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'Emergency rule at Thai airports' Thai PM 'to act against protests'
(about 1 hour later)
Thailand's government says it will declare a state of emergency at Bangkok's two main airports, which have been taken over by protesters. The Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat has said he will take action to end anti-government protests in Bangkok's two main airports.
Ministers told reporters after an emergency cabinet meeting to discuss the intensifying political crisis. In a TV address, Mr Somchai said the police would be assisted by some military units in halting the protests.
Anti-government protesters have shut down all civilian air traffic to Bangkok, leaving passengers stranded. Emergency rule has been declared around the two airports.
Reports say Bangkok is awash with rumours of an impending military coup after months of political stand-off. Thousands of passengers have been left stranded by the protest action, just the latest stand-off in a long-running political struggle gripping Thailand.
On Wednesday Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat rejected a call by army leader Gen Anupong Paochinda for new elections to end the political deadlock. Protesters from the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) occupied a government complex in the capital for months.
The prime minister says his government is legitimate and that he will continue to work for the country. At the start of this week said they were embarking on the "final battle" of their campaign to unseat the government, and they have vowed to resist attempts to disable their airport protests.
But the government has been reluctant to confront protesters from the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), who are demanding not only the overthrow of the current government but an overhaul of Thailand's entire political system. 'Temporary' emergency
Emergency rule? Mr Somchai was speaking to the nation after an emergency cabinet session was held in the city of Chiang Mai.
Mr Somchai was forced to hold the cabinet meeting in the northern city of Chiang Mai after protests at both of Bangkok's main airports prevented him flying into the capital on his return from a summit in Peru. name="goback"> class="bodl" href="#map"> See layout of Bangkok's international airport "It is wrong for protesters to take the entire Thai nation hostage," Mr Somchai said, according to AFP news agency.
Speaking afterwards, cabinet sources said emergency rule would be imposed in the airport zones. "The government is not intending to hurt anybody... and the emergency will be temporary," he added.
Under the order, groups of more than five are forbidden from forming, subject to immediate arrest, and a media blackout can be enforced. The [ruling party]'s strategy for months now has been to turn the other cheek to the PAD's provocations Jonathan Head BBC correspondent in Bangkok class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7752302.stm">In pictures: Thai crisis class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7751800.stm">Thailand teeters on the brink The prime minister said air force and naval units would be deployed to assist police in ending the protests, which he said had caused "massive damage".
The order also allows for troops to be deployed - though given that the army chief has called for the government to stand down it is unclear whether the government will do so, and in fact it has urged troops to stay in their barracks. Under emergency rule, troops may be deployed, groups of more than five are forbidden from forming, subject to immediate arrest, and a media blackout can be enforced.
Protesters remain resolute that their show of force will continue.Protesters remain resolute that their show of force will continue.
"We will not leave. We will use human shields against the police if they try to disperse us," PAD leader Suriyasai Katasila told Reuters news agency."We will not leave. We will use human shields against the police if they try to disperse us," PAD leader Suriyasai Katasila told Reuters news agency.
The [ruling party]'s strategy for months now has been to turn the other cheek to the PAD's provocations Jonathan Head BBC correspondent in Bangkok class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7752302.stm">In pictures: Thai crisis class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7751800.stm">Thailand teeters on the brink The BBC's Jonathan Head says the atmosphere in Bangkok is increasingly jittery, with mounting rumours that a coup attempt may be launched after the army brought tanks into forward positions in the city. Gen Anupong has, however, denied any coup plot. The BBC's Quentin Sommerville says moving the protesters will not be easy - they have shown they are willing to put up a fight, and have already called on supporters to set up roadblocks near terminal buildings.
The announcement that a limited state of emergency will be imposed comes after the PAD protesters forced the closure of Bangkok's domestic airport, Don Mueang. Reports from Bangkok say tank movements there have sparked fears of an impending military coup.
They had already occupied Suvarnabhumi international airport. On Wednesday Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat rejected a call by army leader Gen Anupong Paochinda for new elections to end the political deadlock, saying his government was legitimate. Gen Anupong has denied any coup plot.
Economic blow
The protesters have occupied both Suvarnabhumi international airport and Bangkok's domestic airport, Don Mueang.
On Thursday, the Associated Press quoted Tourism Minister Weerasak Kohsurat as saying stranded passengers with "urgent needs" could be flown out of military bases around Bangkok.
POLITICAL TURMOIL September 2006: Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra ousted in military coupFebruary 2008: Samak Sundaravej sworn in as prime ministerSeptember 2008: Protesters call for Mr Samak's resignation, saying he is a proxy for Thaksin9 September 2008: Mr Samak dismissed for violating conflict of interest law. Somchai Wongsawat, Thaksin's brother-in-law, becomes prime minister. October 2008: Thaksin given a two-year jail sentence for corruption in his absence Chaos at seized airportQ&A: Bangkok protests The blockade comes at the height of the tourist season and threatens an industry which is one of the country's biggest earners.
Thailand has been in political turmoil since former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted in a military coup in 2006.Thailand has been in political turmoil since former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted in a military coup in 2006.
The PAD - a loose alliance of royalists, businessmen and the urban middle class - claim that the government is corrupt and hostile to the monarchy.
They also accuse it of being a proxy for Thaksin, who remains very popular among Thailand's rural poor.
Fresh elections at the end of 2007 failed to resolve the crisis, when a party made up of former allies of Mr Thaksin returned to power.Fresh elections at the end of 2007 failed to resolve the crisis, when a party made up of former allies of Mr Thaksin returned to power.
And since August PAD protesters have launched an all-out assault on the government, occupying government buildings and seeing former Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej forced out of office, though on an apparently unrelated matter.
Protesters confident
Correspondents say the government's reluctance to use force against the protesters has given them increasing confidence.
POLITICAL TURMOIL September 2006: Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra ousted in military coupFebruary 2008: Samak Sundaravej sworn in as prime ministerSeptember 2008: Protesters call for Mr Samak's resignation, saying he is a proxy for Thaksin9 September 2008: Mr Samak dismissed for violating conflict of interest law. Somchai Wongsawat, Thaksin's brother-in-law, becomes prime minister. October 2008: Thaksin given a two-year jail sentence for corruption in his absence Chaos at seized airportQ&A: Bangkok protests They have ignored a court order to vacate the international airport, and have brought in food and blankets in apparent preparation for a long stay.
All flights have been cancelled and thousands of Thais and foreign tourists are stranded.
On Thursday, the Associated Press quoted Tourism Minister Weerasak Kohsurat as saying stranded passengers with "urgent needs" could be flown out of military bases around Bangkok.
The blockade comes at the height of the tourist season and threatens an industry which is one of the country's biggest earners.
The campaign by the PAD, which began in earnest in May, has paralysed the Thai government.
The group - a loose alliance of royalists, businessmen and the urban middle class - claim that the government is corrupt and hostile to the monarchy.
They also accuse it of being a proxy for Mr Thaksin, who remains very popular among Thailand's rural poor.
And since August PAD protesters have launched an all-out assault on the government, occupying government buildings and seeing former Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej forced out of office, though on an apparently unrelated matter.
BANGKOK AIRPORT CLOSED Thousands of PAD protesters storm the airport Protesters seize the air traffic control tower and airport closed At least 3,000 passengers stranded for 16 hours in terminal building Latest reports say terminal building has been evacuatedBANGKOK AIRPORT CLOSED Thousands of PAD protesters storm the airport Protesters seize the air traffic control tower and airport closed At least 3,000 passengers stranded for 16 hours in terminal building Latest reports say terminal building has been evacuated
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