Gaybutton

Well, I make my own decisions despite the parameters of the poll. I checked off "stay put," but I also clicked on Cambodia anyway. That's because there was no selection that offered the option of staying put unless forced out. So, if I'm ever forced out, Cambodia is where I'm most likely to go, at least to start.

One of the questions that keeps popping up is what is keeping the baht so strong with all these problems going on. Maybe that strength's days are numbered: _____ Investors begin buying back dollars Published: 15/05/2010 More foreign investors have sold off some shares and bought US dollars due to the escalating political violence, Bank of Thailand (BOT) assistant governor Suchada Kirakul said on Saturday morning. Investors begin buying back dollars ____________________ Baht Weakens on Concerns over Renewed Violence: BoT BANGKOK (TNA) -- The baht has continued weakening because investors are concerned over the renewed violent clashes between the military and anti-government United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship-led protesters, according to the Bank of Thailand (BoT). BoT Assistant Governor Suchada Kirakul said foreign investors had apparently begun to sell the baht and remit the dollar home to a certain extent. Sales of the baht are still proceeding although the volume remains thin, she said. The spate of political violence overnight has shaken investor confidence. Some sold shares and brought money to invest in other instruments, particularly in bonds. She said the baht is now considered volatile by itself and in tandem with the global situation, but its volatility is not heavier than that of other regional currencies. Currency is still moving at an acceptable level. Although foreign investors sold the baht and purchased dollars to remit money home, earners of incomes in foreign currencies are waiting for the perfect timing to sell the dollar, resulting in a balancing of the currency movement. On a comment by a top economist that the baht was very likely to touch 31.5 to the dollar at year-end, Mrs. Suchada said the currency had both strengthened and weakened. Although Thailand has experienced internal and external difficulties, its economy continued growing partly because of the global economic recovery. She revealed the BoT’s Monetary Policy Committee earlier wanted to see the policy interest rate return to the normal level, but its hope was dashed by the current political crisis. (TNA)

Khattiya in Critical but Stable Condition Published: 15/05/2010 at 10:23 AM A doctor from Vajjira Hospital revealed on Saturday morning that Maj Gen Khattiya Sawasdipol, also known as Seh Daeng, is still in a critical but stable condition. Seh Daeng - the army specialist and supporter of convicted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra - receives regular anti-biotic treatment. No visitor is allowed except his daughter, Ms Khattiyaa. He was shot in the head on Thursday night as security forces surrounded the six-week anti-government rally site at Bangkok's Ratchaprasong commercial district. Khattiya in critical but stable condition

Here's the latest: _____ Subway, Skytrain Not Operating Published: 15/05/2010 Subway and skytrain suspend all services on Saturday until further notice. Skytrain stopped running since 4pm while subway stopped its service since 5pm on Friday. The suspension of the services came after the clashes between troops and anti-government protesters which left at least 10 people killed and more than 125 injured. Subway, skytrain not operating ____________________ Red Shirts Burn Public Telephone Booth in Front of Lumpini Boxing Stadium Red-shirt protesters set fire to a public telephone booth in front of the Lumpini Boxing Stadium at 8:57 am Saturday, Jor Sor 100 traffic radio station reported. The fire spread to nearby commercial building and fire fighters could not go in to put out the blaze yet. Sporadic gunfire and explosions were heard in the area. Troops also fired into the sky to warn protesters not to attack them. Red shirts burn public telephone booth in front of Lumpini Boxing Stadium ____________________ There has been no further word yet as to Seh Daeng's condition.

Don't forget Blue Ball, Pennsylvania

What you say makes a lot of sense to me. You did leave out one possibility, though. What about the idea of cutting off the head of a snake? I think you're right, but I can also see a scenario in which someone thought by taking out Seh Daeng, then the protest would quickly die without his presence and influence. It is obvious that whoever shot him was a skilled sharpshooter. But it would also have had to be someone who knew where Seh Daeng would be and when he would be there. The shooter would have had to select a place from which to shoot where he knew he would be close enough to his target to hit him, close enough to recognize him, but far enough away so that he could escape. Then there's the question of timing. About 7:00pm. That's just after nightfall in Thailand. It makes sense to me that there must have been a reason. The way I see it, the shooting had to have been planned hours or even days in advance and the shooter had to have been someone not only skilled, but someone capable of pulling off an assassination without hurting anyone else and making a clean getaway. And it would have had to be someone who had access to the kind of weapon capable of such an assassination. I see a conspiracy theory coming up. Who did it? Was it a lone assassin? A hired killer? And why? Why was Seh Daeng shot? Who was behind it? Why him in particular? Are the other Red-Shirt leaders now in danger of meeting the same fate?

I'm somewhat surprised there isn't already a barrage of speculation as to who shot Seh Daeng. From what has been published so far, it was a professional 'hit' by a skilled sharpshooter. Who was behind it? Abhisit denies having anything to do with it. The military and CRES deny having anything to do with it. Then who did? Was it a lone assassin acting on his own? Was it a conspiracy? Was Seh Daeng set up? Was there a second assassin on the Grassy Knoll? Don't get me wrong. I really do feel badly for Seh Daeng and I think shooting him was a terrible thing, but the incident has all the makings of a good Frederick Forsythe novel. Who shot J.R.? ____________________ Sniper 'targeted Khattiya from high-rise' By Thanong Khanthong The Nation Published on May 15, 2010 A sniper who shot Maj-General Khattiya Sawasdipol on Thursday appeared to have used a Winchester rifle with a .308 bullet and fired it from a tall building, a military expert said. The expert said the bullet, which struck Khattiya on the right temple before passing through his throat and the back of his neck, was travelling at an angle of between 45 to 75 degrees. "This can only mean that the sniper must be a real pro and stalking Seh Daeng from a tall building," he said. Khattiya collapsed unconscious the moment he was struck by the bullet at around 7pm, right in front of the underground MRT Silom station. He was rushed to Hua Chiew Hospital before being transferred later to the Vajira Hospital. He is now in a critical condition. Only a miracle can save his life, according to medical sources. Sniper 'targeted Khattiya from high-rise'

Especially when the only real change likely to happen in the long run would be replacement by another corrupt government. That's my opinion, anyway. The truth is, I'm finding it very difficult to even care who ends up prevailing. Maybe Thailand will end up with an Abhisit government. Maybe a Thaksin government. Maybe a military government. Maybe someone we've never heard of. But whoever it is, does anyone truly believe that in the "big picture" anything much is likely to change in the long run? Does anyone truly believe that five years or ten years down the road that Thailand and corruption will essentially be any different from what it is right now? I believe that whoever prevails, there won't be any less corruption. The only change I can foresee would be a different set of people profiting by it. Once the dust settles from this protest, how long do you think it will be before the next protests or the next coup? As for whoever ends up sitting at the Prime Minister's desk, "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn." The way things seem to happen in Thailand, whoever it is won't last very long anyway.

The Red-Shirts have blocked off Soi Day-Night? Why? What on earth is blocking off Soi Day-Night supposed to accomplish besides making it a bit more difficult for some to get to Sunee Plaza?

"The Marines are looking for a few good men. And YOU ain't it!" - Clint Eastwood, 'Heartbreak Ridge'

Yes, I've seen it. I posted last night on another thread that the state of emergency has been confirmed. But you would never know it. I haven't seen anything different in Pattaya at all. You live here. Have you seen anything unusual? I haven't been outside of Pattaya since last week. I think the state of emergency probably consists of roadblocks outside of Pattaya in an effort to prevent more Red-Shirts from going to Bangkok. That's just a guess on my part. Meanwhile, everything is perfectly normal in Pattaya. A technical state of emergency might exist, but on a practical level there really is nothing. The headline in that Pattaya One article says, "Message from Pattaya: Don’t be scared, everything is normal." I agree. I don't see any reason at all for people who had plans to come to Pattaya to alter their plans. I'll bet most farang present in Pattaya would agree with me. Everything is fine here, except the weather has been hot as hell lately. HeyGay, if you're reading this, why do I think you went to Saranrom Park despite all this madness . . . ?

Germany "urgently" advises against travel to Bangkok By Deutsche Presse Agentur Berlin - The German foreign ministry expressed "great concern" at the violent clashes in the Thai capital Bangkok on Friday, and "urgently" advised against travel to the city. The German embassy had scaled back its work to a bare minimum but remained open - unlike some other embassies - a foreign ministry spokesman said. Germany "urgently" advises against travel to Bangkok

I'm sure there will be differing opinions about justification, but the fact is that the Red-Shirts did take over a hospital and 5 patients died in the aftermath.

Did you ever get the feeling that the sound trucks in Bangkok ought to be playing music from Gotterdammerung? Sporadic explosions have been heard in the protest area. One car bomb has been found. 3 grenades were tossed at the Saladaeng BTS station. Protesters at Saladaeng placed Molotov cocktails into burning tires and rolled them at the soldiers. Traffic on Rama IV has been shut down. __________ Red Shirts Toughen Demands The red-shirt leaders Friday announced they would no longer compromise with the government and toughened their demands for the administration to comply with. The red-shirt leaders demanded Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to meet the five demands as following: 1) The government must cease fire immediately. 2) The government must withdraw troops immediately. 3) The government must lift the state of emergency immediately. 4) The House must be dissolved immediately. 5) Abhisit and Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban must resign and must not be in the caretaker Cabinet. Red shirts toughen demands ____________________ Natthawut Warns Big Tragedy Will Happen Friday Night Natthawut Saikua, a red-shirt leader, Friday demanded Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to dissolve the House immediately and pull out troops or a big tragedy will happen to the country at night. "If the prime minister does not order ceasefire, tonight will likely see a big tragedy. It is likely that Thai people will be forever feel pain in their heart because of what will happen tonight," Natthawut said. He said the prime minister must dissolve the House and stop using violence against the protesters. He said he did not mean the red-shirt protesters would use violence but confusion could prevail at night. Natthawut warns big tragedy will happen Friday night

Wounded Seh Daeng's Chance of Survival 'Low' Published: 14/05/2010 Maj-Gen Khattiya Sawasdipol has swelling of the brain and has little chance of surviving, Dr Chaiwan Charoenchokethawee, director of Vajira Hospital, said on Friday. "His chance of survival is quite low," Dr Chaiwan said in a television interview. Dr Chaiwan said Seh Daeng was on life support and still unconscious. Medical teams were monitoring his condition minute by minute. He confirmed that Maj-Gen Khattiya was shot once through the temple. Surgeons had operated to remove blood clots from his brain and reduce the swelling, he said. Wounded Seh Daeng's chance of survival 'low'

The British embassy has also closed. ______ British Embassy Bangkok: Closed to the public 14 May 2010 The British Embassy in Bangkok is closed to the public, due to its proximity to demonstrations in the capital. The Embassy has a team which will assess developments in order to continue to provide the most accurate and up-to-date advice possible to British nationals in Thailand and British visitors. The Consular Section is closed. If you require urgent consular assistance, please call 02305 8333 (in Thailand only) The Visa Application Centre at Regent's House is closed. Please do not come to the Visa Application Centre until further notice. Customers should keep monitoring the Visa Application Centre website for updates. The Embassy's visa section is also closed. As a result, customers may experience delays in the processing of their visa application. Alternative arrangements are now in place for Thai residents who need to travel urgently to lodge visa applications in other locations, please visit the Visa Application Centre website for details. Trade and Investment services are suspended. The situation will be reviewed day by day so please continue to monitor this website for up to date information on the Embassy's disposition. We also strongly recommend that you monitor our travel advice for further information and updates on the current situation in Bangkok. We apologise for any inconvenience. News

Thai Army Says it Did Not Shoot Protest Leader By the CNN Wire Staff May 14, 2010 Bangkok, Thailand (CNN) -- Thailand's army had nothing to do with the shooting of an opposition leader in downtown Bangkok, a military spokesman said Friday. The Thursday incident is under investigation, said Col. Sansern Kaewkumnerd, an Army spokesman. Downtown Bangkok's Lumpini Park turned into a mob atmosphere amid gunshots and explosions Thursday as anti-government protesters massed there. Video footage showed one protester dead on the pavement. There was also footage of Red Shirt movement leader Maj. Gen. Khattiya Sawasdipol lying on the ground, bleeding from a gunshot wound near the neck, as frantic protesters attempted to move him and get help. The renegade general is better known as Seh Daeng, or Red Commander. Thai forces were slowly getting control of the downtown area Friday, a government official told CNN. But sporadic gunshots could be heard ringing out from the area. Thai Army says it did not shoot protest leader - CNN.com

US Embassy in Bangkok Closes Service The United States closed its embassy in Bangkok on Thursday following the Thai troops' clashes with red shirts protesters. US closes embassy in Thailand, 'very concerned' about violence The United States has closed its embassy in Bangkok on Thursday and said it was "very concerned" about the violence between the Thai government and protesters there. "We're very concerned, we're watching it (the violence) very closely," State Department spokesman Philip Crowley told reporters. The US embassy in Bangkok was closed to the public because it is near the trouble. "It is closed and American citizens services will be available for emergencies only... Essential personnel right now are manning the embassy, but it's not open," Crowley said. US embassy in Bangkok closes service ____________________ At this time there are no reports of any other embassy closings. If you need to go to your embassy, it would be advisable to call first to make sure they are indeed open.

Unfortunately, the violence in Bangkok has greatly escalated. There are reports of shots being fired. Soldiers are firing tear gas and rubber bullets at the protesters. Two newsmen, one foreign, have been wounded. Protesters are burning tires on Rama IV. Water and garbage trucks have been ordered to remain outside of the protest areas. All BTS trains will stop at 4:00pm. There have been no further reports yet on Seh Daeng's condition. As far as we know at the moment, he is still alive. So far, one death has been reported. A protester was shot and killed. The situation is likely to change rapidly. We'll keep you informed as best as we can.

Thank you for that. I was downtown in Pattaya today too. I was on Soi Buakhao, Second Road, Pattaya Klang, and Pattaya Tai. I saw nothing unusual going on at all. I was not around Soi Day-Night, so I have no personal observations to make. Those of you in Pattaya, especially in the vicinity of Soi Day-Night, please keep us informed as best as you can.

The latest news is Seh Daeng is still alive. Police have entered the hospital. Seh Daeng will be arrested on terrorism charges if he survives.

As of the time of this post, Seh Daeng is still alive. The only statement I have been able to find as to the prognosis is that the bullet has successfully been removed from his head, but he remains in critical condition and doctors are still not sure if they can save him. Meanwhile, Thaksin has condemned the shooting and is in touch with Seh Daeng's daughter. Veera, one of the Red-Shirt leaders, has resigned, saying the Red-Shirt leadership is divided as to whether to continue the protest. He wants the protest to end. I have not yet seen any reports as to whether the Red-Shirt leadership is planning retaliatory moves following the Seh Daeng shooting. I have not yet seen any further publicity about Chonburi, including Pattaya, being under a state of emergency. As of the time of this post, nothing has changed in Pattaya and everything is still perfectly normal. ____________________ Seh Daeng shrugged off dangers before shooting Published: 14/05/2010 "I'm not afraid of dying. They've marked my head. If I'm afraid, who will lead the red shirts?" army specialist Khattiya Sawasdipol told the Bangkok Post in a telephone interview yesterday. Later in the day, about 7.30pm, Maj Gen Khattiya, better known as Seh Daeng, was shot in the head near the Sala Daeng red shirt rally site. He was inspecting security barriers and giving an interview to a group of foreign reporters at the time. ''All I have on me is a small pistol and a stick ... If anyone comes to arrest me, I can assure you I'll shoot and fight to the end ... Soldiers are on to me. There are snipers out there. But they'll never get me,'' Maj Gen Khattiya said. Seh Daeng shrugged off dangers before shooting ____________________ Thaksin condemns shooting of Maj Gen Khattiya Fugitive ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra said in his twitter that he telephoned daughter of Maj Gen Khattiya Sawasdipol who has been in a coma after being shot at the head reportedly by a sniper on Thursday night. Thaksin condemns shooting of Maj Gen Khattiya ____________________ UDD leadership in disarray as Veera is said to have quit Red shirts divided over whether to end protest Published: 14/05/2010 A split has emerged in the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship as Veera Musikhapong has quit as its leader, a source says. Conflict within the ranks of UDD co-leaders had led Mr Veera to resign, the source said yesterday. UDD co-leader Korkaew Pikulthong admitted the red shirt bosses have been split down the middle. UDD leadership in disarray as Veera is said to have quit

I wouldn't refer to you as a Palestinian, but I would readily refer to you by a different two-word term, one that begins with "horse's." First, I never said the term doesn't exist. What I said was that I had never heard that term. And until your post, I never heard that term. Isn't that terrible? You criticize me for saying that if Seh Daeng dies it would be called murder. Someone gunned him down for no apparent reason. If he dies, what the hell would you call it? I'm no fan of Seh Daeng, but when someone intentionally shoots and kills someone in an act that is by no means self defense, yes, I damned sure call that murder. If you want to come up with some euphemism for it, that's your business. I can't wait to see you justify the shooting. You have a very interesting way of including insults and put-downs with your information, and then you cry about it when you get insulted right back. Explain the necessity of "where are you from? where is GB from?" and "I would have thought were accessible by even isolationist and uninformed Americans." Tell me all about how those aren't unnecessary put-downs. Well, keep it up. When I get good and sick of it, I think you already know what this isolationist and uninformed American is very likely to do about it . . . that is unless one of the other moderators beats me to it.

Now that The Nation has confirmed it, their report says it is the province, which would include Pattaya. The article also says the purpose of declaring this state of emergency is to prevent Red-Shirts from traveling to Bangkok. Also the military is to work with the various governors in order to maintain peace. In Pattaya, at least, there should be no problem maintaining peace considering the fact that everything has been, and still is, perfectly normal. So far there is no military presence or increase of police presence in Pattaya. Again, my own fear is the possibility of terrorist activities in the wake of the crackdown and in the wake of the Seh Daeng shooting. Hopefully, Pattaya will continue to be spared any of that.

Did they announce what this state of emergency entails? As far as I can tell, everything in Pattaya is perfectly normal. Everything is open and running. The bars are all open. I know of no kind of curfew being imposed. There is no more police presence than usual, and most of that presence is still nothing more than the usual fining of helmetless motorcycle drivers. There is no military presence of any kind. So far nothing has been announced in local English language media and I don't see anything about a state of emergency being declared anywhere at all, much less in other provinces, on the Bangkok Post or The Nation web sites. Apparently, TAN is the only media source saying that Chonburi is under a state of emergency. So, assuming they are correct, what does this mean? Did they say?