Thai forces fire shots at protestors

THAI security forces fired live rounds and rubber bullets at protesters during a clash just outside Bangkok yesterday as the Red Shirts tested the government’s vow to contain their disruptive rallies.

One soldier was killed – apparently by friendly fire – and at least 18 other people were hurt.

At one point in the chaos, security forces fired on a group of troops riding toward them on motorbikes in what appeared to be an accident, although some members of the security forces have been accused of siding with the protesters. At least four motorbikes crashed and one soldier was carried away on a stretcher, bleeding from the head.

The Red Shirts, who have paralysed parts of the capital for weeks with protests to bring down a government they view as illegitimate, had announced they were widening their demonstrations and dared the military to stop them.

Hundreds headed on motorbikes and pickup trucks to rally in a suburb, but the major road connecting Bangkok with its northern suburbs was blocked by government troops and razor wire.

Riot squads fired into the air to push back protesters, but several tried to remove the razor wire, prompting troops to level their rifles and shoot directly at protesters who fled into oncoming traffic. Police huddled behind riot shields, while soldiers wielding rifles took up positions behind concrete pylons.

According to the government’s Erawan emergency centre, a soldier was killed and 18 people wounded during the clash. Two of the wounded were soldiers, and the others were protesters.

The confrontation ended yesterday evening, and the protesters headed back to their enclave.

But the shooting raised concerns that more violence was to come after government warnings that patience was running out in the seven-week standoff.

Army spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said troops were told to use rubber bullets but also had authority to use live ammunition for self-defence.

“We brought force out to stop them. At this point, society finds it unacceptable to have protesters travelling in a motorcade like this,” Sansern said. “We try our best to prevent losses.”

The demonstration appeared intended to provoke the government, which has repeatedly said it will not tolerate protests beyond the Red Shirts’ enclave in the city.

It was the first confrontation since five grenades were fired near a gathering of counter-protesters last Thursday, killing one person.

At least 26 people have been killed and nearly 1,000 wounded since protesters began occupying parts of Bangkok in mid-March.

The Red Shirts’ ranks are largely drawn from supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and pro-democracy activists who opposed the military coup that ousted him in 2006 on corruption allegations.

The group believes that Abhisit’s government – backed by the urban elite – is illegitimate, having been helped into power by the country’s powerful military.