Last two hours in Bangkok – update

ETN is reviewing Facebook messages received by our friends from Thailand. It includes updates from eTN correspondent Andrew J. Wood. Andrew is also president of SKAL in Thailand.

ETN is reviewing Facebook messages received by our friends from Thailand. It includes updates from eTN correspondent Andrew J. Wood. Andrew is also president of SKAL in Thailand. Tourism in Bangkok seems to be working normally despite all the protests in the Thai capital city.

Here are unsorted comments received in the last two hours.
Itโ€™s business as usual in Thailand life in Bangkok and throughout Thailand continues as per normal. All roads in Bangkok, excluding those at protest sites are open to traffic at all times.

Most shopping centres are opening late and closing early… New hours approx 11.00-18.00hrs

In Bangkok for letting the protesters use their toilets the cleaning ladies were given tips for their extra trouble.

Most businesses, including banks, petrol and gas stations, hotels, spas, restaurants, entertainment venues, cinemas, convention centres, shopping malls, superstores, convenient stores, pharmacies, hospitals and the likes are open and operating as per normal, albeit some changes in the opening hours. Some bank branches and petrol and gas stations in the rally areas may be closed for business today.

Don’t go to work: Government officials should not go to work now as their offices will be surrounded by protesters, Mr. Suthep said. The PDRC will ensure that the Bangkok shutdown operation has a minimal impact on the activities of private companies, but it will continue to ratchet up the pressure on the work of the government every day. The PDRC will announce which government office will be surrounded each day.

No compromise: Mr. Suthep has made it clear that there will be no talks with the government, the army or any mediator, he said addressing supporters at the Asoke intersection rally stage last night.

More shutdowns: The Bangkok shutdown will continue until the PDRC wins, protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban says.

Anti-government protesters have surrounded the Customs Department in Khlong Toey district and have blocked the gates at the Ministry of Commerce in Sanambinnam area.

People’s Democratic Reform Committee leader Suthep Thaugsuban apologised to Bangkok people for the inconvenience caused by the PDRC and asked them to sacrifice for the sake of the country.

Sathit Wongnongtoey, a PDRC core member, said after the PDRC protesters have reached the seven main rally points the Dharma Army would take care of the old rally site on Ratchadamnoen Avenue. He said the military had shown its intention to take care of the protesters, so they could rest assured that they would not be hurt.

On the shots fired at the coffee shop in front of the office of the Democrat Party headquarters early yday morning, Mr Sathit said that in fact the party had nothing to do with the PDRC movement.

Suthep Thaugsuban has insisted there are no soldiers holding the rank of general behind “Operation Bangkok shutdown” as reported by some media outlets.

Asked to comment on a report that caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra was using the Defence Ministry to monitor the situation, Mr Suthep said no matter where she was Ms Yingluck was no longer able to perform her duties.

Military officers at the Royal Thai Army Headquarters were on Monday told they can wear civilian clothes to work starting from Jan 14. The order was issued by army commander in chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha. The order was intended to help officers in a move that will protect them from becoming targets amid escalating street protests and who live far away and need more time to commute to work because of traffic problems. Officers are permitted to don casual clothing if necessary but most would still wear uniform

SET and Aerothai shutdowns?: Network of Students and People for Reform of Thailand (NSPRT) Uthai Yodmanee, core leader, said the group plans to shut down the stock market because Thai investors are ignoring the current political situation. He said protesters believe the stock market is the heart of the “Thaksin regime”, since former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is still able to manipulate ma…See More

PM Yingluck has arrived at Office of Defence Permanent Secretary at Muang Thong Thani to monitor 2nd day of Bangkok shutdown. No cabinet meeting today.

Mr. Suthep said a plea has been made for a win-win solution to the political crisis. But he insisted that a win-win proposal is now out of the question. The anti-government demonstrators have come a long way and they have decided that they will continue until they achieve victory, Mr. Suthep said. “We won’t return empty-handed. There is no win-win. Either you win or I win,” he said.

No violence: The rallies on the first day of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee’s Bangkok shutdown were without any untoward incidents and it is not necessary to invoke the emergency decree, Deputy Prime Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said yesterday.

โŒThe Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO), said they had monitored the rallies at all seven locations, particularly the Lat Phrao, Victory Monument and Asoke intersections. There were a few traffic problems, but no reports of violence.

“Capo would like to thank the Thai people, both in Bangkok and other provinces, for having exercised restraint in the present situation. We hope the rallies will continue to be peaceful and non-violent,” Mr Surapong said.

He said it was not predictable for how long the rallies would continue, but police had initially prepared to handle the situation for one week.

UDD red-shirt leader Jatuporn Prompam predicted that the PDRC’s shutdown campaign will last no more than a week since people in Bangkok will start running out of patience with the prolonged rallies.

Overseas voting: The Foreign Ministry has started advance voting overseas in 21 countries.

Foreign Ministry said the first day of advance voting for Thais living overseas started yesterday in 22 Thai embassies and consulates in 21 countries, no problems were reported.

There are 92 Thai embassies and consulates in 67 countries hosting the vote.

About 143,800 of more than 1 million overseas Thais have registered to vote.

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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