Mon dieu !!!......Thailand

[marmar]

I'm watching the morning news on the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corp. - a plus of living in a border state) and the reporter was calling in live from Bangkok, and during his two minute segment, you could hear all kinds of mortar, gunshots and rocket launchers, and he mentioned that someone had been shot right behind him. It sounds like complete chaos.

[babylonsister]

1. And their 'leader' who was shot in the head last week? He died.

It sounds really awful over there.

[depakid]

2. We have friends stuck in Phuket

Not sure when (or how) they're going to get home- and for the moment, the Australian embassy is closed.

[Violet_Crumble]

8. I thought there were flights direct between Phuket and Australia...

I'm pretty sure that people flying out from there don't have to go through Bangkok. I might be wrong though coz I've never been anywhere else in Thailand than Bangkok and don't know much about other parts of Thailand...

[depakid]

9. Apparently not, as they've been advised to stay put

Might be that their particular flight is routed through Bangkok. We'll know more tomorrow night.

[Violet_Crumble]

10. I hope they manage to get home soon...

I really wouldn't like to be having to go anywhere near Bangkok right now. I had no qualms about going to Bangkok two weeks after the 2006 coup, but that was nothing compared to what's happening now.

[Warren Stupidity]

3. It isn't Iran so we don't give a shit.

The lack of any discernible official outrage indicates that this crackdown on dissent, at least as bad as n anything the vile mullahs pulled in Iran, is sanctioned.

[Atman]

4. My sister lives on Samui...calm, but all the tourists are gone

Koh Samui has flights out that by-pass Bangkok, so people have been able to leave, but no one is coming in. This is really impacting their economy. I guess Spring is the season of revolution there...on our trip there last April (09), we had to cut short our Bangkok visit when the Red Shirts started riots in the streets, but. Bangkok is a long way from the tourist islands. Let's hope this ends well.

[Dorian Gray]

5. The thai situation

is escalating, and there's nary a mention on US news. (Of course, I've been out of it this weekend newswise, so maybe it's getting more play.)

[Confusious]

6. Thailand could be the first billionare revolution

Some guy has a billion bucks and is using it to take over the country. Those who don't support him, he buys.

Welcome to the 21st century.

[David in Canada]

7. What about the king?

I know the king, Bhumibol Adulyedej, is 82 and in poor health. There are some rumours that he is near death and the crown prince is reputedly very unpopular.

Were the king to die before the crisis is resolved, would it likely escalate tensions?