Travellers evacuated from airport
2008-11-26 09:41
Bangkok - Governments around the world on Wednesday warned their citizens to avoid Thailand and steer clear of protesters occupying its main international airport.
Thai authorities on Wednesday began evacuating some of the 3 000-plus travellers - many of them foreign tourists - trapped at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport since demonstrators stormed the terminal on Tuesday.
The occupation is the latest development in a long-running campaign by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) aimed at overthrowing Thailand's democratically-elected government, which it accuses of nepotism and corruption.
China, France, New Zealand, Singapore, Britain, the United States, Australia and Japan on Wednesday warned travellers planning to head to Bangkok to steer clear or to act with caution if already in Thailand.
"The Chinese Embassy advises that Chinese citizens planning to visit Thailand should postpone their plans," a travel advisory on the website of the Chinese Embassy in Bangkok said.
"Chinese citizens currently in Thailand should pay attention to their safety and stay away from areas of protest marches and demonstrations."
In a statement posted on its website, France's foreign affairs ministry advised French people due to fly through Bangkok to make alternative arrangements.
'There remains the possibility of further violence'
The New Zealand foreign affairs ministry advised travellers stranded at Suvarnabhumi to stay with other tourists, remain close to information counters and follow instructions issued by local authorities.
"New Zealanders, if they can, may wish to defer their travel to Thailand until the situation is clarified," it said.
Similarly, Singapore said citizens without "a pressing need to travel" were advised to postpone their trip.
Britain's foreign office issued an updated travel advisory telling Britons to keep abreast of a "very uncertain" political situation.
"If you plan to visit Thailand you should consider the present situation when making your decision," it said on its website.
"You should exercise caution, avoiding any demonstrations or large gatherings of people.
"There remains the possibility of further violence," it added.
The United States warned its citizens to check with their airlines if they were due to fly into or out of Bangkok.
Extra precautions
A statement on the Bangkok embassy website said US citizens should avoid potentially volatile situations.
"We wish to remind American citizens that even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and possibly escalate into violence," it said.
The Australian government, which has a long-standing warning of possible terrorist attacks in the country, told its citizens on Wednesday to take extra precautions if they were planning to visit Thailand.
"You should avoid demonstrations, political rallies and concentrations of security personnel because of the ongoing political unrest," it said.
The Japanese foreign ministry urged its nationals to be cautious.
In an alert posted on the ministry's website, it said people planning to visit or to stay in Thailand were advised to check flight information well beforehand.
"They should collect information on new developments and stay away from places where protesters demonstrate," it said.
"Citizens are therefore urged to avoid the areas of demonstrations, and to exercise caution if within the vicinity of any demonstrations."
PAD leaders, who have said airlines wishing to use the airport must ask their permission, told airport authorities they would not negotiate with anyone other than Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat.
The airport was expected to remain closed for all of Wednesday.
Foreign tourism is vital to the economy of Thailand, with 14.8 million visits last year, according to the country's tourism authority.
Visitors from Japan, Britain and the United States topped the list of foreign nationals passing through the three billion dollar Suvarnabhumi International Airport, the authority said.
- AFP