Standoff disrupts Thai economy and travel industry
Sunday, 30 November 2008
BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) - Police built a massive cordon around anti-government protesters occupying Thailand's main airport Saturday, raising fears of an imminent confrontation in a standoff that has disrupted the country's economy and the travel industry worldwide.
Protesters calling themselves the People's Alliance for Democracy have camped out around Suvarnabhumi international airport since late Tuesday, forcing the halt of all flights.
With no sign of the standoff easing, the airport authority said Suvarnabhumi will remain closed at least until Monday evening.
The protesters also have occupied Bangkok's domestic airport and the prime minister's office compound, virtually paralysing the government in their campaign to force its resignation.
The confrontation, severing the capital from civilian air traffic, has taken a heavy toll on Thailand's economy and reputation. According to Thai media reports some 100,000 tourists are stranded, and schedules of airlines around the world have been disrupted.
"The police will issue another warning to protesters to leave the two airports. The language in the warning will be stronger than the first one," said a police spokesman, Maj. Gen. Amnuay Nimmano.
He said if the protesters do not leave, a deadline will be issued "in the third warning - the last one before we take action."
Several airlines are flying rescue flights to the U-Tapao naval airport, 140 kilometers (90 miles) south of Bangkok, to evacuate stranded passengers. But the small airport is overwhelmed by the load, unable to process thousands of travelers quickly.
Among those stranded are about 3,000 Chinese tourists who will be flown out on special flights by four Chinese airlines beginning Saturday, China's Xinhua News Agency reported. It said the Hong Kong government has also arranged two Cathay Pacific flights to help stranded passengers.
Several groups around the world have canceled planned tours, and 88 aircraft, many of them belonging to foreign airlines, are parked at Suvarnabhumi unable to take off.
The Federation of Thai Industries estimates the cost of lost trade due to the airport shutdowns at $57 million to $85 million a day.
Thailand's central bank said the number of tourist arrivals is likely to fall by 40 per cent next year if the airport shutdown drags on until the end of December. It said the tourism industry, a key component of the Thai economy, is expected to lose $4.28 billion, equal to 1.5 per cent of the gross domestic product.
Protesters calling themselves the People's Alliance for Democracy have camped out around Suvarnabhumi international airport since late Tuesday, forcing the halt of all flights.
With no sign of the standoff easing, the airport authority said Suvarnabhumi will remain closed at least until Monday evening.
The protesters also have occupied Bangkok's domestic airport and the prime minister's office compound, virtually paralysing the government in their campaign to force its resignation.
The confrontation, severing the capital from civilian air traffic, has taken a heavy toll on Thailand's economy and reputation. According to Thai media reports some 100,000 tourists are stranded, and schedules of airlines around the world have been disrupted.
"The police will issue another warning to protesters to leave the two airports. The language in the warning will be stronger than the first one," said a police spokesman, Maj. Gen. Amnuay Nimmano.
He said if the protesters do not leave, a deadline will be issued "in the third warning - the last one before we take action."
Several airlines are flying rescue flights to the U-Tapao naval airport, 140 kilometers (90 miles) south of Bangkok, to evacuate stranded passengers. But the small airport is overwhelmed by the load, unable to process thousands of travelers quickly.
Among those stranded are about 3,000 Chinese tourists who will be flown out on special flights by four Chinese airlines beginning Saturday, China's Xinhua News Agency reported. It said the Hong Kong government has also arranged two Cathay Pacific flights to help stranded passengers.
Several groups around the world have canceled planned tours, and 88 aircraft, many of them belonging to foreign airlines, are parked at Suvarnabhumi unable to take off.
The Federation of Thai Industries estimates the cost of lost trade due to the airport shutdowns at $57 million to $85 million a day.
Thailand's central bank said the number of tourist arrivals is likely to fall by 40 per cent next year if the airport shutdown drags on until the end of December. It said the tourism industry, a key component of the Thai economy, is expected to lose $4.28 billion, equal to 1.5 per cent of the gross domestic product.