Wallenda Posted January 17, 2014 Report Share Posted January 17, 2014 Explosion hits Bangkok protests, wounding many BANGKOK (AP) — More than 20 people were wounded in Thailand's capital Friday when an explosion hit anti-government demonstrators marching through the capital, the city's emergency services center said. The movement's leader, Suthep Thaugsuban, was in the procession but was not wounded in the blast, protest spokesman Akanat Promphan said. Akanat said an explosive device was thrown into a truck driven by demonstrators that was several dozen meters (yards) ahead of Suthep. Thailand has been wracked by repeated bouts of unrest since the military ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra in 2006 amid charges of corruption and alleged disrespect for the monarchy. The crisis boiled over again late last year after a failed ruling party bid to push through an amnesty bill that would have allowed Thaksin to return from exile. Anti-government demonstrators who are now seeking to oust Thaksin's sister, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, have taken over seven key roads and overpasses in Bangkok this week, blocking them off with sandbag walls and steel barricades. The protests have been peaceful, but small acts of violence have reported nightly at protest venues, which have been targeted in shooting attacks and with small explosives hurled at the homes of top protest supporters. Overnight, two motorcycle-riding suspects drove past the residence of Bangkok Gov. Sukhumbhand Paribatra and hurled a grenade inside, according to Police Col. Samarn Rodkamnerd. Sukhumbhand — who is member of the Democrat Party which is backing the protesters — was not home at the time and no injuries or serious damage was reported. The attack was similar to another grenade attack on the home of Abhisit Vejjajiva, a former Democrat premier whose party lost to Yingluck's in a 2011 vote. The violence comes as Yingluck faced fresh legal troubles Friday after the country's anti-corruption commission announced it would investigate her handling of a controversial rice policy. The legal threat added to the intense pressure against her caretaker administration to resign as protesters calling for her ouster march across the capital for a fifth day to protest at government offices. The National Anti-Corruption Commission said Thursday that it had found grounds to investigate allegations that Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra was criminally negligent in her handling of what the government has described as a deal to export surplus rice to China. The commission has already determined that there are grounds to press charges against her former commerce minister and more than a dozen other officials. If found guilty, Yingluck Shinawatra would be forced to resign. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/01/17/bangkok-protest-explosions/4560559/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JaiRai Posted January 17, 2014 Report Share Posted January 17, 2014 Coup. Coming. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waerth Posted January 17, 2014 Report Share Posted January 17, 2014 For live update and much more info see the Here we go thread Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coss Posted January 17, 2014 Report Share Posted January 17, 2014 Coup. Coming. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waerth Posted January 17, 2014 Report Share Posted January 17, 2014 Nope no coup, it is what Thakky wants. So he can play the misunderstood guy and the western govs will support him. Army knows this. They are waiting for the whole govt to be charged on the rice scheme I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted January 17, 2014 Report Share Posted January 17, 2014 31 protesters injured in bomb attack against Suthep's procession Thirty-one protesters were injured when an unknown assailant lobbed a grenade at the procession led by People's Democratic Reform Committee secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban on Banthad Thong Road at noon Friday. The explosion damaged a pick-up truck. As of 3:18 pm, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s Erawan Emergency Medical Services Centre reported that 31 people were injured in the bomb attack on Banthad Thong Road. Tweleve of the injured were rushed to the Ramathibodi Hospital, eight to Huachiew Hospital, three to the BMA Central Hospital, and eight to Chualongkorn Hospital. Several protesters were seen covered in blood on the Bluesky satellite TV that broadcast the incident live. Some of them were rushed away in a pick-up truck and a Siriraj Hospital ambulance rushed to the scene to pick up the rest of the injured. Bullet holes could clearly be seen on the pick up’s trunk. Protesters were seen running into a deserted building, trying to find the assailant. PDRC security officers said the bomb was lobbed from a three-storey building. The building is in the process of demolition. The attack happened near Lotus Charoenphol shopping mall. It happened before Suthep was about to pass the area. Military police from the Army rushed to the scene to inspect the explosion. Army officers were seen on Bluesky showing what appeared to be bomb shrapnel to reporters. Satit Wongnongtaey, a protest leader, said he would discuss security measures with Suthep followng a bomb attack on Banthad Thong Raod and attacks at the Chaeng Wattana rally site. Satit said the bomb attack against the march by Suthep on Banthad Thong Road did not terrify the people. He said caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra must take responsibility for the violence. Army Ordnance Corps officers found an assortment of war weapons in a room of the deserted building from which a grenade was lobbed at protesters on Banthad Thong Road. Army Ordnance officer and Bluesky and another TV station reporters went inside the building to check and found a bomb's safety pin and an assortment of war weapons. Bluesky reported that there were also a refrigerator, clothes, bath towel, foam foods packages, and a red cap in the room. Footage of Bluesky also showed a whiteboard with details plans of attacks against certain vehicles with dates and times. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/31-protesters-injured-in-bomb-attack-against-Suthe-30224521.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted January 17, 2014 Report Share Posted January 17, 2014 Total of 36 now confirmed wounded. ------------- Security guards and soldiers are surrounding a row of deserted buildings where they believed bomb suspects are still hiding. Guards and soldiers told crowd of protesters to keep off the row building as they were not certain if the suspects are still armed or not. Guards are certain one of the suspects is still inside the 4-story deserted building. http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/category/breakingnews/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted January 17, 2014 Report Share Posted January 17, 2014 Thai Red Cross pleads for urgent blood donation following blast The Thai Red Cross Friday pleaded for urgent blood donations after a lot of blood units were sent to help hospitals taking care of Banthad Thong blast victims. The Thai Red Cross announced that the donation time for Friday has been extended to 7:30 pm. And donors can also give blood from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm on Saturday and Sunday. It said 100 units were sent to Chulalongkorn Hospital, 60 unites to Ramathibodi Hospital, and 80 units to Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's Central Hospital. It said these hospitals need a lot of more blood units and there could be a shortage. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Thai-Red-Cross-pleads-for-urgent-blood-donation-fo-30224567.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claro que si Posted January 17, 2014 Report Share Posted January 17, 2014 Nope no coup, it is what Thakky wants. So he can play the misunderstood guy and the western govs will support him. Army knows this. They are waiting for the whole govt to be charged on the rice scheme I think. Perhaps, but I doubt the west will find him as a sympathetic character. Thaksin miscalculated the amnesty bill and his response to the protests could also prove to be a miscalculation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted January 17, 2014 Report Share Posted January 17, 2014 Suggestions that today's grenade attack was a bungled assassination attempt on Suthep. Don't know if I agree with that, but it is possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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