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Red-shirts Take over Ratchaprasong Intersection

By  TAN NETWORK
4 Apr 2010
The red-shirt group have been successful in taking over the Ratchaprasong intersection but the government seems determined to remove them from the area.

The red-shirt group's main activity for their rally today is to take over the Ratchaprasong intersection, the main thoroughfare for Bangkok's downtown area, linking to Sukhumvit, Rama IV, Rama I, Silom, Sathorn, Pratunam, Victory Monument, among others.

The group congregated at their rally site on Panfah bridge since 9am before a group on trucks left to rally in front of Channel 11 while another group marched on foot to the Ratchaprasong area.

The rally to Channel 11 was led by Kwanchai Praipana, leader of the 'We Love Udon' club and was aimed at pressuring the station to remove some of its famous hosts seen as enemies to former PM Thaksin Shinawatra such as Dr. Chirmsak Pinthong and Dr. Seri Wongmontha. The group vowed to return on Sunday if their demands are not met.

The convoy to Ratchaprasong set up a stage there and closed off the intersection since before noon, prompting shopping malls in the area to close, such as Siam Discovery, Siam Center, Siam Paragon, Central World, Gaysorn Plaza, Amarin Plaza, and Platinum Mall. Only Big C Ratchadamri remained opened.

Traffic came to a standstill on Vipawadee-Rangsit Road where Channel 11 is located and around the Ratchaprasong area such as Sukhumvit and Rama IV roads. Bangkokians had only the BTS to rely on to get into the area.

Later in the evening, Acting Government Spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn held a press conference at the Center for Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO), asking the protesters to move out of Ratchaprasong by 9pm as they are violating the law and are liable for a jail term of up to one year.

Red-shirt leader Jatuporn Prompan announced the group's refusal to budge and said they will remain at Ratchaprasong until the government announces a House dissolution.

The authorities then sent Advisor to the National Police Office, Police General Panupong Singhara Na Ayutthaya to negotiate with the protesters but they were not able to reach a conclusion on the talks and have promised to talk again tomorrow morning. The police have called on the protesters to open a portion of the road for emergency vehicles into hospitals in the area but the red-shirts said that decision will be made tomorrow.

The authorities have said with the large number of protesters present, it is best to let them be in the meantime.

However, protesters have been talking about the possibility that they may be forcefully dispersed by the authorities tonight, both at Ratchaprasong and their Panfah rally sites.

They've called on their supporters in the provinces to lay seige to provincial city halls if that happens.

Former PM Thaksin Shinawatra phoned in to the group tonight, after an absence last night, congratulating them on their move and thanking them for their support.

Relatedly, two bombs were discovered tonight. The first bomb exploded near the Sapan Khao area in Bobae, damaging a garbage can. The second bomb was spotted at the Tewakam intersection and defused before it exploded.
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TAN NETWORK