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Thai PM declares a state of emergency at airports
Andrew Drummond in Bangkok and Ed Harris27 Nov 2008
Thailand's embattled prime minister, Somchai Wongsawat, declared a state of emergency today at Bangkok's two main airports as anti-government demonstrators refused to end their occupation.
Police were put in charge of removing the People's Alliance for Democracy protesters from the capital's airports, even though emergency rule gives the army legal authority to act.
Thailand's cabinet, meeting outside Bangkok to avoid the anti-government demonstrations, was preparing to use internal security law to break up the demonstrations that have paralysed the country, according to government spokesman Nattawut Sai-kua.
The government is also drawing up plans to fly out thousands of tourists with “urgent needs” from military bases in the next 48 hours.
Protesters demanding the resignation of Mr Somchai occupied Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport on Tuesday night, causing all flights to be cancelled. They wanted to ambush the prime minister as he returned from a summit in Peru.
They increased the pressure on the governmment today as they forced a second airport — the Don Muang domestic airport — to close in a bid to prevent government ministers from getting to the cabinet meeting.
Some ministers were flown on military planes from a nearby base to Chiang Mai, where Mr Somchai has stayed since returning to Thailand last night.
The prime minister's brother-in-law, the ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra, has his support base in Chiang Mai. Mr Thaksin, who used to own Manchester City FC, is the focus of much of the protesters' anger, who accuse the regime of corruption.
There was also speculation in the Thai media that the prime minister might remove his army chief, Anupong Paochinda, who yesterday called for parliament to be dissolved and new elections to be held.
However, the prime minister shows no sign of moving and in a televised address to the nation, said his government was legitimately elected and that it has “a job to protect democracy for the people of Thailand”.
Reader views (2)
Its just a shame that the people of the UK cant take notice and try some of the same to get rid of or unelected despot. Its time that the people of the UK started to say to this pathetic Government that they will not take any more ! Shut down Heathrow and Gatwick for a week or so and see how Brow the Clown react !
- Duncan Walker, Ex Peckham now Samui Thailand, 28/11/2008 09:08
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Good on the Thai people that they are protesting and protecting their country from the corruption and disgusting underhand business practises and black market that have all but destroyed this beautiful land with drugs, prostitution, underage enslaved prostitutes. At least the Thai people are not apathetic, unlike in this country. Shame, my holiday is called off though......
- Real, London, 28/11/2008 09:01
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