Will the Protests Close the Airport?

[Gaybutton]

The media seems to be stressing the possibility that the protesters may try to close Suvarnabhumi Airport again, in their efforts to oust the current "government of the month." Some government officials have also expressed concern. However, so far there has been no attempt to close or blockade the airport. Everything seems to happening around the Government House area.

 

I have no idea whether the airport is actually in jeopardy or whether the concerns are nothing more than media hype. However, according to THE NATION, the number of protesters has reached somewhere between 30,000 to 40,000. 2000 police officers have been stationed at the airport in case of an attempt. I wonder, though, if being outnumbered by 20 to 1 would be of much help. Of course, if an airport seizure attempt is made, most likely a great many more police officers would be deployed. I have seen nothing in the media to indicate whether the military would play a role in this.

 

All I can tell you is so far the airport is open, the roads leading to the airport are open and clear, and there has been no attempt to seize the airport. At this point, whether things will remain this way is anybody's guess.

 

The following appears in THE NATION:

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PRO-THAKSIN RALLY

 

Govt 'to Avoid Clashes,' Protect Airport

 

Published on March 27, 2009

 

Police and officials would exercise utmost restraint in dealing with red shirt protesters surrounding Government House, sources said yesterday.

 

Meanwhile, some 2,000 people dressed in blue, consisting of police and troops plus health volunteers, gathered at a building at Suvarnabhumi yesterday in case an effort is made to seize the airport.

 

The authorities would try their best to avoid clashes between protesters and security forces, sources said.

 

Chief government whip Chinnaworn Boonyakiat said urged ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra to avoid causing further social division by improperly mentioning royal advisers in his phone-ins.

 

Tens of thousands of pro-Thaksin protesters surrounded Government House yesterday and planned to camp there "until the government leaves office", rally leaders said.

 

Thaksin phoned in shortly after 8pm last night. He said he would "tell it all" about his political enemies when he calls again tonight. Earlier, he claimed Privy Councillor and former PM General Surayud Chulanont and some top judges were behind the 2006 coup that overthrew his government.

 

He also complained about "double standards" in politics.

 

Thaksin, who said he was in an African country, spoke for just about 10 minutes in a link that sounded scratchy.

 

Jatuporn Phrompan, an MP from the opposition Pheu Thai Party and one of the protest leaders, said Thaksin would address supporters every night for half an hour via a video-link system.

 

He said the rally and Thaksin's phone-ins would continue until the government leaves office. He claimed broadcast signals of the pro-Thaksin D Station satellite TV were being obstructed.

 

Government sources said most protesters came from Bangkok and surrounding areas. Provincial authorities admitted they had failed to block red shirts from their provinces. Deputy PM Suthep Thaugsuban earlier threatened action against governors and police chiefs who failed to block protesters from their provinces, the sources said.

 

Interior Minister Chaovarat Chanweerakul described the protest as worrying. He said a report estimated the crowd had surged to about 30,000.

 

Chaovarat could not predict how long it would last. He said police were closely monitoring the rally after threats to protest at other government agencies, including the new airport.

[fedssocr]

It is interesting. One of the papers had a story today saying a new group "the blue shirts" was ready to defend the airport. Apparently the blue shirts are some sort of airport employees.

 

The Nation is reporting just 3000 red shirts left at GH this morning.

 

And there is also this which I find really hilarious:

 

Red-shirts to rally at City Hall

 

 

A group of red-shirted protesters from the Government House will be deploy to demonstrate at the Bangkok City Hall Friday, their leader Natthawut Saikua said.

 

He said the red-shirted people would protest against the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration for failing to deploy enough mobile toilets to serve the demonstrators outside the Government House.

 

The Nation

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As if the government is responsible for making the protesters comfortable while they cause chaos for the city/country! Maybe their patron could provide some toilets for them.

[Guest Oogleman]

The red shirts have promised to stay away from the airport as they dont want to be considered anything like the PAD.

 

But they are promising a big surprise for friday. Stay tuned.

[Guest fountainhall]

The red shirts have promised to stay away from the airport as they dont want to be considered anything like the PAD

 

Promises??? That's a joke! If I were a red shirt, knowing what happened as a direct result of the December airport closure, the temptation to reroute a few thousand of my fellow protestors towards Suvarnabhumi must be very, very high. I'm counting nothing out at this stage.

[Guest Astrrro]

Heard that there were 200 redshirts at Pattaya City Hall tying up traffic on the westbound lane of Pattaya Nua.

 

Unlike Bangkok City Hall, i don't think port-o-potties is the issue here.

[Guest lvdkeyes]

redshirts at Pattaya City Hall tying up traffic on the westbound lane of Pattaya Nua.

I just came past there going eastbound and there were about 50-75 red shirts there, but traffic was a mess.

[Gaybutton]

I just came past there going eastbound and there were about 50-75 red shirts there, but traffic was a mess.

There are several news articles coming out at this very moment talking about simultaneous protests taking place at several city halls in Thailand, including Si Sa Ket, Kamphaeng Phet, Lampang, Nan, and Kalasin. All, of course, major Thaksin territory. So far there has been nothing about an airport takeover attempt.