Bangkok Red-Shirt Rally - Live Sunday

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Thai government: Men armed with machine guns mingled with crowd during Saturday clash

BANGKOK (TNA) -- The Thai government on Sunday reasserted that a group of men armed with machine guns mingled with the red-shirted crowd during Saturday's clashes between army personnel and anti-government Red Shirt protesters during actions in which 20 persons died, according to government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn.

The government stands ready to being investigated judicially regarding the incident, Dr Panitan said.

The spokesman commented during a live telecast news conference after many losses of life occurred at Khok Wua intersection on Ratchadamnoen Avenue, site of Thailand's Democracy Monument, when M-79 grenades were fired during the clash between the military and Red Shirt protesters of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD).

Fifteen protesters and five soldiers were killed, while 842 others -- mainly demonstrators -- were wounded in the clashes.

Dr Panitan said the military personnel were instructed to return to their bases to inventory the weapons which were stolen during the security operation.

The spokesman reasserted that the government's soldiers fired no bullets at the protesters and that the tear gas fired at the Red Shirts was different from what the army used.

"We also found several grenades, M79s and M67s. Our military personnel were not equipped with these weapons,” Dr Panitan said. “We also found home-made weapons, corresponding with the injuries that our personnel sustained."

"An independent media source sent us footage of a group of persons who are not army personnel, but who carried machine guns and mingled with the Red Shirt protesters," according to Dr Panitan.

The spokesman reported more than 200 soldiers were wounded. Of those 90 are in critical condition.

Dr Panitan said that an independent committee consisting of academic institution repesentatives, police forensic institute experts, and other concerned bodies is being set up to examine the causes of the death and establish the truth regarding the incident to the public.

The spokesman added that the government stands ready to be probed, reaffirming that the army’s use of arms complied with international standard practices by firing the bullets into the air in warning.

Until now there is no evidence proving that soldiers fired live ammunition at the protesters, Dr Panitan said.

Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd, spokesman of the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) said that Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, in his capacity of CRES director, instructed the army to examine its casualties and provide reparations for those wounded in the clashes.

Mr Suthep also instructed the army to inventory its weapons as he feared that stolen weapons will be used to commit offenses to create an incident and blame the police or the army.

As the Red Shirt protests continue at the capital’s commercial heart at Ratchaprasong for the ninth consecutive day on Sunday, UDD leader Jatuporn Prompan vowed to continue fighting and reject any further talks with the government.

“We will continue fighting so that our comrades will not have died in vain, " said the Red Shirt leader. “I reassert there will be no negotiation with a government tainted with blood.” (TNA)

-- TNA 2010-04-11

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Red TV on air again

BANGKOK: -- People Channel of red shirts protesters is on-air again on Sunday afternoon, TPBS Channel reported.

The broadcast this time is transmitted on a C band transponder of another satellite, not ThaiCom.

The channel of PTV station was unplugged, then resumed the transmission and unplugged again before and during the red shirts' battles with the soldiers on Friday.

The resumption of the service came as hundreds of red shirts protesters surrounded the Thaicom uplink station in Pathum Thani on Sunday.

Abhisit government had unplugged the transmission of the PTV after the red shirts leaders used the broadcast to air false and distorted information about the government.

On Friday, the protesters stormed into the station, forcing the Thaicom office to resume transmission. The soldiers then took back the station on late Friday, making the broadcast off air.

The protesters on Sunday seized mobile units of Channel 9 and TPBS stations parking in front of the Thaicom station. They claimed that both channels were biased.

They however freed the vehicles after lengthy negotiation.

-- The Nation 2010-04-11

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Announcement for Foreign Press by Govt Spokeperson

BANGKOK: -- Government Spokeperson Panitan Wattanayagorn addressed the news conference for foreign press that the government is deeply sorry for the deaths from the clashes, and will try its best to resolve the situation to keep the damages to minimal.

Officers are ordered to check all the equipments to make sure that it will not be used to instigate further violence.

Moreover, there have been several evidences being compiled from different sources in order to bring forth facts for the public to really see what happened last night.

The government restrained from using forces and equipments to disperse the crowd, but it was the protesters themselves that used violence.

The investigation will be done with the help from the Institute of Forensic Medicine Police General Hospital, and with transparency.

-- Tan Network 2010-04-11

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TAN Network: Weera, on Ratchaprasong stage, begged the press to come back to Panfah Bridge and promised better security. They are friends w/ the press.

TAN Network: Seh Dang threaten, many more will die should there be more dispersal of the crowd. His troop has equipments to shoot down helicopter.

THE NATION: Have talked to an editor who knew the killed colonel. The colonel's aide told my friend many attacks on troops came from higher grounds

THE NATION: The killed colonel's aide also told my friend the colonel was about to retreat when xplosion hit him.

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THE NATION: INN reports about 400 red shirts went to Banharn's house to demand him to withdraw fr coaltion govt.

THE NATION: The red protesters gave Banharn's 3 days deadline to pull out fr govt otherwise they would come back. via INN

THE NATION: JS100 radio: Baromratchachonnee (outbound) is heavily congested as taxi head there to fill NGV gas near the Southern Bus Terminal.

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TAN Network: Jatuporn announced that signals for PTV and Thaicom could be established but govt cut it off again, leading to lack of visual.

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TAN Network: King Pramongkutklaow announced the closure of blood donation for today, and will resume again tmr at 8.30am-3.30pm. And throughout Songkran.

THE NATION: reported from Phan Fa Bridget that Darunee Kritboonyalai (Je Da) has just attacked media on stage again. via @jin_nation.

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Academics offer solutions to end violent conflict

303 Academics from 14 institutions came out and requested that

1. The government should establishe the central committee consists of experts and professionals from forensic science, law, crowd control, and representatives from academia groups both for and against the house dissolution, to investigate the violent clashes with transparency as soon as possible. There should be a daily report of the progress until the situation is resolved.

2. Law enforcement must be strictly followed, so the protestors should stop breaking the law by taking over public areas or instigate violence, to allow the country to recover. The crowd control should not be done after 5.30 pm because it would be too dark, thus too difficult to control the situations.

3. The press should present the news without bias, by only focus on the facts. The words refer to each side should not be labeled in such a way that would lead to negative feelings on each side and lead to misunderstandings.

4. There should be a negotiation to end the immediate conflict, like the talk over the government’s request for the crowd to gather only at Panfah Bridge, or the request by DAAD to lift the emergency decree and arrest warrants of the key leaders.

5. All 303 academics offer to become mediators, and request that the group of 155 academics who suggested that the government dissolve the Parliament within 3 months to join in as well.

-- Tan Network 2010-04-11

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THE NATION: Thai reporters have all pulled from Phan Fa with sour taste in the mouth. Reds had jeered them, some'd thrown projectiles at their vans.

THE NATION: Anti-press feelings also spread to Rajprasong, though some media-sympathetic leaders want reporters to remain.

TAN Network: Relatives of dead Japanese cameraman r coming Institute of Forensic Medicine Police General Hospital tmr night to receive the body.

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THE NATION: Reporters Association has opened its headoffice as press centre for reporters pulling out from Phan Fa.

TAN network: Red shirts went to Chiang Rai Governor House and burned what appeared to be coffin for PM as part of a protest.

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THE NATION: Jatuporn: Thaksin to video-link to Phan Fa tonite.

THE NATION: Latest fr Erawan Medical Centre: 21 dead, 858 injured.

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Thai News: Tourism loses B35bn following bloodshed

Bangkokpundit: Today 3-4 groups of red shirts praised Nation Channel for its unbiased reporting.

THE NATION: BTS service will be opened (all stations) at 9pm.

THE NATION: no coaltion meeting now. Some minor parties refused to meet Suthep, saying they were still in the provinces or abroad.

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THE NATION

Thai Army Opens Fire On Protesters, Protesters Hurl Grenades, Caught On Video

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/specials/n...9&cateid=13

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Tourist Assistance Center set up following political clashes

BANGKOK (NNT) -- A Tourist Assistance Center has been launched by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports (MOTS) due to last night's clashes between state authorities and UDD supporters.

According to the MOTS Permanent Secretary Attachai Burakamkowit, the Office of Tourism Development (OTD) has coordinated with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) in compiling the number of international tourists, which was believed to have declined even before the clashes on Saturday.

The Tourist Assistance Center has been set up to provide service for international tourists in Thailand. The center is located on New Petchaburi Road, with officials from MOTS, TAT, insurance companies and tourist police ready to provide information to visitors.

Various media offices and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have been requested to help publicize the opening of the center as well as information on tourist protection. The center can be reached via hotline 0-2205-7711, with over 100 lines available around the clock.

-- NNT 2010-04-11

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THE NATION: Red leaders vowed to parade 13 bodies starting at 10 am 2mmrw, and "make Abhisit see it".

THE NATION: However, BTS will fully open tomorrow from 6-midnight tomorrow. BTS hotline 02 617 7300