From ANDREW DRUMMOND,
Bangkok
May 21
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wYlda08kR8
Link to Andrew Drummond at Evening Standard Link to THE SUN “The Brit thug of bloody Bangkok!” Link to Daily Mirror
A British red shirt ‘anarchist’ caught on video saying he was going to loot and burn down Asia’s second biggest shopping mall said today: “I was not there when it burned down but if I was I would have helped the bastards”.
And now as the multibillion dollar Central World in Bangkok lies in charred ruins Thai police are searching for Jeffrey Savage, 48, an NHS worker from London, who they believe was goading on the red shirts on the frontline against troops in Bangkok.
Death for looters and arsonists
Savage in Rajamdri caught on vdo by Scot Andy McGinlay
They also want to interview him over massive lootings and burnings which left the city in flames.
The hunt comes as Thailand’s Department of Special Investigation ( DSI) Director-general Tharit Pengdit has warned those who loot or commit arson may face a maximum punishment of death penalty.
Dressed in a black shirt and headband and carrying a bamboo pole Savage was caught on tape during the Bangkok riots saying:
“We are going to smash the Central Plaza to shit and steal everything out of it and burn the fucker down!
“Trust me. Get the f*cking pictures. We are going to loot everything, gold watches, everything, and then we are going to burn the f*cker down!”
‘I am not worthy of my brave brothers’
But although Savage says was not there he admits he WAS outside Channel 3 Television in Bangkok which was also set in flames and has been off air since Wednesday.
“I did not do any looting. I did not set fire to anything, but those who did are my brothers. They are brave. I am not worthy of them.
“The attack on Channel 3 was organised. I saw the elder leaders giving directions. The red shirts hated Channel 3. There was a BMW showroom next door which was totally untouched. This is Class War.
“This was not like the poll tax riots in the UK. “
NHS driver
Savage, originally from London, but who last worked as a hospital driver in Tonbridge, Kent, spoke after Thai police were alerted to the video taken by Scots teacher Andy McGinley, 28, from Glasgow.
McGinley said: “I could not believe what this idiot was saying. This was shot in Rajadamri on the approach to the red camp. I just thought he was an anarchist but what he said was prophetic.
“I have been thanked by hundreds of people mainly Thais for showing the film, but I have also received threats too from foreigners.”
‘I nearly killed someone at the ASEAN demo’
Savage also admitted taking part in the UDD (United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship) demonstration in Pattaya in April 2009 when the ASEAN meeting had to be cancelled.
There were fierce battles outside the meeting of the Association of South East Asian Nations at the Royal Cliff Hotel and windows were smashed and the meeting had to be abandoned.
“I nearly killed someone there,” said Savage who is now in hiding with his Thai wife in Pattaya and says he may make a break either for the country or abroad.
”On the other hand I stick by my principals and if necessary will do some time for this. I do not regret saying I will burn Central world down.
“I am standing up for the poor. My Thai brother in law gets only 200 baht a day (£4.00) for ****s sake.
“I was furious when I gave that impromptu interview on camera. I had been wound up by some American college type journalists.
Central World Bangkok ablaze
“But the fact is that I have seen some of my brothers killed at Phan Faa (an earlier red shirt demonstration last month when troops opened fire near Democracy monument, Bangkok) and I was absolutely horrified!”
Savage admitted that he had come down to Bangkok from Pattaya with a group of fellow red-shirts but fled with his friends over a wall on Wednesday when the Thai military moved in.
‘We were going to take refuge in a Buddhist temple but had we done that we would be dead now.”
“My friends are professionals. Some of them are ex-police and ex-army. They know exactly what they are doing.
“But everybody is running scared. Everybody is looking for redshirts. I could see the look on people’s faces as we abandoned our red shirt house in Bangkok. We had to destroy everything which would give away our presence there.
“The war is over for the time being. But in two months time things will start up again. The attacks will begin”.
‘Elitist scum’
Talking about ousted Thaksin Shinawatra, who most red-shirts want back in power, he said: “This has all gone beyond Thaksin Shinawatra now. I have no time for him. He’s one of the elite.
“Nor do I have time for the foreign elitist scum in Bangkok.
“But I love the genuine Thai people and I feel for the poor people and what they have to put up with.”
“I live in Pattaya but have no time for the bar scene. As far as I am concerned the foreign bar owners here are just pimps. But it’s the rich mafia who have moved in who are my real enemies.
“My Thai wife cannot even go to swim on a beach in Wong Amat (North Pattaya) because Russian businessmen have moved in and taken over. These people are lower than a snakes’s belly.”
As people of Bangkok and 23 other provinces of Thailand went through their second day of curfew police were also studying video taken from the Red Stage.
Philip Alexander a Briton whose property business was based in Central World said he was disturbed by the video.
“I have talked to the red shirts and most of them there are middle aged or women. I don’t argue politics. They have been sitting all day listening to speakers from the stafe making all sorts of allegations. Its learning by rote and they were all wound up.”
‘Burn them all’
A video circulating in Bangkok and on the met shows how red shirts were allegedly wound up by their leaders.
One piece of video allegedly shows a red leader saying: “Everybody bring a litre of petrol. With a million people and a million litres of petrol, I promise we can make a sea of fire in Bangkok.”
He’s not the brightest bulb in the chandelier, a real Moronin.
One of Britain’s finest for sure.
Maybe the Thai’s could pressure the UK gvmt to release him against Thaksin? Then he would have served a worthy cause, probably for the first time in his miserable life …
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Presumably elite means anyone with an IQ above 80 and an education beyond the age of 12.
The call in the video clip for ‘a million litres of petrol’ is actually made by red leader Arisaman when addressing a crowd in Khon Khaen.
Andrew Drummond: Thanks. I cut the name. Not many people in UK can handle too many Thai names in once piece
As a Thai, I am extremely disappointed that this ALIEN was trying to do some bad things to my country. I do understand that we can’t report him just because he said he would do it. However, being interrogated will give him some nightmare which he deserves it. He also should get a ‘NO RETURN” stamp on his Thai visa. We don’t want this kind of alien who doesn’t do any good in our country.
Don’t worry if you are a good guy. Thai people won’t attack you just because you’re foreigner.
I hope ‘Barry from Loei’ has’t been lynched, given that was the name you floated yesterday.
Andrew Drummond Me too! :-).
The inequality in this country is truly sickening and very depressing.
Just a few days ago I was on a songtaew and the driver had to pull into a LPG station. Sixty baht was all he could apparently afford to put into the tank - and the poor man looked like he had a wife and family to support.
I felt very sorry for him.
Too bad Central World Plaza will be out of bounds for a few months.
I’m sure the High Society elites will find a way to survive.
And no doubt - high end luxury brand name goods will continue to fly off the shelves at any number of other elite stores in Bangkok catering to the insatiable and rapacious appetites of those who can never get enough.
Jeffrey Savage is right. This is a class war. And all credit to him.
Tell me about it. I used to go there (with the wife and two kids on the motorbike) Now I have to bulk buy my socks from Primark. My pub back home is now cheaper than the ‘Nice n’ Sleazy’ and half the price of Jamesons. Don’t worry two more passengers and he’ll have a full tank again.
You travel up to Bangkok from Pattaya, Andrew.
Andrew Drummond Que?
I think our Jeffery may live to regret getting involved,maybe he could have helped in the hospitals during the crisis,if he’s worked for the NHS he would feel at home in a Thai hospital.
Personaly having foreigners poke their beaks in limits our ability to appear neutral which has on many occasions saved a stranded farang.
He is right though that its not about Thaksin anymore however don’t tell Thaksin that otherwise it will be a long slow process without his cash.
Peter Marshall,
I agree with you totally and the average Thai does not care one iota about their fellow Thai as can be seen by the recent online comments everywhere. They just respect money, nothing else.
If you are a farang, park your conscience and morals at the door as you enter Thailand as you’ll see all the long-time residents here are just as hardened and uncaring.
If you care, Thailand is not a good place to be.
We obviously differ in our opinions but Savage does have this to say -
QUOTE:”“This has all gone beyond Thaksin Shinawatra now. I have no time for him. He’s one of the elite.”
“But I love the genuine Thai people and I feel for the poor people and what they have to put up with.”
And I don’t think anyone would disagree with that. Incidentally - J’s has a daily happy hour (16.00-19.00) with draught Heinekin and Tiger at only 75 baht a pint which should help ease the wallet of any foreigner mourning the loss of yet another World Trade Centre.
As for rebuilding costs - I wonder if a Send In All Your Money Day appeal at Siam Paragon and the Emporium might do the job?
Andrew Drummond Thanks for the tip about cheap beer, but I had to censor the free plug.
But 16.00 - 19.00 hours! I don’t want to become a Pattaya balcony casualty.
Did those prices run through the one day of curfew you had? Or did they charge midnight prices!?
You said in the article, “Savage admitted that he had come down to Bangkok from Pattaya”.
No big deal.
Andrew Drummond Yes, but why would I need to come up to Bangkok from Pattaya? I only go to Pattaya when I am paid to or when I am being sued in the local court
Or perhaps if I fall out with my wife.
Savage. What a Simp! Long-term farangs in Thailand aren’t indifferent. They are usually just being practical about what can be acheived in a country where there are few locals who as yet understand the very real need for change. I also suggest people like Savage need to wake up and realise just how much this conflict is actually elite faction vs elite faction, with the redshirts and their victims being nothing more than cannon fodder for rich people’s battles. You interfere in this kind of bullshit politics at your personal peril.
Dear Jeff Savage and Peter,
Sorry but this is a load of bullshit you are talking!
If you love the “genuine Thai people” and want to support them why do you burn down their work places? Do you really think Khun Chirathivat will get bankrupt because of this? I don’t think so but the tousands of “normal” people who had their jobs there! Bravo! Very good, well done the same for the hotel staff who will get laid off because of the situation. The damage what was done is not primary important to foreigners but the “normal Thai people” will feel it. I really hope Jeff can meet the former workers of Central World face by face and they can teach him a lesson.
Nothing has been resolved, this is not the end.
The top 20% of Thais hold on to 69% of the country’s wealth.
The bottom 20% hold 1%. I’m not against the very wealthy just for a more level playing field.
Spoke to a Thai who works at pizza hut yesterday. Earns 27 Baht an hour, turn up a minute late lose an hours pay.
Andy McGinley also stated in his video that there were indeed snipers on Chula hospital.
I do find the anti democratic sentiments of expats in Thailand generally and Bangkok in particular bewildering.
Hey Andy - today’s business section of the Bangkok Post quotes the chief financial officer - Naris Cheyklin - of Central Pattana PLC the owners of CentralWorld mall -
QUOTE:”He said the company had not laid off staff, and employees had been transferred to other branches for now.”
And I expect the same will apply to affected hotel staff employed by the large international hotel chains. In any case the government is sure to handsomely compensate anyone or any business adversely affected by the recent events.
My argument is not with ordianary - decent - hardworking Thais but with the self-serving - greedy and arrogant elites who shamelessly exploit them for their own benefit. And wasn’t that what these recent protests were all about at the end of the day?
Andrew - not sure about the prices - the missus and myself gave up on BKKs so-called Irish pubs about a year or so ago. Got tired of the indifferent service and padded bills. And anyway - ‘Farang-Reds’ shouldn’t really be seen drinking in the elites camps!
Andrew Drummond My landlord can’t even aspire to be an elite I’m afraid and still pads the bills.
Pol Pot of course got rid of the elites fairly efficiently. Maybe someone is taking a leaf.
There’s a destinct anti-issan feeling in the south. A sign in the market urges locals to “employ Burmese before Kwai Issan” & calls for a boycott of issan rice/goods. Similar sentiment is expressed online in Thai language forums. This could spell problems for anyone married to a Thai or to children in schools.
18 months ago the local airport was held to ransom by those suffering insomnia now.
…I meant Amnesia:)
Jgirl, certainly Bill Heinke can’t be that strict with employees of Pizza Hut or that cheap? Really now there should be a revolution against the man who introducted industrialized processed foods to Thailand.. but never mind they are used to the abundance of MSG.
I heard that Central World was insured for 3mil against terrorist attacks so insurance will be covering their loses.
Would be nice to see some kind of compensation for the lowly workers earning 200 baht aday.
VFaye - re: your last point - BANGKOK (NNT)
“Director-General of the Employment Department Songsri Boonba confirmed that the department would hastily provide appropriate aid to all workers hard hit by the prolonged demonstration of the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD). She said the measures would compensate employees, including those facing employment terminations, for losses of salary and benefits for 6 months. For those who need to find a new career, the department will also supply them with vocational training, plus a 120-THB allowance per day throughout the course.”
Jgirl, Bangkok is full of arrogant and self-serving Thais who look down on everyone.
Bangkok is also full of expats who for some very strange reason support these same “elite” Thais and fraternise with them seemingly not realising that a “farang” is lowest of all in the food chain to a hi-so Thai…
I too am bewildered at times. I can only assume that all these expats never amounted to anything in their own country so they adopt a new quasi-elite status “supporting the establishment” because they can buy a bar girl once a week! How wealthy and hi-so…
Big article today on that silly website called the Nation about all the out-of-work Thais getting no support. Well, they were promised support by the Prime Liar, Abhisit a long while back and also how on earth can a group like Central hire everyone on a daily rate with no contract or benefits. Shameless. Last time I go in one of their stores.
This thread is getting a bit like ThaiVisa.com. Lots of wild generalisations and petty grudges.
Center One, a low-end shopping mall, which was burnt down has around 300 self-owned shops for small scale businesses. There are also lots of small shops/stalls set up in the Central World area. These people have been severely affected.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6QpK-8sjmY
In the above vdo, a Centre One shop owner is complaining very angrily that she has her parents and family to feed but now her shop in Center One destroyed by fire and saying how come Thaksin doesn’t care about all those shopkeepers who have absolutely nothing to do with the conflict and have families to feed.
Dear Jeff.
Well done, you were standing up for your poor brothers who earn just 200 baht per day. This is a typical wage for Thailand. Some of my students work in Western/ Thai businesses. Teso Lotus for 160 baht for an eight hour shift, overtime 12 baht per hour.
You say that you’re standing up for the poor but your not.
I’m a westerner, I teach English for just 650 baht per day. 08:30 - 16:30 This is an above average salary for Thailand and I’m proud of my work and the money that I get, which is a lot more than my Thai colleagues who work very hard for their money.
What do you work for Jeff? What did you make better with your words of anger and stupidity? If you really want to make things better you could have helped in any number of ways without inciting violence.
Hopefully you will soon be back in England, standing watching football where you belong with your pit ball and your can of cheap beer hoping for a good fight after to brighten your dull, sad life.
Andrew, the contagion that is Thaivisa will never get to your site.
The reasons that Thaivisa has its problems are that the moderators selectively remove flames only depending on their personal bias; that the owner is not strong enough to keep his moderators in check by ensuring they keep fairly to the rules of moderation he has set; and that advertising revenue is the sole rationale for the site to exist.
I don’t see flames on your site because posts are moderated before they appear to your readership.
That you allow posts which express a view other than your own shows that moderation is fair on andrew-drummond.com
The expat community in Thailand is crying out for a forum that is fair, informative, useful and without what appears to be the required bitchiness of other sites
Britain’s (Really) Got Talent!
If the employees of central are being temporarily moved to other branches then I applaud the owners. However has anyone stopped to think about the 1,000’s now out of work because of the whole red protest? Tourism is a major part of the Thai economy and employs a very large amount of Thais, many are now losing their jobs daily!
seem to remember that a lot of the shops in Central World don’t seem to be owned by Central world, i mean there seems to be a lot of independent brands, restaurants and shops there so wonder what’s happening with those non-central world employees who work in the shopping mall.
Andrew, your mention of Pol Pot struck me, as the thought is exactly what I’ve had concern about. I don’t think anyone doubts the inequities in the Thai system. They’re within the government and obviously built into the culture.
The problem, as I see it, is that curing those inequities takes either time or something akin to “the killing fields” to accomplish. It also takes either people (over time) with sustained ideals or for more immediate results, power hungry thugs.
One problem I see is time and patience. The present government hasn’t actually had that much time to accomplish anything without either violent protests or a world financial crisis to deal with at the same time. It’s difficult to accomplish even writing an email if you’ve got someone in your face the whole time. It’s even more difficult if the financial state of your country is in question, and major parts of your source of income are destroyed.
I don’t believe this is by chance. I don’t believe the former government or those associated with it want anything good for the less well off in Thailand to come from this government. I believe they’ve taken the petty provincial racism that seems natural for Thais up to a level that makes civil war a true possibility. For a man with an Issan wife and has worked a great deal in most parts of the country, it makes me think of people in California hating and harming someone from Nevada just because they live a couple hundred miles from one another.
For the Reds, I’d simply ask, list the positives that have come from the violence, politically, nationally, and internationally. Explain to me where the amazing outburst of violence has benefited the needs of the poor of Thailand. If the ultimate point to reach is “eat the rich”, then you might as well find a new Pol Pot.
SIAB
I guess you mean any one married with a woman from Isaan that lives in the south? I live down south, and yes, people dont much care for Isaan people here. Why? Because 90 percent of all hookers are from Isaan and the average thai down south is disgusted by the reputation those same hookers give the kingdom.
This IS now a class war. The poor (majority) deserve their right to decide the future of this country. the gap between rich and poor is sickening, as is the attitude of the elite.
Andrew Drummond Don’t disagree with much here. But if its a class war some of their leaders and the people they want in power may have to re-invent themselves.
This article on the effects of the arson attack on small businesses is worth a read. Feel sorry for them.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704792104575264053540497876.html?mod=WSJASIA_hpp_LEFTTopStories
amazing that such a guy can actually make enough money to pay the airfare to get out of Blighty in the first place… anyone want to bet that the brother-in-law is actually his wife’s Thai husband - then see which way his violence goes…
I saw this scumbag near patpong 2. I was walking with my fiance when he tried to buy her from me. It was the only time in Thailand where i felt threatened. I love thailand very much and was shocked to see my fiances work burned down when i came home. I couldnt imagine how a place that big could be gone.
Is it a 30 day riskless trial?