Street Rallies in Thailand Intensify as Shots Fired

By Alok Bhatt
Impunity Watch SDO, Asia

BANGKOK, Thailand – The red-shirt political rallies against Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajajiva ongoing in central Bangkok over the past couple months attained new peaks of violence recently.  An explosion and subsequent gunshots were heard ringing throughout the the protesters’ camp out zone, killing at least one protester.  Thailand military troops invaded the vicinity after the red-shirts failed to adhere to a threat asserting that if they did not cease their rallying, essential utilities such as water and electricity for the region of the camp would be terminated.  However, after the Thai government decided against fulfilling their warning for fear of the ramifications for surrounding, non-occupied areas.

Witnesses among the red-shirts claimed that droves of troops started moving into their camp after the explosions and gunshots began.  There were also reports of numerous casualties and a severe head injury incurred by former General Khattiya Sawasdipol after receiving a bullet during an interview.  The ex-General may have been a specified target, as Sawasdipol has been a vocal red-shirt protester and has even advocated more radical means of expressing discontent with the current governmental regime.  Sawasdipol is also notorious for representing a polarizing figure within the red-shirt protesters themselves.  Sawasdipol has often articulated his belief that the less radical red-shirts are an inadequate arm of their cause, alienating many of his own previous supporters and deterring others from joining his own, more extreme rally.

Following the initial strike against the red-shirt protesters, military forces have been creating an armed barricade surrounding the camp with army tanks and other armaments.  Although no further violence seems to have occurred since the initial incident, tensions in the center of the capital city have increased as the government proliferates its presence.  Moreover, although the government did not cut off services in the protesters’ camp area as declared, lighting in particular parts of the city have been cut off.  The lack of electricity running through the streets has cast a great darkness over the streets, further pushing the red-shirts into a corner and perpetuating animosities.

The Thai government claims that the military barricade around the red-shirt camp is meant to allow innocent protesters to leave, but not let anyone else into  the camp.  However, the imposition still creates an overall deterrence for a peaceable situation that makes the goal of tranquility difficult to reach.

For more information, please see:

Al-Jazeera – Gunfire heard in the Thai capital area – 13 May 2010

BBC – Thai red-shirt supporter Gen Khattiya shot – 13 May 2010

CNN – Thai protester shot, killed… – 13 May 2010

Author: Impunity Watch Archive