Explosions Injure 51 In Thai Protests

Bangkok's Airports Remain Shut Down; Protesters Demand PM's Resignation

(AP)  At least 51 anti-government protesters were wounded in several explosions early Sunday, raising fears of widening confrontations in a standoff that has strangled Thailand's economy and shut down its airports.

The first blast went off inside Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat's office compound, which protesters seized in August and have held ever since. At least 49 people were hurt, including nine who were hospitalized, said Surachet Sathitniramai at the Narenthorn Medical Center. He said four were in serious condition.

Suriyasai Katasiya, a spokesman for the protest group, said a grenade landed on the roof of a tent under which protesters were resting. It rolled down and fell to the ground before exploding, he said.

The demonstrators, who call themselves the People's Alliance for Democracy, accuse the government of being a puppet of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted by a 2006 military coup and fled overseas to escape corruption charges.

The protesters overran Bangkok's international Suvarnabhumi airport Tuesday night as part of their campaign to force Somchai from office. They seized the Don Muang airport a day later, severing the capital from all commercial air traffic and virtually paralyzing the government.

The demonstrators say they will not leave until Somchai resigns, and have refused to enter any negotiations.

The closure of the airports has taken a heavy toll on Thailand's economy and reputation. According to Thai media reports, some 100,000 tourists are stranded, and schedules of airlines around the world have been disrupted.

Twenty-minutes after the compound attack, two more blasts rocked an anti-government television station but there were no injuries, Suriyasai said.

In another pre-dawn strike, an explosive device detonated on the road near the main entrance to Don Muang. Surachet and an Associated Press television cameraman said two people were wounded.

Police were unable to verify the accounts.

It was not immediately known who was behind the attacks.

The protest group has been attacked several times by small bombs and grenades, including a blast earlier this month that killed one person and wounded 29.

Deputy Prime Minister Olarn Chaipravat, who oversees economic affairs, said the number of foreign tourist arrivals next year was expected to fall by half to about 6 million, resulting in 1 million job losses in the crucial tourism industry.

The Federation of Thai Industries has estimated the takeover of the airports is costing the country $57 million to $85 million a day.

"The situation has gone from bad to worse, signaling that it (the government) is incompetent at ensuring peace and order," the Thai Chamber of Commerce said in a statement Saturday.

About 400 protesters, traveling in a convoy of cars from the occupied international airport, attacked a police checkpoint staffed by more than 100 officers Saturday. The perimeter, which was put in place earlier in the day, had raised expectations authorities were preparing for a raid to end the four-day-old siege.

But instead, the dramatic four-minute assault effectively broke the cordon around the airport.

The protesters, carrying metal rods and some guns, smashed windshields and threw what appeared to be firecrackers at the police. Video footage of the attack appeared to show a protester firing a handgun toward a police van filled with officers.

Police Col. Wuttipong Petchkumnerd said there were no injuries on either side.

"We left the area immediately because we did not want any confrontation," he told The Associated Press.

"The police are constantly provoked, which is why only senior policemen are armed. We do not want to use violence," he said. He said four police trucks were damaged.

So far security forces have only issued a warning to the protesters to leave. It was not clear if the assault will result in a changed strategy.

Earlier Saturday, police spokesman Maj. Gen. Amnuay Nimmano said the protesters would be told to leave the airports. If they did not, a deadline will be issued with another warning, "the last one before we take action," he said.

[sblake63]

These idiots have stranded 100,000 people. They are criminals and should be shot to death by the goverment or hanged in public for all too see.

[culturechang]

I knew it. Someone would bring up s-e-x as soon as thier heard Thailand. Kassandras1, have you ever been to Thailand to validate your beliefs. Prostitutes are not relevant....other than reference to the politicians which are all prostitutues.

[cdfoxtrot5]

These idiots have stranded 100,000 people. They are criminals and should be shot to death by the goverment or hanged in public for all too see.

Posted by sblake63


Off yer meds there, are we?

[kamsack50]

You''re so right, Kassandras1!
I see all those left wing travelers lounging around Thailand beaches, playing at being big-time capitalists for a while. You go get''em, girl!

[gotagrip]

Excellent example of people power. We need more of this in the world to stand up to dictators and corruption. They tried it in Burma but the dictators were more willing to kill them so they need outside help. There has been a trend in the last 15 - 20 years of the people toppling evil leaders. I hope it continues. We should help when we can.

[downsteamjim]

kassandra: I bet you loved Mao''s Cultural Revolution.

[runningralph]

Several posters are concerned that there are prostitutes in Thailand. If these posters are Americans, I must remind them that prostitution is legal in Nevada and in other US places it is illegal but nevertheless very common due to drugs, alcohol and gambling addictions. Some women even claim to have worked their way through college being ******. Some of our politicians have been known to frequent prostitutes : David Vitter and the former governor of New York come to mind. Marion Barry was even caught distributing narcotics to them. According to Larry Sinclair Obama prefers the male variety. Bill Clinton never had to resort to ****** because he was able to take advantage of women who worked for him. So let''s not get too uppity about ******. Many people call it a victimless crime. The ****** are paid and the johns are satisfied. I had an old uncle, dead decades ago, that publicly and often proclaimed the advantages of prostitutes. So long as the prostitutes are not being mistreated or abused it''s just a way to make a buck. It''s not something for Americans to get upset about.

[liselle3]

"The ****** are paid and the johns are satisfied." Runningralph
You certainly used the word "***" enough in your comment. As long as men "johns" are satisfied, all is right with the world... grow up.

[liselle3]

"The ****** are paid and the johns are satisfied." Runningralph
(apparently CBS doesn''t sensor the plural)
You certainly used the word "******" enough in your comment. As long as men "johns" are satisfied, all is right with the world... grow up.

[mariedevine]

"When a man''s ways please the Lord, it causes even his enemies to be at peace with him." There is one Supreme God, most religions agree. The One God who is also the God of the Christians, Jews and Muslims has commanded all people to follow the word of God He gave their prophets. It will be found to be the same message. Forbidden pictures and images have blinded us to the same message. They also acknowledge that He is a God who destroys evil so that His way will be exalted and we can live in peace.

In Leviticus 26 (book of Moses, Law, Torah) God promises "rain in due season," abundance in food and health, and peace in the land for those who follow His ways. For rejecting His laws, He promises to appoint over us terror and 4 x 7 curses that He outlines. (Also Deuteronomy 28). He cannot lie; its for our benefit.

The best way to make change is not violence; it is by lifting up the word of God and calling for holiness for the people. Jesus (Isa, Krishna) said, "first take the beam out of your own eye, then shall you see clearly to take the beam out of your brother''s eye." He said to live by every word of God. The prophet Muhammad was told to tell the people to follow the whole Bible and be not divided therein. It is the central message throughout the whole Qur''an. That is agreement. All faiths need to purify themselves because we are now receiving the result of our choice and we need to change to receive the blessings while they are still available.

[runningralph]

liselle3, sweetie, I never said that the johns were all men. In fact, I know that sometimes women can and will solicit men for the same thing. The point is it happens all over. It is the world''s oldest profession.

[socialismsux]

The prophet Muhammad was told to tell the people to follow the whole Bible and be not divided therein. It is the central message throughout the whole Qur''''an
posted by MarieDevine

1.) Muhammed is no "prophet" of God.
2.) You are lying. There are parts in the Quran that call for the destruction of all Jews and Christians by "allah".

3.) If Muhammed truly wanted to follow the WHOLE Bible, then Muslims wouldn''t deny Jesus Christ as the Son of God, as every fundamental Muslim does. Jesus Christ IS God incarnate, as the Bible clearly states.


The fact is I have debated with more Muslims than you can think of, and I can attest to you that not a single one of them believes that the God of the Bible is the God of the Quran, and not a single one of them believes in the Precious Holy Divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ, which the Gospels clearly declare and who Jesus came and proved to be when He was on earth.

[socialismsux]

The prophet Muhammad was told to tell the people to follow the whole Bible and be not divided therein. It is the central message throughout the whole Qur''''an
posted by MarieDevine

-Really? Even these parts of the Quran MarieDevine?:

The Qur''an:

Sura (5:51) - "O you who believe! do not take the Jews and the Christians for friends; they are friends of each other; and whoever amongst you takes them for a friend, then surely he is one of them; surely Allah does not guide the unjust people."

Sura (9:30) - "And the Jews say: Ezra is the son of Allah; and the Christians say: The Messiah is the son of Allah; these are the words of their mouths; they imitate the saying of those who disbelieved before; may Allah destroy them; how they are turned away!"

From the Hadith:

Ishaq 262 - "Some Muslims remained friends with the Jews, so Allah sent down a Qur''an forbidding them to take Jews as friends. From their mouths hatred has already shown itself and what they conceal is worse"

Bukhari (52:177) - Allah''s Apostle said, "The Hour will not be established until you fight with the Jews, and the stone behind which a Jew will be hiding will say. "O Muslim! There is a Jew hiding behind me, so kill him."

[socialismsux]

It is very sad when Muslims don''t even know what''s in their own "holy" book.(like MarieDevine)

In reality they do, but they don''t want you to know about it because it exposes what they''re really out for and their agenda, to totally islamicize the globe by force, if necessary, as we see in yet another "peaceful" demonstration in this article.