ID :
32494
Wed, 11/26/2008 - 15:24
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/32494
The shortlink copeid
BANGKOK AIRPORT LIKELY TO REOPEN AT NOON
By D. Arul Rajoo
BANGKOK, Nov 26 (Bernama) -- The Suvarnabhumi Airport, Thailand's main gateway, is expected to reopen for outbound flights at noon Wednesay despite being seized by thousands of anti-government supporters Tuesday night.
The Airports of Thailand (AOT) authority has told airline companies that
the airport could be reopened although there were doubts as supporters of the
People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) continued to block roads leading to the
airport and had taken over passenger terminals.
Hundreds of riot police and soldiers remained helpless as over 10,000
outbound passengers, mostly foreigners on long-haul flights to Europe, China and
Japan, were left stranded after all outbound flights were cancelled at 9 pm
Tuesday.
It was the second key installation to be seized by the PAD, three months
after its supporters took over the seat of the country's administration, the
Government House which houses the Prime Minister's Office.
The US$3.5 billion airport, which opened for flights in September 2006, is
one of the busiest in the world and can accommodate 45 million passengers per
year, 76 flights per hour and three million tonnes of cargo.
Malaysia Airlines (MAS), which operates four daily flights between Bangkok
and Kuala Lumpur, has cancelled MH784 which was due to leave the Kuala Lumpur
International Airport (KLIA) at 9.10 am (Malaysian time) and arrive in Bangkok
at 10.15 am (Thai time), and also the return MH785 flight.
A MAS official said that despite the AOT assurance that the airport could
be reopened at noon, the remaining three flights later in the day have been put
on hold as the situation remained chaotic.
Tension has been growing in the capital since Monday when the PAD launched
its "final battle" to topple Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat who is expected to
return home after attending the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) meeting
in Peru.
The protesters stormed the airport in order to block Somchai's return, but
he is expected to fly to the northern city of Chiang Mai where the government
has strong backing, and possibly declare a state of emergency soon.
At least three bombs exploded in the capital Wednesday, one injuring a PAD
supporter at the Don Muang Airport, where the PAD had blocked all entrances to
Somchai's temporary office since Monday, and another not far from Government
House and targeting a taxi radio station.
There were several clashes between PAD and pro-government supporters, as
well as with taxi drivers who were shut out of the airport.
PAD, which is bent on changing the country's political system that favours
appointment rather than through an election, continued to demand that the
military stage another coup to topple the government after similar action in
2006 saw the ouster of Somchai's brother in law, Thaksin Shinawatra.
BANGKOK, Nov 26 (Bernama) -- The Suvarnabhumi Airport, Thailand's main gateway, is expected to reopen for outbound flights at noon Wednesay despite being seized by thousands of anti-government supporters Tuesday night.
The Airports of Thailand (AOT) authority has told airline companies that
the airport could be reopened although there were doubts as supporters of the
People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) continued to block roads leading to the
airport and had taken over passenger terminals.
Hundreds of riot police and soldiers remained helpless as over 10,000
outbound passengers, mostly foreigners on long-haul flights to Europe, China and
Japan, were left stranded after all outbound flights were cancelled at 9 pm
Tuesday.
It was the second key installation to be seized by the PAD, three months
after its supporters took over the seat of the country's administration, the
Government House which houses the Prime Minister's Office.
The US$3.5 billion airport, which opened for flights in September 2006, is
one of the busiest in the world and can accommodate 45 million passengers per
year, 76 flights per hour and three million tonnes of cargo.
Malaysia Airlines (MAS), which operates four daily flights between Bangkok
and Kuala Lumpur, has cancelled MH784 which was due to leave the Kuala Lumpur
International Airport (KLIA) at 9.10 am (Malaysian time) and arrive in Bangkok
at 10.15 am (Thai time), and also the return MH785 flight.
A MAS official said that despite the AOT assurance that the airport could
be reopened at noon, the remaining three flights later in the day have been put
on hold as the situation remained chaotic.
Tension has been growing in the capital since Monday when the PAD launched
its "final battle" to topple Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat who is expected to
return home after attending the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) meeting
in Peru.
The protesters stormed the airport in order to block Somchai's return, but
he is expected to fly to the northern city of Chiang Mai where the government
has strong backing, and possibly declare a state of emergency soon.
At least three bombs exploded in the capital Wednesday, one injuring a PAD
supporter at the Don Muang Airport, where the PAD had blocked all entrances to
Somchai's temporary office since Monday, and another not far from Government
House and targeting a taxi radio station.
There were several clashes between PAD and pro-government supporters, as
well as with taxi drivers who were shut out of the airport.
PAD, which is bent on changing the country's political system that favours
appointment rather than through an election, continued to demand that the
military stage another coup to topple the government after similar action in
2006 saw the ouster of Somchai's brother in law, Thaksin Shinawatra.
