May 19, 2010 |
Crackdown in Bangkok
Earlier today, soldiers from the Thai Army broke down barricades and entered the fortified camp occupied by anti-government Red Shirt protesters for the past several weeks in downtown Bangkok. Several clashes took place, and Red Shirt leaders announced to their followers that they were surrendering to police as the soldiers approached. Many protesters dispersed, but some continued to battle with grenades, guns, slingshots and fire, setting as many as 20 locations ablaze in central Bangkok. At this stage, it is unclear how many have been killed or injured, but at least five are known to have died, with dozens more injured. Thai authorities have imposed a curfew as they battle fires, process detainees and clear the rest of the Red Shirt encampment. (39 photos total)
Thai soldiers storm through the barricade of anti-government protesters on Wednesday, May 19, 2010, in Bangkok, Thailand. Downtown Bangkok became a raging battleground Wednesday as the army stormed a barricaded protest camp and toppled the Red Shirt leadership, enraging demonstrators who fired grenades and set fires that cloaked the skyline in a black haze. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E )
Red Shirt anti-government protest leaders announce their surrender to a gathered crowd from the stage inside the protesters' camp in downtown Bangkok on May 19, 2010. Thai protest leaders surrendered and told thousands of Red Shirt supporters to end their weeks-long rally after an army assault on their fortified encampment. (PORNCHAI KITTIWONGSAKUL/AFP/Getty Images) #
The City Hall building burns after it was set on fire by Red Shirt protesters in Ubon Ratchathani province, north-east of Bangkok, May 19, 2010. Rioting and fires swept Bangkok on Wednesday after troops stormed a protest encampment, forcing protest leaders to surrender, but sparking clashes in Bangkok and triggering other unrest in northern Thailand. (REUTERS/Stringer) #
Freelance photographer Fabio Polenghi, 48, of Italy lies on a stretcher at Police Headquarter Hospital Wednesday, May 19, 2010, in Bangkok, Thailand, after being shot during a government crackdown on anti-government protestors. Polenghi was later pronounced dead by Thai doctors. (AP Photo/Wally Santana) #
More links and information
Thai Riots Grow Despite Appeal for Calm - NYTimes.com, 5/19
Curfew in Bangkok after surrender of red-shirt leaders - BBC News, 5/19
How did Thailand come to this? - Overview of the current situation and its background from BBC News
Images of Unrest in Northern Thailand and Bangkok - NYTimes.com Lede Blog
Earlier today, soldiers from the Thai Army broke down barricades and entered the fortified camp occupied by anti-government Red Shirt protesters for the past several weeks in downtown Bangkok. Several clashes took place, and Red Shirt leaders announced to their followers that they were surrendering to police as the soldiers approached. Many protesters dispersed, but some continued to battle with grenades, guns, slingshots and fire, setting as many as 20 locations ablaze in central Bangkok. At this stage, it is unclear how many have been killed or injured, but at least five are known to have died, with dozens more injured. Thai authorities have imposed a curfew as they battle fires, process detainees and clear the rest of the Red Shirt encampment. (39 photos total)
Thai soldiers storm through the barricade of anti-government protesters on Wednesday, May 19, 2010, in Bangkok, Thailand. Downtown Bangkok became a raging battleground Wednesday as the army stormed a barricaded protest camp and toppled the Red Shirt leadership, enraging demonstrators who fired grenades and set fires that cloaked the skyline in a black haze. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E )
Red Shirt anti-government protest leaders announce their surrender to a gathered crowd from the stage inside the protesters' camp in downtown Bangkok on May 19, 2010. Thai protest leaders surrendered and told thousands of Red Shirt supporters to end their weeks-long rally after an army assault on their fortified encampment. (PORNCHAI KITTIWONGSAKUL/AFP/Getty Images) #
The City Hall building burns after it was set on fire by Red Shirt protesters in Ubon Ratchathani province, north-east of Bangkok, May 19, 2010. Rioting and fires swept Bangkok on Wednesday after troops stormed a protest encampment, forcing protest leaders to surrender, but sparking clashes in Bangkok and triggering other unrest in northern Thailand. (REUTERS/Stringer) #
Freelance photographer Fabio Polenghi, 48, of Italy lies on a stretcher at Police Headquarter Hospital Wednesday, May 19, 2010, in Bangkok, Thailand, after being shot during a government crackdown on anti-government protestors. Polenghi was later pronounced dead by Thai doctors. (AP Photo/Wally Santana) #
More links and information
Thai Riots Grow Despite Appeal for Calm - NYTimes.com, 5/19
Curfew in Bangkok after surrender of red-shirt leaders - BBC News, 5/19
How did Thailand come to this? - Overview of the current situation and its background from BBC News
Images of Unrest in Northern Thailand and Bangkok - NYTimes.com Lede Blog