34 Thai anti-gov't protestors injured in grenade explosion, Atmosphere tense in Bangkok, emergency decree imposed

Some 34 Thai anti-gov't protestors injured in grenade explosion

2008-11-30 04:43:28

BANGKOK, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) --

Some 34 Thai anti-government protestors at Government House were injured in a grenade explosion here early on Sunday, local TV reports said.

News reports said the grenade landed near the prime minister's offices, which have been occupied by protestors led by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) since August.

The blast occurred near at Government House where thousands of PAD supporters, who are demanding Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawatto step down, were holding a rally.

PAD leader Suriyasai Katasila told Channel 3 that he had come down from the stage about 30 minutes before the grenade dropped into a crowded area. The injured protestors were rushed to nearby hospitals, TV reports said.

He accused pro-government supporters of launching the attack. The explosion came hours after anti-government demonstrators forced police to abandon a checkpoint at the main Suvarnabhumi airport.

In the latest clash with protestors, about 150 riot police left their checkpoint near Suvarnabhumi International Airport on Saturday night after were attacked by PAD supports armed with iron rods.

The closures of Suvarnabhumi International Airport and Don Mueang domestic airport have trapped some 100,000 passengers.

The total number of the affected travelers could hit 300,000 as airport takeover continues, Tourism and Sports Minister Weerasak Kowsurat said.

The government said tourist industry was suffering and the number of visitors to Thailand could fall by half next year.

PAD supporters are seeking to topple the government, which they accuse the government of being on behalf of ousted and exiled Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The situation in Bangkok was tense in Bangkok, especially at the two airports seized by anti-government protesters, after the government declared a state of emergency at the airports on Friday.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Somchai is now in the northern province Chiang Mai, which he made it a temporary government seat after returning from an APEC meeting. Deputy Government Spokeswoman Suparat Nakboonnam earlier said that Somchai has no schedule to return to Bangkok in the near future.

She said Somchai decided to remain in Chiang Mai for security concern due to uncertainties related to the moves of the armed forces, and his moves would be kept secret.

In a related development, Thailand is considering to postpone the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit due to the political turmoil in the country, according to Thai Foreign Minister Sompong Amornwiwat.

Leaders of 10 ASEAN countries plus those of China, Japan and South Korea, are scheduled to meet in Chiang Mai between Dec. 14 to 18.

The summit was initially planned to be held in Bangkok, but the government decided to move to Chiang Mai because of the protestors.

Atmosphere tense in Bangkok, but no action taken after emergency decree imposed

2008-11-28 16:21:57

by Shen Min

BANGKOK, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) --

The atmosphere on Friday morning was tense in Bangkok, especially at the two airports hijacked by anti-government protesters, after the government declared a state of emergency at the airports.

In early hours of Friday, two M79 grenades were lodged at the head office of satellite TV station ASTV, the mouthpiece of anti-government movement People's Alliance for Democracy.

In the attack at about 1:50 a.m. Friday (1850 GMT, Thursday), the assailants arrived on a long-tail boat, a traditional river transportation vehicle, to fire assault rifles at the back of the ASTV head-office building for about five minutes before speeding off, according to a report by The Nation website.

The assault, the report said, apparently was meant to blow off satellite transponder dishes on the roof.

ASTV security officials apparently anticipated the attempts to destroy the dishes and used a net to shield bombs, which saw the grenades explode at the level of the fourth floor, damaging and shattering glass windows in the building.

One news announcer of ASTV, Natthawut Mitmark, suffered cut in the hands by broken glasses.

Police later detained Pornchai Sanguanpoj, 41, an ASTV security official for question after finding a pistol on him. Pornchai said he was shooting back at the assailants when police arrived at the scene.

Several hours later, two series of gunshots were heard near the Don Mueang domestic airport, which was under the besiege of PAD protesters since Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat held a videoconference from northern province Chiang Mai, which he made it a temporary government seat after returning from an APEC meeting, to brief the ministries of the emergency decree, which has been declared at the two airports on Thursday night.

The teleconference involved some 40 permanent secretaries of and heads of ministry-level agencies at the Interior Ministry in Bangkok at 11:00 a.m. (0400 GMT)

Deputy Government Spokeswoman Suparat Nakboonnam earlier said that Somchai has no schedule to return to Bangkok in the near future.

She said Somchai decided to remain in Chiang Mai for security concern due to uncertainties related to the moves of the armed forces, and his moves would be kept secret.

Somchai issued a state of emergency on Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi airports which the PAD took control for two days, bringing the Bangkok air service to a complete paralysis.

More than 12 hours after the emergency decree was announced Thursday night, no police action was seen to disperse the PAD protesters at the two airports. The PAD has vowed to stay on to fight off the police if the latter use force to disperse them.

By Friday morning, about 500 passengers were still stranded inside the Suvarnabhumi airport, most of them Muslims who had planned a pilgrimage to Mecca for Hajj.

Some Muslims, sadly, told Xinhua that they had sold their house or other assets for the once-in-a-lifetime chance, but they were now very depressed at the growing possibility that they would miss it.

About 450 pilgrims were left stranded at the airport after Iran Air canceled its flight to pick them up for Hajj following the PAD besiege of the airport.

Editor: Liu

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