Thai protesters prepare for 'last stand' against military
Anti-government protesters were preparing for their final stand in Thailand as thousands of troops encircled about 5,000 diehards still out on the streets.
By Thomas Bell in Bangkok
Published: 6:32PM BST 13 Apr 2009
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It followed a day of chaos in Bangkok as soldiers moved in to end the protests and demonstrators responded by setting fire to barricades at junctions around the capital.
Live rounds and tear gas were fired towards the crowds and demonstrators responded with petrol bombs and rigged buses with weighted pedals to drive unmanned towards ranks of security forces.
Pro-government gangs also began roaming the streets last night armed with swords, bottles, knives and clubs, intent on finding and attacking the protesters. By evening two people were confirmed dead and 100 injured, including 23 soldiers. Shops and offices were closed and official celebrations for the Thai new year were cancelled.
Twelve countries warned tourists to rethink travel plans, although neither side of the conflict has shown any hostility to foreigners and the airport has not yet been affected.
Outside the regional headquarters of the United Nations, several stolen buses were burned out and repeated bursts of automatic gunfire rang out over the heads of the protesters. Soldiers struggled to put out the fires with water canon.
Abhisit Vejjajiva, the British born prime minister who has been in office for only four months, appealed for the protesters to return home.
“If the people want to demonstrate peacefully, if they want to exercise their constitutional rights they are welcome to do so, but they cannot riot, they cannot incite people to break the law, they cannot intimidate and use violence against other people,” he said in televised address.
“All the work I am doing is not to create fear or put pressure or to harm any group of people. It’s a step by step process to restore order and stop violence.”
Mr Abhisit said the military campaign to end the protests was nearly complete.
“I ask all of the authorities to remain firm,” he said. “Most of the unrest has been suppressed, except the rally around Government House. The government still adheres to its policy of leniency, and using negotiations to avoid any loss of life.”
As most of the remaining protesters gathered around Government House, Jatuporn Phromphan, one of their leaders, shouted from a platform: “This will be our final stand. I beg that you return here and face them together. We will use peaceful means and stay right here to end their violence.”
Many of the protesters support Thaksin Shinawatra, the exiled former prime minister. They claim that the government is “illegitimate” after it replaced a pro-Thaksin administration at the end of last year. In a series of video addresses in recent weeks, Mr Thaksin has inflamed grievances by describing what he says is a conspiracy of senior figures in the national elite to keep him and his allies out of power. Two governments linked to Mr Thaksin, who is popular among the poor, have been toppled in less than three years.
On Sunday Mr Abhisit declared a state of emergency and sent in troops after the protesters, demanding his resignation, forced a summit of Asian leaders in Bagkok to be cancelled.
Both sides tried to present the other as the principal instigator of the violence. “It’s going to take time, and we are trying to cause as little loss as possible,” said Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd, who is involved in the army operation.
Mr Thaksin, who has been orchestrating the protests from exile, accused the government of concealing “many” protester deaths.
In a BBC interview, Mr Thaksin said: “The situation in Thailand is of very brutal suppression.
“All the protesters come with bare hands, they come with peace, they are asking for a true democracy for all.”
Anti-government protesters were preparing for their final stand in Thailand as thousands of troops encircled about 5,000 diehards still out on the streets.
By Thomas Bell in Bangkok
Published: 6:32PM BST 13 Apr 2009
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Live rounds and tear gas were fired towards the crowds and demonstrators responded with petrol bombs and rigged buses with weighted pedals to drive unmanned towards ranks of security forces.
Pro-government gangs also began roaming the streets last night armed with swords, bottles, knives and clubs, intent on finding and attacking the protesters. By evening two people were confirmed dead and 100 injured, including 23 soldiers. Shops and offices were closed and official celebrations for the Thai new year were cancelled.
Twelve countries warned tourists to rethink travel plans, although neither side of the conflict has shown any hostility to foreigners and the airport has not yet been affected.
Outside the regional headquarters of the United Nations, several stolen buses were burned out and repeated bursts of automatic gunfire rang out over the heads of the protesters. Soldiers struggled to put out the fires with water canon.
Abhisit Vejjajiva, the British born prime minister who has been in office for only four months, appealed for the protesters to return home.
“If the people want to demonstrate peacefully, if they want to exercise their constitutional rights they are welcome to do so, but they cannot riot, they cannot incite people to break the law, they cannot intimidate and use violence against other people,” he said in televised address.
“All the work I am doing is not to create fear or put pressure or to harm any group of people. It’s a step by step process to restore order and stop violence.”
Mr Abhisit said the military campaign to end the protests was nearly complete.
“I ask all of the authorities to remain firm,” he said. “Most of the unrest has been suppressed, except the rally around Government House. The government still adheres to its policy of leniency, and using negotiations to avoid any loss of life.”
As most of the remaining protesters gathered around Government House, Jatuporn Phromphan, one of their leaders, shouted from a platform: “This will be our final stand. I beg that you return here and face them together. We will use peaceful means and stay right here to end their violence.”
Many of the protesters support Thaksin Shinawatra, the exiled former prime minister. They claim that the government is “illegitimate” after it replaced a pro-Thaksin administration at the end of last year. In a series of video addresses in recent weeks, Mr Thaksin has inflamed grievances by describing what he says is a conspiracy of senior figures in the national elite to keep him and his allies out of power. Two governments linked to Mr Thaksin, who is popular among the poor, have been toppled in less than three years.
On Sunday Mr Abhisit declared a state of emergency and sent in troops after the protesters, demanding his resignation, forced a summit of Asian leaders in Bagkok to be cancelled.
Both sides tried to present the other as the principal instigator of the violence. “It’s going to take time, and we are trying to cause as little loss as possible,” said Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd, who is involved in the army operation.
Mr Thaksin, who has been orchestrating the protests from exile, accused the government of concealing “many” protester deaths.
In a BBC interview, Mr Thaksin said: “The situation in Thailand is of very brutal suppression.
“All the protesters come with bare hands, they come with peace, they are asking for a true democracy for all.”
