The Phuket Airport was under siege, reported the Phuket Gazette at 8.45am yesterday (31 Aug), but followed up at 3.13pm stating that, despite protesters still being present, the airport was expected to re-open with flights landing shortly.

The two day occupation by the People’s Alliance of Democracy (PAD) of the Phuket Airport was in protest against the current Prime Minister, Samak Sundaravej, and his association with disgraced former PM Thaksin Shinawarta.

PAD initially said they would continue their protest until the PM resigned or their leaders instructed them differently.

The seizure inconvenienced thousands of tourists who were stuck in Phuket, with Sunday adding to the tally as it is Phuket Airport’s busiest day. With the only transport alternative being a 11-hour busy journey to Bangkok, many tourists found themselves with undue extensions to their holidays in Phuket.

The seizure alienated some PAD members and due to the negative impact on Phuket’s tourism, some members outright disowned PAD and called for an immediate end to airport occupation.

Elsewhere in Thailand, the airport in Krabi suffered the same fate over the last 2 days, with disruptions also occuring at Surat Thani Airport, a gateway to Koh Samui, where some flights were suspended.

An airport in Songkhla, Hat Yai Airport reopened yesterday, but the local leader of PAD protesters there warned the government not to disperse the massive PAD rally in Bangkok with violence, or risk another, possibly 5-day long reoccupation of the airport.