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Bangkok ablaze; Thai Red Shirts' declared 'class war' erupts

rural prole solidarity (non-farang) | 19.05.2010 16:02

- Banks, stock exchange and media outlets targetted after army makes move on dispersing Red-Shirt protest camp just after dawn this morning (19/05). Fires ablaze all across the city. Reports that the army have shot at protestors in Victory Monument, Central Bangkok.
- Bangkok under overnight curfew tonight.
- Curfew extended to 21 provinces in North and NE of Thailand. Attacks on town halls and banks reported in NE provinces
More reports here:  http://www.indymedia-letzebuerg.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=50387&Itemid=28
& here:  http://indymedia.org.au/2010/05/19/western-governments-silent-in-face-of-thai-massacre

Reports that the army have shot at protestors in Victory Monument, Central Bangkok

The Nation newspaper in Bangkok is reporting via its Facebook group (it's own site is very slow to load) that out of the "27 gutted spots" 19 are banks. Scores of prominent buildings have been torched including the stock exchange, shopping malls, and banks in Bangkok.

Reports that on "Red Radio", in defiance of ceasefire call of Red-Shirt leaders, callout was made that "if you pass by a bank, burn it down".

Journalists have been forced to flee their offices after protesters took out their anger on the Thai media which is seen as sympathetic to the government. The Bangkok Post and Channel 3 television were both evacuated. Outside Ch-3, cars parked outside the building were set on fire and protesters then entered the Channel 3 building and set it on fire.

Central World - South East Asia's second biggest department store - has be destroyed by fire. It is said to be the equivalent of a large part of Oxford Street in London going up in flames.
U-Tube vid:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puEiNl3k2IY&feature=player_embedded#

Reports that people who tried to flee expensive apartment blocks in the centre of town were unable to get through their own security barriers because of power failure.

Curfew has been imposed in Bangkok and across 21 provinces reports of violence having spread throughout the North east of the country, with the old city hall buildings in the north-eastern province of Udon Thani having been set on fire and rioters burned tyres and set up barricades on several of Udon Thani's main streets. City halls in the provincial capitals of the northern provinces of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai also came under attack by anti-government rioters, and anti-government demonstrations also occurred in the north-eastern provinces of Khon Kaen, Roi Et, Si Sa Ket and Ubon Ratchathani.
City Hall, Khon Kaen Thailand, May 19, 2010:
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MeYE4q4gXk

Udon today:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBifZnoNw_8

Source for some of this info:
Ref:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-of-The-Nation/147232991936

More info:
Thai Red Shirts declare 'class war'
Ref:  http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Thai-Red-Shirts-Declare-Class-War-t348629.html

background:
 http://khikwai.com/blog/2010/03/23/thai-style-democracy-1958-2010/comment-page-1/#comment-10431

rural prole solidarity (non-farang)

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