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State of emergency at Bangkok airports

(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-11-28 08:03

Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat declared a state of emergency on Thursday at two Bangkok airports besieged by anti-government protesters, a minister said, as rumors of a coup swirled round the capital.

In a televized address to the nation, Somchai said police and some military units would try to end the blockades which he said was causing massive damage to the economy.

A girl sleeps in her pram as stranded passengers wait for news on their departurem during anti-government protests inside the Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok Thursday. Thai anti-government protesters shut down Bangkok's second airpot, further crippling the country as tourists scrambled to leave and fears grew that the crisis was deepening. [Agencies]

Deputy Agriculture Minister Thirachai Sankaew said police would be in charge of the Suvarnabhumi and Don Muang airports blockaded by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD).

"The Cabinet agreed to use the emergency decree at the two airports to bring the situation back to normal," he said after a Cabinet meeting in the northern city of Chiang Mai.

The PAD refused to end their protests, which have forced flight cancellations and stranded thousands of travellers.

"We will not leave. We will use human shields against the police if they try to disperse us," PAD leader Suriyasai Katasila said.

It was not clear what action the police would take, but 30 medical teams were on standby in case of a bloody crackdown, the Nation newspaper's website said.

Some office employees left work early in Bangkok and the United Nations advised its staff to go home and remain indoors.

Thailand's three-year-old political crisis has deepened since the PAD began a "final battle" on Monday to unseat a government it accuses of being a pawn of former leader Thaksin Shinawatra, ousted in a 2006 coup.

With rumors of another putsch swirling, Somchai urged the army to stay put and denied that he planned to sack army chief Anupong Paochina, a day after the general urged him to call a snap election.

"Troops should stay in their barracks and the prime minister is not going to sack anybody," spokesman Nattawut Saikuar said.

Pressure has built on the military to step in since Somchai rejected calls to quit, but pro-government forces are threatening to hit the streets if the elected administration is ousted, raising fears of major civil unrest.

Emergency rule gives the army legal authority to act against the PAD, but it is reluctant to do so.

"If the government insisted on dispersing the crowd, the army will meet again to find new measures. We already have a contingency plan," said Colonel Sunsern Kaewkumnerd.

ASEAN summit

Thailand insisted that it will be able to host a regional summit in December, even after three neighboring countries raised concerns that ongoing political turmoil in the Thai capital could force the meeting's cancellation.

Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos voiced fears on Thursday that Thailand may not be able to host the annual summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), scheduled to take place on Dec 15-18 in the northern city of Chiang Mai.

Thai Foreign Ministry Spokesman Tharit Charungvat said the summit would not be rescheduled.

"Everything is still going ahead as planned and we are still ready to host the summit," Tharit said.

China expresses concern

China expressed concern over the anti-government protest in Thailand during a routine press conference on Thursday.

China is keeping an eye on the situation in friendly neighbor Thailand, Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said.

"China wholeheartedly hopes Thailand can restore national stability, social harmony and economic growth," he said.

Agencies - Xinhua