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BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thousands of tourists stranded in Thailand by political protests that have cut off the capital's airports battled frustration and boredom on Saturday as they scrambled to find a way out of the country.
Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi international airport has been closed since late Tuesday and the mostly domestic Don Muang airport since Thursday by protesters from the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), who want the government to quit.
The airport closures have paralyzed air traffic to the capital, left thousands of foreigners stranded and crippled the tourism industry during the peak end-of-year season.
BANGKOK (Reuters) - A grenade blast wounded more than 50 anti-government protesters in Bangkok on Sunday, fuelling fears of clashes ahead of a big rally in the Thai capital planned by government supporters.
The blast occurred around midnight at Government House, the prime minister's office occupied by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) since August in a bid to topple the government.
PAD supporters are also dug in at the capital's two main airports, stranding thousands of tourists, grounding exports and threatening to further slash economic growth.
Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat has declared a state of emergency at the airports and given police the authority to remove the protesters. But PAD supporters attacked police on Saturday night, forcing them further away from the main Suvarnabhumi international airport.
A Reuters reporter said no police were visible around the airport on Sunday.
The sit-ins at Suvarnabhumi and the city's domestic hub Don Muang are the latest escalation in the PAD's "final battle" to unseat a prime minister it accuses of being a front for former leader Thaksin Shinawatra.
Thaksin, who is Somchai's brother-in-law, was ousted in a military coup in 2006 and lives in exile.
He still has strong support among the urban and rural poor, and the pro-Thaksin Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship (DAAD) says it will bring 100,000 supporters to central Bangkok on Sunday afternoon in a show of support for the government.
Veera Musikapong, a DAAD leader, told the Nation newspaper one focus of the rally would be the alleged bias of the courts.
The Constitutional Court has moved with uncharacteristic speed to conclude a vote fraud case on Tuesday that is widely expected to lead to the disbanding of Somchai's People Power Party (PPP) and two other partners in the ruling coalition.
"It is obvious that there is interference with justice. It was well planned, and this is a concealed coup," Veera said.
If the court dissolves the three parties, Somchai and other top leaders would be barred from politics and many cabinet ministers would have to step down.
^this is them INSIDE the airport, all landing & departure flights are canceled, passengers/tourists are literally stranded - it's been 3 days now
It's like the entire country is being controlled by the PAD. Thai laws are such jokes. These people first occupied the government compounds and now they have taken over the airports. It was a mistake to have let them continue their charades for so long, they think they can do whatever they want, when they want. When their members get injured it's 'the government attacking "innocent" civilians' but when they do it, it's a matter of self defense? Bunch of hypocrites, I have no sympathy for these kinds of people. Many of their supporters were either paid to join or have been brainwashed by Sondhi himself. The government is too lenient on them, I say go in with tear gases, do whatever they can to get them out of there asap. It's not like their people aren't armed, they've attacked & stood up to government officials before. And with the current economy in the slumps, blocking the entire airport will sure help.
I just had to vent about this since it's frustrating to see it unfold. I hear about it all the time when I'm at home...it's the only thing my parents watch nowadays. -_-
Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi international airport has been closed since late Tuesday and the mostly domestic Don Muang airport since Thursday by protesters from the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), who want the government to quit.
The airport closures have paralyzed air traffic to the capital, left thousands of foreigners stranded and crippled the tourism industry during the peak end-of-year season.
BANGKOK (Reuters) - A grenade blast wounded more than 50 anti-government protesters in Bangkok on Sunday, fuelling fears of clashes ahead of a big rally in the Thai capital planned by government supporters.
The blast occurred around midnight at Government House, the prime minister's office occupied by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) since August in a bid to topple the government.
PAD supporters are also dug in at the capital's two main airports, stranding thousands of tourists, grounding exports and threatening to further slash economic growth.
Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat has declared a state of emergency at the airports and given police the authority to remove the protesters. But PAD supporters attacked police on Saturday night, forcing them further away from the main Suvarnabhumi international airport.
A Reuters reporter said no police were visible around the airport on Sunday.
The sit-ins at Suvarnabhumi and the city's domestic hub Don Muang are the latest escalation in the PAD's "final battle" to unseat a prime minister it accuses of being a front for former leader Thaksin Shinawatra.
Thaksin, who is Somchai's brother-in-law, was ousted in a military coup in 2006 and lives in exile.
He still has strong support among the urban and rural poor, and the pro-Thaksin Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship (DAAD) says it will bring 100,000 supporters to central Bangkok on Sunday afternoon in a show of support for the government.
Veera Musikapong, a DAAD leader, told the Nation newspaper one focus of the rally would be the alleged bias of the courts.
The Constitutional Court has moved with uncharacteristic speed to conclude a vote fraud case on Tuesday that is widely expected to lead to the disbanding of Somchai's People Power Party (PPP) and two other partners in the ruling coalition.
"It is obvious that there is interference with justice. It was well planned, and this is a concealed coup," Veera said.
If the court dissolves the three parties, Somchai and other top leaders would be barred from politics and many cabinet ministers would have to step down.
^this is them INSIDE the airport, all landing & departure flights are canceled, passengers/tourists are literally stranded - it's been 3 days now
It's like the entire country is being controlled by the PAD. Thai laws are such jokes. These people first occupied the government compounds and now they have taken over the airports. It was a mistake to have let them continue their charades for so long, they think they can do whatever they want, when they want. When their members get injured it's 'the government attacking "innocent" civilians' but when they do it, it's a matter of self defense? Bunch of hypocrites, I have no sympathy for these kinds of people. Many of their supporters were either paid to join or have been brainwashed by Sondhi himself. The government is too lenient on them, I say go in with tear gases, do whatever they can to get them out of there asap. It's not like their people aren't armed, they've attacked & stood up to government officials before. And with the current economy in the slumps, blocking the entire airport will sure help.
I just had to vent about this since it's frustrating to see it unfold. I hear about it all the time when I'm at home...it's the only thing my parents watch nowadays. -_-
