Thai Forces Use Tear Gas, Water Cannon Against Protesters

[rogerdee123]

so now the reds are throwing handgranates? Against soldiers with rubber bullets. The war has started.

If thats true this will be a disaster and the troops will have no option than to use live bullets.

If Security Forces are firing live ammo into the air in downtown Bangkok, then it is very lucky indeed that:

a) there are no high-rise buildings nearby which could get in the line of fire by being too slow to take cover

Thai bullets are so well manufactured that they never come back down inside the city limits, so there is no risk at all to innocent civilians

Are you real?

[granuaile]

One red shot dead tulsathit twitter

Terrible. One can only hope that his death would give everyone pause. Sadly I think this will not be the case. Arisman just declared war.

The reds have shown their true nature now...

[saintofsilence]

One red shot dead tulsathit twitter

Terrible. One can only hope that his death would give everyone pause. Sadly I think this will not be the case. Arisman just declared war.

The reds have shown their true nature now...

Arisman says war has come http://twitter.com/tulsathit

Edited April 10, 2010 by saintofsilence

[neverdie]

Television news has just reported two army soldiers shot dead.

Why do these people want to gamble and play games with such young lives. They need to take a long hard look at themselves.

[rogerdee123]

I'm watching channel 9 and just saw the Red fighters' wounded with their RUBBER BULLET "wounds" which are little red circular bruises (tomorrow they will be bigger purple bruises) acting like they are dying and being rushed to the hospital in great dramatic fashion. We can predict the Red leaders will be talking about police and military brutality using the numbers of people shot to illustrate their propaganda .... and probably some reporters or wire services will pick it up. THis is how the truth gets skewed ... and Thaksin's PR machine is masterful at this.

Edited April 10, 2010 by rogerdee123

[yoshiwara]

One red shot dead tulsathit twitter

Terrible. One can only hope that his death would give everyone pause. Sadly I think this will not be the case. Arisman just declared war.

The reds have shown their true nature now...

Arisman says war has come http://twitter.com/tulsathit

THE NATION: Urgent: Nuttawut says one red shot dead by troops. Arisman says "War has come".

Yes, Well fancy that!

The rehearsal was last Songkran and this time Thaksin was determined to go all out.

All that pontificating by the Thaksin apologists about the reds being just a peaceful demo was a pack of lies.

Just like their master Thaksin lying that it wasn't the reds being violent last Songkran.

The red rule is first accuse the other side of doing exactly what you are planning

And then start.

[Rideau]

These Red Shirts are no longer protesters but militants and terrorists.

[rucus7]

These Red Shirts are no longer protesters but militants and terrorists.

They have always been provocateurs and opportunists, I hope the leaders are bleeding with the rank and file.

[Morch]

I'm watching channel 9 and just saw the Red fighters' wounded with their RUBBER BULLET "wounds" which are little red circular bruises (tomorrow they will be bigger purple bruises) acting like they are dying and being rushed to the hospital in great dramatic fashion. We can predict the Red leaders will be talking about police and military brutality using the numbers of people shot to illustrate their propaganda .... and probably some reporters or wire services will pick it up. THis is how the truth gets skewed ... and Thaksin's PR machine is masterful at this.

Just to clarify - "rubber bullet" is a bit misleading. It's basically metal coated by rubber, not rubber-only. Shot at close range, at vital organs etc. - can easily cause lethal wounds, even instant death.

Most of the wounds shown on TV reports today were indeed of the mild sort. However, soldiers were shooting indiscriminately and at close range, so some serious injuries are to be expected. Usually there a short special training involved before being authorized to shoot those, doubt if a lot of the soldiers had it.

BTW, there are two separate reports of dead/fatally injured demonstrators (one shot in the gut, the other clubbed).

[saintofsilence]

5 People killed http://twitter.com/tulsathit

[elcent]

Five people were killed.

[elcent]

one was

# Name should have been Hiroyuki Miramoto, Reuter reporter. 3 minutes ago via TweetDeck

[LevelHead]

All of this because the immoral government that was not election by the people is scared of elections.

Out of respect for the dead I shall no longer post until things calm down, I do not support violence and I hate to see government forces killing civilians.

Burma, you are free and Democratic compared to Thailand now.

[elcent]

If the gov doesn't imply curfew things will get very ugly.

[LevelHead]

http://twitter.com/journotopia

French photographer tells me she saw troops open fire on medics trying to evacuate wounded.

14 minutes ago via mobile web Shooting continues even as ambulances arrive to take away the injured.

28 minutes ago via mobile web Colleague says he saw one man shot in the groin. The tarmac around Democracy Monument spattered with blood.

29 minutes ago via mobile web The Royal Thai Army is killing its people. Again.

31 minutes ago via mobile web Eyewitness reports of other injuries. Soldier dead or near dead. Man with brain blown out.

32 minutes ago via mobile web People are dying now. Just saw a red shirt, looking very dead, taken away in ambulance.

33 minutes ago via mobile web Cars and buildings in Khao San riddled with bullet holes.

39 minutes ago via mobile web Barricades going up at Khao San. Reds preparing for soldiers' return. Several pools of blood on road.

40 minutes ago via mobile web Don't listen to bland Thai govt reassuarances. Khao San is a dangerous place. I've seen 2 tourists with injuries.

about 1 hour ago via mobile web Khao San lis shuttered up, red shirts everywhere. It looks like a warzone.

about 1 hour ago via mobile web Streets littered with broken cars, bricks, other projectiles. Soldiers have retreated.

about 1 hour ago via mobile web Pitched battles in streets around Khao San. Tourists ducking for cover. A red shirt with an AK47.

about 1 hour ago via mobile web A Thai journalist carried out, bleeding.

about 1 hour ago via mobile web Massive explosions, gunfire around Khao San.

about 1 hour ago via mobile web Scenes of chaos at Khao San. Tourists tell me they saw horrific inuries, an old man with an eye hanging out.

about 1 hour ago via mobile web Walked past Govt House. 100s more soldiers, some heavily armed, facing down 500 or so reds.

[neverdie]

RIP Hiroyuki Miramoto.

[bkkjames]

http://twitter.com/journotopia

French photographer tells me she saw troops open fire on medics trying to evacuate wounded.

14 minutes ago via mobile web Shooting continues even as ambulances arrive to take away the injured.

28 minutes ago via mobile web Colleague says he saw one man shot in the groin. The tarmac around Democracy Monument spattered with blood.

29 minutes ago via mobile web The Royal Thai Army is killing its people. Again.

31 minutes ago via mobile web Eyewitness reports of other injuries. Soldier dead or near dead. Man with brain blown out.

32 minutes ago via mobile web People are dying now. Just saw a red shirt, looking very dead, taken away in ambulance.

33 minutes ago via mobile web Cars and buildings in Khao San riddled with bullet holes.

39 minutes ago via mobile web Barricades going up at Khao San. Reds preparing for soldiers' return. Several pools of blood on road.

40 minutes ago via mobile web Don't listen to bland Thai govt reassuarances. Khao San is a dangerous place. I've seen 2 tourists with injuries.

about 1 hour ago via mobile web Khao San lis shuttered up, red shirts everywhere. It looks like a warzone.

about 1 hour ago via mobile web Streets littered with broken cars, bricks, other projectiles. Soldiers have retreated.

about 1 hour ago via mobile web Pitched battles in streets around Khao San. Tourists ducking for cover. A red shirt with an AK47.

about 1 hour ago via mobile web A Thai journalist carried out, bleeding.

about 1 hour ago via mobile web Massive explosions, gunfire around Khao San.

about 1 hour ago via mobile web Scenes of chaos at Khao San. Tourists tell me they saw horrific inuries, an old man with an eye hanging out.

about 1 hour ago via mobile web Walked past Govt House. 100s more soldiers, some heavily armed, facing down 500 or so reds.

I thought you were done posting?

[Carib]

This all ain't worth it, people dying for what?? Not for what they want but for what there " leaders " have in mind, especially T.

Accept earlier ( 9 months ) elections and go home. Win some, lose some on both sides, but at least everybody stays alive.

Sad, very very sad.

[elcent]

All of this because the immoral government that was not election by the people is scared of elections.

Out of respect for the dead I shall no longer post until things calm down, I do not support violence and I hate to see government forces killing civilians.

Burma, you are free and Democratic compared to Thailand now.

I think Abhisit made a quite reasonable offer to hold election within 9 month.

It's easy to blame, but when considers everything connected with an earlier election it is a reasonable timeframe.

The red leaders ran away from the negotiating table. Why? They are not interested in Democracy. I pity the pooe people with such a mess in the red leadership. It was all foreseeable when one considers the the red consists at least from three different radical groups, like the communists, the Thaksinists and the hobby-troublemakers, or mob for hire business men.

Are htere any moderates within the red leadership?

It looks like they are split by now. - common sense, common sense is needed mostly right now. People should go home and the trouble stirrers should be arrested.

[ballpoint]

http://twitter.com/journotopia

French photographer tells me she saw troops open fire on medics trying to evacuate wounded.

14 minutes ago via mobile web Shooting continues even as ambulances arrive to take away the injured.

28 minutes ago via mobile web Colleague says he saw one man shot in the groin. The tarmac around Democracy Monument spattered with blood.

29 minutes ago via mobile web The Royal Thai Army is killing its people. Again.

31 minutes ago via mobile web Eyewitness reports of other injuries. Soldier dead or near dead. Man with brain blown out.

32 minutes ago via mobile web People are dying now. Just saw a red shirt, looking very dead, taken away in ambulance.

33 minutes ago via mobile web Cars and buildings in Khao San riddled with bullet holes.

39 minutes ago via mobile web Barricades going up at Khao San. Reds preparing for soldiers' return. Several pools of blood on road.

40 minutes ago via mobile web Don't listen to bland Thai govt reassuarances. Khao San is a dangerous place. I've seen 2 tourists with injuries.

about 1 hour ago via mobile web Khao San lis shuttered up, red shirts everywhere. It looks like a warzone.

about 1 hour ago via mobile web Streets littered with broken cars, bricks, other projectiles. Soldiers have retreated.

about 1 hour ago via mobile web Pitched battles in streets around Khao San. Tourists ducking for cover. A red shirt with an AK47.

about 1 hour ago via mobile web A Thai journalist carried out, bleeding.

about 1 hour ago via mobile web Massive explosions, gunfire around Khao San.

about 1 hour ago via mobile web Scenes of chaos at Khao San. Tourists tell me they saw horrific inuries, an old man with an eye hanging out.

about 1 hour ago via mobile web Walked past Govt House. 100s more soldiers, some heavily armed, facing down 500 or so reds.

And this after posting

Out of respect for the dead I shall no longer post until things calm down, I do not support violence and I hate to see government forces killing civilians.

You have all the respect for the dead of your red leaders, none what so ever. They are merely tools in your lies and propaganda.

[granuaile]

All of this because the immoral government that was not election by the people is scared of elections.

Out of respect for the dead I shall no longer post until things calm down, I do not support violence and I hate to see government forces killing civilians.

Burma, you are free and Democratic compared to Thailand now.

The government is not the one that first used lethal ammunition. The government used tear gas and rubber bullets, the redshirt SA responded with hand grenades and real bullets. Ernst Roehm would have been proud to call them his own...

I feel for the soldiers murdered by the redshirt mob.

[snorkelador]

All of this because the immoral government that was not election by the people is scared of elections.

Out of respect for the dead I shall no longer post until things calm down, I do not support violence and I hate to see government forces killing civilians.

Burma, you are free and Democratic compared to Thailand now.

Absolute brainless nonsense! All this because the red leaders were actively inciting violence and not leaving the army any choice! All financed and ordered by some spineless megalomaniac ex-politician, who does not give a crap about Thailand or Thai people! I can't believe I am even writing this, since actually anyone with about two sorry cells of gray matter lodged somewhere between their ears must see that this kind of drivel is complete an utter bullcrap!

[4223rhodes]

All of this because the immoral government that was not election by the people is scared of elections.

Out of respect for the dead I shall no longer post until things calm down, I do not support violence and I hate to see government forces killing civilians.

Burma, you are free and Democratic compared to Thailand now.

The government is not the one that first used lethal ammunition. The government used tear gas and rubber bullets, the redshirt SA responded with hand grenades and real bullets. Ernst Roehm would have been proud to call them his own...

I feel for the soldiers murdered by the redshirt mob.

It seems you are absorbing news from government sources. I'd wait to get the true story. I think we all feel for all those killed and injured.

[rogerdee123]

I'm watching channel 9 and just saw the Red fighters' wounded with their RUBBER BULLET "wounds" which are little red circular bruises (tomorrow they will be bigger purple bruises) acting like they are dying and being rushed to the hospital in great dramatic fashion. We can predict the Red leaders will be talking about police and military brutality using the numbers of people shot to illustrate their propaganda .... and probably some reporters or wire services will pick it up. THis is how the truth gets skewed ... and Thaksin's PR machine is masterful at this.

Just to clarify - "rubber bullet" is a bit misleading. It's basically metal coated by rubber, not rubber-only. Shot at close range, at vital organs etc. - can easily cause lethal wounds, even instant death.

Most of the wounds shown on TV reports today were indeed of the mild sort. However, soldiers were shooting indiscriminately and at close range, so some serious injuries are to be expected. Usually there a short special training involved before being authorized to shoot those, doubt if a lot of the soldiers had it.

BTW, there are two separate reports of dead/fatally injured demonstrators (one shot in the gut, the other clubbed).

SOME rubber bullets are metal coated by rubber and these have been made infamous by the Israeli defense forces. But also SOME rubber bullets are rubber only. There are also rubber 'baton' rounds that are often called rubber bullets. And yes of course they can be lethal at close range (like less than 12 feet). The point is they are not normally considered lethal.

I think to clarify exactly what kind of rubber bullets the Thai military and police are using we should get one and take a look at it. Do you agree?

Lots of international controversy about rubber bullets and also lots of protests against their usage but mainly because some police forces use them against unarmed civilians in peaceful protests. This was not the case today as is easy to see from the video.

I did not witness the shootings tonight. But this afternoon I did not see Thai soldiers firing at protestors at close range. If you look at the video you won't see this either. But if someone was trying to stab me in the neck with a bamboo spear, I may lose control and shoot my rubber bullet at them despite their being closer than 12 feet. But again I did not see that. Those soldiers and military who were in the front lines were mostly unarmed. THose shooting the rubber bullets were not in the front lines in those hand to hand struggles with the protestors. I don't believe that there will be ANY lethal injuries from rubber bullets in the confrontations that happened today. If there are lethal injuries they will be from real copper and lead bullets.

Those with head injuries were obviously hit by police/military batons (clubs) which means they were within arms reach of the military/police lines when they were pushing and shoving and swinging at each other ... and well ... what do they expect? I guess better to be hit on the head with a baton that shot with a rubber bullet at that close range (and I don't believe any were).

[culicine]

Pro democracy demonstrators in pickups are pouring down Sukhumvit past Phra Khanong now.

Clearly there are many ordinary people prepared to risk their lives in the battle against racism and fascism!

Great, it's about time the yellow shirts turned up!!

The reds should be very grateful that the military has shown so much restraint. It could have been an absolute blood bath.

[granuaile]

I just read on the TV update that a foreign tourist was shot in the chest (rubber bullet?) after saying "f*** you"" to a soldier. How stupid and arrogant can you get...

[WinnieTheKhwai]

This all ain't worth it, people dying for what?? Not for what they want but for what there " leaders " have in mind, especially T.

Accept earlier ( 9 months ) elections and go home. Win some, lose some on both sides, but at least everybody stays alive.

Sad, very very sad.

May the heroes rest in peace. I am thankful for their sacrifice.

[TAWP]

so now the reds are throwing handgranates? Against soldiers with rubber bullets. The war has started.

If thats true this will be a disaster and the troops will have no option than to use live bullets.

If Security Forces are firing live ammo into the air in downtown Bangkok, then it is very lucky indeed that:

a) there are no high-rise buildings nearby which could get in the line of fire by being too slow to take cover

Thai bullets are so well manufactured that they never come back down inside the city limits, so there is no risk at all to innocent civilians

If you fire a gun upwards the bullets coming down will not have enough force to be lethal.

[TAWP]

Out of respect for the dead I shall no longer post until things calm down, I do not support violence and I hate to see government forces killing civilians.

Yes, please.

{snip}

Gawdamnit, fastest breaking of promise sofar...

Thaksin, is that you?

[rogerdee123]

A footnote to my previous post.

My previous posts about rubber bullets was in regard to this afternoon's incidences. I have no idea what's going on tonight. As I said in another previous post, pandora's box has been opened (in my opinion by the violence provoking Red leadership) and nothing in regard to what one side is doing to the other would surprise me now.