The fact finding committee into the political violence in April on Monday summoned Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban to explain the incidents surrounding the crackdown on red-shirt supporters of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD)by military and police forces.

Mr Abhisit said afterwards he outlined the events from April 7 to 13 and explained his decision to declare and enforce an emergency while the country was hosting the Asean summits in Pattaya.

He said the emergency decree had to be imposed to ensure that Asian leaders attending the regional meetings could depart safely.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/14...olence-to-panel

-- Bangkok Post 18/05/09

if nothing else, at least we end up with a nice music video similar to the Thaksin one a few weeks back :-)

State of emergency declared for Bangkok

STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARED FOR BANGKOK, 5 OTHER PROVINCES

The government reasoned that protesters had committed violence in the areas so the government had to declare the state of emergency to restore normality in the areas.

He said the emergency decree had to be imposed to ensure that Asian leaders attending the regional meetings could depart safely.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/14...olence-to-panel

-- Bangkok Post 18/05/09

2 separate places.

The Pattaya event ended. The SoE in Pattaya was lifted on the same day.

The violence in Bangkok did not happen when he declared SoE. After he declared and went out from Interior Ministry, the hitting cars happened.