waerth Posted November 25, 2008 Report Share Posted November 25, 2008 The Suvarnabhumi Airport has been ordered closed after PAD protesters seized key entrance and other areas. The Airports of Thailand has decided to close the Suvarnabhumi airport after PAD protesters entered passenger terminals. Now, there will not be out-bound flights. In-bound planes are being allowed to land for now, but can be diverted to key provincial airports if situations deteriorated. The order was issued by AOT chief Serirat Prasutanont. He made the decision after PAD protesters penetrated some passenger areas. The People's Alliance for Democracy threatened earlier Tuesday night to close down the Suvanabhumi Airport completely after several thousand PAD protesteers blocked an entrance earlier in the day and caused turmoil for numerous passengers. As PAD protesters moved to surround Suvarnabhumi Airport where the plane carrying Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat was scheduled to land, the arrival of his plane from Peru was reportedly delayed due to technical problems. The estimated time of arrival has not been confirmed. Some sources said he could be arriving Wednesday evening. ........... http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/11/25/headlines/headlines_30089423.php Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stickman Posted November 25, 2008 Report Share Posted November 25, 2008 This is big time bad news. Closure of the airport for just 24 hours would cause absolute fxxxing chaos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
limbo Posted November 25, 2008 Report Share Posted November 25, 2008 F*cking PAD cunts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted November 25, 2008 Report Share Posted November 25, 2008 Bangkok Post 25 Nov 2008 Swampypoom closed, Sondhi delivers ultimatum The anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) on Tuesday evening announced that it will shut down Suvarnabhumi airport in an attempt to topple the government. At 9pm, the airport was ordered to halt operations temporarily as the PAD demonstrators entered the compound. PAD leader Sondhi Limthongkul announced at Government House that Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat must resign without any condition. He claimed that the government was guilty for the October 7 riot, which left two dead and almost 500 injured. Mr Sondhi said the demonstrators will intensify their acts of 'civil disobedience' by closing down Thailand's international airport. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mentors Posted November 25, 2008 Report Share Posted November 25, 2008 Time to make an end to this PAD terrorism - NOW! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted November 25, 2008 Report Share Posted November 25, 2008 Send in the Army! Bring back Thaksin! Kill 'em all! Nits make lice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pom Michael Posted November 25, 2008 Report Share Posted November 25, 2008 Arrived Suvarnabhumi at 18:00, no one in the immigration line but took a while for the luggage. Had a errand to run on the 4th floor, but then it was not possible to get back down to the arrivals floor - every escalator and elevator were blocked. Hmm, something strange so finally after much discussion with the guards, was let down. Got into a very long taxi line - but it moved fast. Got into a taxi with an extremely angry driver - was thinking to change taxis - but there was no other taxis in sight. Taxi driver told me he waited 5 hours to get up to here - so was expecting a request for a big tip. Anyway, started off and noticed right away that the entire terminal road was completely blocked - not partially but completely all the way back to the motorway. Was extremely thankful that I wasn't headed outbound - that looked like a mighty mess trying to get into the airport. Inside the terminal there was not any noticeable indication of anyone getting inside - so looks like they waited until a bit later to actually push their way inside. What a mess! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mentors Posted November 25, 2008 Report Share Posted November 25, 2008 'LAST BATTLE' SUVARNABHUMI CLOSED The Suvarnabhumi Airport has been ordered closed after PAD protesters seized key entrance and other areas. The Airports of Thailand has decided to close the Suvarnabhumi airport after PAD protesters entered passenger terminals. Now, there will not be out-bound flights. In-bound planes are being allowed to land for now, but can be diverted to key provincial airports if situations deteriorated. :alert: The order was issued by AOT chief Serirat Prasutanont. He made the decision out of safety concern after PAD protesters penetrated some passenger areas. :alert: How long the closure will last is not known. The People's Alliance for Democracy threatened earlier Tuesday night to close down the Suvanabhumi Airport completely after several thousand PAD protesteers blocked an entrance earlier in the day and caused turmoil for numerous passengers. As PAD protesters moved to surround Suvarnabhumi Airport where the plane carrying Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat was scheduled to land, the arrival of his plane from Peru was reportedly delayed due to technical problems. The estimated time of arrival has not been confirmed. Some sources said he could be arriving Wednesday evening. "We have tried to pressure the govà ¸?ernment for more than 50 hours but nothing has happened, so we need to step up our campaign by closing the airport to tell the world problems Thailand is facing," said PAD leader Sondhi Limthongkul at Government House Tuesday night. Before the closure order, the Airports of Thailand was Tuesday night mobilizing its officials to Suvarnabhumi to make sure no key operations will be disrupted. Travellers still can access the terminals through Bang Na -Trad highway, but the motory-way entrance has been crowded with protesters. Many travellers have already suffered inconvenience. AOT has also issued a statement pleading with the PAD. Somchai's plane failed to take off from Lima, Peru where he attended the APEC summit after the hydraulic lock of the plane's wheels failed to unlock. The technical repair was first expected to make Somchai's flight eight hours behind the schedule, making Somchai's arrival time to be around 7 pm. It was later reported that the repair work would be finished sooner so Somchai would arrive at 5pm. Somchai was scheduled to arrive in Bangkok at around noon on Wednesday. He is now expected to arrive at 7pm instead. The Public Relations Department said its reporter, Saksit Pradabsilp, reported from Peru that a hydraulic lock of the plane's wheel would not unlock, thus, preventing the plane from taking off. While PAD Tuesday split in groups and stage a rally to block a Cabinet meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Chaovarat Chanweerakul, as caretaker prime minister, still manà ¸?aged to have a meeting with Interior Minister Kowit Watana and PM's Office Minister Supon Fongngam at the Public Relations Department headquarters at 9.30 am. Police and military representatives also attendà ¸?ed the meeting. Chaovarat said after the meeting that the police had assured they could handle the situation. They would be patient and would not use violence. Moreover, they would ask PAD to vacate the government's temporary office at Don Mueang Airport but would not "seize/ take back" the office, otherwise, bloodshed could erupt. Chaovarat said he would leave it to Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat to talk to the PAD leaders himself. They were looking for a new place to hold the Cabinet meeting when the PAD blocked the Supreme Command headquarters, he said. Meanwhile, a source who joined the meeting and asked not to be named, said police had told Chaovarat they would be able to control the situation as PAD protesters mainly demonstrated at Government House and Don Mueang Airport. Being left to rally as they wanted, demonstrators are likely to be exhausted on Wednesday with half of them likely to leave the rally. Security agencies would then wait until only a few protesters were left before taking action, the source said. Somchai's delayed arrival could be the reason for the cancellation of the scheduled Cabinet meeting, the source said. Culture Minister Worawat Uaapinyakul said PAD should care more about the country and stop besieging government agencies' offices as it would hurt the country. PAD's attempt was just power struggle, he said. "The (PAD's) behaviours are like bandits'. They are unacceptable. Why don't they respect democracy or listen to people's voice? Investors are withà ¸?drawing nowadays as they don't know what is happening in Thailand," Worawat said. The government has been forced not to use its power, Worawat said. However, it would continue working according to the democratic system. However, it would have to discuss where its office would be. He said the Cabinet would be able to use many other places as its office. However, the military should protect its dignity by not allowing PAD to siege government offices. Worawat said he would propose to Somchai to set up an office in Chiangmai as the people there would welcome the government. A government source, who asked not to be named, said the Secretariat of the Prime Minister had not prepared any office to replace the Don Mueang Airport as it needed to discuss the issue with the premier first. The source said it was time the prime minister exercised the law against the PAD. Otherwise, PAD would lay siege to any government offices. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mentors Posted November 25, 2008 Report Share Posted November 25, 2008 BANGKOK (AFP) â?? Bangkok's main international airport halted all flight operations on Tuesday after anti-government protesters stormed the departures area, Thai authorities said. Officials said Suvarnabhumi airport, a key transport hub for millions of travellers in Asia which opened in 2006, could not reopen until demonstrators had left the building. "I decided to shut down services after the protesters broke the door on the fourth floor of the terminal and stormed into the departure lounge. I had no alternative," airport director Saereerat Prasutanont told government-run NBT television. "Departure flights cannot operate. I have announced the stoppage of services since 9:00 pm (1400 GMT)," added Saereerat, who is also the acting president of Airports of Thailand. Asked about arrivals, he replied: "It depends on the control tower. Protesters are at the departure lounge, they are not in the arrival lounge." However a spokesman for AOL said that all flights had been cancelled. "Airports of Thailand (AOL) decided to shut down Suvarnabhumi after protesters stormed the terminal. We have already informed the airlines who operate from it," an AOT spokesman told AFP. "Flights in the air will be diverted to either Chiang Mai, Phuket or other airports, but it closed as of 9:00 pm," the official said, referring to cities in northern and southern Thailand. At least 2,000 protesters earlier surrounded the airport as part of their six-month campaign to oust the government, which they say is a puppet of exiled former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Police Colonel Theeradej Chanurak, a senior police official responsible for the airport, confirmed that protesters had entered the terminal. "Some of the protesters have entered the terminal buildings. They walked towards it while police tried to stop them but could not do anything as police have received orders not to use any force," Theeradej said. :alert: Airport director Saereerat said the owner of Suvarnabhumi had asked the Thai army chief for assistance because police could not help "but so far there is no response from the army." :alert: "The airport will resume when the protesters retreat but I have no idea when that will be," he added. http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jO5pXTfeJGlHxrsG3762aoIblbCg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Hippie Posted November 25, 2008 Report Share Posted November 25, 2008 BREAKING NEWS: 21:18 Suvarnabhumi Airport cancels all flights as protesters surge into terminal: Acting Airport Chief. -- TNA 2008-11-25 PAD closes Suvarnabhumi BANGKOK: -- The Suvarnabhumi Airport has been ordered closed after PAD protesters seized key entrance and other areas. The Airports of Thailand has decided to close the Suvarnabhumi airport after PAD protesters entered passenger terminals. Now, there will not be out-bound flights. In-bound planes are being allowed to land for now, but can be diverted to key provincial airports if situations deteriorated. The order was issued by AOT chief Serirat Prasutanont. He made the decision after PAD protesters penetrated some passenger areas. The People's Alliance for Democracy threatened earlier Tuesday night to close down the Suvanabhumi Airport completely after several thousand PAD protesteers blocked an entrance earlier in the day and caused turmoil for numerous passengers. As PAD protesters moved to surround Suvarnabhumi Airport where the plane carrying Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat was scheduled to land, the arrival of his plane from Peru was reportedly delayed due to technical problems. The estimated time of arrival has not been confirmed. Some sources said he could be arriving Wednesday evening. "We have tried to pressure the govà ¸?ernment for more than 50 hours but nothing has happened, so we need to step up our campaign by closing the airport to tell the world problems Thailand is facing," said PAD leader Sondhi Limthongkul at Government House Tuesday night. Before the closure order, the Airports of Thailand was Tuesday night mobilizing its officials to Suvarnabhumi to make sure no key operations will be disrupted. Travellers still can access the terminals through Bang Na -Trad highway, but the motory-way entrance has been crowded with protesters. Many travellers have already suffered inconvenience. AOT has also issued a statement pleading with the PAD. Somchai's plane failed to take off from Lima, Peru where he attended the APEC summit after the hydraulic lock of the plane's wheels failed to unlock. The technical repair was first expected to make Somchai's flight eight hours behind the schedule, making Somchai's arrival time to be around 7 pm. It was later reported that the repair work would be finished sooner so Somchai would arrive at 5pm. Somchai was scheduled to arrive in Bangkok at around noon on Wednesday. He is now expected to arrive at 7pm instead. The Public Relations Department said its reporter, Saksit Pradabsilp, reported from Peru that a hydraulic lock of the plane's wheel would not unlock, thus, preventing the plane from taking off. While PAD Tuesday split in groups and stage a rally to block a Cabinet meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Chaovarat Chanweerakul, as caretaker prime minister, still manà ¸?aged to have a meeting with Interior Minister Kowit Watana and PM's Office Minister Supon Fongngam at the Public Relations Department headquarters at 9.30 am. Police and military representatives also attendà ¸?ed the meeting. Chaovarat said after the meeting that the police had assured they could handle the situation. They would be patient and would not use violence. Moreover, they would ask PAD to vacate the government's temporary office at Don Mueang Airport but would not "seize/ take back" the office, otherwise, bloodshed could erupt. Chaovarat said he would leave it to Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat to talk to the PAD leaders himself. They were looking for a new place to hold the Cabinet meeting when the PAD blocked the Supreme Command headquarters, he said. Meanwhile, a source who joined the meeting and asked not to be named, said police had told Chaovarat they would be able to control the situation as PAD protesters mainly demonstrated at Government House and Don Mueang Airport. Being left to rally as they wanted, demonstrators are likely to be exhausted on Wednesday with half of them likely to leave the rally. Security agencies would then wait until only a few protesters were left before taking action, the source said. Somchai's delayed arrival could be the reason for the cancellation of the scheduled Cabinet meeting, the source said. Culture Minister Worawat Uaapinyakul said PAD should care more about the country and stop besieging government agencies' offices as it would hurt the country. PAD's attempt was just power struggle, he said. "The (PAD's) behaviours are like bandits'. They are unacceptable. Why don't they respect democracy or listen to people's voice? Investors are withà ¸?drawing nowadays as they don't know what is happening in Thailand," Worawat said. The government has been forced not to use its power, Worawat said. However, it would continue working according to the democratic system. However, it would have to discuss where its office would be. He said the Cabinet would be able to use many other places as its office. However, the military should protect its dignity by not allowing PAD to siege government offices. Worawat said he would propose to Somchai to set up an office in Chiangmai as the people there would welcome the government. A government source, who asked not to be named, said the Secretariat of the Prime Minister had not prepared any office to replace the Don Mueang Airport as it needed to discuss the issue with the premier first. The source said it was time the prime minister exercised the law against the PAD. Otherwise, PAD would lay siege to any government offices. -- The Nation 2008-11-25 ------- PAD shut down Suvarnabhumi BANGKOK: -- The anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) on Tuesday evening announced that it will attempt to close down Suvarnabhumi airport in an attempt to topple the government. At 9pm, the airport was ordered to shut down its operation temporarily as the PAD demonstrators broke into the compound. -- Bangkok Post 2008-11-25 ---------------------- Anti-govt protesters block road to Suvarnabhumi airport BANGKOK: -- The second day of the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD)'s latest protests turned violent as thousands of protesters blocked the entrance to Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport in preparations for a protest of the returning home of Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat after a shooting with government supporters earlier on Tuesday. Confusion and other obstacles faced both arriving and departing passengers as the protesters blocked the entrance to the airport from the motorway, virtually paralysing traffic in the area. Such action prompted airline passengers and cabin crew to walk, lugging their suitcases to the terminal. PAD protesters were expected to spend the night as Mr. Somchai's plane has been delayed and would not arrive until Wednesday night. The flight, which Mr. Somchai is on, will land at another airport outside Bangkok instead of Suvarnabhumi to avoid confrontation with protesters, according to Nattawut Saikua, government spokesman. Mr. Somchai had attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Lima, Peru, and is flying from there for home. Serirat Prasutanont, acting director of Suvarnabhumi airport and acting president of Airports of Thailand (AoT), said officials had urged the protesters to gather peacefully and allow passengers to enter and leave the airport without inconvenience. He said the protesters were requested to gather at the airport's parking lot, but no response from the PAD protesters has been made so far. In the late aftrenoon, police said PAD protesters opened fire and shot on government supporters on Bangkok's Vibhavadee Road leading to the government's temporary headquarters. The police said at least five people were wounded, and several motorcycles torched in the attack. The violence occurred on a road leading to the government's temporary headquarters at Don Mueang airport where protesters laid siege for the second day. -- TNA 2008-11-25 "....'cause when life looks like easy street, there is danger at your door..." -Hunter/Garcia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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