Death toll from Bangkok protests climbs to 21

http://www.timesofearth.com/Worldnews/?NT=0&nid=20544 Bangkok, Thailand - The death toll from Thailand's worst political violence in nearly two decades has risen to 20.

More than 800 people were also wounded in clashes between anti-government protesters known as the "red shirts", and security forces.

The figures, given on Sunday by the Erawan Medical Centre, rose overnight although the fighting, some of it in Bangkok's well-known tourist areas, had ended after the security forces pulled back late on Saturday and urged the red shirts to do the same.

Both sides have said they are trying to confirm the exact number of casualties from the street battle but the dead included of soldiers and civilians, including Hiro Muramoto, a 43-year-old Japanese cameraman for the Reuters news agency who was covering the protests.

Sean Boonpracong, a spokesman for the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship, which is leading the protests, said the red shirts' "morale is strong" and they would continue their fight to bring the government down.
"We are evaluating the situation and trying to organise a counterattack," he told Reuters news agency.

He said protesters were "ready for negotiations if the government offers us something" but also said it was true that they were looking to "finish off" Abhisit Vejjajiva, the prime minister, on Sunday.

"What he [Abhisit] did yesterday was unacceptable. He claims that he wants to handle this in peace but clearly what the army did was fire live bullets what the prime minister said about the peaceful handing of the reds is simply not true," Boonpracong said.

The spokesman added that the protesters' original demands that Abhisit resign and dissolve parliament in 15 days had changed to "dissolution immediately and Abhisit must leave the country".

But Abhisit, who has been holed up at an army barracks, said late on Saturday that he would not bow to his opponents' demands.
"I and my government will continue to work to resolve the situation," he said in a televised address to the nation.

Abhisit expressed regret to the families of the victims and said the army was only allowed to use live bullets when "firing into the air and in self-defence".

Panitan Wattanayagorn, a spokesman for the government, denied that soldiers were ordered to fire on the protesters.

"We believe the soldiers operated under the fixed orders of the government not to use live bullets, not to use weapons against the people," he told AFP news agency.

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Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Thai
• protesters
• remain
• defiant

[nicki452]

TH need not shit Abisit who is a murderer!

Thailand also not need a king who only is a liar and exploiter of his country(he is the richest monarch on earth even reacher then people in dubai his land people suffer and must sell their daugthers to tourists, the rich elite exploit the big mass without any feeling for shame and with a completely lack of decency ).

People have the brave to stand for truth get murdered in the land of so called smile. DOWN WITH MONARCHY AND YELLOWS<=SHIT MURDERER

[herenful]

Thai king and illegal government burn down democracy of Thailand in front of Thai people eyes without election. And using “less majesty law” to shut up Thai people mouth and put them in jail. This behaviour is a crime and against human right.

[deduzz]

@prophercy2012

yeah i doubt u can say anything face to face

we need some pesticide on this guy

[prophercy2012]

@deduzz Attention people! I heard the burned down Central World bancock shopping mall will be rebuild into bancock Central Whore..... wow, more $ investment for thailand now.

[deduzz]

@prophercy2012

Even thai people wont go that low

we are really impressed by how some foreigners takes it in the ass some night

you are cheaper than a hooker lol

thats what my American ppl here are making fun of cuz they see now how things really are hahaha

how ironic

[deduzz]

@prophercy2012

its soo funny that so many people like talk down on thailand abt cheap sex

but they still keep on comming hahaha shame on youu

we dont even touch our hookers their filthy!

and all i saw foreigners do is hook up with ladyboys or those that are really cheap(cuz they cant tell the difference? hahaha)

[deduzz]

@prophercy2012

and nice job on getting your fresh new youtube account

i believe we have met before as other name huh

you people are wierd man

talk so much shit to people then change their account

what a puzzy

[deduzz]

@prophercy2012

haha youve been there huh khmer

there are lots of khmer hookers in pattaya you know

and the reason why is because they cant sell anything in Cambodia hahaha lame

[deduzz]

@igginserina

yeah and i thought you got some brain cells in you

but now i c that you talk like a little kid making lame jokes insulting ppl

you know that isnt true, and u c i dont get angry when ppl talk with their anus and not with brain. i dont get insulted by ur brainless american jokes man and i think people that do are dumb enough to even listen

get real and grow up u sad little fuk

[prophercy2012]

@deduzz LOL hahaa. Me love you long time. 5 baht take me all da way 555