Reds parade coffins as govt accuses "terrorists"

Reds parade coffins

Red-shirts parade coffins through Bangkok on Monday, applying more pressure on the government to step down, as the authorities blame unnamed "armed men" for the lethal violence on Saturday night. (Photo by Chanat Katanyu)

• Published: 12/04/2010
• Bangkok Post
  

The anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) paraded the coffins of two of their dead red-shirt supporters, together with 14 empty caskets, from the main rally site at Phan Fa bridge to Sanam Luang on Monday morning.

The procession, which began at 10am, comprised 17 vehicles accompanied by motorcycles and red-shirt supporters marching on foot.

The bodies of the 14 other red-shirts who died in the violent clashes with authorities on Saturday were still being autopsied at the Police General hospital.

The UDD covered the caskets with the national flag together with portraits of the dead demonstrators.

The procession was led by red-shirt leaders Natthawut Saikua and Suporn Attawong.

"Red-shirts will never negotiate with murderers," co-leader Jatuporn Prompan announced from the rally stage. "It is our duty to honour the dead by bringing democracy to this country."

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said ill-intentioned armed men had mingled with red-shirt protesters and instigated the bloody clash on Saturday night when troops tried to disperse protesters from Phan Fa Bridge rally site.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban (left), with army chief Anupong Paojinda next to him, said "armed men" were behind lethal violence on Saturday night. (Photo by Surapol Promsaka Na Sakolnakorn)

Mr Suthep, as director of the Centre for Public Administration in Emergency Situation (CPAES), said this after a meeting with Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon and army chief Gen Anupong Paojinda to discuss the Saturday night violence that claimed 21 lives and left a reported 858 people injured.

He said the fact that there were armed men mingling with the red-shirts of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) was totally unexpected.

The armed men opened fire at soldiers with war weapons without caring whether the protesters were in the firing line.

The statement was later confirmed by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, who said on national television in the afternoon that a group of armed "terrorists" were among the protesters and instigated bloodshed in the hope of forcing a change in the administration.

Mr Suthep also said there had been attempts to spread rumours that the government had made a big mistake and wrongly estimated the situation and that it had forced soldiers to go out to face the protesters unarmed.

The rumours were intended to put blame on Mr Abhisit and the government for the casualties, he said.

Mr Suthep said the use of police and soldiers was decided only after careful consideration of the situiation by the CPAES, which comprises both permanent government officials and political office holders.

Gen Prawit, the defence minister, said the soldiers had strictly complied with policies set down by the prime minister. They saw what happened, but could not do anything for fear of harming the people.

Decisive action must be taken against those outlaws behind the violence, he said.

This photo gallery shows members of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) parade coffins of their dead red-shirt supporters through Bangkok on Monday. (Photos by Kosol Nakachol).