BANGKOK, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's Prime
Minister Somchai Wongsawat on Thursday denied rumors that some military
commanders, including the Army Chief Gen. Anupong Paochinda, would be stripped
of their posts and that a coup is in the making, Government Spokesman Natthawut
Saikua said.
Spokesman Natthawut Saikua was quoted by the Thai
News Agency as saying that Somchai told the Cabinet of his concern regarding
rumors spreading through the country, especially in Bangkok, of an impending
coup and military dismissals.
Having returned from abroad late Wednesday, Somchai
convened the weekly Cabinet meeting in northern city of Chiang Mai, due to
difficulties in the capital of Bangkok.
In order to allay concerns and confusion among the
public, Natthawut said the prime minister had assigned him to inform the public
that the weekly cabinet meeting is being held now in ChiangMai instead of the
capital due to "unrest in Bangkok".
The matter of transferring or sacking senior military
commanders is not on the cabinet agenda, he said.
Military personnel should remain in their barracks
and officers should not move or put their forces on alert, said Natthawut,
adding that the public should not be worried or confused by the rumors.
Rumors of transferring or terminating senior military
commanders, especially army chief Anupong, came after he called on the prime
minister on Wednesday to call for fresh elections and to demand that the
anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) who now occupy Don Mueang
domestic airport in Bangkok and Suvarnabhumi International Airport, to end their
occupation.
Anupong insisted that he would not stage a coup,
reiterating that he believed it would not end the political turmoil which resume
dearly this year.
Thai civil court orders protesters to
leave Bangkok airport, PAD remains defiant
BANGKOK, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's Civil Court
Thursday issued an injunction to order 13 leaders of the anti-government
People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) to lead protesters out of the Don Mueang
Airport immediately.
The court ruled in favor of the Airport of Thailand (AOT),
the authority overseeing all major airports around the country, that the
occupation of the airport by the protesters affected the constitutional rights
of the public to receive air transport service as well as affecting their
liberty to travel.Full story
Reports: Coup rumors spread in
Bangkok
BANGKOK, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) -- Although the government's
spokesman has pleaded with the military to remain in barracks, military coup
rumors still spread in Bangkok on Thursday afternoon as military vehicles were
reportedly seen in yard of the Bangkok Metropolitan Police Bureau.
The Nation news network said on its website that coup
rumors were widely spread Thursday with a lot of phone calls being made to
several newspapers' editorial offices to check whether coup was being
staged. Full story
Thai Army Chief advises PM to dissolve
parliament
BANGKOK, Nov. 26
(Xinhua) -- Thai Army Chief Anupong Paochinda on Wednesday urged Prime Minister
Somchai Wonsawat to dissolve the parliament and the protesters of People's
Alliance for Democracy (PAD) to end rallies immediately, or will encounter the
confrontations with "civil disobedience".
Anupong made the "suggestions" on Wednesday afternoon
at a press conference after holding an urgent meeting among military and police
top brass, business leaders and academics. Full story
Bangkok's airport paralyzed after
protesters' intrusion, big loss expected
BANGKOK, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi
International Airport was paralyzed on Wednesday, with most flights canceled for
the day, after protesters led by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD)
expanded their besiege on state agencies to the airport on Tuesday evening in a
showdown to topplethe government led by premier Somchai Wongsawat.
The escalated political confrontation is expected to
cause more loss to the country's image and tourism industry. Full story
Thai political turmoil deepens amid
continuous protests
BANGKOK, Nov.
26 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of chanting protesters wearing yellow T-shirts and
waving national flags have demonstrated on two consecutive days in what they say
is an effort to topple the Thai government.
Analysts say it would be no easy job to end the
years-long political turmoil that has been marked by accusations and unceasing
protests and that the turbulence will cause Thailand's economy additional
disturbances. Full story
Bangkok in almost anarchy as
confrontation upgrades
BANGKOK,
Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- The "City of Angles" on Tuesday was in chaos as
anti-government protesters seized the temporary administration seat -- Don
Mueang airport, clashed with pro-government taxi drivers, forcing the Cabinet to
indefinitely postpone its weekly meeting.
The anarchy turned violent when protesters led by the
People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) on Tuesday evening clashed with a group of
pro-government taxi drivers on Vibhavadi Road, leaving at least 11 injured. Two
of the taxi drivers suffered gunshot wounds. Full story
