ID :
123197
Thu, 05/20/2010 - 10:51
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9 killed at Buddhist temple near main Red Shirt protest site
BANGKOK, May 20 (TNA) - Nine people were killed within the premises of Wat Pathumwanaram, a Buddhist temple near the main protest site of the anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) or Red Shirt at Ratchaprasong intersection and seven others were wounded, according to a medical doctor from Phramongkutklao Hospital.
Dr Piyalap Wasuwat, a doctor at Phramongkutklao Hospital, said nine persons were killed during the day's clashes but the circumstances of the deaths are unclear.
He said among the seven injured, five were sent to hospital but the remaining two refused to leave the temple.
Until early morning Thursday gunshots were still heard from the temple premises.
Wat Pathumwanaram was earlier designated as a safety zone and as a temporary refuge for children, women and elders who had joined the protest.
Reportedly some 300 to 400 people including men stayed in the temple after the UDD core leaders surrender to the authorities on Wednesday afternoon.
Thirty five spots in downtown Bangkok were set ablaze after military operations forced anti-government protest leaders to surrender to police, dissatisfying and enraging their supporters who went on the rampage and set fire at department stores, banks, and media outlets as well as provincial halls in three provinces in the Northeast.
Bangkok’s skyline was marked by billowing clouds and columns of smoke as the city's firefighters were overwhelmed by difficulties in responding to put out the blazes as they were obstructed armed assailants equipped with firearms, slingshots and gunfire was heard at the sites.
Meanwhile, Thanom Ornkatephol, spokesman of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) said some parts of Central World and Zen department stores collapsed after eight hours engulfed by flame.
He said among 35 spots set ablaze are 17 branches of five banks, the CentralWorld, Thailand's biggest shopping mall, Siam Paragon, Siam Square, Big C Ratchadamri, the Centara Grand Hotel, Centre One at Victory Monument, Maleenon Tower (Channel 3 building), the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET), an office of the Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) and the Loxley Building in Klong Toey, a cinema, 17 branches of five banks, one gold shop, and one noodle shop.
Deputy Bangkok Governor Malinee Sukwetchaworrakij said the danger zones will be declared on Thursday.
The Erawan Emergency Centre reported seven deaths and 81 persons injured
during the military operations to retake the protest site at Ratchaprasong on May 19 bringing the total death toll since the army launched its operation to seal off the protest area last Friday to 44 with 384 injured.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva imposed a nighttime curfew in the capital and 23 other provinces on Thursday.
In a nationally televised address on Thursday night, the prime minister said the curfew was necessary to help the security forces clear up the aftermath of the violent demonstrations in the country.
He pledged to lead the country out of the crisis, and restore peace and normalcy to the country.
Although leaders of the Red Shirt demonstrators surrendered, sporadic clashes between troops and remaining protesters continued well after dark. Looting reportedly took place in many areas.
Many of the rioters were believed to be red shirt supporters and their sympathisers, as well as some criminals and rogue youths also involved in the arson attacks and lootings.
Thai people in Bangkok and 23 other provinces have already experienced a 10-hour curfew beginning at 8pm of Wednesday through 6am Thursday announced by the Centre for the Resolution of Emergency Situation (CRES) to control the riot in the capital and Red-active areas.
Atmosphere in the capital Thursday morning after the first night of curfew remains relatively quiet with light traffic on the road.
It is the first time that Bangkok has been put under a curfew since 1992.
The curfew enforcement followed the chaos and arson attacks in several
locations of Bangkok as well as other provinces.
Angry anti-government protesters Wednesday afternoon attacked and burned provincial hall offices in the northeastern provinces of Ubon Ratchathani,Mukdahan and Khon Kaen. Red supporters in the northern city of Chiang Mai also set fire at the governor’s residence as well.
The curfew was imposed in the capital of Bangkok, as well as in Nonthaburi, SamutPrakan, Pathum Thani, Nakhon Pathom, Ayutthaya, Chonburi, Chiang Mai,Lampang, Nakhon Sawan, Nan, Khon Kaen, Udon Thani, Chaiyaphum, Nakhon Ratchasima, Si Sa Ket, Ubon Ratchathani, Nong Bua Lamphu, Maha Sarakham,Roi Et, Sakon Nakhon, Kalasin and Mukdahan. (TNA)
Dr Piyalap Wasuwat, a doctor at Phramongkutklao Hospital, said nine persons were killed during the day's clashes but the circumstances of the deaths are unclear.
He said among the seven injured, five were sent to hospital but the remaining two refused to leave the temple.
Until early morning Thursday gunshots were still heard from the temple premises.
Wat Pathumwanaram was earlier designated as a safety zone and as a temporary refuge for children, women and elders who had joined the protest.
Reportedly some 300 to 400 people including men stayed in the temple after the UDD core leaders surrender to the authorities on Wednesday afternoon.
Thirty five spots in downtown Bangkok were set ablaze after military operations forced anti-government protest leaders to surrender to police, dissatisfying and enraging their supporters who went on the rampage and set fire at department stores, banks, and media outlets as well as provincial halls in three provinces in the Northeast.
Bangkok’s skyline was marked by billowing clouds and columns of smoke as the city's firefighters were overwhelmed by difficulties in responding to put out the blazes as they were obstructed armed assailants equipped with firearms, slingshots and gunfire was heard at the sites.
Meanwhile, Thanom Ornkatephol, spokesman of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) said some parts of Central World and Zen department stores collapsed after eight hours engulfed by flame.
He said among 35 spots set ablaze are 17 branches of five banks, the CentralWorld, Thailand's biggest shopping mall, Siam Paragon, Siam Square, Big C Ratchadamri, the Centara Grand Hotel, Centre One at Victory Monument, Maleenon Tower (Channel 3 building), the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET), an office of the Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) and the Loxley Building in Klong Toey, a cinema, 17 branches of five banks, one gold shop, and one noodle shop.
Deputy Bangkok Governor Malinee Sukwetchaworrakij said the danger zones will be declared on Thursday.
The Erawan Emergency Centre reported seven deaths and 81 persons injured
during the military operations to retake the protest site at Ratchaprasong on May 19 bringing the total death toll since the army launched its operation to seal off the protest area last Friday to 44 with 384 injured.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva imposed a nighttime curfew in the capital and 23 other provinces on Thursday.
In a nationally televised address on Thursday night, the prime minister said the curfew was necessary to help the security forces clear up the aftermath of the violent demonstrations in the country.
He pledged to lead the country out of the crisis, and restore peace and normalcy to the country.
Although leaders of the Red Shirt demonstrators surrendered, sporadic clashes between troops and remaining protesters continued well after dark. Looting reportedly took place in many areas.
Many of the rioters were believed to be red shirt supporters and their sympathisers, as well as some criminals and rogue youths also involved in the arson attacks and lootings.
Thai people in Bangkok and 23 other provinces have already experienced a 10-hour curfew beginning at 8pm of Wednesday through 6am Thursday announced by the Centre for the Resolution of Emergency Situation (CRES) to control the riot in the capital and Red-active areas.
Atmosphere in the capital Thursday morning after the first night of curfew remains relatively quiet with light traffic on the road.
It is the first time that Bangkok has been put under a curfew since 1992.
The curfew enforcement followed the chaos and arson attacks in several
locations of Bangkok as well as other provinces.
Angry anti-government protesters Wednesday afternoon attacked and burned provincial hall offices in the northeastern provinces of Ubon Ratchathani,Mukdahan and Khon Kaen. Red supporters in the northern city of Chiang Mai also set fire at the governor’s residence as well.
The curfew was imposed in the capital of Bangkok, as well as in Nonthaburi, SamutPrakan, Pathum Thani, Nakhon Pathom, Ayutthaya, Chonburi, Chiang Mai,Lampang, Nakhon Sawan, Nan, Khon Kaen, Udon Thani, Chaiyaphum, Nakhon Ratchasima, Si Sa Ket, Ubon Ratchathani, Nong Bua Lamphu, Maha Sarakham,Roi Et, Sakon Nakhon, Kalasin and Mukdahan. (TNA)
