Bangkok: Assailants Fired M-79 Grenades At Sala Daeng Skytrain Station

[tracer5050]

when they shot at the sky train station , Now no place is safe. Where next ?????

[coalminer]

I still can't get over the fact that the Police are useless. They can't even prevent a fight when they are standing right there. All they need to do is their job, why are there not mass sackings because of their inability/unwillingness to their job?

They have lost all respect here & I'd be very suprised if they havent lost total respect of the Thai public.

The Thai Police is indeed useless and corrupt to the bone.

Remember the case a few weeks ago where they let 2 young girls die in a pool under their own eyes.

Ot the case a few weks ago where a fellow Policeman shoot another policeman and his whole family for a "mia noy".

The best proof that the Thais have lost totl respect to the Police is the fact that NOBODY in Thailand wear a helmet when driving a motorbike.

Sacking them can only be done if they start from the top.

But we al know that that will never happen.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Latest news seems to be that some suspects were arrested. That'd be good news, assuming it was based on some evidence. Of course under martial law they can arrest pretty much anyone so it'll seem like something is being done.

So far authorities have been very ineffecive finding terrorists launching grenades and protecting the public. Almost to the point where you wonder if they even want to find them.

Edited April 23, 2010 by WinnieTheKhwai

[pedro01]

when they shot at the sky train station , Now no place is safe. Where next ?????

I guess aiming for the Skytrain during a stand-off was intended to provoke a reaction. Time will tell. We have had grenade attacks for a while now but all in the dead of night with no people around. This may be a change of strategy or it may be unique to the situation on the ground at the time.

My office in Silom Complex has been closed since Tuesday. I've been having trouble convincing the staff not to go in but today I guess I wont need to call the office, find out who's there and tell them to go home.

It seems to me that whoever launched these grenades was a good shot with them. In a land with 'loose rules' I guess it's not a great shock that there's grenades going around. I have to wonder what forensics could identify the source....

Whetever, it appears that the government, army and police here are totally ineffective...

[huanga]

Of course it was the reds. They have threatened this. Red shirt apologists, you should be ashamed.

Where is your proof that the red shirts are responsible? You're ASSUMING. Don't confuse people with lies before you have facts, please. Nobody knows who attacked who tonight. Nobody knows who launched the bombs.

if the bombs had gone off at the Red's rally site and killed many Red protesters, would you be holding your view that it might not be the multi-color shirt? Or are you going to drum up the conspiracy theory that the Reds did this to themselves in order to blame the multicolor shirt?

It was stated that the multi-color shirt was protesting against the Reds, then the bombs went off. you then get Reds lighting up firecrackers to celebrate this. These are facts stated. Draw your own conclusion......

[coalminer]

I may be wrong and time will tell if so, but I stand by my belief that this is all the work of some army thugs who want the people believe that only the Thai army can restore piece in this country. And that is true in some extend.

They have showed up at the yellows rally, and twice in the Red's rally.

It is no rocket science that the "powers that be" are coming to an end and everyome want to become the first to take over.

With a Junta in power like in Burma, and every PM in house arrest, "peace" in the country is guaranteed as some posters in this thread have said.

[webfact]

UPDATE

Three dead, 70 wounded in Bangkok grenade attacks

by Thanaporn Promyamyai

BANGKOK (AFP) -- A series of grenade blasts ripped through a pro-government rally in Bangkok Thursday, leaving three dead and 70 injured, including foreigners, in the latest bloodshed in the heart of the Thai capital.

The authorities said five grenades were fired from within the anti-government Red Shirt protesters' sprawling encampment, which has been fortified in recent days with sharpened bamboo stakes and piles of car tyres.

"Three people died and more than 70 were injured," said Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, adding that an M79 grenade launcher was used in the attacks, which came as the supporters of embattled Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva faced off with the rival Reds.

"It was clear that it was shot from behind the King Rama VI Monument where the Red Shirts are rallying," he told reporters.

According to a Western diplomat who asked not to be named, one Japanese and one Australian were believed to be among the injured. The United States condemned the blasts and urged all sides to exercise restraint.

The mostly working class Reds -- who are seeking immediate elections -- denied that they were responsible for the blasts, which shattered windows in the capital's financial district and prompted people to flee in panic.

"Whoever carried out the M79 attacks wants people to think it was done by the Reds. We will never attack innocent people," said a leader of the red-clad protest movement, Jatuporn Prompan.

The violence comes after a failed attempt by authorities on April 10 to disperse Red Shirt protesters sparked violent clashes that left 25 dead and more than 800 injured in the worst political violence in almost two decades.

Ambulances rushed away bloodied victims after the latest explosions, three of which happened at a station of the capital's elevated Skytrain, while one grenade exploded near the exclusive Dusit Thani hotel and another near a bank.

The blast scene was littered with pools of blood along with abandoned shoes and Thai flags, in an area home to dozens of corporate towers and a notorious red-light district.

Clashes later broke out between riot police and pro-government demonstrators who hurled bottles at the Reds, AFP reporters at the scene witnessed.

The military said earlier Thursday that it wanted to avoid further bloodshed but issued a strong warning for the Red Shirt demonstrators to leave their sprawling base in Bangkok's shopping and hotel district.

"We don't want you to risk your lives. If there is a clash you could be hurt by stray bullets," said army spokesman Sunsern Kaewkumnerd. "Your time is running out. Please leave the area."

Earlier this week he warned that the protesters faced tear gas and live weapons fire in any new clashes with security forces.

Abhisit called an emergency meeting with top security officials following the grenade attacks, but Sunsern said that there would be no nighttime crackdown on the protesters because it was too dangerous.

The army this week signalled it was preparing to crack down on the Red Shirt protesters, who have paralysed the capital's commercial heart as they campaign to overthrow a government they say is undemocratic and elitist.

But the Reds, who have been demonstrating in Bangkok for weeks in their bid to topple Abhisit's government, have remained defiant and ruled out talks until the military withdraws.

The army chief said Thursday that he hoped to end the standoff without any more blood being spilled.

"Whatever I do will depend on the situation, and the outcome would be good for the country and we can uphold the law with no people dead or injured," General Anupong Paojinda told AFP.

Any action "must be legally responsible", added Anupong, who was last week put in charge of security in the capital by the government.

The protesters appealed to the United Nations to send a peacekeeping force to Bangkok to help them.

The red protesters are mainly supporters of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a 2006 coup and is living in exile to avoid a jail sentence for corruption.

The Reds say Abhisit's government is illegitimate because it came to power in a parliamentary vote at the end of 2008 after a court ruling removed Thaksin's allies from office.

-- ©Copyright AFP 2010-04-23

Published with written approval from AFP.

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

[egg]

looks a lot like the start of a civil war to me

[MonsieurHulot]

The only thing I know about this mess is that I don't know anything. Too many players, too many plots.

[Centrum]

when they shot at the sky train station , Now no place is safe. Where next ?????

I would think that after last night, with the skytrain running through Rajprasong and down Rajadamri, the heart of Red territory,they would have closed down the service.

If the Reds are happy enough to fire grenades into a large crowd, then surely a packed BTS train is an equally attractive target and an easy one as well.

[kissdani]

I still can't get over the fact that the Police are useless. They can't even prevent a fight when they are standing right there. All they need to do is their job, why are there not mass sackings because of their inability/unwillingness to their job?

They have lost all respect here & I'd be very suprised if they havent lost total respect of the Thai public.

We'd all like to see the police clear the yellow and pink Abhisit thugs from the street and let the protest continue, let's pray they do and get Abhisit and his cronnies behind bars.

You must be kidding

I think the majority og Thai would like the military to roll

in and take out the red by whatever menas necessary.

Enough is enough ... the red shirt leaders are pro violence

and need to be dealt with with violence

No, the majority of Thai people hopes for a peaceful solution and not a violent crackdown.

[Harry2]

Two of the statements in the Friday News seem potentially contradictory.

1. Suthep - "It was clear that it was shot from behind the King Rama VI Monument where the Red Shirts are rallying,"

2. "Four were arrested at the Robinson Department Store."

If the grenades were launched from King Rama VI Monument, why then were 4 of the suspects arrested the other side of Rama 4 in Robinson ?

They would have had to launch their grenades across the police lines on Rama 4 - presumably indicating their position to the assembled crime-busters.

Having done that they then amble across Rama 4 in full view of police to be 'caught' in Robinson.

Or did the grenade attack come from Robinson so police/army knew immediately where to go to apprehend the suspects.

Location may well be mainly/partly key to determining responsibility. The notion of a third party seeking advantage is not impossible.

Third party aggression has been strongly suspected at other key times in recent past - 1992, New Year bombings 2007, April 10th.

[exalll]

All we know is that the government has denied independent investigations into the April 10 clashes. And they will probably deny independent investigations into today's attacks as well. So make up your own conclusions, folks.

My conclusion is you are a red true believer and wouldn't care if the reds bombed 50 stations and there was hard core proof it it.

I've been quite neutral on this issue, don't you think? My first post said that we don't know who it was, don't jump to conclusions, yet you've been claiming red shirt terrorism all over the forum. But you have no proof. That's not Democracy. In a Democracy, you need proof before you can blame it on someone.

You have not shown any proof, so stop blaming it on the red shirts.

Stop your false statements.

No - you have been completely hypocritical. When someone suggested it was the reds, you said "where's your proof", and then you immediately went on to say "don't spread lies". If you don't see the hypocrisy in those two diamterically opposed statements, you really need help! And then you do it again in this case - you note that Jingthing has not provided proof and then say "stop your false statements". Do you have proof that they are false?

[Changian]

The claim that the grenades were fired from behind the red shirt baracades seems to be a bit iffy.

All we know was that at least three of them hit the platform area on Saladaeng BTS. So, is there really a straight shot to fire a grenade from the opposite side of the flyover where the reds are located, over ( or under) the footbridge where all the army & police are stationed, then avoiding the concrete supports of the skytrain and land of the platform? And not get lucky with this shot once but three times?

Or is it more likely that the grenades were fired from closer and from above down onto the platform and roof of the BTS?

[4223rhodes]

when they shot at the sky train station , Now no place is safe. Where next ?????

When the military occupied Patpong, it was all over...

[on-on]

The claim that the grenades were fired from behind the red shirt baracades seems to be a bit iffy.

All we know was that at least three of them hit the platform area on Saladaeng BTS. So, is there really a straight shot to fire a grenade from the opposite side of the flyover where the reds are located, over ( or under) the footbridge where all the army & police are stationed, then avoiding the concrete supports of the skytrain and land of the platform? And not get lucky with this shot once but three times?

Or is it more likely that the grenades were fired from closer and from above down onto the platform and roof of the BTS?

It's impossible to know without more evidence because of the nature of the weapon's projectile, unfortunately. At this point, unless you're emotionally or ideologically vested, it's easy to believe that any particular faction or institution is potentially responsible for any of a number of reasons, so mostly the smart money is just on avoiding conflict zones I guess.

[Chaimai]

The only thing I know about this mess is that I don't know anything. Too many players, too many plots.

I have reached that point as well. Logic and reasoning left the scene long ago.

[on-on]

Robinson's is based out of Singapore, so clearly this is a Temasek-related Thaksin plot and the soldiers work for Lee Kuan Yew! Certainly someone must have put together this conspiracy theory by now as it's no more strained than half of what's out there (including the conflicting accounts you quoted and queried about, which I wondered about as well, heh).

As Chaimai said, "I have reached that point as well. Logic and reasoning left the scene long ago." That about sums it up. At this point all I know how to do is watch this unfold from a distance.

Edited April 23, 2010 by on-on

[ComicBum]

Oh for crying out loud, just CALL for ELECTIONS already so we can have some PEACE! Suck up your pride and just DO IT! Good grief, Mr. Abhisit! Even if it means "The Terrorists Win" or whatever.

....YOU ACTUALLY BELIEVE TO BE LIVING IN A DEMOCRACY?.....

[OzMick]

I still can't get over the fact that the Police are useless. They can't even prevent a fight when they are standing right there. All they need to do is their job, why are there not mass sackings because of their inability/unwillingness to their job?

They have lost all respect here & I'd be very suprised if they havent lost total respect of the Thai public.

We'd all like to see the police clear the yellow and pink Abhisit thugs from the street and let the protest continue,let's pray they do and get Abhisit and his cronnies behind bars.

I'll spell it for you. H-Y-P-O-C-R-I-T-E That is a reasonable description of asking police to selectively carry out their duties. Sure, clear ALL of them off the street, but I think you are expecting the wrong people to end up behind bars.

[dominique355]

My Thai wife and I were both Abhisit supporters until last week. It's become obvious now that he's incapable of solving this national crisis and should go -- immediately -- by whatever means. What's happening in BKK right now is disgusting! They could have spent $10 million on an Israeli ex-commando and taken Thaksin out long ago and this mess would never have happened. In fact, they could STILL do that, yet they don't! Why Abhisit thinks he has to be polite and "Thai" and negotiate in this situation is beyond comprehension. Further, Abhisit has totally failed to get the PR out to the foreign media for his side. The reds are doing a fantastic job of int'l PR on the other hand. Much of the foreign press actually seem to think the Reds are a legitimate grass roots movement and that the Democrats are actually the bad guys. <deleted>? How can they let that happen???

My wife hates the reds more than anything but now she's saying let's call elections right now, and of course Thaksin's red cronies will win via their usual cheating and vote buying, and soon Thaksin will return to take over as de facto dictator for life and rapidly turn Thailand into a backwater rivaling Cambodia and Burma. Som nom na to all the poor uneducated issan peasants who supported that crook. It's a shame most Thais will never have the option to leave like my wife and I will, not to mention, they will never have the option to get rid of him either.

As I typed this my wife just sent removed Abhisit as her friend on Facebook. She's pissed

I understand your wife's frustration, we all are, but what alternative do we have?

Do you want the mob to control Thailand?

Or do you want Thaksin back in power, or perhaps Chalerm?

And if Abhisit calls for early election and the Phuea Thai/Red Shirts win, do we have to expect some other color shirt to demonstrate on the grounds that these elections were illegal and forced be terrorist and therefore new elections are demanded?

Dissolution is no solution.

Enforce the law, law and order, rule of law, that's the only way out.

Everybody go home, take off the red shirt or the helmet and start thinking ...

[pkspeaker]

Budget has not been passed yet is the problem, a raucous election with disqualifications and more protests and funding for government institutions could start drying up..

Oh for crying out loud, just CALL for ELECTIONS already so we can have some PEACE! Suck up your pride and just DO IT! Good grief, Mr. Abhisit! Even if it means "The Terrorists Win" or whatever.

[jesimps]

Of course it was the reds. They have threatened this. Red shirt apologists, you should be ashamed.

How do you know soft lad? Practicing mental telepathy again?? You've got more nose than a lorry load of fish wives. Keep it out pal and let the Thais get on with it.

[Pax50]

Civil Court grants injunction which prevents PM from using force to disperse red shirt rally

Perfect timing! As soon as grenades start flying, the PM is told that he cannot use force.

Amazing Thailand.

Great News from a Civil Court! How could Abhisit resolve the present and difficult situation while confronted with fully armed (Reds) individuals without the use of force? It is quite obvius that the demonstrations are not peaceful, are incited and sponsored (financially) by a convicted fugitive, therefore they are not even spontanious political expressions against a system, or state, by oppressed or grevious people. Maybe the judges from the Civil Court are not following the news or political development in Thailand. In case they have forgotten, a State of Emergency has been declared in the affected areas therefore the Army and Police are entitle to use whatever means necessary to disperse unlawful gathered crouds of people who, by the way, are also harbouring 24 individuals who have refused to surrender to the authorities. Until November, whether we like it or not, this is the government we have. Compliance with the law is essential if we want any future administration to survive and rule by mandate.

[OzMick]

The claim that the grenades were fired from behind the red shirt baracades seems to be a bit iffy.

All we know was that at least three of them hit the platform area on Saladaeng BTS. So, is there really a straight shot to fire a grenade from the opposite side of the flyover where the reds are located, over ( or under) the footbridge where all the army & police are stationed, then avoiding the concrete supports of the skytrain and land of the platform? And not get lucky with this shot once but three times?

Or is it more likely that the grenades were fired from closer and from above down onto the platform and roof of the BTS?

You mis-understand the weapon. The M-79 is a short-barreled launcher with a very long rear sight, and it is usually fired at an angle around 45 degrees. The grenade is lobbed in an arc, not fired in a "straight" line like a rifle.

On an earlier thread someone commented that it is not very accurate. This is incorrect. For an explosive round, it is surprisingly accurate. During my training, we fired at plywood man-shapes on a 2"x1" stick. All novices, we found that if you aimed at the stick, you could snap it off, much to the chagrin of the range-masters. This was at ranges of 50-100m from memory.

[Chaimai]

Of course it was the reds. They have threatened this. Red shirt apologists, you should be ashamed.

How do you know soft lad? Practicing mental telepathy again?? You've got more nose than a lorry load of fish wives. Keep it out pal and let the Thais get on with it.

So, freedom of speech now banned ?

[sausageandmash]

Actually, the first one went off at around 7.50, NOT 8.30. I was teaching in Silom last night. My first class finished at 7.50. That's when the first one went off. Then, all the teachers ran out to see what was happening - people were running away and soldiers were mobilising.

[landofthefree]

Robinson's is based out of Singapore, so clearly this is a Temasek-related Thaksin plot and the soldiers work for Lee Kuan Yew! Certainly someone must have put together this conspiracy theory by now as it's no more strained than half of what's out there (including the conflicting accounts you quoted and queried about, which I wondered about as well, heh).

As Chaimai said, "I have reached that point as well. Logic and reasoning left the scene long ago." That about sums it up. At this point all I know how to do is watch this unfold from a distance.

Like most posters I have no idea who bombed the BTS station. I can't even see which group would gain anything from doing this however I am not surprised at the immediate finger pointing by some partisan posters. What I do know is that it would have had to have been an amazing shot to hit the target not once, but several times from the red shirt camp to Saladeng BTS a relatively small target, a long distance away, over an expressway and I am preety sure its not even possible to see the Station from their position. I am not saying they didnt do it maybe they did but the honest answer is that its all speculation. I certainly dont believe all reports from the media here as they are often full of lies put in to suit their own political agenda.

[kenai]

Of course it was the reds. They have threatened this. Red shirt apologists, you should be ashamed.

How do you know soft lad? Practicing mental telepathy again?? You've got more nose than a lorry load of fish wives. Keep it out pal and let the Thais get on with it.

So, freedom of speech now banned ?

If your in Thailand it has always been banned in one form or another. Certainly tighter since the coup of 2006.

[sausageandmash]

Let the Thais get on with it? "Getting on with it" is precisely what they are NOT doing!

Stop fannying about with Civil Court nonsense Abhisit, get in there and arrest them all.

Of course it was the reds. They have threatened this. Red shirt apologists, you should be ashamed.

How do you know soft lad? Practicing mental telepathy again?? You've got more nose than a lorry load of fish wives. Keep it out pal and let the Thais get on with it.