let me go
cause Im praying for a jet plane
I know I won’t be back again
Oh teelak, I want to go

Yes, I’m praying for a jet plane
I know i won’t be back again
Oh Teelak, I have to go

Quality comment? 0 0
john on December 5th, 2008 10:04 pm

Nice work with the song but don’t give up your day job buddy.

I just booked a flight but I am out tonight hope I don’t get into a fight my lady will not let me in at 2 / she will open the door knock me to the floor and tell me not to go out anymore that I am sure this will make me cry.

Quality comment? 0 0

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