Thai police cordon Bangkok airport

29 Nov 2008, 9:36 pm   -   Source: AAP
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Police built a massive cordon around anti-government protesters occupying Thailand's main airport on Saturday, raising fears of an imminent confrontation.

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Police built a massive cordon around anti-government protesters occupying Thailand's main airport on Saturday, raising fears of an imminent confrontation in a standoff that has disrupted the country's economy and the travel industry worldwide.

About 2,000 policemen were deployed around Suvarnabhumi international airport, where protesters calling themselves the People's Alliance for Democracy have camped out since late Tuesday, forcing the halt of all flights.

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 international airport will officially remain closed for another two days, airport authorities said on Saturday.

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.

So far security forces have only issued a warning to the protesters to leave and refrained from using force. The protesters say they will not leave until the government of Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat resigns.

But it appears the government's patience is wearing thin.

"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."

The 2,000 policeman at Suvarnabhumi were deployed at all exit and entry points around the airport, said police Maj Gen Rachandra Ruenkamon, the deputy chief of operations in the area.

One checkpoint on the main highway leading to the airport on Bangkok's outskirts was manned by about 400 policemen accompanied by about 20 navy sailors armed with M-16 rifles.

The roadblocks were meant to prevent more protesters from joining thousands of others inside the terminal building.

About 50 soldiers guarded the maintenance facility of the airport, a few kilometres away from the main complex.

Several airlines are flying rescue flights to the U-Tapao naval airport, 140km south of Bangkok, to evacuate stranded passengers. But the small airport is overwhelmed by the load, unable to process thousands of travellers quickly.

Among those stranded are about 3,000 Chinese tourists who will be flown out on special flights by four Chinese airlines beginning on 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 cancelled 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 $US57 million ($A86.65 million) to $US85 million ($A129.21 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 $US4.28 billion ($A6.51 billion), equal to 1.5 per cent of the gross domestic product.

With international repercussions obvious, the European Union and the United States urged the protesters to end their siege.

The People's Alliance for Democracy accuses the government of being a puppet of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted by a 2006 military coup and fled overseas to escape corruption charges.

Prime Minister Somchai, who is Thaksin's brother-in-law, is now operating the government out of the northern city of Chiang Mai, blocked out of his office in Bangkok.

Tension rose further on Saturday after a pro-government group expressed frustration at the continuing standoff and called for an indefinite sit-in starting on Sunday in central Bangkok.

"We are calling for our supporters nationwide to come out (for the rally). They have been told to bring their clothes and food because we will be here long," said Viphutalaeng Pattanaphumethai, a leader of the group, which in the past has clashed with the alliance.

Its members wear red shirts to distinguish themselves from the alliance, whose supporters wear yellow.

At the Suvarnabhumi airport, Associated Press reporters saw one policeman being grabbed on Saturday at a checkpoint by three protesters, forcibly put in a vehicle, and driven away toward areas controlled by the demonstrators. His whereabouts remained unclear.

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