Thailand

Protesters leave government buildings

Article published on the 2008-12-01 Latest update 2008-12-01 09:36 TU

Pro-government supporters in Bangkok, Sunday
(Photo: Reuters)

Thai anti-government protesters began leaving government buildings on Monday in Bangkok. The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) had been occupying the Prime Minister's offices since last August but the group said that it was "too risky to stay at Government House because of repeated attacks against us".

Grenade attacks on Government House and on Bangkok's domestic airport left around 50 people injured this weekend.

RFI's Marie Normand in Bangkok says the PAD was also trying to avoid confrontation after about 15,000 supporters of ousted leader Thaksin Shinawatra held a demonstration on Sunday.

Thousands of people dressed in red, to distinguish themselves from the anti-government protesters who have adopted yellow as their identifying colours, filled the streets of the capital, many wearing headbands declaring "No coup!".

The Shinawatra and government supporters gathered about five kilometres from the PAD occupants of government buildings. Police described the situation as "peaceful".

Meanwhile, the occupation of Bangkok's airports continued on Monday after the PAD allowed 37 empty planes to fly out of the main International airport, Suvarnabhumi. Twenty-eight planes remain grounded since protesters besieged the airport early last week.

An estimated 100,000 tourists are stranded in Thailand, unable to leave through the airports. The Australian airline Qantas on Monday sent a plane to the tourist island of Phuket to fly home Australian nationals.

Air France-KLM will also fly tourists from Phuket with one flight scheduled for Amsterdam on Monday and a second for Paris on Tuesday.

Spain sent three airplanes on Sunday to repatriate tourists while Singapore on Sunday called for "restraint" and "a peaceful resolution".