"Thai ruling brings down government; Protesters end blockade of capital's airports" by Seth Mydans and Thomas Fuller, New York Times | December 3, 2008
Demonstrators from the People's Alliance for Democracy cheered in declaring victory near the end of their siege at Suvarnabhumi international airport in Bangkok yesterday. (Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)
BANGKOK - Anti-government protesters declared an end yesterday to their debilitating weeklong blockade of Bangkok's airports after Thailand's high court disbanded the ruling party for electoral fraud and brought down the government.
Leaders of the disbanded party, People Power, said they would reconstitute the government under another party name and hold on to power, although the count of parliamentary votes was not assured. But the protesters - who had also occupied the prime minister's office for more than three months calling for the ouster of the government - said they would end all their blockades by this morning.
The demonstrators, largely drawn from the elite and middle-class establishment, have been protesting for three years against leadership they judged to retain loyalty to Thaksin Shinawatra, the prime minister ousted in a coup in September 2006. Thaksin, whose six years of rule were clouded by accusations of corruption, drew his strength by empowering the rural poor, a divisive bid in a country with one of the world's deepest divides between rich and poor. The ruling has added momentum to the protest movement's hopes to dilute the hinterland's rising electoral power.
I'm tired of the MSM lie because it is EVERYBODY! Obviously, the AGENDA-PUSHING PRESS is on the side of the GLOBALISTS!!!!
The reaction was euphoric at the airport when the court's ruling was announced. Demonstrators wept and cheered in a throng outside the departure area, where hundreds of people had set up camps with sleeping mats, bed rolls and even tents.
"I'm extremely happy that we have won over tyranny, over the Thaksin regime, which is corrupt and dictatorial," said Dr. Chokchuang Chutinaton, who has attended the protest rallies since they began.
Tonkla Maksuk, 49, a volunteer nurse with the People's Alliance for Democracy, which has led the protests, said: "I'm glad, I feel relieved, it's like something that we have been carrying is now gone. I feel that this is still a country of laws."
I'm HAPPY for the THAI PEOPLE!!!
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Despite the ruling, the threat of violence continues, with fears building of a possible backlash by government supporters. For the most part, the protests have proceeded peacefully, but early yesterday, an explosion at Bangkok's smaller airport, Don Muang, killed one protester....
Translation: the AGENT PROVOCATEURS of the GOVERNMENT are STILL ACTIVE!
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