Airport protesters 'won't release balloons'

Residents from 32 housing estates who are being affected from noise pollution at Suvarnabhumi airport Saturday pledged not to release balloons to disrupt air traffic at the airport on Sunday.Prasert Boonkaew, leader of local residents from the 32 housing estates, said leaders of the residents would hold a meeting, starting from 9.09 am Sunday, to discuss what problems had been solved by Airports of Thailand (AoT) for the residents during the past 11 months. Residents leaders will also discuss whether the contracts signed earlier with AoT are fair to the residents, said Mr. Prasert, adding that he could not say whether the disgruntled residents would move and surround the airport after the meeting. He said the residents had agreed with the Aeronautical Radio of Thailand, under the supervision of the Transport Ministry, not to release balloons as they realised that such action would endanger air traffic.The local residents want concerned government agencies to honour last year's November 21 Cabinet resolution and want the AoT to adjust the flight timetable by having commercial airliners refrain from landing or take-off during night-time like some countries which would not disturb their sleep. (TNA)