It's sheer motor madness as anti-govt protests breed gridlock

People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) leader Sondhi Limthongkul calls it "judgement day".

But, for Greater Bangkok motorists, it's an urban-gridlock nightmare.

Thanks to the massive PAD demonstrations targeting vital state institutions yesterday, main arteries became instantly congested.

The demonstrators hit Government House, National Broadcasting of Thailand and the finance, transport and agriculture ministries.

Traffic radio FM 91 reports jams on roads leading to Government House along Rajdamnoen Nok and Nakhon Pathom roads started in the early morning.

Commuters, especially civil servants, were caught in the congestion. Parents were unable to get their children to schools in these areas.

"It took as long as two hours for people to get where they were going," the station reports.

Thousands of protesters occupied two lanes of Vibhavadi-Rangsit Road, creating a spill-on effect in Lat Phrao and Bang Kapi and on Rama IX and Sukhumvit roads. In some places traffic simply did not move.

The University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, which is located near NBT, abruptly announced suspension of all classes for "safety reasons".

Schools affected

Other institutions and schools closed yesterday include the Phanakhon Commercial, Wat Benjamabophit and Watmakutkasarttriyaram schools, the National Counter Corruption and Civil Service commissions and the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives.

Government House is the main rally point for the PAD. It vows to be there for three days.

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration reports 15 schools in Dusit, Phya Thai, Din Daeng and Ratchathewi are closed.

Five more will close today while others are taking a wait-and-see approach. Parents are advised to listen to Jor Sor 100 radio for information.

Outside Bangkok, there was congestion, too, as protesters attempted to prevent pro-|government crowds from the North and Northeast entering |the capital. They blocked roads into the city.