Military Cracks Down on Thailand Protesters

By Pei Hu
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

BANGKOK, Thailand – More than 70 people were injured as Thai soldiers and protesters clash at a major road junction near the landmark Victory Monument in Bangkok.  The Thai army began removing anti-government protesters blocking the centre of the capital. Alastair Leithead, BBC’s correspondent in Thailand, reported that the capital is tense with a stand-off between the troops and the protesters.

Earlier, the Thai army opened fire and shot tear gas at the crowd while the protesters threw stones and petrol bombs at the military. Today’s incident is the first major clash after weeks of mass protests.

Thai Prime Minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva declared a state of emergency after protesters stopped a major Asian summit in Pattaya.

The collapse of the summit severely embarrassed Vejjajjva and he vowed to restore order. Groups of more than five people are banned and media can be censored during a state of emergency. During a press conference, Vejjajjva asked for public co-operation to end the crisis, “In the next three to four days, the government will keep working to return peace and order to the country,” he said. Vejjajjva also added, “I can confirm that the government and security agencies are still unified.”

The protesters mostly back ousted Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra. Shinawatra, who is in self-imposed exile abroad, has called for a ‘revolution’ against the current government. “Now that they have tanks on the streets, it is time for the people to come out in revolution … And when it is necessary, I will come back to the country” he said in a message shown on giant screens near the prime minister’s office.

According to witnesses, the Associate Press news agency says “The soldiers fired hundreds of rounds from their M-16 automatic rifles as they advanced, though it was unclear whether they were firing at, or over, the protesters.”

Col Sunsern Kaewkumnerd, a military spokesperson, said about 400 soldiers had moved against some 300 protesters. Kaewkumnerd accused the protesters of using cars to run over soldiers as well as throwing tear gas and smoke bombs as the soldiers first. In response, Kaewkumnerd said the Thai army first fired a warning shot into the air. However, after the situation did not improve, the soldiers then fired live rounds. “We will start with soft measures and proceed to harder ones … We will avoid loss of life as instructed by the government.”

For more information, please see:

AFP – Thai soldiers spray gunfire, tear gas at protest– 12 April 2009

BBC – Thai troops crack down on protest – 13 April 2009

New York Times – Protesters in Thailand Challenge Premier– 12 April 2009

New York TImes – Picture of Protester

Author: Impunity Watch Archive