One night of bloodshed in Bangkok

* Update 1: April 12 Monday 08:30 am. Some 21 people were killed and 858 others injured in violent clashes between soldiers and redshirt demonstrators on Saturday night, a government medical service centre said.

** Update 2: Following events from Thailand with TAN Network and the viewers posts

http://www.tannetwork.tv/

A look at the press statements following the events of Bangkok Khok Wua battlefield, in agencies, blogs, and with the reports of the NATION newspaper.

"The Red Shirts urge the resignation of the Prime Minister Vejjajiva"

Sean Boonpracong, int'l spokesman of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship

After days of nonviolent protests which included spilling buckets (more than 3 liters) of human blood in front of government buildings, shaving heads, and peacefully chasing away soldiers at security point and humiliating Thailand’s prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva by showing the Thai government’s quietness, “Red Shirt” protesters faced the Thai military in full black-matte riot gear. But the violence last night infuriated both parties.

Thailand worst political violence since the Bangkok Black May 1992 after clashes between the Thai army and anti-government demonstrators that left 19 people dead and over 850 injured at this hour Sunday midday, 28 soldiers prisoners of the rd Shirt. Civilians, including a Japanese TV cameraman, and five soldiers were killed in Saturday's crackdown on "Red Shirt" supporters of fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

Violence erupted when troops tried to clear one of two sites in central Bangkok, near ministries of Defense and Foreign Affairs, the Democracy Monument, also near the Grand Palace and the Wat Phra Keo, occupied by the protesters for the past month. Soldiers fired in the air and used tear gas, and the Reds responded by hurling rocks. Same violence seen in the 1992 violent demonstrations held on Sanam Luang at the Royal Hotel where the army shot at demonstrators in the hotel, bullets impacts proving the violence of the clashes.

Yesterday in Bangkok at one stage protesters overwhelmed and captured an armored personnel carrier. The army later retreated, calling for a truce with the demonstrators, who were holding five soldiers hostage. Thousands of protesters remained on the streets at the two protest sites on Sunday.

Government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said an investigation had been launched into the violence and that negotiations were under way to bring about a resolution to the stand-off without further unrest. "The prime minister's secretary is coordinating with protest leaders to solve the situation and would like protesters to stay put," he said.

Reuters journalist killed in Bangkok protests

Sat Apr 10, 2010 2:40pm EDT

http://bit.ly/bL267F

Our Tokyo colleague of Thomson Reuters news agency, Japanese cameraman Hiro Muramoto, died after being shot in the chest during the protests. Hiro Muramoto, a Tokyo-based Japanese national who worked as a cameraman for Reuters for more than 15 years had been covering fighting between troops and protesters in the Rajdumnoen Road area in Bangkok where he was shot dead. Reuters said in a communique to the Japan based Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan Freedom of the Press Committee. The news agency asks that the press show respect for Muramoto-san's family at this time of mourning. We knew Hiro and respected his quiet strength, his great professionalism and his genuine kindness, we are truly saddened here by his tragic end and address our heartfelt condolences to his family.

It was Thailand's worst political violence since "the Black May 1992". The 17–20 May 1992 popular protest in Bangkok against the government of General Suchinda Kraprayoon and the bloody military crackdown that followed. Up to 200,000 people demonstrated in central Bangkok at the height of the protests. The military crackdown resulted in 52 officially confirmed deaths, many disappearances, hundreds of injuries, and over 3,500 arrests. Many of those arrested allegedly were tortured.

The mostly poor, rural Reds say the government is illegitimate as it came to power with military backing in 2008 after a court ousted Thaksin's allies from power. Red Shirt protesters called on the country's revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej to intervene to prevent further bloodshed.

"Did anybody inform the king that his children were killed in the middle of the road without justice?" Reds' leader Jatuporn Prompan asked protesters. "Is there anyone close to him who told him of the gunfights?" Although he has no official political role, the hospitalized king is seen as a unifying figure. And during a 1992 uprising he chastised both the military and protest leaders, effectively bringing the violence to an end.

Sources: Wire news, Linxy (image), inewp.com, Reporter's notes.

✍✍✍ Sources in Bangkok quoted officials voicing reports on TVs about people being killed as the result of "traffic accident", not as the result of direct bullet or rubber bullets shots. Unconvincing statements according to the sources.

Khok Wua battlefield

Quotes of THE NATION ON SUNDAY

Published on April 11, 2010

Red-shirted protesters stepped up their struggle

last night, firing grenades and bullets into

security forces, drawing a response with live

rounds at the Khok Wua Intersection near the

Democracy Monument. At least eight people were

killed and about 500 others wounded as of press

time.

Several soldiers were in serious condition after

three grenades and guns were fired into them. The

soldiers covered with blood were pulled away from

the action by their comrades. The soldiers then

fired real bullets back at the protesters. The

onslaught took place after tensions had built up as

security forces tried to push the protesters back

from Khok Wua to Borwornniwetwiharn Temple by

firing teargas and rubber bullets into the air.

Fighting back, the protesters threw glass bottles

and teargas that they had seized from troops. Some

teargas was dropped from four helicopters on the

protesters, who fought back by releasing balloons

to disrupt the flight paths of the helicopters.

Explosions and gunshots peppered the scene at the

Democracy Monument and the media were sent to a

safe place. Security forces' attempts to disperse

red-shirt protesters resulted in confrontations and

clashes in several spots earlier in the afternoon.

The first clash took place at about 2pm when

Kwanchai Praipana led hundreds of protesters from

Phan Fa Bridge to the First Army Area headquarters

to try to break into the compound. They ran into

resistance from soldiers who fired teargas, rubber

bullets and jets of water to disperse them. The

protesters hit back by throwing objects at the

soldiers, prompting hundreds of First Army soldiers

to come out of the gates with batons and shields to

protect the headquarters.

The red shirts then fled to nearby roads. Some

were injured by the rubber bullets. At Makkhawan

Rangsan Bridge about 4pm, soldiers pushed

protesters back to the Royal Plaza, firing teargas

and rubber bullets. They had to repeat the

operation three times before the protesters gave in

and fell back to their stronghold at Phan Fa

Bridge. Soldiers built up forces at Pinklao Bridge

and blocked traffic to Ratchadamneon Road.

Hundreds of troops were stationed at the Government

Lottery Office and Makkhawan Rangsan Bridge.

Tensions were high everywhere military forces had

built up their presence. At Missakkawan

Intersection on Ratchadamneon Nok Road, soldiers

fired shots into the air to disperse the

protesters. Soldiers lined up while marching

towards the United Nations building near Makkhawan

Rangsan Bridge as they tried to drive the

protesters back, resulting in a clash between the

two sides that saw at least six protesters

sustaining cracked heads.

Soldiers constantly fired shots into their air.

Some released air from the protesters' pickup truck

tyres. Two to three explosions were heard and

teargas was used. Tensions ran high when the red

shirts regrouped and tried to fight back to reclaim

their protest site at Makkhawan Bridge, throwing

objects and wielding sticks while soldiers kept

firing teargas. However many soldiers not wearing

masks rushed to rinse their faces because of the

effect of the teargas, letting the protesters

successfully push back the soldiers. There were

dramatic scenes after soldiers successfully

dispersed the protesters from the area. Losing

"the physical battle", the protesters launched

verbal attacks against the troops.

A woman in her 50s stood in the middle of the road

and pulled up her top to show her breasts,

prompting female soldiers to come to her, pulling

her top back down. She fought back and pulled her

blouse up again to let photographers take her

picture. Another protester in her 40s slammed the

military's trucks with a pestle. A military

helicopter flying above shot off fireworks to let

the soldiers on the ground know that the protesters

had retreated.