BANGKOK, Thailand — Thailand’s government backed off today from its threat to forcibly remove protesters occupying Bangkok’s two airports in their campaign to oust the prime minister, saying police would avoid violence and attempt to negotiate.
Thousands of tourists have been left stranded since anti-government protesters occupied the main international Suvarnabhumi airport on Tuesday and the smaller Don Muang airport on Wednesday. Both airports are now shut down and the capital completely cut off to air traffic.
On Thursday, Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat declared a state of emergency at the airports, authorizing police to take back the terminals. The order appeared to indicate that a crackdown was imminent against the members of the People’s Alliance for Democracy.
But eight hours later, government spokesman Nattawut Sai-Kau said that police have been instructed to get the protesters out of airports “as soon as possible” in a “peaceful manner.”
“Firstly, the police should open negotiation with the protester. If they refuse to go, police should do whatever is necessary to open the airports on the basis of nonviolence,” he said.
The new soft line, and the government’s failure to send in security forces so far, has raised doubts about whether Somchai has the support of security forces and the army, a powerful institution that has traditionally played a key role in the country’s politics.
Army commander Gen. Anupong Paochinda has so far been neutral in the political turmoil, and even suggested that Somchai call new elections, triggering speculation that a military coup could take place. The whispers were further fueled by press reports Thursday of tank movements that the military later said were only a training exercise.
In an address to the nation Thursday night to announce the emergency, Somchai said that navy and air force personnel would help the police, but was vague about any participation by the army.
The state of emergency also empowers the government to suspend some civil liberties, including restricting the movement of people and prohibiting mass assembly.
Emergency was declared once before in the three months since the protesters seized the prime minister’s office, but there was no move to take advantage of its provisions, apparently because the army was reluctant to take on the alliance, which at the time enjoyed greater popularity.
The protesters remained defiant today.
“We are ready to defend ourselves against any government’s operations to get us out of those places,” said Parnthep Wongpuapan, a spokesman of the People’s Alliance for Democracy.
The alliance’s protest grew out of its hatred of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, a brother-in-law of Somchai. Thaksin was ousted in a bloodless military coup in September 2006 after months of protests.
It accused Thaksin and his allies of corruption and abuse of power. Thaksin is in exile, a fugitive from a conviction for violating a conflict of interest law. The group says Somchai is a Thaksin puppet and should go.
However, Somchai has stood his ground, saying his departure would be a blow to democracy.
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