Soldier killed, 18 persons wounded in Vibhavadi clashes

BANGKOK, April 28 (TNA) – One Thai Army soldier was killed and 18 persons were wounded in a confrontation between security forces and anti-government Red Shirt protesters on Vibhavadi Road in the northern Bangkok suburbs.

The trooper shot in the head was not identified, nor was the source of the bullet which killed him.

Army troops and riot police have retreated from the clash scene, and Red Shirt protesters have returned to their Ratchaprasong rally site after the hours-long confrontation.

Dr Petchpong Kamjornkijjakarn, director of the Bangkok municipality’s Erawan Medical Centre, said 18 persons were wounded during a confrontation between security forces and protesters.

He said ten persons were sent to Bhumibol Adulyadej Hospital, three to Rangsit General Hospital, four to Prachathipat Hospital and one to Vibhavadi Hospital.

Army troops deployed near Don Mueang Air Force Base on Vibhavadi Road Wednesday afternoon fired warning shots of rubber bullets to turn back a convoy of Red Shirt protesters led by Kwanchai Praipana as they were approaching the troops.

The protesters fired homemade ‘bang fai’ rockets to harass the helicopters overhead which were observing the situation.

With security forces in full riot gear to push back the protesters, the Red Shirts retreatrf a hundred metres  further from the confrontation scene.

Red Shirt leader Jatuporn Prompan, monitoring the situation at the group’s main rally site at Ratchaprasong intersection, said that protest leader Natthawut Saikua was coordinating with Mr Kwanchai to return to their protest site at Ratchaprasong if the route is impassable.

The standoff was however temporarily suspended due to a heavy downpour, but both the troops and Red Shirts were still staying around the site.

Protest leader Kwanchai was reportedly detained by security forces during the chaos, but Mr Jatuporn said Mr Kwanchai successfully escaped from the scene and was staying in a safe place.

The confrontation came shortly after some 2,000 Red Shirts in a convoy of 150 pickup trucks and hundreds of motorcycles moved from Ratchaprasong to Talad Thai market to intercept the security forces to enter Bangkok to disperse them, as well as, to boost the morale of local Reds after police broke up and dispersed their roadblock holding back reinforcements for Bangkok on Monday. (TNA)