Violent Clashes Between Police And Protesters In Bangkok

[ColPyat]

Prem targeted in violent attack

Barrage of missiles hits home; Sonthi says 'no' to martial law, but warns tough measures will be considered

Published on July 23, 2007

Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanonda was barricaded inside his house late last night as anti-coup demonstrators threw a barrage of rocks, chairs and debris into the compound.

In the first major outbreak of violence since the anti-coup movement started in September, protesters from the Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship (DADD) clashed with police outside Prem's home.

Several thousand people kept up the barrage of missiles for about three hours as Prem was reportedly taking shelter inside. Television footage showed a number of people were injured, but police late last night released no figures, but some reports said an officer had his leg broken.

As the violence began to wane at about midnight, chairman of the Council for National Security General Sonthi Boonyaratglin said there was no need to impose a state of emergency

"The behaviour of the demonstrators today gives us some idea of what to do interms of legal action," he said.

"Tomorrow we will have a meeting with security agencies about tonight's events."

Just before midnight, the protesters moved away from Prem's house and headed towards Sanam Luang. Police said they were back in full control of the situation.

Observers said the protesters began to move away when rumours spread that the Army was preparing to move in to break up the protest after midnight.

The surrounding streets of Thewes district were littered with mounds of garbage, smashed bottles, rocks, broken chairs, and other debris. A Bangkok metropolitant Administration vehicle was damaged. An Army recreation club nearby had all of its windows broken.

Police tried to take some of the protest leaders into custody, but no arrests were reported by the time the protest broke up.

The clash began at around 9.05pm when a number of policemen climbed onto a truck to arrest DADD leaders who were speaking against the junta.

The policemen retreated without arresting anyone after the numerous protestors on the truck pushed them back down. The officers also came under a heavy barrage of missiles thrown at them by members of the roughly 5,000-strong protest.

The officers were then pushed further behind their own barricades, which were later seized by the protesters. The protesters destroyed a nearby police box and vowed to stay at the site until Prem resigned.

The protesters clashed with police at Makkhawan Bridge yesterday morning and later charged through a police blockade near the headquarters of the First Infantry Division by driving a municipal garbage truck they had seized through the police line.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/07/23...es_30041977.php

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