ASIA: Thai protesters force closure of second airport: officials
27 Nov 2008 11:58 AM
BANGKOK, Nov 27 AFP - Thai anti-government protesters have blockaded and shut down a second Bangkok airport, officials said on Thursday, just over a day after they forced the closure of the country's main international hub.
Supporters of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) started massing at the old Don Mueang airport late on Wednesday, aiming to prevent ministers from flying to Chiang Mai in the north to meet Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat.
Services at the airport were cancelled at about midnight.
"I authorised Don Mueang's director-general to close the airport from midnight. It is closed indefinitely until normalcy is restored," Saererat Prasutanond, president of operator Airports of Thailand, told Thai television.
"The two airports that serve Bangkok are completely closed."
Don Mueang director Flying Officer Anirut Thanomkulbutra had earlier told AFP that the airport would reopen on Thursday evening.
"Protesters have blocked the entrance to the terminal," Anirut said.
Don Mueang operates a handful of domestic flights, and was the only airport left serving the capital after protesters swarmed the main Suvarnabhumi Airport late Tuesday, forcing the airport director to suspend flights.
A police official said about 3,000 PAD supporters were gathered outside Don Mueang airport, but no passengers were inside when the airport was surrounded as the last flight had landed hours before.
Protest leaders earlier said that they aimed to force the closure of Don Mueang to prevent ministers from flying to the northern city of Chiang Mai to meet with Somchai.
The prime minister returned from a summit in Peru, landing in Chiang Mai on Wednesday evening, soon after the powerful army chief urged the premier to call new elections to end six months of turmoil in the kingdom.
Somchai refused, and called a cabinet meeting.
The premier had been holding cabinet meetings in a disused terminal at Don Mueang after protesters occupied his official Government House office in central Bangkok in late August.
But on Monday, PAD supporters besieged his temporary office as well, as they upped their bid to topple the government, which they accuse of running the country on behalf of ousted and exiled premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
About 3,000 tourists were stranded at Suvarnabhumi as PAD supporters massed outside late Tuesday, but most were evacuated leaving Wednesday afternoon.
Protesters swiftly dug in inside the gleaming steel-and-glass terminal, setting up makeshift food stalls and tents in the airport.
