Violence erupts after red-shirt leaders surrender

Violence erupted at several locations in Bangkok after some red-shirt leaders turned themselves in to police on Wednesday afternoon.

Several red-shirt leaders including Natthawut Saikua, Jatuporn Prompan, Kwanchai Praipana, Nisit Sintuprai, Yoswarit Chuklom and Whiphutalaeng Pattanaphuthai were seen surrendering to police at the Royal Thai Police headquarters at about 1.30pm.

But three other leaders — Arisman Pongruengrong, Weng Tojirakarn and Arisman Pongruengrong — did not surrender.

Red-shirt leader Jatuporn Prompan announced from the stage at 1.15pm that that he and other leaders would surrender to prevent further losses.

“I apologise to you all but I don’t want any more losses. I am devastated too. We will surrender,” he said.

He also announced the ending of the anti-government protest.

But the announcement did not put the end to waves of riotting and arsoning around the capital. Many key buildings were set ablaze such as upmarket Central World shopping complex near the Ratchaprasong intersection, the TV Channel 3 station, a section of the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) building and the Metropolitan Electricity Authority Office were set ablaze.

The Channel 3 was forced to stop broadcasting in the late afternoon after the Maleenont building was set on fire. Employees of the network had to flee to the building’s top floor waiting for evacuation by helicopter.

There were many incidents of vandalism as rioters burned down public properties such as phone booths and bank branches.

…http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/178444/violence-erupts-after-red-shirt-leaders-surrender