ID :
17494
Sat, 08/30/2008 - 11:38
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/17494
The shortlink copeid
MALAYSIA AIRLINES CANCELS FLIGHT TO PHUKET AS PROTESTERS STORM AIRPORT
By D. Arul Rajoo
BANGKOK, Aug 29 (Bernama) -- Malaysia Airlines has cancelled its flight to Phuket as anti-government protests spread to provinces in the south, blocking roads to the airport on the resort island, as well as airports in Krabi and Hatyai.
The national carrier operates two flights daily from Kuala Lumpur to
Phuket, with the first arriving at 9.45am and the second at 6.45pm.
"Due to the situation at the Phuket Airport, we have cancelled the second
flight and passengers were taken to hotels. We are not sure whether we can
resume tomorrow's flight," a Malaysia Airlines officer said.
Acting president of Airports of Thailand, Serirat Prasutanont announced
that
all flights to and from Phuket, Hatyai and Krabi international airports were
cancelled and the airports will be closed indefinitely after hundreds of
supporters of People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) blocked roads leading to the
airports.
Television footage showed foreign tourists confronting protesters at road
near the Phuket Airport as they were stuck in traffic jam caused by the blockage
while those arriving were stranded at the terminal.
Another report said protesters also stormed into the runway and the
passenger terminals at the Phuket Airport.
The ambush on the southern airports came in the wake of a failed attempt
this morning by police to remove thousands of PAD supporters occupying the
Government House here since Tuesday, while railway workers took sick leave to
force the cancellation of train services to 35 destinations.
The airline industry is also facing possibility of serious distruption to
both domestic and international flights as the Thai International Airways'
Labour Union has asked its workers to go on strike to show solidarity with the
PAD.
Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, who has vowed to stay in power despite
calls for his resignation by PAD, and reluctant to use force to remove the
protesters from his office compound, met army top guns in the capital.
Rumours of another coup remained strong as hundreds of people make way to
the Government House to thwart any attempt by the police to storm the building.
Riot police remained around the Government House but were letting people
into the compound after blocking them in the morning.
-- BERNAMA
BANGKOK, Aug 29 (Bernama) -- Malaysia Airlines has cancelled its flight to Phuket as anti-government protests spread to provinces in the south, blocking roads to the airport on the resort island, as well as airports in Krabi and Hatyai.
The national carrier operates two flights daily from Kuala Lumpur to
Phuket, with the first arriving at 9.45am and the second at 6.45pm.
"Due to the situation at the Phuket Airport, we have cancelled the second
flight and passengers were taken to hotels. We are not sure whether we can
resume tomorrow's flight," a Malaysia Airlines officer said.
Acting president of Airports of Thailand, Serirat Prasutanont announced
that
all flights to and from Phuket, Hatyai and Krabi international airports were
cancelled and the airports will be closed indefinitely after hundreds of
supporters of People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) blocked roads leading to the
airports.
Television footage showed foreign tourists confronting protesters at road
near the Phuket Airport as they were stuck in traffic jam caused by the blockage
while those arriving were stranded at the terminal.
Another report said protesters also stormed into the runway and the
passenger terminals at the Phuket Airport.
The ambush on the southern airports came in the wake of a failed attempt
this morning by police to remove thousands of PAD supporters occupying the
Government House here since Tuesday, while railway workers took sick leave to
force the cancellation of train services to 35 destinations.
The airline industry is also facing possibility of serious distruption to
both domestic and international flights as the Thai International Airways'
Labour Union has asked its workers to go on strike to show solidarity with the
PAD.
Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, who has vowed to stay in power despite
calls for his resignation by PAD, and reluctant to use force to remove the
protesters from his office compound, met army top guns in the capital.
Rumours of another coup remained strong as hundreds of people make way to
the Government House to thwart any attempt by the police to storm the building.
Riot police remained around the Government House but were letting people
into the compound after blocking them in the morning.
-- BERNAMA
