PAD Shut Down Suvarnabhumi

Here it comes, the escalation: The self-righteous PAD manage to shut down Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi international airport, as The Nation reports. I don’t think the “reds” can hold themselves back much longer. But if you listen to the PAD’s top leadership, there’s justice in this move:

“We have tried to pressure the government for more than 50 hours but nothing has happened, so we need to step up our campaign by closing the airport to tell the world problems Thailand is facing,” said PAD leader Sondhi Limthongkul at Government House Tuesday night.

Adds the Bangkok Post: “Sondhi announced at the anti-government stage at Government House that Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat must resign without any condition. He then claimed that the government was guilty of the October 7th riot, which left two dead and almost 500 wounded.”

Well dear government, such shit happens when you let the PAD do whatever they want. And the PAD were at the airport since the afternoon! Or is you government seriously waiting for the population to take over? I say, clean up those thugs now or we never get rid of them.

Again, totally predictable moves and they clearly lost the support of even the Bangkokians! Am lost for words. Not only is the country facing even more damages. It just shows again that the soft Thai approach doesn’t work, especially with radicals such as the PAD who leave a trail of anarchy behind wherever they pop up.

Don’t you become a terrorist in such a climate. Now launch that operation, government. After what we’ve witnessed again these days anything is better than life under Sondhi & Chamlong.




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November 25, 2008 | Filed Under Politics 

Comments

19 Responses to “PAD Shut Down Suvarnabhumi”

  1. David Brown on November 25th, 2008 10.30 pm

    It’s called staying calm and letting them tire themselves out.

    It’s hard to stay calm but the PAD are running out of options … what do they do next … occupy Suvarnabhumi … for how long?

    I notice Sondhi is back at Government House, presumably with hardly anybody else there.

    They talk about stopping Khun Somchai landing … They won’t, he will either land somewhere else or if he does land I suppose they can hold him in the terminal for a while … He is such a cool character they might have to stay for a long time.

    Even if Khun Somchai resigns … what is there next move?

    When will their money and resolve run out?

  2. mary on November 25th, 2008 10.31 pm

    I don’t agree with everything you’re writing Dan, but yes, what a disgrace those PAD people have become. But nothing to lose. They’re ready to face martyrdrom. Civil war anyone?

  3. BangkokDan on November 25th, 2008 10.37 pm

    I don’t think staying calm is an option any longer David.

    Sabotaging Thailand’s main link to the outside world is pretty heavy stuff and doesn’t just go away.

    A few thousand people hold a country hostage – but to the outside world it’s portrayed as a just fight lead by smiling, cheerful handclappers.

    BangkokDan

  4. bongo on November 25th, 2008 10.52 pm

    Somchai can just land at Don Mueang, what with his office being there ‘n all …

  5. David Brown on November 25th, 2008 10.59 pm

    The ThaiPBS video of the PAD shooting and holding a knife at the neck of a motorcycle taxi guy is on BBC, etc.

    And the airport stoppages down south had already sourEd opinion.

    I think the image of the PAD around the world is not very good …

    Like you I expect most governments are wondering why the PAD haven’t been rounded up with violence and mouldering in gaol waiting for court appearances.

  6. ThaiCrisis on November 25th, 2008 11.17 pm

    Anyway: The government must act now.

    The joke was very funny with the occupation of Government House (can you imagine … 3 months already!), the Parliament etc.

    Loss of face, loss of credibility. Fair enough. Government and PAD are clowns.

    But Suva, the international airport of the capital, is just an absolute no-no.

    The Thai government must act now.

  7. bosunj on November 25th, 2008 11.32 pm

    Jai yen yen K. Dan,

    The most important thing to remember is that we are guests here. One loses much face when losing his temper. It is Thais who will decide the fate of their country. Enjoy the benefits of living here. If these issues bother you to this extent perhaps it is time to go to America for a few weeks, after which you’ll miss Thailand and wonder why you ever left.

    Chok dee

  8. whoopla on November 26th, 2008 3.00 am

    It’s a pity everyone is afraid to talk about what’s really going down, while the terrorist Pantamit hold up icons while shooting at innocent civilians… and holding hostage masses of business people and tourists who are a lifeline to the country’s economy. I wonder if the beholders of the icons are proud of what is being done to the nation under such representation?

  9. AA on November 26th, 2008 5.22 am

    To be fair, the government has been ineffective because they have been dealt an extremely shitty hand: animosity in Bangkok, constant and at times unfair criticism from academics, the press seems to be against them, and the bigwig PAD supporters like ACM Chalit, 40 senators, and others have consistently handicapped the government’s position. Add to that the fact that Thai police aren’t the best trained or best funded in the world (with every past administration to blame; 6 months in power won’t fix the police force). Plus, with the military being “neutral” (when it should be under the command of the civilian political leadership) and the Constitutional setup entirely against you its a bit difficult to work.

    Under “normal” circumstances in “normal” countries, the PAD would have been teargassed, water-cannoned, dispersed, and pestered with defamation lawsuits the moment they started.

  10. hobby on November 26th, 2008 5.37 am

    I think the image of the PAD around the world is not very good

    Newspaper articles sometimes go into more detail, but the average punter has no idea of which side is in the right (or wrong) because it’s still being portrayed as “protesters against an alleged corrupt government” in the TV news snippets I have seen.

  11. dtalok on November 26th, 2008 5.46 am

    What about the thousands of people (6,10?) who are trying to leave Thailand? Wow amazing Thailand come and be trapped at our airport (warning not enough bathrooms) or what if you have a one or two week holiday and reserved a fine hotel and now you have to deal with these ignorant, not so polite “foaming at the mouth” etc. f*cks, but hey let’s not let the poor vote because they have no idea what’s good for them, they sold their votes right? Never mind we are Thai and you don’t unnerstand hey where’s my gun I see a red shirt, by the way could Thaksin and his cronies have stolen the same amount of money the PAD has cost the country on their cult crusade? 555 I will be there the day after tommorow and believe me I think I will keep my opinions to myself – hookers aren’t on strike yet right?

  12. BangkokDan on November 26th, 2008 6.37 am

    Just woke up and guess what, no operation launched whatsoever.

    Protected by some sort of magic potion, they can even cut the country’s lifeline. I must join the PAD and learn the secrets of their trade.

    Judging from the Phuket airport blockade, there should be repercussions, heavy repercussions. But hey, this is the PAD, above mankind and law. What do we average mortals know.

    CNN reported somebody very high-ranking may have gotten cold feet.

    BangkokDan

  13. SBThailand on November 26th, 2008 8.33 am

    They have been terrorist from the start! The economic downturn was going to be rough enough, but now this country will be in for a rough couple of years due to a few thousand children throwing an adult temper tandrum.

    Thailand has now become an international joke.

  14. CJ on November 26th, 2008 11.38 am

    Just read the news. Can’t help but feel sad that each time Thailand looks like it is moving ahead, something like this pops up and derails its development.

    I am just curious. In the midst of the economic crisis, don’t these protestors need to work? Why are they able to camp out for 6 months? Which employers is signing 6 months leave for their workers to be full-time protestors? Who is feeding their families?

    Personally I feel that the PAD’s claim to be loyal to the monarchy should have by now become a major embarrassment to the royal family. How does disrupting the functioning of the capital, trying to hijack democracy and denying the rights of rural Thais be condoned as acts of patriotism? Yet, the Bangkok elites and those who claim to be royalists seem quite happy to let the PAD have the run of the city?

  15. ThaiCrisis on November 26th, 2008 3.36 pm

    Yeah me too: woke up. And nothing. I mean: nothing to improve the situation. On the contrary, the PAD took control … of the “control tower.”

    Meanwhile, Anupong is having a “meeting.” Great. And Somchai is drinking llama’s milk. Well, to be fair, he must be on a plane, somewhere. In the air.

    This symbol suits him perfectly … ;-) Air and wind and altitude …

    I mean with such clowns, the PAD has really the easy part.

  16. Thai Dude on November 27th, 2008 4.24 am

    One thing to point out here. Board of the Thai Airways resigned after the PAD got in to the airport. He is Thaksin’s close friend. To be honest. I can’t judge who is right or wrong in this situation. But at this moment should he be doing something other than running away?

    In this situation it can’t be a win-win solution. But some one have to start doing something. I feel like the Gov. can initiate a talk long long ago, but refused to do so and wait till things get heated up to make an excuse to use force. I don’t say that the PAD is right? But the Gov. could have done something for a long time.

  17. SBThailand on November 27th, 2008 9.02 am

    Thai Dude, what did you want the government to do? Damned if you do and damned if you don’t. Many people have pointed out that when they take action, they are murderers. When they back off, they are ineffective. What the heck are they supposed to do? The sad thing is that PAD could have participated in talks a long time ago as well. They are the party esculating this to try to bring violence, not the government.

  18. chang dek on December 4th, 2008 1.39 pm

    I thought Thai Airways was PAD, or a component of the hanclapping mobsters, when a few weeks ago they refused the opposition permission to board their planes. Now they are sueing the PAD and it looks like any coprporation with half a brain will divorce themselves from these terrorists before they bring all of Thailand’s business sectors to their knees, if they haven’t done so already.

  19. Backhome on December 4th, 2008 4.20 pm

    Did I read somewhere what was mentioned in PAD’s victory speech? That they left Thailand in a stronger position? That all Thai’s are grateful for their actions? It’s amusing to see no actions taken against the PAD. How can the people of Thailand tolerate the PAD who has helped Thailand lose more money than Thaksin could have ever taken for himself. It’s the ultimate cut your nose to spite your face example. In all honesty, even with Thaksin leading, he may be lining his own pockets but in general Thailand was progressing. The people that retaliate were basically angry because their own pockets were not being lined as well … and to make a point, they stall the overall progress of their own country. Where is the logic …

    The ultimate failure of the previous government was that they did not make use of the opportunity to get rid of the PAD. Yes blood will be shed, but it is like removing a tumor. Now that you’ve played Mr. Nice Guy, the tumor has gotten rid of you. Is the PAD the new “Prime Minister” decider? Where is the democracy in this? Would have blood been shed, I doubt that people around the world would have felt sorry for the PAD. The government and people of Thailand had tolerated their tantrum long enough. Anywhere else in the world, those protesters would not even get to the taxi stand!

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