Mentors Posted November 25, 2008 Report Share Posted November 25, 2008 SUVARNABHUMI CLOSURE - THOUSANDS STRANDED By Chularat Saengpassa, The Nation Published on November 26, 2008 Up to 10,000 passengers are being stranded after the Suvarnabhumi Airport has been ordered closed as a result of blockade by the People's Alliance for Democracy The Airports of Thailand has decided to close the Suvarnabhumi airport after PAD protesters blocked an entrace, entered passenger terminals and scuffled with airport officials. The closure, ordered around 9 pm, involved stopping out-bound flights. In-bound planes were still being allowed to land Tuesday night, but can be diverted to key provincial airports if situations deteriorated. The order was issued by AOT chief Serirat Prasutanont. He made the decision out of safety concern after PAD protesters penetrated some passenger areas. "The PAD members are now scattered around. I don't know who's who, or who's PAD and who's not," a senior AOT official told The Nation at around 10.30 pm. How long the closure will last is not known. According to Serirat, the initial airport schedules had 44 in-bound flights and 40 departure flights between 11.30 pm Tuesday and 7 am Wednesday. THAI reported that more than 21 flights _ to Japan, India, Iran, Europe, among others _ were cancelled Tuesday night. This affected up to 6,000 travellers. Overall, up to 10,000 travellers could be affected Tuesday night alone, according to airline sources. 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 block the motorway entrance to the Suvarnabhumi Airport in the afternoon when the plane carrying Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat was scheduled to land, the arrival of his plane from Peru was announced to have been 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. Arrival passengers were stranded Tuesday night and the AOT officials were trying to facilitate their transport out of the airport. AOT has also issued a statement pleading with the PAD. Hectic accommodation was being provided to some stranded departure passengers who had already checked in. Some of them had had to walk with their luggages for up to two kilometres due to problems at the entrance. [color:blue] AOT also has provided a hotline number for inquiries: 02-1321882 and 02-1321888. However, an AOT official said the lines soon became jammed. For THAI flight information, the following number 02-3561111 has been provided. [/color] It was a big political gamble by the PAD, which has seen its support declining lately because of controversial, provocative moves. Its die-hard following, however, has been galvanised by deaths and injuries of PAD members since October 7, when police fired tear gas at protesters marching to Parliament. Sondhi, the PAD leader, told his followers only Somchai's unconditional resignation would make the PAD end its latest move. It has been reported that Prime Minister Somchai has been in touch with his Cabinet and ordered an urgent meeting with top security officials when he arrives back in Thailand late Wednesday afternoon. There were rumours about him planning to invoke an internal security act that will empower the military to take drastic action to keep law and order. The AOT was also known to have asked the Army to provide assistance if problems at the airport went out of control. 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. Army chief Anupong Paochinda, who had been appointed chief of a task force to monitor the PAD and recommend measures to the government, has become a man in the most akward position. Earlier, he had strongly criticised the government for using violent measures against PAD protesters on October 7, resulting in many deaths and injuries. And on Tuesday afternoon, he reiterated the military's stand that there will not be another coup. But the latest PAD campaign, which will generate great repercussions on many fronts including security, economy and tourism, Anupong will be under heavy pressure to take some action. The US Embassy immediately advised American citizens to avoid the airport particularly its troubled spots. But Anupong will have some breathing space until Somchai returns. 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 attended 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. When the PAD protesters arrived at the Suvarnabhumi airport in the afternoon, they were immediately confronted with angry taxi drivers. Security forces had to intervene to avert a clash. THE NATION Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
belfastish Posted November 25, 2008 Report Share Posted November 25, 2008 mai pen rai, taxi back to suk rd for a few days just as long as they dont block it in january Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bangkoktraveler Posted November 26, 2008 Report Share Posted November 26, 2008 Somchai back from Peru yet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted November 26, 2008 Report Share Posted November 26, 2008 A grenade attack on the PAD folks at Don Muang already. Two wounded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mentors Posted November 26, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 26, 2008 Stranded passengers evacuated to hotels around Suvarnabhumi airport At 2 pm Wednesday, airport officials evacuated stranded outbound passengers and transferred them hotels around the Suvarnabhumi International Airport. The officials apologised the tourists for the convenience caused. The tourists left on buses and vans at the exits on the fourth and first floors to the hotels provided by the officials. They were required to show tickets and register their names with the officials. THE NATION Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted November 26, 2008 Report Share Posted November 26, 2008 << The officials apologised the tourists for the convenience caused. >> Whatever ... http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/7749684.stm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pom Michael Posted November 26, 2008 Report Share Posted November 26, 2008 Why did the "tourist" not leave themselves? No one was keeping anybody locked inside the terminal area. If it was you - would you stick around the airport waiting for someone to have to evacuate you to a hotel? Is the airline expected to be responsible for their passengers even in times like this? Discuss please. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest lazyphil Posted November 26, 2008 Report Share Posted November 26, 2008 stranded in thailand--its a hard life eh! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drogon Posted November 26, 2008 Report Share Posted November 26, 2008 I wonder if they find the lack of toilets/wc as chocking as I do... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffalo_bill Posted November 26, 2008 Report Share Posted November 26, 2008 I wonder how a tourist feels who has no idea about the place where he is , what the airline might possibly publish within the hour and who can't find a taxi anyway . Would I be in such a situation f.e. in Jakarta I would stay where I am . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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