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hillbilly

WASHINGTON, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. government called on Friday for the end of the standoff at Thailand airports protestingagainst its government.

"While we respect the right to freedom of expression, seizing an airport is not an appropriate means of protest," the State Department's acting deputy spokesman Gordon Duguid said in a statement.

He urged supporters of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD)"to walk away from the airports peacefully," and allow "this situation can be resolved without violence and in accordance with the law."

The air traffic has been paralyzed completely since protestors besieged the Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi international airports at the capital of Bangkok earlier this week out of the PAD's hatred of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Despite Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat's announcement of an emergency decree in the areas of both airports, the crisis continued after anti-government leaders rejected last-ditch attempts to negotiate with the government.

Although airlines have resumed their operations at a naval base, tens of thousands of passengers are still believed to be stranded during the four-day unrest.

U.S. calls for end of Thailand airport standoff_English_Xinhua

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Travelling in Northern Thailand

Bung

So you can fly into a naval base? Is this all or just a few select flights?

dirtydog

Just a few select flights, it can only take 48 flights perday.

watterinja

Tell the US government - ala Georgeous Bush - to push off. Interfering tossers that they always are.

Panda

Good to see the US government showing their displeasure at PADs unlawful behaviour. Only a handful of people in Thailand and a minuscule number of people around the world support what PAD is doing. The overwhelming majority of people inside and outside of Thailand condemn what PAD is doing.

Jet Gorgon

Thought the libtards liked PAD.

ChiangMai noon

oh dear.

you new to this issue?

Bobcock

If the shit does hit the fan I feel kinda sorry for some of those PAD people who have a genuine belief that they are campaigning for change.

Especially as they have just made the object of their displeasure even more popular.

melvbot

I asked the question about what will it take for Uncle Sam to stick his nose a couple of days ago. Have there been any recent oil discoveries in Thailand?

keda

What 'negotiations' do they constantly refer to, and what is there for PAD to negotiate when they can do what they want anyway? The longer it goes on the less the PAD have to lose...at the risk of upsetting the pc brigade, someone ought to give 'er a good hiding.

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ItsRobsLife

What's a libtard?

Muadib

A liberal retard... Much like a fucktard, but with spots...

ItsRobsLife

Still doesn't make any sense. Fookin dumb bitch.

Panda

Jet cant handle the fact that we are on the same side on this issue.

I am actually surprised she is not a PAD supporter.

Norton

Oh my. Another profound statement of the obvious comes from the mouths our our international diplomatic corp.

The Fresh Prince

Me too

Rural Surin

Remember....Elvis is an American

killerbees

True. I guess that means he could have stood in the last presidential election. Figuratively speaking.

Texpat

What a shame, just as Thailand was beginning to distance itself from US Foreign Aid sanctions placed on it following the 2006 military coup. The numbers were starting to climb again.

Let's see if they zero out again...

"In response to the September 19, 2006, military coup in Thailand, the U.S. State Department announced the suspension of nearly $24 million in U.S. foreign assistance to the country, including military and peacekeeping assistance and training under foreign operations appropriations ($7.5 million) and counterterrorism assistance under Section 1206 of the National Defense Authorization Act for FY2006 ($16.3 million). The bans were imposed pursuant to Section 508 of the Foreign Operations Appropriations Act, which provides that such funds shall not be made available to any country whose duly elected head of government was deposed by a military coup.

Under Section 508, the funds can be reinstated once a democratically-elected government is in place. Other aid programs not affected by Section 508 or in the U.S. national interest would continue to receive funding."

Panda

^I don't think it worried the generals too much Tex. They gave themselves big pay rises and a huge increase in the militaries share of the national budget when they were in power last time.