- Published: 20/05/2010
- Bangkok post
Bangkok was in chaos Wednesday as at least 12 buildings were torched after the surrender of red shirt leaders, prompting the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation to place the capital under curfew.
Smoke billows from CentralWorld at the Ratchaprasong intersection. Unidentified arsonists set fire to the shopping centre shortly after the surrender of the red shirt leaders yesterday afternoon. THITI WANNAMONTHA
Smoke billows from CentralWorld at the Ratchaprasong intersection. Unidentified arsonists set fi re to the shopping centre shortly after the surrender of the red shirt leaders yesterday afternoon. THITI WANNAMONTHA In set: The barrel of an M16 rifl e pokes through the railing of the BTS skywalk at Sala Daeng targeting protesters in front of Lumpini Park. THITI WANNAMONTHA
The curfew from 8pm to 6am was announced hours after several buildings were set on fire and looting was widespread around the country. The chaos came after the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) leaders called an end to their rally and turned themselves in to police at the National Police headquarters.
United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship leader Jatuporn Prompan, left, turns himself in with other UDD leaders at the National Police headquarters. SOMCHAI POOMLARD
"All terrorists must end their action otherwise the government will use decisive measures against them," the centre warned.
The surrender of the UDD leaders came as soldiers were closing in on the rally site at Ratchaprasong intersection.
UDD leaders Jatuporn Prompan and Natthawut Saikua told the protesters to leave the site and return home. They were instructed to go to the Supachalasai National Stadium where buses were awaiting to send them back home.
"We decided to end the rally to save lives of the people from more losses," said Mr Natthawut. "But the red shirts will not give up our fi ght for democracy."The red shirts began the rally on April 12 in Bangkok to press the government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to dissolve the lower house and call new elections.
Natthawut Saikua, second from left, and Wiphuthalaeng Pattanaphumtha, right, on their way from the Ratchaprasong rally site to the national police headquarters. SOMCHAI POOMLARD
Soldiers prepared for the final operation at 3.30am with the Ratchaprasong rally Leg 1site the clear target by moving from Sala Daeng intersection and Sarasin Road behind Lumpini Park. The operation began two hours later with at least five armoured vehicles deployed to bring down the barricades built by red shirt security guards.
After the surrender of their leaders to police at 1.45pm, rioters set fires in many places such as the Thai stock exchange, banks, the headquarters of the Metropolitan Electricity Authority, Central World shopping mall and a cinema complex in the Siam Square area which later collapsed.
At least two protesters and an Italian news photographer were killed in the army crackdown. Three other foreign journalists and 15 Thais were wounded. Protesters also turned their rage on the local media, which they have accused of biased coverage in favour of the government. Groups of rioters attacked the offices of Channel 3 TV, where they set fi re to cars, punctured water pipes that caused flooding and entered the building.
The Bangkok Post evacuated its staff briefly after threats from the red shirts.
Less than an hour later, Channel 3 stopped broadcasting.
PM’s Office Minister Sathit Wongnongteay described the chaos as anticipated "aftershocks". "There are violent-prone protesters who remain angry," Mr Sathit told a news conference.
Acting government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn declared the first stage of the army operation to secure the area around Lumpini Park successful. Erawan Emergency Medical Center reported four dead and 40 injuries in Bangkok as of 3pm Wednesday’s fatalities bring the death toll in fighting since last Friday to 43, with 365 injured. There have been 71 deaths since April 10 and 1,306 injuries from clashes and violence related to the red shirt rally.
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