Bangkok Red-Shirt Rally - Live Thursday

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Thursday April 29 Red-shirt rally live updates

Here you can follow the live updates from the media, hour by hour.

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One dead as Thai troops clash with protesters on highway

by Anusak Konglang

BANGKOK (AFP) -- Thai troops opened fire on Red Shirt protesters Wednesday during a tense confrontation on a highway in Bangkok's northern suburbs that left one soldier dead and 18 people injured.

The army said it had used real bullets in the latest standoff in the capital, where 27 people have died and almost 1,000 have been injured this month in the worst political unrest in almost two decades.

Protesters hurled rocks at soldiers and riot police who used razor wire to block their convoy on a major road heading out of the city, where they have been rallying for weeks in a bid to overthrow the government.

Troops fired into the air and also directly at the Red Shirts as the standoff between the two sides spilled over from the protesters' fortified rally base in the heart of the capital, which is under a state of emergency.

"Real bullets were used because soldiers and police are human and protesters attacked officials first," army spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd told a news conference.

Security forces said they had seized 62 M79 grenades from suspected Red Shirts riding a motorcycle towards the area where the confrontation occurred.

Many of the Reds come from Thailand's rural poor and urban working classes and seek the return of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a 2006 coup and now lives overseas to avoid a jail term for corruption.

One soldier died instantly from a gunshot wound to the head during the clashes, while two more soldiers and 16 civilians were wounded, some of them seriously, medical officials said.

The Reds -- who want immediate elections to replace Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's government -- accused troops of using "war weapons" against them, and said the soldier was a victim of friendly fire.

"He was shot by people on the same side as him," protest leader Jatuporn Prompan told AFP.

About 2,000 protesters had earlier moved out of their sprawling rally site in pick-up trucks and on motorcycles, saying they wanted to hand out leaflets about their cause. Many others remained at the fortified camp.

The clashes erupted near Bangkok's number two airport Don Mueang International, which is about 25 kilometres (16 miles) from the main rally site and handles mostly charter and domestic flights.

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

He had warned earlier in the day that the demonstrators -- who have been shedding their trademark red clothing to confuse security forces -- were "ready to fight to the death".

The Reds have beefed up their base's defences with barricades made from truck tyres and bamboo stakes. On Tuesday the protesters blocked city trains.

They have been on alert for another crackdown since April 10, when a failed attempt by the army to clear Bangkok's historic area of protesters descended into bloody street battles that left 25 people dead and hundreds injured.

A series of grenade blasts last week killed one person and injured dozens in the city's financial district.

Army spokesman Sansern 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.

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

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

Hopes of an end to the crisis were dashed at the weekend when Abhisit -- who is regarded as elitist and undemocratic by his opponents -- rejected an offer by the Reds to disperse if elections are held in three months' time.

Early Wednesday morning two grenade attacks hit a Bangkok bank and military checkpoint but nobody was wounded, police said.

Canada Wednesday upgraded its travel warning for Thailand, telling its citizens to avoid "non-essential" trips to the kingdom following advisories from Britain and other nations.

"The security situation is very volatile with significant potential for further civil unrest, violent clashes, and attacks," Canada's foreign affairs department said in a statement.

-- ©Copyright AFP 2010-04-29

Published with written approval from AFP.

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CHRONOLOGY

Red-shirt procession

Chronology of Vibhavadi Showdown

10.30am: Kwanchai Praipana leads 2,000 red shirts on a march, along with a convoy of trucks and motorcycles, from Rajprasong intersection to Thai Market in Pathum Thani. The march is seen as an act of defiance against the Emergency Decree. The reds say they want to show moral support for the 11 protesters arrested for blocking traffic.

12.20pm: The procession arrives at Lat Phrao junction at the mouth of Vibhavadi-Rangsit Road, a main route linking the capital to Pathum Thani province.

1pm: The reds travel past Don Mueang Airport before Kwanchai orders a halt about 2 kilometres from the National Monument, where cordons of riot forces are waiting to block the procession. The tail-end of the red procession is near the Air Force headquarters.

Kwanchai dispatches a team of motorcycle riders to break the security line, as riot forces order newsmen and bystanders to leave the scene.

1.30pm: Negotiations between the reds and the riot forces reportedly collapse. Clashes erupt as the riot forces begin firing rubber bullets. Confusion ensues as some red shirts are seen armed, and the riot forces are authorised to fire live ammunition in self-defence.

1.40pm: Two helicopters fly over the scene presumably to monitor the clashes.

1.45pm: Red-shirt leader Wisa Kanthap makes an urgent plea from the Rajprasong rally site, urging the reds near National Monument to rush to reinforce their fellow protesters. Wisa also asks the reds at Rajprasong intersection to help defend their rally site for fear that the authorities might take advantage of the precarious situation by cracking down on ebbing crowds.

1.49pm: The red shirts at the end of the procession on Vibhavadi-Rangsit Road seize a number of container trucks to block off inbound traffic in retaliation for the clashes.

2.09pm: Red-shirt leader Jatuporn Promphan calls for the reds on the march to return to Rajprasong. Another leader, Suporn Atthawong, says Kwanchai is on his way back to the main rally site.

2.20pm: Riot forces detain about 10 red shirts for provoking security personnel resting inside a school compound.

2.30pm: The situation remains tense as hundreds of red-shirt protesters continue to confront the riot forces despite Kwanchai apparently abandoning them. The remaining reds try to regroup and take over a petrol station nearby.

2.50pm: The riot forces launch crowd dispersal operations by firing more than 300 rubber bullets and tear gas canisters. There is a big commotion coinciding with a heavy downpour.

3.15pm: Riot forces move to gain control of the area previously occupied by the red shirts at the tail-end of the procession. A few protesters continue to linger on the elevated tollway, with some throwing ping-pong bombs to harass the riot forces.

3.25pm: The riot forces conduct a sweep of the tollway and a nearby overpass before securing the area and ending the stand-off.

5.19pm: Riot forces and the remaining red shirts agree to end the confrontation near Zeer Rangsit shopping mall.

5.25pm: Kwanchai appears at Rajprasong intersection, explaining how he wore a disguise and hopped into a taxi to escape. He claims Pheu Thai MP Chalerm Yoobamrung had alerted him about an imminent sniper attack. Chalerm denies ever calling Kwanchai.

5.40pm: Normalcy returns to Vibhavadi-Rangsit Road.

-- The Nation 2010-04-29

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VIBHAVAI SHOWDOWN

Highway battle

By The Nation

Troops and hardline red-shirt protesters tested each other's resolve yesterday leading to violent clashes on the Vibhavadi Rangsit highway, leaving one soldier dead and at least 18 people injured.

BANGKOK: -- One day after the government signalled its readiness to get tough and the red protesters suffered a rare defeat in Pathum Thani, a joint force of soldiers and police tried to stop a caravan of red-shirt protesters on their way to the same province for a new showdown.

But this time clashes occurred in the Don Muang area and the National Memorial, both located on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road.

The soldier was killed after being shot in his head but it was unclear yesterday who was responsible for the death. The CNN News website reported that the soldier was accidentally killed by fire from security forces. But there was no response from the authorities.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's Erawan emergency centre identified the dead soldier as Private Narongrit Sara from the Ninth Infantry Division in Kanchanaburi. Of the 18 injured, three people were in serious condition; 16 of them are civilians and two soldiers, according to the centre.

A video clip circulated on the Internet yesterday showed a motorcycle-riding soldier falling down after he appeared to be shot. Security forces fired on troops riding towards them on motorbikes in what appeared to be an accident, The Associated Press reported. At least four motorbikes crashed and one soldier was carried away on a stretcher, bleeding profusely from the head. Several others from the group threw their hands in the air.

The clashes began in the Don Muang area at about 1.30pm and then at the National Memorial several kilometres away shortly before 3pm.

The red shirts' caravan, consisting of some 2,000 people, left their main protest site at the Rajprasong intersection at around 10.30am to head for the Thai Market in Pathum Thani. The march, led by wanted leader Kwanchai Praipana, was aimed at showing moral support to the 11 red-shirt protesters arrested for blocking traffic near the market on Monday.

The security forces used road barriers, razor wires and rubber bullets to block the protesters. Riot squads fired in the air to push back the protesters as several of the red shirts hurled stones and fired slingshots at the security forces. Some of the protesters were found to be carrying guns.

The clash was interrupted by heavy rains, which caused the protesters to disperse. A large group of red shirts tried to regroup and took over a petrol station near the airport. The stand-off ended shortly before 3.30pm.

Traffic on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road suffered severe congestion as parts of the road, as well as the elevated Don Muang tollway above it, were closed during the clashes.

Police later confiscated 63 M-79 grenade launchers from a motorcycle during a search on Vibhavadi Rangsit.

Police stopped a motorcycle at a checkpoint set up after the red shirts clashed with troops on the road. The rider of the vehicle stopped as ordered but managed to run away, according to Woraphong Chewpreecha, assistant to the National Police chief.

Police then searched the vehicle and confiscated 63 M-79 grenade launchers from the vehicle.

Also found were documents of Pol Sergeant Pratya Maneekote of Pathum Thani's Kukot district.

Police could not say whether the rider was the sergeant.

Story continues: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/2010/...e-30128219.html

-- The Nation 2010-04-29

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Chavalit will explain himself to CRES

BANGKOK: -- Former prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh will appear before the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) tomorrow to explain himself regarding allegations that he is part of a movement aiming to overthrow the monarchy, his close aide said yesterday.

Chavalit, now chairman of the opposition Pheu Thai Party, will request a meeting with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Deputy PM Suthep Thaugsuban, who heads the CRES, at the 11th Infantry Regiment, Lt-General Chawengsak Thongsaluai said.

He added that Chavalit had learned that he would be summoned to face the CRES, but "he won't wait until the warrant is issued", Chawengsak said.

Earlier, Chavalit had reportedly said that he would not report to the CRES even if a summonses was issued.

Suthep said yesterday he was convinced that Chavalit had become part of a movement that had ill intentions towards the monarchy, and if he failed to show up after two summonses had been issued, he would face arrest.

The deputy premier said summonses would also be issued for some people involved in the anti-monarchy movement, and that "many other people" would be arrested because there was enough evidence against them.

In a related development, Chavalit's close aide and Pheu Thai MP Chaowalit Vichayasut said he did not think the ex-PM was part of a movement aimed at overthrowing the monarchy, adding that it couldn't be possible because Chavalit had even written a book about being loyal to the monarch.

-- The Nation 2010-04-29

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One killed, 18 injured

By Pongphon Sarnsamak

The Nation

The clash between troops and the red-shirt protesters yesterday left one soldier dead and more than 18 people on both sides injured, Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanavisit said.

Private Naronrit Sara died immediately at the scene of the clash and his corpse was moved to Pramongkutklao Hospital. Of the 18 injured, 16 were civilians and two soldiers.

According to the ministry, 10 of the wounded were admitted to the Bhumibol Adulyadej Hospital, three to Rangsit Hospital, one to Vibhavadi General Hospital, one to Police General Hospital and three at Prachatipat Hospital in Pathum Thani province. Of the 16 civilians, two sustained severe injuries, with one being wounded in the abdomen and another with severe injuries to the chest.

The two soldiers suffered injuries to the head and legs.

Vibhavadi Hospital director, Dr Prompong Peerabool, said a victim had been admitted with minor injuries to his face and head. There appears to be some material in the scale of 0.2 to 0.3 millimetres embedded in the victim's skin, and he is currently under observation in the intensive care unit.

The victim told the doctor that he had been hit by something on the left-hand side while he was driving down the Don Muang Tollway past the spot where the protesters were clashing with the riot force.

Bhumibol Adulyadej Hospital's director, Air Vice-Marshal Chuphan Chansamorn, said the man who had suffered injuries in the abdomen had already undergone surgery, though the doctors could not identify the objects that had hit him.

The rest of the victims admitted at the hospital had minor injuries in their arms and legs.

-- The Nation 2010-04-29

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1,500 street vendors to get compensation

By The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Compensation of about Bt10,000 would be paid to each of the 1,500 street vendors who have registered with City Hall for relief from the red-shirt rallies under a set of measures proposed yesterday.

Somkiat Chayasriwong, deputy permanent secretary of the Labour Ministry, said yesterday that the meeting drawing up assistance measures for businesses and workers had concluded that some 100,000 workers and 6,000 employers had suffered from the protests at both Phan Fa Bridge and the Ratchaprasong Intersection.

To keep workers on the payroll, the ministry would allow employers to provide staff 75 per cent of their salary while the government would cover 25 per cent, he said.

Social Security Fund members losing jobs could apply for unemployment benefits while those outside the scheme would get compensation at 50 per cent of their last salary.

Employers would be allowed to postpone their social security contributions for March-May.

All of the measures would be reported to the labour minister and tabled at a meeting today before they are submitted to the Cabinet's meeting next week.

-- The Nation 2010-04-29

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Related discussion topic:

When Thai Red-Shirts Turn Colourless

OPINION - By Suthichai Yoon

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Thai-Red-Shi...ss-t360467.html

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Related discussion topic

Thai Govt, PM Abhisit Not Looking At The Big Picture

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Thai-Govt-PM...tu-t360466.html

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SECURITY THREATS

DSI grabs two red guards as part of probe into bombings

By The Nation

Both men linked to April 10 clash; one said to have ties with Khattiya

BANGKOK: -- Two high-profile red-shirt guards have been arrested by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) in a move that goes in parallel with its investigation into the recent bomb attacks and criminal activities allegedly carried out by anti-government protesters.

DSI director-general Tharit Phengdit said yesterday that one of the guards was involved in the April 10 clashes but did not confirm if this unidentified man had taken part in the grenade attack that killed Colonel Romklao Thuwatham.

Tharit said police officers had handed the suspect over to the DSI, which would question the man further to judge the role he has been playing in the red-shirt movement.

"I don't know if he was involved in the attack on the colonel's outpost. What we do know is that he was involved in the April 10 clashes at Khok Wua intersetion," he added.

The other man apprehended was identified as Chayut Lai-jaroen, who was a senior leader of the red-shirt security force. Chayut is said to have close ties to suspended Army specialist Maj-General Khattiya Sawasdiphol, who is now on the run.

A DSI source said Chayut was "a big fish" within the "terrorist wing" of the red-shirt movement, and was now under military custody.

"He is full of information but not very cooperative. We will get lots of useful data if he speaks," he added.

According to DSI's initial investigations, Chayut was seen driving a van full of armed men in black around the Democracy Monument, which is not far from Khok Wua intersection, not long before the violent clashes erupted. This was followed by a grenade attack on the command post, which wounded the colonel and finally killed him.

Chayut was also instrumental in giving other red-shirt guards the war weapons seized from soldiers after they abandoned their defence lines, the report said.

The DSI source added that information gleaned from Pheu Thai member Methee Amornwutthikul was still useful though some of his stories were boastful and exaggerated. There are five factors that justify Methee, a former nud_e model, as a leader of the red-shirt movement and commander of its militants:

l He delivered several speeches on stage;

l He was seen accompanying Khattiya;

l He had access to war weapons seized from soldiers;

l He was arrested while holding an assault rifle;

l He has been able to provide accurate details about inside stories of the red shirts and security operatives.

"The DAAD [Democratic Alliance against Dictatorship] leaders are not necessarily just the three speakers, but also include those who have the authority to run operations, including Methee and Chayut," the source said.

Yesterday, Methee was handed over to the military, which can detain him at an unknown location for another seven days under the Internal Security Act. Although a court hearing was conducted through video-conferencing, a company of anti-riot police provided security at the Criminal Court throughout the session.

Methee has not been charged yet because the DSI is still compiling evidence and witness accounts against him. The DSI chief reiterated that Methee was proud of committing crimes and taking part in acts of violence.

"He said he will fight for his cause to death and that he is not doing anything wrong," he added.

At 3am on Tuesday morning, a bomb attack targeted a Bangkok Bank branch in Taling Chan district, causing heavy property damage but no casualties.

A watchman on duty said the explosives went off just five minutes after two patrolmen left.

Police said later that the explosive could be either a grenade lobbed with an M79 launcher or an M67 hand grenade, but were awaiting verification from ordnance personnel.

The DSI has also started investigating the recent seizure of a South-bound military train by local red shirts. A number of red-shirted leaders will be summoned for questioning over their alleged roles.

-- The Nation 2010-04-29

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The King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital issues a declaration in case of emergency

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital has issued a declaration on its mission to handle potential emergencies.

The hospital has stressed to uphold professional ethics by maintaining neutrality and providing equal service without taking sides, in response to the Red Cross principles.

The hospital will stop admitting new patients to the Out-Patient Department (OPD) except those with severe conditions in need of an urgent treatment. All operation will be halted except cases of emergency.

Those out-patients with no urgent need to see doctors can contact the hospital to postpone their appointments to avoid the area for their own safety. The hospital will resume operation as soon as the situation turned normal.

In addition, All hospital departments will not take any out-patients as of 29 April except emergency patients. For more information, call 0-2-256-4000.

-- NNT 2010-04-29

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DSI to probe accumulation of war weapons seized from anti-govt protestors

BANGKOK -- The Department of Special Investigation will conduct a probe into how a number of powerful arms had fallen into the possession of a United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) supporter.

DSI Director General Tharit Pengdit said at a press conference televised last night that the weapons seized included 62 M79 grenades and an M203 launcher. He said the accumulation of such powerful weapons with intent to use them in yesterday’s confrontation between the UDD protestors and security forces in Don Mueang area could be described as an act of terrorism. He said the DSI would work with the Office of the Attorney General and the Royal Thai Police to bring the culprits to punishment.

The weapons were left behind by a man riding a motorcycle after he was chased by security forces. He finally left both his vehicle and the weapons before managing to flee via an overgrown deserted field. Yesterday’s operation to prevent the UDD protestors to proceed to Talad Thai Market on the outskirts of Bangkok involved a combined force of army, air force and police personnel, Mr Tharit said.

Spokesperson of the Center for the Resolution of Emergency Situation (CRES) Colonel Sansern Kaewkamnerd said the operation which started early in the afternoon was carried out with difficulty because protestors no longer wore red shirts, making it difficult to separate the protestors from commuters on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road. He said the operation had to stop at around 5 pm because of the heavy rain while the authorities were not sure whether the protestors had more powerful weapons to inflict further damages on innocent civilians.

-- NNT 2010-04-29

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RichardBarrow: BTS and MRT are open as normal today in Bangkok. BTS closes at 8 pm and MRT midnight. MRT Silom closes at 7.30 pm.

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THE NATION: Doctor Tul, who decided to suspend multicolours' street activities, says today his group's media/social media activities will b stepped up.

THE NATION: PAD nationwide will submit wht is expected 2 B strongly-worded petitions at 40 military camps at 10 am. In Bkk they'll do it at 11 regiment.

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Thailand's orange-robed monks reveal shades of red - Focus

by Rachel O'Brien

BANGKOK (AFP) -- Dozens of Thai monks, clad in vivid orange robes, untangle their hands bound with sacred Buddhist thread after performing a chanting ceremony to protect the anti-government "Red Shirts".

Since mass protests began in Bangkok in mid-March demanding snap elections, the red-dressed crowds have been speckled with the monks' distinctive attire despite a long-held monastic custom of keeping out of Thai politics.

"We have been staying with the people from the beginning, more than one month already," said a 70-year-old monk, Doctor Tuanchai.

"We sleep on the roadside. It's a very difficult life but we decided to do it for peace and harmony and love for the Thai people."

He said the monks were "neutral" despite their presence at the rally, though his comments revealed a leaning towards the mainly rural poor and urban working-class Reds, who say they are fighting the Thai elites.

"I hope they will gain victory soon because they ask for democracy and justice. I hope all monks and all Thai people in general, the majority will sympathise with the Red Shirts," Tuanchai said.

Thai monks are banned from voting or running for office and a body of senior monks, the Supreme Sangha Council, ruled long ago that they cannot join a political rally, an official from the Office of National Buddhism told AFP.

The official, asking not to be named, said a monk faced admonishment from the abbot of his temple -- and in extreme cases could be defrocked -- for engaging in overt political action.

"It's seriously frowned upon," said Justin McDaniel, Associate Professor of Buddhist studies at the University of Pennsylvania.

"Generally monks should not take sides. So you can stand up to human rights abuses but you shouldn't take a political side."

While activist monks are relatively few, they have not been hard to find in the recent protests. Some even joined the queue to donate their own blood as part of an attention-grabbing tactic soon after the rolling rallies began.

Now as Reds fortify the imposing barricades around their base amid fears of a crackdown, a handful of monks -- though it is difficult to check their authenticity -- have been seen on the site brandishing sharpened bamboo sticks.

"When the monks speak, they must speak about calm and non-violence, but I think everyone has the right to defend themselves," said Jaran Ditapichai, a leading Red Shirt.

"In Thailand we have few monks who play a role in politics but now we request that monks come to join us," he added.

The fact that monks are not afraid to openly associate with the movement could signal their confidence in the Reds, according to Thailand-based academic Louis Gabaude of the French School of the Far East.

"It seems that the monks, especially from the northeast, feel that they or the Reds are in a position of sufficient strength to dare to expose themselves publicly and not risk a backlash," he said.

But Yanamed Siriyanmaytee, a monk who sprinkled holy water on the crowds of protesters by the stage, insisted he was only there because the Reds asked for a protective ceremony -- a request that a monk is duty-bound to perform.

"The monks do not have any colour. We are from every side," said Yanamed, one of the "monk police" in Bangkok who check up on the behaviour of their religious brethren.

Thailand expert Paul Chambers, at Heidelberg University in Germany, said traditionally "the Thai monarchy has been able to rein in institutionalised Buddhism" as the king appoints the country's top monk, the Supreme Patriarch.

Hence Thai monks have been less politically active than in other countries such as neighbouring Myanmar, he said, but "a schism could be growing within Thai Buddhism based upon and around the message of the Red Shirts".

Some monks, Chambers added, consider themselves "human shields" in the protests, which have already descended into bloody clashes with troops that have left 27 people dead in Thailand's worst civil violence in 18 years.

"We join the stage warning the Thai prime minister not to use forces against the people, against the Red Shirts, because more bloodshed will occur if they use military means and war-like weapons," said monk Tuanchai.

"But I don't fear because we work for the Buddha for world peace. We are ready to die like Jesus Christ."

-- ©Copyright AFP 2010-04-29

Published with written approval from AFP.

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BPbreakingnews: PAD starts gathering at BK army base

RichardBarrow: Central Childom open 10 am-7 pm. Silom Complex 10.30am-7pm. ZEN still closed.

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Yellow shirts start gatheirng in front of 11th Infantry regiment

Yellow-shirt demonstrators led by the People's Alliance for Democracy started gathering in front of the 11th Infantry Regiment at 9 am Thursday, ASTV Online reported.

They used a six-wheel sound truck and are waiting to be joined by PAD leaders Chamlong Srimuang and Pipop Thongchai.

The PAD will submit a demand for the government to get tough against the red-shirt protesters.

-- The Nation 2010-04-29

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THE NATION: As u reading: the Shinawatra kids+Pojamarn r boarding the plan to HK and PAD are moving to 11th regiment in BKK &army centres in provinces.

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THE NATION: Rumors say the govt is prepared to sit the protest out even if it takes 2mons -bad for the business morale./

ThaivisaNews: Thailand Extends Tourist Visa Fee Exemption Scheme Until 31 March 2011: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Thailand-Ext...-E-t360483.html

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CRES to give tough response to Red Shirt protesters if they rally at NBT

BANGKOK (TNA) -- The Thai government's Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) will apply similar measures to deal with the anti-government 'Red Shirt' United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) if they decide to rally at state television NBT on Thursday, according to CRES spokesman Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd.

At a CRES press conference, Col Sansern confirmed that one army soldier was killed and 19 other persons were wounded in Wednesday's confrontation between security forces and anti-government Red Shirt protesters on Vibhavadi Road in the northern Bangkok suburbs.

Military weapons including 40mm shells were seized from the protesters when the authorities blocked them from going to Talad Thai market on Wednesday, he said.

The 62mm munitions which could be shot from M-79 launchers were on display at the press conference.

Fourteen UDD red shirt protesters were detained, he said.

Col Sansern said the seized arms were not from the army but could be smuggled from the border.

Asked whether real bullets had been used during Wednesday's operation, the CRES spokesman said only that the soldiers were flesh and blood and the protesters also have military weapons, and that it was necessary to prevent the protesters to come close to the ranks of the police and army.

As for the dead soldier, he said investigation was needed to know the cause of death.

Assistant national police chief Pol Lt-Gen Worapong Chiewpreecha said the operation on Wednesday was carried out with difficulty because there were commuters on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road who were caught in the crossfire of the clashes.

The security forces found it was difficult to differentiate betweem protesters and non-protesters as the Red Shirts had changed their tactics to wear many colour outfits, street clothes, rather than their distinctive red garb. (TNA)

-- TNA 2010-04-29

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RichardBarrow: Armed soldiers patrolling ticket area of BTS Asok. Less than a dozen in sight. Barbed wire ready but not deployed.

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Police Arrest 2 Suspects in Connection with Arms Seized Yesterday

Metropolitan Region 1 Police have arrested two male suspects who they believe are connected to an abandoned lot of arms yesterday.

The suspects were arrested in the Thonburi area.

-- Tan Network 2010-04-29

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BPbreakingnews: Reds to petition European Union

MCOT: PM's minister Satit Wongnongtaey coordinates CRES to prevent Red Shirt rally at NBT; UDD to ask EU to supervise demonstration

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RichardBarrow: The MRT Silom exit to Red Fortress is closed but exit to Army Camp is open.

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BBC HARD TALK

Thai PM: 'willing to compromise' with protesters

The Thai Prime Minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva, has rejected the idea of a national election in the next three months despite calls from protesters during a seven-week standoff.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/hardtalk/8648639.stm

-- BBC 2010-04-29

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ThaivisaNews: Weng: Red-Shirts to petition EU over the use of force to deal with the Red-Shirts protesters at the National Memorial yesterday

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Thai protesters ask EU to help in bloody crisis

by Anusak Konglang

BANGKOK: (AFP) -- Thailand's anti-government "Red Shirt" protesters Thursday called for the European Union to send observers to Bangkok to prevent a crackdown as rival "Yellow Shirts" readied their own rally.

A day after clashes between the opposition demonstrators and troops left one soldier dead and 18 people injured, the Reds said they would go to the European Union delegation in Bangkok to ask the body to help in the crisis.

"The government used force to crack down on innocent protesters, and it's likely there will be further violent crackdowns," Red leader Jaran Ditsatapichai said on a stage at the movement's main demonstration site.

The movement -- which wants immediate elections -- released a letter it planned to submit to EU ambassador David Lipman making an "urgent request" for the body to send monitors to Bangkok to prevent another crackdown.

Thailand is reeling from its worst political violence in almost two decades in the capital, where 27 people have died and almost 1,000 have been injured this month in a series of bloody confrontations.

Many of the Reds come from Thailand's rural poor and urban working classes and seek the return of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a 2006 coup and now lives overseas to avoid a jail term for corruption.

The country is largely split between the Reds, and the pro-government Yellow Shirts who staged their own street protests that heralded a 2006 coup ousting their enemy Thaksin.

Thousands of Yellows planned to gather Thursday in front of an army base where Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his cabinet have been working since demonstrations began last month.

The Yellows' rally, the first by the movement since the rival Reds began their own mass protests in mid-March, comes amid mounting fears of factional violence between the two camps.

"We will demand that the government spell out a clear plan to end illegal rallies and terrorism, and we will call on the army to use its power to end anarchy," Suriyasai Katasila, a Yellow Shirt spokesman, told Thai television.

The group said it would take similar action Thursday morning at 40 army bases across the country, but Suriyasai said there were no immediate plans to hold rolling street rallies like the Red Shirts.

Leaders of the Reds, who have for weeks occupied a main commercial area in the heart of Bangkok, expressed surprise at authorities' measures Wednesday, when troops fired at protesters on a highway in Bangkok's northern suburbs.

"We didn't think that our people would face such heavy security," a senior Red, Weng Tojirakarn, told reporters.

Troops fired into the air and also directly at the Red Shirts as the standoff between the two sides spilled over from the protesters' fortified rally base in the heart of the capital, which is under a state of emergency.

One soldier died, apparently from friendly fire.

The army said it had used real bullets in the northern Bangkok standoff, as protesters hurled rocks at soldiers and riot police used razor wire to block their convoy on a major road heading out of the city.

Security forces said they had also seized 62 M79 grenades from suspected Red Shirts riding a motorcycle towards the area where the confrontation occurred.

The Red Shirts have been on alert for another crackdown since April 10, when a failed attempt by the army to clear Bangkok's historic area descended into bloody street battles that left 25 people dead and hundreds injured.

A series of grenade blasts last week killed one person and injured dozens in the city's financial district.

The Red Shirts have reinforced their roadblocks and stepped up security checks on the perimeter of their sprawling protest site, which has been fortified with barricades made from piles of truck tyres and bamboo stakes.

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.

-- ©Copyright AFP 2010-09-29

Published with written approval from AFP.

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