austraLasia #2024


"Glad to be with the confreres at this critical moment of their history" - stranded Regional speaks of Thai experience

BANGKOK: 29th November 2008 -- The EAO Regional, Fr Andy Wong, has been in regular contact since being stranded at Bangkok's international airport after it was over-run with protestors nearly a week ago. "I'm glad to be with the confreres at this critical moment of their history", he said this morning. "I recall my experience in East Timor in 1999. However, I wish to get a ticket to Rome as soon as possible"!
    Confreres, and people generally in Bangkok are safe, but the protests involve the bulk of ordinary Thais.  Fr Wong explained how he was at the airport awaiting his flight when thousands poured in off the street to occupy the place.  Thai personnel simply fled at that point, he mused, and whoever was left suddenly forgot any English they might have had.  He had to remain overnight along with thousands of travellers, mingling with protestors. Around 4.a.m. water and sandwiches were distributed, but little else was happening as the few airport staff 'on deck' were at loggerheads with security staff and it wasn't easy to exit back into Bangkok. "In these cases you can't expect everybody to be civil" he remarked. One can read between the lines! However, the following day confreres managed to find him and bring him back to the Provincial House where he has been since.
    Getting out of the country is not so easy at this point.  Several promises have suggested flights leaving yesterday, today.... but in an email this morning he says priority is being given to flights to Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong.  A smaller (military) airport is being used, and smaller aircraft, so the process will take longer.  Yesterday at the gathering of European Provincials, the Rector Major said, with a smile, that maybe Andy will make it for Don Bosco's Feastday!
    Fr Wong is 'registered for a future, indefinite' flight.  He is full of praise for our confreres in Thailand.

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Title: australasia 2299
Subject and key words: EAO Provinces - Thai dispute
Date (year): 2008
ID: 2000-2099|2299