BANGKOK UPDATE: Troops protect airports
BANGKOK – Travellers are being warned about visiting Bangkok this weekend as fears grow that a massive anti-government protest will paralyse the city.
Organisers claim up to a million people will join an anti-government protest on to the streets of the Thai capital.
The Australian and British governments have renewed travel advisories in light of the planned political protests, but their overall level of advice for travellers has not changed from exercising “a high degree of caution”.
The Thai government has invoked its Internal Security Act, in force until March 23, restricting movement around Bangkok, and giving police and soldiers sweeping powers to detain protesters and shut down parts of the city.
Police and soldiers are manning the city’s two major airports to ensure there is no repitition of the chaos that followed a blockade of Suvarnabhumi Airport by political demostrators at the end of 2008.
“The airports must continue providing services as usual. If there is any attempt to seize an airport the government will immediately disperse the demonstrators,” deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban said.
A group calling itself The Stop Hurting Thailand Network yesterday urged all citizens to wear a white ribbon as a symbol of peace.
Several major events planned for Bangkok and surrounding provinces this weekend have been postponed amid concerns over potential violence at the coming red shirt rally.
The red shirts, marching under the banner of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship are loyal to ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
From Friday, they will begin massing on the outskirts of Bangkok, before moving to the old part of the city for mass protests on Saturday and Sunday, calling for the dissolution of parliament.
The protest follows a decision by the Thai Supreme Court to strip Thaksin of more than a billion dollars in assets it ruled he had earned corruptly while in office.
Ian Jarrett
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Digital Travel Reporter of the Mirror totally seduced by HotelPlanner AI Travel Agent
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports