ID :
116089
Sun, 04/11/2010 - 17:55
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http://m.oananews.org//node/116089
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Thai government: Men armed with machine guns mingled with crowd during Saturday clash
BANGKOK, April 11 (TNA) - The Thai government on Sunday reasserted that a group of men armed with machine guns mingled with the red-shirted crowd during Saturday's clashes between army personnel and anti-government Red Shirt protesters during actions in which 20 persons died, according to government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn.
The government stands ready to being investigated judicially regarding the incident, Dr Panitan said.
The spokesman commented during a live telecast news conference after many losses of life occurred at Khok Wua intersection on Ratchadamnoen Avenue, site of Thailand's Democracy Monument, when M-79 grenades were fired during the clash between the military and Red Shirt protesters of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD).
Fifteen protesters and five soldiers were killed, while 842 others -- mainly demonstrators -- were wounded in the clashes.
Dr Panitan said the military personnel were instructed to return to their bases to inventory the weapons which were stolen during the security operation.
The spokesman reasserted that the government's soldiers fired no bullets at the protesters and that the tear gas fired at the Red Shirts was different from what the army used.
"We found several grenades, M79s and M67s. Our military personnel were not equipped with these weapons,” Dr Panitan said. “We also found home-made weapons, corresponding with the injuries that our personnel sustained."
"An independent media source sent us footage of a group of persons who are not army personnel, but who carried machine guns and mingled with the Red Shirt protesters," according to Dr Panitan.
The spokesman reported more than 200 soldiers were wounded. Of those 90 are in critical condition.
Dr Panitan said that an independent committee consisting of academic institution repesentatives, police forensic institute experts, and other concerned bodies is being set up to examine the causes of the death and establish the truth regarding the incident to the public.
The spokesman added that the government stands ready to be probed, reaffirming that the army’s use of arms complied with international standard practices by firing the bullets into the air in warning.
Until now there is no evidence proving that soldiers fired live ammunition at the protesters, Dr Panitan said.
Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd, spokesman of the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) said that Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, in his capacity of CRES director, instructed the army to examine its casualties and provide reparations for those wounded in the clashes.
Mr Suthep also instructed the army to inventory its weapons as he feared that stolen weapons will be used to commit offenses to create an incident and blame the police or the army.
As the Red Shirt protests continue at the capital’s commercial heart at Ratchaprasong for the ninth consecutive day on Sunday, UDD leader Jatuporn Prompan vowed to continue fighting and reject any further talks with the government.
“We will continue fighting so that our comrades will not have died in vain, " said the Red Shirt leader. “I reassert there will be no negotiation with a government tainted with blood.” (TNA)
The government stands ready to being investigated judicially regarding the incident, Dr Panitan said.
The spokesman commented during a live telecast news conference after many losses of life occurred at Khok Wua intersection on Ratchadamnoen Avenue, site of Thailand's Democracy Monument, when M-79 grenades were fired during the clash between the military and Red Shirt protesters of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD).
Fifteen protesters and five soldiers were killed, while 842 others -- mainly demonstrators -- were wounded in the clashes.
Dr Panitan said the military personnel were instructed to return to their bases to inventory the weapons which were stolen during the security operation.
The spokesman reasserted that the government's soldiers fired no bullets at the protesters and that the tear gas fired at the Red Shirts was different from what the army used.
"We found several grenades, M79s and M67s. Our military personnel were not equipped with these weapons,” Dr Panitan said. “We also found home-made weapons, corresponding with the injuries that our personnel sustained."
"An independent media source sent us footage of a group of persons who are not army personnel, but who carried machine guns and mingled with the Red Shirt protesters," according to Dr Panitan.
The spokesman reported more than 200 soldiers were wounded. Of those 90 are in critical condition.
Dr Panitan said that an independent committee consisting of academic institution repesentatives, police forensic institute experts, and other concerned bodies is being set up to examine the causes of the death and establish the truth regarding the incident to the public.
The spokesman added that the government stands ready to be probed, reaffirming that the army’s use of arms complied with international standard practices by firing the bullets into the air in warning.
Until now there is no evidence proving that soldiers fired live ammunition at the protesters, Dr Panitan said.
Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd, spokesman of the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) said that Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, in his capacity of CRES director, instructed the army to examine its casualties and provide reparations for those wounded in the clashes.
Mr Suthep also instructed the army to inventory its weapons as he feared that stolen weapons will be used to commit offenses to create an incident and blame the police or the army.
As the Red Shirt protests continue at the capital’s commercial heart at Ratchaprasong for the ninth consecutive day on Sunday, UDD leader Jatuporn Prompan vowed to continue fighting and reject any further talks with the government.
“We will continue fighting so that our comrades will not have died in vain, " said the Red Shirt leader. “I reassert there will be no negotiation with a government tainted with blood.” (TNA)
