Violence Erupts In Chiang Mai

[ChiangMaiMail]

Violence erupts in Chiang Mai

A protest that turned violent with burning tires and broken phone booths off of Nawarat Bridge ended Wednesday night as officials imposed a curfew on the city. (Photo by Mick Jackson)

Chiang Mai Mail reporters

Violence erupted in Chiang Mai Wednesday May 19, after news of the crackdown on protestors in Bangkok spread to Chiang Mai with Red shirt protestors burning tires and blocking roads.

A protestor holds up a sign calling for United Nations help at the crackdown on protestors in Bangkok. (Photo by Supoj Thaimyoj)

Earlier in the week saw a buildup to the violence that broke out on Wednesday, when, on May 16, an Army bus parked at the Piak Alaiyont Car Garage on the Chiang Mai – Sankamphaeng Road, in Tambon Tha Sala was torched around 1:40 a.m. The owner of the garage did not see the arsonist but did hear a motorcycle and then a loud bang as the glass on the bus broke from the small bomb hurled inside.

On May 17, a small homemade bomb exploded at the Thai Military Bank on the Chiang Mai –Lamphun road in Nong Hoy and some kind of small bomb was thrown at the Siam Commercial Bank on Chotana Road, both events occurred around 2:00 a.m.

On Wednesday, about 1,000 Red shirts piled tires on Nawarat Bridge and set them alight, an annex of the Assistants Governor’s house was gutted by fire, phone booths were trashed, an electrical transformer near the Bridge was destroyed, the Bangkok Bank on Tha Phae Road was targeted with two ATM machines destroyed, two fire trucks from the San Pakoi fire brigade were set ablaze and fireworks and homemade bombs were thrown at City Hall in a rampage that ended with the Army and riot police moving in with shields, batons, and warning volleys fired into the air to scare the group off.

Chiang Mai Mail’s reporter, Supoj Thaimyoj, was punched in the back of the head by one of the Red shirt protestors and Siripong Wattanapaibool, and Seksarn Fukham of Lanna Thai News were threatened while covering the events at Nawarat Bridge.

Red shirts in San Pakoi burned tires at the Bangkok Bank branch there, later in the afternoon people burned tires near Tha Pae Gate, at the railways, and in front of the Region 5 Court in the evening.

Other Red shirt members held signs calling for U.N. assistance and denouncing the current government.

A curfew was instituted across the province from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. on Wednesday due to the escalating violence. However, during the night, around 30 motorcycles travelled to the Chiang Mai Construction Co, on Mahidol road, owned by the father in law of Newin Chidchob, and threw Molotov cocktails into the property, caretakers quickly doused the fire. The Bangkok Bank ATM at Chiang Mai gate was also destroyed during the night and further tire burning occurred in scattered locations around the city.

Thursday, May 20 saw the early closure of all Central properties, with Central Airport, Central Kad Suan Kaew, Robinson’s and Big C being ordered to close at 12:30 p.m. by the head office in Bangkok.

Authorities cleared Nawarat Bridge of the burnt out fire trucks and burnt tires; broken glass and debris were swept off the city streets as the City Government set to clearing up.

Provincial authorities removed the bunkers set up by members of the Rak Chiang Mai 51 at their base at the Grand Waroros Hotel and after negotiation with Worawut Rujanaphinant, alias DJ Daeng Songkwae, shut down operations of community radio station 92.50. About ten people stood by watching.

Chiang Mai was one of 24 provinces announced by the CRES to be under curfew until May 22, with curfew hours being 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.

The Provincial Special Task Force’s joint patrols of police and army patrolled the City every night on motorcycles for fast deployment in case further events occurred.

No deaths were reported from the events on Wednesday, May 19 in Chiang Mai.

See here for more pictures from the day: http://chiangmai-mail.com/current/news.shtml#hd1

-- Chiang Mai Mail 2010/05/25

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[somtampet]

that was 10 days ago?????

[Chaimai]

Why is this 10 day old news being posted now ?

[jdinasia]

hmmmmm WAY late to be posting this! I thought it was new violence!

[metisdead]

I agree, it's a bit late ain't it?

[Scott]

Since this article is old, I will close it.

[Scott]

Since this article is old, I will close it.