A Thai anti-government protester at an entrance to the departure terminal of Bangkok's occupied international airportFriday, November 28, 2008
BANGKOK (AFP) — Thailand's embattled premier Thursday declared a state of emergency at Bangkok's main airports, seeking to clear them of protesters as the country's political crisis set off rumours of a coup.
Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat issued the order after an urgent cabinet meeting to discuss how to tackle anti-government demonstrators who have cut the city off from the world and left thousands of tourists stranded.
The military denied speculation it was about to oust Somchai, who has rejected a call by the powerful army chief to hold fresh elections, but the government still urged soldiers to remain in their barracks.
"It is wrong for protesters to take the entire Thai nation hostage," Somchai said in a televised address to the nation.
"The government is not intending to hurt anybody but is just facilitating official works, and the emergency will be temporary," he added.
Somchai called on the army to back up police in enforcing the state of emergency at Suvarnabhumi International Airport and the old Don Mueang airport, which handles some domestic flights.
There was no immediate sign of any police operation at either airport.
Demonstrators brandishing golf clubs and sticks manned checkpoints on the road to Suvarnabhumi and set up coils of barbed wire, AFP photographers said.
Police said around 10,000 protesters , all wearing yellow clothes which are supposed to be symbolic of their devotion to Thailand's revered king, had set up camp inside the terminal.
The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) protest movement, which seized control of Suvarnabhumi on Tuesday night and blockaded Don Mueang earlier Thursday, swiftly vowed to defy the state of emergency.
"We are in the very, very final moment of our fight for democracy with the king at the head of state so I ask all the protesters not to panic," Chamlong Srimuang, a key PAD leader, told protesters at government offices in central Bangkok which the movement has occupied since August.
A coalition backed by elements of the palace, the army and Thailand's Bangkok-based elite, the PAD accuses the government elected last December of being a corrupt puppet for ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
The military ousted Thaksin in a coup in 2006 after similar PAD protests, and as tensions rose Thursday the government insisted Somchai was not about to sack army commander General Anupong Paojinda.
"I would like to inform all military personnel to carry out your duty as usual. Do not make any movement or be on stand-by. This is to stop the coup rumours," government spokesman Nattawut Saikaur said on national radio.
The army urged political reconciliation, saying it neither wanted to move against protesters at the two airports nor risk a confrontation with government supporters if it staged a coup.
"The military have moved tanks for strategic purposes but I can confirm that there is no coup and the military has not been ordered to be on stand-by," Colonel Sunsern Kaewkumnerd told AFP.
He said that the tanks had moved through an area of the capital near parliament as part of a display for army cadets.
PAD supporters effectively cut off Bangkok from the rest of the world when they blockaded Don Mueang airport.
Thai aviation authorities on Thursday gave airlines approval to use the U-Tapao naval base instead, saying several flights had already landed there including a Thai Airways flight from Los Angeles.
But Somchai said the losses from the closure of Suvarnabhumi alone would top 100 billion baht (2.83 billion dollars) a day. Airport authorities said it would remain closed until Saturday evening at the earliest.
As both sides refuse to back down, concerns deepened for the kingdom's economy, tourism industry and diplomatic ties. Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam, meanwhile, questioned whether Thailand could still hold the regional ASEAN summit in December.
Most of the 3,000 stranded passengers at Suvarnabhumi were bussed to hotels on Wednesday, and thousands of tourists are now trying to escape Thailand.
"I can't wait for the airport to reopen any more. I have to find a way to get out of this country," said one business traveller from the Philippines who had turned up at Suvarnabhumi Airport in the hope of getting a flight.
Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat issued the order after an urgent cabinet meeting to discuss how to tackle anti-government demonstrators who have cut the city off from the world and left thousands of tourists stranded.
The military denied speculation it was about to oust Somchai, who has rejected a call by the powerful army chief to hold fresh elections, but the government still urged soldiers to remain in their barracks.
"It is wrong for protesters to take the entire Thai nation hostage," Somchai said in a televised address to the nation.
"The government is not intending to hurt anybody but is just facilitating official works, and the emergency will be temporary," he added.
Somchai called on the army to back up police in enforcing the state of emergency at Suvarnabhumi International Airport and the old Don Mueang airport, which handles some domestic flights.
There was no immediate sign of any police operation at either airport.
Demonstrators brandishing golf clubs and sticks manned checkpoints on the road to Suvarnabhumi and set up coils of barbed wire, AFP photographers said.
Police said around 10,000 protesters , all wearing yellow clothes which are supposed to be symbolic of their devotion to Thailand's revered king, had set up camp inside the terminal.
The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) protest movement, which seized control of Suvarnabhumi on Tuesday night and blockaded Don Mueang earlier Thursday, swiftly vowed to defy the state of emergency.
"We are in the very, very final moment of our fight for democracy with the king at the head of state so I ask all the protesters not to panic," Chamlong Srimuang, a key PAD leader, told protesters at government offices in central Bangkok which the movement has occupied since August.
A coalition backed by elements of the palace, the army and Thailand's Bangkok-based elite, the PAD accuses the government elected last December of being a corrupt puppet for ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
The military ousted Thaksin in a coup in 2006 after similar PAD protests, and as tensions rose Thursday the government insisted Somchai was not about to sack army commander General Anupong Paojinda.
"I would like to inform all military personnel to carry out your duty as usual. Do not make any movement or be on stand-by. This is to stop the coup rumours," government spokesman Nattawut Saikaur said on national radio.
The army urged political reconciliation, saying it neither wanted to move against protesters at the two airports nor risk a confrontation with government supporters if it staged a coup.
"The military have moved tanks for strategic purposes but I can confirm that there is no coup and the military has not been ordered to be on stand-by," Colonel Sunsern Kaewkumnerd told AFP.
He said that the tanks had moved through an area of the capital near parliament as part of a display for army cadets.
PAD supporters effectively cut off Bangkok from the rest of the world when they blockaded Don Mueang airport.
Thai aviation authorities on Thursday gave airlines approval to use the U-Tapao naval base instead, saying several flights had already landed there including a Thai Airways flight from Los Angeles.
But Somchai said the losses from the closure of Suvarnabhumi alone would top 100 billion baht (2.83 billion dollars) a day. Airport authorities said it would remain closed until Saturday evening at the earliest.
As both sides refuse to back down, concerns deepened for the kingdom's economy, tourism industry and diplomatic ties. Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam, meanwhile, questioned whether Thailand could still hold the regional ASEAN summit in December.
Most of the 3,000 stranded passengers at Suvarnabhumi were bussed to hotels on Wednesday, and thousands of tourists are now trying to escape Thailand.
"I can't wait for the airport to reopen any more. I have to find a way to get out of this country," said one business traveller from the Philippines who had turned up at Suvarnabhumi Airport in the hope of getting a flight.
8 comments:
Every bad news from Thailand is wonderful news for us.Keep the protest going brother and sister clad in yellow.And if you still can't succeed,start guerrilla or civil war afterward.You have been at peace for so long, start fighting now and see how good you are .
I just returned from Phuket fucking girls in the ass for what their country's violation of our territories. I fucked one of the bar girl I picked up from the go-go bar until blood comes out, using 2 doses of viagra.
My flight back to PP was cancelled, but I travelled back overland. Now I am safe in PP, and I just want to share with you guys the joy I have of seeing the Thais going nuts and crazy and out of control, destroying their future..hahaha..a.ahaha.a.ahahaa.a.a. I say go all the way PAD. Kill each other. Where are you government supporters? Come out to support your hero, bring guns along too.
For those back at Phnom Penh, don't let any Thais leave PP. If they are girls, fuck them in the ass. Trust me, it is sweet and feel much much better than in the vagina. Fuck in the ass, use gel if the girl is virgin in the ass. Trust me, me and 2 of my friends had the best fun ass fucking Thai girls in our adult lives.
Go, go go go. I wish they have civil war, tanks in the city, humvees on the street. Kill each other as much as possible. Fuck the Thais!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
9:34 AM
Hi, your language is not good for people in this blog
Khmers have dignity. Thai problem let thais solve it. If the history is rolling back, they'll know where to go.
We must learn to live in peace. Do not enjoy by just insulting others.
9:34, what the hell is wrong with you? Psychopath? Geez, you sound like a kid.
There is nothing bad speaking about fucking a girl in the ass...But for the rests it is insane wishing for a war, even in Thailand, but anyway as this world will suffer from overpopulation and lack of water resource and food the next 50 years, war is the only things that can make the reamining welath for a few to survive. Do like that guy, fuck in the ass, because would you have a kid in this crazy world?
9:34AM ! Don't take your anger on the poor Thai girls.They are innocent.Beside, how can you say you have good time screwing the asshole,it's more like you screw the tube.
nice, air-conditioned campground, huh!
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