One Soldier Dead - 19 Injuries - Red-Shirts Sealed Off in Latest Clash

[Gaybutton]

Article and video on CNN web site.

 

If protesters come within 100 meters of soldiers, use of tear gas is authorized. If they come within 30 meters, use of live ammunition is authorized.

 

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/04/28/thailand.protests/index.html?hpt=T2

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Red Rally Site Isolated

 

Troops, protesters clash on highway Soldier shot dead, 19 people injured

 

Published: 29/04/2010

 

Security authorities have ordered Bangkok police to close all roads around the red shirt rally site as of last night to increase the pressure on the anti-government group.

 

Sources said the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation imposed the order to block the movement of red shirt supporters going in and out of the site which is spread over a vast area from Phong Phraram west of Mahboonkrong to Asok/Phetchaburi in the east, and down Sathon to Narathiwat Ratchanakarin.

 

No mention was made of trying to stop essential supplies, only people and weapons, the source said.

 

Traffic is closed at the Asok-Montree, Phayathai, Sala Daeng, Phong Phraram, Narathiwat and Henri Dunant intersections, isolating the red shirt demonstrators scattered around the Ratchaprasong intersection, the centre said.

 

Reinforcements of troops and police have been sent to the Sala Daeng intersection. Businesses and offices in the area have been advised to close early.

 

Efforts to contain the red shirts were stepped up by the CRES soon after a tense four-hour stand-off between protesters and security forces on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road near the National Memorial in Lum Luk Ka district in Pathum Thani.

 

The centre said one soldier was shot dead. Another two soldiers and 17 protesters were injured in skirmishes.

 

The dead soldier was identified as Pvt Narongrit Sala of the 9th Infantry Division based in Kanchanaburi, who was accidentally shot in the head by another soldier while riding a motorcycle towards the National Memorial during the clashes, the source said. He was one of the members of the army's rapid deployment force.

 

Red rally site isolated

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Highway Battle

 

By The Nation

April 29, 2010

 

Troops and hardline red-shirt protesters tested each other's resolve yesterday leading to violent clashes on the Vibhavadi Rangsit highway, leaving one soldier dead and at least 18 people injured.

 

One day after the government signalled its readiness to get tough and the red protesters suffered a rare defeat in Pathum Thani, a joint force of soldiers and police tried to stop a caravan of red-shirt protesters on their way to the same province for a new showdown.

 

But this time clashes occurred in the Don Muang area and the National Memorial, both located on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road.

 

The soldier was killed after being shot in his head but it was unclear yesterday who was responsible for the death. The CNN News website reported that the soldier was accidentally killed by fire from security forces. But there was no response from the authorities.

 

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's Erawan emergency centre identified the dead soldier as Private Narongrit Sara from the Ninth Infantry Division in Kanchanaburi. Of the 18 injured, three people were in serious condition; 16 of them are civilians and two soldiers, according to the centre.

 

A video clip circulated on the Internet yesterday showed a motorcycle-riding soldier falling down after he appeared to be shot. Security forces fired on troops riding towards them on motorbikes in what appeared to be an accident, The Associated Press reported. At least four motorbikes crashed and one soldier was carried away on a stretcher, bleeding profusely from the head. Several others from the group threw their hands in the air.

 

The clashes began in the Don Muang area at about 1.30pm and then at the National Memorial several kilometres away shortly before 3pm.

 

Highway battle

[Guest fountainhall]

The dead soldier was identified as Pvt Narongrit Sala of the 9th Infantry Division based in Kanchanaburi, who was accidentally shot in the head by another soldier while riding a motorcycle towards the National Memorial during the clashes, the source said. He was one of the members of the army's rapid deployment force.

I feel for the dead soldier's family and comrades. I realise also that 'friendly fire' can happen in all hostile situations. But I cannot help seeing this as yet another sad example of the ineptitude which has been shown by the government, the army and others in this on-going stand-off.

[Guest GaySacGuy]

I am sure that many of these soldiers are nothing more than scared..I mean really scared.. kids (most of lower ranks are somewhere around 19 years old) who are between a rock and a hard place. When people act directly out of fear, there will be mistakes made!!