Bangkok becomes battlefield after leaders of protest yield
Source: Agencies |
May 20, 2010, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
DOWNTOWN Bangkok became a flaming battleground yesterday as an army assault forced anti-government protest leaders to surrender, enraging followers who shot grenades and set fire to landmark buildings, cloaking the skyline in black smoke.
Using live ammunition, troops dispersed thousands of Red Shirt protesters who had been camped in the capital's premier shopping and residential district for weeks.
At least 12 people, including an Italian news photographer, were killed in gun battles and about 60 wounded.
After Red Shirt leaders surrendered, rioters set fires at the stock exchange, several banks, the headquarters of the Metropolitan Electricity Authority, Central World - one of Asia's biggest shopping malls - and a cinema that burned to the ground.
There were reports of looting.
Firefighters retreated after protesters shot guns at them and thick smoke drifted across the sky.
Clashes between troops and protesters continued into the night at the site of the former protest camp.
The chaos in Bangkok in the wake of the two-month protest will deepen the severe impact dealt to the economy and tourism industry of Thailand, long considered a stable Southeast Asia country.
The Red Shirts, mostly rural poor, had demanded the ouster of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's government, the dissolution of parliament and new elections.
A 10-hour curfew came into force in Bangkok and 18 other provinces at 8pm, and officials said army operations would continue through the night.
It is the first time that Bangkok has been put under curfew since 1992, when the army killed dozens of demonstrators seeking the removal of a military-backed government.
The government imposed a partial media blackout on local TV stations, saying all of them had to air state-prepared bulletins.
"They might be able to show their regular news programs, government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said. "But we are concerned about their live broadcasts from the scenes. There will be more programs to be shown simultaneously by all stations."
Protesters have already turned their rage on the media, which they have accused of pro-government coverage.
They attacked offices of state-run Channel 3, setting fire to cars outside and puncturing water pipes that flooded the building.
"At Channel 3 need urgent help from police, soldiers!!!" tweeted news anchor Patcharasri Benjamasa. "News cars were smashed and they are about to invade the building."
Hours later its building was on fire. Its executives were evacuated by helicopter and police rescued other staff.
The English-language Bangkok Post newspaper evacuated its staff after threats from the Red Shirts. A large office building down the street from the Post was set afire.
Thailand's stock exchange would be closed for the rest of the week after rioters set the building's ground floor on fire, said its president, Patareeya Benjapolchai.
The exchange may reopen next Monday, she said.
The central bank, meanwhile, said all financial institutions in Bangkok including commercial banks would be shut today and tomorrow.
Unrest among Red Shirts also spread to the rural northeast and north of the country, where Red Shirts, who claim Abhisit's government is elitist and oblivious to their plight, retain strong support.
Protesters set fire to state offices in the city of Udon Thani and vandalized a city hall in Khon Kaen.
Using live ammunition, troops dispersed thousands of Red Shirt protesters who had been camped in the capital's premier shopping and residential district for weeks.
At least 12 people, including an Italian news photographer, were killed in gun battles and about 60 wounded.
After Red Shirt leaders surrendered, rioters set fires at the stock exchange, several banks, the headquarters of the Metropolitan Electricity Authority, Central World - one of Asia's biggest shopping malls - and a cinema that burned to the ground.
There were reports of looting.
Firefighters retreated after protesters shot guns at them and thick smoke drifted across the sky.
Clashes between troops and protesters continued into the night at the site of the former protest camp.
The chaos in Bangkok in the wake of the two-month protest will deepen the severe impact dealt to the economy and tourism industry of Thailand, long considered a stable Southeast Asia country.
The Red Shirts, mostly rural poor, had demanded the ouster of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's government, the dissolution of parliament and new elections.
A 10-hour curfew came into force in Bangkok and 18 other provinces at 8pm, and officials said army operations would continue through the night.
It is the first time that Bangkok has been put under curfew since 1992, when the army killed dozens of demonstrators seeking the removal of a military-backed government.
The government imposed a partial media blackout on local TV stations, saying all of them had to air state-prepared bulletins.
"They might be able to show their regular news programs, government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said. "But we are concerned about their live broadcasts from the scenes. There will be more programs to be shown simultaneously by all stations."
Protesters have already turned their rage on the media, which they have accused of pro-government coverage.
They attacked offices of state-run Channel 3, setting fire to cars outside and puncturing water pipes that flooded the building.
"At Channel 3 need urgent help from police, soldiers!!!" tweeted news anchor Patcharasri Benjamasa. "News cars were smashed and they are about to invade the building."
Hours later its building was on fire. Its executives were evacuated by helicopter and police rescued other staff.
The English-language Bangkok Post newspaper evacuated its staff after threats from the Red Shirts. A large office building down the street from the Post was set afire.
Thailand's stock exchange would be closed for the rest of the week after rioters set the building's ground floor on fire, said its president, Patareeya Benjapolchai.
The exchange may reopen next Monday, she said.
The central bank, meanwhile, said all financial institutions in Bangkok including commercial banks would be shut today and tomorrow.
Unrest among Red Shirts also spread to the rural northeast and north of the country, where Red Shirts, who claim Abhisit's government is elitist and oblivious to their plight, retain strong support.
Protesters set fire to state offices in the city of Udon Thani and vandalized a city hall in Khon Kaen.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
