BANGKOK, 2 December 2013: Extra pol

BANGKOK, 2 December 2013: Extra police and military units have been deployed at Bangkok’s two international airports to ensure the safety of passengers and tourists.

Pol Lt Col Kissana Phatsanacharoen, spokesman for the Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order said: “We decided to deploy troops from the military to ensure the safety of key places including the airports, but they are unarmed and have been instructed not to use force.”

An information centre has been set up at Suvarnabhumi International Airport to help passengers who are being stranded or affected by the current protest.

In contrast to assurances by tourism officials, Friday, that the city was “normal to peaceful, the weekend protests turned aggressive resulting in three deaths and 58 people injured.

Entire areas of the city were closed to traffic. It became difficult for residents to commute and roads to popular shopping venues near the Royal Thai Police headquarters were inaccessible to cars.

Police have beefed up security at airports fearing the protesters might copy-cat the yellow shirt tactics that occupied both airports in 2008.

As tensions rise in the city, Suvarnabhumi Airport has set up an information centre on the third floor of its terminal to provide information and facilitate travel of airport passengers.

Those who need assistance are encouraged to call 02 132 9999 for 24 hours a day. Fax number is 02 132 9998.

According to the Erawan Emergency Medical Centre, three people have died and 58 were injured in the Ramkhamhaeng clashes including one soldier.

Suthep Thaugsuban

On Sunday morning, the Royal Thai Army dispatched hundreds of soldiers to Ramkhamhaeng University to help some 3,000 students stranded in the area since last Saturday’s night following the attacks by an unknown group of gunmen.

The students were escorted by soldiers to army buses amid tight security.

By Sunday evening police officers in charge of the city’s security advised residents and tourists to stay off the streets from 2200 to 0400 to facilitate clean-up operations. The Police hoped to retrieve two police trucks stolen by protesters.

Top ranking military officers brokered talks between protest leader and former Democrat Party deputy leader, Suthep Thaugsuban and Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Mr Suthep delivered an ultimatum ordering the PM to resign within two days. It was reported in local press that he refused to enter into any discussions with the PM.

Speaking on late Sunday afternoon, Mr Suthep said the Yingluck government has no legitimacy to administer the country as her government has violated the laws and constitution.

To achieve the PDRC’s objective, Mr Suthep called for government officials throughout the country to stop work from Monday “until the situation has been resolved”. He gave no further details.

He called for all television stations to stop presenting news on the government and run only news authorised by PDR.

Police fired tear gas to provent protesters trying to force their way into the Government House and Metropolitan Police headquarters. The unarmed police units came from the provinces many of already on duty for 20 days guarding facilities.

The protesters also besieged five television stations demanding they broadcast the protesters’ views. The stations’ executives organised a meeting with representatives of the protesters and agree to comply with their demands.

The government deployed more than 21,000 police and about 1,000 soldiers to protect 10 government installations from being occupied by demonstrators.

There was an uneasy calm Monday morning. Suthep’s strategy to bring down the government 1 December failed, but he again moved the goal posts stating the government had two days until 3 December to comply with his order to dissolve the house and for the PM to step down.

Mr Suthep wants to install a so-called People’s Council of appointed representatives a move that will disenfranchise the nation’s voters and would be the country’s first example of a civilian-led coup.

After an undisclosed period the council would organise new elections, but academics warn that it would require revisions to the constitution to have a legal basis.

There is no information on protest funding, but estimates put it around Bt1 million a day. Mainstream media has so far omitted to follow the money trail to who is actually funding the protests. It requires considerable cash to support a protest of this size that started in earnest in early October. Following the money trail might cast an entirely different light on what is driving this protest.

In the meantime, Thailand’s hard working people will suffer at the hand of self-serving politicians and tourism will suffer yet another downturn in business that will seriously disrupt investor interest in the sector. estimated to have deterred millions of tourists from visiting the country.