Thai Troop Battles With Protesters Leave 16 Dead

[MNeagle]

May 15 (Bloomberg) -- At least 16 people were killed and more than 100 wounded as Thai troops battled anti-government demonstrators in a Bangkok commercial area to end a two-month street campaign for an immediate election.

Security forces aiming to seal off a business district as large as New York’s Central Park fought protesters in at least three locations. Demonstrators set fires and launched explosives at troops, who shot bullets and tear gas in return, local television footage showed.

“There could be attempts by people who have ill intentions to create instability,” government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said in a nationally televised briefing. “We hope that in the next few days the situation will return to normal.”

The government is seeking to force protesters to end rallies in central Bangkok that have spurred the country’s worst political violence in 18 years, claiming at least 46 lives since they began March 12. The protesters, drawn mostly from poor rural areas, say they are fighting for democracy.

Former Thai leader Thaksin Shinawatra, whom many of the red-shirted protesters support, called on Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to restart reconciliation talks. The Red Shirts have defied a state of emergency since April 7 and failed to disperse after Abhisit offered to cut his term short, prompting the military action.

Protesters may assault buildings and train lines if troops use force, TNN television station reported, citing leader Jatuporn Prompan. The movement’s leaders are divided on whether to continue the demonstrations.

Split Down Middle

“It’s about a 50-50 split,” Kokaew Pikulthong, one of about two dozen protest leaders, said in an interview. “I myself prefer to stop.”

Thailand’s SET Index rebounded after dropping as much as 1.4 percent earlier yesterday, closing 0.3 percent higher. The benchmark has risen 4.7 percent this year, compared with a 0.4 percent decline for the MSCI Asia-Pacific Index.

Thailand’s economy has been hurt by the anti-government rallies, which will “significantly” reduce tourism in the coming months, Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij said in an interview with Bloomberg Television yesterday.

“We’ll be as patient as we can be,” he said. “The best thing that could possibly happen would be for the protesters to see that ongoing protests will lead to unnecessary loss of life and damage to the country.”

TUI AG and Thomas Cook Group Plc, Europe’s two largest tour operators, have canceled all city trips to Bangkok from Germany through May 31, they said yesterday in e-mailed statements.

Renegade General Shot

Sixteen Thai civilians were killed in the fighting yesterday and overnight, according to a statement from Bangkok’s medical emergency unit. Another 141 people were injured, including three foreigners from Canada, Myanmar and Poland, the report said.

Battles two days ago killed one person after a renegade general was shot. 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 yesterday. The general is one of nine demonstration leaders wanted on terrorism charges.

About 500 “terrorists” with weapons are interspersed among the 5,000 protesters, army spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd told reporters, adding that troops seized grenade launchers and rifles from demonstrators. Soldiers used live bullets as a “last measure,” he said.

The government is “ready and willing to defend its operations in a court of law,” spokesman Panitan said.

Correspondent Wounded

Nelson Rand, a correspondent with France 24 television network, was shot and wounded while covering the clashes. A cameraman for Thai-language Matichon newspaper was shot in the leg, it reported on its website.

Authorities on May 13 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.

The U.S. Embassy in Bangkok was closed yesterday and authorities asked residents and businesses to vacate the area.

Abhisit withdrew an offer to hold a Nov. 14 election when protesters failed to disperse by a May 12 deadline. The group attached new conditions to his offer, 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.


http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aSR.eIZwMsDM&pos=8

[Trinity]

Now this is an example of genuine anti -government protest. Way different than the disturbance in Greece where people were protesting not being able to continue on with a debt funded cushy lifestyle.

[Trinity]

Now this is an example of genuine anti -government protest. Way different than the disturbance in Greece where people were protesting not being able to continue on with a debt funded cushy lifestyle.


agree. Who were protesting in Greece? Communists, Socialists and unions.


Yes it looked to me like those groups were given the script for the play. Here is some more update on real genuine protests in Thailand. Very unlike the play in the Greek theater.



Thai PM defends deadly army crackdown in Bangkok
AP


BANGKOK – Thailand's prime minister defended Saturday the deadly army crackdown on the Red Shirt protesters besieging the capital, saying there was no turning back as clashes raged in the center of Bangkok.

"The government must move forward. We cannot retreat because we are doing things that will benefit the entire country," Abhisit Vejjajiva said in a national broadcast, striking a defiant tone that made it clear he was in no mood for a compromise.

The spiraling violence has raised concerns that Thailand — a longtime tourism magnet that promotes its easygoing culture as the "Land of Smiles" — was teetering toward instability. The political uncertainty has spooked foreign investors and damaged the vital tourism industry, which accounts for 6 percent of the economy, Southeast Asia's second largest.

The demonstrators Saturday accused government snipers of picking people off with head shots.


More here.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/as_thailand_politics

[jedemdasseine]

I don't foresee this situation improving any time soon.

Billionaires versus billionaires, using the people as pawns for god-only-knows what ends.

I drove by one of the encampments late tonight and a lot of red shirts were there. They looked adamant in spite of or because of the day's events. Awake, regrouped, and just hanging around.

Bamboo spikes and tires make for good fortifications.

Imagine a section of New York or LA being overtaken, and then no one has the will or the means to take back that part of the city.

[Glass]

The question I have is, who are the Red Shirts? What do they stand for. At the moment this just looks like another one of those colour revolutions. The catchy media friendly label conveys nothing about the struggle, what they are fighting for etc? This suggests it is orchestrated for some purpose. I'm completely in the dark when I read the news stories about what is going on there. Sure it tells me they are fighting but about what exactly? Can anyone fill me in.... with some knowledge I mean.

[MAGNES]

agree. Who were protesting in Greece? Communists, Socialists and unions.


I would say Unions are legit, you missed the anarchist student unions,
I agree with both of you in general, Trinity, but it is a totally different situation in Greece, nobody is starving yet, they play up the anarchist protesters and downplay or ignore the legitimate protesters and concerns, who is behind them in Greece, Soros is, the money comes from same orgs/opensociety that funded the "colored revolutions", I was trying to explain this here recently, and explain this in 2008 riots too, very confusing, there was some real coverage of real protesters, they were not using violence or carrying red flags or anarchist flags, but the crowd was really angry, they went to Parliament, no molotovs,
no beating police, just pissed off people, student anarchist groups
also have police provocateurs involved causing violence. They use these
groups to delegitimize protesters, that is how it works, the media
covers them and the violence when it could be covering legitimate
concerns and protesters, why give legitimate people ideas.

This is a really good thread, good video, especially of parliament.
I comment on these groups like above.
3 dead during Greek riots
http://gold-silver.us/forum/general-discussion/3-dead-during-greek-riots/

[jedemdasseine]

http://beta.images.theglobeandmail.com/archive/00599/thailand21nw2_jp_599182gm-b.jpg
http://news.sky.com/sky-news/content/StaticFile/jpg/2010/May/Week3/15632507.jpg
http://news.sky.com/sky-news/content/StaticFile/jpg/2010/May/Week3/15632627.jpg
http://www.pattayadailynews.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/338.jpg

Thai protesters pour human blood on the gates of government headquarters
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1258333/Bangkok-protests-Thai-Red-Shirts-pour-human-blood-government-gates.html#ixzz0o5K0FPPF
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/03/16/article-1258333-08BD0EEE000005DC-286_634x420.jpg
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00698/Bangkok_4__698451a.jpg
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00698/Bangkok_3__698452a.jpg

The establishment fleeing...
http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/thai_04_09/t12_22913995.jpg

http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/thai_04_09/t09_22902915.jpg
http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/thai_04_09/t04_22903191.jpg
http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/thai_04_09/t01_22901119.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4029/4442550513_336fed4a10.jpg
http://media.cnngo.com/media/gallery/red_shirts/97695129_10.jpg
http://media.cnngo.com/media/gallery/red_shirts/97695113_10.jpg
http://media.cnngo.com/media/gallery/red_shirts/97692730_10.jpg
http://media.cnngo.com/media/gallery/red_shirts/97653384_10.jpg
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/04/10/article-1265025-090EEFEC000005DC-445_636x404.jpg
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/04/10/article-1265025-09152E74000005DC-945_636x468.jpg
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/04/11/article-1265025-091703BF000005DC-914_634x416.jpg
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/04/11/article-1265025-0917B624000005DC-750_634x422.jpg
http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/thai_04_09/t33_22944581.jpg

[jedemdasseine]

The US embassy has supposedly reopened, but getting there would mean crossing through a war zone.

http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/thai_04_09/t14_22942605.jpg
http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/thai_04_09/t18_22942901.jpg
http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/thai_04_09/t20_22943453.jpg
http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/thai_04_09/t27_22943713.jpg
http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/thai_04_09/t26_22943973.jpg
http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/thai_04_09/t22_22944021.jpg
http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/thai_04_09/t23_22942785.jpg

[jedemdasseine]

The ante has been upped, now that terrorism charges are a possibility for many of the red shirts. No turning back.

http://cdn.picapp.com/ftp/Images/8/7/9/9/Thai_Red_Shirts_1f26.jpg
http://images.smh.com.au/ftsmh/ffximage/2009/02/01/redshirts_wideweb__470x312,0.jpg

Louis Vuitton! ;)
http://www.thai-blogs.com/media/blogs/richpictures/IMG_6614.jpg
http://www.thai-blogs.com/media/blogs/richpictures/IMG_6563.jpg
"Center of Fun and Fashion!"

Look closely, because it's not hard to imagine the shopping malls of America one day being overrun by angry mobs.

[Olmstein]

Awesome photos, jed. Thanks.

Did you take those yourself?

Do you feel like you're in any danger?

[jedemdasseine]

Awesome photos, jed. Thanks.

Did you take those yourself?

Do you feel like you're in any danger?

Take those myself? Yeah right. I'm a terrible photographer.

No, I don't feel like I'm in any danger, because I don't live or work near the violence. If I enjoyed high-end fashion or hanging out at the US embassy, then I'd feel otherwise.

Nevertheless I'm watching the situation very closely, as things could deteriorate rapidly.

Soon I'll be traveling elsewhere, to other far off lands, and I'm very happy to do so! 8)

[MNeagle]

Thai Authorities Ask Women, Children to Leave as Battles Rage

By Daniel Ten Kate and Supunnabul Suwannakij

May 17 (Bloomberg) -- Thai authorities set a deadline for women, children and other unarmed protesters to leave their Bangkok site as the group battled to prevent soldiers from sealing off the area, turning downtown Bangkok into a war zone.

Loud explosions and gunfire rocked the outskirts of the main demonstration zone for a fifth day. At least 30 people have been killed and more than 215 wounded since Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva ordered the army to surround a business district as large as New York’s Central Park on May 13.

“There is no reason for protesters to urge the government to stop the operation,” spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn told reporters yesterday. “Authorities do not threaten anyone nor use arms against innocent people as we’ve been accused.”

Thai security forces are seeking to deprive protesters of food and water to end two months of rallies that have spurred the country’s worst political violence in 18 years, claiming at least 59 lives. Abhisit’s opponents failed to disperse after he offered to cut his term short, prompting the military action.

Fighting spread around the capital as protest leaders called for supporters to gather in other parts of Bangkok and provincial areas. The escalation prompted the government to extend a state of emergency to more parts of the poor northeast region where many demonstrators live, putting about a third of the country in a state of emergency.

Gun Battles

“There will be more people joining and they will set up their own stages in five different points around Bangkok,” Arisaman Pongruangrong, one of two dozen protest leaders, said in an interview from behind the main stage. “We will stay here no matter what the government announces. This is our base.”

Thick black smoke rose from several locations around the city as gun battles raged day and night. About 100 people took shelter in the basement of the luxury Dusit Thani hotel when it came under fire, Agence France-Presse reported, citing a photographer staying at the hotel.

If the army moves to disperse protesters, they will break into luxury malls and high-rise buildings housing the offices of companies such as Philip Morris International Inc., Arisaman said.

“If we have no choice, we need to break the doors in to save lives,” he said.

Security forces withdrew plans for a curfew in parts of the city and asked civil society groups to assist anyone who wants to leave the protest site until 3 p.m. today. Abhisit said on May 15 that forces “cannot retreat” against an armed protest movement and its leaders were “willing to sacrifice the lives of innocent people to achieve their goals.”

Women, Children at Risk

Pond Chamnan, a 35-year-old farmer from the northeast, sat with her husband and three children -- aged 8, 12 and 14 -- under a tent near the main stage. She feared government reprisals if she left the site.

“We want to go back as soldiers shoot at anyone and I fear that my kids won’t be safe,” she said as her son played with panda figurines that lay next to a quiver of fireworks. “I’m afraid the government may hurt us. I prefer the demonstration leaders to arrange transportation for us.”

Other women vowed to stay on no matter what. Bangkok food vendor Juer Saengrattana said the group’s leaders routinely announced that people are free to leave.

“If I have to die, I’ll die,” said Juer, 63, wearing an amulet with a picture of King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s mother. “I won’t leave. Only the king can end this chaos.”

King Bhumibol, 82, has been hospitalized since September and hasn’t commented on the deadly skirmishes. The monarch has served as head of state for more than six decades through nine coups, including one in 2006 that ousted ex-leader Thaksin Shinawatra and triggered the current clashes.

Thaksin Calls for Cease Fire

The latest protests began two weeks after a court seized 46.4 billion baht ($1.5 billion) from Thaksin’s family. Officials banned financial transactions of 106 companies and individuals linked to Thaksin yesterday in a bid to dry up funds for the demonstration.

“The pictures that I have seen go beyond any nightmare,” Thaksin said in a statement yesterday. “I have no choice but to state resolutely the need for all sides to step back from this terrible abyss to begin a new, genuine and sincere dialogue.”

The government rejected protester pleas for talks brokered by the United Nations.

“We can deal with this situation ourselves,” Panitan said.

Government offices will be closed through tomorrow. Banks will remain open around the city and the stock exchange will end trading an hour earlier than normal. All of Bangkok’s 435 schools will close.

Death Toll Rises

Thailand’s SET Index has risen 4.7 percent this year, compared with a 0.4 percent decline for the MSCI Asia-Pacific Index, as investors speculated the violence will have little long-term effect on the country’s economy. Thai stocks are the third-cheapest in Asia after South Korea and Pakistan, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

The death toll from clashes over the past three days rose to 29, according to a statement on the website of Bangkok’s Emergency Medical Service. One other protester died on May 12.

Abhisit withdrew an offer to hold a Nov. 14 election when protesters failed to disperse by a May 12 deadline. The group attached new conditions to his offer, including criminal charges against Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aJGMx8F_hUqU&pos=9

[Steal]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48gutGpCz68&playnext_from=TL&videos=5A1ME9KaIZY&feature=sub

[jedemdasseine]

It's going to be a long night in old Bangkok.

The explosions around my house seem to have stopped, but it's little comfort.

The media isn't reporting just how bad things are here.

One TV station has been burned to the ground. All others are now running government programming.

Malls are being firebombed, banks and ATMs smashed, limited cell phone service, a cloud of smoke over the city from all the fires.

Curfew, chaos, store shelves empty, troops in the streets, etc.

The sun is going down soon.

Should be interesting.

[jedemdasseine]

The government is now "initiating aggressive operations" to quell "pockets of trouble."

And they're "calling for volunteers."

Lovely.

[goldmonkey]

All Hell Breaking Loose In Thailand, Stock Exchange On Fire
http://bit.ly/cbWFBe
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSSGE64I0FH20100519

http://static.businessinsider.com/image/4bf3a8577f8b9ab967f40000-400-/thai.png

[Glass]

I hope everyone is able to make the connection here. Thai's are killing Thai's. Ideology is more powerful than Nationalism.

I wonder who the snipers were?

[Awoke]

Look closely, because it's not hard to imagine the shopping malls of America one day being overrun by angry mobs.



Not hard to imagine at all, if you are paying attention to the conspiracy.

Thanks for being so active in this thread. Amazing photos. The west is clueless as usual.

[jedemdasseine]

Kudos to all the preppers here at GSUS!

The stores shelves of Bangkok are now mostly empty, and the filling stations are out of fuel, all in a matter of hours.

There are still some street vendors selling quasi-edible stuff, but water and essentials are gone.

[jedemdasseine]

Food and fuel and cash.

That's what people want now.

[G2Rad]

Food and fuel and cash.

That's what people want now.


cash in local currency?

[jedemdasseine]

Food and fuel and cash.

That's what people want now.


cash in local currency?

Yes, cash in the local currency.

I've also been asking people about gold and the answers have been interesting. (Thai people are obsessed with gold and it's a huge part of their culture, so it's not unusual to discuss it.) Some people are wearing a lot of their gold jewelry (23k wearable bullion), thinking that it's good to have some emergency real money on their person. Other people are choosing not to wear any gold, thinking that it may make them a possible target if things get worse.

But most people are oblivious.

But everyone wants cash in the local currency. Some ATMs are still functioning, but curfew starts in 15 minutes, and it's a mad scramble to finish stocking up.

I'm just glad I'm prepared.

[JDRock]

JED......[color=red]GET THE HELL OUTTA THERE!!!!!!!

[jedemdasseine]

JED......[color=red]GET THE HELL OUTTA THERE!!!!!!!

Just waiting for my flight to depart.
:)

[MNeagle]

JED......[color=red]GET THE HELL OUTTA THERE!!!!!!!

Just waiting for my flight to depart.
:)



How soon are you leaving?

[Book]

Just waiting for my flight to depart.



http://blogs.amctv.com/movie-blog/missinginaction3.jpg

Use the river jedemdasseine. You go MIA and Rambo is now too old and fat to save you buddy.

:D

http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/04_03/sylvests1BIG1005_468x600.jpg

[Awoke]

"Curfew"....


Holy crap. Get yer preps and GTFO.

[Olmstein]

Jed? Everything OK?

[jedemdasseine]

Jed? Everything OK?

Yeah, everything ok.

I got out with no problems, and happy to do so.

I'm presently in another ****ed up country, but at least it's stable.

Soon I'll be making rounds in Scandinavia, thank God.

Book's post made me literally laugh out loud. "Use the river..." :D :D :D

[Book]

Book's post made me literally laugh out loud. "Use the river..." :D :D :D



We were all worried about you buddy. Seriously.

Stay safe.

:)

[CJay8]

What a waste that Central World Mall was burned down. I ate lunch almost everyday there for 3 weeks.

Hey Jed, do you know if Soi Cowboy had any damage to it? I stayed right across the street at Soi 18, Windsor Hotel I think it was. I lost 20 pounds in Bangkok and I was not fat to start with. That place almost killed me. Too much of a good thing is not necessarily a good thing.

Jay

[jedemdasseine]

Book's post made me literally laugh out loud. "Use the river..." :D :D :D



We were all worried about you buddy. Seriously.

Stay safe.

:)


Thank you. :)

No need to worry too much. I sometimes push myself too far, but I've lived in so many different environments all my life, the ups and downs of even the toughest places don't bother me too much. Heck, I grew up in a rich jewish neighborhood, so Southeast Asia seems easy.

But I'm seriously happy to be get back to the West soon. It's my home, and I'd rather deal with the bullshit there than the bullshit here.

[jedemdasseine]

What a waste that Central World Mall was burned down. I ate lunch almost everyday there for 3 weeks.

Hey Jed, do you know if Soi Cowboy had any damage to it? I stayed right across the street at Soi 18, Windsor Hotel I think it was. I lost 20 pounds in Bangkok and I was not fat to start with. That place almost killed me. Too much of a good thing is not necessarily a good thing.

Jay

Yeah, Central World Mall is toast. As are hundreds of other places in Thailand. City halls, banks, the stock exchange, you name it.

I don't know for sure about Soi Cowboy, but I haven't heard about any serious damage there. A lot of places suffered minor damage, like smashed ATMs and phone booths, and I suspect Cowboy is one such place. Don't know for sure, but probably nothing too serious. Well, I'm sure the girls there would say otherwise, as business there is pretty much dead, especially with the curfew.