Thai anti-government protesters celebrate

'We've finished our job for now'
The alliance, often referred to by its acronym PAD, claims Thailand's rural majority — who gave landslide election victories to the Thaksin camp — is too poorly educated to responsibly choose their representatives and says they are susceptible to vote buying.

It wants the country to abandon the system of one-person, one-vote, and instead have a mixed system in which most representatives are chosen by profession and social group. They have not explained exactly how such a system would work or what would make it less susceptible to manipulation.

"We've finished our job for now," top protest leader Sondhi Limthongkul told reporters. "But if Thaksin's puppets return, we will come back."

The alliance's rivals, government supporters who adore Thaksin for the generous social welfare policies his government implemented for the poor and rural majority when he was in power in 2001-2006, were angry, though uncertain what to do.

"People aren't going to just sit and watch another elected government toppled. The court's decision was wrong and we should question that," said Pracha Niemjaroen, an electronics technician discussing politics with his friends at an open-air restaurant in the northern city of Chiang Mai.

Anger on other side
Some of Somchai's political allies were less diffident. Chaturon Chaisaeng, a former Thaksin Cabinet member, noted that the protest alliance had previously called for a non-elected government, and suggested that if they pressed for that, there could be civil war.

"Why do we still condone the PAD, who are waging terrorist attacks against government buildings and the democratic system?" he said. "Do all Thai people have to bow to the PAD's orders and demands?"

Travelers were the only clear immediate beneficiaries of Tuesday's developments, and even for them relief may not be so quick. Thai authorities have been running flights in and out of a naval air base at U-Tapao east of Bangkok, but its limited facilities left many travelers looking more like refugees than tourists.

Vudhibhandhu Vichairatana, the chairman of the Airports of Thailand, said Suvarnabhumi international airport will resume operations Friday. He called the plan a birthday gift for King Bhumibol, who turns 81 on Dec. 5. The airport reopened to cargo flights Tuesday.

Tourism hit hard
Hardships related to the severing of air links with Thailand's capital have rippled through the country and the region. The government's finance minister lowered the country's GDP growth forecast from 4.5 percent to about 2 percent amid the turmoil earlier this week and the country's Tourism Council predicted that up to 1 million workers could lose their jobs if foreign visitor numbers plunge by half next year as it now expects.

The orchid industry said it was losing $1 million a day and thousands of families who raise orchids face losing their livelihoods as exporters throw away thousands of the exotic blossoms that symbolize the country's famed hospitality and beauty.

But travelers Jennifer Cooper, 37 and Peter Cooper, 45, from Melbourne, Australia, who were trapped for days at the airport took it all in stride.

"It was a free-for-all. People were behind the counters playing with the computers. They were everywhere, back in the duty-free area. Who knows what they did?" Peter said.

"We love Thailand," said Jennifer.

"But when we come back we'll have contingency plans for escaping," she added, with a laugh.

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