By THANAPORN PROMYAMYAI
BANGKOK, Thailand (AFP) — Explosions early Sunday at sites occupied by anti-government protesters injured at least 51 people, further raising tensions as police struggle to end a paralyzing blockade of Bangkok’s airports.
The attacks came hours after royalist, anti-government demonstrators forced police to abandon a checkpoint at the main Suvarnabhumi airport on the fifth day of a siege that has left tens of thousands of travellers stranded.
Police have so far held off launching an assault on the protesters occupying two Bangkok airports amid fears of a repeat of political violence that left two people dead last month, and concerns that further bloodshed could spark a coup.
In the latest violence, unknown attackers lobbed a grenade near a stage set up for rallies at Government House, the prime minister’s cabinet offices which supporters of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) occupied in August. A Bangkok emergency services spokesman said 49 people were wounded in that blast, three of them with serious injuries.
Hours later, a blast hit outside the small domestic airport Don Mueang, injuring two passers-by. Police had no detail on the cause of the explosion.
Grenade attacks earlier this month at Government House killed two protesters and prompted the PAD to launch what it called its "final battle" against the government last Sunday.
Somchai is now governing from the northern city of Chiang Mai, as his spokesman says he is concerned about tensions with the military in a country that has seen 18 coups since the end of absolute monarchy in 1932.
The PAD accuses Somchai’s government of being a corrupt puppet for exiled former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a putsch in 2006. Thaksin is the current premier’s brother-in-law.
Supporters of the group — a loose coalition with the backing of elements in the military, the palace, and the urban middle classes — say it will not leave the airports or Government House until Somchai’s administration quits.
About 2,000 police were deployed Sunday to set up four more checkpoints on the road to Suvarnabhumi, airport security commander Major General Rarshane Reunkomol told AFP. Some carried M16 rifles and pistols.
"The government is still in the process of negotiations and I have asked my men not to use force whatever happens. The gunfire will not be heard from police," Rarshane told AFP.
Somchai on Friday dismissed the national police chief for failing to take on the protesters, whose actions have cost Thailand billions of dollars and badly hit its tourist industry.
Rumors of a coup swept the country after Somchai rejected calls from the army chief to call snap elections, but General Anupong Paojinda said military action would not solve the rifts in Thai society.
Meanwhile, a pro-government group said it hopes to gather up to 10,000 people at a rally Sunday to show support for the premier, raising fears of clashes with rivals who have occupied the city’s airports.
The group, known informally as the "Red Shirts" but officially called the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), plans to gather Sunday at about 4 p.m. (0900 GMT) in Bangkok’s government district.
This would put them just kilometers away from some supporters of the anti-government People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), who have occupied the nearby prime minister’s cabinet offices since late August.
The UDD had originally planned to rally at Bangkok’s Sanam Luang plaza, a large grassy area, but preparations for a royal event forced the demonstration to move to a square in front of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration building.
The attacks came hours after royalist, anti-government demonstrators forced police to abandon a checkpoint at the main Suvarnabhumi airport on the fifth day of a siege that has left tens of thousands of travellers stranded.
Police have so far held off launching an assault on the protesters occupying two Bangkok airports amid fears of a repeat of political violence that left two people dead last month, and concerns that further bloodshed could spark a coup.
In the latest violence, unknown attackers lobbed a grenade near a stage set up for rallies at Government House, the prime minister’s cabinet offices which supporters of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) occupied in August. A Bangkok emergency services spokesman said 49 people were wounded in that blast, three of them with serious injuries.
Hours later, a blast hit outside the small domestic airport Don Mueang, injuring two passers-by. Police had no detail on the cause of the explosion.
Grenade attacks earlier this month at Government House killed two protesters and prompted the PAD to launch what it called its "final battle" against the government last Sunday.
Somchai is now governing from the northern city of Chiang Mai, as his spokesman says he is concerned about tensions with the military in a country that has seen 18 coups since the end of absolute monarchy in 1932.
The PAD accuses Somchai’s government of being a corrupt puppet for exiled former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a putsch in 2006. Thaksin is the current premier’s brother-in-law.
Supporters of the group — a loose coalition with the backing of elements in the military, the palace, and the urban middle classes — say it will not leave the airports or Government House until Somchai’s administration quits.
About 2,000 police were deployed Sunday to set up four more checkpoints on the road to Suvarnabhumi, airport security commander Major General Rarshane Reunkomol told AFP. Some carried M16 rifles and pistols.
"The government is still in the process of negotiations and I have asked my men not to use force whatever happens. The gunfire will not be heard from police," Rarshane told AFP.
Somchai on Friday dismissed the national police chief for failing to take on the protesters, whose actions have cost Thailand billions of dollars and badly hit its tourist industry.
Rumors of a coup swept the country after Somchai rejected calls from the army chief to call snap elections, but General Anupong Paojinda said military action would not solve the rifts in Thai society.
Meanwhile, a pro-government group said it hopes to gather up to 10,000 people at a rally Sunday to show support for the premier, raising fears of clashes with rivals who have occupied the city’s airports.
The group, known informally as the "Red Shirts" but officially called the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), plans to gather Sunday at about 4 p.m. (0900 GMT) in Bangkok’s government district.
This would put them just kilometers away from some supporters of the anti-government People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), who have occupied the nearby prime minister’s cabinet offices since late August.
The UDD had originally planned to rally at Bangkok’s Sanam Luang plaza, a large grassy area, but preparations for a royal event forced the demonstration to move to a square in front of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration building.
19 comments:
This is getting BETTER AND BETTER!
KARMA WILL ALSO STRIKE BACK TO KHMERS IF YOU KEEP ACTING LIKE THIS
THIS IS THE END! OF THAILAND. CHAYO KAMPUCHEA THE KHMER EMPIRE RISING TO THE TOP AGAIN.
There you go, Amegedon is coming for the invader.
Show some love to your neighbor like Laos, Cambodia, Burma. You have nowhere to run to.
December 2. The day thailand implodes!
I think the Thai government should declare martial law and start the massacre to control the situation ha ha ha
A military coup is imminent in order to give a gift to the thai king at 5 december.
Former Prime minister Thaksin has said;" if there will be a coup by the military,the people or his supporters , will rise up and revolt.They will not put up with the coup anymore.To me this may be the curse of our ancestors who built Preah vihea.Yep,Thai if you want something that is not yours in the first place ,something bad or very bad will happen to you.We will see.
WE (KHMER) NEEDS TO SET UP A SITE FOR SIAMESE REFUGEES CAMP. AND THEN WE CAN SHOOT THE REFUGEES WHEN THEY STEPPED OUT OF THE CAMP LIKE THEY DID TO ME WHEN I WAS IN KAO-I-DANG REFUGEE CAMP.
WE ARE FREED TO ABUSE THE SIAMESE, LIKE THEY DID TO US IN MANY CAMPS BACK IN THE 70'S & 80'S.
PAD supporter, if you wished “you would die if Somchai not resign” keep wishing, your wished will be grant very soon. Maggots need to eat too.
5.18 am what's the use of revenge. Be kind and help to save the world is better and you'll get appreciation.
5:53AM,
Who is this? Ork,
Do you think Ah Siem good, i want to help them explode Bangcock now
It is Thai nature....first they tried to put protesters in Preah Vihear Temple area, when it was unsuccessful they used soldiers instead. And they are still there since July 15, even longer than the protesters occupied the Thai Government house and the two main airports in Bangkok.
1:20AM, your wish will not come true because any god will not listen to an invader's prayer.
Dear Thai government,
I believe now you are doing a fairly good job. The astrologist asked me to inform you that unless you use 200 grenades, the protesters will cause more and more troubles. He thus suggested that you use grenades to break up the protesters, and then use Hun Sen's DIFID strategy to deal with the problem. Got it?
Raja
Hey bud! what DIFID stand for ?
7.33am,
I am Khmer and I was one of the refugees in Thailand but I learnt how to forgive and forget.
It was tough but Buddha always protect us.
oh my goodness this is the very good news for me. if it is worse than this, it is going tobe better for me. if it is turn to worst, it is going tobe the best for me.
right, cambodian? not only for me is for you too...
9:34AM,
D for Divorce
I for Isolate
F for Fight
I for Integrate
D for Destroy
Want some more explanation?
Raja
I was also in the refugee camp. I can't forget nor forgive. This is for the bad people
But there are some nice Thais people also.
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