Bangkok - Anti-government protestors decided Monday to end
their three-month occupation of the prime minister's office, but
remained in place at Bangkok's two airports which they have shut down
for almost a week.
People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) leader Chamlomg Srimuang
urged supporters still at Government House to move out and join
others at Suvarnabhumi International Airport and Don Mueang Airport.
The PAD occupied Government House since August 26, depriving the
prime minister and cabinet of their offices.
The decision to vacate the Government House grounds came after
several grenade attacks on the compound in recent weeks which killed
one PAD member and injured scores of others.
The last attack, over the weekend, injured 46 people.
Anger against the PAD - a loose coalition of groups dedicated to
toppling the government because of its links to fugitive former
premier Thaksin Shinawatra - has mounted since it took control of
Suvarnabhumi airport on November 25.
The protesters closed down the 4-billion-dollar facility, and two
days later also occupied Bangkok's former international airport Don
Mueang, completely cutting the capital off from air traffic.
The airport seizures were part of the PAD's strategy to bring the
government to its knees.
Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat on Thursday put the two
airports under emergency law and ordered the police to clear the
facilities of the PAD. But police failed to act over the weekend,
apparently fearful of public criticism if things turned bloody, and
and aware that Somchai's government may soon be disbanded.
The PAD has enjoyed strong backing from Bangkok's middle class and
members of the country's political elite, including the army.
Prime Minister Somchai has moved his cabinet to Chiang Mai, 550
kilometres north of Bangkok, for fear of a coup.
On Tuesday or Wednesday, the Constitution Court is scheduled to
rule on whether the People Power Party (PPP) was guilty of committing
election fraud in the December 23, 2007 polls.
A guilty verdict, which is anticipated, would result in the
dissolution of the PPP, and the banning of its executives from
politics for five years. Somchai, as a senior PPP executive, would
lose his post as prime minister.
Many are hoping this 'judicial coup,' as it has been called by
pro-government politicians, will solve Thailand's political impasse
before Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej celebrates his 81st birthday on
December 5.
But there are signs that pro-government protestors may try to
block the Constitution Court from ruling or protest the verdict,
leading Thailand into more political chaos.
The airport closures have already caused incalculable damage to
the country's tourism industry and exports.
Thailand's Board of Trade estimated the country was losing about 3
billion baht (86 million dollars) a day in exports.
Tourism is one of the country's main foreign-exchange earners,
bringing in an estimated 600 billion baht (17 billion dollars) each
year.
The government pledged Monday to speed up emergency flights from
provincial airports for an estimated 240,000 foreign tourists
stranded in Bangkok.
'I believe we can send all the passengers home within seven to 10
days,' Tourism and Sports Minister Weerasak Kohsurat said.
The government is using the Vietnam War era U-Tapao air base, 150
kilometres south-east of Bangkok, as an alternative to Bangkok.
Authorities were also planning to open up the Nakorn Ratchasima
Air Force base, 200 kilometres north-east of Bangkok, as another
emergency departure hub.
Both of those provincial airfields were built with the assistance
of the US government four decades ago and used for US aircraft and
troops in nearby Vietnam.
Thailand is spending an estimated 40 million baht (1.1 million
dollars) a day to put stranded tourists up in hotels while they wait
for flights out.
The total expenditure is likely to reach 2 billion baht (57
million) over the next seven to 10 days.
'When they have all left, Thailand will be very quiet and lonely,'
Weerasak said.
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