Subject: May 18 afternoon

From: [email-masked] (Somsak Boonsamran)
Date: 18 May 92 09:10:03 GMT

These stories published in the Bangkok Post's special afternoon
edition of May 18, 1992,  a tabloid-sized update on the
situation...
 
Government moves to put down unrest
 
AT least three people were killed and more than 150 injured after
police and soldiers moved into Ratchadamnoen Avenue before dawn
today to subdue anti-Government demonstrators.
 But the exact number of casualties could not be verified.
Reuters reported four dead after checking mortuaries and
charitable organisations. The Associated Press reported eight
dead and 240 injured as of 11.30 this morning. The crackdown was
ordered after the peaceful demonstration against Prime Minister
Suchinda Kraprayoon turned violent last night.
  More than a dozen police and civilian cars, the Nang Lerng
police station and the Youth Welfare Sub-division of the
Metropolitan Police Bureau were set ablaze by protesters early
this morning.
  At 4.40 a.m., police and soldiers tightened their grip around
the demonstration site at Phan Fa Bridge. At 5.35 a.m., they
moved against protesters who were continuing to defy the
government's order to disperse.
  The policemen, mostly from Border Patrol units, moved towards
the crowd with fire engines training water jets at the
demonstrators who hurled abuse and stones back at them.
  Between 4.10 a.m. and dawn, several outbursts of gunfire were
reported and a number of people were wounded.
  Gunfire was also heard from where soldiers were deployed behind
police lines at Phan Fa Bridge, sending protesters scattering.
  Eyewitnesses said policemen mainly used batons to subdue the
protesters while the shooting was reported to have come from
troops.
  Protesters' attempts to use trucks and passenger buses to block
the police failed.
  The move against the protesters ended about half an hour later
but the demonstrators, led by Maj-Gen Chamlong Srimuang and
leaders of the Confederation for Democracy, continued to maintain
their vigil at Phan Fa Bridge.
  It was estimated late this morning that as many as 10,000
people were continuing to protest at the scene.
  Troops from the three armed forces and policemen continued to
tighten their grip around the demonstrators, with all the roads
leading to Ratchadamnoen Avenue closed to normal traffic.
  At 9.45 a.m., the Kok Wua intersection was completely sealed
off by special Air Force troops.
  The Government at midnight last night imposed a state of
emergency for Bangkok and the adjoining provinces of Samut
Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Pathum Thani and Nonthaburi.
  Public gatherings of more than 10 people are also banned unless
prior permission has been granted.
  Prime Minister Suchinda Kraprayoon, who was in Nan yesterday,
flew back to Bangkok after midnight last night.
  All schools in Bangkok, which were due to reopen today after a
long vacation, were ordered in a separate announcement to remain
closed for another three days.
  Prime Minister Suchinda and Interior Minister Anan Kalinta
announced it is "necessary" to use police and military forces to
quell the demonstration.  A statement signed by the Premier stated the use of force and
drastic measures is necessary to prevent the "riot" from
escalating beyond control.
  People were asked to cooperate with the Government.
  The state of emergency order was made under Articles 4 and 21
of the Royal Decree on the Country's Administration in an
Emergency Situation, B.E. 2495.
  The order is necessary because of unrest caused by a group of
people which may affect public safety and national peace and
security, the announcement said.
  Demonstrators last night clashed with anti-riot police after
they tried to break through a police barricade at Phan Fa Bridge
in an effort to reach Government House to submit their demand for
the resignation of Prime Minister Suchinda.
  The violence erupted after policemen started training water
jets on a group of protesters who broke through barbed wire
barricades to clear the way for others to follow.
  Anti-riot police armed with batons were moved in after a group
of angry protesters seized one of the five fire engines deployed
at the scene and tried to take it to the demonstrators' zone.
  The policemen who rushed the fire engine used batons to club
protesters on board. Several were injured but the exact number
was unknown.
  At least 21 injured demonstrators were transported to Vachira
Hospital, 50 to Central Hospital and more than 20 to Hua Chiew
Hospital. At least 21 policemen were hurt in the clash.
  Witnesses said 10 Molotov cocktails were thrown at the police.
Maj-Gen Chamlong Srimuang who led the demonstration denounced the
firebomb attacks as the work of "third hands".
  At least two fire engines were set on fire.
  Around midnight, about 700 soldiers had reinforced the police
line at an intersection near the Agriculture and Cooperatives
Ministry.
  More fire engines were sent to the area to prevent the
demonstrators from breaking through.
  At the same time, about 10,000 protesters who managed to break
through the barricade were trapped between the police and the
military lines on a section of Ratchadamnoen Avenue between Phan
Fa Bridge and the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry.
  Residents in the area left their homes and gathered at the
entrances to sois along the road, some pleading with policemen
and soldiers not to hurt the people.
  The police said around midnight that a group of protesters had
seized the fire station at Wat Phu Khao Thong and were trying to
destroy a police pick-up truck inside.
  Another group of demonstrators were trying to break through a
police barricade on a road in front of the fire station.
  The ugly incident erupted after a column of demonstrators, led
by ex-Palang Dharma Party leader Chamlong Srimuang, marched out
of Sanam Luang around 9 p.m.
  About 150,000 people gathered at Sanam Luang earlier in the
evening to join the pro-democracy groups in a mass rally to
demand the resignation of Prime Minister Suchinda. The
demonstration was organised by the Confederation for Democracy
(CFD).
  State-owned television last night stated the clash took place
after the demonstrators tried to break the barricade "to try to
travel to Chitrlada Palace".
  The announcer urged members of the public at the scene to
return home and avoid getting involved in the protest.  Eyewitnesses said some cars carrying more than three passengers
trying to reach Sanam Luang from the Pin Klao-Nakhon Chaisi Road
were turned away earlier in the night by policemen who set up a
blockade near the southern bus terminal.
  The protest proceeded peacefully until the organisers moved the
crowd out of Sanam Luang.
  CFD leaders including Maj-Gen Chamlong Srimuang, slum activist
Prateep Ungsongtham, former student activists Weng Tochirakarn,
Sant Hattheerat and Students' Federation of Thailand leader
Prinya Tevanaruemitrkul went on stage to urge the protesters to
head for Government House to lodge their demands.
  CFD leaders then led the crowd in pledging allegiance to the
nation, the monarchy and the national religion.
  They also vowed to fight dictatorship and to install full
democracy.
  The protesters then divided into two separate columns with the
first headed by Maj-Gen Chamlong and the second by Mr Prinya.
  As the leaders of the first column, comprising mainly young
people, were trying to break through the barbed wire, police
firemen began training water jets at them.
  The group returned to the barricades when the firemen turned
off the water jets and managed to cross the barricade and seize
one of the fire engines before dragging down its driver and
beating him.
  About 500 anti-riot policemen then rushed the fire engines and
hit the protesters involved with batons.
  Two Bangkok Post photographers and a messenger were hurt in the
clash.
  Pro-democracy groups, backed by Opposition parties and
students, last week staged a week-long protest in front of
Parliament, at Sanam Luang and the Democracy Monument to demand
the resignation of Gen Suchinda.
  The protest was temporarily suspended after Government and
Opposition parties agreed to jointly amend the Constitution to
allow an elected MP to become prime minister.
  The coalition parties, however, have yet to come up with
amendment proposals, saying they need more time to work on their
drafts.
  Prime Minister to speak on TV
 
PRIME Minister Suchinda Kraprayoon is expected to appear on
television later today to address the people about the crackdown
on the unrest.
  Government sources said Gen Suchinda has arranged for a TV
camera crew to tape his speech at the Capital Security Command
headquarters, which has become the command centre for handling
the crowd.
  The Premier presided over an emergency Cabinet meeting earlier
today but details of the discussion were not released.
* * *
 THE Office of the Prime Minister this morning announced a three-
day public holidays from today for all government agencies to
speed up the restoration of peace and order.
  The Capital Security Command, meanwhile, appealed to all
Bangkok residents not to leave their homes for the whole day
today.
  Earlier, the Ministry of Education ordered the closure of all
schools under its jurisdiction in Bangkok, Samut Prakan, Samut
Sakhon, Nonthaburi and Pathum Thani provinces for three days from
today as a safety precaution for students.  Students had been due to return to school today after a lengthy
vacation.
* * *
 THE Police Department this morning appointed two police teams to
investigate the facts about people and activities that led to the
gatherings of pro-democracy demonstrators and violence.
  Under the order signed by Police Department director-general
Gen Sawat Amornvivat, Deputy Police Chief Gen Pong-ammat
Amattayakul is to lead the 33-man investigation team and
Assistant Police Chief Lt-Gen Sanan Tuchinda will lead the 24-man
interrogation team.
  The two teams are to complete their assignments as soon as
possible and report regularly to the Police Development on every
development.
* * *
 THE Interior Ministry today decided to set up a special
directorate to monitor "undesirable events" which may occur in
the aftermath of the violent protest.
  The directorate is made up of representatives from all
department and state enterprises under the ministry's
jurisdiction.
  Security at the ministry will be stepped up and remain so until
the situation returns to normal.
  The ministry also told all provincial administrations to step
up security at all government offices, particularly at public
utilities.
 
HM in call for peace
 
HIS Majesty the King has told senior Royal Court officials to
urge Government and military leaders to obtain a quick and
bloodless settlement to the conflict without use of force,
ranking palace officials said today.
  The instruction was issued around midnight to the chief aide-
de-camp, the Office of the Royal Aide Police Officer, His
Majesty's principal private secretary and privy councillors, the
officials said.
  The Royal Court officials are proceeding as instructed, they
added. No further details were available.
  Meanwhile, former Public Health Minister Dr Sem Primpuangkaew,
in his capacity as a former Royal physician, this morning was
granted an audience with His Majesty at Chitrlada Palace.
  But officials refused to give any word on the meeting which was
believed to have included a discussion of the situation.
  Dr Sem is known to be close to non-governmental organisations.
 
Military justify use of weapons to `quell riot'
 
THE Capital Security Command says the police and military used
weapons to quell the "riot" on Ratchadamnoen Road early today
because they were fired on first from among the demonstrators,
Army assistant secretary Col Banchorn Chawalsilp said.
  "However, this does not mean all the demonstrators had guns,"
he said.
  Col Banchorn's remarks came at a Press conference at the Army
hall this morning to explain the chronology of the clashes that
claimed many casualties.
  Col Banchorn, who acted as spokesman for the Capital Security
Command (CSC), said it is too early to assess the exact number of
casualties.  He said it has been reported that a foreign journalist was shot
dead, but this has yet to be confirmed.
  Asked to comment on the reported beating of news reporters
covering the event, Col Banchorn said that in such confusion it
is difficult to identify people in an angry crowd.
  The officer, who served for along time in the Fourth Army in
the South, said that in a suppression drive against communist
insurgents in that region a monk was killed in the cross-fire.
  "In a situation like this, it is difficult for anyone to take
responsibility."
  He denied as totally untrue speculation that the
"demonstrators" who triggered the clashes were in fact members of
the Army and that the situation was pre-arranged.
  Asked if it was the work of a "third hand" group, Col Banchorn
said it is too soon to make such a conclusion.
  He said as of this morning about 10,000 demonstrators remained
on Ratchadamnoen Road.
  "The authorities will try their best to end the protest without
using force," he said, adding he could not yet tell what would be
done.
  The spokesman said so far nobody has been arrested or charged,
including the Palang Dharma Party's Maj-Gen Chamlong Srimuang,
who has repeatedly been named by the Government side as the
leader of the protesters.
  "Whether or not he (Maj-Gen Chamlong) will be arrested in
future, I don't know," he said.
  Col Banchorn declined to comment on the order of Interior
Minister Anan Kalinta warning the Press to be careful not to
present news in a way that could provoke unrest, saying the issue
requires explanation from legal experts.
  Asked why the authorities did not arrest the protesters who
allegedly instigated unrest instead of going after all the
demonstrators, he said it is too difficult to differentiate among
people in a large crowd.
  "I think it was all started by the demonstrators themselves,"
he said.
  He theorised that the violence was mainly caused by the
movement of people from Sanam Luang.
  Asked to comment on interviews given by the demonstrators to
BBC radio that they would persist in their fight, Col Banchorn
said they could do so if their gathering was peaceful.
  But he warned that the Government's announcement prohibiting a
political gathering of more than 10 people is in effect.

Casualty count mounts as city hospitals fill
 
ONE of several dead protesters was taken to Vachira Hospital,
which treated 36 people for wounds, including one person in a
serious condition, according to hospital officials.
  Overall, more than 200 people including 21 policemen were
injured in clashes between protesters and government forces early
this morning.
  Most of the injured protesters were released after receiving
medical treatment.
  Vachira Hospital officials at the emergency unit said the dead
protester was shot in the back with an M-16.
  A report from Siriraj Hospital said a staff doctor, Dr Thira
Kongprachobchai, was shot in the stomach while on duty to help
the wounded at the protest scene.   Hospital officials said DrThira was assigned by the hospital to go to the protest site at 4
a.m. after the clash erupted.
  Up to 8 a.m., 56 patients were said to have received treatment
at the hospital, including a significant group who arrived
shortly after 4 a.m., when shooting was reported at the Pan Fah
bridge.
   Twelve patients remained in hospital, including a Western
cameraman, Thierry Falise, who is the Bangkok-based correspondent
for L'Express.
   The Outpatients' Department of the state-run hospital is
closed to "general patients" for three days from today, in what
one staff member said was a "state of preparedness" connected
with the protest.
  Security has apparently been stepped up at Siriraj, with
policemen guarding main gates and denying entry to cars not
carrying required stickers.
  Doctors and nurses who went to the clash scene near the
Democracy Monument claimed that armed soldiers refused to allow
them to take dead bodies from the battle scene.
  "Most of the injured protesters who were admitted to the
hospital before 4 a.m. suffered bruises from beatings while those
brought in after 4 a.m. had been shot," hospital officials and
the injured said.
  At Central Hospital 21 people including a woman were admitted
with serious injuries. Ten reportedly had brain haemorrhages as a
result of beatings.
  Four of the people had been shot while three policemen showed
up at the hospital to receive treatment for minor injuries.
  A hospital official said altogether 62 people went to receive
medical treatment from the hospital.
  At 8.30 a.m. Bangkok Governor Krisada Arunwongse na Ayudhaya
went to visit the injured.
  Among those being treated was Saravuth Phupet, a student at Sri
Pathum College, and a reporter named Watchavudh.
  Officials at the Police Hospital said that a total of 26 people
came for treatment during clashes before dawn.
  Hospital officials said of this number, 21 were policemen, the
rest civilians. Three people were admitted.
  At Ramathibodi Hospital, officials said they had been told by
"senior officials" not to reveal the figure of those who came for
treatment. Officials said, however, that all of those who came
for treatment were men.
  Hua Chiew Hospital officials said six patients were admitted
suffering from severe beatings while more than 30 others were
discharged after being treated.
  The injured police received medical treatment at Vachira
Hospital, Ramathibodi Hospital and Police Hospital.
 
Chronology of the political crisis
 
  March 22 -- General elections are held for a new government.
  March 25 -- Narong Wongwan, leader of the Samakkhi Tham party
(the biggest in the House of Representatives), is picked by a
pro-military coalition of five parties as prime minister
designate.
  The same day in Washington, state department spokeswoman
Margaret Tutwiler confirms reports that Narong was refused a visa
to the United States because of suspected links with the drug
trade.
  April 2 -- Parliament opens.  April 5 -- The pro-military coalition announces its backing for
armed forces chief Suchinda Kraprayoon as prime minister.
  April 7 -- The opposition warns of possible street protests.
  April 7 -- Suchinda is appointed prime minister. He resigns
>from the armed forces.
  April 8 -- Chalard Vorachat, a former Democrat MP, begins a
hunger strike to protest Suchinda's appointment.
  April 20 -- 50,000 people stage an anti-government rally
outside Parliament House.
  April 30 -- Chalard collapses and is taken to hospital.
  May 4 -- Former Bangkok governor Chamlong Srimuang begins a
hunger strike outside Parliament House. He announces that he will
fast until either he dies or Suchinda steps down.
  May 5 -- Chalard joins Chamlong outside parliament. Thousands
turn up outside parliament.
  May 6 -- Rallies continue outside parliament as Suchinda makes
his policy statement.
  May 7 -- Suchinda denounces Chamlong as a threat to Buddhism.
He accuses Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, leader of the New Aspiration
party, of communist links.
  Supreme Commander Kaset Rojananil orders a halt to
demonstrations and demands that crowds disperse, but 70,000 defy
the order to attend a rally at Bangkok's Sanam Luang square
rally.
  Chamlong and Chalard move to Sanam Luang.
  May 8 -- Chamlong moves the mass rally from Sanam Luang to the
Democracy Monument. This prompts a confrontation with heavily
armed riot police. Tension runs high, but a clash is averted.
  May 9 -- Chamlong calls off his hunger strike, but vows to
continue to fight to force Suchinda's resignation.
  House of Representatives Speaker Arthit Urairat announces that
pro-government and opposition parties have agreed on a
constitutional revision. Amendments include barring a non-elected
person from becoming prime minister, which would eventually
disqualify Suchinda as he is not a member of parliament.
  May 10 -- Chamlong and other organisers call off their rally,
but warn that demonstrations will resume on May 17 if the
constitutional changes are           abandoned. Later, pro-
government parties begin to backslide on the charter agreement.
  May 13 -- The opposition decides to resume its anti-government
protest movement on May 17.
  May 17 -- Clashes take place between police and demonstrators,
marking the first outbreak of violence since the beginning of the
crisis.
  May 18 -- A state of emergency is declared in Bangkok and
surrounding provinces. -- AFP