Thai Protesters Force Police From Airport

[tekisui]

BANGKOK, Thailand (CNN) -- Anti-government protesters occupying Bangkok's international airport forced police into a hasty retreat Saturday after officers tried to stop more demonstrators from joining the thousands whose siege has brought air traffic in the capital to a halt.

The 100 or so officers left behind nine police vans. Protesters promptly let the air out of the tires.

By Saturday, demonstrators parked their cars on the main highway leading to the Suvarnabhumi international airport.

They also set up several checkpoints along the roads around the airport, using razor wires, abandoned cars and airport luggage carts. Masked men milled about, wielding metal sticks and baseball bats.

A government official had earlier said that authorities would begin an operation to clear out the airport on Saturday. The initial plan called for police to stop people from coming into the facility with food and water for the more than 5,000 protesters camped inside.

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/11/29/thailand.airport.protests/

[exman]

1. Gentle revolution?

:thumbsup: They didn't burn the cop cars.? I hope they can get a responsible government peacefully, my heart goes out to them. I fear the potential for another Tiananman Square type confrontation, although the Army and police seem to be rational. This is a significant ongoing event that is not getting the attention it deserves.