Tension heightens as troops advance closer to Thai protesters

The Nation ,  Bangkok   |  Tue, 04/14/2009 10:43 AM  |  World

Thai PBS reported live at 10:11 am that troops were advancing closer to the protesters at the Government House, heightening the tension in the area.

The station said troops were apparently prepared to disperse the protesters soon.

Armoured personnel carriers were moving towards the protesters in front of a hospital near Yommaraj intersection.

Carriers led troops to advance to the protesters.

Troops told local residents to move into safe places as they were about to launch an operation to clear the protesters.

More troops were deployed to surround red-shirted protesters outside the Government House Tuesday morning in what seen as final preparations before a crackdown.

At 8:30 am, about 450 troops armed with batons, shields or teargas launchers and armoured personnel carriers were deployed to  Yommaraj Intersection nearly at the same time when troops were deployed to other three  intersections.

Sources said troops inside the Government House also prepared to fire teargases to prevent protesters from climbing in.

By nightfall Monday, clashes that had gripped several parts of the city, wounding 113 people, had ebbed. But as the demonstrators tried to make their way back to their base around Government House, deadly fighting erupted between them and residents.

Most of Bangkok's newspapers, irrespective of their political leanings, lashed out at the protesters with editorials describing them as "thugs" and "urban terrorists."

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva praised the efforts of security forces, saying they used "soft means" and "prevented as much damage as possible," though ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra - the man most protesters consider their leader - accused the military of covering up the number of people killed in the day's battles.

Abhisit said the news that two people had been killed and 12 wounded in a gunbattle between protesters and residents at Nang Lerng market was "a regrettable incident." But he said that "with the cooperation of the public, I believe success (in restoring peace) is near."
 

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