Thailand’s army commander urged protesters yesterday to leave Bangkok airport and called for elections to end the country’s political crisis after a day of chaos in which thousands of travelers were stranded.
All flights were canceled and frustrated passengers bused to hotels, as protesters shut down Suvarnabhumi Airport in a major escalation of their four-month campaign to oust the prime minister.
“The government should give the public a chance to decide in a fresh election,” General Anupong Paochinda said at a news conference after meeting with high-level government officials, academics, economists and security officials.
PHOTO: AP
Suriyasai Katasila, a spokesman for the protesters, said the group would not abide by the army chief’s plea.
“Right now, our demand remains the same. If the government does not quit, we will not quit,” he said.
Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat returned from an APEC summit in Peru yesterday and said that he had not decided whether to heed the call to dissolve parliament.
The protest group, the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), appears intent on forcing the military to intervene and bring down the elected regime.
There was no word on when flights might resume.
Early yesterday assailants threw four explosives at PAD demonstrators, including one targeting a group about 1km from the airport.
A second was tossed into a crowd at the domestic Don Muang airport, injuring three others, police said. The two other explosives did not injure anyone. It was unclear who staged the attacks.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday reminded Taiwanese nationals in Thailand to exercise caution.
Taiwanese citizens who need help can call the ministry’s representative office in Bangkok at 081-666-4006 around-the-clock, Department of Information and Cultural Affairs deputy director-general James Chang (章計平) said.
The Taipei Association of Travel Agents said about 1,000 Taiwanese travelers have been affected by the flight cancelations at Bangkok’s main airport, including about 500 who were scheduled to fly to Thailand yesterday and 400 who are stranded in Bangkok. Those stranded in Thailand may have to wait another day before they would be able to return, while tourists preparing to fly to Thailand may need to postpone their schedules for a few days, a spokesman for the association said.
Taiwan last night blanked world No. 1 Japan 4-0 to win the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s (WBSC) Premier12 for the first time. Taiwanese ace Lin Yu-min (林昱珉) held defending champions Japan to just one hit and no runs in the first four innings, before catcher Lin Chia-cheng (林家正) opened the fifth inning with a solo home run. That was soon followed by a three-run homer from Taiwanese captain Chen Chieh-hsien (陳傑憲) to put Taiwan ahead in the prestigious tournament of the world’s top 12 baseball teams. In addition to a superb performance from 21-year-old Arizona Diamondbacks prospect Lin, three more Taiwanese pitchers
SUPPORT: Arms sales to NATO Plus countries such as Japan, South Korea and Israel only have to be approved by the US Congress if they exceed US$25m The US should amend a law to add Taiwan to the list of “NATO Plus” allies and streamline future arms sales, a US commission said on Tuesday in its annual report to the US Congress. The recommendation was made in the annual report by the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC), which contained chapters on US-China economic and trade ties, security relations, and Taiwan and Hong Kong. In the chapter on Taiwan, the commission urged the US Congress to “amend the Arms Export Control Act of 1976 to include Taiwan on the list of ‘NATO Plus’ recipients,” referring to
Taiwan yesterday advanced to the gold medal match of the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s (WBSC) Premier12 for the first time in history, despite last night losing 9-6 to Japan. Taiwan advanced after the US defeated Venezuela in the first game on the last day of the Super Round. However, the US had no chance of advancing to the championship game unless it defeated Venezuela by at least nine points. The US won 6-5. As a result, the two teams — who both had one win and two losses in the Super Round — are to face off again in the
Minister of Labor Ho Pei-shan (何佩珊) said she would tender her resignation following criticism of her handling of alleged bullying by Ministry of Labor Workforce Development Agency branch director Hsieh Yi-jung (謝宜容) resulting in the death of an employee. The ministry yesterday gave Hsieh two demerits and said she is subject to review by the Disciplinary Court. The severest possible punishment would be her removal from office and being barred from government jobs indefinitely. Workforce Development Agency Director-General Tsai Meng-liang (蔡孟良) also received a major demerit and was transferred to another position. Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) issued a formal apology
RSS