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Bangkok turns into sea of blood as political violence intensifies
Agence France Presse - April 11, 2010
Thailand is reeling from its worst political violence in nearly two decades after clashes between the army and anti-government demonstrators left 19 people dead and hundreds injured.
A Japanese cameraman with the Thomson Reuters news agency was among those killed in the crackdown on the "Red Shirt" supporters of fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, following almost a month of demonstrations.
The Reds hurled rocks as troops tried to clear one of two protest sites in the capital Bangkok with tear gas as gunshots echoed around the city. The dead included four soldiers. Almost 800 people were hurt.
The army later retreated, calling for a truce with the demonstrators, who were holding five soldiers hostage. Thousands of protestors remained on the streets and were refusing to leave another rally site in the city.
It was the country's worst political violence since 1992 and in Washington the White House called for "restraint by both protesters and security forces."
The mostly poor, rural Reds say the government is illegitimate as it came to power with military backing in 2008 after a court ousted Thaksin's allies from power.
Red Shirt protesters called on the country's revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej to intervene in the month-long crisis to prevent further bloodshed.
"Did anybody inform the king that his children were killed in the middle of the road without justice?" Reds' leader Jatuporn Prompan asked protesters. "Is there anyone close to him who told him of the gunfights?"
Although he has no official political role, the hospitalised king is seen as a unifying figure. And during a 1992 uprising he chastised both the military and protest leaders, effectively bringing the violence to an end.
Riot shields and pools of blood were left scattered around the city's historic area near the Khaosan Road backpacker district, while ambulances ferried away casualties and injured soldiers were loaded onto pick-up trucks.
"It's frightening. We heard explosions and people were running all around," said Sharon Aradbasson, a 34-year-old Israeli tourist.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva offered his condolences but refused to bow to the protesters' calls to resign. "I and my government will continue to work to resolve the situation," he said in a televised address to the nation."
Abhisit invoked emergency rule Wednesday after the Reds stormed parliament, prompting lawmakers to flee. The embattled premier has insisted he will not cede to the Reds' demand and call elections.
Tens of thousands of police and soldiers were mobilised to try to restore order, provoking an angry response from the red-clad movement. Arrest warrants have been issued for many of the senior leaders, but so far none is reported to have been taken into custody.
The protests have also spread to the northern city of Chiang Mai, where hundreds of Red Shirts massed outside a provincial hall chanting anti-government slogans.
It was the latest chapter in years of political turmoil in Thailand pitting Bangkok's ruling elite against the mainly working class Reds. The country has been riven by political tensions since a bloodless coup ousted premier Thaksin in 2006.
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