BANGKOK, Thailand – Anti-government demonstrators in Thailand declared victory Tuesday and said they will end their occupation of the country’s two main airports after a court decision forced the country’s prime minister from office.
While an estimated 300,000 travelers stranded by last week’s airport takeovers breathed a bit easier, the question of who will hold power in a democratic Thailand remained unanswered.
The protesters — who seek to eliminate the one-person, one-vote system — left open the possibility of more unrest saying they will return to the streets if political change does not occur. At least six people have been killed and scores injured in clashes in recent months.
Also unclear was the extent of damage the weeklong airport blockade inflicted on the country’s economy, which relies heavily on tourism.
But none of that seemed to matter Tuesday as members of the People’s Alliance for Democracy, which led the protest, reveled at the fall of Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat.
“We will party all night long before leaving tomorrow,” said Saisuri Pantupradij, a 45-year-old woman who camped out at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi international airport. “It’s sad to say goodbye, but our job here is done. So we must go home.”
She and four other women, all wearing yellow feather boas, were dancing and singing karaoke to a Thai folk song in the main hall of the airport terminal.
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Thai airports to reopen after PM ousted by court - Yahoo! News
Quite a development after a long period of unrest.