Three Thai airports close indefinitely after protesters vandalise Phuket terminal

PHUKET, Aug 29 (TNA) -- Three major tourism-and-trade oriented airports in southern Thailand were closed late Friday due to People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) vandalism and interference with airport operations in three provinces.

Serirat Prasutanond, acting president of Airports of Thailand (AoT), said
he had cancelled all flights at the three tourist-packed airports – Phuket
International, Krabi and Hat Yai -- until further notice after
anti-government protesters invaded Phuket International airport.

First Phuket airport was ordered closed indefinitely after more than one
thousand PAD demonstrators forced their way into the passenger terminal,
smashing glass doors and partitions, while others blocked airport
entrances.

The closure order was made jointly by the Phuket provincial governor and
the director of the airport, with all aircraft stopped from landing or
departing as of 5 pm Friday in order to prevent further violence.

Before the closure was announced, protesters rampaged through the
passenger terminal, causing much damage to property as the proceeded. PAD
leaders called on the protesters not to destroy airport property, and they
called on them to move outside to facilitate passengers to board buses.

The protesters later moved out as requested by their leaders, but the
damage had already been done.

On Friday PAD protesters also blocked entrances at two other southern
airports in Krabi, near Phuket, and at Hat Yai international airport,
causing hundreds of passengers to miss their flights.

The blockade at the two airports had caused inconvenience to many foreign
tourists.

Deputy Transport Minister Songsak Thongsri said security measures at
airports nationwide had been tightened after security agencies had
received reports that the PAD protesters planned to move against all
upcountry airports if police break up the ongoing PAD demonstration in
Bangkok.

State-owned Thai Airways International (THAI) labor union chief Jamsri
Sukchotirat said all 15,000 members of the union planned to stop work
after police used force against PAD protesters at Government House early
on Friday.

If the government does not stop harsh actions against the protesters, the
union would ask all 25,000 airline staff nationwide to stop work and join
the protest, Mrs. Jamsri said.

In another development, Mr. Samak was holding talks with armed forces
commanders in Bangkok. Details of the talks were still unknown. (TNA)