Scenes from Silom April 22
Labels:
PAD,
Red Shirts
Briefly, as I am on the way to Silom again tonight, I am posting some images from last night's violence on Silom road.
I arrived after the M79 grenades had exploded. For comments on such violence and the general state of ungovernability in Thailand see M79's and Ungovernability.
When I arrived, mob violence by PAD (yellow shirts, multicolored shirts, or whatever name they are using today) was in full swing and they were again setting upon people they suspected were reds.
Yet violence mostly raged between the PAD and the red frontline. Both sides fought spiritedly and the sound of breaking bottles, breaking windows, vulgar insults, and thousands of metal pieces of debris ricocheting off walls, cars, and signs was non-stop.
Police were doing nothing.
At one point, some police tried to clear the PAD but were violently rebuffed by the mob.
PAD members complained bitterly that the police were not protecting them from the reds. This was also in relation to the M79 attacks which had caused the PAD to scream and hiss at the police while cheering when military troops moved through the lines.
Things further degenerated with skirmishes raging between the PAD and the reds and between the PAD and the police.
While police tried to hold their lines, the PAD pelted them with bottles and rocks launched from slingshots.
The whole time, rocks and other metal objects were being launched at the PAD from the red's fortified barrier. Reds also launch a number of fireworks at the PAD and there were many loud explosions that were likely fireworks.
While tensions were high, a moment of levity came when a PAD member with a slingshot ran up to a couple of journalists taking shelter behind a firetruck, and while scanning the ground, ask if anyone had a flashlight to help him find rocks or other ammunition for his slingshot. We all laughed, wished him luck, but we would be somewhat compromised to help in the fray.
At about 11:40 pm, the police were either ordered to clear the PAD or had simply had enough of being at the receiving end of the hostility.
Police formed a line at the end of Silom road, started thumbing their truncheons against their shields, and then began moving into the PAD.
The PAD threw rocks, bottles, sticks, metal barriers, and tried to drag razor wire in front of the police as they retreated down the street. One guy even swung a large fire extinguisher at the police (see bellow).
Once under the Sala Deang BTS station, the PAD were trapped by lines of military couched bellow their riot shields.
It was chaos as they funneled into the few spaces between troops as they were running in an open sprint with the cops right behind.
When the police caught them it was violent retribution. Those that struggled were beaten.
It was another ugly night of violence on Silom road and likely not the last.
last night there was an incident not much (if at all) covered in MSM: when police were confronted by army and some soldiers have pointed guns at police, even though some of whom were officers. (I have provided some more details in my comment on other blog )
ReplyDeletea reader contribution to New Mandala:
ReplyDelete"As I crossed from the Government controlled Silom Road to Red Controlled Ratchadamri, I noticed a large difference between the two crowds. The yellow side proceeded to symbolically burn some red clothing quite close to the intersection. This created a cloud of smoke and a sort of frenzy as people ran towards the burning red shirt while shouting loudly. Pro-Government supporters were going wild shouting obscenities at the reds. It was quite the scene. The authorities kept clear of the “no colour” activities. The fact that they were staging a gathering of more than five right in the middle of hundreds of police officers didn’t seem to matter at all. I then walked over to the red side where they were continuously constructing their encampment out of tires and sharpened bamboo. I crossed through to a much quieter environment where a gentleman with a huge smile presented my friend with a red clapper. She was visiting for the first time and loved it. The environment on the red side was actually quite relaxed compared to the activities taking place accross the street but passion is still high and numbers are still strong."
Great shots, great work, excellent.
ReplyDeleteI'm a foreigner living in Bangkok and have spent a number of days and countless hours around Silom / Lumpini / Ratchaprasong over the last few weeks, and I can say this website has the most accurate reportage of any, and some fine photos as well. It is very agreed that the yellow ("multicolor") side is more rabid -- it is no wonder why large police battalions have had no choice but to accost them and push the yellows back. One foreigner commented that the yellows had the cops and army all on their side, but they took it too far. In comparison, the "reds" are well behaved and cause police no problems, as far as I've seen.
ReplyDeleteKeep up the great work.