BANGKOK, Thailand — Thousands of protesters occupied Thailand’s main international airport today, halting all flights in a blow to the country’s fragile tourism industry as they pressed their demand for the government’s resignation.
The airport takeover was one of the boldest gambles yet by the People’s Alliance for Democracy in its four-month campaign to topple Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, whom it accuses of being the puppet of a disgraced fugitive predecessor, billionaire Thaksin Shinawatra.
The alliance vowed to bring its campaign to a final showdown this week, and violence has spiked, including street clashes between supporters and opponents of the government Tuesday that included the first open use of firearms by the anti-government protesters. Police said 11 government supporters were injured, some with gunshot wounds.
Early today, assailants threw an explosive at government protesters camped out at a separate domestic airport in Bangkok, injuring at least three people, police said.
Demonstrators, some masked and armed with metal rods, had swarmed the international Suvarnabhumi Airport overnight, breaking through police lines and spilling into the passenger terminal.
The airport was fully shut down early today, with incoming flights being diverted to other points in Thailand, including Chiang Mai and Phuket. As many as 500 passengers remained stranded, airport director Serirat Prasutanont said.
“We are trying to negotiate them to allow outgoing passengers stranded by the protest to fly,” he said. “The incident has damaged Thailand’s reputation and its economy beyond repair.”
The alliance said the airport would be shut down until Somchai quits. The prime minister was scheduled to return late today from an Asia-Pacific summit in Peru and would land at a military airport, officials said.
The protesters appeared intent on forcing the military to intervene and bring down the elected regime. Army commander Gen. Anupong Paochinda has repeatedly ruled out a coup, though he has also said the army “will keep peace and order to protect the public and uphold important institutions like the monarchy.”
The alliance has staged a number of dramatic actions in recent months. It took over the prime minister’s office in late August and twice blockaded Parliament.
Support for the alliance has been waning, and the group appeared to be edging toward bigger confrontations — involving fewer, though more aggressive, followers — in hopes of creating chaos.
