Thailand close to Anarchy

**Monseratto** · August 29th, 2008 09:01 PM

And I thought Philippine Politics is a mess. With the entire society polarised and no solution in sight, Thailand seem to be in a bigger bind than ours.

Some facts:

In September 2006, the military deposed Thaksin in a bloodless coup while he was abroad. His party was dissolved and he was banned from public office until 2012.

But Samak led Thaksin's political allies to a December 2007 election victory, and their assumption of power triggered fears of a political comeback of Thaksin, whom remains popular with the country's rural majority.

The alliance responded by resuming their protests in May, accusing Samak of trying to amend the constitution to Thaksin from a string of corruption charges.

Thaksin skipped bail ahead of his latest corruption trial and went to England, contending he can't get a fair trial in Thailand.

The People's Alliance for Democracy is well-supported among the middle-class and traditional elite of Bangkok. Yet many outside the city -- especially in northeastern Thailand -- many despise the group.

That leaves a powerful minority in the capital that doesn't agree with the government that a vast majority outside Bangkok have elected, and Thaksin and Samak both remain popular.

Though the protesters want Samak gone, those who spoke with CNN's Dan Rivers seem unsure who they would want to take his place.

"They told me they know they want to get rid of Samak, Thaksin, and all their cronies, but the problem is they don't seem to know what will happen if they do," Rivers said.

"The leader of the PAD, Sondhi Limthongkul, has told me that the entire political system needs to be changed and says that perhaps Thailand isn't ready for full democracy because of the endemic corruption."

Latest developments:

Thailand: Protests close airports, disrupt rail services

BANGKOK, Thailand (CNN) -- Anti-government protesters closed down three airports in Thailand Friday in an effort to force the prime minister to step down, airport officials said.

Protesters with the People's Alliance for Democracy sleep outside the goverment complex Friday in Bangkok.

Rail service in much of Thailand also ground to a halt as union workers went on strike to support the protests in the capital, Bangkok, the Thai News Agency reported Friday.

The Phuket airport, a gateway for vacationing Westerners, closed down when the protest prevented airplanes from taking off, airport officials said.

In Hat Yai, demonstrators kept departing passengers from reaching the airport, effectively halting air traffic, an official said.

The tarmac was blocked at the Krabi airport, keeping planes from taxing, an airport official said.

Protesters seized several government buildings in Bangkok this week, including the prime minister's office and the state-run television station. Thai judges issued warrants for their arrest, but the prime minister has said authorities will not use force to evict them.

The protesters want Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej to resign.

Thailand mob 'attacks police HQ'

Hundreds of protesters converged on the police headquarters in Bangkok before being repulsed by police, say reports.

Police fired what appeared to be teargas to disperse them after they apparently tried to storm the building, say reports.

It has been a turbulent week in Thailand, after thousands of protesters occupied the main government compound in Bangkok on Tuesday.

They are demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej.

Mr Samak has rejected their demands, but correspondents say he is looking increasingly embattled.

**uls** · August 29th, 2008 10:02 PM

yan ang mob rule

yan ang gusto mangyari ng mga militante dito sa atin

yan ang pwede mangyari when people power goes out of control

sana hindi manyari yan dito sa atin

**Monseratto** · August 29th, 2008 10:41 PM

I just hope this won't lead to work stoppages that would affect their car industry. Maraming maiipit dito kung madamay yung car industry nila. Not only cars but car parts come from them...

**Monseratto** · August 29th, 2008 10:53 PM

Originally Posted by uls

yan ang mob rule

yan ang gusto mangyari ng mga militante dito sa atin

yan ang pwede mangyari when people power goes out of control

sana hindi manyari yan dito sa atin

The funny thing is the mob in Thailand consist of the middle-class and what's considered the elitist.

**uls** · August 29th, 2008 11:21 PM

Before the coup, the international business community was all praises for Thailand... investors loved Thailand... it was party time for the Thai rich and middle class...

Then the coup happened...

That scared away investors.

The coup screwed up the Thai economy.

No wonder the Thai rich and middle class are fuming mad.

Party's over.

**CVT** · August 30th, 2008 01:01 PM

Sana, ang mga multinational companies na aalis ng Thailand,- dito pumunta sa Pilipinas.....

Sana, ang gobyerno natin,- huwag pahirapan ang mga investors na lilipat dito....

Sana.....

6610:secret:

**CVT** · August 30th, 2008 01:13 PM

Kumunsulta na si PM Samak kay King Bhumibol.... Iba kasi sa Thailand,- iginagalang ng lahat ang opinyon at desisyon ng Hari....

6610:secret:

**CVT** · August 30th, 2008 01:13 PM

Sorry, dobol dobol na naman....

6610:secret:

**Monseratto** · August 30th, 2008 04:23 PM

For those planning for a vacation to Phuket or visiting Bangkok, be forwarned!

Tourists stranded in Phuket as Thai protests block airport

PHUKET -- About 15,000 passengers were stranded on the holiday isle of Phuket on Saturday, as hundreds of anti-government protesters blocked access to the island's airport, officials said.

Thailand's second-busiest airport was closed Friday afternoon after 5,000 protesters set up a blockade and marched down the tarmac, forcing authorities to suspend flights to and from the island.

About 400 protesters from the so-called People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), which is also squatting on the main government compound in Bangkok, blocked access to the airport Saturday.

Frustrated travellers carrying backpacks and rolling luggage behind them tried to enter the terminal. About 100 made it inside before the protesters started turning them away.

"I want to go home. I have nothing to do with this situation," one frustrated Australian man told AFP.

Wicha Nurnlop, director of Phuket International Airport, told reporters that the airport would remain closed at least through 6:00 pm (1100 GMT) Saturday.

So far more than 100 flights have been cancelled, including 25 on international routes, leaving 15,000 passengers stranded, Wicha said.

Tourists have been given free hotel rooms until the airport reopens, while authorities were scrambling to arrange buses for about 100 passengers trying to connect to onward flights in Bangkok, he added.

Few police were seen at the airport, and protesters appeared to have been allowed to roam facilities freely.

Wicha said protesters were demanding the government release 85 detained activists and calling for Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej's resignation.

The nearby Krabi airport also remained closed since Friday evening, the operator Airports of Thailand said.

But the southern airport in Hat Yai had reopened for a Thai Airways flight early Saturday, after protesters had forced its closure Friday as well.