Thailand red shirts rule out talks

By Tim Johnston in Bangkok 2010-04-12

Thailand's red-shirted protesters remained defiantly camped on the streets of Bangkok yesterday after 20 people died in a night of bloodshed, and an opposition leader ruled out talks with the government.

The worst political violence to hit Thailand in almost two decades began on Saturday night after security forces launched an unsuccessful attempt to end more than a month of demonstrations in the heart of the capital. Troops used live rounds, tear gas and rubber bullets against demonstrators in the streets surrounding the Democracy Monument in old Bangkok.

But the protesters managed to keep the troops at bay with a hail of petrol bombs, rocks, water bottles and – according to the security forces – gunfire.

After a 30-minute battle, the army was forced to pull back, leaving more than 800 people injured. The country's leadership had been unwilling to sanction the use of unrestrained force. An unsettled calm returned to Bangkok yesterday, with young demonstrators swaggering around displaying trophies of what they considered their victory: captured body armour, shields, wrecked armoured personnel carriers and riot batons. The army also said the protesters were holding five soldiers hostage. Alongside the armoured carriers were overturned jeeps, and pools of blood, which had been turned into impromptu shrines.

For four weeks, they have camped out in the baking heat to back their demand that Abhisit Vejjajiva, the prime minister, resign and call new elections. The protesters wear red to signal their opposition to the yellow-clad backers of Mr Abhisit, who came to power in a controversial parliamentary vote 16 months ago.

泰国红衫军抗议者昨日仍据守在曼谷街道上对抗政府。在此前一夜的流血冲突中，共有20人丧生，而一名红衫军领导人宣称，不会与政府进行谈判。

始于上周六晚的冲突是泰国近20年来所遭遇的最严重的政治暴力事件。此前，泰国军警发动了一次不成功的尝试，试图终结在曼谷中心地带持续了一个多月的示威活动。军队动用了实弹、催泪瓦斯和橡胶弹，试图驱散在曼谷老城区民主纪念碑周围街道上聚集的示威者。

但抗议者朝军队投掷汽油弹、石块和水瓶，还进行（据泰国军警称）枪击，阻止了军警的行动。

经 过一场30分钟的战斗，军队被迫撤退，共有800多人受伤。该国政府此前一直不愿批准动用不受限制的武力。昨日，曼谷恢复了不安的平静，年轻的示威者大摇 大摆地到处展示他们眼中胜利的战利品：缴获的防弹衣、盾牌、毁坏的装甲运兵车，还有防暴警棍。泰国军方还声称，示威者持有5名士兵人质。装甲运兵车旁边有 多辆吉普车被掀翻在地，一摊摊血迹变成供人祭拜的临时神坛。