Protestors sit on a seized army armoured vehicle after overnight clashes between the army and "Red Shirt" protesters in central Bangkok. Defiant "Red Shirt" Thai protesters vowed to keep up their bid to topple the government, after the country's worst political violence in almost two decades left 21 dead and over 800 injured. (AFP/Manpreet Romana)
Red-shirted supporters of fugitive former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra scuffle with Thai riot police officers during continued anti-government protests in central Bangkok. Defiant "Red Shirt" Thai protesters vowed to keep up their bid to topple the government, after the country's worst political violence in almost two decades left 21 dead and over 800 injured. (AFP/Nicolas Asfouri)
Protesters and supporters of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra pay last respect to a coffin of their comrade who was killed during the clashes with Thai soldiers during a memorial service at democracy monument Sunday, April 11, 2010 in Bangkok, Thailand. Anti-government protesters dug into their encampments around Bangkok and rejected talk of negotiations Sunday after a monthlong standoff escalated into clashes that killed 21 people in Thailand's worst political violence in nearly two decades. (AP Photo/Apichart Weerawong)
via CAAI News Media
by Thanaporn Promyamyai – Sun Apr 11, 2010
BANGKOK (AFP) – Defiant "Red Shirt" Thai protesters vowed Sunday to keep up their bid to topple the government, after the country's worst political violence in almost two decades left 21 dead and over 800 injured.
Protest leaders, who have promised to maintain their campaign until the government dissolves parliament and calls fresh elections, demanded Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva step down and leave the country.
Seventeen civilians, including a Japanese TV cameraman, and four soldiers were killed following Saturday's crackdown on the red-shirted supporters of fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra in Bangkok, the emergency services told AFP.
On Sunday evening Reds gathered to mourn the loss of their comrades at the city's Democracy Monument -- the scene of a fierce battle on Saturday -- where grieving relatives led a procession holding gold-framed pictures of the dead.
They were followed by weeping men carrying caskets, a couple containing bodies draped with Thai flags and flowers. Some onlooking protesters prayed and others waved red banners. Related article: Japan urges probe into journalist's death
It is the latest chapter in years of turmoil pitting the ruling elite against the mainly poor and rural Reds, who say the government is illegitimate as it came to power in 2008 after a court ousted Thaksin's allies from power.
The violence erupted when troops tried to clear one of two sites in the centre of the capital occupied by the protesters for the past month. Soldiers fired in the air and used tear gas while the Reds responded by hurling rocks.
As the clashes intensified gunshots echoed around the city and both sides accused the other of using live ammunition. Emergency services said two protesters were killed by gunshot wounds to the head.
The government denied troops had opened fire on protesters with live rounds.
"Weapons were used only in self defence and to fire into the air. We don't find any evidence that soldiers used weapons against people," government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn told a press conference.
More than 200 soldiers were injured, 90 of them seriously, he said. One of the dead was a colonel.
At one stage protesters overwhelmed and captured an armoured personnel carrier, while army spokesman Sunsern Kaewkumnerd said government weapons had fallen into the hands of the demonstrators.
The army later retreated, calling for a truce with the demonstrators, who were holding five soldiers hostage. Thousands of protesters remained on the streets at the two main protest sites on Sunday.
"Abhisit must leave Thailand," Reds leader Veera Musikapong told supporters. "We ask all government officials to stop serving this government."
The government said an investigation had been launched into the violence and that negotiations were under way to bring about a resolution to the stand-off without further unrest.
The Thomson Reuters news agency said one its journalists, Japanese cameraman Hiro Muramoto, died after being shot in the chest during the protest. Tokyo urged Bangkok to investigate the death.
The unrest marked Thailand's worst political violence since 1992 and the United States urged both sides to show restraint.
The protesters called on the country's revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej to intervene to prevent further bloodshed.
"Did anybody inform the king that his children were killed in the middle of the road without justice?" Reds leader Jatuporn Prompan said. "Is there anyone close to him who told him of the gunfights?"
Although he has no official political role, the hospitalised king is seen as a unifying figure. During a 1992 uprising he chastised both the military and protest leaders, effectively bringing the violence to an end.
Tensions briefly escalated again late Sunday as around 200 Reds drove motorcycles to a nearby bridge, on apparently unfounded rumours that the army was approaching.
Top Red Weng Tojirakarn said their People Television (PTV) station was switched back on after the government twice pulled the plug on the channel.
Thai flags, red roses and incense sticks were placed on pools of blood where protesters were killed or wounded in the Khaosan Road backpacker district, a few yards from a number of ruined cars with their windows smashed in.
Abhisit offered his condolences over the deaths but refused to bow to the protesters' calls to resign.
Arrest warrants have been issued for many of the senior Red leaders but so far none is reported to have been taken into custody.
Thaksin, who was ousted in a bloodless coup in 2006 and is now based mainly in Dubai, also offered his condolences to the victims and their families via the micro-blogging site Twitter.
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