Re: BANGKOK: More than 100K at 9pm. Many More Coming. JAMS 50km Long. ArbiSHIT SHITTI
-Shots fired in Bangkok after day of violence (2010/05/20 )
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* Troops fire in air near temple at protest site
* Curfew extended to provinces after outbreak of violence
* More fires overnight despite curfew
By Jason Szep and Damir Sagolj
BANGKOK, May 20 (Reuters) - Thai troops firedinto the air on
Thursday as they approached a temple where several hundred "red
shirt" protesters had sought shelter after security forces
dispersed them a day before and their leaders surrendered.
Fires were still burning in central Bangkok after an
overnight curfew that followed a day of riots and arson in which
health officials said at least seven people were killed.
The Erawan Emergency Medical Centre also said 81 people were
wounded in the fighting at the protesters'' camp in acommercial
district in the heart of the capital and in skirmishes that broke
out around the city.
It was uncertain whether the rioting represented a final
outpouring of protesters'' anger or whether it would intensify in
days ahead.
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A Reuters photographer said the protesters at the temple,
including many women and children, ran in fright at the sound of
the gunshots. A Reuters reporter said there were at least six
bodies at the site, which appeared to have been there some time.
An Erawan official said she was aware of nine bodies reported
to be in a temple inside the protest site, but rescue workers had
so far been unable to get there.
The authorities said late on Wednesday that 27 buildings were
set on fire by protesters, including Central World, Southeast Asia''s second-biggest department store complex, which was gutted
and looked close to collapse.
A spokesman for Bangkok''s governor said there were 31 fires
by Thursday morning, around half at banks but also including a
mall in the protest camparea, where a fire had been started
around midnight, after the curfew started at 8 p.m. (1300 GMT).
A small fire was started in the stock exchange on Wednesday.
The market will be closed on Thursday and Friday and the Bank of
Thailand said banks around the country would also stay shut. The
whole week has been declared a public holiday in an effort to
keep people out of central Bangkok.
The curfew in the capital, in the grip of protests by "red
shirt" activists for weeks, was lifted at 6a.m. (2300 GMT on
Wednesday). Buses began running but it was unclear if the mass
transit rail system would be reopened.
Television channels have been ordered to only air programmes
approved by the authorities.
"GUERRILLA WARFARE"
The "red shirt" protesters are mostly drawn from the rural
and urban poor and largely back former Prime Minister Thaksin
Shinawatra, a populist tycoon who was ousted in a 2006 coup and
now lives in self-imposed exile to avoid a jail term for graft.
They started demonstrating in mid-March, demanding that the
government step down and new elections be held. More than 70
people have been killed and nearly 2,000 wounded since then.
Thaksin said the crackdown could spawn guerrilla warfare.
"There is a theory saying a military crackdown can spread
resentment and these resentful people will become guerrillas," he
told Reuters by telephone from an undisclosed location.
Early this month, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva had
offered anelection in November, just over a year before he
needed to call one, but talks foundered and that offer is now off
the table.
Troops moved in to clear out the demonstrators early on
Wednesday and several "red shirt" leaders surrendered. The security forces continued their operation during the night,
authorised to shoot looters and arsonists.
"In many places, armed elements have prevented officials from
helping the people," Abhisit said in a televised statement late
on Wednesday,adding he was determined to end the problem and
"return the country to peace and order once again".
Authorities imposed the curfew on 24 provinces -- about a
third of the total -- after outbursts of unrest in seven regions,
particularly in thenorth, a "red shirt" stronghold. Town halls
were set alight in three northern areas.
The protesters say Abhisit lacks a proper mandate after
coming to power in a controversial parliamentary vote in 2006
with tacit military support.
InWashington, Kurt Campbell, U.S. Assistant Secretary of
State for East Asia and the Pacific, told reporters talks were
planned with Thai diplomats and officials.
(Additional reporting by Ambika Ahuja and Nopporn Wong-Anan;
Writing by Alan Raybould;Editing by Alex Richardson)
