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Thai authorities open fire on Red Shirts, one soldier dies in clash
Associated Press - April 29, 2010
Thanyarat Doksone, Bangkok – Thai security forces fired into a crowd of antigovernment protesters during a clash just outside Bangkok on Wednesday as they tried to keep the Red Shirts from expanding their demonstrations from a base in the capital. One soldier was killed, and at least 18 protesters were hurt.
The troops appeared to be shooting live ammunition as well as rubber bullets in the confrontation along a major road connecting Bangkok with its northern suburbs that security forces had blocked with razor wire.
The Red Shirts, whose protests have paralyzed parts of the capital for weeks in their campaign to bring down a government they view as illegitimate, had announced they were widening their demonstrations and dared the military to stop them as hundreds headed to a planned rally in a suburb.
Along Vibhavadi-Rangsit Road, riot squads fired into the air to push back protesters but several tried to remove the razor wire, prompting troops to shoot directly at protesters who fled into oncoming traffic.
The confrontation was chaotic and at one point security forces fired on a group of troops riding toward them on motorbikes in what appeared to be an accident, although some members of the security forces have been accused of siding with the protesters.
At least four motorbikes crashed and one soldier was carried away on a stretcher, bleeding profusely from the head.
The confrontation ended on Wednesday evening, and the protesters returned to their enclave.
But the shooting raised concerns that more violence was to come after government warnings that patience was running out in the seven-week standoff.
Army spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said troops were told to use rubber bullets but also had authority to use live ammunition for self-defense.
"We brought force out to stop them. At this point, society finds it unacceptable to have protesters traveling in a motorcade like this," Sansern said. "We try our best to prevent losses."
The demonstration appeared intended to provoke the government, which has repeatedly said it will not tolerate protests beyond the Red Shirts' enclave in the city.
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