Major Violence Likely today in Bangkok

[Gaybutton]

This was published less than ten minutes before I'm posting. I hope today won't play out this way, but here is what is being said. At the moment, it's 8:20am, Wednesday, May 19 in Thailand. There are reports that gunfire has already broken out.

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Gen Lertrat: Govt to Crackdown on Reds

 

Published: 19/05/2010 at 08:11 AM

 

The reinforcement of armoured vehicles and troops in Silom and Saladaeng areas early this morning showed that the government will today use force to crackdown on red-shirt protesters at Ratchaprasong intersection, Gen Lertrat Rattanavanich, an appointed senator, said on Wednesday.

 

“It is likely that the government wants to rapidly end red-shirts rally, probably within today. There will be no peace talk as the government chooses to use force rather than political mechanism”, Gen Lertrat said.

 

The senator could not imagine what the 5,000 red-shirts at the rally site would be when the crackdown starts.

 

He projected more than 100 reds would be killed and more than one thousand would be injured.

 

Gen Lertrat also doubted whether the government could keep the situation under control as the red-shirts had vowed to fight until the last minute.

 

Gen Lertrat: Govt to crackdown on reds

[Guest GaySacGuy]

The military is crossing the barricades constructed by the redshirts. At the moment the redshirts are said to be moving to the center of their rally area.

 

 

Here are the APC moving into the area near Silom

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today, 2010-05-19 09:16:47

 

 

Picture of troops moving along sky train tracks at Sala Daeng http://tweetphoto.com/23011023 (Reuters)

 

 

[Gaybutton]

Troops, Armoured Vehicles Converge on Silom

 

Hundreds of police and troops, backed by armoured vehicles, converged on the red-shirt protesters' camp in Bangkok early Wednesday, raising fears of an imminent crackdown.

 

Published: 19/05/2010

 

Twelve armoured personnel carriers (APCs) with machine guns mounted on top arrived in the Silom business district, and two took up positions in front of the protesters' homemade barricades before dawn.

 

Nearby, several trucks dropped off troops wearing balaclavas and carrying weapons and riot shields.

 

Hundreds of armed police were forming lines in Sukhumvit Road, a main thoroughfare leading into the protest zone, backed up by some 20 police vans on the roadside.

 

APCs were also seen beginning to demolish the protesters' barricades.

 

Buildings around Din Daeng and Bon Kai areas including the Office Narcotics Control Board were set on fire in the morning. Heavy smoke was seen covering Chulalongkorn Hospital as it was considering whether to evacuate patients.

 

PM's secretary-general Korbsak Sabhavasu said in a television inerview on Wednesday morning that the government is determined to disperse the rally today and the only option left for the red-shirts is to surrender and enter the justice process.

 

http://www.bangkokpost.com/lite/topstories/178397/troops-armoured-vehicles-converge-on-silom

[Guest GaySacGuy]

Sounds like the rally is over in Central Bangkok. From Thaivisa just moments ago::

 

 

Today, 2010-05-19 13:37:22

 

HOT: Red-shirt Leaders to Stop Deaths/Injuries to Regroup in Future

 

The key red-shirt leaders have taken the red-shirt stage and called for an end to the red-shirt rally to put an end to the deaths and injuries.

But reiterated that the 'fight' of the red-shirt movement will not stop, adding that the 'fight' will be carried on via democratic means.

 

 

However, there are already problems arising in other areas of the country. The city hall in Udon Thani has been torched....some roads closed in Ubon Ratchathani...City Hall "raided" in Khon Kaen.

 

It will be a waiting game to see what is next. Many of the major redshirt leaders are now at the Police station turning themselves in to the authorities.