RUSSIA'S Red Revolution was succinctly described once as ''10 days that shook the world.'' The failed red revolution in Thailand merely succeeded in shutting down most government offices for the same period.
Crowds packed Phuket Immigration today because Immigration offices opted to open to avoid extended confusion and a work backlog.
Government offices that stay closed for the entire extraordinary 10-day Songkran holiday break are expected to face huge queues when doors open again on Monday.
Expat visitors who had to extend visas were delighted to find Immigration open today.
But Phuketwan is also hearing from disgruntled readers who have encountered 10-day holiday hiccups.
For example, some visitors flew from Australia to conclude the titles exchange on properties at the Titles Office, and also enjoy the Songkran-Easter holiday.
Now they have to either extend their break or come back again at some other time to seal the multi-million baht property deals.
More than 50 people were in the Immigration office when Phuketwan dropped by about 10.30am. Officials said the place was packed with scores more earlier in the morning.
Social Security, Employment, Labour, Land Titles . . . all the government departments that are staying shut will face customer overload on Monday.
While Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva called the extra holidays to dissipate tension after the invasion of Asean in Pattaya on Saturday and the rebellion and gridlock in Bangkok that followed, he urged service arms of the government to stay open.
Some bad calls appear to have been made by some individual government departments.
Western observers would say that they prefer to take the holidays rather than work, even though the 10-day holiday probably sets a new Guinness Record of the kind that Thais generally love to achieve.
PM Abhisit declared last Fridaya holiday as it became increasingly apparent that the red shirt protesters on the streets threatened chaos.
That did not prevent them shutting down the Asean summit of 16 nations in Pattaya on Saturday, or extending their Bangkok street blockade over the weekend.
PM Abhisit has since retained the state of emergency he called for Bangkok and five provinces and added two more days' holiday so that troops can clear the vestiges of the ''red revolution'' from the capital's streets.
''If he can limit the state of emergency to Bangkok and five provinces, why couldn't he also limit the holiday to that area as well?'' one annoyed expat businessman asked today.
Immigration Offices to Open Thursday, Friday
Latest While most government offices are taking a 10 day break, Immigration offices will open to allow expats to apply for visa extensions this Thursday and Friday, Phuketwan has been told.
Immigration Offices to Open Thursday, Friday
Red Shirts Retreat: Bangkok Protest Abandoned
Latest The traditional Songkran Family Day holiday saw red shirts formally abandon their 18 day Bangkok occupation, halting clashes with troops and residents.
Red Shirts Retreat: Bangkok Protest Abandoned
Tourism at War: The Fight to Save an Industry
Latest In Thailand, tourism always becomes the first innocent victim of political unrest. One well known industry name tells Phuketwan about his own battle on the streets of Bangkok.
Tourism at War: The Fight to Save an Industry
Phuket Perfectly Safe, Say Travel Leaders
Latest Travel warnings about Thailand from a brace of nations fail to take account of direct flights and the vast geographical and political differences between Bangkok and Phuket.
Phuket Perfectly Safe, Say Travel Leaders
Bangkok Two 'Killed by Red Shirts'
Update Troops and red shirts skirmished on Bangkok streets before dawn. About 9.40pm, one man was shot dead, first fatality of the street confrontation.
Bangkok Two 'Killed by Red Shirts'
Crowds packed Phuket Immigration today because Immigration offices opted to open to avoid extended confusion and a work backlog.
Government offices that stay closed for the entire extraordinary 10-day Songkran holiday break are expected to face huge queues when doors open again on Monday.
Expat visitors who had to extend visas were delighted to find Immigration open today.
But Phuketwan is also hearing from disgruntled readers who have encountered 10-day holiday hiccups.
For example, some visitors flew from Australia to conclude the titles exchange on properties at the Titles Office, and also enjoy the Songkran-Easter holiday.
Now they have to either extend their break or come back again at some other time to seal the multi-million baht property deals.
More than 50 people were in the Immigration office when Phuketwan dropped by about 10.30am. Officials said the place was packed with scores more earlier in the morning.
Social Security, Employment, Labour, Land Titles . . . all the government departments that are staying shut will face customer overload on Monday.
While Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva called the extra holidays to dissipate tension after the invasion of Asean in Pattaya on Saturday and the rebellion and gridlock in Bangkok that followed, he urged service arms of the government to stay open.
Some bad calls appear to have been made by some individual government departments.
Western observers would say that they prefer to take the holidays rather than work, even though the 10-day holiday probably sets a new Guinness Record of the kind that Thais generally love to achieve.
PM Abhisit declared last Fridaya holiday as it became increasingly apparent that the red shirt protesters on the streets threatened chaos.
That did not prevent them shutting down the Asean summit of 16 nations in Pattaya on Saturday, or extending their Bangkok street blockade over the weekend.
PM Abhisit has since retained the state of emergency he called for Bangkok and five provinces and added two more days' holiday so that troops can clear the vestiges of the ''red revolution'' from the capital's streets.
''If he can limit the state of emergency to Bangkok and five provinces, why couldn't he also limit the holiday to that area as well?'' one annoyed expat businessman asked today.
Immigration Offices to Open Thursday, Friday
Latest While most government offices are taking a 10 day break, Immigration offices will open to allow expats to apply for visa extensions this Thursday and Friday, Phuketwan has been told.
Immigration Offices to Open Thursday, Friday
Red Shirts Retreat: Bangkok Protest Abandoned
Latest The traditional Songkran Family Day holiday saw red shirts formally abandon their 18 day Bangkok occupation, halting clashes with troops and residents.
Red Shirts Retreat: Bangkok Protest Abandoned
Tourism at War: The Fight to Save an Industry
Latest In Thailand, tourism always becomes the first innocent victim of political unrest. One well known industry name tells Phuketwan about his own battle on the streets of Bangkok.
Tourism at War: The Fight to Save an Industry
Phuket Perfectly Safe, Say Travel Leaders
Latest Travel warnings about Thailand from a brace of nations fail to take account of direct flights and the vast geographical and political differences between Bangkok and Phuket.
Phuket Perfectly Safe, Say Travel Leaders
Bangkok Two 'Killed by Red Shirts'
Update Troops and red shirts skirmished on Bangkok streets before dawn. About 9.40pm, one man was shot dead, first fatality of the street confrontation.
Bangkok Two 'Killed by Red Shirts'
Unfortunately discord is not over in Thailand as blatant corruption and successive amnesties that protects these corrupt officials and parliamentarians are the main causes of social inequality and popular discontent and then we hit the bottom of the Thai problem.
Posted by The Whistle Blower on April 16, 2009 15:12