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• Violence broke out several times in the last days of November 2008, as political protests continued at Thailand's two main airports and the Government House in Bangkok. Dozens were injured and two killed in attacks on the protesters.New York Times: Thai Security Forces Clash With Protesters at Airport (November 29, 2008)

  Tens of thousands of tourists were stranded as Songhi Limthongkul, leader of the opposition party, thousands of protesters and the military occupied the two airports. The party demands the resignation of Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat. On November 26, 2008, Wongsawat refused to dissolve parliament and step down.Los Angeles Times: Riot police surround Bangkok airports (November 29, 2008) Spain plans to send three planes to Thailand on the afternoon of November 30, 2008, to rescue those stranded.Sky News: Thailand: Protesters Ordered Out

• Fast Facts

  1. 51 people were wounded from explosions on November 30, 2008USA Today: 51 Protesters Wounded in Bangkok Explosions
  2. A grenade attack on November 29, 2008 at the Government House, injured at least 46 anti-government protestersGuardian: Grenade blast hits Thai government house in Bangkok (November 29, 2008)
  3. 2000 riot police were deployed to the airport on November 28, 2008Guardian: Grenade blast hits Thai government house in Bangkok (November 29, 2008)
  4. Somchai declared a state of emergency on November 27, 2008 and fired police chief Patcharawat Wongsuwanbut for not arresting the protestersLos Angeles Times: Riot police surround Bangkok airports (November 29, 2008)
  5. On November 26, 2008, grenade blasts at the airport killed two and injured four protestersGuardian: Grenade blast hits Thai government house in Bangkok (November 29, 2008)
  6. An estimated 2,000 protesters are in the two airport terminalsGuardian: Grenade blast hits Thai government house in Bangkok (November 29, 2008)
  7. All flights have been canceled, stranding thousands of foreign touristsLos Angeles Times: Riot police surround Bangkok airports (November 29, 2008)
  8. The airports have been officially closed until Monday, December 1, 2008Jerusalem Post: Main Bangkok airport closed at least until Monday (November 29, 2008)
  9. Senior army officials have sworn not to use force to remove the protestersLos Angeles Times: Riot police surround Bangkok airports (November 29, 2008)

• Bangkok Standoff Events

  Demonstrations at the airports and government house are led by the opposition party to the government, the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD). In 2006, they successfully overthrew Wongsawat's predecessor, Thaksin Shinawatra, and accused Wongsawat of being a puppet for the ousted Shinawatra.Guardian: Grenade blast hits Thai government house in Bangkok (November 29, 2008)

  Grenade attacks injured four protesters and killed two at the Bangkok Airport on November 26, 2008; 46 protesters were injured from grenade blasts at Government House on November 28, 2008. Riot police surrounded Bangkok International Airport and the domestic Don Muang airport on November 29, 2008, after clashes with protesters threatened to escalate.Guardian: Grenade blast hits Thai government house in Bangkok (November 29, 2008)

  The participation of the Thai military has aroused fears of a military coup, should the situation not be eased soon.Guardian: Grenade blast hits Thai government house in Bangkok (November 29, 2008)

• Related Pages on Mahalo

  Bangkok Protest | Bangkok Airport Blasts | Thaksin Shinawatra

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