Report of Bangkok Protest Clampdown, May 15, 03:20 am. (Update)

03:20
INN reported that the emergency team of Vachira Hospital managed to resuscitate 2 civilians shot in the Soi Rangnam area (in central Bangkok near Ratchaprorop/ Ratchaprasong).

Government soldiers are strictly prohibiting vehicles passing into and out of the Soi Rangnam area. Therefore some of the victims could not be removed for treatment .

02:00
Thai TV reported that, since the evening of May 14 up to the time of the report, sporadic gunfire could be heard. The gunshots were supposedly from the clashes between government soldiers and the UDD (red shirt) civilian protesters.
Meanwhile protesters are burning tyres in many areas. At the time of this report some civilians have been shot; and some could not be sent to hospital as the area is blocked off by soldiers. No non-government personnel is allowed into the Ratchaprarop area. (Ratchaprarop Road connects to Ratchaprasong.)

Government forces have blocked off Soi Rangnam on the Ratchaprarop side; and noone is allowed into the area. Gunshots could be heard from time to time. The Red UDD protesters stayed on alert, while residents in the area stepped out to watch.

01:30
The situation is tense around the Din-Daeng junction (connected to Ratchaprarop). Thousands of people have gathered and several hundred cars are parked there. Over half an hour ago there was a sound like a bomb.

Our reporter called the 97.25 community radio station in Samrong (southeast of Bangkok, in the province of Samut Prakan), after reports that Red supporters from Samut Prakan province were being called to Ratchaprasong to help resist the clampdown. The radio station staff confirmed that 97.25 and 101.25 radio stations helped facilitate this civilian gathering and thousands were gathered round Imperial Department Store in Samrong.
The protesters came with their motorcycles, cars, and taxis. All of them were on their way to join the protesters in Khlong Toei (southeast of Ratchaprasong) to help stop government troops from moving into Saladaeng junction.

 

[Picture from Daily News]
A RED Van Shot While Breaking Through Army Checkpoint,
3 Seriously Injured

A driver was shot while attempting to go through an army checkpoint in the Makkasan area, Bangkok. A 10-year-old boy and a taxi driver who happened to be nearby were also victims of this shooting. All three were reported to be in serious condition.

 

00.30 Daily News website reported a silver-bronze Toyota commuter van, license No. Hor Kor 8561 BangkokK, was driving at high speed on Ratchaprarop Road, towards Din Daeng. At the Airport Link station, Makkasan, before crossing the railroad, the van failed to stop at a checkpoint when signalled to halt. It was speeding towards army troops.

The troops shot out the tires but the van continued at high speed toward the checkpoint. The officers decided to open fire with rubber and live bullets until the van was covered with bullet holes. The driver, a middle aged man smeeling of drink, was severely injured with a gun shot in the right side.

A ten-year-old boy was hit by stray bullets in the abdomen and damaging the intestines. He was in critical condition. A taxi driver waiting to go home was also shot in the torso chest sustained critical injuries. The three were rushed to Phyathai 1 hospital for emergency treatment. It was reported that a search in the van found many machetes, a symbol of the UDD.

00.45 Spring News reported that in the darkened Din Daeng Triangle, where the electricity has been cut off, a group of protesters was shouting and throwing stones and sticks at the Din Daeng branch of the Bangkok Bank. Other people tried to stop them. At the time there was no officials trying to stop the incident.

00:00 hours. A number of dead on arrival cases were delivered to Ratchavithi Hospital. These were the casualties of gunfire, presumably from snipers in the Ratchaprarop area.
11:30 hours. Panthip website reported and posted pictures of a medic thought to be from Vajira EMS unit shot and killed while trying to rescue the victims wounded in the military clash.
23:30 hours. Hundreds of the protestors gradually relocated to the front of the Phuea Thai Party headquarters after failing to gain access the main protest area in Ratchaprasong.

Stray Bullets Kill Mo Leng Resident

21:50 hours. Khao Sod website news anchor reports 4 injuries and 1 fatality from gunfire in the Soi Mor Leng area, delivered to the hospital by military personnel. These include 60-year-old protestor Mr. Preecha Suksai with a gunshot wound in the chest; 53-year-old protestor Mr. Thanapat Auwan with a gunshot wound to the right hand; 19-year-old local resident Ms. Chaksri Champangam with an arm wound, Mr. Manu Tharaj with a gunshot wound to the skull; and 32-year-old Ms. Santhana Sappasri with a fatal gunshot wound to the nape of the neck. Mr. Manu Tharaj is in critical condition. Ms. Santhana Sappasri, a resident of Soi Mor Leng, was killed on the scene while observing the fight.

Khao Sod website
The news anchor reports hospital staff, reporters and local residents alarmed by a commotion by military medic units with intermittent gunshots near the hospital.
23:30 hours. 4 bombs explode around Pratunam, only 200 meters from the main protest area, followed by the sound of 2 rounds of gunfire, presumably from snipers. No information on wounded or fatalities.

500 red shirt protestors, equipped with personal automobiles, motorbikes, and taxi cabs gather around Din Daeng area attempted to break the military barricade

22:00 hours, May 14. Matichon Online reports a tense situation around the perimeter of Din Daeng and Ratchaprarop junction. Red shirt protestors burn the tires, turn off all CCTV cameras, and destroy light fixtures in the area. The scattered protestors and taxis were then ordered by radioed by UDD guards to regroup.

Latest news reports completely paralysis of traffic around the Din Daeng area through Vibhavadi Rangsit Road due to a mob of 100 taxis and 500 red shirt protestors, with personal automobiles and motorbikes. These were the protestors who failed in their attempt to enter the main protest area at Ratchaprasong intersection.

No police officers or military troops were found in the area as they had formed a defensive barricade from the Century Hotel through to the Makkasan intersection. It was anticipated that this line would finally be broken by the protestors.

18 years old teenage shot by soldier

21:00 hours, Matichon Online reported gunshot incident at the Thai-Belgium overpass in front of the military barricade along Rama 4 road where CAPO prohibited all civilian transportations from entering. Evidence of threatening gun fires tactics, were found to be used on any civilian oncoming traffic from Sathorn toward Rama 4, particularly from Sathorn soi 6 through Evergreen Hotel. One of the military fire victims, 18 years old Mr. Piyarat, was sent to Taksin hospital by Bangkok EMS crew, for the gunshot wound through his right ankle.

Source: 
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