Command & Control, Transport Security

Thai protesters shuts a second airport

By Jianggan Li | 27 November 2008

After Suvarnabhumi, anti-government protesters have forced the closure of Don Mueang airport in Bangkok.

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The airport was closed after the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) supporters blocked the terminal.

The move is seen as an attempt to stop officials flying to Chiang Mai to meet the Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, who just returned from the APEC summit in Peru.

Somchai’s flight was diverted to Chiang Mai as Suvarnabhumi– the main international airport of Bangkok, was forced to shut down by PAD demonstrators yesterday.

The PAD is a loose grouping of urban middle class, businessmen and royalists opposing the former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The alliance have been occupying a government compound in the capital since August, claiming that the government is corrupt, hostile to the monarchy and being a proxy for the Thaksin, who was ousted in a coup two years ago.

General Anupong Paochinda, the army chief, has called for new elections to end the political deadlock. The request was rejected by Somchai, who says that his government is legitimate and that he will continue to work for the country.

Meanwhile, the PAD has defied a court order for them to leave Suvarnabhumi airport, saying they will stay until Somchai resigns.

All flights have been cancelled and thousands of passengers are stranded in the Thai capital. The Thai tourism industry is feared to suffer huge losses as the blockade happens during the height of tourist season.