Report from a friend stranded in Thailand
Thailand’s major airports have been taken over by protesters, as reported by the L.A. Times:
Hundreds of protesters seeking to topple Thailand’s prime minister seized Bangkok’s international airport terminal Tuesday, forcing cancellation of all flights.
Members and supporters of the People’s Alliance for Democracy stormed through police lines at Suvarnabhumi Airport and into the fourth-floor departure area, according to reports from Bangkok. They were armed with metal rods, sticks and golf clubs.
A friend of mine is just happened to be on a trip to Thailand when the protest began. She’s currently stranded in Thailand, and she sent me two brief emails:
Sunday, November 30, 2008
The politics here are interesting.
The army supports the protesters and refused to assist. The police support the protesters and refused to assist. The prime minister sacked the chief of police and ordered the new chief to assist. The new chief tried, half heartedly. The police, armed with riot gear, guns, etc., tried to confront the protesters, who are armed with golf clubs. The protesters chased them and the police ran away. Then the protesters let the air out of the police cars and tanks. I guess that’s the Buddhist way.
Monday, 2:30 pm
Today I met an American woman who had a hotel near the airport. She decided to just walk to the airport to see what was going on (fairly brave considering all the warnings). Since the police didn’t stop her, she just walked in. Said there was a rock concert going on and everyone was very polite towards her. She listened to the music awhile and left without incident.
What else do you expect from a country where every McDonald’s has a statue of Ronald McDonald with his hands folded in Buddhist prayer?
About the Author: Erich Vieth is an iconoclastic attorney and writer living in the Shaw neighborhood of St. Louis, Missouri. He and his wife have two daughters, aged 8 and 10.
I heard the PM resigned. The group leading the protests is the People Allied for Democracy (PAD). PAD Thai! LOL!