BDD
Burmese who normally travel from and to the international use Suvarnabhumi Airport, a major hub of Southeast Asia as transit point, now facing no solution. Many foreign tourists and Burmese travel through Bangkok have stranded in both Rangoon and Bangkok. Normally Burmese are using Bangkok as a transit point besides KL of Malaysia and Singapore.
A foreign traveler who has stranded in Rangoon said that her cash is running out and there would be major problem if she has to stay one more week in Rangoon, her husband who nervously waiting for his wife in Rangoon said. Burma is not very convenient for credit card holders except international chain major hotels but not local business and restaurants.
There is no sign of settlement between PAD led anti-government and PPP party led Thai government. Thailand which is heavily depending on tourism and export orientated country now goes nowhere, Thai businessman said.
PAD anti-government demonstrators do not allow Thai Airways International aircrafts to leave from both Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports to other international airports that government would use alternative flights.
However, Thai Airways has arranged special flights for foreign tourists to leave from U-Tapao, a naval airbase which is 150 kilometers from Bangkok, and Chiang Mai and Phuket. But U-Tapao airbase is not designed for international flights or commercial use, report said. There was no confirmation of Bangkok-Rangoon fights would be conducted from naval airbase in Chun Buri.
Many countries have sent their special flights to pick their citizens. Included Chinese emergency chartered flights are expected to fly home most of the more than 3,000 mainland tourists stuck in Thailand by Monday, the Chinese media reported.
The longer the deadlock, the worse economy and political division will be placed, Thai security official stressed. Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat would likely step down or dissolve Parliament to end the crisis, while Pasuk Phongpaichit of Chulalongkorn University said there should not be another coup, The Nation reported.
Photo: U-Tapao naval airbase
