November 28, 2008
Bangkok - Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin, former chairman of the Council for National Security (CNS), would coordinate with Iran Airways to take more than 400 Muslims to Mecca.
Gen Sonthi would contact Iran Airways through the Embassy of Iran in Thailand, denying giving any comments on the declaration of the state of emergency.
Many Muslim pilgrims were abandoned at the Suvarnabhumi Airport after the airport was seized by the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD).
The PAD tried to urge the Airports of Thailand (AOT) to take the pilgrims to the U-Tapao Airport, but there was no headway, according to ASTV.
Gulf Air agreed to take 50 Muslims to Mecca, Saudi Arabia at 3:00 pm today.
More than 3,000 Muslims have become stranded. Nevertheless, only 413 Muslims could be served for the pilgrimage.
