Thai PM Says Bangkok Situation Under Control
Thailand’s prime minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva, has addressed the nation via a live television broadcast (23.00 local time) and has said the situation in Bangkok is now under control. Abhisit said the action to restore order is almost complete with the protesters now confined to the area close to Government House.
It remains to be seen how many people have been killed in today’s incidents. At various stages of the day, the red shirts clashed with soldiers, local residents and vendors. It has been reported that two market vendors have died following the fighting whilst the red shirts are saying that some of their group have been shot dead by soldiers.
Today has been a very sad day for Thailand with Thais fighting each other. Images of burning buses, shots being fired and petrol bombs being thrown have been beamed across the world. Numerous countries issued travel advisories warning their citizens against travel to Bangkok. With the economic downturn and the after-effects of last year’s airport closures still filtering through, Thailand’s tourist industry is sure to take another massive blow.
Abhisit is saying it will all be over in the next few days, but with an estimated 30,000 protesters still encamped at Government House the situation is far from over. The red shirts still have large support in the north and north-eastern provinces and unrest ‘upcountry’ is a possibility. Whether there is still an appetite for more disorder is another question. Abhisit will still have to tread carefully in the way he deals with those remaining at Government House, but the next test could come from the provinces outside of Bangkok.
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