Asia News

Blockades continue at Hat Yai airport

Written by Admin on Thursday, September 4th, 2008

POLITICS

Blockades continue at Hat Yai airport

Protesters sealed off Hat Yai airport in Songkhla province for the second day yesterday, ignoring calls from local businesses to stop hindering tourism. Over 300 supporters of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), including members of state enterprise labour unions, stayed anchored in front of the airport’s gate yesterday. Airport authorities cancelled more than 20 flights.

PAD spokesman for Songkhla Ekkachai Issarathat said the blockade could end today.

Somchart Pimthanapoonporn, president of the Hat Yai-Songkhla Hotels Association, said tourist arrivals had dropped by 30 to 40%.

Some operators, however, rejected the significance of the airport’s closure on tourism, as most visitors were Malaysians who travelled overland.

More than 3,000 university students rallied at Songkhla provincial hall yesterday to demand Mr Samak lift the emergency decree in Bangkok and resign.

News Topics Related Posts :

• COMMENTARY / Dream of an aviation hub shattered (Thursday, December 11, 2008)
• EVENTS / Ball to drop on New Year celebration (Wednesday, December 3, 2008)
• Tourism Promotional Programmes Will Focus On Domestic Market (Wednesday, December 3, 2008)
• Thai Police Likely To Storm Airports (Wednesday, December 3, 2008)
• Thai AirAsia Cancels 106 Flights Thursday (Wednesday, December 3, 2008)
• Protesters Close Bangkok’s Two Airports (Wednesday, December 3, 2008)
• Horrible Journey Home For Nearly 100 Malaysians (Saturday, November 29, 2008)
• Island’s rice stock sufficient despite small drop in production (Friday, November 21, 2008)
• Chinese university graduates feel pains of global financial crisis (Friday, November 21, 2008)
• Banks unlikely to cut interest rates, says top banker (Thursday, November 20, 2008)
• CAN Info-Tech in January (Thursday, November 20, 2008)
• Taiwan President clears diary for possible Tsai meeting (Thursday, November 13, 2008)
• Govt criticised for Oct 7 clash / Irregularities found in handling of protests (Wednesday, November 12, 2008)
• Insufficient KL-London Flights By MAS Will Be Raised In Cabinet, Says Azalina (Wednesday, November 12, 2008)
• PAD supporters wed at Govt House (Tuesday, November 11, 2008)
• Panlop says he hasn’t been asked to be deputy pm (Tuesday, November 11, 2008)
• Thaksin can phone-in to Truth Today shows (Tuesday, November 11, 2008)
• Blast near Govt House, injured three (Tuesday, November 11, 2008)
• Senate probers say govt, police violate human rights in Oct 7 incident (Tuesday, November 11, 2008)
• Three wounded in PAD Government House encampment bomb explosion (Tuesday, November 11, 2008)

News Topics : Airport Authorities, Bangkok, Blockade, Closure, democracy, Emergency Decree, Flights, Hat Yai Airport, Hotels, Labour Unions, Local Businesses, Malaysians, Members, Politics, Protesters, Spokesman, State Enterprise, Tourism, Tourist Arrivals, University Students