A strike by public sector workers in Bangkok started slowly on Wednesday, with few services affected in the Thai capital a day after emergency rule was imposed to quash anti-government protests. A quarter of the city's schools were shut, but electricity and water supplies were unaffected despite a threat by unions to disrupt services in the sprawling metropolis of 10 million people. The leaders of 43 unions representing 200,000 public sector workers launched the strikes to pile more pressure on Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, the target of a three-month old street campaign to force him from power. Samak, who refuses to bow to protesters occupying his official compound for nine days, invoked a state of emergency on Tuesday after clashes between pro-and anti-government demonstrators killed one man and injured 45. Thailand's biggest power producer, EGAT, said it was business as usual at its Bangkok headquarters and power plants across the country as most staff showed up for work. Bangkok's state-owned bus operator said all routes were operating as normal. The city's skytrain and underground subway were also running as usual, while outer city rail lines were operating at 75 percent, rail officials said. The city's notorious gridlock was lighter than usual as some residents opted to stay home, fearing transport problems. Bangkok's main Suvarnabhumi airport remained open, although flights to the southern city of Hat Yai were disrupted for a second day after protesters blocked access roads on Tuesday. On the streets, the city was functioning normally, with shops and restaurants open and thousands of tourists braving the tropical heat. A Scottish tourist sitting in an open-air cafe near the scene of the protests said: “There is no reason for tourists to be afraid at all. It's between Thais.” But some tour companies have reported cancellations since the protests intensified last week, hurting a tourism sector than generates 6 percent of GDP and is a major employer. With the army refusing to use force to evict the thousands of protesters at Government House, despite an emergency decree giving it the power to do so, Thailand's political crisis appeared set to drag on, analysts said. Thai shares fell again on Wednesday and are down nearly 25 percent since the street protests began in May, distracting ministers at a time when investors feel they should focus on slowing economic growth and high inflation.
