100 000 tourists stranded
2008-11-30 08:21
Bangkok - More than 30 anti-government protesters were wounded in an explosion early on Sunday, raising fears of widening confrontations in a standoff that has strangled Thailand's economy and shut down its airports.
The blast went off inside Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat 's office compound, which protesters seized in August and have held ever since. At least 33 people were wounded, including five hospitalised, according to a spokesperson from the Narentorn Medical Centre. He spoke on condition of anonymity in line with policy.
An Associated Press photographer said something was hurled from outside the compound, but it was not clear what was thrown. The protest group has been attacked several times by small bombs and grenades, including a blast earlier this month that killed one person and wounded 29.
Damaging economy
The demonstrators, who call themselves the People's Alliance for Democracy, accuse the government of being a puppet of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted by a 2006 military coup and fled overseas to escape corruption charges.
The protesters also overran Bangkok's international Suvarnabhumi airport Tuesday night as part of their campaign to force Somchai from office. The domestic airport was also seized, severing the capital from all commercial air traffic and virtually paralysing the government.
The demonstrators say they will not leave until Somchai resigns, and have refused to enter any negotiations.
The closure of the airports has taken a heavy toll on Thailand's economy and reputation. According to Thai media reports, some 100 000 tourists are stranded, and schedules of airlines around the world have been disrupted.
The Federation of Thai Industries has estimated the takeover of the airports is costing the country $57 million to $85 million a day.
On Saturday about 400 protesters, travelling in a convoy of cars from the occupied international airport, attacked a police checkpoint staffed by more than 100 police. The perimeter, which was put in place earlier in the day, had raised expectations authorities were preparing for a raid to end the four-day-old siege.
Avoiding violence
But instead, the dramatic four-minute assault effectively broke the cordon around the airport.
The protesters, carrying metal rods and some guns, smashed windshields and threw what appeared to be firecrackers at the police. Video footage of the attack appeared to show a protester firing a handgun toward a police van filled with officers.
Police Colonel Wuttipong Petchkumnerd said there were no injuries on either side.
"We left the area immediately because we did not want any confrontation," he told The Associated Press.
"The police are constantly provoked, which is why only senior policemen are armed. We do not want to use violence," he said. He said four police trucks were damaged.
So far security forces have only issued a warning to the protesters to leave. It was not clear if the assault will result in a changed strategy.
Earlier on Saturday, police spokesperson Major General Amnuay Nimmano said the protesters would be told to leave the airports. If they did not, a deadline will be issued with another warning, "the last one before we take action," he said.
- AP