Mon, April 13, 2009
BANGKOK, April 13 (Xinhua) -- The acting government spokesman and Army spokesman insisted in a press conference Monday morning that soldiers tried to talk protesters out of stopping road-blockade at the Din Daeng Intersection before dispersing them by force, Thai media reported.
Acting Government Spokesman Panithan Wattanayakorn and Army Spokesman Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd said soldiers had to fire teargas and shot into the air after protesters threw bombs and teargas at the troops and drove some vehicles rushing towards them, The Nation said on its website.
Sansern insisted troops fired shots into the air just for terrifying the protesters.
At least 68 wounded when hundreds of army soldiers and anti-government protesters clashed in Bangkok early Monday morning, 14 hours after Thai PM declared a state of emergency in the capital city, Bangkok health department said.
The clash occurred around 4:30 a.m. Monday (2100 GMT Sunday) when some 300 so-called red-shirted protesters used a seized bus to crash soldiers stationed at Din Daeng District in north Bangkok, Sansern told TV PBS.
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva declared on Sunday afternoon a state of emergency in Bangkok and some districts of five provinces nearby, citing the escalating violence of red-shirted protesters.
The latest round of the anti-government protests led by UDD, has entered its 19th day. Red-shirted protesters on Saturday stormed the venue of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)summit and related summits in Pattaya, and forced the summits canceled.
BANGKOK, April 13 (Xinhua) -- At least 68 wounded when hundreds of army soldiers and anti-government protesters clashed in Bangkok early Monday morning, 14 hours after Thai PM declared a state of emergency in the capital city, Bangkok health department said.
The clash occurred around 4:30 a.m. Monday (2100 GMT Sunday) when some 300 so-called red-shirted protesters used a seized bus to crash soldiers stationed at Din Daeng District in north Bangkok, Army spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd told TPBS. Full story
BANGKOK, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva made two television speeches in early hours of Monday in a bid to restore people's confidence on his government's capability to control situation, after anti-government protests turned violent and forced him to declare state of emergency twice in two days.
Abhisit appeared on state TV NBT after midnight, first time flanked with ministers, army and police top officials in charge of securities, the second alone. The two speeches carried the same key information, which was that the Abhisit government was not as soft and lonely as some people has judged from what they have seen in events in the past 48 hours. Full story
BANGKOK, April 12 (Xinhua) -- The Thai government has taken tough actions in an attempt to control the situation in capital Bangkok as thousands of protesters keep confronting the government.
On Sunday afternoon, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva announced a state of emergency in Bangkok and areas in five neighboring provinces, citing danger of escalating violence by anti-government protesters in the capital. Full story
BANGKOK, April 12 (Xinhua) --- Thai Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said Sunday night he was confident that there would not be a coup.
He said the government declared the state of emergency in time to control the situation after the red-shirted movement planned to create political disturbances. Full story
BANGKOK, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva announced on TV at about 05:20 p.m. Sunday local time hat the authorities were now ready to suppress protesters, Thai media reported.
He urged the public to remain calm during the operations, The Nation website said. Full story
BANGKOK, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Bangkok has seen soldiers and armored carriers deployed on Sunday soon after the prime minister declared a state of emergency in the city and some areas of five provinces, Thai media reported.
The Nation reported on its website that the military Sunday afternoon has blocked the roads around Chitralada Palace for security after the declaration of the state of emergency.
