Armoured Vehicles, Army Live Bullets Will Be Used To Surround Red-Shirts From 6pm

[dobadoy]

Looks like there's been a break for lunch. Lots of people sitting around on 'motorbikes' looking unconcerned in the middle of SalaDeang junction, in front of the red barrier, no troops around.

The pic below (sorry, about the quality) also shows no-one manning the barricade put up to block of the flyover. After this is all over, whichever way the wind blows, whoever's next in power had best send the army and police for some proper training, and not let them take exams marked by their teachers!

[LuckyLew]

How long should this lawless mob be allowed to terrorize Bangkok, the army and police need to take decisive action to end it now. Use all tools at their disposal.

Agreed with you

But police and army are either unwilling or unable to control the situation

Does not bode well

Gonna be a long and possible deadly weekend in Bangkok

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Then he got shot. Literally, minutes later.

And moments later, Thailand felt a little more safe and for the first time in a long while have hope.

I couldn't agree more.

Don't turn on your TV in that case. Sleep tight.

[Tod Daniels]

BREAKING NEWS (for me anyway)! !!

I was standing near the somtam & fruit vendors in front of my apartment gate on Soi 12 about 50 meters down from Sukhumvit Road. I was just bullshitting with the thais about what's going on, watching the helicopters fly over, and what not.

All of a sudden there was a sound like you slapped the palm of your hand onto one of those plastic tables they use. A guy sitting about 3 feet away from where I was standing jerked a little, put his hand to his side and when he pulled it away a 5.62mm FMJ round fell to the ground!! It made a small red welt on his torso just above his waist and didn't do anything but leave a small dent in the plastic table top.

Given the steep angle of the trajectory as it literally fell out of the sky, and the way it ricocheted when it hit the table is likely the round came from the soldiers shooting into the air near SalaDaeng/Lumpini. It's not that far (as the crow, errr make that as the bullet flies) from there to my soi.

Here's the pix of the bullet in his hand and then him with it.

I told him to keep it and make a lucky necklace out of it.

Crazy really, and he’s certainly one lucky thai. ..

[thepodest]

Gunshots at Rama 4 Lumpini; 30 minutes ago: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAUmbmb9M38

Its getting violent in Lumpini ...

Someone trying to prevent that cameramen from filming in that video

Wasn't he just taking cover?

[LuckyLew]

Army just blocked Rajaprarop. About 50 soldiers. Warning protesters from afar.

Protesters put up red roadblock next to overbridge at Indra Regent hotel.

Spectators cheering the soldiers. Pix and video to follow in a bit

Selling price of red Tshirts must be dropping like stone at Pratunam

Why would there only be 50 soldiers?

[pornsasi]

Gunshots at Rama 4 Lumpini; 30 minutes ago: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAUmbmb9M38

Its getting violent in Lumpini ...

Someone trying to prevent that cameramen from filming in that video

Wasn't he just taking cover?

Could be , but why a hand in front of the lens ...

Well i dunno

[whybother]

They should close down the skytrain also. I know it's not stopping at Chitlom, Siam etc but it's too tempting a target for the Reds and it's still going right thru their area. It would only take one M79 grenade make a real tragedy there and some of the Red security thugs don't care and seem to be enjoying the violence trying to outdo each other.

BTS is running from Mo Chit - Ratchatewi and Asoke - On Nut. So not running *through* the red zone.

MRT is running from Bang Sue - Rama 9 only.

Edited May 14, 2010 by whybother

[indemnity]

How long should this lawless mob be allowed to terrorize Bangkok, the army and police need to take decisive action to end it now. Use all tools at their disposal.

Thailand Troops Move In on Red Shirt Protesters

Clashes as Government Seems Poised to Abandon Containment Strategy, Switch to Confrontation with Protesters

A group of anti-government protesters set fire to security forces' vehicles as gunshots were heard in central Bangkok in a burst of new violence Friday after nightlong clashes left one person dead.

Freelance journalist Kate Parkinson tells CBS News.com "Red Shirt" protesters torched at least one bus as hundreds of Thai troops advanced on their camp Friday.

The government seemed to be growing tired of their containment strategy - attempting to keep the Red Shirts penned into a roughly one square mile encampment in the heart of the capital - and the protesters showed little willingness to back down, setting the stage for what could be a large-scale confrontation.

Parkinson says it looks increasingly like the government forces will try to force the Red Shirts out of their downtown Bangkok encampment, which has become home to at least 1,000 people.

An Associated Press photographer saw protesters torching some vehicles near a downtown subway station. It was unclear if the trucks belonged to the military or police. Gunshots were heard in the area, but it was not clear who was firing.

The violence, which so far has claimed 30 lives and injured hundreds since anti-government Red Shirt protesters began camping in the capital on March 12, plunged Thailand deeper into political uncertainty, with both sides hardening their positions.

Parkinson tells CBS that Friday began relatively peacefully in the Red Shirt camp, with government helicopters buzzing overhead and protesters firing flares and fireworks to try and distract them. But the mood changed quickly when the police and soldiers started moving in on the camp.

Gunshots rang out throughout the night and into the morning in central Bangkok. At daybreak, a group of protesters captured and vandalized two military water cannon trucks at the intersection of Sathorn and Rama IV roads in the heart of the business district. They ripped the cannon from its moorings and used its plastic barrel to shoot firecrackers from behind a sandbag bunker they had commandeered from soldiers.

The Red Shirt protesters, who have taken over an upscale 1-square-mile area in central Bangkok, vowed they will not give up until the government resigns and early elections are called.

"I'm not scared. We are here only to ask for democracy. Why are we facing violence?" Mukda Saelim, 39, a mushroom farmer from Chonburi province, said. "I don't have anything to fight them, but I'm not afraid. You asked if this is safe? It's not."

The Red Shirts believe Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's coalition government came to power illegitimately through manipulation of the courts and the backing of the powerful military. They are demanding he dissolve Parliament immediately and call new elections.

Chances of a compromise dimmed further after renegade army Maj. Gen. Khattiya Sawasdiphol, who is accused of creating a paramilitary force for the Red Shirts, was shot in the head Thursday evening. He was talking to reporters just inside the perimeter of the protesters' encampment in Saladeng when the bullet hit him.

He was taken to a hospital in a coma and was in critical condition. The hospital said his brain had swollen and he was unlikely to survive.

It was not known who shot Khattiya, better known by the nickname Seh Daeng. But the Red Shirts blamed the government.

"This is illegal use of force ordered by Abhisit Vejjajiva," said Arisman Pongruengrong, a Red Shirt leader. "It is clear that there were no clashes at Saladeng, but Seh Daeng was shot by a government sniper. This is clearly a use of war weapons on the people."

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/05/14/...in6482141.shtml

[pornsasi]

Army just blocked Rajaprarop. About 50 soldiers. Warning protesters from afar.

Protesters put up red roadblock next to overbridge at Indra Regent hotel.

Spectators cheering the soldiers. Pix and video to follow in a bit

Selling price of red Tshirts must be dropping like stone at Pratunam

Why would there only be 50 soldiers?

Those 50 must be the dependable fraction of the battalion (800 men)

like the officers/noncom only , so they should be fairly proficient

The other 750 doing some shopping at Pratunam ...

Edited May 14, 2010 by pornsasi

[animatic]

BREAKING NEWS (for me anyway)! !!

I was standing near the somtam & fruit vendors in front of my apartment gate on Soi 12 about 50 meters down from Sukhumvit Road. I was just bullshitting with the thais about what's going on, watching the helicopters fly over, and what not.

All of a sudden there was a sound like you slapped the palm of your hand onto one of those plastic tables they use. A guy sitting about 3 feet away from where I was standing jerked a little, put his hand to his side and when he pulled it away a 5.62mm FMJ round fell to the ground!! It made a small red welt on his torso just above his waist and didn't do anything but leave a small dent in the plastic table top.

Given the steep angle of the trajectory as it literally fell out of the sky, and the way it ricocheted when it hit the table is likely the round came from the soldiers shooting into the air near SalaDaeng/Lumpini. It's not that far (as the crow, errr make that as the bullet flies) from there to my soi.

Here's the pix of the bullet in his hand and then him with it.

I told him to keep it and make a lucky necklace out of it.

Crazy really, and he's certainly one lucky thai. ..

Rename him;

Chockdee Somchai!

[JetsetBkk]

^^ (Sorry, I scaled the image down, what did I do wrong?)

You logged on.

[dobadoy]

^^ (Sorry, I scaled the image down, what did I do wrong?)

You logged on.

[dobadoy]

[quote[

It was not known who shot Khattiya, better known by the nickname Seh Daeng. But the Red Shirts blamed the government.

"This is illegal use of force ordered by Abhisit Vejjajiva," said Arisman Pongruengrong, a Red Shirt leader. "It is clear that there were no clashes at Saladeng, but Seh Daeng was shot by a government sniper. This is clearly a use of war weapons on the people."

If this is true - and lets face it, Arisman wouldn't know the truth if it hit him squarely in the head - should't he and Jatuporn be wearing helmets now?

[Chunky1]

If you feel safer that he is gone, that is fine. But all the talk about how the other Red Shirt leaders should be shaking in their boots is just silly. They are probably sitting around planning how to spend all that money that they milked from both Thaksin and the government.

[elcent]

tulsathit: Our reporter saw truckloads of soliders moving out of an Artillery battalion HQ in Lak Si just now.

Fri May 14 2010 14:31:02 GMT+0700 (SE Asia Standard Time)

tukky_nt: Matichon photograher was shot @ Sarasin-Wireless junction:Matichon

Fri May 14 2010 14:29:12 GMT+0700 (SE Asia Standard Time)

both side don't want witnesses now. It's going to get nasty for some time

[redparrot]

Unfortunately it looks like there is "no way out" for Thailand of this political crisis. Either way it will be the yellow or the red shirts taking to the streets, no matter who wins.

[lannarebirth]

Unfortunately it looks like there is "no way out" for Thailand of this political crisis. Either way it will be the yellow or the red shirts taking to the streets, no matter who wins.

It is no longer a "political" crisis. Maybe our mass delusion is that we thought it ever was.

[elcent]

Unfortunately it looks like there is "no way out" for Thailand of this political crisis. Either way it will be the yellow or the red shirts taking to the streets, no matter who wins.

it will be over soon, not longer than 2 days from now.

[elcent]

He had been holding a video camera. Blood was seen streaming from his hand when he was carried away by protesters:Reuters

half a minute ago via TweetDeck

A foreign male journalist was shot during clashes bet. protesters and troops in central BKK.:Reuters

1 minute ago via TweetDeck

Edited May 14, 2010 by elcent

[indemnity]

Anti-government demonstrators set fire to a police bus Friday, May 14, 2010, near Lumpini Park in downtown Bangkok, Thailand. Anti-government protesters set fire to a police bus down the street from Japanese and U.S. embassies in central Bangkok after troops fired tear gas Friday in a burst of new violence after nightlong clashes left one person dead.

[elcent]

Kasikorn Bank Klong Toey branch is closed. #whatsup

1 minute ago via TweetDeck

RT @nuthatai: AFP reported foreign journalist with the France 24 TV station was shot in the leg during clashes between troops & protesters.

3 minutes ago via TweetDeck

[noahvail]

Unfortunately it looks like there is "no way out" for Thailand of this political crisis. Either way it will be the yellow or the red shirts taking to the streets, no matter who wins.

It is no longer a "political" crisis. Maybe our mass delusion is that we thought it ever was.

That's a good thought. Seh Daeng's statements re: Thaksin would indicate you're correct. I'm thinking that I got sucked into that delusion - but it's more than obvious now.

Not a political crisis, but an armed rebellion with only one goal in mind.

[redparrot]

Unfortunately it looks like there is "no way out" for Thailand of this political crisis. Either way it will be the yellow or the red shirts taking to the streets, no matter who wins.

it will be over soon, not longer than 2 days from now.

I'm sure the protesters can be dispersed from Rajprasong, but I doubt they will give up. It will simply continue in another part of the city.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

If this is true - and lets face it, Arisman wouldn't know the truth if it hit him squarely in the head - should't he and Jatuporn be wearing helmets now?

They probably realize that it was specifically aimed at Seh Daeng in retaliation for the killing of the top army guy on April 10.

[rogerdee123]

Tulsathit says Nation reporter saw truckloads of soldiers leaving Laksi HQ a couple of minutes ago.

They are probably not on the way to Pattani...

Probably going to aerobics class .... sorry the devil made me say that :^p

[LevelHead]

A country out of control

A government out of control

All because of an illegal coup in 2006.

Shame on them all, the PAD in 2006, the Army in 2006 and shame on all those who perpetuated the ills of that coup ever since to this day.

[seahorse]

This picture is in need of a serious explanation, taken at 12.17 today. Whose side are those soldiers on? What are they doing mingling with the reds????

The guy on the left doesn't look too happy about the situation to me. Seems like he has his finger on the trigger of his gun.

[kevkev1888]

^^ (Sorry, I scaled the image down, what did I do wrong?)

You logged on.

No I think thats your error fools.

At least pontius had somthing interesting to say.

Edited May 14, 2010 by kevkev1888

[h90]

A country out of control

A government out of control

All because of an illegal coup in 2006.

Shame on them all, the PAD in 2006, the Army in 2006 and shame on all those who perpetuated the ills of that coup ever since to this day.

No it is all because of Thaksin and vote buying.