Protesters block roads at Victory Monument

BANGKOK: -- Protesters used buses to block roads at the Victory Monument Monday.

They also used buses to block the roads in front of the Rajvithi Hospital and the Phaholyothin Road in front of Channel 5.

-- The Nation 2009-04-13

Only traffic updates in this thread., please! No politics here!

Saphan Kwai, no red no army

X Suthisan - Vipavadee (was blocked by reds on Fridays) secured by army.

Vipavadee soi 3 (taxi radio HQ where yellows came to shot at reds in November) : nothing

Suthisan road : Songkran activities only 10% of the usual level of fun. Nealry no adults.

More strange : NO pick up with big barrels full of iced water. Are they banned?

Nearly no cars in any street.

From The Nation as of around 11.30am:

Traffic closed at following areas, intersections

1 Inbound Vibhavadi blocked by 50 protesters and 10 taxis

2 Our Lady Intersection blocked by protesters

3 Intersection between Din Daeng and Victory Monument blocked by 50 protesters

4 Rajprarop Road heading to Din Daeng

5 Si Ayutthaya Intersection blocked by 200 protesters, using 2 buses and 1 truck

6 Urupong Intersection closed by 100 protesters using metal barricades

7 Rajvithi Road in front of Children's Hospital blocked by protesters

8 Inbound Phaholyothin near Victory Monument tollgate blocked by protesters

9 Phayathai Road in front of Rajvithi Road blocked by protesters, using buses and taxis

10 Roads around Government House closed by some 5,000 protesters

11 Royal Plaza blocked by 100 protesters using 1 one and 3 pick-up trucks

12 Rajvithi Intersection closed by police and soldiers

13 Upai Intersection closed by police and troops

14 Saowanee Intersection closed by police and troops

15 Wat Benjamabophit Intersection closed by police and troops

16 Phan Fah intersection blocked by protesters

17 Larn Luang Intersection blocked by protesters

18 Chor Por Ror Intersection blocked by protesters

19 Yommaraj Intersection blocked by 50 protesters and a bus

20 Thevakum Intersection blocked by protesters and metal barricades

21 Wang Daeng Intersection closed by troops

22 Sisao Theves Intersection closed by troops

23 Dindaeng Gateway under control of troops

I've just got back from two hours at Victory Monument.

The army have blockades at the mouths of Ratchawithi East and Phanon Yothin (North), buses were blocking Ratchawithi West but were clearing by 2pm. Burning tyres had been placed across the entrances to all but Ratchawithi East (the smoke reported earlier) - these had been dealt with by army and municipal water trucks which were also used swept the debris away.

There was a hel_l of a bang at about 12:30 - I think it might have been an inflated wheel tossed on the fires.

All was quiet there when I left at 1:30 with just occasional incursions by flag-waving motorcycles.

Does anyone have any USEFUL information for those who must travel Issan-Bangkok on Tuesday early???