Hi Nick,
I heard everything that was happening that day from inside the house where I stayed which was right in front the camouflaged buildingwhere the military were. I successfully escaped my place today 6 am in the morning with my passport out, white shirt, backpack. I saw the monks going to Victory Monument, this made me feel extremely safe at the moment. Although, I am happy I am reading you article only now, because if I read it yesterday I would have been too scared to get out of my place…. or not……Happy you all survived. Met several photojournalists hiding in my place yesterday – you’re all amazing people – keep up the good work! And, be safe!
masha
Great pic of the monks chanting at victory monument. This is where the real story is, unfortunately, the media feels it is not so important to report on peace and love or for the facts – like, the red shirt brigade are an international corporate sponsored gang of uneducated thugs who are very much in the minority. The vast majority of Thai people you talk to – even in the fabled “northern red shirt strong hold” areas – are ashamed of the red shirts and how they are carrying on. They are not behaving as Thai culture demands. The yellow shirt protesters of a few years ago on the other hand were very much supported by most of the population. Our illustrious friend Taksin who has very strong ties to Carlyle group, monsanto, and many other murderous fascist organizations is by no means the saviour of the poor and downtrodden as the western media likes to propagandize. MOST Thai people and ALL educated Thai people (who do not work for corporations) are aware of this and view him as one of the most dangerous people alive on the planet today. When will the media report this, Nick?
Pete, I don’t think the ownership of the land means anything.
If the crackdown does come to the final stages, and troops do charge in firing, will some protesters break down the glass doors and seek refuge inside the malls? Yes. But with troops chasing them down, I don’t think they’ll bother looting the latest Zegna jackets.
Its blocked in Thailand, unless you have a proxy to get around the massive amount of government “censorship” presently in place to control the media to only their propaganda outlets.
Thanks Nick,… it’s really a quality report. I’m going to work in Sathorn area tomorrow, although Thai government already annouced holiday on May 17-18. (doesn’t make any different to me)
It will be two more days of this mad killing. The government doesn’t aware that there are more Red shirt for them to kill after this one. This is not the way of changing people minds or helpping the country …no not by shooting at them like gun practise on life targets. I thought shooting animal was unethical, but shooting at unarmed person … it’s just too much to watch, too much it hurts, yet I can’t do anything about it. It hurts evenmore when I heard some people (some of the yellow shirt supporter) said that The Red deserved it and government did the rights things.
Personnaly, it doesn’t matter if they were Red or Yellow or whoever… no government should have a rights to shoot their own people. No, no one in the Kingdom of Thailand should get this kind of treatment.
Does anyone feel that Abhisit has been monumentally screwed by the Thai Army? Except to the most one-eyed government cheerleaders, this has turned out to be an unmitigated PR disaster.
Do not waste your time trying to force down our throat the same cheap, pathetic, moronic rethoric as your assasin paymaster Abishit , please.
Anyone with 2 neurons and one synap can understand that the Thai elites and their in-fine paymasters are simply trying to reproduce the same myth they created in 1976 and 1992.
Sorry guys but since then technology has moved on, and today there is absolutely nothing you can do against : mobile phones,video cameras , internet, twitter , facebook, you tube …
In response to Peter Boyles: wow you really are misinformed and don’t understand the current situation.
The government has given ENOUGH time and patience to try and resolve this issue, yet the protesters keep on making ridiculous demands. How can you dissolve government as soon as there’s a protest? Is that logical in your mind? So the current government stuck to their proposal and that was for the protesters to either accept the upcomming elections or not. The fact is that law and order must be maintaned, the protests stopped being peaceful a long time ago and the protesters have been given many options yet they remained defient and this has had and still has a negative effect on the ecomony and safety of the general population of Thailand. When the army steps up with live rounds .. I think it’s time to leave, right? There has been enough bloodshed already. I also don’t believe that the protesters are all unarmed. It’s time to end the bloodshed and the protests and hopefully resolve this with an election. Hopefully that will keep everyone happy, but I somehow doubt it.
To Dove 8: “Again, think what your government would do if there were a large group of protesters blocking all traffic at Orchard Road in Singapore; Times Square in NYC; Ginza in Tokyo; or Knightsbridge in London for two months.”
This would certainly not happen. It would certainly not happen as well that hooligans take passengers at international airports as hostage and that one of the leaders will later get into a prominent position in the government. What will happen is that police trained in handling legitimate protests in a competent (that means non-violent) way will take care of the situation much earlier. How many governments do you have world wide that use the army with war-weapons against protesters? What I find strange in Thailand is that obviously, the current government sees only two alternatives: Doing nothing or killing the protesters to shut them up. In other countries (including Malaysia f.e.) the government sees a few more alternatives. If you want to compare the situation in Bangkok, then you should better refer to China, Burma or Indonesia prior to the end of Suharto. Is the failure to handle the protest at an early stage in a legitimate way due to incompetence of the state organs from top down? Do you really want to be governed by such incompetent people? In the countries you mention, such a government could not last very long!
I do not agree with the activities of the protesters to occupy parts of Bangkok for an extended periode. However, I can not at all accept a government that kills its people! So far I have not found a convincing argument and evidence that the government actually tried to solve the conflict in a peaceful way! The “road map” was obviously more of a hoax then a real attempt towards reconciliation.
Your comments ‘TONY’ are exactly the reason that these poor people are out on the streets. Abbisit and his unelected gang will be brought up on charges by the UN. Saddam thought that he could get away with it. Remember him? This in NOT 1974 in Thailand and Murders on this scale can’t be covered up. Crimes againt The Thai People…….It WILL Happen. The poor are talking, start listening, and they don’t have ‘cake to eat’!!
This link is to another video of the incident you describe nick.
I have been doing some reading on the Thai privy council and its difficult to find out its real political power. What does worry me is that the council appears to be dominated by dictators, Surayud Chulanont, Prem Tinsulanonda, Tanin Kraivixien here we have 3 men who between them can be held responsible for 4 coup, 2 massacare ( I’m not including present one) and 11 years of dictatorship. If this is the kind of CV needed to be a privy councilor what of the others I have little information on them maybe someone can enlighten me.
I copied this list from Wiki so don’t know if its fully up to date
General Prem Tinsulanonda р╣Ар╕Ыр╕гр╕б р╕Хр╕┤р╕Ур╕кр╕╣р╕ер╕▓р╕Щр╕Щр╕Чр╣М 4 September 1998 President of the Privy Council of Thailand
Dr. Chaovana na Silavanta р╣Ар╕Кр╕▓р╕зр╕Щр╣М р╕У р╕ир╕╡р╕ер╕зр╕▒р╕Щр╕Хр╣М 19 December 1975 Director of the Crown Property Bureau
Tanin Kraivixien р╕Шр╕▓р╕Щр╕┤р╕Щр╕Чр╕гр╣М р╕Бр╕гр╕▒р╕вр╕зр╕┤р╣Ар╕Кр╕╡р╕вр╕г 15 December 1977 Former Prime Minister (1976–1977)
Rear Admiral Mom Luang Usni Pramoj р╕нр╕▒р╕ир╕Щр╕╡ р╕Ыр╕гр╕▓р╣Вр╕бр╕К 3 March 1984 Former Businessman
Air Vice Marshal Kamthon Sindhavananda р╕Бр╕│р╕Шр╕Щ р╕кр╕┤р╕Щр╕Шр╕зр╕▓р╕Щр╕Щр╕Чр╣М 28 November 1987 Former Director of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
Air Chief Marshal Siddhi Savetsila р╕кр╕┤р╕Чр╕Шр╕┤ р╣Ар╕ир╕зр╕Хр╕ир╕┤р╕ер╕▓ 24 December 1991 Former Minister of Foreign Affairs (1980–1990)
General Pichitr Kullavanijaya р╕Юр╕┤р╕Ир╕┤р╕Хр╕г р╕Бр╕╕р╕ер╕ер╕░р╕зр╕Ур╕┤р╕Кр╕вр╣М 13 July 1993 Former Deputy Commander of the Supreme Command HQ
Ampol Senanarong р╕нр╕│р╕Юр╕е р╣Ар╕кр╕Щр╕▓р╕Ур╕гр╕Зр╕Др╣М 9 September 1994 Former Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives
Chamras Kemacharu р╕Ир╕│р╕гр╕▒р╕к р╣Ар╕Вр╕бр╕░р╕Ир╕▓р╕гр╕╕ 15 November 1994 Former President of the Supreme Court of Justice
Mom Rajawongse Thepkamol Devakula р╣Ар╕Чр╕Юр╕Бр╕бр╕е р╣Ар╕Чр╕зр╕Бр╕╕р╕е 7 August 1997 Former Diplomat
Palakorn Suwanarat р╕Юр╕ер╕▓р╕Бр╕г р╕кр╕╕р╕зр╕гр╕гр╕Ур╕гр╕▒р╕Р 18 July 2001 Forr Minister of Education
Kasem Watanachai р╣Ар╕Бр╕йр╕б р╕зр╕▒р╕Тр╕Щр╕Кр╕▒р╕в 18 July 2001 Former Deputy Permanent Secretary to the Interior Ministry
Sawat Wathanakorn р╕кр╕зр╕▒р╕кр╕Фр╕┤р╣М р╕зр╕▒р╕Тр╕Щр╕▓р╕вр╕▓р╕Бр╕г 18 July 2002 Former Judge of the Supreme Administrative Court
General Surayud Chulanont р╕кр╕╕р╕гр╕вр╕╕р╕Чр╕Шр╣М р╕Ир╕╕р╕ер╕▓р╕Щр╕Щр╕Чр╣М 14 November 2003 / 8 April 2008 Former Prime Minister (2007), resigned from the Council, then reappointed
Santi Thakral р╕кр╕▒р╕Щр╕Хр╕┤ р╕Чр╕▒р╕Бр╕гр╕▓р╕е 15 March 2005 Former President of the Supreme Court of Justice
Admiral Chumpol Patchusanont р╕Кр╕╕р╕бр╕Юр╕е р╕Ыр╕▒р╕Ир╕Ир╕╕р╕кр╕▓р╕Щр╕Щр╕Чр╣М 15 March 2005 Former Commander of the Royal Thai Navy
Atthaniti Disatha-Amnarj р╕нр╕гр╕гр╕Цр╕Щр╕┤р╕Хр╕┤ р╕Фр╕┤р╕йр╕Рр╕нр╕│р╕Щр╕▓р╕И 16 August 2007 Former President of the Supreme Court of Justice
Supachai Phungam р╕ир╕╕р╕ар╕Кр╕▒р╕в р╕ар╕╣р╣Ир╕Зр╕▓р╕б 8 April 2008 Former President of the Supreme Court of Justice
18 Chanchai Likitjitta р╕Кр╕▓р╕Нр╕Кр╕▒р╕в р╕ер╕┤р╕Вр╕┤р╕Хр╕Ир╕┤р╕Хр╕Цр╕░ 8 April 2008 Former President of the Supreme Court of Justice and Minister of Justice
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Nick Nostitz in the killing zone
Hi Nick,
I heard everything that was happening that day from inside the house where I stayed which was right in front the camouflaged buildingwhere the military were. I successfully escaped my place today 6 am in the morning with my passport out, white shirt, backpack. I saw the monks going to Victory Monument, this made me feel extremely safe at the moment. Although, I am happy I am reading you article only now, because if I read it yesterday I would have been too scared to get out of my place…. or not……Happy you all survived. Met several photojournalists hiding in my place yesterday – you’re all amazing people – keep up the good work! And, be safe!
masha
Nick Nostitz in the killing zone
Completely agree with Ajax above (here).
Nick Nostitz in the killing zone
Nick,
Great pic of the monks chanting at victory monument. This is where the real story is, unfortunately, the media feels it is not so important to report on peace and love or for the facts – like, the red shirt brigade are an international corporate sponsored gang of uneducated thugs who are very much in the minority. The vast majority of Thai people you talk to – even in the fabled “northern red shirt strong hold” areas – are ashamed of the red shirts and how they are carrying on. They are not behaving as Thai culture demands. The yellow shirt protesters of a few years ago on the other hand were very much supported by most of the population. Our illustrious friend Taksin who has very strong ties to Carlyle group, monsanto, and many other murderous fascist organizations is by no means the saviour of the poor and downtrodden as the western media likes to propagandize. MOST Thai people and ALL educated Thai people (who do not work for corporations) are aware of this and view him as one of the most dangerous people alive on the planet today. When will the media report this, Nick?
Thailand’s sideshow is over
Pete, I don’t think the ownership of the land means anything.
If the crackdown does come to the final stages, and troops do charge in firing, will some protesters break down the glass doors and seek refuge inside the malls? Yes. But with troops chasing them down, I don’t think they’ll bother looting the latest Zegna jackets.
Abhisit’s iron fist – Sunday
Do not forget, you can watch live video feed from the main protest site at :
http://www.uddthailand.com/
Its blocked in Thailand, unless you have a proxy to get around the massive amount of government “censorship” presently in place to control the media to only their propaganda outlets.
Nick Nostitz in the killing zone
Here is a true link to The UN declaration on human right have a read. See you in the UN Abbisit !!
http://www.dfa.ie/uploads/documents/Political%20Division/declaration%20english%20version.pdf
Nick Nostitz in the killing zone
Thanks Nick,… it’s really a quality report. I’m going to work in Sathorn area tomorrow, although Thai government already annouced holiday on May 17-18. (doesn’t make any different to me)
It will be two more days of this mad killing. The government doesn’t aware that there are more Red shirt for them to kill after this one. This is not the way of changing people minds or helpping the country …no not by shooting at them like gun practise on life targets. I thought shooting animal was unethical, but shooting at unarmed person … it’s just too much to watch, too much it hurts, yet I can’t do anything about it. It hurts evenmore when I heard some people (some of the yellow shirt supporter) said that The Red deserved it and government did the rights things.
Personnaly, it doesn’t matter if they were Red or Yellow or whoever… no government should have a rights to shoot their own people. No, no one in the Kingdom of Thailand should get this kind of treatment.
Abhisit’s iron fist – Sunday
Labour unionist at Klong Toei stage. National gen strike if state sponsored killing continues: http://twitpic.com/1oc9n4
A National Strike would increase the pressure on the deranged but clinging on to power (at all costs) government presently pretending to be in charge.
Abhisit’s iron fist – Sunday
Does anyone feel that Abhisit has been monumentally screwed by the Thai Army? Except to the most one-eyed government cheerleaders, this has turned out to be an unmitigated PR disaster.
Abhisit’s iron fist – Sunday
Photo just taken now at the main protest stage.
http://twitpic.com/1oc5m0
DO NOT BELIEVE if the government says all women and children are out, they are NOT.
.
Nick Nostitz in the killing zone
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3w9YJVR_HEM
watch closely 2.45 sec
I don’t know that kind off bomb but it seems lethal.
Abhisit’s iron fist – Sunday
Booby ,
Do not waste your time trying to force down our throat the same cheap, pathetic, moronic rethoric as your assasin paymaster Abishit , please.
Anyone with 2 neurons and one synap can understand that the Thai elites and their in-fine paymasters are simply trying to reproduce the same myth they created in 1976 and 1992.
Sorry guys but since then technology has moved on, and today there is absolutely nothing you can do against : mobile phones,video cameras , internet, twitter , facebook, you tube …
Nick Nostitz in the killing zone
In response to Peter Boyles: wow you really are misinformed and don’t understand the current situation.
The government has given ENOUGH time and patience to try and resolve this issue, yet the protesters keep on making ridiculous demands. How can you dissolve government as soon as there’s a protest? Is that logical in your mind? So the current government stuck to their proposal and that was for the protesters to either accept the upcomming elections or not. The fact is that law and order must be maintaned, the protests stopped being peaceful a long time ago and the protesters have been given many options yet they remained defient and this has had and still has a negative effect on the ecomony and safety of the general population of Thailand. When the army steps up with live rounds .. I think it’s time to leave, right? There has been enough bloodshed already. I also don’t believe that the protesters are all unarmed. It’s time to end the bloodshed and the protests and hopefully resolve this with an election. Hopefully that will keep everyone happy, but I somehow doubt it.
Nick Nostitz in the killing zone
The soldiers only allowed first aid cos the foreign journos were there.
They stomped and shot the ones who didnt make it over the wall..
Abhisit’s iron fist – Sunday
To Dove 8: “Again, think what your government would do if there were a large group of protesters blocking all traffic at Orchard Road in Singapore; Times Square in NYC; Ginza in Tokyo; or Knightsbridge in London for two months.”
This would certainly not happen. It would certainly not happen as well that hooligans take passengers at international airports as hostage and that one of the leaders will later get into a prominent position in the government. What will happen is that police trained in handling legitimate protests in a competent (that means non-violent) way will take care of the situation much earlier. How many governments do you have world wide that use the army with war-weapons against protesters? What I find strange in Thailand is that obviously, the current government sees only two alternatives: Doing nothing or killing the protesters to shut them up. In other countries (including Malaysia f.e.) the government sees a few more alternatives. If you want to compare the situation in Bangkok, then you should better refer to China, Burma or Indonesia prior to the end of Suharto. Is the failure to handle the protest at an early stage in a legitimate way due to incompetence of the state organs from top down? Do you really want to be governed by such incompetent people? In the countries you mention, such a government could not last very long!
I do not agree with the activities of the protesters to occupy parts of Bangkok for an extended periode. However, I can not at all accept a government that kills its people! So far I have not found a convincing argument and evidence that the government actually tried to solve the conflict in a peaceful way! The “road map” was obviously more of a hoax then a real attempt towards reconciliation.
Nick Nostitz in the killing zone
Your comments ‘TONY’ are exactly the reason that these poor people are out on the streets. Abbisit and his unelected gang will be brought up on charges by the UN. Saddam thought that he could get away with it. Remember him? This in NOT 1974 in Thailand and Murders on this scale can’t be covered up. Crimes againt The Thai People…….It WILL Happen. The poor are talking, start listening, and they don’t have ‘cake to eat’!!
Bangkok at war
http://forum.serithai.net/download/file.php?id=6605
A resting black clad red shirt with a handgun in his “bare” hands.
The pic could have been staged, though.
Abhisit’s iron fist – Sunday
Government liars say they only shoot “armed terrorists”……
So here we have yet more (and its a massive amount now) proof of them shooting unarmed people.
This time a man driving his car is shot dead.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cl2A8JZdlY
Nick Nostitz in the killing zone
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cl2A8JZdlY
This link is to another video of the incident you describe nick.
I have been doing some reading on the Thai privy council and its difficult to find out its real political power. What does worry me is that the council appears to be dominated by dictators, Surayud Chulanont, Prem Tinsulanonda, Tanin Kraivixien here we have 3 men who between them can be held responsible for 4 coup, 2 massacare ( I’m not including present one) and 11 years of dictatorship. If this is the kind of CV needed to be a privy councilor what of the others I have little information on them maybe someone can enlighten me.
I copied this list from Wiki so don’t know if its fully up to date
General Prem Tinsulanonda р╣Ар╕Ыр╕гр╕б р╕Хр╕┤р╕Ур╕кр╕╣р╕ер╕▓р╕Щр╕Щр╕Чр╣М 4 September 1998 President of the Privy Council of Thailand
Dr. Chaovana na Silavanta р╣Ар╕Кр╕▓р╕зр╕Щр╣М р╕У р╕ир╕╡р╕ер╕зр╕▒р╕Щр╕Хр╣М 19 December 1975 Director of the Crown Property Bureau
Tanin Kraivixien р╕Шр╕▓р╕Щр╕┤р╕Щр╕Чр╕гр╣М р╕Бр╕гр╕▒р╕вр╕зр╕┤р╣Ар╕Кр╕╡р╕вр╕г 15 December 1977 Former Prime Minister (1976–1977)
Rear Admiral Mom Luang Usni Pramoj р╕нр╕▒р╕ир╕Щр╕╡ р╕Ыр╕гр╕▓р╣Вр╕бр╕К 3 March 1984 Former Businessman
Air Vice Marshal Kamthon Sindhavananda р╕Бр╕│р╕Шр╕Щ р╕кр╕┤р╕Щр╕Шр╕зр╕▓р╕Щр╕Щр╕Чр╣М 28 November 1987 Former Director of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
Air Chief Marshal Siddhi Savetsila р╕кр╕┤р╕Чр╕Шр╕┤ р╣Ар╕ир╕зр╕Хр╕ир╕┤р╕ер╕▓ 24 December 1991 Former Minister of Foreign Affairs (1980–1990)
General Pichitr Kullavanijaya р╕Юр╕┤р╕Ир╕┤р╕Хр╕г р╕Бр╕╕р╕ер╕ер╕░р╕зр╕Ур╕┤р╕Кр╕вр╣М 13 July 1993 Former Deputy Commander of the Supreme Command HQ
Ampol Senanarong р╕нр╕│р╕Юр╕е р╣Ар╕кр╕Щр╕▓р╕Ур╕гр╕Зр╕Др╣М 9 September 1994 Former Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives
Chamras Kemacharu р╕Ир╕│р╕гр╕▒р╕к р╣Ар╕Вр╕бр╕░р╕Ир╕▓р╕гр╕╕ 15 November 1994 Former President of the Supreme Court of Justice
Mom Rajawongse Thepkamol Devakula р╣Ар╕Чр╕Юр╕Бр╕бр╕е р╣Ар╕Чр╕зр╕Бр╕╕р╕е 7 August 1997 Former Diplomat
Palakorn Suwanarat р╕Юр╕ер╕▓р╕Бр╕г р╕кр╕╕р╕зр╕гр╕гр╕Ур╕гр╕▒р╕Р 18 July 2001 Forr Minister of Education
Kasem Watanachai р╣Ар╕Бр╕йр╕б р╕зр╕▒р╕Тр╕Щр╕Кр╕▒р╕в 18 July 2001 Former Deputy Permanent Secretary to the Interior Ministry
Sawat Wathanakorn р╕кр╕зр╕▒р╕кр╕Фр╕┤р╣М р╕зр╕▒р╕Тр╕Щр╕▓р╕вр╕▓р╕Бр╕г 18 July 2002 Former Judge of the Supreme Administrative Court
General Surayud Chulanont р╕кр╕╕р╕гр╕вр╕╕р╕Чр╕Шр╣М р╕Ир╕╕р╕ер╕▓р╕Щр╕Щр╕Чр╣М 14 November 2003 / 8 April 2008 Former Prime Minister (2007), resigned from the Council, then reappointed
Santi Thakral р╕кр╕▒р╕Щр╕Хр╕┤ р╕Чр╕▒р╕Бр╕гр╕▓р╕е 15 March 2005 Former President of the Supreme Court of Justice
Admiral Chumpol Patchusanont р╕Кр╕╕р╕бр╕Юр╕е р╕Ыр╕▒р╕Ир╕Ир╕╕р╕кр╕▓р╕Щр╕Щр╕Чр╣М 15 March 2005 Former Commander of the Royal Thai Navy
Atthaniti Disatha-Amnarj р╕нр╕гр╕гр╕Цр╕Щр╕┤р╕Хр╕┤ р╕Фр╕┤р╕йр╕Рр╕нр╕│р╕Щр╕▓р╕И 16 August 2007 Former President of the Supreme Court of Justice
Supachai Phungam р╕ир╕╕р╕ар╕Кр╕▒р╕в р╕ар╕╣р╣Ир╕Зр╕▓р╕б 8 April 2008 Former President of the Supreme Court of Justice
18 Chanchai Likitjitta р╕Кр╕▓р╕Нр╕Кр╕▒р╕в р╕ер╕┤р╕Вр╕┤р╕Хр╕Ир╕┤р╕Хр╕Цр╕░ 8 April 2008 Former President of the Supreme Court of Justice and Minister of Justice
A Sunday morning look at Bangkok
Before the rhetoric and propaganda from all sides totally overwhelms meaningful discussion…
Ah well it was a pretty silly hope I think. Shouting the loudest doesn’t win a debate, it just stops it.