One killed, 37 injured in clashes between troops, Red Shirts

BANGKOK, May 14 (TNA) – One person was killed while 37 others, including a foreign correspondent, were wounded in the security operation to pressure anti-government Red Shirt protesters to end their month-long protest in the Thai’s capital key business area.

Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanavisit confirmed on Friday a taxi dirver was killed and 37 persons were wounded in day-long clashes between troops and Red Shirts.

Mr Jurin said among the injured, two are journalists of Matichon newspaper and Voice TV, while another is a foreign correspondent.

The clashes between security forces and Red Shirt protesters started Thursday night after key Red Shirt ally Maj-Gen Khattiya Sawasdipol was shot at his head while being interviewed by foreign media at Sala Daeng Intersection.

Thursday night one person was killed and eight were wounded in a clash between troops and protesters in front of the main entrance of Lumpini Park.

The confrontation resumed Friday morning when troops fired warning shots as they moved against red-shirted protesters at the Wireless Road-Rama IV Road intersection. The protesters were squeezed in near the Suan Lum (Lumpini) Night Bazaar, later retreating into Sarasin intersection but not before setting fire to an empty police bus.

The army detained more than 20 Red Shirts after successfully pushing the protesters from Wireless-Rama IV intersection.

Kluaynamthai Hospital director Suvinai Busarakamwong said a 33-year-old man, identified as Inplaeng Thetwong, was shot dead in his chest during a clash at Bon Kai intersection, not far from Lumpini Boxing Stadium. Five others have been admitted to the hospital, among them two who are seriously injured.

FRANCE 24 television channel reported its English-language Canadian correspondent in Thailand, Nelson Rand, was shot in the leg, hand and abdomen, while covering violent clashes at Wireless Road. He was sent to nearby Chulalongkorn Hospital for surgery.

Another clash occurred at Ratchaprarop intersection where soldiers were deployed opposite the Bai Yok Sky Tower. Red Shirt demonstrators advanced against the troops forcing their temporary retreat from the area, but the army responded with tear gas to push the protesters back again.

Four bomb-like sounds were heard from the front of Bai Yok Sky Tower, causing tension in the area.

The Centre for the Resolution of Emergency Situation (CRES) carried out its operation to seal off Bangkok’s prime commercial area of Ratchaprasong where Red Shirt protesters have encamped for nearly six weeks after the movement refused to disperse from the rally site despite the premier’s reconciliation road map.

Several roads around and leading to Ratchaprasong including Phayathai, Petchaburi and Wireless roads are closed since Thursday evening, while water and power supplied have been cut off and all public transport services were suspended to pressure the Red Shirts leave the Ratchaprasong compound.

All MRT underground services stopped at 5pm Friday, and the BTS Skytrain stopped earlier at 4pm for safety reasons. No vehicles are allowed to enter the sealed area. Violators could face two-year jail term.

CRES spokesman Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd said Friday afternoon troops successfully controlled the area under Thai-Belgium Flyover earlier occupied by the Red Shirts and will attempt to set up checkpoints on Wireless Road to prevent possible gunshots from Lumpini Park.

Col Sansern said there’s still an attempt to incite chaos on Rama IV Road near Bon Kai intersection.

The CRES later ordered the closure of part of Rama IV Road to maintain order.

“The rally at Ratchaprasong and nearby areas, the protesters must accept that an armed group exists and weapons have been used against security personnel without objection from any protester,” said Col Sansern.

The CRES spokesman urged the protesters who do not want any violence to separate themselves from the armed persons and their grievances can be addressed through negotiations, adding security forces will be able to work easier if only armed groups are left in the area. (TNA)