BDD
Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat rejected calls from his opponents and top military elites to step down after anti-government protesters besieged the Suvarnabhumi Airport Tuesday night. His speech demanded protesters to back off in terms of country economy and stability.
PAD-led protesters took control of the airport and totally paralyzed the international gateway to Southeast Asia. Prime minister created his last defense line in Chiang Mai, second capital of Thailand after he flew back from Peru this late afternoon.
His 10:00 PM Televise from Chiang Mai, reaffirmed that he has no intention to step down regardless of army chief suggested him to dissolve the parliament. Cabinet members also escaped along with a same plane which carried Prime Minister landed to Chiang Mai via Bangkok old international airport this evening.
Chiang Mai would be center of the Thai political crisis within a few days, one of the Burmese political observers predicted. Chiang Mai is a stronghold of former Prime Minister Thaksin who is also a brother in law of current Prime Minister Somchai.
Current Thai government has also moved its ASEAN summit to Chiang Mai to save the face of Thai government as ASEAN chairmanship. Four months old anti-government PAD supporters also occupied the government house which is an office of prime minister last few months.
Northern native pro-government supporters have showed their support for the government at the downtown Chinag Mai old city since this afternoon. One PAD member was shot and killed by pro-government supporters, a local TV showed.
There will be major bloodshed if he and PAD wouldn't back down, said source close to Thai security agencies.
Photo: The Nation
