Is it safe to vacation in Phuket? What's going on in Thailand?

Martial law in Thailand?

Many Phuket residents, including tourists, first heard about the declaration of martial law back in May… from friends abroad. Only later did local news channels confirm it. That’s how “martial law” looks in Thailand.

No one really noticed anything. Or almost no one. Because the unrest was, so to speak, very localized — only in Bangkok. If political tensions worldwide were like in Thailand, there’d be peace and harmony on Earth.

In other words, for people living in Phuket and tourists in the resort areas, absolutely nothing changed. Police checks on the roads? That’s normal here, right? Especially when they only look at your license and send you off with best wishes. That’s exactly how martial law affected life on the island. Before, they mostly stopped people for clear violations, usually motorcyclists without helmets.

Of course, it’s not all so smooth. For example, authorities started getting tougher on foreigners breaking immigration laws. But what can you say? Just don’t break the rules! If your documents are in order and you know you’re in Phuket legally — there’s nothing to worry about.

What do the top officials say?

The military command believes that declaring martial law a few months ago was the best way to preserve peace and order in the country. The key is to do it in time, without even the slightest chance of bloodshed. And that’s exactly what they did. Now, in Thailand and Phuket, everything is back to normal — order restored, citizens respect the laws, and the country is at peace.

So what actually happened?

It was Bangkok. Crowds with national flags, police cordons, barricades, and even a few overturned cars that looked dramatic on TV.

To truly understand what was going on in the country, you’d need to live here for at least a couple of years. What they showed on TV had almost nothing to do with the daily life of locals or tourists. Most Thais never even grasped what it was really about — and kept living their usual lives. The most interesting part is that even many who joined these demonstrations didn’t really know why they were there or what exactly they were protesting.

Why?

Because, like anywhere in the world, conflicts and unrest pop up here from time to time. Then it all follows a pattern: someone tries to stir up chaos. Most protesters aren’t out there because of personal beliefs — they’re there because someone told them to be.

Who wanted this?

Let’s clarify right away: we’re not looking for someone to blame. We’re just trying to analyze the situation. Apparently, this conflict actually started… about 10 years ago, when Thailand’s Prime Minister became the talented businessman Thaksin Shinawatra.

What did he do?

He started fighting the elite and criminal syndicates, made healthcare accessible for the poor, improved conditions in impoverished provinces, and reduced the influence of the Muslim south. In short, his motto was: “Let the poor live better at the expense of the rich.” To be fair, he was quite successful in everything he tried. But then he challenged the monarchy — and the ruling elite couldn’t forgive that. In 2006 he was removed from office and replaced by someone nobody elected.

Naturally, the country split between those who supported Thaksin and those who opposed his policies. His supporters formed the opposition, which tried in 2010 to take back power. The confrontation lasted two months, ending in victory for the royalists. Then in 2011, Thaksin’s sister Yingluck was elected Prime Minister! Naturally, unrest was only a matter of time — and it came.

But this unrest left ordinary Russian and European viewers with lots of questions. What were the protesters armed with — if anything at all? Why did someone just step aside and give up power? None of it made sense.

It’s because Thailand has its own reality. For example, if a crowd threatens to seize power, the government steps back. That’s the Thai mentality and the influence of Buddhism. Thais avoid “sharp moves” in all areas of life. They’d rather do nothing than do something rash. “Softening the edges” is the norm in Thai life — in both personal and public relationships.

So since 2011, Thailand has spent three years in political maneuvers — swinging this way and that… That’s all martial law really was. Even the Thais didn’t pay it much attention.

They’re far more interested in high season — the tourist boom — than anti-government rallies. Instead of regularly showing up at protests, they focus on how to welcome guests, where to take them, and what tours to offer.

Ending on a positive note

Bangkok is far away — a thousand kilometers from Phuket! And considering global media often profit by hyping things that barely exist, we can confidently say: Thailand is calm. This whole story with protests and martial law never touched the island. Except for foreigners breaking immigration rules. But we’ve already said it: don’t break the law, and you’ll be just fine.

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