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Thai protesters in no mood to budge

SINGAPORE: Thailand's beleaguered government on Friday began preparations to "restore law and order as soon as possible" and to "get the Bangkok airports to resume operations as soon as possible."

The Suvarnabhumi international airport and the Dong Muang domestic airport were seized by anti-government protesters on Wednesday night, in "the final battle" of their months-long campaign to force Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat out of office. And, Army Commander-in-Chief Anupong Paochinda had, on Wednesday, asked Mr. Somchai to call a fresh election to resolve the crisis.

Hours after a top official spokesman made clear the government's position, the replacement of the police chief was announced, signalling the possibility of a move to evict the protesters, some bearing arms, by force if necessary. However, thousands of protesters, camping at the two airports in a carnival-like atmosphere, pledged not to budge, ignoring Thursday's imposition of localised emergency at these two sites. The authorities moved a fleet of ambulances close to the airports, indicating the possibility of strike, if considered necessary.

Announcing the emergency, Mr. Somchai empowered the police as also the Air Force and the Navy with emergency powers to clear the protesters. The omission of the Army in this regard, considering that General Anupong had refused to use force against anti-government protesters during an earlier localised emergency, fuelled speculation about the possibility of another military coup now. With the police chief now removed, a question being raised was whether the government would now want the Army Chief too out of the way.

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