Protest TV back on air as Red Shirts storm office compound
Source: Agencies |
April 10, 2010, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THAI anti-government protesters yesterday stormed into a telecom company compound where authorities had shut down their vital TV channel, as soldiers and riot police failed to hold them back with tear gas and water cannons.
The "Red Shirt" protesters then negotiated with police to return People Channel to the air, and the security forces and protesters withdrew from the compound side by side.
The assault was another humiliating blow to the government in month-long protests aimed at ousting Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and forcing new elections. At least 10 protesters and three security personnel were injured in the brief confrontation in a northern Bangkok suburb, The Nation newspaper said on its Website.
Hurling rocks and Molotov cocktails, the protesters breached the barbed-wire perimeter of Thaicom Public Co Ltd within minutes, but did not enter the main building. As they moved into the compound, security forces threw tear gas canisters and fired water cannons but then retreated into the main building as thousands of protesters swarmed around it.
People Channel was back on air yesterday afternoon, but government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said the signal remained under government control.
"We are still controlling any news reporting that distorts facts," Panitan said.
Later, some security forces were seen throwing down their shields and riot gear and shaking hands with the protesters. In recent weeks, police have frequently shown sympathy for the protesters and analysts say the security forces, especially the police, are split in their loyalties, making it difficult for the government to enforce its orders.
The Red Shirts offered water to soldiers and police, and showed reporters a small cache of weapons, including M-16 assault rifles, they had seized from soldiers.
The escalating demonstrations are part of a long-running battle between the mostly poor and rural supporters of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, and the ruling elite they say orchestrated the 2006 military coup that removed him from power.
Leaders of the Red Shirt movement initially said they would march to undisclosed locations across Bangkok yesterday, but switched plans after the closure of their satellite TV station, with leader Nattawut Saikua telling followers, "We're all moving in one direction.
"We're going to bring back our People Channel."
Columns of protesters, riding motorcycles and pickups, blared horns and waved red flags as they moved out of their two main encampments and headed north 45 kilometers to the offices of Thaicom in Pathum Thani.
Thaicom, which relayed the People Channel signal via satellite, was founded by Thaksin, a telecommunications tycoon turned politician. He no longer owns it.
The "Red Shirt" protesters then negotiated with police to return People Channel to the air, and the security forces and protesters withdrew from the compound side by side.
The assault was another humiliating blow to the government in month-long protests aimed at ousting Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and forcing new elections. At least 10 protesters and three security personnel were injured in the brief confrontation in a northern Bangkok suburb, The Nation newspaper said on its Website.
Hurling rocks and Molotov cocktails, the protesters breached the barbed-wire perimeter of Thaicom Public Co Ltd within minutes, but did not enter the main building. As they moved into the compound, security forces threw tear gas canisters and fired water cannons but then retreated into the main building as thousands of protesters swarmed around it.
People Channel was back on air yesterday afternoon, but government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said the signal remained under government control.
"We are still controlling any news reporting that distorts facts," Panitan said.
Later, some security forces were seen throwing down their shields and riot gear and shaking hands with the protesters. In recent weeks, police have frequently shown sympathy for the protesters and analysts say the security forces, especially the police, are split in their loyalties, making it difficult for the government to enforce its orders.
The Red Shirts offered water to soldiers and police, and showed reporters a small cache of weapons, including M-16 assault rifles, they had seized from soldiers.
The escalating demonstrations are part of a long-running battle between the mostly poor and rural supporters of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, and the ruling elite they say orchestrated the 2006 military coup that removed him from power.
Leaders of the Red Shirt movement initially said they would march to undisclosed locations across Bangkok yesterday, but switched plans after the closure of their satellite TV station, with leader Nattawut Saikua telling followers, "We're all moving in one direction.
"We're going to bring back our People Channel."
Columns of protesters, riding motorcycles and pickups, blared horns and waved red flags as they moved out of their two main encampments and headed north 45 kilometers to the offices of Thaicom in Pathum Thani.
Thaicom, which relayed the People Channel signal via satellite, was founded by Thaksin, a telecommunications tycoon turned politician. He no longer owns it.
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