Nov. 28 (Bloomberg) -- Thanomsak Ratchamart, his wife and six-year-old son are among Thai demonstrators whose four-day seizure has paralyzed Bangkok’s international airport. The 47- year-old oil company manager says they want “a new democracy.”

“We are not afraid,” said Thanomsak, wearing a yellow scarf, while his family sported the yellow sports shirts protesters have chosen as a uniform to show their allegiance to Thailand’s revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej. “If the soldiers don’t stage a coup, maybe there will be a civil war.”

The airport seizure pits the government, holed up in the city of Chiang Mai among its supporters in the north, against tens of thousands of Bangkok protesters demanding its ouster in demonstrations since May. The government last night declared a state of emergency at areas controlled by the protesters -- Bangkok’s international and domestic airports and Government House, and ordered police to clear protesters out.

About 5,000 men, women, children of all ages have transformed what was Southeast Asia’s busiest airport into what may be the final battleground of a six-month campaign by the People’s Alliance for Democracy. They aim to oust a government they say is a proxy of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, ousted in a 2006 coup and now a fugitive from a conviction for conflict of interest.

Divided Thais

“Thai people have become divided,” said Chutima Panyapongruk, 47, a Bangkok jewelry designer who has her 10- year-old son with her. “It’s dangerous but we’re not scared. We do this because the government is corrupt.”

The United Nation’s Children’s Fund said it’s “deeply concerned” about the safety of children whose protesting parents have taken them to the airport demonstrations.

“Unicef calls upon authorities and the leaders of the demonstrations to take all steps necessary to ensure the safety and well being of all children at those locations,” Mark Thomas, a UN spokesman in Thailand, said in a statement.

Named Suvarnabhumi, which means “The Golden Land” in Thai, the $4.1 billion facility was plagued by corruption scandals and delays throughout its construction. Thaksin, who pushed to open the airfield as a “national priority,” was ousted nine days before it began operationing in September 2006.

Today, vendors set up stalls on the road in front of the terminal, selling handcrafted People’s Alliance memorabilia including key rings and earrings. Inside the departure hall, a section was cordoned off with stores of water bottles, dried food, coffee, snacks, eggs and dried noodles. Stacks of bedding and a gas cooker were nearby.

Music, Lights

Immigration and security staff have left, allowing access as far as boarding gates. Lights are on and soft music plays from overhead speakers in the air-conditioned passenger hall. Duty-free shops show no signs of looting.

Army Chief Anupong Paojinda, involved in the putsch against Thaksin, two days ago called for early elections to end the protests, which have claimed at least six lives since they began. He refused to enforce a similar emergency decree two months ago.

Police efforts last month to clear protesters killed one person and injured hundreds. Anupong also called on demonstrators to end their occupation of the airport and insisted he wasn’t pressuring the government by calling for an election. Demonstration leaders said a new election wouldn’t solve any problems.

Police will be ordered to “resort to what should be done under international standards” if the protesters don’t disperse, Nattawut Saikuar, the government spokesman, said today.

“Our measures will increase incrementally from the softest to those that disperse the protesters,” said Suchart Muankeaw, commander of Bangkok Metropolitan Police.

“It’s not dangerous, there is no violence,” said Christian Vassal, director of rooms at the closest lodging, the Novotel Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel about 500 meters from the terminal. “There are only two roads, one in and one out. They would need to come through the back through the airport and could destroy the whole thing.”

To contact the reporter on this story: Rattaphol Onsanit in Bangkok at ronsanit@bloomberg.netDaniel Ten Kate in Bangkok at dtenkate@bloomberg.net;

Last Updated: November 28, 2008 05:28 EST