http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews ... an-holiday
Govt extends Songkran holiday
By: BangkokPost.com
Published: 14/04/2009 at 02:58 PM
The government on Tuesday announced the extension of the three-day Songkran holiday for civil servants for two more days, Thursday and Friday.
Government spokesman Panithan Wattanayagorn said state enterprises, financial institutions and private firms could make their own decisions whether to extend the holiday beyond Wednesday night.
The extension would allow time to repair and clean up areas where the red-shirt protesters rioted and confronted troops, and to ensure the capital was again secure, he said.
The stock exchange announced only minutes after the national broadcast that the Stock Exchange of Thailand and banks woud be open on Thursday and Friday.
Protest leaders called off their demonstrationin Bangkok this morning, telling the estimated 2,000 followers who remained with them to return to their homes.
However, the state of emergency was unlikely to be lifted quickly.
Mr Panithan said the government needed to evaluate the security situation before lifting the emergency decree.
Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij said it could be a few more days.
Meanwhile, Bangkok slowly returned to normal the red-shirted mob surrounding government house ended its anti-government protest.
Young young people ventured out onto the streets again for traditional Songkran water-splashing and trains resumed normal services from Hua Lamphong central terminus.
City buses were also back on the roads, but some were being detoured around streets still littered with debris from Monday's rioting.
Malls around the Siam area in Bangkok reopened on Tuesday afternoon. Siam Paragon, Siam Center and Siam Discovery opened for business about 1pm after being closed for almost three days because the unrest in the capital city.
Management said it continued to evaluate the situation and would close the malls again if any emergencies
