Breaking News: Thailand's army declares martial law
 

BANGKOK (AP) ? Thailand's army declared martial law in a surprise announcement in Bangkok before dawn on Tuesday, intensifying the turbulent nation's deepening political crisis. It was not immediately clear whether a coup d'etat was underway.

The move came after six months of anti-government demonstrations aimed at ousting the government and one day after the Southeast Asian country's caretaker prime minister refused to step down.

The army said in a statement that it had taken the action to "keep peace and order" and soldiers entered several private television stations that are sympathetic to protesters.

A ticker on Chanel 5, an army station, however, denied the military was taking over, saying "the invocation of martial law is not a coup."

Thailand's army has staged at 11 successful coups since the end of absolute monarchy in 1932.

fulll article...

sign of the times

There is a good chance Thailand is going to have a civil war. It is a political mess, and one of the groups have already threatened that if the government is overthrown by the military, it will start the war and they were ready to fight the military.

Good times.

shame :2 cents:

Glad I went to China, we almost went to Thailand. a lot of Ex Pat's live there because of the beaches

another one?

You made the right call. They are different places, but China is moving forward while Thailand is moving backwards and ruining their beaches and natural areas. In 10 years or less they will probably have ruined every beautiful area they have.

Most expats are here for the women. Don't let them lie to you. Unless they are dive masters or fishermen who live on the water, they are here for pussy, not beaches.

Lemme fix that for ya

they are here for bitches, not beaches.

There ya go LOL

What beaches? Can't see the beach through the girls.

I'm off to Phuket in 3 weeks go there yearly, politics never really concerned me in Thailand one side will always hate the other, however when the King dies.. then there will be issues.

Is it time to pack yet? Be safe man.

oh wow, thats really sad

We'll keep the ladyboys safe.

When I lived in Thailand, I almost immediately began to notice something was off with people. That behind many smiles, as a very "fuck you" vibe. It began with noticing one single guard that was a doorman at my building (nice serviced apartments in BKK) who would open the door and solute as I walked past... but always had this sort of crazy but very subtle "I would love to cut your throat" kind of look in his eyes. I told myself "I was Thai and had to see an endless parade of 50 something German tourists walking down the street, teenage Thai girls in tow", I'd be a little hostile in my attitude towards foreigners and sort of dismissed it. But I began to notice it more and more and more in others. Then I started meeting a lot of non Thai's (Cambodians, Laotians etc) who all seemed very certain that Thais were the scourge of the region. In that new light, I started seeing things a bit different. The corruption seemed more apparent and obvious as well as the violence and crime and the very dark side of Thailand and Thai people.

I have always wondered about something though about the politics there. Most 3rd world countries are corrupt,.. that is nothing new. But given this culture of "smiles", how much of their political problems could be attributed to Buddhism? For example, Burma is run by a military dictatorship and basically, the world couldn't name a single Burmese official to save their lives. They don't protest. They don't speak out. They don't care. That is the whole point of Buddhism. With Buddhism, you are being told that "life is suffering" and to "let go".

I have always thought that Buddhism is perfect for fostering a corrupt political system as it discourages people from wanting more, asking for and demanding more etc.

What role, if any, do you think Buddhism plays in their constant political problems and endless cycle of coups?

It's not just Thailand. Vietnam is having all kinds of anti China protests right now. Kinda sounds like the whole Russia vs Ukraine thing as they claim China has been beefing up forces on Vietnam's boarder due to the protests.

+1 #trueStory



BUT...Thailand normally gets their shit together and moves on. :2 cents:

Better ready my boat. Or stash of Sangsom. I'm still bit undecided...

You're right, it might be the LOS but a good proportion of the Thai population don't want expats there.

Been to Bangkok three times in the 200 ' but avoided all the political mess. Corrupt politics causing problems.

there will be dead on every corner

have you been in China last time ? do you know pollution levels in cities over there ?

About freaking time.
The military taking power would probably be the best thing for Thailand at this time.
Democracy here as we know it in the West is at least 50 years away.

For people visiting BKK or Phuket there are no needs to be concerned at least in the short term, I live in a provincial capitol and I have not seen any sign of the army its not like the army is patrolling the streets, last trip to BKK in March there were army bunkers on major intersections, so really not a big change.

There is a good chance of the whole thing blowing up but that will not be before him we not talk about is no longer with us.

I think you're right about a lot of that.

The Thais have a distorted and perverse view on Buddhism. I don't even think it's fair they call it Buddhism to be honest, as everything they do and practice, even at the temples, is the opposite of what the Buddha taught.

Perhaps if they were true Buddhists and really followed the teaches of Buddha, they would not always be fighting and so full of bitterness, as you noticed yourself. Not all are this way of course, but way too many of them are. Anti-Buddhists. Even a lot of the monks these days are twisted, walking around with iPhones and paying hookers to visit the temple. Many are caught with drugs and other nonsense. It's crazy. One of the protest leaders, part of a violent group with thugs who beat people up, is a well respected monk. Go figure. Another famous monk was caught screwing women and embezzling money. He flew off in a private helicopter, but he also has a private jet and an entourage. Silly stuff. Totally goes against everything he is supposed to believe in and teach.

That said, in regards to religion, they are no different than Christians or any other group who go to church on Sunday, then beat their wife and kids later that night before heading to the bar or casino.


Sure, some cities have a pollution problem. However, China is HUGE. More don't have a problem than do.

At least. If you look at history, the first coup was in 1932. They are no better off now than they were back then. Probably worse off actually.

Oh yea, the shit will hit the fan when he kicks the bucket. He is probably the only thing stopping them all from killing each other.

Yep
Thats when my bags are packed and ready to bug out.
My GF just got transferred to Amnat Charoen and I am going to move there very soon, nice and close to Laos.
She is a civil servant and I talked to her and today were business as usual, nothing different from yesterday.

Thanks for that. I didn't spend a great deal of time trying to understand the people or culture - I do regret that. I was going to Thailand to thaw from Russian winters and didn't have much interest in figuring out more people, history, culture and traditions. What I do remember well was the constant contradictions that certainly didn't align well with the "land of a million smiles" rhetoric. I suppose that can be said of any place but I never felt it more than in Thailand.

heard they did this and didn't even inform the acting government?

jesus, so hold off on the vacation there for a little longer?

because they would be 100 times better off without the money those people bring??

It is indeed the land of contradictions.

And the longer you stay here, the more it doesn't make sense. I've given up trying to understand them, they are aliens as far as I'm concerned. Truth be told, I don't even think they understand each other. It is an incredibly divided country.

Largely because "the land of a million smiles" became "the land of a million foreign pedophiles"