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Besieged prime minister declares state of emergency in showdown with protesters

Thailand last night declared a state of emergency at Bangkok's airports, setting the scene for a showdown with anti-government protesters who have occupied both transit hubs, halting all flights and stranding tens of thousands of travellers.The cabinet resolved to use emergency powers and appeared to be preparing to send in police and some military units to clear the airports, the closure of which has been strangling the tourist industry.Earlier the prime minister, Somchai Wongsawat, urged the military to remain in barracks as rumours of a coup reached fever pitch in the capital, with many offices, including those of the UN, closing early so staff could go home before dark.Bangkok was effectively cut off yesterday when its second airport, Don Muang, was closed after it was stormed by protesters who were also laying siege to the city's main international hub. Don Muang handles only a handful of domestic flights, but it has also served as the prime minister's temporary offices after demonstrators occupied his Government House headquarters compound three months ago.The blockade of Don Muang was an apparent attempt to stop ministers flying to meet Somchai, who summoned the cabinet for crisis talks in the northern city of Chiang Mai. The prime minister's flight was diverted there as he returned from an official trip.The crisis paralysing Thailand is the culmination of months of turmoil that has pitted the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), backed by the country's royalist-military elite, against the ruling coalition led by the People Power party, which derives most of its support from the rural poor.The highly organised and well-funded PAD, spearheaded by a business mogul and a former army general, regards the government as a puppet of the former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a September 2006 coup, the 18th since Thailand became a constitutional monarchy 76 years ago.The prospect of another putsch capping the instability spawned by almost six months of sometimes violent street protests has raised questions about Thailand's reputation as a regional beacon of relative harmony and prosperity.With the closure of Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport for a third day, overseas passengers had little choice but to wait in the hotels provided, hoping for a quick end to the deadlock.Somchai vowed that the tense stand-off would be resolved peacefully. "I have no intention of hurting any members of the public," he said, but added: "I need to do something to restore peace and order."The state of emergency restricts mass movements, bans gatherings of more than five and allows the government to use the security forces to restore order.Last night ambulances were seen arriving at Survanabhumi and 30 medical teams were on standby, raising speculation of an imminent police assault that could turn bloody, as PAD leaders called on supporters to join the thousands of protesters occupying the airport.Protest leaders said they would not leave until Somchai resigned unconditionally. They shrugged off an order from the army chief, General Anupong Paochinda, to quit the airport. "We will not leave," said the PAD's leader, Suriyasai Katasil. "We will use human shields against the police if they try to disperse us."Somchai also dismissed the army chief's advice to dissolve parliament and call snap elections as a way out of the impasse.Fearing protracted deadlock, British embassy officials began considering ways to get stranded Britons out of the country, perhaps aboard special charter flights from Thai military bases. Thousands of stranded tourists are being put up in hotels around Bangkok and the resort town of Pattaya, with their accommodation bill footed for the time being by their airlines or the Thai government.One British visitor, Craig Boyle, 24, from Llangollen, north Wales, was offered a hotel after his Emirates flight to Manchester through Dubai was cancelled, but found his own accommodation. "It was suggested to me that an alternative route home was through Kuala Lumpur, but that's a long way," he said. "So at the moment I'll stick it out in Bangkok. It's not restrictive, so I'm considering going north to Chiang Mai for a bit."FAQ Turbulent TimesWho are PAD?The People's Alliance for Democracy is mobilising to oust a government it claims is a pawn of Thaksin Shinawatra, the former prime minister removed in a 2006 coup. The confrontation began three months ago when its members occupied the prime minister's office.Will they be evicted from the airports?The state of emergency would appear to make provisions for a forcible eviction by police and security forces. But the PAD is armed and fired on police lines last month.Do ordinary Thais support the anti-government protesters?PAD says it gets 1m baht (£18,350) a day from the public. But anti-Thaksin interests are suspected of providing most of its funds. The airport siege may be costing it support - millions of Thais rely on tourism for a living.Is there a chance of a military coup?The army says not, but rumours mounted after Thailand's army chief General Anupong Paochinda suggested that new elections should be called. Thailand has had 18 coups or attempted coups in the past 76 years.Thailandguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2008 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

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Second Bangkok airport shut by Thai anti-government protesters

Bangkok was effectively cut off today as the city's second airport was closed after it was stormed by anti-government protestors who are already laying siege to the main international air hub in the Thai capital.Don Muang airport, the former international terminus, now mainly handles domestic flights. But it has also recently played host to the Thai prime minister, Somchai Wongsawat, who had set up temporary offices there after demonstrators invaded the compound of his Government House headquarters three months ago.The double airport closure has left thousands of international travellers stranded for a third day after all flights at Suvarnabhumi airport were halted as People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) protestors, who are calling for the government to quit, continued their occupation.The blockade of Don Muang was an apparent attempt to stop ministers flying to meet the prime minister, who has summoned his cabinet to the northern city of Chiang Mai to discuss the mounting tensions that bring the threat of another military coup ever closer. Somchai's flight home from an overseas trip was diverted to Chang Mai.A government spokesman said Somchai could decide to declare emergency rule to evict the protestors, but when his predecessor tried the same tactic in September it had no tangible effect as the army said it was not prepared to act.Somchai has dismissed advice by the army chief, Anupong Paochinda, to dissolve parliament and call snap elections as a way to resolve the crisis that is crippling Thailand's vital tourist industry just at the start of the high season.PAD leaders have themselves ignored the army's order to leave Suvarnabhumi airport, saying they will not leave until Somchai steps down unconditionally.Airport authority officials are considering using the Thai airbase of U Tapao, 90 miles south of Bangkok. This already received a number of diverted flights, but passengers had to wait for six hours on arrival because of a shortage of customs, immigration and baggage handling staff.British embassy diplomats have received anxious calls from those whose flights were cancelled and fear they may run out of money with no resolution of the stand-off in sight.Thousands are being put up in hotels around Bangkok and the resort town of Pattaya, with their accommodation bill footed for the time being by their airlines or the Thai government.One British visitor, Craig Boyle, 24, from Llangolen, north Wales, was offered a hotel after his Emirates flight to Manchester through Dubai was cancelled yesterday, but found his own accommodation."It was suggested to me that an alternative route home was through Kuala Lumpur, but that's a long way," he said "So at the moment I'll stick it out in Bangkok. It's not restrictive, so I'm considering going north to Chiang Mai for a bit."But the fear is that as the crisis deepens, the army, which has tried to tread a middle path between the government and its opponents, could mount a coup, one that could become violent. A previous coup in 2006, which unseated the former prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, was bloodless.A more immediate concern is that rival factions of government supporters and those dedicated to its downfall could clash, mayhem in which holidaymakers might be caught up.Four bombs exploded near the PAD protestors occupying the Government House grounds, and volleys of gunshots were heard, in the early hours though no one was hurt.ThailandBangkokguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2008 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds