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Thai military begin armed crackdown on protestors

RIA Novosti

19/05/201007:33

Government troops advanced into the opposition encampment in downtown Bangkok as an operation to disperse mass protests began early on Wednesday.

A RIA Novosti correspondent reported that at about 7:30 local time [0:30 GMT] the troops opened fire at outer barricades of the main opposition encampment in downtown Bangkok.

There are reports of injuries, though no official reports have been released yet. The wounded are being taken to the Central police hospital in the heart of the opposition's tent city.

A government spokesman said on the national TV that a military operation to end the "unsanctioned rally" would continue throughout the day, and called on Bangkok residents to avoid visiting the area. Residents of the neighboring districts were advised to stay indoors.

The red shirts have been rallying in downtown Bangkok since early April have and ignored a deadline to leave.

The protestors set their barricades ablaze to prevent the troops from approaching the tent city. The area is covered with thick black smoke from burning tyres. The most serious blaze was detected near a local hospital, and several firefighting units have already been called to the scene. Patients were evacuated from the hospital on Tuesday.

Opposition leaders have told women and the elderly to take cover in a Buddhist temple in the area, which has been declared a neutral zone. Traditionally, armed people are barred from entering such places. Rough actions, such as arrests, are also banned.

A Thai senator, who conducted talks with the government and protestors earlier this week, said all his efforts to prevent violence had come to nothing.

"Our efforts were useless. The opposition proposed a ceasefire, but the government decided to storm [the place] on Tuesday morning... If the troops enter the Ratchaprasong square today [on Wednesday], at least a hundred protestors will be killed and at least a thousand will be injured," he said.

At least 37 people were killed and almost 300 were injured in sporadic clashes after government troops were deployed to seal off the encampment to end the riots on May 13.

A state of emergency has been imposed in 17 Thai provinces, which have shown support for the opposition. The regions include Pattaya, a popular resort for Russian tourists, located on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand.