Tourism News

Tourism News Phuketwan Tourism News
facebook recommendations

NEWS ALERTS

Sign up now for our News Alert emails and the latest breaking news plus new features.

Click to subscribe

Existing subscribers can unsubscribe here

RSS FEEDS

Protesters flocked by the hundreds to show their dissent on Phuket today

UPDATE 5000 in Phuket Protest as Thailand's Harmony and Tourism Face Big Test

Sunday, November 3, 2013
UPDATING All Day, Every Day

MORE than 5000 protesters packed a Phuket park this afternoon to vent their disappointment at a government law that pardons the corrupt. Protesters appeared to come from a variety of political backgrounds. The road to Bangkok has been reopened.

Original Report

PHUKET: Protesters were streaming to Bangkok today as Thailand faced a wave of political unrest that could threaten the country's tourism revenue.

The protest spreads to the holiday island of Phuket this afternoon with hundreds expected to gather in a park near the main administrative offices, Phuket Provincial Hall.

In another Thai southern province, Prachuapkhirikhan, protesters and police were already bickering over whether travellers should be allowed through a road block on Thailand's main north-south artery to join the growing Bangkok protest.

Anger mounted with Parliament passing an amnesty bill on October 31 - Halloween night - that forgives corrupt government officers and allows for the return of fugitive former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

His sister, present PM Yingluck Shinawatra, distanced herself from this week's vote but the swelling dissent will be perhaps the most severe test so far for her coalition government.

Peaceful antagonism has continued between the ''red'' government and ''yellow'' opposition since the finale to a long street protest in Bangkok in 2010 left scores dead, with responsibility yet to be apportioned.

At that time, the ''yellow'' Democrat Party was in power. Now in opposition, former Democrat Deputy PM Suthep Thaugsuban is leading the protest against the amnesty and says action on the streets will intensify from Monday.

As the amnesty law has attracted broader opposition than conventional ''red'' versus ''yellow,'' the outcome of any national confrontation remains uncertain.

Although the government's rationale for passing the law was a promise of ''harmony,'' their hopes appear to be unlikely to be realised, and certainly not immediately.

Already a previously non-aligned group of professors from Thammasat University in Bangkok have come out against the law.

The spectre of the return of Thaksin Shinawatra has been a backdrop to Thai politics since he became a fugitive, living in the style befitting a billionaire outside Thailand.

Such is his support and influence that the Economist reported that Thailand actually has two prime ministers - Yingluck and her brother. The two-year period in which she has been in power has been relatively settled by Thailand's standards, until now.

The prospect of a broad national conflict over the amnesty bill has triggered alarm in the tourism industry. It's worth remembering, however, that no tourists were killed or seriously injured in the 2010 protest.

Two years earlier, the ''yellow'' opposition invaded and occupied first Phuket airport, then Don Muang and Suvarnabhumi airports in Bangkok. The Phuket invasion was just a practice run for the Bangkok occupations.

With direct flights increasing in number, Phuket is now seen as separate to the major political ring of Bangkok and less likely to be affected. However, the island has only tourism as an industry and would probably feel the repercussions from any serious conflict.

Social networks were bubbling with Sunday's activities while television channels were bizarrely subdued about coverage of protests.

Phuket Governor Maitree Intrusud told protesters they were welcome to express their opinion peacefully at the Sanam Chai park opposite Phuket Provincial Hall in Phuket City.

In previous political political protests, demonstrators have avoided the tourist areas on Phuket's west coast and paraded through Phuket City to the administrative offices or the park.

With protests in Bangkok and other provinces underway, the Phuket demonstration is due to begin at 2pm.

Comments

Comments have been disabled for this article.

gravatar

Thai politicians have devoted so much time on this issue, rather than govern the country. No wonder Thailand remains very much Third World.

Posted by jimbo on November 3, 2013 12:54

gravatar

How can the parliament be so stupid to pass an amnesty bill on October 31, the day before official high season for tourism?

There is a short time for making money on for this country an important business, and long time low season for local quibbling.

Brilliant timing - are they just amateurs or are there some really evil thoughts behind this?

Posted by Sherlock on November 3, 2013 13:03

gravatar

According to many reports across a range of Thai media outlets across the country, this amnesty bill will cause severe discontent, the first signs of which are already evident. The lid will literally blow off the pressure cooker.

If past history is anything to go by, tourism will be much affected because most governments will put out advisory notices not to travel to Thailand. That immediately impacts on potential to get insurance to travel. Also people are increasingly wary about airport closures, etc.

Phuket is remote but not isolated.

Posted by Logic on November 3, 2013 13:32

gravatar

Hopeless situation and for many people in tourism businesses we are in the position of 'WAIT AND SEE' but the outcome may not be so funny....
We have to cross the fingers and look up at the Lord if he can help...
Tourists may decide to avoid to visit Thailand for the coming season to avoid to be trapped in a national conflict in case of insurrection.

Posted by Whistle-Blower on November 3, 2013 13:41

gravatar

I am sure the timing is not coincidental. It is timed for maximum impact. This has been a long time in the planning & was a fairly inevitable outcome once YS was elected proxy PM.

Posted by Logic on November 3, 2013 16:05

gravatar

whistle blower?...The Lord for help?....C'mon now are you serious?

Posted by zig on November 3, 2013 17:57

gravatar

Why have you omitted this is not yet law. It has to be approved by the upper house, which is unlikely.

Posted by gee on November 3, 2013 18:14

gravatar

Only a very small group of protesters in Bangkok. That won't register with the tourists at all.
Much more important is probably the health care scam, where they want to collect billions to pay for some missing millions at the hospitals.

Posted by Remarkable on November 4, 2013 00:40


Thursday December 12, 2024
Horizon Karon Beach Resort & Spa

FOLLOW PHUKETWAN

Facebook Twitter