ID :
55155
Mon, 04/13/2009 - 13:09
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/55155
The shortlink copeid
70 injured as army, anti-government protesters clash
BANGKOK, April 13 (TNA) - Around 70 anti-government protesters and military personnel were injured during a pre-dawn clash in the Thai capital on Monday after troops left their barracks to crack down on the militant demonstrators in an attempt to enforce a state of emergency order issued by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.
The injured were sent for treatment to four state-run hospitals near the scene of the clash.
The clash began between 4am and 5am in the rain with soldiers firing warning shots in the air above protesters close to the Victory Monument, a transport hub for many buses and the elevated Skytrain, which was held by the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), which hurled petrol bombs at the soldiers.
The clash occurred less than 24 hours after Mr. Abhisit imposed a state of emergency Sunday in Bangkok and five neighbouring provinces -- Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan, Pathum Thani, Nakhon Pathom and Ayutthaya.
Despite the crackdown a large number of UDD protesters are besieging Government House (the prime minister’s offices), demanding his unconditional resignation, dissolution of the House of Representatives and a general election be held.
Most Bangkok streets were virtually deserted early Monday as many residents had left for upcountry to celebrate the three-day Songkran festival, Thailand’s traditional New Year, beginning Monday. Many opted to stay home due to safety concerns.
At 7.25am Panithan Wattanayakorn, deputy secretary-general to the prime minister, and Army spokesman Col. Sansern Kaewkamnerd announced that the government would do everything possible within the law to return the country to normalcy as soon as possible.
Col. Sansern said security officials began negotiating with the UDD protesters by loudspeaker at 4.15am, asking them to open a roadway near a Din Daeng intersection.
The negotiations failed as protesters fired teargas and fired gunshots from the expressway.
Protesters also drove taxis and state-owned buses into the crowd of officials, injuring a number of soldiers and police, according to Col. Sansern.
The military had no choice but to fire teargas in order to disperse the protesters, he said.
The vicinity around the Din Daeng expressway is now controlled by the military and police.
He said that leading UDD protesters who led the earlier seizure of the area were now apprehended and being “detained at safe areas.”
Mr. Panithan said the government will employ “reason, appropriateness and verifiable actions” in dealing with the protesters to end the chaos as soon as possible.
The government has set up a central security command centre, said Mr. Panithan, adding that “several areas are now under control.”
Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary for Pubic Health Prat Boonyawongvirot said 66 people were injured in the clash at Din Daeng, but that no one died from the incident.
He added that 11 were remained at the hospital mainly with injuriwa from teargas and canister fragments.
The injured were sent to be treated at four nearby hospitals - Rajvithi, Ramathibodi, Pramongkutklao, and Veterans Hospital. (TNA)
The injured were sent for treatment to four state-run hospitals near the scene of the clash.
The clash began between 4am and 5am in the rain with soldiers firing warning shots in the air above protesters close to the Victory Monument, a transport hub for many buses and the elevated Skytrain, which was held by the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), which hurled petrol bombs at the soldiers.
The clash occurred less than 24 hours after Mr. Abhisit imposed a state of emergency Sunday in Bangkok and five neighbouring provinces -- Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan, Pathum Thani, Nakhon Pathom and Ayutthaya.
Despite the crackdown a large number of UDD protesters are besieging Government House (the prime minister’s offices), demanding his unconditional resignation, dissolution of the House of Representatives and a general election be held.
Most Bangkok streets were virtually deserted early Monday as many residents had left for upcountry to celebrate the three-day Songkran festival, Thailand’s traditional New Year, beginning Monday. Many opted to stay home due to safety concerns.
At 7.25am Panithan Wattanayakorn, deputy secretary-general to the prime minister, and Army spokesman Col. Sansern Kaewkamnerd announced that the government would do everything possible within the law to return the country to normalcy as soon as possible.
Col. Sansern said security officials began negotiating with the UDD protesters by loudspeaker at 4.15am, asking them to open a roadway near a Din Daeng intersection.
The negotiations failed as protesters fired teargas and fired gunshots from the expressway.
Protesters also drove taxis and state-owned buses into the crowd of officials, injuring a number of soldiers and police, according to Col. Sansern.
The military had no choice but to fire teargas in order to disperse the protesters, he said.
The vicinity around the Din Daeng expressway is now controlled by the military and police.
He said that leading UDD protesters who led the earlier seizure of the area were now apprehended and being “detained at safe areas.”
Mr. Panithan said the government will employ “reason, appropriateness and verifiable actions” in dealing with the protesters to end the chaos as soon as possible.
The government has set up a central security command centre, said Mr. Panithan, adding that “several areas are now under control.”
Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary for Pubic Health Prat Boonyawongvirot said 66 people were injured in the clash at Din Daeng, but that no one died from the incident.
He added that 11 were remained at the hospital mainly with injuriwa from teargas and canister fragments.
The injured were sent to be treated at four nearby hospitals - Rajvithi, Ramathibodi, Pramongkutklao, and Veterans Hospital. (TNA)
