SAMUT PRAKAN, Nov 8 (TNA) – Some 200 residents living near Suvarnabhumi Airport gathered at Thailand’s largest air passenger terminal, calling for fair compensation for noise pollution caused by air traffic.
The residents congregated on the third floor of the departure passenger areas, bearing banners demanding justice from the prime minister or anyone with authority to approve paying compensation. About 100 anti-riot police were deployed to provide security and maintain order.
Nutthachai Chokechaiwattanakorn, secretary to the transport minister, negotiated with the irate local residents but failed to convince them to disperse. They threatened to launch numbers of hot-air lanterns, to disrupt air traffic.
Meanwhile, the airport will conduct a ritual to move all 12 of its giant guardian statues from the second floor of the concourse buildings to check-in areas outside. The giants are reproductions of the giants at the Emerald Buddha temple in the capital, symbolising the Thai kingdom’s guardians.
Nirandra Theeranartsin, Suvarnabhumi Airport general manager said the current location where those giants are placed is not spacious. However, the relocation is also partly related to a superstitious belief by some workers that the giants might bring bad luck and turmoil to the airport. (TNA)
Political News : Last Update : 19:13:07 8 November 2009 (GMT+7:00)
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