Bangkok’s airports are now open. The protesters have agreed to end their protests after the
country’s top
court ordered the dissolution of the ruling party which forced the Prime Minister to step
down.
Military troops are now guarding the airports. Tourists are advised to
contact their airlines and tourism offices to check for flight schedules.
Last week protesters belonging to the People’s Alliance for Democracy have occupied
Bangkok’s
two airports demanding the removal of the corrupt government. The airport takeover has
stranded more than 300,000
passengers in the country.
Because of the favorable court order, the protesters have declared victory. However, they
vowed
to launch similar protest actions in the future if reforms are not instituted. Excerpts from
PAD’s
statement:
“The PAD would like to call on whichever side that attains power to run the country to find
a solution for the current problems and not to create conditions for another political turmoil in
the country. Do not bring to power people from the Thaksin regime. Address the wrongdoings
conducted by those in the Thaksin regime. Join with the people in making new politics a
reality.”
The PAD would like to make the following pledges.
1. If a proxy government of the Thaksin regime is set up again or if there is an attempt to amend
the Constitution or the law to whitewash the wrongdoings of those in the Thaksin regime, to
benefit politicians, or to lessen the power of the King, the PAD will return.
2. From now on, if there is any government which comes into power but is insincere in its efforts
to launch new politics with the people, the PAD will return.
Thaksin is former Prime Minister of Thailand who was ousted in a coup two years ago. PAD accused
the last two Prime Ministers of being puppets of Thaksin.
Thai Politico interprets the PAD
statement:
“The implication at the moment is that if the next PM is not to the PAD's liking they will
occupy the airport again. Will the security forces now completely secure Thailand's airports so
that nothing like this can take place again? Or will we see the army back off like scared rabbits
into the corner?”
New Mandala believes PAD’s victory will be
short-lived:
“The celebrations by the yellow shirts at Suvanabhumi will be short-lived. The parliament
has not been dissolved and the government looks very likely to maintain its majority. The
Democrat-except-when-you-can’t-win-an-election-and-then-a-judicial-coup-is-OK Party simply
can’t muster the numbers. More blatant judicial or military intervention will be required
to remove the government.”
Political cartoon by Sacravatoons
PAD is popular in Bangkok (but the airport takeover has made it less popular today). PAD is
accused of having close ties with Bangkok’s elite. On the other hand, most of the rural
voters are supportive of Thaksin’s party. Someone asked: What if the farmers staged their
own protest against PAD and the urban elite by refusing to plant rice?
Stranded tourists are now recounting their experience in Thailand. Tuesdaynight narrates
how he and his wife were able to leave the country by traveling to Malaysia and Singapore by
land. He writes:
“Finally, I have to say, after all this, I consider us to be lucky. We found a way out of
the country and it worked. I truly feel for the hundreds of thousands people whose travel was
impacted because of this. More importantly, I feel for the Thai people who have yet to find some
form of political stability.”
Despite the airport chaos, life in Bangkok
seemed like normal the past week. Oneditorial writes:
“During the week, I called my family to get their views on this event. They did not seem to
be thinking too much about what is going on. They still carry on their daily lives as usual. As a
matter of fact, on the day I talked to my mother on the phone, the entire family was completely
absorbed in watching a Thai soap on the telly, never mind the fact that the country is in a state
of political turmoil. I just wish I could be as detached as them.”
Andrew Biggs asks if the airport crisis
would produce positive results:
“Could it be that the pain, shame and anger we have all experienced with the PAD’s
closure of the airport actually be heralding a new era of politics in Thailand? Could it possibly
be that something good is going to come out of all this?”
An anonymous commenter criticizes the
organizer of the protests:
“Im sure terrorist groups in South-East Asia have witnessed the complete lack of security
at the airport and thus it would be a sitting duck for groups who plan terrorist attacks against
planes and passengers. Bangkok as a major hub? I dont think so any more. What airline will want
to fly in and out of Bangkok when the airports own security guards ran like scared children from
their own people. Shame on Thailand for allowing this anti democratic group to act like
terrorists and hold an entire country to ransom. Thailand is about to see the trickle down from
this catastrophe and I pity the ordinary people who were not involved in this protest but could
lose jobs.”
Gabriella
Haynes describes the mood in Bangkok:
“The atmosphere in wider Bangkok since the protests started has been calm and business as
usual in general. While the city’s residents don’t take the sporadic and seemingly
random spurts of violence and the loss of life and income lightly, there is no sense of
widespread panic and concern. International news agencies report airport mayhem and interview
distressed and worn-out tourists stranded in the country, yet most Thais I have spoken to only
express concern about the potential violence of the situation and concern for the economy.”
And let’s not forget that pro-government supporters are also numerous in the city:
“The PAD has ceased their protests for now but the capital has also been inundated with
pro-government supporters, which means the situation has not been completely diffused.”
Flickr photos from Ronn
Ashore and Willie
Lunchmeat
Thomas
Wanhoff from Vietnam is disappointed that tourists are complaining of missed flights while
Bangkok protesters are fighting for some cause:
“This is just unbelievable. There are people in Thailand trying to fight for democracy (but
of course is their understanding of), at least stand up against the corrupt government, and
tourists are just complaining about missed flights.”
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