Deaths in Bangkok

[jackspratt]

Very good news for Thailand. Let's hope his wounds are terminal.

[parrot]

Thai TV channels all in military-reporting mode. Let freedom ring!

[FrazeeDK]

Yes, expanding the emergency decree throughout various changwats and explaining the blockade limits and what effect it has on the mass transit systems...

[bumper]

We had to take Auntie to the Bus Station tonight, we listened to Udon Red Shirt station on the way. I actually thought it was recorded a it was a pretty much a party atmosphere. But, they made the announcement that the General was shot by a sniper and was in ICU. I have to tell you from what I heard it does not sound like they are going anywhere.

[parrot]

A New York Times reporter was interviewing the general when he was shot. Gee, that'll be precious in the international press. Hey, the guy was an a-hole, but the justice system for him wasn't any better than for the 2000+ drug dealers who met their fate at the end of a pistol.
One step forward, one (strike that), two steps back.

[jackspratt]

Video taken shortly after he was shot.

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiap ... tml?hpt=T1

[FrazeeDK]

The news on TV as well as various web stories state that the Army and Police have the hospital where Seh Daeng is located blocked off. If he somehow "gets away" it'll be a total embarrassment for the government.. It's notable that the reporter interviewing Seh Daeng when he was shot asked him was he afraid of dying.. Seh Daeng to him (paraphrased), "no, but there's no sniper that can get me." As for the legitimacy of him being taken out, that is up for further discussion. Seh Daeng has been a thorn in the side to the government and the military for a long time and he's boasted about being part of "death squads" during his military career.. I really wonder if his "Ronin Warriors" will be as quick to violence without his inflammatory leadership.

[bumper]

From the sounds of things he was a pain in the side of the other protest leaders as well.

[Aardvark]

Be careful what you say, revenge is close to the hearts of the reds. I wouldn't want to be the PM !!

[bumper]

he part we have to be aware of is the possibility of it spreading even if it does simple common sense should keep you out of trouble

Thai Troops to Clear Protesters Outside Main Demonstration Site
Share Business ExchangeTwitterFacebook| Email | Print | A A A

By Daniel Ten Kate and Supunnabul Suwannakij

May 14 (Bloomberg) -- Thai authorities ordered troops to clear hundreds of anti-government demonstrators outside the main protest site, risking clashes after a night of sporadic violence.

The red-shirted protesters threw bottles toward a line of troops several hundred meters away on an eight-lane boulevard, images on Thai PBS television showed. Gunfire could be heard in the background and a burning tire on the road billowed black smoke.

Security forces “will prevent protesters from gathering in other areas” outside the barricaded zone, army spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd told reporters today. About 5,000 demonstrators remained on site, he said.

Gunfire and grenade attacks last night after the shooting of a renegade general at the camp killed one protester and injured 11 others, Bangkok’s medical emergency unit said. Authorities extended an emergency decree to northern parts of the country to cover 17 of 76 provinces.

“The government is clearly worried that whatever happens in central Bangkok will trigger a much broader pattern of unrest through areas that are very loyal to the Red Shirts,” said Michael Montesano, a visiting research fellow at Singapore’s Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. “That is where things really get scary and where the grip of the Thai government gets very shaky.”

Thailand’s SET Index fell 1.2 percent at the mid-day break after dropping as much as 1.4 percent on concern further bloodshed will deter tourism and curb economic growth. The benchmark has risen 3.1 percent this year, compared with a 0.5 percent decline for the MSCI Asia-Pacific Index.

‘Stand Down’

“We’ll be as patient as we can be,” Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij said in an interview with Bloomberg Television today. “We very much would like a couple hours for protesters to stand down to avoid further violence.”

Major-General Khattiya Sawisdipol, who sided with the anti- government protesters, “can die any second,” Chaiwan Charoenchokethavee, head of Vajira hospital in Bangkok, told reporters. The government is investigating who shot him, Korn said, adding that “it pretty much could be anybody.”

The general “might have been shot by someone on his own side because he was standing in the way of a settlement with the government,” Jacob Ramsay, an analyst with Control Risks Group, said on Bloomberg Television. “If he was shot by the government, they’ve effectively removed the one symbol that was preventing some sort of closure to the protests.”

The cost of protecting Thai government debt from default jumped. Credit-default swaps on Thailand climbed 25 basis points to 140 basis points as of 9:10 a.m. in Singapore, according to Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc.

Terrorism Charges

Khattiya, who helped build barricades around the business district, was shot during an interview with the New York Times, the newspaper reported. He is one of nine protest leaders facing terrorism charges for their role in violence that has killed 30 people since round-the-clock rallies began on March 12.

“Protesters were counting on him to provide combat experience to the guards” protecting demonstrators, Sean Boonpracong, a spokesman for the Red Shirt protest group, said by phone, referring to the general, who is also known as Seh Daeng. “It’s a psychological blow.”

The Red Shirts, who mostly support ex-leader Thaksin Shinawatra, have defied a state of emergency since April 7. The demonstrators are coordinating with supporters in northern areas of the country to fight back in the event of a crackdown.

Gunfire, Explosions

Gunfire, at times heavy, and explosions could be heard around Lumpini Park, on the outskirts of the protest site. Most high-rise buildings in the area were completely dark overnight and most street lights were off last night.

Behind a barricade of rubber tires and bamboo sticks on one street next to the park, one of about six scattered around the area, about three dozen protesters wore helmets and facemasks. Scores of small bottles filled with gas lay next to the barricades.

“I’m not scared of dying,” said Sorn Omsakul, 34, from northeastern Thailand, dressed in black from head to toe. “We’ve been ready to fight for many days.”

The U.S. Embassy in Bangkok, located on one of the streets the army is trying to clear, is closed today, according to a posting on the embassy’s website. Residents and businesses were asked to vacate the downtown Ratchaprasong shopping district.

Cutting Utilities

The army began cutting electricity, water and phone signals and blocking off roads and canals around the site to “block and squeeze” the area, army spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd told reporters. Anyone seeking access to the protest faces two years in jail, according to an announcement read on television.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva withdrew an offer to cut short his term and hold a Nov. 14 election when protesters failed to disperse by a midnight deadline. The group backed away from supporting Abhisit’s election plan this week, attaching new conditions, including criminal charges against Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban.

Pro-Thaksin parties have won the past four elections on a platform of improved health care and cheap loans. Abhisit took power in a December 2008 parliamentary vote after a court disbanded the ruling party for election fraud. His Democrat party hasn’t won the most seats in a nationwide vote since 1992.

The Red Shirts will rally “indefinitely,” leader Jatuporn Prompan said yesterday. “We will continue to fight.”

To contact the reporter on this story: Daniel Ten Kate in Bangkok at dtenkate@bloomberg.net
Last Updated: May 14, 2010 02:53 EDT

[trubrit]

Thai radio are just reporting three more deaths that occurred today . All news reporters , said to be a Canadian, a Burmese and a Thai TV reporter .All victims of live bullets being fired .

[Khun Paul]

Oh dear maybe they should have been more careful.
Who shot the bullets ?????????????

[FrazeeDK]

probably the military nicked the reporters as the military as shown on Thai TV are all packing M-16's or the bullpup Israeli rifle.. Even the soldiers carrying the shotguns with bandoliers of rubber bullets are also carrying their regular wepaons.. The Reds certainly have weapons as I could see them assembled on Wittayu and Sarasin about 1430 facing the advancing soldiers and you could hear small arms fire coming from their barricades although it sounded only like pistols.. I was directed to "stay off Wittayu due to live bullets being fired down the street." The military definitely have the Reds in a box and at a distinct disadavantage.. Of course, the CRES has stated they will not attempt to clear Rajaprasong tonight, but, they might be pulling the same stuff on the Reds that the Reds has been pulling on the gov't for 2 months. I haven't heard any ranting coming from the Reds PA systems down Ploenchit for a couple of hours.. I don't know if they're shut down, or they've just decided standing up on a stage spouting political rhetoric might not be a real smart thing with bullets flying over from Prathu Nam area.
Per the Thai and international media the military has been duking it out all around the whole "containment area". It's dribbled over outside of the Reds original areas too.. Wittayu from Sarasin to Rama IV saw the biggest confrontations, but just 20 minutes ago Thai media showed the military is a big assault at Pratu Nam/Pethburi dut Mai.. Earlier they showed the military down near Phayathai on the west side.. On top of that, I saw one article saying the military had gotten into a big fight down at Nana and Sukhumvit so the Reds must have "flying squads" out on MC's or somesuch as the Reds up to now have stayed pretty much within their area near Rajaprasong..

[jackspratt]

Don't believe everything you hear on Red radio.

THE NATION: 3 journos have been injured & sent to hospitals -Matichon's at Bamrungrad, Voice TV's at Police and France TV's at Chula.

[trubrit]

Don't believe everything you hear on Red radio.

THE NATION: 3 journos have been injured & sent to hospitals -Matichon's at Bamrungrad, Voice TV's at Police and France TV's at Chula.

There you go again MrS Pratt. I never mentioned what radio station it was , did I ? But I will ask . Why should we believe what is reported in the Nation any more than the radio. ? Simply because it follows your preferred line?

[bumper]

Trubrit I think he was talking to me I mentioned the radio.

[FrazeeDK]

I generally try to use my own eyeballs if possible but also check a wide variety of sources on any news relating to the current troubles. Since everyone on the Forum must have internet access then doing validation searches on different news items is fairly easy..

Bangkok Post is OK, but limited news, they seem to be slow in posting breaking news.
http://www.bangkokpost.com

The Nation is pretty good for breaking news, just little blurbs with no BS commentary. They also tend to be a bit Yellow, but not overly so.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/

a resource that most people would ignore does actually present a very balanced and in-depth look at some news (but not those related to the U.S.) is Al Jazeera http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific

2Bangkok is a little strange.. It seems Red until you read through it and it basically presents a lot of news and examples of Red propaganda (Taksin magazine) with translations..
http://www.2bangkok.com/

An of course, hitting Google News is best since any article on the Red/Gov't issue usually has the big link saying XXXXX more articles..
http://news.google.com/ and if you're getting that pesky all in Thai Google Window caused by it nicely detecting your Thailand IP, you can change it to English by clicking to the right on the Search window on การตั้งค่า
then runnning the language scroll bar to the bottom and then clicking on the 2nd from the top to ภาษาอังกฤษ and then click the save button in the upper right hand of the window..

as an instant commentary, I've been hearing explosion over by Lumpini for the last 40 minutes.. Could be Bang Fai rockets or could be M-79 grenades.. No small arms fire yet....

[rick]

There is a live feed from BBC updated every few minutes here:-

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-p ... 682122.stm

From this, there are suggestions that many locals are joining the protest against the army, erecting barricades BEHIND the soldiers. Also, some reports that others are being shot (after arrest?).

God knows how this will turn out

[jackspratt]

Trubrit I think he was talking to me I mentioned the radio.

No, I wasn't bumper.

Clearly, 3 news reporters weren't killed today - at least, not on any credible news source.

[jingjai]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100514/ap_ ... d_politics

Thai troops, protesters clash in capital; 8 killed
By THANYARAT DOKSONE, Associated Press Writer – 23 mins ago
...With security deteriorating and hopes of a peaceful resolution to the standoff increasingly unlikely, what was once one of Southeast Asia's most stable democracies and magnets of foreign investment has been thrust deep into political uncertainty. The crisis threatens its stability, economy and already-decimated tourism industry...