Thai protesters storm airport

Tensions in Thailand escalated as protesters swarmned the Bangkok airport after a clash with government supporters.

Opponents of the Thai prime minister Somchai Wongsawat who is seen as an extension of ousted leader Thaksin Shinawatra shot at Somchai supporters in the capital. They are attempting to force the military to bring down the government in the same way they ousted Thaksin.

Military leaders in Thailand often act independently of the elected government, but Army commander Gen. Anupong Paochinda has vowed repeatedly not to stage a coup.


Thai protesters prepare for "final battle"

Anti government protesters in front of the departure terminal at Suvarnabhumi airport, Bangkok in the early hours of Wednesday Nov. 26, 2008. Outbound flights at Suvarnabhumi International Airport were temporarily suspended at 9 p.m. Tuesday, authorities said, shortly before hundreds of demonstrators _ some masked and armed with metal rods _ broke through police lines and spilled into the passenger terminal. (AP Photo/Wason Wanichakorn)

WELT ONLINE

Protesters swarm Thai airport, takeoffs suspended The Associated Press - 1 hour ago BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) - Protesters swarmed Thailand's main international airport Tuesday, forcing the cancellation of departing flights just hours after their comrades opened fire on government supporters in a clash on the streets of the capital. Thais Warn of Flight Chaos as Protesters Storm Bangkok Airport Bloomberg Protesters besiege airport in bid to oust Thai govt Reuters India

Thaksin to call supporters at Bangkok rally

Ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will give a phone call message Saturday evening at a rally of supporters of his political party in Bangkok.

Opposition to the current government claims that current Prime Minster Somchai Wongsawat is simply a proxy of Thaksin. Somchai is Thaksin's brother-in-law.

The political conflict involves Thaksin's mostly poor and rural supporters opposed by the educated urban elite.

Thailand braces for phone call from ousted PM The Associated Press - 4 hours ago BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) - Thailand's military and police were on alert Saturday as the country braced for fugitive former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to speak by telephone at a rally that many fear could spark more political violence. Thousands join Thai anti-coup rally to hear Thaksin Reuters India Thailand's Thaksin to Phone In to Bangkok Stadium Rally Tonight Bloomberg

Cambodia, Thailand pledge peace

Somchai Wongsawat, the Thai prime minister, and Cambodian leader Hun Sen met to discuss their border conflict and said the two nations are now "good friends" pledged to peace.

Deadly clashes erupted last week in the dispute over the Preah Vihear temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site located near the border of both countries.

AsiaOne

Thai and Cambodian PMs pledge peace Aljazeera.net - 36 minutes ago Thailand and Cambodia have put the issue of a deadly border dispute behind them and are now "good friends", officials have said following a meeting between the leaders of the two countries. Thailand, Cambodia say clashes behind them Reuters Thai, Cambodian officials negotiate border dispute International Herald Tribune

Cambodia's PM assures no escalation in Thailand dispute

Camboidan Prime Minister Hun Sen said on Friday that Wednesday's firefight near the Thai border area will not escalate into a major conflict.

"Large-scale war won't take place and people living at the border needn't worry," he told reporters.

Malaysia and Indonesia have offered help in solving the crisis, but Hun Sen it was not time yet for external assistance.

Times Online

Cambodian PM assures of no escalation of clash with Thailand Xinhua - 1 hour ago PHNOM PENH, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- Wednesday's weapon clash with Thailand at the border area has come to its end and will not escalate into more serious military confrontation, said Prime Minister Hun Sen here on Friday after concluding a regular cabinet ... Fears Thai-Cambodian border dispute to hit business ties AFP Indonesia should lead efforts to solve Thai-Cambodian dispute Antara Play Cambodia, Thailand agree joint border control AFP via Yahoo! News - Oct 16 9:43 AM Play Thailand, Cambodia military talks after deadly border clash AFP via Yahoo! News - Oct 16 4:59 AM A Thai farmer walks behind herd of buffalos near the Thai-Cambodia border, in the disputed border area with Cambodia, near the Preah Vihear temple, in Si Sa Ket province, northeast of Bangkok, October 17, 2008. (Chaiwat Subprasom/Reuters) Families evacuating the northern Cambodia border line the roadside, about 120 km (75 miles) northeast of Siem Reap, October 16, 2008. (Adrees Latif/Reuters)

Cambodia, Thailand exchange gunfire

In a serious escalation of tension, Cambodia and Thailand exchanged fire at a disputed border region where the two sides are fighting over an ancient World Heritage site.

Reports indicate two Cambodian soldiers were killed; seven Thai soldiers injured and ten Thai soldiers captured in the fighting over the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple.

The temple was built by Khmers, who were based in Cambodia, and was awarded to that country by the International Court of Justice in 1962.

Gunfire on Thai-Cambodian Border
New York Times - 2 hours ago
By SETH MYDANS BANGKOK - Thai and Cambodian soldiers exchanged rocket and rifle fire for about an hour on Wednesday, according to reports from the scene, threatening to escalate a tense confrontation at the border over a disputed 900-year-old ...
Fighting at Thai-Cambodia border kills 2 soldiers The Associated Press
Thai and Cambodia temple dispute spills over into deadly fighting Times Online

Cambodia, Thailand dispute troop withdrawal

Cambodia claimed that Thai troops had withdrawn from a disputed border area, but Thailand denied the claims maintaining its right to patrol the area.

Tensions over the area near the Preah Vihear temple, proclaimed a UNESCO World Heritage site in July, 2008, have heated up lately with both sides threatening armed conflict.

UNESCO added the Preah Vihear temple to its World Heritage list in July 2008 Times Online Cambodia: Thailand withdraws troops from border The Associated Press - 3 hours ago Thai army spokesman Sansern Kaewkumnerd denied the Cambodian claim that Thai troops had withdrawn from the disputed area. "There has been no troop movement ... Cambodia, Thailand set time frame to resolve border disputes Xinhua Cambodia, Thailand resume talks on border spat AFP Thailand sends more troops to Cambodian border Swissinfo

Play New talks in Preah Vihear Temple row Reuters via Yahoo! News - Oct 13 3:54 AM

Middle class supporters rebel against Thai democracy

Opponents of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra called on the military to oust the current leader and his party in a military coup.

Army Commander Gen. Anupong Paochinda, however, promised not to intervene against Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat drawing sharp criticism for the general from the protesters.

In a counter demonstration, thousands of supporters of Somchai rallied near the office of the prime minister.

"We gathered today to show that the majority of this country objects to these rebels trampling on Thailand's democracy," said Veera Musigapong, one of the leaders of the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship. "We want to show that they are destroying the country in the name of the Thai public."

Times Online
Supporters of Thai government rally near Bangkok
The Associated Press - 1 hour ago
"We gathered today to show that the majority of this country objects to these rebels trampling on Thailand's democracy," said Veera Musigapong, ...
Thailand's middle classes lead unlikely protest - against democracy Telegraph.co.uk
Thais want peace, but also better traffic, as protests drag on
AFP - 7 hours ago

Two dead, hundreds hurt in Thai protests

Two people were killed and more than 400 injured during protests against Thailand's Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat.

Somchai is the brother-in-law and considered an extension of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra who was ousted in September 2006 military coup. Thaksin lives in exile in London.

The pro-royal alliance leading the protests says it wants to change the electoral system to disempower the rural poor who have supported the Somchai's ruling People Power Party.

The Age

Hundreds Injured in Thai Protests New York Times - 28 minutes ago By SETH MYDANS and THOMAS FULLER BANGKOK - Thailand’s political crisis worsened Tuesday when antigovernment protesters trapped lawmakers inside the Parliament building and fought running battles with the police that left one person dead and nearly 400 ... Video: Raw Video: Tear Gas Fired at Thai Protestors AssociatedPress 2 dead, 380 injured in Bangkok PRESS TV

Thai govt vows no crackdown on protesters

Thai protesters defied a court order as they continued to occupy a government compound. Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej promised not to use force against the demonstrators.

The protests largely pit the supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a military coup, against opposition forces dominated by royalists.

Opposition forces see Samak and his allies as puppets of Shinawatra, who lives in exile in Britain.

BBC News

Thai PM vows 'no showdown' as protesters dig in AFP - 58 minutes ago BANGKOK (AFP) - Thailand's embattled prime minister vowed Thursday to end massive rallies against his rule without force -- raising the spectre of a prolonged siege of Bangkok's main government compound. Thais speak out on protests BBC News Thai protesters defy court order to leave compound The Associated Press

Cambodia, Thailand to hold talks on temple dispute

Tensions continue to build on the Cambodia-Thailand border over the Preah Vihar Temple despite and agreement to hold talks on the issue.

Many Thais are angry that the culturally Cambodian temple located in disputed territory was recognized as a Cambodian World Heritage site.

Cambodian soldiers walk in the foggy morning as they patrol around Preah Vihear temple, Preah Vihear province, Cambodia, Thursday, July 17, 2008. Cambodia and Thailand escalated their troop buildup Thursday at disputed territory near the historic border temple despite moves to hold talks next week to defuse the flare-up in tensions, a Cambodian general said. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

Radio Australia

Cambodia-Thailand talks next week on temple standoff AFP - 6 hours ago PREAH VIHEAR, Cambodia (AFP) - Cambodian and Thai officials will meet next week to resolve a standoff over their disputed border close to an ancient temple, officials from both countries said Thursday. Cambodia, Thailand deploy more troops The Associated Press Political tensions driving temple row BBC News