Thai army soldiers guard at the Din
Daeng intersection in Bangkok, capital of Thailand, on April 13, 2009. At
least 77 were wounded when hundreds of army soldiers and anti-government
protesters clashed in Bangkok early Monday morning, Thai media
reports.(Xinhua Photo) Photo
Gallery>>>
BANGKOK, April 13 (Xinhua) -- At least 77 were
wounded when hundreds of army soldiers and anti-government protesters clashed in
Bangkok early Monday morning 14 hours after Thai PM declared a state of
emergency in the capital city, Thai media said.
The Nation quoted hospital reports as saying at least 77 people suffered injuries mainly from teargas, with five seriously injured.
Thai policemen block a main road junction to the prime minister's office after a clash between the police and protestors in Bangkok, Thailand, April 13, 2009. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo) Photo Gallery>>>
At around 7:20 a.m., the government announced it was
in control of the situation at Din Daeng, The Nation said on its website.
The report said Deputy PM's Secretary-General
Panithan Wattanayakorn told a press conference Monday morning that some
protesters had been arrested, and Army Spokesman Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd earlier
said "similar operations will be carried out in other areas."
The clash occurred around 04:30 a.m. Monday (2100 GMT
Sunday) when some 300 so-called red-shirted protesters used a seized bus to
crash soldiers stationed at Din Daeng District in north Bangkok, Army spokesman
Sansern Kaewkamnerd told TPBS.
Soldiers fired warning shots into the air and used
teargas to disperse the protesters after failing to persuade the red shirts to
stop, Sansern said.
Earlier the Health Department of Bangkok Metropolitan
Administration announced a total injury number of 68.
Army Chief General Anupong Paojinda refused to
comment on the incident, adding that he will learn more about it first.
Anti-government protesters converge at
the Din Daeng intersection in Bangkok, capital of Thailand, on April 13,
2009. At least 77 were wounded when hundreds of army soldiers and
anti-government protesters clashed in Bangkok early Monday morning, Thai
media reports. (Xinhua Photo) Photo
Gallery>>>
At
about 06:15 a.m. Monday (2315 GMT Sunday), ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra told
the red-shirted protesters to continue fighting in a phone conversation with a
core leader of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD).
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva declared on
Sunday afternoon a state of emergency in Bangkok and some districts of five
provinces nearby, citing the escalating violence of red-shirted protesters.
Soon after the declaration of the state of emergency,
soldiers and armored carriers were deployed onto the Bangkok street.
Meanwhile, about 1,000 policemen, armed with tear
gas, headed for the Government House after red-shirted protesters stormed state
institutions and clashed with security forces during the day.
Abhisit appeared on TV around midnight Sunday to
assure people that his government will enforce law to keep situation under
control. He said soldiers and police have been deployed at many spots around
Bangkok, and his government is ready to enforce measures step by step in the
next two or three days to bring law and order back.
While telling the Thai people to remain calm as his
government has the capability to control the situation, he also told the people
to inform authorities about any unlawful acts by the red-shirted anti-government
protesters.
In the early hours of Monday, the Thai prime minister
made another television speech, urging protesters camped at the Government House
to end their "unconstitutional" rallies immediately and send representatives to
talk with his government.
The government's tough measures were taken a day
after the anti-government demonstrators, or known as red-shirted people,
obstructed the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and Related
Summits.
The summits, which involved 10 ASEAN countries and
its six dialogue partner nations -- China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia
and New Zealand -- was scheduled for Saturday and Sundayin the central beach
resort city Pattaya. But the Thai government was forced to call off the meeting
after over 1,000 red-shirted protesters besieged and broke into the meeting
venue Saturday, demanding the Abhisit government resign.
Political tensions have simmered since Thaksin was
ousted by a military coup in 2006 for alleged corruption and abuse of power. He
remains popular in Thailand's impoverished countryside.
Thai army soldiers guard at the Din
Daeng intersection in Bangkok, capital of Thailand, on April 13, 2009. At
least 77 were wounded when hundreds of army soldiers and anti-government
protesters clashed in Bangkok early Monday morning, Thai media reports.
(Xinhua Photo) Photo
Gallery>>>
BANGKOK, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Prime Minister Abhisit
Vejjajiva said in a national TV address Monday noon that at least four soldiers
were shot by protesters in a clash and denied earlier Monday's death report.
He added that 23 soldiers and 47 protesters were injured
in the clash which happened between the red-shirted protesters and the army in
Din Daeng area in Bangkok early Monday morning. Full story
BANGKOK, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Residents of Din Daeng area in Bangkok began to
evacuate when protesters drove two tanker trucks fueled by NGV (Natural Gas for
Vehicles) gas into the compound.
Reporters saw two NGV cylinders on the trucks and the
red-shirted protesters shouted that the flat residents there should leave
immediately, prompting speculation that the protesters would explode the gas
tanks. Full story
BANGKOK,
April 13 (Xinhua) -- The acting government spokesman and Army spokesman insisted
in a press conference Monday morning that soldiers tried to talk protesters out
of stopping road-blockade at the Din Daeng Intersection before dispersing them
by force, Thai media reported.
Acting Government Spokesman Panithan Wattanayakorn and
Army Spokesman Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd said soldiers had to fire teargas and
shot into the air after protesters threw bombs and teargas at the troops and
drove some vehicles rushing towards them, The Nation said on its website. Full story
BANGKOK, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Thai Prime Minister Abhisit
Vejjajiva made two television speeches in early hours of Monday in a bid to
restore people's confidence on his government's capability to control situation,
after anti-government protests turned violent and forced him to declare state of
emergency twice in two days.
Abhisit appeared on state TV NBT after midnight, first
time flanked with ministers, army and police top officials in charge of
securities, the second alone. The two speeches carried the same key information,
which was that the Abhisit government was not as soft and lonely as some people
has judged from what they have seen in events in the past 48 hours. Full story
BANGKOK, April 12 (Xinhua) -- The Thai government has
taken tough actions in an attempt to control the situation in capital Bangkok as
thousands of protesters keep confronting the government.
On Sunday afternoon, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva
announced a state of emergency in Bangkok and areas in five neighboring
provinces, citing danger of escalating violence by anti-government protesters in
the capital. Full story
BANGKOK, April 12 (Xinhua) --- Thai Deputy Prime Minister
Suthep Thaugsuban said Sunday night he was confident that there would not be a
coup.
He said the government declared the state of emergency in
time to control the situation after the red-shirted movement planned to create
political disturbances. Full story
BANGKOK, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Thai Prime Minister Abhisit
Vejjajiva announced on TV at about 05:20 p.m. Sunday local time hat the
authorities were now ready to suppress protesters, Thai media reported.
He urged the public to remain calm during the operations,
The Nation website said. Full story
BANGKOK, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Bangkok has seen soldiers
and armored carriers deployed on Sunday soon after the prime minister declared a
state of emergency in the city and some areas of five provinces, Thai media
reported.
Thai soldiers block a road near
Government house in Bangkok, on April 13, 2009. Troops fired tear gas
early Monday during an operation to disperse a group of several hundred
protesters in Bangkok under a state of emergency, an army spokesman
said.(Xinhua/AFP Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
