Political turmoil does not extend to Krabi

A short message to reassure anyone who is planning to visit Krabi in the next few weeks: all is as normal here. There are still many tourists on the beaches. If you can get a flight, you will be able to to enjoy your holiday! 

The whole economy here is dependent on tourism so we have no part in this stupidity in Bangkok and no local people are supporting the protests. The capital is very far away from here, both geographically (800km) and in spirit.

Our advice for those trying to re-organise their holidays: avoid Bangkok at all costs if coming in the next week. Although the army airport at U-Tapao is still in use, it is very congested and overcrowded. Re-route your flight if at all possible via Singapore or Malaysia, or take one of the flights that come directly to Phuket (a 2 hour drive from Krabi). This way, if the airport in Bangkok remains closed, you will not be affected.

If you have any questions, please feel free to post them on this forum, or email us.

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The following reflects our opinion of the crisis, and is open for comment:

The current situation in Bangkok is so absurd, it is difficult to know what to write about it.

The facts are these: a group of violent anti-government protesters (PAD), demanding the resignation of the prime minister, have occupied the seat of government since this summer and the international and domestic airports in Bangkok since last week. The government, police and army are doing exactly nothing about this, other than appealing to the protesters' conscience. Meanwhile a pro-government mob (the 'red shirts') is threatening to do their work for them.

The country has ground to a standstill. Thousands of flights carrying tourists, business people and people in transit to other countries have been cancelled, both in and out of Bangkok. Hundreds of tons of post is held up, unable to be sent or received from abroad.

Cancelled holidays for this week - and far into December - mean the tourist industry the length and breadth of the country is suffering a harsh blow, to the point where recovery may not be possible for some.

Talk is of how this conflict can be resolved peacefully. The focus is on meeting the needs of the two sides, who are increasingly resorting to the use of violence. Yet no one is talking about the third party involved in this conflict, and their needs. This third party - the one who does not side with anyone and just wishes this thing to end as soon as possible, by any means necessary - is comprised of the vast majority of Thai people.

While the PAD may have 5000 people in the airports, and the 'red shirts' also count thousands in its ranks, that leaves at least 60 million others being held to ransom by this bunch of idiots - most of them jobless and taking the "wages" of protesters.

We look for leadership and action and we see none.

The prime minister is in hiding at home in Chiang Mai and (without the support of the security forces who are staying "neutral") the government has been so ineffectual in dealing with this situation that it seems there is no choice but for them to step down - but that would mean the hijackers of the nation would win, something that is morally unacceptable.

So the deadlock continues and ordinary people suffer.

(It should also be noted that neither of the two warring factions are particularly pro-democracy, despite their names (the PAD's solution to the vote buying that the government favours is to disenfranchise large sections of rural voters because they are too poor to refuse the bribes) so supporting either side is problematic.)

HRH the King of Thailand, the father of the nation - who thus far has been silent - will probably now have to step into the fray and stop his children fighting. We believe this is the only way now that this will end.