Protestors in Thailand shut down the Bangkok airport Tuesday, leaving Mike Shimshak, Lodi School District superintendent, two chaperones and nine Lodi High School students delayed in returning from their student exchange program.

"About three days before we were set to go, protestors took over the airport, then we started making contingency plans. The kids are as safe as they are in Lodi as long as we stay away from the airport," Shimshak said.

This is the first time that the school has done the exchange program, where they spent three weeks studying in Suphan Buri, about 90 minutes outside Bangkok. A group of Thai students attended class in Lodi last year.

"We're delayed, we're not stuck," Shimshak said, who is staying in a hotel, along with the others from Lodi, about 60 miles from the airport. "Everyone thought we would be leaving this Monday, but we're going to be another week."

The students and staff will arrive in Chicago on Dec. 8, spending the rest of their trip in Phuket, Thailand.

The People's Alliance for Democracy is demanding the resignation of the government, which it accuses of being a puppet of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted by a 2006 military coup and fled overseas to escape corruption charges. Current Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat is Thaksin's brother-in-law.

"You never expect something like this, but the same thing could happen to any group that travels. Political action happens in any country," Shimshak said. "The kids have been in regular communication with their parents, we're safe where we are, and I have been in touch with the United States Embassy and the State Department."

The capital remains cut off from all civilian air traffic, stranding thousands of travelers and dealing a severe blow to the economy and tourism industry. More protesters arrived at the airport in cars and buses despite road blocks set up by police, boosting their number to several thousands.

"I'm missing my family, and I want to get the kids home to their parents, but things are going well," Shimshak said. "We hear comments like they have never learned more in their whole life than in this trip."

Students had a video conference on Thanksgiving with their parents at the Lodi High School, with a 13 hour time difference, Shimshak said.

"The kids, in my analysis, are that they are happy and sad to be leaving their host families, but they do feel they are in safe hands. They do understand what's going on," Shimshak said. "They are looking forward to going to Phuket, a really beautiful part of Thailand, and we have traveler's insurance."

Thailand's prime minister pledged Friday to use peaceful means to end the siege of the capital's airports by anti-government protesters and demoted the national police chief, amid speculation that he had disagreed with government policy.

But the likelihood of a violent confrontation still appeared high, as both protesters and police reinforced their presence at Suvarnabhumi International Airport, seized Tuesday by the alliance. The Thai government on Thursday declared a state of emergency at Suvarnabhumi and at the smaller Don Muang domestic airport - also occupied by demonstrators - but has not taken any further firm steps.

The political unrest has not overshadowed the experience for staff or students.

"The Thai people are the kindest people in the world, and we have been treated remarkably well. This program we are starting is off to a good start," Shimshak said. "Our hosts have gone out of their way to make us feel safe and welcome. This is a really beautiful country. We'll have a lot to talk about when we get back."

In a recent posting on a blog dedicated to the students' trip, Max Love wrote: "Don't worry, we're all safe. We're an hour and half away from the protesting and we are not at the airport. I repeat we are not at the airport. We are staying at a hotel so we are all together so it's easier to maintain our schedule and connection as a group."

jmccoy@capitalnewspapers.com

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