Hundreds of Thai troops moved into the main site occupied by protesters outside the prime minister’s office in Bangkok today, opening the prospect of further clashes between authorities and thousands of anti-government red shirts.
A government building was set ablaze by protesters using petrol bombs, witnesses said.
Gunfire and clouds of tear gas rose from the area in front of Government House, an ornate building where 4,000 protesters have massed over the last three weeks demanding the resignation of the Prime Minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva.
Fire broke out at the Education Ministry after several bombs were heard going off. A number of buses have been torched on roads leading up to the Government’s central offices.
Pradap Wongdara, a security guard, said: “There were several bomb blasts at 5:00 pm (1000 GMT) and suddenly the fire broke out. Protesters hurled pavement slabs into the building first and then followed by throwing several molotov cocktails.”
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A senior military official said that trucks carrying hundreds of troops were moving in to “contain protesters in one single spot and prevent more protesters from going in.”
Earlier anarchy reigned in other parts of Bangkok following the Thai military’s pre-dawn raid on demonstrators who had blockaded parts of the city.
April 13th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
Funny how no one comments when the story is about Asian people. Buddhist monks are being slaughtered by the thousands in Tibet and South Asia and NONE OF YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY?
Add to the title; “Thai troops move on protesters outside Prime Minister’s compound, COULS LEAD TO US GUN CONTROL.” and I’m sure these white republicans will take notice.
Buddhism was outlawed in China because IT WORKS. No crime, no violence, no false fighting over false gods….
like on here.
Fishdeamon Reply:
April 13th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
Thats not really true. Anyway not in thailand.
I live in thailand and most people are buddist. But corruption and crime is everywhere.
and btw jus tlook at the situation right now.
And they are definatly not attacking monks.
April 13th, 2009 at 12:45 pm
A little about what’s going on thailand right now.
There are two factions PAD(Peoples alliance for Democracy) the yellow. They are conservative middle class from mainly bangkok. They wanted to get rid of thaksin because he is accused of coroption and that he had bribed people to vote for him. The yellow have the King and the Military on their side.
UDD(United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship) the red. Are thaksin supporters and mainly poor farmers from the north.
There was a coup detate against thaksin shinawat in 2006. The coup started with PAD protestest. Thaksin is now wanted and he needs to show up in court for coroption charges but he wont show up. He will not get a fair trial because their isnt much justice in thailand. He has instead with the help of UDD started a revoltion. He apears on recorded video message where he is talking about revolution etc.
The police and military have shown alot of constraint. Ithink if this happend in the west it would have been a blood bath.
This is what have happend so far.
The yellow: about 4-5 months ago
Occupying the parlimant and the government building.
Taking over a TV channel.
Taking over 3 international airports.
The red: now
Blocking roads with busses and taxis.
Storming the ASEAN summit in pattaya. Having the military evacuating delegates with helecopters.
Attacking the PMs car.
Detonating some minor bombs.
Taking over military APCs
sieging the parliment
Shooting at the military
As far as i know now 3 people are dead and about 200 injured.
When it comes to politics most of the thai people have really no idea. Many of them actually believes that talking politics makes you a communism. Many of the protestors are actually getting paid to be there… both sides.
April 13th, 2009 at 10:52 pm
Fishdeamon is absolutely right.. corruption and crime is everywhere and Thailand is not an exception. Anyway the feelings of Buddhist monks should be managed with passion and more diplomacy.