People's Power: Anti-government protesters lifted their crippling, eight-day blockade of Thailand's main airport today...
[Reuters]
...raising the hopes of 230,000 stranded tourists even though there is no end in sight to the wider political crisis. The central bank slashed interest rates by a shock 100 basis points to 2.75 percent, reflecting the impact of the siege on a tourism- and export-dependent economy already feeling the effects of global slowdown. A Thai Airways domestic flight landed at 0715 GMT (2:15 a.m. EST) and several international flights were scheduled to leave soon after, although it was unclear when full operations would resume.
This month until mid January 2009 is NOT a good time to visit Thailand.
The Coalition MPs to elect new PM for Thailand
The new prime minister will be elected by the coalition MPs during a special session of Parliament on Monday and Tuesday, Deputy House Speaker Apiwan Wiriyachai said Wednesday. He said the coalition would propose the election of the prime minister during the period, which was scheduled for Parliament to approve the legal framework for the government to sign contracts with other Asean countries.
THAI passengers may be allowed to check in at Bitec Monday
Thai Airways International said Sunday that it may allow passengers to check in at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (Bitec) at 8am Monday. Under contract with THAI, Centara Grand's check-in counters would be in operations only until Dec 2, it added.
Koh Samui as taking off point
Bangkok Airways has launched special flights between Hua Hin and Samui twice a day during December 1st until further notice in order to serve passengers going to Singapore or Hong Kong via Samui, it announce Monday.
Meanwhile...
British Airways is urging its customers to call the local number 02 627 1701 to register their details, as the airline is finding ways to repatriate them from Bangkok. The airline said in a statement issued on Tuesday December that it is working with the oneworld alliance partner, Qantas, to explore a number of options to help the airline's customers to leave Thailand. It is also making preparations for when it is able to fly back in to Bangkok airport.
[Forbes.com]
There is still no quick exits in Thailand...The country's government was ousted Tuesday by the Constitutional Court, but following elections it may be back in a different form, sparking protests.
With the sitting government having been dissolved by the country's high court, Thailand faces another round of elections, and the outcome may well amount to a repeat of history. An effective reincarnation of the current administration is likely to be voted into power, breeding another cycle of protest and instability. The country's Constitutional Court struck down Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat's government Tuesday, banning Somchai and 36 officials from his ruling party from politics for five years. The court found Somchai and his colleagues guilty of voter fraud during the 2007 elections. The ruling came amid a heated climate in which anti-government protesters last week seized the country's airports, and a bomb blast Tuesday killed one protester and injured 20. But the party in question, the People's Power Party, itself a virtual replica of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's Tahi Rak Thai Party, which was disbanded under military rule, has already vowed to resurrect itself under a new name.
...raising the hopes of 230,000 stranded tourists even though there is no end in sight to the wider political crisis. The central bank slashed interest rates by a shock 100 basis points to 2.75 percent, reflecting the impact of the siege on a tourism- and export-dependent economy already feeling the effects of global slowdown. A Thai Airways domestic flight landed at 0715 GMT (2:15 a.m. EST) and several international flights were scheduled to leave soon after, although it was unclear when full operations would resume.
This month until mid January 2009 is NOT a good time to visit Thailand.
The Coalition MPs to elect new PM for Thailand
The new prime minister will be elected by the coalition MPs during a special session of Parliament on Monday and Tuesday, Deputy House Speaker Apiwan Wiriyachai said Wednesday. He said the coalition would propose the election of the prime minister during the period, which was scheduled for Parliament to approve the legal framework for the government to sign contracts with other Asean countries.
THAI passengers may be allowed to check in at Bitec Monday
Thai Airways International said Sunday that it may allow passengers to check in at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (Bitec) at 8am Monday. Under contract with THAI, Centara Grand's check-in counters would be in operations only until Dec 2, it added.
Koh Samui as taking off point
Bangkok Airways has launched special flights between Hua Hin and Samui twice a day during December 1st until further notice in order to serve passengers going to Singapore or Hong Kong via Samui, it announce Monday.
Meanwhile...
British Airways is urging its customers to call the local number 02 627 1701 to register their details, as the airline is finding ways to repatriate them from Bangkok. The airline said in a statement issued on Tuesday December that it is working with the oneworld alliance partner, Qantas, to explore a number of options to help the airline's customers to leave Thailand. It is also making preparations for when it is able to fly back in to Bangkok airport.
[Forbes.com]
There is still no quick exits in Thailand...The country's government was ousted Tuesday by the Constitutional Court, but following elections it may be back in a different form, sparking protests.
With the sitting government having been dissolved by the country's high court, Thailand faces another round of elections, and the outcome may well amount to a repeat of history. An effective reincarnation of the current administration is likely to be voted into power, breeding another cycle of protest and instability. The country's Constitutional Court struck down Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat's government Tuesday, banning Somchai and 36 officials from his ruling party from politics for five years. The court found Somchai and his colleagues guilty of voter fraud during the 2007 elections. The ruling came amid a heated climate in which anti-government protesters last week seized the country's airports, and a bomb blast Tuesday killed one protester and injured 20. But the party in question, the People's Power Party, itself a virtual replica of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's Tahi Rak Thai Party, which was disbanded under military rule, has already vowed to resurrect itself under a new name.
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