Thai Forces Fire Warning Shots In Standoff With Red Shirts

[webfact]

Thai forces fire warning shots in standoff with Red Shirts

by Anusak Konglang

BANGKOK (AFP) -- Thai security forces fired warning shots Wednesday during a confrontation with anti-government protesters in Bangkok, which is reeling from weeks of sometimes deadly unrest.

The standoff, which followed a period of relative calm in the city, came as hundreds of soldiers and police officers blocked a convoy of "Red Shirt" protesters who had left their fortified rally base in central Bangkok.

"Security force so far fired warning shots," said police spokesman Major General Prawut Thavornsiri. "There's a confrontation but no clashes yet."

About 2,000 protesters had earlier moved out of their sprawling rally site in pick-up trucks and on motorcycles to travel to the north of the capital, which is under a state of emergency.

Thai media reported rubber bullets were fired during the face-off, and Red leaders accused troops of using "war weapons" against the protesters, who want immediate elections to replace Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's government.

"It looks like a war. They are fighting with unarmed people," protest leader Nattawut Saikuar said from a stage at the site in Bangkok's commercial district that has become the focus of the weeks-long rallies.

"The government wants to lure us to go there so that they can come and disperse us here," added Nattawut, who warned earlier in the day that the Reds were "ready to fight to the death".

Street clashes earlier this month and grenade attacks last week in the heart of Bangkok have left 26 people dead and hundreds more wounded in the country's worst political unrest for almost two decades.

The Reds, many of whom come from Thailand's rural poor and urban working classes, have beefed up their defences with barricades made from truck tyres and bamboo stakes as they brace for a crackdown by security forces.

Raising the pressure on the embattled premier, the Constitutional Court agreed to hear a recommendation by an election body to dissolve the ruling party for alleged misuse of grant money, a court official said.

He declined to give a timeframe for the case but said Abhisit's Democrats would be asked to provide a written defence.

Abhisit said in an interview with the BBC Tuesday that he would step down if he believed he were an obstacle to stability.

He said the issues were "not a purely political problem. There are security problems involved, there are terrorist problems involved", adding that there was no imminent likelihood of martial law being declared.

Abhisit, regarded as elitist and undemocratic by his opponents, has rejected an offer by the Reds to disperse if elections are held in three months' time.

Army spokesman Sunsern Kaewkumnerd said Tuesday that security forces were ready and waiting "for the right time" to retake the Reds' rally area, which has paralysed traffic and caused many major hotels and stores to close.

The government has said it will not tolerate road blocks set up by protesters to prevent more troops heading to Bangkok.

Sunsern has previously warned protesters they could face real bullets in any new clashes and said troops had set up checkpoints to prevent people bringing in weapons to the confrontation zone.

The government says it has uncovered a network of people suspected of plotting to overthrow the kingdom's revered monarchy and is ready to round up alleged members.

The Reds have denied involvement in any attempt to undermine the royals and threatened to sue the government over the accusation.

Early Wednesday morning two grenade attacks hit a Bangkok bank and military checkpoint -- the latest in a series of blasts to hit politically significant sites -- but nobody was wounded, police said.

Britain on Tuesday extended a warning against visiting Thailand, urging its nationals to avoid all but essential travel to all of the tourist destination due to "violent incidents of an unpredictable nature".

-- ©Copyright AFP 2010-04-28

Published with written approval from AFP.

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

[webfact]

Pathum Thani Clash: Soldier Suffers Serious Gunshot Wound to Head

The face off between the red-shirt protesters at Thai Market in Pathum Thani Province and soldiers continue.

Reports have indicated that both the red-shirt protesters and soldiers have been injured during the clash which broke off earlier today.

INN has also reported that one soldier has suffered a serious gunshot wound to the head.

-- Tan Network 2010-04-28

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[webfact]

1 troop, 10 protesters injured in Don Muang clash

One troop with severe head injury and 10 protesters were admitted to the Bhumibhol following the clash between anti-riot troops and red-shirt protesters near the Air Force headquarters.

The protesters were injured by rubber bullets.

The troop appeared to have been shot at his head.

-- The Nation 2010-04-28

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

[SomTumTiger]

More blood on the Red's hands.

[Who, me ?]

1 troop, 10 protesters injured in Don Muang clash

One troop with severe head injury and 10 protesters were admitted to the Bhumibhol following the clash between anti-riot troops and red-shirt protesters near the Air Force headquarters.

The protesters were injured by rubber bullets.

The troop appeared to have been shot at his head.

-- The Nation 2010-04-28

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

If this is confirmed, it will now show how peaceful the red shirts are, and will show how unarmed they really are !!

[bkkjames]

some really good images on the the website of the sister thai paper of the English one we can't quote on here. especially like the one of them firing rockets (large fireworks). very peaceful.

[taurus88]

The multi-color gathering went on without a hitch and no military personel.

[FarangCravings]

More blood on the Red's hands.

Your sumit else mate

the military guy shot in the head was by friendly fire let me spell that out for you

that means he was shot by his own men not red shirts

Edited April 28, 2010 by FarangCravings

[SomTumTiger]

The more of this - the better for the country.

[Who, me ?]

More blood on the Red's hands.

Your sumit else mate

the guy shot in the head was by friendly fire let me spell that out for you

that means he was shot by his own men not red shirts

And of course, you have a source and evidence for that statement....

[Zolt]

Looks like the first good tactical move by the force. Attacking the Reds when out of their stronghold. Now if they manage to prevent the 2000 or so protesters from rejoining the main rally, they'll have struck a serious blow against the most hardcore and mobile elements of the Reds.

The fact that the Reds have weapons is not in question since apr. 10, but the point of this operation was catching the reds when they're unprepared, and when they probably don't carry around so many weapons.

Was behind the barricade at Silom yesterday and there were several bottles filled with liquid and a piece of cloth on top. The barricade itself is not that impressive: a good sneeze would put it down, but the police better have some heavy equipment or be prepared for casualties when they finally storm it.

[FarangCravings]

More blood on the Red's hands.

Your sumit else mate

the guy shot in the head was by friendly fire let me spell that out for you

that means he was shot by his own men not red shirts

And of course, you have a source and evidence for that statement....

BBC is reporting it friendly fire CNN is reporting it friendly fire only the Nation is not being clear on it

[deadsnoopy]

Both BBC and CNN have said that the soldier that died was shot from behind in the head by police forces.

[FarangCravings]

Both BBC and CNN have said that the soldier that died was shot from behind in the head by police forces.

Eat some humble pie and next time remember your listening to the Nation which is a (well lets not go there)

Edited April 28, 2010 by FarangCravings

[deadsnoopy]

I wonder if it's time to re-evaluate the dangers of rubber bullets. If my count is right, 26 people have now died and over 800 have been injured by rubber bullets. Maybe live ammunition should be used instead...maybe it's less dangerous.

[Who, me ?]

Both BBC and CNN have said that the soldier that died was shot from behind in the head by police forces.

Eat some humble pie and next time remember your listening to the Nation which is a (well lets not go there)

You might wait quite a long time!

[elcent]

More blood on the Red's hands.

Your sumit else mate

the military guy shot in the head was by friendly fire let me spell that out for you

that means he was shot by his own men not red shirts

a friendly rubber bullet?

[FarangCravings]

I wonder if it's time to re-evaluate the dangers of rubber bullets. If my count is right, 26 people have now died and over 800 have been injured by rubber bullets. Maybe live ammunition should be used instead...maybe it's less dangerous.

Rubber Bullets are supposed to be aimed at the body ONLY however if aimed at the head it almost certain its a kill shot

If they are aiming at peoples heads it will be another positive case for the reds to accuse the goverment of murder as it is well known rubber bullets to the head KILL

[rio666uk]

To confirm, this is the first sentence from the BBC

"One soldier has died, reportedly from a shot fired by a member of the security forces, and at least 10 people have been injured. "

Source: BBC News

[FarangCravings]

Both BBC and CNN have said that the soldier that died was shot from behind in the head by police forces.

Eat some humble pie and next time remember your listening to the Nation which is a (well lets not go there)

You might wait quite a long time!

LOL typical

[TheOldWolf]

This was of course i new none provokated attack by the army. Freindly red shirts just come wakjing up the street and suddenly the army opened fire at them. Of course they didn´t try to brake threw the barracdes. The innocent red shirts!!!

[silverhawk_usa]

Both BBC and CNN have said that the soldier that died was shot from behind in the head by police forces.

A BBC reporter is stating that it "appears" a soldier died from friendly fire. That assumption is not supported by any facts. Until something is proven it still could be from either side.

[richard10365]

I'm feeling less and less for the red shirts. I think this will all end by the time the rainy season starts. Reds will go home to tend to their farms. The government only has to hold out one more month. I hope the rainy season comes early.

[hardy1943]

Both BBC and CNN have said that the soldier that died was shot from behind in the head by police forces.

Eat some humble pie and next time remember your listening to the Nation which is a (well lets not go there)

This forum uses The Nation as there main news source , enough said

[whybother]

To confirm, this is the first sentence from the BBC

"One soldier has died, reportedly from a shot fired by a member of the security forces, and at least 10 people have been injured. "

Source: BBC News

"reportedly from" isn't confirmation.

[TheBarbarian]

Funny rubber bullets do they have in Thailand. Any idea already why Thai soldiers prevented the arrest of the person who fired the grenades into Silom road?

[Zolt]

Disregard my previous statement, looks like another botched operation for the police. My bad for reading the nation.

Apparently the red shirt leader whatsisname even managed to get away and back to Rajprasong. Why do the CRES guys just keep making premature / outright wrong statements so that they can then be prove wrong and made to look like morons?

[FarangCravings]

Both BBC and CNN have said that the soldier that died was shot from behind in the head by police forces.

A BBC reporter is stating that it "appears" a soldier died from friendly fire. That assumption is not supported by any facts. Until something is proven it still could be from either side.

Im sure you will find a way to blame the Reds for the killing

[deadsnoopy]

I'm feeling less and less for the red shirts. I think this will all end by the time the rainy season starts. Reds will go home to tend to their farms. The government only has to hold out one more month. I hope the rainy season comes early.

I think that kind of attitude is what got us to where we are today. I remember Suthep and other government officials talking in the media a month ago saying that this will all be over in a few days and the reds will go home, etc.

[bkkjames]

Both BBC and CNN have said that the soldier that died was shot from behind in the head by police forces.

A BBC reporter is stating that it "appears" a soldier died from friendly fire. That assumption is not supported by any facts. Until something is proven it still could be from either side.

Im sure you will find a way to blame the Reds for the killing

regardless, the images on the b+post thai website clearly shows the reds shooting 'large' fireworks at the police...that in itself shows how peaceful they are.