Thai troops crack down on protesters - 13 Apr 09

Running battles have broken out in Bangkok's streets where troops and anti-government protesters have clashed.

Gunfire and explosions have been heard as thousands of so-called "Red Shirt" protesters demand that Abhisit Vejjajiva, the Thai prime minister, resign.

More than 70 people have been injured and many streets are deserted.

Al Jazeera's Tony Cheng reports from the Din Daeng area of Bangkok.

Red shirts run amok

PM narrowly avoids protesters' attack / Furious UDD supporters vow to `fight to the death'

12/04/2009
Bangkok Post Reporters

Military and police forces were on alert Sunday night as the government stood firm behind its order for rioters to clear the streets or face harsher measures under a state of emergency.

Armed soldiers supported by armoured personnel carriers and police in riot gear were deployed across the city on Sunday as members of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship vowed to fight to the death to overthrow the Democrat-led government.

The government declared a state of emergency over Bangkok and surrounding provinces after red shirt protesters went on a rampage, attacking senior government officials, bodyguards and police.

The prime minister narrowly escaped himself after protesters stormed the Interior Ministry where he had just addressed the nation on television.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva warned in his television address that the red shirts had crossed the line and this required a firm response.

"I want to tell protesters that you have no right to break the law or to restrict other people's rights," Mr Abhisit said. "Otherwise the government must implement further measures under the state of emergency.

"I ask the public to remain calm. I'm confident the government will restore normalcy to our country."

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban also appeared on television, telling soldiers and police to strictly enforce the law against the protesters.

"I am now in charge," he said. "I will take full responsibility for your actions in enforcing the law to restore peace."

The trouble began when the demonstrators blocked traffic in front of the Criminal Court on Ratchadaphisek road and the Royal Thai Police Office on Rama I road to demand the release of a key UDD leader, Arisman Pongruangrong, who was arrested at his home yesterday morning.

Bands of red shirt protesters, angered by the arrest, held rallies in several areas of the capital to demand his release.

The government replied by declaring a state of emergency over Bangkok, Samut Prakan, Pathum Thani and Ayutthaya.

About a thousand red shirts responded by surrounding the Interior Ministry in a bid to capture Mr Abhisit and Mr Suthep who used the venue to make their televised announcements.

The two narrowly escaped the protesters who stormed into the ministry compound and smashed the prime minister's limousine and other cars with wooden sticks and pavement slabs.

They believed the leaders were in the vehicles The attack caused serious damage to the vehicles but the prime minister and Mr Suthep managed to slip out of the compound in a separate car unharmed.

A gunshot was heard as the crowds were trying tried to stop the motorcade. The prime minister's limousine was able to get away but a station wagon belonging to his bodyguard was stopped and smashed.

One of the prime minister's security guards and a police officer were assaulted and taken to the red shirts' demonstration site at Government House.

A dozen other people including red shirt protesters were also injured in the brief clash.

The prime minister's guard and the policeman were locked in a container close to the UDD stage at Government House before being given first aid and released.

Also attacked and injured was the prime minister's secretary-general, Nibhon Phromphan.

Mr Nibhon was taken to hospital after red shirt protesters chased his car as it was about to leave a parking building inside the Interior Ministry compound.

They dragged him from the car and beat him. His driver was also injured.

After leaving the Interior Ministry, Mr Abhisit was reached by a reporter on the telephone.

"I am safe and unhurt but my people were arrested," the prime minister said. "The gunshot was an accident ... a guard's gun was being snatched and it went off accidentally. We did not mean to fire at people."

Despite the possibility the army and police might use force to disperse them, demonstrators continued to join the UDD rally at Government House and separate rallies at intersections throughout late yesterday.

Some rioters seized at least two armoured personnel carriers from troops who were sent to guard public areas, while others seized public buses to set up road blockades.

More road blocks were also reported at key intersections around the main rally ground as night fell, in open defiance of the government's order for the protesters to disperse.

The demonstrators' spirits were kept high by UDD leaders' speeches and phone-in messages from former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

In one phone-in, Thaksin said he would return to Thailand if authorities dispersed his supporters using violence.

Thaksin said he was closely monitoring the state of emergency.

"I will monitor the situation and if necessary I will return to Thailand and lead a long march of people. I will not allow them [authorities] to use force," Thaksin said.

Thailand descends into chaos amid calls for revolt

April 13, 2009
BY AMBIKA AHUJA and GRANT PECK
ASSOCIATED PRESS

BANGKOK, Thailand -- Thai soldiers unleashed hundreds of rounds of automatic-weapons fire to clear rock-throwing antigovernment protesters from a major intersection in the capital in the predawn darkness early today.

Forty-nine people were reported hurt in the first serious clash between the two sides in ongoing protests that have roiled the southeast Asian nation and came a day after the country's ousted prime minister called for a revolution.

While the government has declared a state of emergency, protesters controlled many streets in the capital of Bangkok. They had earlier commandeered public buses and swarmed triumphantly over military vehicles in defiance.

In the starkest example of the chaos, a mob of the red-shirted protesters smashed cars carrying Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his aides.

The clash began between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m. today, as troops in full combat gear lined up and advanced to disperse the protesters, television footage showed.

The official Erawan emergency coordination center said 49 people were injured on both sides and taken to hospitals.

Police Gen. Vichai Sangparpai said up to 30,000 demonstrators were scattered around the city. Police vans at some intersections were abandoned and looted.

Ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, regarded by most of the protesters as their leader, called for a revolution and said he might return from exile to lead it.

Thaksin fled the country last year, before a court convicted him in absentia of violating a conflict-of-interest law.