Military coup in Bangkok

It was 19 Sept 2006 on Tuesday day night. I was staying at the guest room of the church. It was my 5th night at the church before I left Bangkok the following day. Of course, I wasn’t alone, sister Yang, Pastor Tze and Cheng (Pastor woo’s wife) were there too. I was supposed to leave on Tuesday afternoon but I couldn’t cos all the train tickets were sold out that day. So, I had to stay back for another day. It was almost 12 midnight when Yang received a call from her mother, telling her that the military coup was taking place. The city of Bangkok was taken over by the military. T.V stations were controlled by the military. We only knew that the security forces and tanks had moved in to the city taking over government buildings. I started to worry, not so much about my own safety but about my family in Malaysia cos I knew they would worry about my safety.

Of course, I started to wonder whether there were demonstrators out there protesting or what the security forces would do to the people. Would the security forces massacre the protestors like what happened in the 70s during student uprising at Thammasat University in Bangkok where students were brutally killed, some of them were even hang on the trees by the security forces. My heart started pounding madly. Later, I went in to the room to pray. Yang and I stayed awake til wee hours waiting, waiting for the latest news spread by the word of mouth via phone.

The following morning, we woke up early. After breakfast, I accompanied Yang to the morning market. Later, I tried to use the internet but couldn’t be connected. This meant no access to the internet and no access to information. This is the most frustrating thing could happen to a journalist, to be deprived of the freedom of information. I had bought the train ticket on Tuesday afternoon. So, I had to leave in the afternoon at 3.35 pm. Yet, I wasn’t sure whether the train would stick to the schedule. So, Yang suggested calling up the train station. Thank goodness, the trains would run as usual.

So, in the afternoon, I was ready to leave. Of course, I was worried about what was going on but yet I would like to see what was going on. On the bus to the train station, suddenly I realized that I didn’t have my passport with me. I left my passport at the reception when I went to meet an editor of a newspaper on Tuesday morning. Gosh, the worst thing had happened. How could this happen. I had never been so careless when it comes to handling my passport but it still a mystery that I had totally forgot that I left it there. The receptionist didn’t even return it to me when I gave back the visitor’s pass and the entrance access card. Yeah, they really embrace maximum security.

On the bus, at that very moment, I was into coma for seconds. My mind really went blank. Then, I regained my conscious, telling myself to stay calm. So, again, I did the only thing I know best, I prayed for guidance. Previous day, the taxi driver told me about the subway train. Before I left that afternoon, Yang told me about the subway train too, saying that I can take the bus to Klong Teoy, where the newspaper office is and then take the subway train to Hualumpong train station. Then, suddenly I had this impression. So, I blurted out: ‘The subway train, to take the subway train.’There I was without my passport , walking to the entrance to the subway station guarded by armies with machine guns. Yeah, I managed to made it back to the train station on time to catch my train. Phew.

The following day, I arrived in Hat Yai safely. I was at the Hat Yai train station waiting for the next train from Hat Yai back to my home town Alor Setar. I had to wait for 3 hours there. Well, of course, again I was worried about my safety cos there was just a bombing in Hat yai killing a few people and wounded many. While I was waiting , I was observing people and checking for anyone suspicious. See, I have fear sometimes but I will never let myself to be confined by fear. A few armies walked past me with a cery chubby dog,sniffing around for bomb?!! or terrorists. Maybe the terrorists have some sort of special smell, evil smell?!! Yeah, I made it back to Alor Setar in one piece.

Frankly speaking, I myself do not support military coup or any form of undemocratic political reform. Having said that, let's see what the new Thai government has to offer. I have always taken pride in Thailand for its freedom of the press, freedom of expression and most importantly, the freedom of peaceful assembly which are the basic human rights that all of us are entitled to. These are the things that I do not get to enjoy as a journalist and as a person in my own country. I hope Thai people will continue to stay true to what they have always believed in.
Sure, I will go back to Thailand again. After all, this is not the time for me to forsake Thailand.