BANGKOK, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) -- Thai Prime Minister
Somchai Wongsawat Thursday evening declared state of emergency over two Bangkok
airports -- the Suvarnabhumi International Airport and DonMueang Airport, which
were paralyzed since besieged by anti-government protesters on Tuesday night.
Anti-government protestors stand guard
at a check-point leading towards Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport Nov. 27,
2008. Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat Thursday evening declared
state of emergency over two Bangkok airports -- the Suvarnabhumi
International Airport and DonMueang Airport, which were paralyzed since
besieged by anti-government protesters on Tuesday night.(Xinhua/Reuters
Photo) Photo
Gallery>>>
Somchai delivered a national TV speech from northern
province Chiang Mai, which started at 9:00 p.m. (1400 GMT) Thursday to announce
the emergency decree as the besiege of anti-government protesters have caused
great loss to the many industries in the country, including goods export and
tourism, which amounts to some 100 billion Thai Baht (2.86 billion U.S. dollars)
per day.
The loss related to fresh agriculture products that
had awaited for transporting overseas for sale alone, was estimated to at 30
billion Thai Baht (857 million U.S. dollars) to farmer and exporters, Somchai
said.
The country's pillar industry -- tourism is also
doomed to suffer a lot, which, Somchai said, needs at least another year to
recover.
He affirmed that he would not step down despite
pressure, saying that whether a government should stay or go should be decided
by democracy and laws with the endorsement of majority people. He urged all Thai
people to unite in safeguarding national interest and called for their
understanding and cooperation with the authorities.
Anti-government protesters rest in Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi international airport Nov. 28, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
He also dismissed rumors about an imminent military
coup, saying that he had talked to military top brass, who assured him that the
military would not take unconventional actions as way out of the persistent
crisis.
He blamed the anti-government movement People's
Alliance for Democracy (PAD) for "kidnapping" the nation and the people by
besieging the two airports as well as other state agencies.
The PAD escalated their "civil disobedience" from
Tuesday by leading thousands of protesters to besiege state agencies and then
two airports, causing the airports to shut down business, flights canceled and
passengers stranded, in a showdown against the Somchai government.
Notably, the premier has sidelined the Army, the most
powerful troops in Thai security forces structure.
He did not dictate a specific role for Army Chief
Anupong Pachinda, the top military leader, in the enforcement of the decree.
Anupong earlier made a proposal for Somchai to dissolve the House of
Representatives as step one to reach reconciliation with the PAD, followed with
the retreat of PAD from the airports and Government House.
Somchai has declined the proposal, citing that his government was legally elected.
Metropolitan Police Bureau of Bangkok will be in
charge of enforcing the decree at Don Muang Airport under supervision of
Interior Minister Police General Kowit Wattana, with Air Force while the Royal
Navy and the First Region Police Bureau will be responsible for the enforcement
at Suvarnabhurmi Airport, according to Somchai.
Somchai said the imposition was temporary, but he did
not give a timetable as to when to lift the decree.
On Thursday night, the PAD remained defiant despite
that the Civil Court issued injunction for the protesters to leave the two
airports.
The PAD also vowed to fight police off if they should
forcibly disperse the protesters, but protest leaders at the Government House,
which the protesters have occupied since Aug. 26, told supporters that "this may
be our last night".
The state of emergency empowered the government to
control movement of people and prohibit mass assembly in any specific locations.
The prime minister is empowered to exercise the powers through the armed forces.
Government spokesman Natthawut Saikua on Thursday
announced after an urgent Cabinet meeting that the government had no intention
to remove Army Chief Anupong Paochinda.
There were rumors in the city on Thursday that Army
Chief Anupong had given an ultimatum for PM Somchai to dissolve the House before
midnight Thursday or stage a coup.
Aupong had consistently said that the military would
not stage a coup as it would not solve the problems facing the country.
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. Full story
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
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, 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
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,
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
