(9 October) Riot police have been dispatched to maintain order at Bangkok′s main international airport amidst the fears that the ongoing anti-government protests might escalate.
115 officers, drawn from the crowd control unit of Uttaradit province, are now stationed at Suvarnabhumi Airport in order to "assure the foreign visitors of their safety," said Pol.Col. Montri Chinda. The order came direction from the Royal Thai Police headquarters, he added.
The officers are supported by two vans carrying supply and riot gears, such as shields and truncheons.
Pol.Col. Montri also told our correspondent that two more police companies in Uttaradit are at "stand-by" to reinforce the riot police in Bangkok should the protests at Government House get out of hand.
In 2008, the People′s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) led the protesters to occupy both of Bangkok′s airports as part of their campaign to force the government at the time to resign. The government of then-Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat eventually collapsed after the court ordered the disbandment of his political party.
Allied to the PAD, the People′s Force of Democracy to Overthrow Thaksinism (PEFOT) is similarly calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, accusing her of being a corrupt puppet of her brother, former PM Thaksin Shinawatra.
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