April 10, 2010
CNN
STORY HIGHLIGHTSBangkok, Thailand (CNN) -- Fifteen people were killed Saturday in clashes between anti-government protesters and Thai police and military forces, according to emergency officials.
- NEW: 11 civilians and 4 security troops killed Saturday in anti-government clashes
- NEW: Each side claims the other fired live rounds
- Protesters defied a state of emergency Friday and held nationwide demonstrations
- "Red shirt" protesters demanding new elections, say PM was not democratically elected
Erawan Emergency Center said 11 were civilians and four were military. At least 486 people were injured, the center said.
A Japanese cameraman with Thomson Reuters was among those killed, the news agency said. It identified him as Hiro Muramoto and said that he had been shot and killed.
Military and police forces used tear gas and rubber bullets to contain the protesters, who were trying to break into military barracks, state media reported. Video showed the protesters throwing objects at the security forces, who protected themselves with shields.
The forces later left and the streets quieted.
The protesters, known as the "Red Shirts," displayed bodies of two people, who they said were killed by live rounds fired by the troops.
"The government is so bad," said Samran Wangngam, who said he was the father of one of the protesters killed. "Why are they so cruel? How can they do this to my son?"
Col. Sansern Kawekamnerd, spokesman for the Royal Thai Army, said at a news conference that the security forces fired real bullets only into the air to scare away protesters.
However, he said the demonstrators fired real bullets at the security forces and that many security officers were injured.
The protesters have been rallying for weeks to demand new elections. They are seeking to oust Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, who they say was not democratically elected.
The opposition television channel, People Channel Television, was dark Saturday night after being back up briefly on Friday, according to state-run Thai News Agency. PTV is the primary communication channel between the Red Shirt leaders and the group's supporters in the provinces, the news agency said.
On Friday, the protesters stormed the compound of a satellite center that distributes a signal for PTV, which was shut down by the government. Abhisit said the station was shut down "to restore peace and order and to stop the spread of false information to the Thai public."
TNA reported that the protesters "successfully forced the reconnection of PTV" after thousands of activists stormed into the ground station compound.
Police and Thaicom satellite ground station executives negotiated with the protesters and agreed to their demands to reconnect the station, TNA reported. It was not immediately clear when the station was disconnected again.
The Red Shirt protesters and the military declared a temporary truce Saturday because of the bloodshed, leaders said. It was not immediately clear how long the truce would last.
Authorities on wednesday issued a state of emergency, allowing the military to break up large gatherings. The state of emergency also permits authorities to take certain actions, including arresting and searching people, without court orders.
Thai stocks have plunged more than 24 points, or about 3 percent, since Wednesday.
The anti-government group, United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship, is composed of supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a bloodless military coup in 2006. He fled the country in 2008 while facing trial on corruption charges that he says were politically motivated. He remains hugely popular.
CNN's Kocha Olarn contributed to this report
6 comments:
GET THE FUCK OUT AH AHBISIT YOU FUCKING PIECE OF SHIT..YOU CAUSE ALOT OF PROBLEMS FOR EVERYBODY YOU FUCKING DUMB SIEM..............
Thai people are not stupid. Majority of them are educated and there is no way that they would allow such gov't to control them. This new PM only knows how to be arrogant but not good enough to know about its morality of life. He is very wrong to use and abuse his power to gain access into power. Now is the 21st century not world war 1 or II anymore. Life is not about money anymore, it is about rights and justice for all. Good gov't are those who work for the people and helping them to improve the "quality of life" which mean having access to all the necessity in life. The aim is to break down the barrier between rich and poor but toward equal value in term of human being. The word rich and poor can separate to a you and I whereas equal value turn it into "US" we are one being trying to share a common goal and common interest and making sure that everyone is happy. Aust
Very well put, Aust! Those precepts are the pillars of any well balanced, healthy, progressive society and democracy.
Let history judge.
School of Vice
THAI PEOPLE ARE STUPID THEY THINK PRASAT PREAH VIHEAR IS THERES..... .....WHAT ARE YOU KHMER OR AH SIEM ?
Hooray! Hooray! Hooray! Let them finished themselves Red vs. Yellow and Blue vs. Yala. Yellow is blocking Red until they all die. Blue blocking Yala until the all die.
Ahbullshit please go back to UK and learn the words democracy not democrazy.
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