Aborted Summit in Pattaya

As our convoy travelled from Pattaya to U-Tapao Airforce Base at about 4pm on Saturday for our flight home , it was as if nothing had happened. Apart from litter outside the hotel, there was not a red shirt in sight. Everywhere there were signboards welcoming leaders from ASEAN and the wider region with their national flags fluttering in the wind.

But in fact huge damage had been done to ASEAN and to Thailand. For the second time, an ASEAN Summit had to be postponed because of demonstrations. This time leaders were already in Pattaya or arriving. Except for Indonesian President SBY who arrived late and could not leave U-Tapao, the other ASEAN leaders were staying at the Royal Cliff Beach Resort. The leaders of China, Japan and Korea were at the Dusit Thani unable to join us at the conference centre. Australia's PM Rudd was in the air and flew back. The NZ PM was probably in Bangkok. UNSG Ban Ki-moon stayed on in Vientiene. Others like the heads of the World Bank, IMF, UNCTAD and ADB also had their travel plans disrupted.

We sympathised with Thai PM Abhisit and knew that he had no choice but to cancel the Summit meetings. The alternative was violence which he was determined to avoid especially when so many leaders were in Thailand as guests of the government.

It is unclear how the red shirts were able to break through the cordoned areas. The reason for the Summit meetings being held in Pattaya and not in Bangkok was precisely so that the conference area could be properly secured. Up till Friday evening, all seemed well. Then on Saturday morning, we learned that the Chinese PM could not get through. We were then told that the meetings would be rescheduled to the afternoon and evening. Having arrived at the restaurant for lunch early, I was waiting for other ministers when hundreds of soldiers with plastic shields streamed in on the far side of the swimming pool. I decided to go out to take some pictures. I was assured that the soldiers were only having a lunch break. Only later did I find out that the red shirts had broken through the gates and were moving in to occupy the conference centre nearby.

Halfway during lunch with the other ministers, we were informed that the Summit meetings had been cancelled. Within a few minutes, our security officers instructed us to leave the table immediately and go back to our hotel rooms. We could hear loud commotions. Along the way, India's Commerce Minister Kamal Nath, an old friend, called me. We greeted each other but delayed no further because the security people were getting anxious. We hurried to the next building and were bundled off into the hotel lifts as the shouts got nearer.

Up on the 12th floor, I could see the red shirts milling around the conference centre, moving hither thither. Soldiers and policemen stood in groups not really engaging them. Not long afterwards, I could hear helicopters whirring overhead picking up people from the rooftop. Out at sea, naval ships on patrol moved closer to shore and small boats also picked up passengers.

PM was told by the Thai Government that he and the Singapore delegation should evacuate by sea, to be ferried by small boats to a nearby LST which would take us to Sattahip naval base. From there we could drive to U-Tapao. It all seemed quite unseemly to me that leaders and ministers had to leave in this way. But anyway we packed our belongings and waited for instructions since the Thais were responsible for our security. Happily we were informed around 3.30pm that the demonstrators had dispersed and we could travel by road to U-Tapao with full dignity.

The situation appeared unreal or surreal to me. While all the hubbub was taking place, Caucasian tourists continued sunbathing behaving as if nothing was happening. On the beach, I could see swimmers, sailing boats and windsurfers. In my mind, I did not really believe that there was imminent danger. The immediate objective of the leaders of the red shirts was to disrupt the Summit which they had already achieved. I didn't think they would turn on us in an indiscriminate way as foreign leaders and ministers were not their targets. In any case, every delegation had armed protection. But one could never be sure. Incidents could always happen and agents provocateur might be working to foment violence. The last thing we wanted was to be caught in a crossfire.

When we arrived at U-Tapao, PM Abhisit was there to send off PM Lee and other leaders. China's PM Wen Jiabao was about to take his leave. President Arroyo and PM Thein Sein had arrived there earlier by helicopter.

As we boarded the RSAF Fokker transport aircraft, it all seemed like a bad dream. But for the Thais, the nightmare continues.

George Yeo

 

Having Lunch

 

 

Soldiers streaming into the hotel at the back of the swimming pool 

 

Red shirts at the Royal Cliff Beach Resort

 

 

Chatting with officials at Hotel Lobby before moving to Utapao

 

Alighting from airport bus with Prime Minister Lee

 

Boarding the plane

 

The Fokker 50 plane

 

Comments

[George]

Minister Yeo,

It must be a very humiliating experience for the Thais, esp. the PM.

It must also be very humbling for the other leaders, including the Singapore leaders, to for once feel the 'heat'- what's it is like - when control is in the other guy's hand, like when you have scores of policemen confronting a COUPLE of 'protesting' Singaporeans outside the CPF Board's premises, or being 'ring-fenced' in a comedic fashion by policewomen to prevent ONE opposition lady from proceeding? In both the Thai and Singapore situations, it was mob rule, no more no less, whatever the colour of the uniforms.

[Ephraim Loy]

Indeed this incident has dealt a strong blow to Thailand. Thankfully all the leaders are safe.

As to your remarks on "control", I guess in the Singapore case, there are now legitimate areas to demonstrate freely. I like to look at this "opening up" as something positive.

[Donaldson Tan]

I like the 3rd photo. It is very "tourist" yet reinforcing the surreality of the situation. Even the demonstrations at the G20 Summit in London are like that too. If the G20 protesters wanted to storm into the Summit Venue, they would have protested near ExCeL Centre instead of protesting in London's financial district.

Now I wonder why the Thai people would put up so much trouble to actually storm the East Asia Summit venue instead of just protesting outside. What actually irk them so much that they have to do it. Perhaps nobody in the East Asia Summit actually sympathise with the protesters' desperation and anger. Being a leader is not just about having followers for support, but also that the leader is expected to protect his followers too.

[Robin Yap]

Thanks for sharing your experience Minister. We are living in troubled times. It is very unfortunate but life goes on. I am glad all delegates left safely. I can empathise with the Thai PM. It's a case of damn it if you do, damn it if you don't...

I am traveling to Bangkok this Friday to connect my flight to Bhutan on 18th. Hope Bangkok airport is not disrupted.

Robin

[Nancy]

When news broke out, I am very worried for our PM and Ministers. Now, I am glad that they are back and safe. May God Bless you.

[Nicholas]

haha most exciting conference you've ever been to?

[Donaldson Tan]

The silence from the social-political blogosphere on the safety of our delegate to the Pattaya Summit speaks volume on the growing disconnect between the People and the Government.

[Donaldson Tan]

Btw this is the Vietnamese translation of this blog entry.

http://vn.myblog.yahoo.com/little-horsefish/article?mid=658

[Clarence Tey]

Good experience for our fellow Singaporean to learn.Never take things for granted.Be alert when we were oversea.Appreciate the peaceful life we have in Singapore.

[Singapore Short Stories]

Dear Minister George Yeo,

Though the leaders attending the summit are safe and sound, I believe it is something regrettable that the 'red shirts' protestors were able to penetrate right into the summit venue and caused the whole summit to be aborted!

The Thais might have done the best it could, but it could have done better, for example, shifting the event venue to another location. It is really, sorry to say, a shame that the ASEAN summit has to be aborted with many countries keenly watching whether the preliminary protests in Thailand would disrupt the summit and indeed the summit fell!

At least all the ministers and VIPs attending the summmit are safe. It is exceedingly imperative, expedient and urgent for the Thai PM to solve this crisis.

[Chandra Minarto]

Dear Minister George Yeo,

Greetings from Indonesia!

My suggestion would be to host the Summit in Singapore or Indonesia.

Indonesia had just has its legislation election on the 7 April with about more than 40 parties involved and yet there are are no chaos!

Our country is progressing now , not only in its economy but also in national security. Thanks to our beloved president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his team.

Anyway, Glad to hear that all the VIPs attending the summit are safe.

[joe]

Dear Minister George Yoe,

godbless you and my presiden SBY

[joe]

Dear Minister George Yeo,

Godbless You and My Presiden SBY.

[Buy term papers]

Blogs are so interactive where we get lots of informative on any topics...... nice job keep it up !!

[RSA]

Just letting you know that without this blog I wouldn't have any knowledge about this. I just hope that everything is fine and all is well.