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  1. #1
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    Thai ATC 'Will Not Be Affected' By Protesters

    Thai ATC 'Will Not Be Affected' By Protesters
    January 15, 2014

    Thailand's air traffic communications body said on Wednesday it had back-up operations to ensure no disruption to air travel if hard-line anti-government protesters attempt to shut down its main control facility.

    Protesters trying to topple the government are camped in central Bangkok and one faction has threatened to besiege the stock exchange and offices of Aeronautical Radio of Thailand (AeroThai), part of the Ministry of Transport, which handles air traffic control communications.

    AeroThai's offices in central Bangkok threatened by the protesters look after aircraft in air space more than 80 km (50 miles) from Thai airports.

    "AeroThai has prepared contingency plans to handle any situation that may affect our service... For en-route services AeroThai has set up a back-up centre working parallel to our primary system," company president Prajak Sajjasophon told Reuters news agency.

    "We can assure you services will not be affected if protesters force our headquarters to shut down operations."

    Flag carrier Thai Airways also played down the potential for disruption.

    "The airline has closely coordinated with AeroThai, which has prepared strict measures to cope with the impact from the protest for more than two months. We don't expect any problem with operations and the protesters should not be able to get access to the air traffic control tower," Executive Vice-President for Finance Wasukarn Visansawatdi said.

    Some airlines, including Singapore Airlines and Tiger Airways, have cut back on flights to Bangkok because demand has dropped since the protests began in November.

    "At this point we understand flight operations are normal in and out of Bangkok. We'll of course continue to monitor the situation closely," a Singapore Airlines spokesman said.

    The main protest group in Bangkok is trying to stop ministries and other state bodies from functioning but it said on Tuesday the air traffic agency was not one of its targets.

    However, one allied group, whose members include students and trade unionists, has threatened action against the agency and stock exchange if Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra does not resign by Wednesday.

    A Reuters photographer said this group had marched from its protest camp but had not gone anywhere near AeroThai.

    In 2008, in an earlier bout of political unrest, a group of protesters forced Bangkok's two main airports to close for more than a week.

    "In view of the escalated tensions in Bangkok, Tiger Air has developed contingency plans to temporarily shift our operations to an alternative airport if operations at the current airport in Bangkok are affected," a spokeswoman said.

    Transport Minister Chadchart Sittipunt told reporters last week that U-Tapao military air base in Pattaya to the south of the capital had been prepared as backup if demonstrators targeted the Bangkok airports again.

    news.airwise.com

  2. #2
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    NSPRT halts activities for one day
    Orapa Chueyprasit
    Rewriter : Suvicha Jirakittikul

    BANGKOK, 16 January 2014 (NNT) - The Network of Students and People for Reform of Thailand (NSPRT) has made clear that AEROTHAI and the Stock Exchange of Thailand remain their targets; however, they have no intention to occupy them on Thursday.

    The network said all activities will be suspended for one day and no government office will be seized on Thursday.

    The NSPRT’s main objective is to mobilize supporters to assist the affiliated People Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) in a bid to prevent government forces from dispersing the crowds.

    Although there have been no clashes between police officers and anti-government protesters, both the NSPRT and the PDRC have been the targets of several attacks in recent days.

    An unknown assailant sprayed bullets at NSPRT security guards manning barricades at Nang Loeng protest site late Wednesday night, but no one was injured. A home-made bomb was also thrown near the PDRC rally site at the Lat Phrao five-way intersection on the same night.

    thainews.prd.go.th

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