Reds defiant, 20 killed in clashes
Red-shirts vowed to continue their anti-government protests on Sunday after clashes with security forces on Saturday night left 20 dead, while the government said no live rounds were fired at protesters during the operation to clear the Phan Fa rally site occupied by the reds. (Photo by Somchai Poomlard)
Published: 11/04/2010Bangkok Post
Red-shirt demonstrators on Sunday vowed to continue their protests on Sunday, after clashes between soldiers and protesters resulted in 20 dead and more than 800 injured.
Red-shirt leader Natthawut Saikua said the red-shirt protesters will continue to occupy the Ratchaprasong intersection and Phan Fa Bridge until Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva dissolves the House of Representatives and holds a new election.
"We call for Abhisit to resign immediately," he told the red-shirts, adding that the red-shirts would hold a mourning ceremony for the dead at Democracy Monument on Sunday and vowed that those killed "did not die in vain".
Another leader, Veera Musikhapong, demanded Mr Abhisit leave the country.
According to the latest figures from Wachira Hospital, 20 people were killed in clashes between soldiers and protesters on Saturday. Fifteen were civilians, including a Japanese photographer working for a news agency. Five of the dead were soldiers.
Red-shirt leaders said the group would rally in different locations across the capital on Monday, in honour of the red-shirts who died in the violent clashes.
The operation to clear the Phan Fa Bridge occupied by red-shirts began at 1pm on Saturday. Troops halted all operations at 9.15pm after clashes at Khok Wua intersection led to many injuries and deaths.
Government spokesman Panithan Wattanayakorn said in a televised conference on Sunday afternoon that security forces did not fire live rounds at the protesters.
Initial investigations have shown that grenades and ammunition used in the clashes were not standard military equipment, he said.
He also said that some of the tear-gas cannisters fired at the protesters were not those used by the troops, adding that troops were not equipped with hand grenades or machine guns.
Red-shirt demonstrators on Sunday vowed to continue their protests on Sunday, after clashes between soldiers and protesters resulted in 20 dead and more than 800 injured.
Red-shirt leader Natthawut Saikua said the red-shirt protesters will continue to occupy the Ratchaprasong intersection and Phan Fa Bridge until Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva dissolves the House of Representatives and holds a new election.
"We call for Abhisit to resign immediately," he told the red-shirts, adding that the red-shirts would hold a mourning ceremony for the dead at Democracy Monument on Sunday and vowed that those killed "did not die in vain".
Another leader, Veera Musikhapong, demanded Mr Abhisit leave the country.
According to the latest figures from Wachira Hospital, 20 people were killed in clashes between soldiers and protesters on Saturday. Fifteen were civilians, including a Japanese photographer working for a news agency. Five of the dead were soldiers.
Red-shirt leaders said the group would rally in different locations across the capital on Monday, in honour of the red-shirts who died in the violent clashes.
The operation to clear the Phan Fa Bridge occupied by red-shirts began at 1pm on Saturday. Troops halted all operations at 9.15pm after clashes at Khok Wua intersection led to many injuries and deaths.
Government spokesman Panithan Wattanayakorn said in a televised conference on Sunday afternoon that security forces did not fire live rounds at the protesters.
Initial investigations have shown that grenades and ammunition used in the clashes were not standard military equipment, he said.
He also said that some of the tear-gas cannisters fired at the protesters were not those used by the troops, adding that troops were not equipped with hand grenades or machine guns.
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