Bloodbath in Bangkok
Written by Writer on Thursday, October 9th, 2008
Bloodbath in Bangkok
By The Nation
PM rules out resignation; No coup: Army chief; Military to help police restore order
Convoys of military trucks last night arrived near Bangkok’s Parliament complex in preparation to help police restore law and order following a long day of unrest.
Large areas in the vicinity of Parliament yesterday became a battleground for anti-government protesters and police, as Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat mulled various options to restore law and order.
The premier, who managed to deliver his policy statement before Parliament amid all the chaos, said he would not yet consider dissolving the House of Representatives or tendering his resignation.
General Anupong Paochinda, the powerful Army chief, meanwhile, reiterated that the military would neither use force to quell protesters nor stage another coup.
Somchai, however, expressed serious concern over the unrest in which two had already been killed and 381 injured by late in the evening.
Speaking after an urgent meeting with Anupong and Supreme Commander General Songkitti Chakkabat, Somchai also expressed confidence that there would not be another coup.
Deputy Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, meanwhile, tendered his resignation yesterday, saying that he could no longer take charge of security affairs following the unrest.
Earlier, Chavalit had planned to negotiate a peaceful end to the seizure of Government House with leaders of the People’s Alliance for Democracy, but Chamlong Srimuang and Chaiwat Sinsuwong, two of the PAD’s core leaders, were arrested before the start of negotiations.
Asked if the government will consider declaring a stage of emergency, Somchai said there was no plan for such a move as yet.
Leaders of the Army, Air Force and Navy yesterday morning held an urgent meeting as riots started ahead of the joint session of Parliament, at which the government was scheduled to deliver its policies before starting its official duties.
Later in the day, the protesters turned into an angry mob as police stepped up efforts to clear the way for the premier, MPs and senators to enter the Parliament compound.
The violence apparently came from both the police and protesters, with most of the injuries caused by the police’s use of tear gas while a number of policemen were also injured as angry protesters used hard objects to stab them. One drove a truck over police, injuring 10 of them.
A suspected bomb inside a Jeep Cherokee believed to be owned by a member of the PAD exploded in front of Chart Thai Party headquarters near Parliament, killing one person.
The military also dispatched a few hundred soldiers to help the police restore peace and order.
The PAD leadership was earlier scheduled to hold a press conference at 6pm, but the plan was cancelled, while thousands of protesters later marched from Parliament back to Government House, which anti-government protesters have occupied since August 26.
The court yesterday denied a request for the release of Chamlong. At press time, PAD members also surrounded the residences of premier Somchai and Pol General Jongruk Juthanont, a deputy police chief, in the Chaeng Wattana area.
