Thailand: Airport takeover and Twitter · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Anti-government protesters led by the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) have overtaken two major airports in Bangkok. The airports remain closed stranding thousands of passengers. Bangkok is a major transport hub in the region.
Twitter has become an interesting and good source of information about what is happening in Thailand. Twitter users in Bangkok have been exchanging travel tips, news updates, and opinions about the current situation.
Those who are stranded in the airports and those who have experienced difficulties travelling to Asia because of the recent political developments in Thailand have been using Twitter, among other online tools, to ventilate their emotions and gather news updates.
Compared to a single comprehensive blog article, a tweet doesn’t much provide information. But reading a good number of tweets can help provide an interesting sample of the collective sentiments of residents in a city or even country.
Below are some of the Twitter updates from Bangkok:
Because of the chaos in the airports, a colleague of Escribitionist had to change his travel plans:
“my colleague in singapore is booking airasia flight from singapore to phuket for another colleague to fly back this Sunday”
“he's worried about this and i do not think he would come to bangkok anytime soon.”
“lol.. my colleague in singapore who was supposed to come today sent 2 pics of PAD at the airport via skype”
DrRider wonders how can he go back to Thailand:
“mourning for Thailand and everybody who loses life”
“I wonder international flight should reroute to Phuket airport, then take other transports to Bangkok”
“Do I need to use military airport?”
“how can I go back to Thailand?”
“@sugree is water in the airport's toilet clean enough to drink?”
P_warawit’s schedule was affected too:
“I did exactly that. I'll need to stay in SG for one more day. But this already screwed several of my plans already. :-“
Some are travelling by land in order to enter Thailand. Leolaksi writes:
“@faay so tired. Many people at Malaysia Thai crossing travelling back to Bangkok. Stuck in Singapore and KL”
“A friend of mine is in Karachi. He is flying to HKG and then Vientiane. By car back to BKK.”
“Singapore to Bangkok by car. Now north of KL. Had Yai tonight. Bangkok tomo.”
The situation is very frustrating, some are already crying. Thailand Today reports:
“Many aged Muslims, who have been left stranded inside the Suvarnabhumi International Airport, were seen this morning crying.”
The coup rumor was widely discussed in Twitter. Jfxberns provides some of the updates:
Nation: “Chamlong warns police of people's uprising if protesters forcefully dispersed.” Wrong, now the public believes “You asked for it.”
“Thai Airways International estimates it will lose Bt500 million for every day the airport remains closed.”
From eTTR: “However, contrary to the facts, the TAT governor continues to believe that the country can reach its tourist arrivals target.”
“Situation seems intractable. PAD becomes more of a mob by the minute, Somachai's government looks more and more powerless and ineffective.”
“PAD responds to Somchai's broadcast. “Oh, state of emergency? Oh my! OK, we are leaving. No–you go first. We'll follow right behind you.”
“'The military have moved tanks for strategic purposes but I can confirm that there is no coup and the military has not been ordered to b”
“Nothing happening yet–but lots of rumors, government employees told to go home early. The feeling is a lot like before last coup.”
“I understand that PAD is angry, they are being attacked with grenades. But alienating the common people does not help their cause.”
“Does anybody else think that PAD's image is starting to look more like a Mafia Mob rather than a Protest Mob?”
Fixedup identifies the mistakes of the protesters:
“I love Thailand, imagine the bloodshed if people tried this in another country!”
“Bed time for me, I hope Thailand gets better soon!”
“The mistake they made was inconveniencing travelers. Its one thing to protest and another thing to disrupt public Transportation”
Rico Flan thinks Thailand has committed an economic suicide:
“Watching Thailand commit economic suicide. When will this farce end? BANANA REPUBLIC.”
Anasuya,a journalist, comments:
“It's a real shame–the fallout from this will be immense. I think tempers are starting to flare at the airport.”
“PAD storm control tower at S'bhumi, trying to find out which flight Somchai might be on”
Sweetener demands:
“give back airports to me”
Thai Coup reacts to the state of emergency declared by the government:
“Didnt really know you could declare a “State of Emergency” covering 2 buildings. Historians take note!”
“Suvarnabhumi Airport to remain closed until Nov 29”
“Public Advisory: When in Thailand avoid wearing read or yellow…. Wearing Orange will get u whacked from both sides” (Note: Yellow is the color used by the protesters. Red is used by supporters of the government)
“Civil Court orders PAD to leave Suvarnabhumi Airport immediately… Like thats worked before ;)”
Baramunchies wants to look around the airport:
“tempted to go to the airport and look at the situation.”
“so if pad wins thailand will have a totalitarian government that does not need majority decisions, but made out of extremely intelligent and high moral standard people? don't know that is a good outlook.”
“i think thailand just made a huge step backward.”
“will there be an anti pad movement that is not pro thaksin???” (Note: Thaksin is the ousted leader of Thailand. PAD organized the rallies in 2006 which led to the coup which ousted Thaksin)
Jon Randy wonders if a rock event will push through:
“I've got a feeling that after the October mess, the police are reluctant to do anything other than ASK them to leave” (Note: Last October the police violently dispersed a rally by PAD. This incident generated public sympathy in favor of the protesters).
“I think it is now totally irrelevant why anyone wants the govt. to resign – they should do so now as they have proved they are totally inept”
“Does anyone know if “Bangkok Rock 100″ is still going ahead? How will the headline artists get here?”
Luke_bkk writes about the tank sightings in Bangkok which probably fueled speculations of an imminent coup:
“OK, I was told the tanks were close by but seems they are not close enough. Someone needs to take photo with happy tanksgiving and tanks.”
“if the people protesting put this much effort into winning elections we might not be in this mess.”
“Love the fact everytime anything interesting happens in Thailand the Bangkok Post website falls over. They really need to learn to cache.”
“I dont hate the PAD or anyone else, im just sick of dead end Thai politics getting in the way of real issues.”
“How bloody stupid are the PAD, running around with guns? Going to scare the tourists away at a time when the economy is about to go down.”
Tewson on the consequences of what PAD did:
“from now on, people will hijack things to get what they want.”
“and if the law is against them, they will just condemn the law as it is not righteous.”
Erl is not amused:
“thailand is the land of freedom. you may take over airport whenever you want.”
“need to leave thailand next wednesday for a visa trip. options are limited if airports are still blocked… laos? malaysia? singapore?”
“even if a country is a big mess, for most people life goes on as normal. the mood changes though, optimism turns into pessimism.”