Bangkok after protest : Should I cancel Chistmas plans in Bangkok because of unrest?

Protesters in Bangkok Thailand have been occupying key government buildings since late August to demand the resignation of the government, and have taken over Bangkok’s international airport.

What is happening now?

Last weekend, the protesters vowed that – after months of paralysing protest in Bangkok - they were embarking on the “final battle” of this struggle against the government.

They spent several days seeking out suitable targets for this latest debilitating assault and alighted on the airport.

bangkok after protest

The airport is important in more ways that one – as a key tourist transit point its disruption has obvious implications for Thailand’s economy, and it was also a pet project of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, loathed by the protesters.

The Thai army chief, Gen Anupong Paochinda, has now made an intervention, urging fresh elections to be called and demanding the protesters vacate the airport. He has previously publicly called on Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat to stand down.

BANGKOK, Thailand on world travel warning list – NOVEMBER 26: A passenger sleeps inside Suvarnabhumi airport on November 26, 2008, in Bangkok, Thailand. Thousands of passengers are stranded after Suvarnabhumi Airport had been ordered closed because of anti-government protesters. The closure, ordered around 9 pm yesterday, is preventing all out-bound flights. In-bound planes are still being allowed to land.