Sleepy residents fight new airport

Affected by aircraft noise around Suvarnabhumi airport, residents in the area demand a public debate with the Airports of Thailand (AOT) before Friday, or they will release balloons to disrupt air traffic.

The protesters, led by Wanchart Manadhammasombat, claimed the AOT did not honour resolutions they say it had agreed and accused the agency of insincerity and inaction in dealing with the problem, raising anger among the residents.

The disgruntled inhabitants said a debate between residents and AOT executives would prove whether the AOT was serious about solving the problem.

They urged the AOT to honour a November 21 Cabinet resolution to purchases houses in excessively-noisy zone and repair damaged houses.

A new resolution, on May 29, allowed the airport authorities to revise the "excessive-noise radius" replacing an old one drawn by the Pollution Control Department.

Based on the revised AOT noise pollution radius, nearly 40 per cent of the residents have been excluded from the mitigation scheme, and AOT revised its composition payment despite previously agreed compensation.

Chaisawad Kittipornpaiboon, Permanent Secretary for Transport, announced that the Pollution Control Department would re-survey noise pollution in the area and the ministry would ask the AOT to revise any agreements deemed unfair as well as to reconsider the residents’ demands.

All the issues will be considered at the AOT meeting this Thursday.

Meanwhile , aviation agencies warned residents that launching balloons to disrupt air traffic at Suvarnabhumi airport can cause aircraft to crash, and persons releasing balloons could be charged with acting against national security.

Prasong Theanthanoo, Deputy Director General of the Civil Aviation Department, reemphasised the gravity of the action.

If any problem occurs to the aircraft, he said, the department will have to stop air service to prevent untoward incidents that could harm the country’s image.

Mr. Prasong urged residents to take the negative impact into consider although their disturbance may not be against the law, but if action poses a threat to public safety, punishment can be handed down.

Anucha Kammong, an official of the Aeronautical Radio of Thailand, said officials would keep an eye on any abnormal phenomenon, such as balloons released into the sky, and keep pilots informed.

After negotiations with the AOT have failed, residents say they no longer have patience as they have suffered from aircraft noise for nearly a year.

Friday's threathened balloon barrage intended to impede air traffic will take place at night, the residents say. (TNA)