#BREAKING: The Civilian Aviation Authority of Thailand is banning the arrival of ALL passenger flights to the country for the next 3 days (Apr 4-6).

Read on the THREAD for more details and context. https://twitter.com/thaipbsnews/status/1246112403042865153

This follows some heated arguments at Suvarnabhumi Airport earlier this evening as about 100 (mostly Thai) passengers from abroad refused to go into state quarantine facilities, saying they were not informed about this. (Cont) https://twitter.com/thaipbsnews/status/1246090209520783360

Earlier, Thai PM @prayutofficial was reportedly not happy that imported #COVID19 cases still occurred and ordered relevant officials to curtail it without saying how. Following that, Thais abroad were advised to delay their return to Thailand until Apr 15. (Cont)

While there was no explicit order or announcement, many Thai embassies then stopped to approve “fit-to-fly” certificates in order to board flights to Thailand - even if it means Thais will be stranded. (Cont.)

It is clear now that the Thai govt’s restrictions to foreigners coming to Thailand amidst the #COVID19 pandemic to make it as hard as possible to come here also now applies to their own citizens - instead of banning all flights until just now. (Cont)

While on the other hand the govt has also hinted that they want to buy themselves some time to build state quarantine facilities for new arrivals, hence these stringent #covid19 measures to also reduce imported cases. (Cont.)

But all in all doing all to stop Thais to come back home - just short of denying their own citizens entry - is constitutionally questionable to say the least. (END)

ADDING: I think I need to emphasize that many arrivals tonight felt that they’re being disproportionately punished even though they already had everything in order before the rules were flipped on them while in transit back here.