Thai Police fire Tear Gas on demonstrators as crisis deepens

Bangkok's political crisis deepens after Thai riot police fired tear gas at protesters in front of Metropolitan Police headquarters yesterday. Members of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) tried to block the entrance to the headquarters, forcing the police to use tear gas. Witnesses said police fired more than 10 rounds of tear gas into a crowd of protesters gathered in front of the police station. The police however denied firing tear gas.


(Photo credit: Bangkok Post)

Last night I watched Thai PBS, which showed a video footage in slow motion that clearly showed an object being hurled from within the Police headquarters compound onto the protesters outside, and the object landed inches away from a protester who was crawling on the ground. Smoke quickly engulfed the area as protesters covered their faces and were crawling away from the gate.


(Photo credit: AFP Photo/Wason Wanichakorn)


(Photo credit: Bangkok Post)


(Photo credit: Bangkok Post)

Thai riot police scuffled with demonstrators barricaded inside the Government House compound early on Friday as they delivered an eviction order against the group seeking to oust the government.


(Photo credit: AFP)

Many protesters including women and elderly were injured in the protests on Friday. One woman was reported to have broken her leg. Protesters had also rallied at the Royal Turf Club, where anti-riot police were stationed, to demand punishment for officers responsible for ordering the crackdown on the crowds at Makawan Rangsan Bridge.

The political crisis has spilled over to other parts of Thailand after this incident, as authorities closed Phuket, Krabi and Hat Yai airports.

THAI union leaders have encouraged Thai Airways International, the national airlines' workers to "take leave" in support of the PAD. The movement's sympathizers in Trat, Trang and Kanchanaburi were said to be planning to travel to Bangkok to join the protest. The chairwoman of the labor union of Thai Airways International told 15,000 members of the union to strike in retaliation of police's brutality. Chaemsri Sukchoterat said 15,000 members of the union would stop working immediately to respond to the police's use of force against peaceful protesters. She said if the government did not stop using force against protesters, all 25,000 Thai workers would be told to stop working.

Emails were circulated apologizing for the inconvenience caused by the PAD.

The pressure is mounting on prime minister Samak Sundaravej to resign as anti-government protesters occupied his headquarters for a fifth day on Saturday and disrupted rail and air service in some of the country's most popular tourist destinations.


(Photo credit: Manager Online)

Samak Sundaravej made an unannounced trip to the southern town of Hua Hin to meet with King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the Nation newspaper reported.