Gunmen injure 7 at Bangkok anti-government rally
Print Edition
Seven people were wounded, one seriously, after gunmen opened fire on anti-government protesters in Bangkok early yesterday.
This has heightened fears of more violence when protesters try to “shut down” the capital next week in their long-running bid to overthrow Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.
“Two shootouts occurred in the early hours of this morning ... near the Khao San Road tourist area. Seven people were injured, most of them anti-government protesters. We’re still investigating who the gunmen were,” said national police chief Adul Saengsingkaew.
One of the protesters remains in a critical condition, said the Erawan Medical Center which monitors Bangkok hospitals.
The incident follows clashes between government supporters and protesters on Friday outside Bangkok that left at least six people injured.
At a celebration to mark national Children’s Day yesterday. Thailand’s army chief, Prayuth Chan-ocha, said he feared an escalation in violence next week.
“I am concerned about security because there will be many people. The violence is increasing,” said Prayuth.
This is the latest episode in an eight-year conflict that pits Bangkok’s middle class and royalist establishment against the mostly poorer, rural supporters of Yingluck and her brother, former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who was overthrown in a military coup in 2006.
Protesters accuse the Shinawatra family of corruption and nepotism. Yingluck called a snap election for February 2, but protesters want her to make way for an unelected people’s council to oversee reform.
Protesters led by former opposition politician Suthep Thaugsuban aim to paralyse Bangkok starting tomorrow for between 15 and 20 days.
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