BANGKOK—Thousands of anti-government protesters occupying a central shopping district in Bangkok won’t be deserting their fortified camp anytime soon, despite fears of a looming military crackdown.
Following Thailand Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva’s rejection of their conditional offer to end their protests if he dissolved Parliament within 30 days and held elections, the red shirts say negotiations have failed. They now expect the military to attempt to force them from their inner city position in the Thai capital.
With some being supporters of fugitive former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, and others as pro-democracy activists and ex-communists, the protesters have occupied the area since April 3. Most shops and malls in the area have since closed their doors.
The red shirts—formally known as the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD)—say that Prime Minister Abhisit and his government achieved office unlawfully, and were installed by the Thai military and the bureaucratic elite.
Largely hailing from upcountry Thailand, the protesters have set up a massive tent city along the roads in between glitzy shopping malls and five star hotels. Those without a marquee shelter are making the most from the sides of buildings or underground car parks. Most have access to electricity to power their fans, and in some cases, TVs and cooking equipment.
Along with food and water being available, other services include a barber, toilet blocks, massage areas, and first aid stations. Tents have been also set up where protesters can register their participation by paying 30 baht (US$0.92) for an ID card and pay 20 baht (US$0.62) for life insurance in case they are killed in the protests or become ill.
There are numerous stalls showing graphic images of dead protesters from the vicious street fighting that occurred on April 10 between red shirts and the military, that left 25 people dead and over 800 injured. Many included video footage of the violence with one TV showing military soldiers being hit by what appears to be grenades and suffering causalities and responding by firing live rounds into the ranks of the red shirts.
With the increased tension between government forces and the protesters following the April 10 violence, large barricades, and numerous smaller ones have been established by the red shirts. Made of bamboo and tires, they are manned by men wearing helmets and armed with poles or sling shots.
They’ve been set up on the four main roads leading to an intersection where there is a large stage from where the UDD leaders have been giving speeches and where video broadcasts are shown.
Unseen are what the government calls terrorists who lurk amidst the red shirt ranks, and who have military training, and are armed with assault rifles and grenade launchers.
On Sunday, one speech delivered by a pro-red shirt renegade military officer warned the protesters not to wear red clothing as it made it easy for the military to identify them. Subsequently, what is usually a sea of red shirts in front of the stage and elsewhere was by Monday multicolored.
While all was relatively quite inside the camp on Monday during the day, out in the provinces, the conflict had spread considerably with reports of UDD supporters blocking police and military vehicles from traveling toward Bangkok.
Sunday also saw further grenade attacks by unknown persons against government buildings or national infrastructure. Such incidents have been regular since the Bangkok demonstrations began in mid-March and the government says more than 40 such attacks have been carried out. The worse being four grenades that exploded amidst an anti-red shirt group who were rallying outside the red shirt’s barricade opposite the Silom business area. One person was killed and scores injured.
The government said they believed the grenades were fired by launcher behind the red shirt’s barricades and blame the terrorists working behind the scenes. The red shirts deny they have any involvement in the grenade and bombing attacks.
Local media last week reported one of the country’s most famous fortune tellers predicted that by Wednesday, April 28 the political crisis will be over and the administration of Prime Minister Abhisit will continue.
Additional reporting by Namfa Artjai.
Following Thailand Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva’s rejection of their conditional offer to end their protests if he dissolved Parliament within 30 days and held elections, the red shirts say negotiations have failed. They now expect the military to attempt to force them from their inner city position in the Thai capital.
With some being supporters of fugitive former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, and others as pro-democracy activists and ex-communists, the protesters have occupied the area since April 3. Most shops and malls in the area have since closed their doors.
The red shirts—formally known as the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD)—say that Prime Minister Abhisit and his government achieved office unlawfully, and were installed by the Thai military and the bureaucratic elite.
Largely hailing from upcountry Thailand, the protesters have set up a massive tent city along the roads in between glitzy shopping malls and five star hotels. Those without a marquee shelter are making the most from the sides of buildings or underground car parks. Most have access to electricity to power their fans, and in some cases, TVs and cooking equipment.
Along with food and water being available, other services include a barber, toilet blocks, massage areas, and first aid stations. Tents have been also set up where protesters can register their participation by paying 30 baht (US$0.92) for an ID card and pay 20 baht (US$0.62) for life insurance in case they are killed in the protests or become ill.
There are numerous stalls showing graphic images of dead protesters from the vicious street fighting that occurred on April 10 between red shirts and the military, that left 25 people dead and over 800 injured. Many included video footage of the violence with one TV showing military soldiers being hit by what appears to be grenades and suffering causalities and responding by firing live rounds into the ranks of the red shirts.
With the increased tension between government forces and the protesters following the April 10 violence, large barricades, and numerous smaller ones have been established by the red shirts. Made of bamboo and tires, they are manned by men wearing helmets and armed with poles or sling shots.
They’ve been set up on the four main roads leading to an intersection where there is a large stage from where the UDD leaders have been giving speeches and where video broadcasts are shown.
Unseen are what the government calls terrorists who lurk amidst the red shirt ranks, and who have military training, and are armed with assault rifles and grenade launchers.
On Sunday, one speech delivered by a pro-red shirt renegade military officer warned the protesters not to wear red clothing as it made it easy for the military to identify them. Subsequently, what is usually a sea of red shirts in front of the stage and elsewhere was by Monday multicolored.
While all was relatively quite inside the camp on Monday during the day, out in the provinces, the conflict had spread considerably with reports of UDD supporters blocking police and military vehicles from traveling toward Bangkok.
Sunday also saw further grenade attacks by unknown persons against government buildings or national infrastructure. Such incidents have been regular since the Bangkok demonstrations began in mid-March and the government says more than 40 such attacks have been carried out. The worse being four grenades that exploded amidst an anti-red shirt group who were rallying outside the red shirt’s barricade opposite the Silom business area. One person was killed and scores injured.
The government said they believed the grenades were fired by launcher behind the red shirt’s barricades and blame the terrorists working behind the scenes. The red shirts deny they have any involvement in the grenade and bombing attacks.
Local media last week reported one of the country’s most famous fortune tellers predicted that by Wednesday, April 28 the political crisis will be over and the administration of Prime Minister Abhisit will continue.
Additional reporting by Namfa Artjai.
