Gaybutton

Good question. I haven't been able to find anything official to explain it. It was a BoT decision. I haven't been able to come up with an answer that makes much sense. Until an official explanation is released, it's on my "I Don't Get It" list. I have a feeling that if and when an explanation is released, it will continue to be on my "I Don't Get It" list.

A question came up about what the penalties are for curfew violations. So far, I have not seen anything published that tells us what the penalties are. What I can tell you is this afternoon I heard a story from a farang friend who lives with his boyfriend. Despite the curfew, the boyfriend decided to go out late last night anyway. He didn't get very far. His motorcycle was confiscated and it cost him 1000 baht to get it back from the impound lot. Other than that, I have heard nothing about penalties. I don't intend to find out the hard way.

I have not yet heard whether the Pattayaland bars will also be open. If anyone knows please post the information.

I traveled the entire length of Thepprasit Road. The story that went around last night of an explosion there appears to be in error. I saw no evidence of an explosion. Everywhere I went today, everything appeared perfectly normal. Again, you wouldn't even know anything was going on if it wasn't for television and the news media. The problems in Pattaya are apparently downtown. I wasn't anywhere near that area today, so someone else will have to let us know the story. Also, city services seem to be operating normally. Mail was delivered today and there was trash pickup today. I have not heard any reports of violence or any other safety problems in Pattaya today. If you missed the post, the Sunee Plaza bars will be open from 6:00pm to 9:00pm during the curfew days. I have not heard anything about the Pattayaland bars. However, if you are in Pattaya, you should be perfectly safe going to the bars during those hours.

I received the following in an Email from SUNEE PLAZA: _____ UPDATE ON THAILAND 20/05/10 Up until a few days ago, we were carrying a “travel advisory” that said it was “business as usual” in Pattaya. I am sure you heard yesterday the troops stormed the red shirt encampment in Bangkok and ended the siege. Yesterday evening at 21.00 the police came round and closed all the bars. There was a curfew imposed and we had not heard about it. Today we heard the curfew has been extended for a further 3 days (Thursday, Friday and Saturday) from 9 pm to 5 am. We have no knowledge of any possible extension to this, or what will happen after these three days. However, that apart, the bars are all open from 6 pm to 9 pm. DON’T LET THIS PUT YOU OFF! The boys are still here. They still want to meet you and entertain you. In fact with the bars closing at 9 pm they are more keen than ever! They still need money and it's not long until the end of the month when rents are due. There has been no trouble in Pattaya that we have heard of. Reports of explosions at Big C, or the Town Hall appear to be false rumours. Paradise is here, it just closes at 9 pm for the time being. As soon as there are any real problems here we will let you know.

BOT: Banks Can Open This Weekend Published: 20/05/2010 All banks nationwide can be open from Friday to Sunday, Bank of Thailand (BOT) assistant governor Sorasit Soontornkes said on Thursday. Mr Sorasit said the central bank had received many complaints from the public after it previously announced that all commercial banks and financial institutions will remain closed this weekend due to the escalating political unrest in Bangkok and other provinces. Debt payments had become a problem following the announcement, he said. "To ease people's financial difficulties, all banks, especially the ones in department stores, can open from Friday to Sunday without asking for the BOT's permission," the assistant governor said. Banks can open this weekend

Can you be specific? I don't see any posts that I would think would bother the powers-that-be. Which posts do you have in mind?

I have just received word that the curfew hours will be from 9:00pm to 5:00am. That's a new time. Last night it began at 8:00pm. Now it will begin at 9:00pm and end at 5:00am.

I have just received word that the curfew hours will be from 9:00pm to 5:00am. That's a new time. Last night it began at 8:00pm. Now it will begin at 9:00pm and end at 5:00am.

Have you ever been to Central World in Bangkok? Here is what they did to it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OG16dQZ1r68

The curfew has been extended for three more nights. The only time I've even seen police in Pattaya lately has been when they're clearing the streets when the curfew begins.

I have just received word that the curfew will continue in Pattaya for at least over the next three nights. Again, the curfew is from 8:00pm to 6:00am.

That's yet another concern. The number of people, through no fault of their own, who are now out of a job throughout Thailand must be staggering. Even when things open again, by the time people who had been working in the areas where buildings were burnt down are going to have to wait months, perhaps years, before their jobs are available to them again. The tourist industry must be a complete shambles by now. It will be a long time before the tourist industry can recover and so many businesses dependent on tourism had already been teetering on the brink even before this happened. I believe we're going to see a high number of businesses, including businesses most of us have come to know and take for granted, go under because of this. Once again, I hope I'm totally wrong about that, but I don't see how they're going to survive this. The one factor that might save many of them is the fact that this is low season anyway. But I think much of Thailand is going to go through some awfully hard times before things get much better. As far as what gay life used to be in Thailand about ten years ago, I don't think we'll see anything like the "golden years" again for quite some time, if ever. Before all this got started, I predicted that nothing was going to happen at all. I don't think I've ever been more wrong about anything in my life. But you know something? Even with all of this going on, I'd still rather be right here in Thailand than anywhere else on earth.

I just received word that the curfew will be in effect again tonight.

Now that there are reports of Red-Shirt activity in Pattaya, I thought I would start up a thread devoted to the goings-on in Pattaya. First, the good news: Despite all the publicity to the contrary, all the ATMs are open, working, and dispensing cash. I don't know what changed between last night and this morning, but I'm sure not going to argue about it. Those of you in Pattaya might want to get a few days worth of cash while the getting's good. You never know what may change. As for the banks themselves, I think they will remain closed today as publicized. The mini-branches may be an exception, but it's too early in the day to know for sure. It's about 8:55am as I write this. The banks don't open until 10:00am. As many of you know, I live on "The Dark Side," the east side of Sukhumvit. This morning I went to Makro to stock up on 'just-in-case' items. Absolutely nothing was out of the ordinary. People were going to work as usual. Children were on their way to school. Shops were opening. Gas stations were open. Street vendors were working. Traffic was flowing normally. I saw no evidence of Red-Shirt or any other kind of activity. There was no military or police presence. Makro was open and fully stocked. All the convenience stores, such as 7-Eleven, were open. It is too early in the day to know whether the curfew will remain in effect again tonight or whether it will be rescinded. Obviously, if the curfew remains in effect, then the bars will be closed. It would be very helpful if those of you present in Pattaya keep us informed about what you see and experience. Even if you see nothing at all going on, it will be helpful to know that. Also, if the shopping malls remain closed or they open today, please let us know. Of course, if you spot anything going on or if you hear reports about violence, please let us know and let us know where it is.

I agree that Pattaya is still safe to visit. But the next question is whether it would be fun for the average holiday maker to visit right now under these circumstances. Today is probably going to be a very difficult day in Pattaya for many. The uncertainty about where the Red-Shirts are going and what they're going to do next. The uncertainty as to whether things are going to get violent in Pattaya. The uncertainty about access to money. The uncertainty about how long the curfew will remain in effect. The uncertainty as to whether there is going to be a serious increase in crime. The idea that if you find a boy, he'll either have to spend the night with you whether you want him or not, or you'll have to have your "liaison" early enough so that he'll have time to return to his room before the 8:00pm curfew starts. Then there are little things such as being forced to have dinner and be back in your room by 8:00pm. Bars that won't be able to open. Having to be at the airport by 8:00pm even though your flight might not be leaving until 5:00 am. If it were me, I would postpone my holiday until I knew whether my holiday would be a fun, relaxing holiday or whether I'm going to end up having my holiday right in the middle of what amounts to a war. In my opinion, no matter what happens now, even if all the hostilities were to cease this very day, it will still take a very long time for Thailand to heal its wounds and for this whole affair to pass into forgotten history.

Nice of them to let people know in a timely manner. By the time I, or anyone I know in Pattaya heard about it, the curfew was already in effect and the ATMs were already closed. I wonder what they expect people to do who didn't hear about it in time and were low on, or even out of cash. I don't suppose anything was said about why they're closing the ATMs, was there? What is the reason? If it is for security purposes, I'm interested to know just how much cash it takes to be able to burn tires, commit arson, and blow things up. Well, for those who can't access cash, you can still use your ATM card to buy groceries, if you can find a grocery store open, and eat in restaurants where you can pay with an ATM or credit card. If you are in Thailand on traveler's checks, there are outlets that will cash them for you besides banks - if you can find them. Of course they have to get their own cash from banks, but maybe they already have a good supply on hand. Maybe the BoT will rescind that order. I would think there will be a hell of a lot of complaints pouring in from people who are running out of cash and need to be able to get some. We'll just have to wait and see how this one plays out.

The latest on the rumor mill is that Red-Shirts are threatening to blow up the oil tanks at the Laem Chabang port. Regarding ATMs, now I'm hearing that the ATMs will be closed during curfew hours, but will open again during non-curfew hours. We'll know soon enough.

Be that as it may, wherever he is, they would first have to accept the idea that he is a terrorist. If Thaksin really is behind all this, then so far he's been playing it beautifully. Whatever else can be said about Thaksin, the man is no fool. I would be very surprised to see him arrested and deported to Thailand as a terrorist.

It has been reported that a bomb has gone off on Thepprasit Road. I don't know where or what anybody would want to blow up on Thepprasit Road, but a couple of my friends heard the explosion and the media is reporting it. Also, I have heard that the rioting is also taking place at the Royal Garden shopping mall. I wish to emphasize that both the bomb and the Royal Garden rioting is what I have heard, meaning I cannot yet confirm either of those, but what I have been told comes from reliable people. Yes, that is confirmed. I have no idea why they're going to shut down ATMs, but that's what they're going to do. I kind of have a feeling they may reopen at least the ATMs sooner than two days when complaints start pouring in that people don't have any cash and have no way to get any.

I can now confirm that Pattaya is under the curfew. It is being announced on television. I just received calls from friends telling me that the police are going around closing the bars and all other businesses still open. The curfew is in effect for at least tonight. It remains to be seen what will take place tomorrow. There is a second unsubstantiated rumor going around now that the Red-Shirts in Pattaya have taken over both the Tesco-Lotus and the Big-C in north Pattaya. That would be the Big-C in north Pattaya, not the one on Pattaya Tai and Sukhumvit. The Tesco-Lotus would be the one on Pattaya Nua (North Road), across the street from Pattaya City Hall. I'm trying to find out if the Red-Shirts have actually occupied the buildings or simply forced them to shut down. Either way, they are definitely shut down for the time being. So, what we all had hoped would not happen has happened. Pattaya is now under the effects of the protest. We'll keep you informed as best as we can as the situation continues to develop.

First, let me point out that I have not yet been able to substantiate this. What I do know is most major businesses in Pattaya have closed. I received a message just a few moments ago at 8:00pm, from a farang friend. What he told me is his boyfriend had just received a call that Thai television is announcing that Pattaya is now under the 8:00pm to 6:00am curfew. Again, I cannot substantiate that. If I , or if someone else can beat me to it, please post once it is positively known whether this is true or just rumor.

After this article was published, there are now reports of three more arson fires. It has not yet been reported where those were. Major Arson Attacks at 12 Locations around Bangkok By The Nation The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration disclosed 12 major arson attacks caused by rioting protesters around the capital as of 5.00 pm on Wednesday. 1. The areas on Rama I Road around Paragon shopping mall and Siam Square. Firefighters could not gain access because of gun attacks from rioters. Siam Theatre was completely burned down. 2. Parts of Centara Grand Hotel at Rajprasong were set on fire. Firefighting was successful. 3. Fire at the Stock Exchange building on Wireless Road caused huge damage. And the blaze rages on as rioters refused to allow access for firefighters. 4. Mahatun Building at Phloenchit was set on fire causing a total damage. 5. The blazes at the Office of Narcotics Control Board and the nearby convenient store 7Eleven in Din Daeng were put out. 6. Bangkok Bank and Krung Thai Bank branches in Asoke were completely burned down. 7. Bangkok Bank and Government Saving Bank branches in Din Daeng were completely burned down. 8. The Maleenont Building, housing Channel 3, has been under arson attack and firefighters could not gain access. 9. Bangkok Bank branch and Tesco Lotus superstore on Rama IV Road were set on fire and firefighters could not gain access. 10. The fire at the office of the Metropolitan Electricity Authority in Klong Toei was successfully put out. 11. Firefighters managed to put out the fire at Central World shopping mall. 12. Bangkok Bank branch at Victory Monument was set on fire. ____________________ Kalasin and Mukdaharn Under State of Emergency Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva issues state of emergency in Kalasin and Mukdaharn on Wednesday after riots spread in the provinces. The riots broke out in many spots in Bangkok after some red shirts leaders surrenders to police, ending Rajprasong rally site. Kalasin and Mukdaharn under state of emergency ____________________ Mop-up Continues, Tourists Aided Published: 19/05/2010 Security forces will continue the crackdown against violent protest throughout the night in Bangkok, the government's Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) announced. A curfew has been declared in Bangkok and other provinces under declared emergency law from 8pm to 6am. CRES spokesman Col Sansern Kawekamnerd said the miltary operation was aimed at stablising the situation and ensure the sately of all people in Bangkok, including foreigners. People needing to travel during curfew hours should ensure they carry identity papers, such as a passport, and have their ID and tickets ready to show to officers at curfew checkpoints. Authorities would then facilitate their travel. All foreigners would be assisted. He said although the operations around Lumpini and Ratchprasong had been successful, there were still problems in many areas of Bangkok. Seven leaders of the red-shirt protest movement surrendered to authorities about 1.30pm on Wednesday afternoon after the army stormed their barricaded encampment. Their supporters immediately began a rampage, rioting and setting fire top buildings. Col Sansern said transport was available at National Stadium and Pratumwan for protesters who want to return home. He urged people to inform the authorities of the whereabouts of the red-shirt leaders who had fled the protest area. The government has taken over several TV channels and is broadcasting repeated reassurances in Thai and English. BANGKOK POST

That sounds like a bomb scare to me. Nothing in the media about it yet. It's ironic that exactly one month ago, today, Pattaya was celebrating Songkran and everyone was having such a wonderful time. Now look!

If any of you are in Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen, Udon Thani, or anywhere else where this is going on, please post what you know and whatever you can tell us. Only sketchy information is being published in the media with which I am familiar.