Thai police order airport protesters to disperse

Source: CCTV.com | 12-01-2008 15:42

Days after Thailand's Prime Minister declared a state of emergency police on Sunday ordered anti-government protestors to end the siege of Bangkok's airports. They restricted public gatherings and warned offenders would be jailed or fined. This came after pro-government groups hit the streets in the capital.

Thailand's political crisis deepened as thousands of government supporters also rallied in the heart of Bangkok on Sunday... to show their support for Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat. It was their first major show of strength since the People's Alliance for Democracy, or PAD, launched its campaign to unseat the government.

The supporters said they would stay overnight to show their backing for Somchai...ahead of a court ruling next week could order the dissolution of his party, and the fall of the government.

The supporters say they won't provoke trouble...But a number of gun and bomb attacks in the past few days have fueled fears that the two sides are on a collision course.

Police vowed to keep the two sides apart... and ordered the anti-government protestors to disperse. Around 200 police in riot gear were spotted on Sunday...But they made no move toward the PAD barricades... and later retreated. It was unclear how police would enforce their order to disperse, which bans public gatherings of more than 5 people.

Both the army and the king have distanced themselves from the turmoil so far.

The Constitutional Court is expected to rule soon on whether three parties in the governing coalition, including Somchai's People's Power Party, committed electoral fraud. If found guilty, the parties would be dissolved immediately, and executive members including Somchai would be barred from politics for five years.

The government said the damage to Thailand's "Land of Smiles" image from the protests may cut arrivals by half...next year... and threaten one million jobs.

Editor:Du Xiaodan