Thailand's
Cabinet plans to declare a state of emergency around two Bangkok airports to end
opposition blockades. As Ron Corben reports from Bangkok the failure to break
the political deadlock has led to increased fears of violence between pro and
anti-government supporters.
Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat's Cabinet made
the decision to impose emergency law at the airports in a meeting Thursday in
the northern city of Chiang Mai.
Thousands of protestors led
by the People's Alliance for Democracy occupy the international and domestic
airports at Bangkok, halting all flights.
Kudeb Saikrajang, a spokesman for the governing People's Power
Party (PPP), says the plan is to create an emergency zone around the airports.
The question, however, is whether security forces will enforce the decision.
"The government has to order the law enforcement officers to do
their duty to clear the area. But whether the law enforcement officers will do
their duty by the order of the government - I don't know," Kudeb said.
The PAD leaders ignored calls by the prime minister and the
Thai army chief to end the occupation of the international airport, which began
Tuesday, and the blockade of the domestic airfield, which started Thursday.
The army chief also has called on the prime minister to
dissolve parliament and call new elections, which Mr. Somchai says he will not
do.
Thousands of passengers have
had travel plans disrupted. The Thai news media and members of the tourism
industry have widely criticized the PAD.
But PAD spokesman Parnthep Pourpongpan says the occupation will
continue until the prime minister resigns. Mr. Somchai rejects that demand,
saying his government is democratically elected.
"We don't worry about [the public backlash] because we follow
the constitution - we still have a right to continue our rally peacefully. That
is what we are doing - we are going to fight for," Parnthep said.
The government also says the situation may force it to cancel
the annual meeting of the leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
The meeting is to be held next month in Chiang Mai.
The PAD's steadfast stance adds to fears of increasing clashes
with government supporters. In recent days several small explosions have
occurred in Bangkok and there have been sporadic battles between groups. Small
blasts at a PAD compound in the city have killed two protesters and injured
scores.
Many political analysts and
Thai citizens express fear that violence would push the military to step in,
leading to widespread bloodshed or a takeover.
The PAD accuses Mr. Somchai of acting as a proxy for his
brother-in-law, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. He was ousted in a
coup two years ago after being accused by the urban middle class of corruption
and authoritarianism. Mr. Thaksin fled Thailand in August just before a court
sentenced him to two years in jail for corruption.
But he remains popular with the urban working class and in
rural areas because of his populist economic policies. Thailand's
Cabinet plans to declare a state of emergency around two Bangkok airports to end
opposition blockades. As Ron Corben reports from Bangkok the failure to break
the political deadlock has led to increased fears of violence between pro and
anti-government supporters.
Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat's Cabinet made
the decision to impose emergency law at the airports in a meeting Thursday in
the northern city of Chiang Mai.
Thousands of protestors led
by the People's Alliance for Democracy occupy the international and domestic
airports at Bangkok, halting all flights.
Kudeb Saikrajang, a spokesman for the governing People's Power
Party (PPP), says the plan is to create an emergency zone around the airports.
The question, however, is whether security forces will enforce the decision.
"The government has to order the law enforcement officers to do
their duty to clear the area. But whether the law enforcement officers will do
their duty by the order of the government - I don't know," Kudeb said.
The PAD leaders ignored calls by the prime minister and the
Thai army chief to end the occupation of the international airport, which began
Tuesday, and the blockade of the domestic airfield, which started Thursday.
The army chief also has called on the prime minister to
dissolve parliament and call new elections, which Mr. Somchai says he will not
do.
Thousands of passengers have
had travel plans disrupted. The Thai news media and members of the tourism
industry have widely criticized the PAD.
But PAD spokesman Parnthep Pourpongpan says the occupation will
continue until the prime minister resigns. Mr. Somchai rejects that demand,
saying his government is democratically elected.
"We don't worry about [the public backlash] because we follow
the constitution - we still have a right to continue our rally peacefully. That
is what we are doing - we are going to fight for," Parnthep said.
The government also says the situation may force it to cancel
the annual meeting of the leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
The meeting is to be held next month in Chiang Mai.
The PAD's steadfast stance adds to fears of increasing clashes
with government supporters. In recent days several small explosions have
occurred in Bangkok and there have been sporadic battles between groups. Small
blasts at a PAD compound in the city have killed two protesters and injured
scores.
Many political analysts and
Thai citizens express fear that violence would push the military to step in,
leading to widespread bloodshed or a takeover.
The PAD accuses Mr. Somchai of acting as a proxy for his
brother-in-law, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. He was ousted in a
coup two years ago after being accused by the urban middle class of corruption
and authoritarianism. Mr. Thaksin fled Thailand in August just before a court
sentenced him to two years in jail for corruption.
But he remains popular with the urban working class and in
rural areas because of his populist economic policies.
གཟའ་པ་སངས། ༢༠༢༤/༠༤/༡༩