Thailand’s travel season has been temporarily held hostage due to the seizure and occupation of Bangkok’s main airport by a protest group, the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD). Although there has been little violence so far the inconvenience is immense, and there is real cause for concern if you are planning to pass through this airport. It is hoped the deadlock will hopefully be resolved very soon and the safety of this major gateway to Thailand will return to normal.
Should you cancel your holiday?
No is the short answer. Most of the country is unaffected by the political standoff, the army have resolutely refused to get involved and scuffles between pro and anti-govt supporters are confined to areas that are beyond the usual tourist trail. However Suvarnabhumi airport is one of them, and travellers should keep informed daily of events on the ground before flying to Thailand.
Despite travel advisory warnings being issued by many countrys, Thailand remains a safe travel destination in most areas. Although immediately flights or plans might have to be postponed there is no need yet to cancel your holiday. However the unfortunately timing of a long running political standoff between an unpopular government and aggressive protestors has greatly affected Thailand’s travel industry. The influencial military has rued out conducting another coup, and they are working furiously to simmer tensions by negotiating a temporary solution between the two factions. With much at stake economically it is likely the threat to foreigner’s travel safety will be remove soon.
After an unnecessary State of Emergency was announced following a previous clash in September, there was a negative reaction from travellers, however it proved to be an overreaction and confidence returned to normal. Adverse publicity tends to have a dispreportional affect on safety impressions, but a risk of uncertainty remains.
Background
The coup of 2006 surprised everyone except those in Thailand and was remarkable for its lack of violence and generally high acceptance among Thais at time. Some even regarded the tanks on the streets as a tourist attraction. Citing unchecked corruption and disrespect to the revered monarchy, the army had reluctantly stepped in after widespread dissatisfaction towards Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was heading for an explosive and possibly bloody end game. He has since remained a divisive figure in the political arena and is currently exiled in Dubai to escape multiple corruption charges or conviction. A year after the coup, elections were held as promised, and his proxy party, the hastily formed PPP, pulled off a shock victory promising a return of his populist policies and handouts. His detractors, made up mainly of educated middle class Bangkokians, fear a return of his heavy handed wielding of power that led to widespread allegations of massive corruption, unethical administration and erosion of judicial integrity. Protestors have returned to the streets as the current government has focused more on exonerating Thaksin and his cronies, and less on the economic challenges faced by the country. They are also dismayed at the ‘money politics’ of vote buying that has blighted Thailand’s elections. With the looming threat of party dissolution in a pending vote fraud case (late December 2008), there is an urgency in the PPPs efforts to change the constitution in their favour, prompting radical reactions from the protestors who have laid siege to Government House since mid-August. Events leading up to the end of the year are likely to escalate the tension, but the army have made it quite clear there will be no second coup and that any adverse violence from either side will not be tolerated. As long as the military remains out of politics and the standoff is confined to Government House and other bureaux, the threat of insecurity to ordinary Thais and tourists remains low, but the effect on investor and travel confidence continues to take its toll. Meanwhile the evolution of Thai democracy continues in its convoluted and often detrimental manner, a situation most Thais have resigned themselves to.
