2010 Thai military crackdown

From 13 to 19 May 2010 supporters of the National United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) "Red Shirt" movement and the Thai Army engaged in violent clashes in and around the movement's camp in central Bangkok. These clashes were the culmination of an anti-government protests that had increasingly turned violent.

Timeline

Burned-out refuse vehicle on corner Rama IV and Soi Ngam Duphli, morning 15 May 2010

Rama IV Road during clashes, 15 May 2010

Rescue workers try to reach two wounded men under army fire, 15 May 2010

On Friday, 14 May, Thai police and army units moved in to surround and cut off the protesters main camp, meeting heavy resistance from the Red Shirts resulting in the deaths of two people with dozens more injured, including Thai Army Major-General Khattiya Sawasdipol, better known as Seh Daeng (Commander Red), a self-described key military adviser to the red-shirts who was suspended from duty in the Thai army. A backer and part of the protesters' more radical wing, he had accused red-shirt leaders of not being hardline enough. He was shot in the head by a sniper's bullet and died a few days later on 17 May.

One of the Red Shirt leaders, Nattawut Saikuar, accused the Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva of starting a civil war. This came as there were reports of a policeman opening fire on soldiers near a police station in Bangkok, showing that there may be divisions within the security services themselves. Both the British and American embassies in Bangkok confirmed they were to close for security reasons.

Just before 3:00 pm GMT on 14 May, Sky News reported that the death-toll from the latest fighting had risen to five, with 46 others wounded. People in Bangkok claimed that the area has descended into a war zone as the two sides battled for control. During the clashes, France 24 journalist Nelson Rand was "gravely wounded" by bullets from a Thai Army assault rifle, although who actually used the weapon is still unknown. On Friday night, several grenade explosions were heard from a nearby shopping centre and municipal railway station in the up-scale shopping area. As of 6:00 pm 14 May, the BBC reported that 7 people had died and over 100 were wounded in the latest violence in Bangkok, as Canada announced the temporary closure of its embassy.

According to The Telegraph, as of 9:40 pm GMT 14 May, at least 16 people had been killed, none of whom were members of the security services. There were several incidents of police officers joining with the Red Shirts and exchanging fire with the Thai Army, prompting fears that a civil war was coming. The number of injured was thought to be 157, with that number predicted to rise significantly as fighting continued.

By 2:20 am GMT on 15 May, the death toll reached 16, with more than 157 injured. Street battles continued, with no end in sight. Total casualties since 12 May amount to 24 killed, with 187 injured on the night of 14/15 May alone. One of the dead was a sergeant of the Royal Thai Air Force, who was killed by friendly fire.

Protest leaders once again warned of civil war if the army attempted to storm their camp. Several areas of the city near the protesters were designated as "live fire zones" by the military, and protesters entering these zones were to be shot on sight. Due to food and water shortages as a result of the army blockade, it is estimated the protesters will only be able to hold out for a few more days, and after that have to start plundering the available local shops.

On 16 May, the death-toll rose to 33, with the number of wounded rising to 230. Reporters in the vicinity of the violence had to cancel live broadcasts due to the threat of sniper attacks from military forces in the area. The government urged the very young and very old to leave the camp by Monday afternoon, prompting fears of an army crackdown. They also started telling the public that the foreign media, such as CNN, BBC, Reuters, and many others, cannot be trusted as they are biased, prompting a backlash of the international from the Thai public. On 17 May Thai Army Major General Khattiya Sawasdiphol, who was shot in the head by a sniper on 13 May, died.

On 17 May, Thai military helicopters dropped leaflets on the Red Shirt's main encampment, urging them to leave. The Red Shirts responded by firing homemade rockets at the helicopters. The encampment was completely surrounded, and the Thai government gave Red Shirts a deadline of 3:00 PM local time to withdraw. Clashes continued, with Thai troops firing directly towards or at any movement around the protest perimeter with live ammunition, and protesters also using potentially lethal tactics, according to a Canadian journalist. Red Shirts shot fireworks at the Army, and utilized a broom handle to rapidly fire firecrackers. At least two Red Shirt protesters were shot by Thai Army snipers. According to Thai medical officials, the casualty toll stood at 35 dead, and 242 wounded. By the end of the day, the casualty toll had risen to 37 dead and 266 wounded.

Sporadic clashes continued on 18 May, but these skirmishes were less intense than some previous confrontations had been. The death toll rose to 39 as the day progressed, and it is widely believed that a military crackdown is imminent as troops and APC's gathered around the protest site urging residents and protestors to leave, declaring that a military operation is soon to commence. The Army moved in soon afterward, backed by armoured personnel carriers (APC) and smashed through the protestors main barricades. Two Red Shirts and shot and wounded during the opening stages of this operation as other Red Shirts set alight the kerosine soaked barricades to deter advancing soldiers and obscure their view.

May 19 army assault

On 19 May, the army launched an all-out assault using APCs and defeated the Red Shirt defences, leaving at least five dead, including an Italian journalist. Two soldiers were seriously wounded in a grenade attack. The protest leaders surrendered to police in an attempt to avoid further bloodshed. The majority of protesters booed at the protest leaders as they declared an end to the protests and did not follow them to surrender to the authorities. Fighting between Red Shirt protestors and the army continued in many parts of the city. Red Shirt protesters set fire to the Stock Exchange, banks, at least two shopping centres (including Central World at the Red Shirts main protest site), a TV station, and barricades built to keep out the army. The total death toll since 14 May is believed to stand at 44. There were reports of clashes in Thailand's northern provinces after the surrender was announced, resulting in a town hall being burned by Red Shirts in Udon Thani.