After coup, tanks become hottest tourism draw in Thailand

[stu]

by Nareerat Wiriyapong

Fri Sep 22, 3:32 AM ET

 

 

 

BANGKOK (AFP) - Since Thailand's coup, tanks decorated with roses and yellow ribbons have become the kingdom's hottest tourism draw, with Thais and foreigners vying for the best spot to take pictures.

 

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"It's cool to take pictures next to tanks. I will definitely bring my kids here this weekend to take pictures with soldiers," sid Sinsak Jiarasincharoen, a 43-year-old businessman.

 

Since Tuesday's coup that ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Sinsak said he has taken more than 10 pictures of soldiers and tanks in front of the Royal Plaza in central Bangkok.

 

Sinsak was one of hundreds of Thais and foreign tourists who flocked to the plaza to see the forces who staged the kingdom's first coup in 15 years. Some local travel agencies even organized bus tours of coup sights.

 

"Normally, you hear about a coup and it's something violent, you know, and people are panicking," said Christopher Wilcox, an American backpacker in his late teens.

 

"As you can see around here, it's no big deal and so it's exciting," he said after posing for a picture with three Thai schoolgirls in front of a tank.

 

Behind the tanks, vendors quickly cashed in on the event, selling T-shirts bearing slogans saying "No Thaksin" for 100 baht (2.50 dollars) each.

 

"It's more like a tank festival than an actual coup," said John Koldowski, director of the strategic intelligence center at the Pacific Asia Travel Association, an umbrella group of travel agencies in the region.

 

"It's so mild, almost to be unbelievable," Koldowski said.

 

Under the watchful eye of soldiers, Thais and foreigners climbed onto tanks and waved at their friends who were taking pictures, while soldiers willingly helped young children to hop aboard big vehicles.

 

Army officer Yuth, who declined to give his last name, said posing for pictures with curious Thais and foreigners helped him relax as he had been guarding the Royal Plaza since late Tuesday.

 

"I can talk to people, although most of them are kids," said the soldier.

 

"It might look strange to people outside Thailand to see children climbing on tanks and taking pictures with soldiers. It shows there is no violence in Thailand," he said.

 

Chatanan Itthidecharattchati, a 41-year-old housewife, said she and her four-year-old daughter and her two-year-old son were having a field day at the plaza.

 

"We got up early in the morning to come here. My children are very excited to see tanks and soldiers," she said.

 

Jit and Rat, Thai women in their 20s and 30s, handed out pink roses to soldiers before taking photos with the troops in front of the tanks.

 

"I'm not scared by the coup. This is a once-in-a-lifetime event. Our boss gave us a break today to see the tanks and soldiers. I will keep my pictures as souvenirs," Jit said.