Report on Redshirt protest in Bangkok

Online, April 12, 2010 (Newswire.com) - Dr Johannes Maas, president of Worldwide Faith Missions, is on the scene on the Thailand Eastern Seaboard in Jomtien Beach, about 100 km from the clashes in Bangkok. He reports that many of the residents are originally from Isaan (Northeast Thailand), and sympathize with the Redshirts in their opposition to the elitest govenment of Prime Minister Abhisit. He predicts no settlement until the PM resigns and the government agrees to early new elections. He adds that there is no threat of violence in areas other than the protest locations in Bangkok.
Apart from the turrmoil in Bangkok, this part of Thailand is calm with businesses open as usual. He was also on the scene a year ago when the Redshirts converged on the ASEAN meeting in Pattaya. At that time he reported that most news reports of danger to foreigners were exaggerated. While many foreign governments have ussued travel warnings about travel in Thailand, there is no threat of danger away from the protest sites in Bangkok. Most residents are preparing for the weeklong Songkran Festival, which celebrates the Thai New Year.