Living under a curfew in Thailand

As you may be aware, Thailand is experiencing some troubles at the moment. (Sorry no photos as we are still only on dial up internet …urrggghhhh)

In many provinces in Thailand a curfew has been declared, including in our province, and we are not allowed to go out of our homes between 8pm and 6am (another report says 9pm to 5am - hard to know what's really going on as we can't check on the internet and we don't understand the T.V reporters as they use too difficult words). We heard that the big shopping centre in Lampang, started to close at 7pm last night, when normally it closes after 10pm. I made sure I got an extra carton of milk this afternoon when I went shopping just in case.

Our househelper told us that there were military soldiers on the main highway, guarding a gas depot just outside of town. Apart from this though, not much is happening in our province. In Chiang Mai though only an hour north, building have been burnt and mass protestors have gathered at some key locations.

It’s hard to believe what’s happening in Thailand. One of the biggest shopping centres in Bangkok, in Asia for that matter set alight. The trains have stopped running and we’ve been advised to carry our passports and travel documents so that we can get through the check points.

By God’s grace we arrived early last week, rather than this week. Otherwise there would have been a whole lot more difficulties to deal with. Government offices including the immigration department have been closed all week, if we came this week (instead of last week) we would not have been able to renew our visas before they expired.

However, our boxes from Australia are sitting at the airport as customs have been closed and my work permit papers needed to clear our boxes has been held up as the immigration department has been closed.

Trying to imagine all that is happening here, happening in Australia. Can’t imagine it.

Travel Warning to Thailand Upgraded

This morning I received an email from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade which administers the travel advice given to Australian travellers, that the travel advice to Thailand had been upgraded to "reconsider your need to travel". This was due to the violent protests which continue in Bangkok. There is only one level higher which is "Advise against all travel".

The last time the travel advisory was upgraded to "reconsider your need to travel" was when the Short-term team from Christchurch was due to arrive in Thailand in Dec 2008.

At this stage we will still be returning to Thailand. We only have a couple of days in Bangkok soon after we arrive to renew work permits and visas. After that we shouldn't have any problems in Lampang 500km north of Bangkok.

Please pray for a peaceful solution soon and that Thais will seek true peace in Jesus.

Red Shirt Protests Continue

It seems that almost everyday the headlines of the Bangkok Post feature the continuing protests from the "Red Shirts". Emergency rule has been declared in Bangkok banning public political gatherings of 5 people or more after the parliament buildings were stormed by red shirt protesters.

It seems the political situation in Thailand is escalating again and not much progress has been made in the last 5 years.

We hope that the political crisis won't escalate to the point where the airports are closed like they were at the end of 2008 preventing our planned return next month.

Almost Forgot Easter!

Focus like me Dad!

In Lampang there are no Easter Eggs or bunnies in the shops. No other tell tale signs of Easter either. No public holiday. And since we are not going to a local church on Sundays, no reminders of Easter coming up either. So today, when I woke up I didn’t remember that it was Easter (didn’t help that our 4 month old daughter woke us up at 4:50am either and wouldn’t go back to sleep!). It was only later in the morning that it dawned on me. Today is Good Friday. It felt a but of embarrassment that I could forget Easter!

We were planning on having an Easter outreach for last weekend but our team didn’t have enough time or energy to organise it in the end. Unfortunately, Easter this year falls on the weekend of Thailand’s biggest festival, Songkran so we couldn’t have it this weekend.

The streets all around the Lighthouse have been closed off by police now and it is difficult to get in unless you walk. The Lighthouse is very close to where all the action is going to be for the Songkran Festival.

Songkran unfortunately is a time when many people let themselves loose getting drunk and driving dangerously on the road. There were almost 500 road fatalities last year. We are praying for safety on the roads for us and for others.

In Bangkok the political situation is worsening with increasing demonstrations by the “Red Shirts”. About 100 taxis blocked the entry and exists around the Victory Monument and turned one of the busiest transport areas of Bangkok into a car part.

We have to be in Bangkok in mid May to renew my work permit and apply for our daughter’s passport. Hopefully we won’t get stuck in the middle of it all.

Rising Political Tension

In Thailand there is again rising political tension. Towards the end of last year it was the "Yellow Shirts" (Pro Monarchy, Anti Taksin) that blockaded Government house. Now it is the "Red Shirts" (pro Taksin). I hadn't really noticed this rising political tension until this week when going home from teaching on Wednesday night, I saw a crowd of "Red Shirts" gathered near The Lighthouse watching an erected big screen with the ex-prime minister being broadcast from an undisclosed location overseas. I noticed the "Red Shirts" were gather again last night coming home from the International Student night. Then I read in the paper that Taksin has been broadcasting nightly this week to his "Red Shirt" supporters. Taksin is trying to overturn the current government and return to power in Thailand, though his wording is along the lines of if the current government continues to mismanage the financial crisis and Thailand can't find anyone else, then he is willing to take over again. I'm thankful that my parents are flying out of Thailand today. There is nothing much to worry about here in Lampang, but I don't want to have to worry about my parents if something eventuates in Bangkok.