Raw Video: Thai Troops Advance on Protesters
Thai Protests Turn Fatal
Published: 11/04/2010
Bangkok Post
What was to be a peaceful anti-government protest by the red shirts turned deadly when grenades were thrown and shots were fired at Khok Wua intersection at 8.30 on Saturday evening.
The impact of the first grenade blast left 20 soldiers lying in a pool of blood as Bang Lamphu residents watched in horror.
Residents turned out along the road to offer soldiers moral support as they moved in to begin dispersing the red shirt crowd at Phan Fa Bridge.
Led by Arisman Pongruengrong, the protesters were told to stand their ground to prevent soldiers from advancing towards their main stage at Phan Fa.
Armed with wooden sticks, stones and Molotov cocktails, the red shirts fought fiercely against the advancing columns of troops who were backed with trucks equipped with loudspeakers and armoured personnel carriers.
The soldiers were later forced to retreat after an unknown type of explosive was thrown at them followed by a string of gunshots.
Several soldiers fell to the ground and many were dragged away bloodied by their colleagues, leaving behind their weapons and vehicles. Locals gave some of the soldiers shelter and civilian clothing to help them escape the scene.
The violence started earlier yesterday on Ratchadamnoen Nok Avenue when protesters moved to the First Army headquarters around noon and tried to stop troops from leaving.
The red shirts, led by Kwanchai Praipana, feared the troops would be deployed to disperse their rally at Phan Fa.
The protesters tried to enter the compound, but soldiers held them off with water cannons.
The red shirts then withdrew to Sanam Sua Pa, with some hurling wood and other objects at soldiers as they left.
The soldiers managed to drive the protesters to an area in front of the United Nations building near the Makkhawan Rangsan bridge.
They fired guns into the air to threaten the protesters, and fired tear gas at them.
The army then turned water cannons on the protesters, and, when that failed, launched tear gas, forcing the protesters to retreat to the Education Ministry.
The two sides continued to clash on Ratchadamnoen Nok Avenue throughout yesterday afternoon.
Army helicopters dropped tear gas on protesters in the Phan Fa Bridge area in the evening, but red shirt leaders urged their supporters to keep fighting.
The two sides finally squared off near the Ministry of Education.
Soldiers used loudspeakers to urge the protesters to desist.
"You can come out now and we will provide transport back to your homes upcountry," one officer said.
Protesters ignored them and asked monks who support the red shirts to form a wall to protect them from the army.
A small clash also took place near the Chamai Maruchet Bridge on Phitsanulok Road.
Protesters wanted to seize the area because their supporters use it on the way to join the rally at Phan Fa.
However, soldiers were able to secure the spot.
Officers yesterday tried to block red shirt protesters in other areas from entering the rally venue by closing the Phra Pin Klao and Rama VIII bridges.
Many protesters gathered a short distance from the Khok Wua intersection to confront soldiers at the Phra Pinklao Bridge.
UDD leaders also told supporters to park their cars to block soldiers from entering the rally venue near the Democracy Monument, Lan Luang Road, an intersection near the Wanchart Bridge, the Misakawan intersection, and Ratchadamnoen Nok Avenue.
Acting government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said troops exercised restraint in using force against protesters.
What was to be a peaceful anti-government protest by the red shirts turned deadly when grenades were thrown and shots were fired at Khok Wua intersection at 8.30 on Saturday evening.
The impact of the first grenade blast left 20 soldiers lying in a pool of blood as Bang Lamphu residents watched in horror.
Residents turned out along the road to offer soldiers moral support as they moved in to begin dispersing the red shirt crowd at Phan Fa Bridge.
Led by Arisman Pongruengrong, the protesters were told to stand their ground to prevent soldiers from advancing towards their main stage at Phan Fa.
Armed with wooden sticks, stones and Molotov cocktails, the red shirts fought fiercely against the advancing columns of troops who were backed with trucks equipped with loudspeakers and armoured personnel carriers.
The soldiers were later forced to retreat after an unknown type of explosive was thrown at them followed by a string of gunshots.
Several soldiers fell to the ground and many were dragged away bloodied by their colleagues, leaving behind their weapons and vehicles. Locals gave some of the soldiers shelter and civilian clothing to help them escape the scene.
The violence started earlier yesterday on Ratchadamnoen Nok Avenue when protesters moved to the First Army headquarters around noon and tried to stop troops from leaving.
The red shirts, led by Kwanchai Praipana, feared the troops would be deployed to disperse their rally at Phan Fa.
The protesters tried to enter the compound, but soldiers held them off with water cannons.
The red shirts then withdrew to Sanam Sua Pa, with some hurling wood and other objects at soldiers as they left.
The soldiers managed to drive the protesters to an area in front of the United Nations building near the Makkhawan Rangsan bridge.
They fired guns into the air to threaten the protesters, and fired tear gas at them.
The army then turned water cannons on the protesters, and, when that failed, launched tear gas, forcing the protesters to retreat to the Education Ministry.
The two sides continued to clash on Ratchadamnoen Nok Avenue throughout yesterday afternoon.
Army helicopters dropped tear gas on protesters in the Phan Fa Bridge area in the evening, but red shirt leaders urged their supporters to keep fighting.
The two sides finally squared off near the Ministry of Education.
Soldiers used loudspeakers to urge the protesters to desist.
"You can come out now and we will provide transport back to your homes upcountry," one officer said.
Protesters ignored them and asked monks who support the red shirts to form a wall to protect them from the army.
A small clash also took place near the Chamai Maruchet Bridge on Phitsanulok Road.
Protesters wanted to seize the area because their supporters use it on the way to join the rally at Phan Fa.
However, soldiers were able to secure the spot.
Officers yesterday tried to block red shirt protesters in other areas from entering the rally venue by closing the Phra Pin Klao and Rama VIII bridges.
Many protesters gathered a short distance from the Khok Wua intersection to confront soldiers at the Phra Pinklao Bridge.
UDD leaders also told supporters to park their cars to block soldiers from entering the rally venue near the Democracy Monument, Lan Luang Road, an intersection near the Wanchart Bridge, the Misakawan intersection, and Ratchadamnoen Nok Avenue.
Acting government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said troops exercised restraint in using force against protesters.
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