RAWBangkok

NottheNation.com is a great website; it is a satire of the Nation one of the English language daily newspapers here in Bangkok.

The spoofs, satires and other comedy on the NottheNation website are often comic genius.

The article pasted below reads very much like a NottheNation.com article, but it is no sendup. It is an actual news story taken from the Bangkok Post wesbite.

The old saying, “Truth is stranger than fiction” comes to mind:

Business leaders yesterday threatened to stop paying taxes unless the government ended the civil chaos.

The warning came as police attempts to remove the anti-government protesters from Suvarnabhumi airport ended in humiliation when their vehicles were seized and they were forced to beat a hasty retreat.

The Thai Chamber of Commerce called on the government to step down and coalition parties to withdraw from the administration because the government is seen as incompetent and the country is plunging deeper into a political and economic crisis.

Some of the chamber’s members even suggested that business people stop paying taxes to the government as an act of civil disobedience if the request is ignored.

In a statement issued yesterday after the 26th meeting in Songkhla of hundreds of Thai Chamber of Commerce members from around the country, the chamber said the government should step aside and open the way for other parties to form a government.

The chamber’s statement came as the number of supporters of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) continued to grow at Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports.

Late last night police had not been able to clear the blockades at the two major airports where a state of emergency was declared on Thursday. Police resorted to issuing statements ordering the protesters to leave.

The chamber said in its statement that the Somchai Wongsawat administration had failed to follow the policy statement it delivered to parliament, saying it would sustain peace and order in society.

“The situation has gone from bad to worse, signalling that it is incompetent at ensuring peace and order as it pledged in its policy statement.

“Alternatively, government coalition parties should also have the political courage to withdraw from the government and allow a new government to be installed,” read the statement. The chamber also urged the PAD to end their siege of Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports, saying they were overstepping the mark and violating the law.

Concerns about massive economic losses and shattered confidence grew as the airports remained closed to all air traffic.

Pramon Sutivong, chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, said yesterday the chamber expected to see the changes today and he believed the situation would not be any worse during a transition period. “The business community would be able to get through in such a brief transition,” he said.

He said the business sector would consider what measures to take if the government ignored its call to step down.

It was reported that some business figures suggested they suspend paying taxes to the government as an act of civil disobedience.

Meanwhile, despite the declaration of a state of emergency at the two airports, moves by the government to end the standoff appeared to have failed.

At about 9am yesterday, about 500 PAD supporters driving about 50 vehicles burst through three barricades manned by 200 police near Suvarnabhumi airport.

The PAD supporters deflated the tyres of 12 police vehicles, including five police trucks used for carrying those detained, five vans and two cars. Police had to flee, leaving behind their clubs, shields and vehicles.

The PAD supporters then moved to the bus terminal and taxi parking areas in the airport where police were stationed.

Some police managed to drive away, while others found themselves surrounded by protesters for 15 minutes.

However, the protesters eventually allowed the officers to take back their gear and vehicles and leave.

Police Region 1 commander Pol Lt-Gen Chalong Somjai, who was appointed to clear the blockade at Suvarnabhumi airport, said police and other officials would try to begin talks with the PAD leaders to end the occupation of the airport.

Interior Minister Kowit Wattana, who is in charge of operations to restore order at the two airports, yesterday called a meeting with security officials to discuss ways of handling the PAD.

Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat yesterday said he was ready to enter peace talks with the PAD, although he would not bow to the group’s demands for either his resignation or the House dissolution as a precondition for talks.

Mr Somchai said the seizure of the two airports by supporters of the PAD was illegal and had caused foreign tourists and businessmen to lose confidence in Thailand.

“I want to appeal to those who break the law to vacate places they have occupied,” he said.

“The government itself has never done any damage.”

PAD core leader Maj-Gen Chamlong Srimuang said talks to end the political stalemate were still possible, but the talks must only be between those directly involved in the dispute, particularly Mr Somchai, without any mediators.