Meridian007

Wow, that's the closest to a western gym that I've seen here! Now I wish that I lived in the east end!

It would be so nice if some other climbing gyms opened up again. I researched the gyms here before moving to Thailand 3 years ago, and while there was a nice bouldering gym near Saphan Thaksin BTS for a while, they shut down really quickly. If I lived in the east end of town I'd probably love the place on Sukhumwit, (I've never been, but heard many good things), or I'd even play at Big-C, (although the last time I went, their safety standards seemed a bit lacking in my opinion), but I live on the other side of the river in Pinklao.

Everything near here closed a while ago, so while I had grand plans of joining the community and doing lots of climbing here, (I brought all my trad and sport gear, I have quite a bit), I haven't touched rock for the better part of 3 years. The tone and muscle I had when I came to Thailand is gone, but I'd still love to have somewhere close to start out again at. I know I could take my lazy ass out of town, but that would still involve buses, as I refuse to buy a car while I live in BKK. I also wouldn't trust myself on the live end of a rope right now, so I'd be stuck top-roping.

I even brought some holds to make a hang board with, but it's much more difficult to find good plywood here, and somewhere to set it up. If anyone has any ideas, or more info, I'd love to hear it!

Here is the old SimonFoley.com site, but I don't think you can post:

http://simonfoley.com/forum/viewforum.php?...1664eac8308030e

So the author of such riveting classics as "Hello My Big Big Honey!" and "Love Letters to Bangkok Bar Girls and Their Revealing Interviews" is now considered a journalist? I guess it's only fitting that he is writing about Khattiya. Keep the nutters together...

Thankfully, even the red leadership is finally realizing that Khattiya is too dangerous to have around. Those 2nd line leader rumors he spoke of last night read like a whos-who of the extremist faction within the red shirt movement. They, along with Jattuporn are the ones who should be jailed permanently. If anyone is going to take the fall for this, I'd prefer to see them up there rather than Weera or even Weng, (not that I like either of them), as I think they were the two who tried to keep some control over the raging hate and hormones that fueled a lot of the violence.

That being said, I can't wait to see the evidence of amnesty bargaining that will happen next for those who professed on stage that they would never seek amnesty! True comedy!

Good article. I agree with the other posters that who state that we are looking at Thai poverty through western eyes, and that when Thailand is compared to other "global-south" countries, it is actually (still!) doing quite well.

Wealth distribution in Thailand is no more extreme than in most industrialised countries. The poorest 10% of the people of Thailand own 2.6% of the nation's wealth. The richest 10% own 33.7%. In the U.S., the comparable figures are 2% and 30%, in the U.K. 2.1% and 28.5%. These statistics may not be wholly reliable, but distribution of wealth is unquestionably much more equitable than in China, India, Brazil or South Africa. Even isolated Thai villages, especially in the central plains, would seem very prosperous to rural Pakistanis and positively utopian to most Nigerians. Thaksin's much-vaunted "village revolving development funds" financing local enterprise had their antecedents in the 1970s.

I'd love to see your sources for this, I have the stats for Thailand, but the western country stats are surprising.

The thing that worries me is that while the plight of the rural poor might be better here than other global south countries, it is precariously balanced on the back of the water supply. The current heat waves, (which are becoming more frequent), coupled with the water restrictions in the Mekhong because of China's dams, could topple any lead that the rural Thais have. That, more than anything else, may impact the future of Thailand, both internally and externally. This is why I've said that Thailand needs to focus on setting up a large scale passive desalinator near the coast rather than worrying about creating a nuclear reactor.

Oops, so Droid is not the same as Milestone, just have the same manufacturer. My mistake.

--

Maestro

I think it's essentially the same, just that one is cdma and the other is gsm. Any other differences?

You can order the milestone online at http://www.expansys.com/d.aspx?i=190234

You can see the differences between the Milestone and the Droid here: http://pdadb.net/index.php?m=pdacomparer&a...werty_keyboard_

Has anyone bought a Milestone yet? If so, what do you think? It's the phone I'd buy now if I was looking to buy, (I haven't fully killed my old smartphone yet), but I might wait another generation so I can get it cheaper!

Also, for you Droid users, what GPS software does the Droid use? Are the Thailand maps any good?

I'm using Windows Mobile on my Asus P527, (I know, it's old, but it does everything I need right now), with the Garmin map software for my GPS. I really like the Garmin maps, but I don't think they've ported to Droid yet.

If so, I think I'd start looking for a way to flash my P527 to Droid, as I've not been too impressed with Windows Mobile.

Call 1 800 000 150

Its Canada Direct and you get an operator who asks which Tel Company (i.e. Bell Canada) and then you just give them the number you wish to call collect. I use it for calling Canadian Banks collect.

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but do you get charged for the 1-800 number if you call it from your land line? I'm using True, but I can't find the correct 1-800 to use with collect call numbers. I'm also trying to call my bank, so I'd rather not have to pay.

If you want the degree to have a chance of meaning something outside of the ASEAN region, you'll have to stick with one of the big three: Chula, Thammasat, or Mahidol. All three have international programs and education degrees.

I can only speak for Thammasat, as I know someone who is taking a Master's in TEFL, if that's what you want. Their International Relations program is also great, if you decide that you don't want an education degree.

I just want to express my sympathies and admiration for the nurses, doctors and other staff from Chulalongkorn Hospital who selflessly have acted for their patients welfare with responsibility in a speedy manner.

To all the patients out there. I pray and wish you all a speedy recovery, you're heroes too.

- Love and the power of it can heal many wounds.

Hear, hear! And also for the doctors and other staff at the other hospitals who have to work extra hard to cover the workload from Chula. (my gf is one of them, she's working overnight tonight, and she only just got a chance to call me. She is swamped!)

Hammered ---

That still leaves Veera to be considered. It looks like the folks running the reds made sure that EVERY red leader took a bite of the poison apple. Veera openly called for violence against the state like Jatuporn and Weng (looks like they made Veera do that when he came out of the government negotiations looking good!).

Chavalit is likely done ... same with another few PTP MP's.

The only ones coming out looking (relaitively) good are Banharn, Newin, and Abhisit (and yes I think that if they slam the lid on the red leadership and Thaksin then Abhisit comes out smelling like a rose!)

This ends up with the "right guy" getting tapped to lead the military, the PTP biting it badly in the next elections and the Newin and Banharn factions being the controlling factor in a new Democrat lead government. The "generals" end up with enough dirt on Banharn Newin and the Dems to feel safe and strong but not enough to be totally secure.

That leaves what happens when everything changes in Thailand.

Prem has been rumored to be at 1st Reg ... other rumors are circulating about Prem having been hurt recently. They are so vague (the rumors) that who can trust them at all?

Watch Newin

That would be another catastrophe. But insider within the Thai societies tip him to eventually become PM

Newin never chooses the losing side

Didn't his dad come out lately saying that it would be nice if Newin were PM some time in the future? Blech. From Abhisit to Newin? What a step backwards!

Nobody is denying that the red shirts entered the hospital. But they didn't harm any patients. If they wanted to harm patients, they could harm them at the new location too, so the move was pointless and effectively a PR stunt. I'm sorry.

And a disgusting PR stunt at that, its a disgrace that the hospital admin or owners wanted these movements done. Where they paid by the PAD or Team Yellow to move the patients and pose for the media for photo's ?

Shame on them for moving patients "just for the camera's" in all reality it seems.

You've evidently never been in a hospital then. If you look at the pictures of these people on Pantip, the last thing they need is a bunch of blood-crazed reds harassing and threatening them through the hospital while looking troops. They need peace and quiet, exactly the opposite of what they are getting there. It's ludicrous, you don't invade a hospital! No amount of your spin can change this!

PAD guards were armed with guns.

Photo's appeared in the media of PAD guards with guns shooting at taxi drivers on the way to Don Muang.

PAD guards killed a man at Don Muang airport (they accused him of being an undercover policeman is the rumour).

PAD broke into government offices and caused damage.

PAD prevented parliament from opening by blockading the building and stopping MP's from doing their work.

PAD guards recently arrested in pick up with loads of weapons and grenades.

They are violent and armed.

I agree that they are, but wow. Now that I look at the list of wrongs against the PAD, and I compare them to what the reds have put this country through, the PAD don't seem so bad! (and that's scary!)

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/Man-f...4-30128346.html

This one is a classic. Those downtrodden rural poor are being promised money to protest, getting shafted on the deal and being held against their will.

That's a hat trick!

Scoff if you like, but we've all heard about the ID card thing. Maybe that guy knows something we don't, or some of the rural people are getting fed up. I hope they leave before this gets messy, I still feel sorry for the way they are being used.

Weng just appeared on Thai TV, saying that the guy wanted for the grenade attack on Banharn's house just happens to look exactly like the redshirt guy hanging around Chula hospital. You can't arrest people just because they look exactly like the wanted poster.

Obviously a shape-changer from another planet intent on spreading discord on earth before mounting an invasion has morphed itself into the exact replica of a redshirt guard and mounted an attack on Banharn's house to make the redshirts look bad.

This guy should not be shot in a crackdown or for any terrorist offences or incitements to violence. He should be shot for insulting our intelligence.

So... That guy is a fake version of himself? I'm so confused.

I'm willing to bet that Weng gets on tomorrow apologising again, and saying that Khattiya still isn't connected to the reds. (they do what we want, but aren't connected to us)

How can any foreigner support these guys anymore? Is this the democracy you want? Really? I think the only supporters are those who have something to gain. As I said in my earlier post, it is a plan to have a criminal mob-law country, run openly by the "criminal elite" otherwise known as Thaksin, (or if he's dead, one of his cronies).

I'm glad that someone posted the pictures on Pantip.com of what the reds are forcing the sick and the elderly to endure for the red's precious leader. Only terrorists would attack a hospital. Aside from any lame justification, (even if there were troops there, they are obviously there to protect the people in the hospital), impeding the work of doctors is a prohibited thing to do anywhere in the world. Even in failed states in Africa, doctors are allowed to work.

The red's just can't stand the idea of any power greater than them, so they have to chase troops wherever they see them. They might feel that this gives them face, but to the international community, they certainly have lost it. This, along with photo confirmation that members of the red/black guards are wanted criminals only confirms that this is a movement to empower the criminal forces in Thailand to work as a mob-state. If it continues like this, we'll start seeing warlords roaming the city (and the country) in armed hordes, raping and killing like they do in Africa.

I know that Abhisit is trying to bring a new level of government to Thailand, so that things like the October revolution don't happen again, but I think he's losing control. The reds are threatening the lives of the sick, the old, and children in the hospital, so it is time for the government to say that the women, elderly and children in the red areas have one day to evacuate, and then go in and clear out the rest by any means. Anyone left at that point should be considered as an enemy combatant.

The pictures are here (I just copied from the news updates):

http://www.pantip.com/cafe/chalermthai/top...1/A9192681.html

I would suggest building a group of twitter accounts to follow. You can start with tulsathit from the Nation, (he's the editor, and he updates a lot), and follow the links in his tweets to to other twitter accounts. By doing this you will quickly build up a group of journalists and wannabe journalists who either have good news feeds, or are actually there. Many of them also link to twitter photos, and youtube videos, where you'll get to see things as they happen. It isn't as good as a live video feed, but that can be hard to find regularly.

While I keep an eye on the news updates here, I've been more focused on twitter since April 10th for first-hand reporting.

The internet is changing everything...

If you watch the link below you can see :

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xd1loe_us...top-201004_news

Thanks. This clip will be BANNED from public TV especially NBT. I can bet on it.

Former Thai senators call on government to stop blocking and manipulating media

Only if they stop doing the same! This is exactly why you can't trust ANY Thai news sources, one side edits things, the other blocks them. What a mess!

(BTW, if you want to see that video, it's on the page I linked to before: http://thailand.media140.org/bangkok/?p=1218 ) It's difficult to block things on the internet.

onnected.

I wouldn't believe anything Suthep says either. I think my favourite is Weng though - I don't know how he keeps a straight face. And some of the Reds I know believe every word.

From Mark Mackinnon's tweets

http://twitter.com/markmackinnon

What I saw/heard were fireworks fired from Red side over police barricade. Not M79s, as some reporting

Yes. exactly. Bad reporting not helping tense situation RT @ RT @terryfrd: ASTV says police say it was likely firework not M79 as reported

So whilst there are army up on the BTS tending to the wounded after this attack on the BTS, the POLICE are none the wiser and claim this was fireworks? Meanwhile, the French journalist is up on the BTS filming holes in the roof of the BTS.

Note to ASTV. Don't believe a word that the police utter.

Exactly. I don't trust any of the Thai stations, there is too much tilt on both sides. The main problem with live updates is just as you've illustrated, if you are there on the street, it can be confusing. That is why I think that the fireworks were used to cover that "whomp" sound that M79s make. My main interest is that he is the only western journo that I've read that was actually able to say where the noises came from. There are also many Thais who have reported the same thing, along with western non-journos, but I don't think they are given the same level of respect in their reporting. (although there was some great photo-journalism by non-journos last night)

NEWS FLASH:

1. There cannot be any confusion . We probably will never know who launched the grenades.

2. But , it is fair to say we do have proof that this whole confrontation was provoked by the government !!!

3. If not, why would the government under any circumstances let the yellow shirts get near the reds to antagonize the situation. IF SILOM ROAD WAS DECLARED OFF LIMITS TO THE REDS ,,, WHY WERE THE YELLOWS ALLOWED TO PROTEST ,, AND CONGREGATE THERE . Why the double standard ? No government can claim to be that stupid ,,, and certainly not this one ,,, it was planned its obvious.

This is a typical fascist " divide and conquer " strategy which is to provoke a crisis and then use force to resolve it in the name of the state.

Hence, the claims by all you posters here who think you know for sure the reds started the grenade throwing will always be left in doubt once again . Just like the still lingering questions of the deaths on April 10 because the government lied about only using rubber bullets etc.

Wow.

Let's step back from the emotion a bit and look at this rationally, shall we? I've numbered your points to better respond to them.

1. That is what the current discussion is about. We are all trying to provide information here so that everyone can make their own conclusions. With the editing that has been done, would you even trust video or pictures if they were available? Let us discuss it, so that we can all try to find a clearer picture.

2. Um, have you listened to any of the speeches from the red stage? I think the provocation began a while ago, and from the red stages. I remember walking by the stages at Phan Fa back in March, and if you heard the death threats and urges for the government to react violently so that the reds could "unleash their fiery anger" on Bangkok, you would have been shocked.

3. After the government and the military have allowed the reds to illegally congregate for so long, do you really think it would be fair of them to stop the citizens of Bangkok from being able to display their frustration? I agree that there was an ultra-violent part to the non-red group last night, and I think it is this sub-group, as well as the ultra-violent red sub-group that make this so volatile. Neither side can be painted with the brush that these sub-groups are tarred with.

The non-reds congregated in the only place they could, to confront the reds. Yes, the army let them into the Silom area more, but that is probably because the group supported them, so they were not seen as potential dangers.

I think the military and the police should have done more to keep both sides back from each other, but the reds made that difficult with their "bamboo fort".

Maybe you should relax a bit, this spouting of hate does little to support your legitimacy.

I know exactly where the BTS is in relation to Lumpini.

I am not saying what you said isn't feasible. It is just I would dearly love some independent corroboration. I don't believe a word that comes out of Suthep's mouth anymore. This doesn't mean I am red, it is just I think he is a complete buffoon. Of course by now it is lunchtime the next day, and as yet, not even an eyewitness account in the English language press.

Of course, we have a statement from a TV star about his supposed role as front and centre on the Nation, because that is real news.

I've already given the quote from The Globe and Mail's Mark Mackinnon, but here it is again (I'm sure that it will colour his article about what happened, but he is still busy reporting from there now, so he hasn't written anything released by the Globe yet):

What I saw/heard were fireworks fired from Red side over police barricade. Not M79s, as some reporting.

That was at shortly after 8pm, when the grenades were fired that ended up at the BTS. The fireworks were to disguise the distinctive noise of the M79, but he clearly states that it came from the red side. Can you honestly tell me that it is just a coincidence that the grenades were fired at the exact same time, (corroborated by the immediate damage afterwards)? Or that the military or non-red shirts were able to time firing with the fireworks? It is pretty clear that it is the reds, and it was an unfortunate decision on their part.

-------

Sorry, forgot to give a reference link: http://twitter.com/markmackinnon You'll have to look back into his tweets from last night.

I was thinking the same thing. I also heard rumour of RPGs being used, and depending on the ammunition, that would also extend their range, but would be more visible, hence the rockets.

If you take a look at the video of the damage it seems that whatever it was that exploded fell down from above.

Not sure what the range of those grenade launchers are but they seem to have been quite accurate considering the distance between the alleged launch site and skytrain station is around 400-500 meters.

Yup, that hits it. However, I disagree with Suthep that it was fired from behind the statue, the barricades are well into the road, so I think it would have been fired from much closer to there. The sound of the M79 being fired was covered up with the firecracker rockets, and to increase confusion.

The bottom line is that Thaksin got results, despite local corruption. That's all that really matters in the end. He was effective. If he had a higher agenda, which he apparently did, it's unimportant to the average farmer because he improved the quality of living out here. All the poor care about are the tangible manifestations of his policies to help the poor. But you are correct. Local elected officials make it very difficult to effect change in the provinces. A good example are all the half completed roads which remain that way for years because the government funding "ran out" while the local Phuu Yai Baan's mia noi gets a nice new home or a pickup. Somehow, Thaksin found a way around this. I don't pretend to know his methods, I just know that they worked and suspect that lifestyle improvement is at the core of his popularity. Not the 500 baht people might have received to vote for one guy instead of someone else, though that goes a long way too because people out here are generally quite uninformed.

Whatever the Reds are up to in Bangkok, I don't know. I just know that the government that won the majority of the vote was ousted out of power and replaced by what we have today. It seems like the people with the most sway in Thailand aren't really interested in democracy. If they were, they'd work harder to find ways to win elections rather than staging a coup every time a government is popularly elected. Figuring out how to effectively help the poor would accomplish that. I don't care what color shirt they wear, just get results. Thaksin figured out how to do that and thus proved it was possible, why can't anyone else?

Thaksin was merely the first. He paved the way for reforms, but he got carried away with his new-found power, and was proven to have his sights on a higher position than PM. That was why he had to go, and can't be allowed in again. If so, you'll see a corporate dictatorship in action, and he won't hide behind a "war on drugs" campaign to kill his opposition this time.

He was very clever in his manipulation of the desperation of the poor, but I believe that all other leaders now are forced to include the issue of poverty reduction in Issan as part of their policies. Abhisit was making his way towards it, (while trying to get the country back on its feet), which is one of the reasons that this conflict had to be created. Thaksin can't afford to have Abhisit, (or anyone else for that matter), be seen to help the poor, or his image crumbles. If the people saw that someone will help them with concrete assistance, but won't become an authoritarian overlord, they would choose that person over Thaksin. He can't come back.

Another sad thing is that neither side would win if elections are called now. There is too much division and blood on both sides, so Thailand will continue to have weak, secondary governments. If Abhisit had been given his whole term in peace, he would have changed Thailand for the better. Thaksin couldn't allow this, sadly.

Well, there are apparently dozens and dozens of reporters down there. Presumably with dozens of cameras both still and video pointing in all sorts of directions.

Someone will have a video of something that will shed a lot of light on where and how a grenade came to land on the BTS. Presumably the BTS has cameras so where is the footage?

I am still unsure how anyone could fire from road level onto the platform accurately. They could fire onto the walkways of course. The story is that the grenades came from Lumpini and one came down through the "roof" of the BTS? Another newspaper is still claiming "unknown" areas for the launch and has a differing number for the numbers of casualties. Some say 5 grenades, some 3, some landing on the platforms, some on walkways. One says one grenade landed at the Dusit Thani, the other not. The newspapers don't even have a conclusive story, and I tell you I won't believe a word that comes out of Suthep's or the red's mouth about this type of thing.

The story is so confused, and apparently despite there being so many cameras around, as yet, very little CONCRETE evidence.

For some video after the fact, that shows the holes on the roof, look at Olivier Rottrou's video on this page, (it's the first one): http://thailand.media140.org/bangkok/?p=1218

You won't get video of them launching for two reasons. One, the red side was kept dark, the only well lit area was the silom side of the barricades, which is why the pictures and videos you see are from there.

Second, if it was M79, you aren't going to see a definable trail when it is launched.

Therefore, you can't get video, and must look for other sources for verification of what happened.

As to the distances, the M79 has an effective distance of 350m and a less accurate distance of 400m. With these distances it is possible to hit the roof of the BTS, and then explode. Different trajectories, and the possibility of a bounce before explosion would cause the differnce in distances along the BTS station. Go to google maps and map it out if you don't believe me, It is possible to hit the BTS from Lumpini.

Agreed.

Our groundwater well went dry this April, just like many others in Isaan. Fortunately Mr. Thaksin installed a water tower in our village before he was ousted 4 years ago so we don't have to drink muddy buffalo piss water or wait for the government trucks to fill up the local tanks. The next village over was not so lucky and getting water has been a big problem. Thaksin had plans to give them the water tower they needed but the Thai Army had other ideas back in 2006. It's the people that got water towers, or tractor loans, or houses subsidized by Thaksin, or got a local village economy created who were among the majority that voted for Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai party. Real life farmers concerned with surviving in dignity. No politician is without corruption, but give me one who improves my lifestyle, for example by making running water available in my home all year round and I'll vote for him every time. Abhisit has done nothing for my village.

Life in the countryside is about what the average farmer needs to survive one day at a time. That's why millions haven't marched on Bangkok. They're too busy fishing, catching crickets, carrying water from the local tanks or rivers, and getting ready for the rice planting season so they can feed their families. Many of them are in Bangkok already, but again, working. They cannot afford to take time off because they have to send money home to Isaan to feed wives, children and parents. It's day to day income, living paycheck to paycheck, cricket to cricket, bottle of water to bottle of water, which most people with a sizable savings account wouldn't understand. Thaksin, as corrupt as he may have been, was one of few, like the beloved King, who seemed to acknowledge the real needs of the average Thai farmer. The average farmer's mind is not concerned with Bangkok. It's in the fields.

That is why it is so sad that the red leaders from these areas in Issan won't allow any government help in these regions. There have been attempts by the Abhisit government to make things better in Issan, (even using populist practices like Thaksin), but they are stonewalled by the leaders of these communities who can't allow the people to change their "religion" away from "Thaksin is our saviour, and the only one who cares about us". If they realized that others are willing to assist, it would destabilize the power grip these red Pu Yais have on their communities.

I wish it wasn't this way, and Thaksin's "democracy you can eat" quote is one of the few things that I agree with him on. The people do need help, but this protest isn't about helping them, it's about helping the man who threw them some of their own bones after he had stripped the meat off them to keep for himself.

One thing I should know by now, is that nothing is clear.

Until I see it on video exactly how this happened, I do not believe the reds or the government about who may have perpetrated this act. Motives lie with so many people and groups, I prefer to be pleasantly surprised than awfully disappointed when the truth comes out.

That is why I prefer to trust the eyewitness accounts of those who are there, as they report it live on Twitter. There is no time for spin or colour influence. It is just raw reporting of what is seen. You're not going to get video of very much, especially at night, (which is why it happens at night). Yes, there is no "concrete proof", but that is exactly the way the perpetrators want it, so you must rely on other sources.

It is true that we don't know who shot those grenades yet... and we may never know for sure. However, the only ones who will benefit from escalating violence are the Reds themselves. Furthermore, the grenade attacks that started during the Yellow protests and have continued to the present have always targeted people or institutions that are seen as being hostile to the Reds. While a 'false flag operation' is always possible, this would be an unusually prolonged one!

I do hope that the army does not respond rashly to this provocation. A harsh response is exactly what the more extreme Reds want. Also, it would be a huge PR boost for the Reds if the Red Guards arrested the extremists who did this and turned them over to the police.

1. How does the media know for certain that the explosions were caused by M-79 grenades? After all, they exploded and no trace remains except perhaps for fragments. The M-79 fires different types of ordinance including explosive, anti-personnel, smoke, buckshot, and illumination rounds (Source: Wikipedia). Which type was shot?

2. If they were M-79's, then as weapons of war (fired from a launcher) they would be almost exclusively used by the military and therefore must have originated from that source. As far as I know, M-79 grenades are not available for sale in Central Department stores nor can they be imported legally by the general public. Of course, those high up in the Reds could probably obtain these weapons of the "back of a truck" but I would be surprised if they were easy to obtain.

3. Therefore, if they were M-79 grenades then the likelihood is that they were fired by military units who were in the area.

4. Given that the Reds were facing armed military and police, it is unlikely (and stupid) that they would provoke an attack. I have heard reports that some Reds had guns but I know that ALL Police had guns and probably the Military were armed accordingly with high powered assault rifles.

I hope we do not have any more incidents tonight and I offer condolences to the family of the person that was killed in the incident. I fear that this is just the beginning.

As to the reds acquiring these arms, they have been stockpiling since this began. Major General Khattiya was using his connections to get restricted weapons long before this protest started, (look at the news articles from the latter part of 2009, you'll see what they found when they raided one of his houses), and as soon as they stood off against police, (ThaiCom), the police retreated, leaving weapons and vehicles. That was seen again on April 10th when the army retreated, also leaving weapons and vehicles.

Sorry, but your "if it was M79s it MUST be the army" argument is invalid.

------Edit-----

I just saw AnotherPeter's post below this, and I agree. There were eyewitness accounts of things being fired off from the red camp, not from Silom. People would have been freaking out a lot more if they saw the military firing. That is part of the reason that this didn't escalate, the military didn't do anything, (again).