State of Emergency in Bangkok

[Kyo]

Protests are near the Khao Sarn road area...

[fumitani]

Heading to Bangkok in December for New Years. I'll be there for two weeks...Not really worried though. I was in Bangkok for 3 weeks during Aug...and when they declared the emergency there.

Does it help that I know where the protesting is going on and get local news from aunts/uncles living there ?

[Rejuvenated]

I was in Bangkok in the early part of last week. Seemed business as usual at that time. Glad I was out of by last Wednesday.

[HUGE AL]

This is so sad. I absolutely love Bangkok as I spent much of my vacations there 2001 - 2004. I sincerely hope this ends soon and they find a peaceful resolution.

[MAN Flyer]

It's not getting any better

I'm due in Bangkok at the weekend.....


Troops have been deployed on the streets of the Thai capital Bangkok after police failed to disperse anti-government protesters.

The protesters, who are assembled outside the parliament building, are trying to stop lawmakers from leaving.

Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat managed to escape the building by climbing over a fence and being evacuated by helicopter.

Earlier, a woman died when a suspected car bomb exploded near the parliament.

One witness said that shots had been fired at the police by protesters, who are from the staunchly royalist People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD).

The BBC's Jonathan Head, in Bangkok, says the appearance of troops outside parliament is a clear sign that the government is struggling to maintain its authority.

Police earlier fired volleys of teargas for a second time to try to disperse the protesters, but without success.

Mr Somchai had been holding talks with military commanders on how to end the stand-off, before he was forced to flee the parliament building.

The protesters accuse him and his recently ousted predecessor, Samak Sundaravej, of just being proxies for former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The PAD wants to replace the one-man, one-vote system with one in which some representatives are chosen by professions and social groups rather than the general electorate.

Mr Thaksin, Mr Somchai's brother-in-law, was forced from office in a military coup in 2006.

The protesters have been occupying the grounds of government buildings for six weeks, but until Tuesday the demonstration had been largely peaceful.

Several thousand PAD protesters broke out of the compound where they had been staying and marched to the parliament late on Monday.

They tried to seal off the building by putting up barriers of old tyres and barbed wire.

The police responded with tear gas, injuring more than 100 people. Deputy Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh said he was resigning over the clashes.

The protesters later regrouped - locking some lawmakers inside the building and cutting off the power supply.

The new government says it wants to start negotiations with the PAD, but it is also pushing ahead with controversial plans to amend the constitution, a key grievance of the protesters who see it as part of a plan to rehabilitate Mr Thaksin.

The alliance says the government must resign because of its links to Mr Thaksin, who lives in the UK and has requested political asylum there.

It accuses him of corruption and abuse of power while he was in office, and has also suggested that Mr Thaksin and his allies have a hidden republican agenda, a serious charge at a time when the country is beset by anxiety over the future of the monarchy.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asi...ic/7656073.stm

[Kiwi]

Most of the locally issued ones have a clause - no cover if a government advisory against travel is made (before you travel there)

[Lobster]

On some insurance policies these advisories are enough to deny coverage.

I would be very surprised if you could not get insurance for Bali even if the Australian government has advised against travel there. Although I am sure the insurance companies will charge a bit more for it.

[willio773]

Any suggestions for alternative break for 16 days?

Fiji?

[dcflyer]

great part of the world and a beautiful people - most of them!

Had a great time there in 2003.

Unfortunately since the two bombings its on the no go list. Plus if I did go, insurance is void as the Aust govt say dont go there.

Dont usually care too much about warnings but my best mate works in intelligence and he says no way he'd go - and he has had guns turned on him where he works but thinks that place is okay!!!!!

I've been in bali the last 4 months and have spent the last 3 summers here. To think Bali is "dangerous" is just crazy talk. You have less chance of something happening to you here than you do in Australia.

[Kiwi]

Thats B.S.

Where's the thumbsdown icon?

While I personally have no problem going to Bali, it is however unfortunately true that Australian government (and others such as NZ) advise against travel there.

We advise you to reconsider your need to travel to Indonesia, including Bali, at this time due to the very high threat of terrorist attack.

Bali high risk

Our advice against all tourist and other non-essential travel extends to Bali. Further terrorist attacks like the Bali bombings of October 2005 (which killed 20 and injured over 100) and October 2002 (which killed 202), cannot be ruled out. The most likely targets are areas frequented by foreigners.

On some insurance policies these advisories are enough to deny coverage.

[rodders]

No comment!
And I'd better be quiet before getting OT. But it is sad in my heart to read the comment above.
Peace for all...

Couldn't agree more. As I said, had a great time in 2003. Went about 6 months after the first bombing and the Balinese economy was in desperate need of a boost. Spoke to a lot of locals as took the usual "taxi's" which meant I would generally keep the driver for the day. They were the ones most hurt as to what happened to their beautiful island and are still suffering. Unfortunately another bombing took place in 2004/2005? and hence it really is on the no go list.

Thanks for the alternative suggestions. This year we have been on holiday to
Hong Kong, Singapore and Penang at different time - all on SQ

But we have never been to Vietnam and that looks like a winner. We planned a week at resort to do "honeymooon stuff", then another 10 days looking at things.

I guess it depends on what happens over the next week in Thailand, although this morning it looked as if it was getting pretty bad. Please keep those suggestions pouring in

[Savage25]

Unfortunately since the two bombings its on the no go list. Plus if I did go, insurance is void as the Aust govt say dont go there.

Thats B.S.

Where's the thumbsdown icon?

[SQ LPP]

Unfortunately since the two bombings its on the no go list. Plus if I did go, insurance is void as the Aust govt say dont go there.

Dont usually care too much about warnings but my best mate works in intelligence and he says no way he'd go - and he has had guns turned on him where he works but thinks that place is okay!!!!!

No comment!
And I'd better be quiet before getting OT. But it is sad in my heart to read the comment above.
Peace for all...

[MAN Flyer]

Vietnam? The Nam Hai in Hoi An...

I would second that. One of the (if not THE) best Hotels I've ever stayed in. A fabulous place.

[Kyo]

How about Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (and possibly a drive up to Penang or down to Singapore)? Is that on the banned list at the moment?

(or you could land in SIN and spend a nice 2 weeks going up and down)