Battle for Bangkok I & II

BATTLE FOR BANGKOK  II

This page is no longer updated. PPT is keeping it as a record of press reporting and images for the period from 11 to 28 April and 20 May to 7 June 2010. [Many of the links are now dead]

Scroll down for the first round of fighting in Bangkok’s streets from 10 April 2010

In this set of links, in no particular order, we include a set of links to stories and pictures that readers may find useful from the events of the Abhisit Vejjajiva government’s and the army’s crackdown on red shirt protesters at the Rajaprasong intersection that began on the morning of 19 May 2010.

Posted 21 May (and picking up earlier material): Vaitor.com‘s pictures of the event (and much more) / early AFP report of deaths / first TAN report of red shirt action in Khon Kaen / amongst the first photos of Bangkok burning were these / chronology of the crackdown here / red shirts surrender / the fire at the provincial hall in Udorn, as well as sounds of arms apparently being used / actions in Ubon reported here / action in Chiang Mai / arresting monks and red shirts / Al Jazeera’s report on the crackdown, with video / a set of photos uploaded by Thailand’s Troubles, with Zen burning / slide show sets at The Irrawaddy /  BBC’s backgrounder /Ji Ungpakorn and Tyrell Haberkorn on ABC radio / Asia Times online has a story by William Barnes (see PPT’s comment) / Thailand’s Troubles has an important eye witness account from the ground at Rajaprasong / NYT story is here / report on fighting in Klong Toey / several crackdown and other videos here / Andrew Walker at the WSJ / CNN has a backgrounder with video / The Times Online includes a useful post-crackdown report /  Thailand’s Trouble on the beginnings of erasure and aftermath photos / The Irrawaddy‘s journalists in Bangkok and Chiang Mai / the shooting at Wat Pathum Wanaram in The Australian, and a story from journalist Andrew Buncombe, who was wounded by shot gun pellets at the temple and another from Canadian journalist Mark MacKinnon, who was with Buncombe,  available at The Globe and Mail / also a report on this at Prachatai / Burmese migrant workers caught in Bon Kai / The army mops up in Bangkok / The red shirt site after the crackdown / the world’s front pages / Australian newspapers on the crackdown in links here / Duncan McCargo in the Guardian / Boston Globe pictures / very graphic photos here / a Thai eye witness account / RWB on closing the media and attacking journalists / a must-see page is The Thai Report, with a ton of stuff, including video and pictures from Ubon / voices from the protest site / assessment of economic losses / Washington Post on a shaky order / Roughneen considering ways forward / wounded Canadian freelance journalist fighting for life / ABC interview with Thaksin’s representative Robert Amsterdam / The Guardian’s photos /

Posted 23 May: Thailand’s Troubles has several new and useful posts / a good set of photos at the Washington Post / Al Jazeera on human rights concerns / Bangkok Pundit has a ton of links to UK media / The Australian on future trouble / NYT in Udorn / video of sniper fire and dead in Wat Pathuwanaram:

And here are a couple of photos of where the firing may have been coming from:

Posted 25 May: NYT on the failure of Thailand’s democracy / AP on the monarchy / CNN on extending the curfew / red shirts in Khon Kaen / Will Thailand be the first of the world’s formerly fast-growing economies to de-emerge? / Denver Post with photos /

Posted 26 May: NYT on the Thaksin charged as terrorist / BBC on charged British man / NZ Herald on the king /

Posted 28 May: Xinhua on the government’s “terrorism” claims in the hunt for Thaksin / China Post on Thaksin and “terrorism” / Thaksin denials / TIME on the government’s plans for murder and for suppression of an insurgency / The Economist on Thailand’s travails / Washington Post on hunting red shirt backers / Thaksin in Europe /

Posted 1 June: Reuters on the ending of the curfew in Bangkok and some provinces / increased surveillance / TIME magazine on Khon Kaen and the red shirts / Xinhua on disunity / on Dr. Suthachai’s detention and hunger strike / Ji Ungpakorn interviewed on the entrenched elite / The American Spectator on the monarchy / Reuters and BBC on opposition moves to censure the regime on the crackdown / Danny Unger on truth and reconciliation / still seeking Thaksin / CNN report on “what really happened”:

Posted 2 June: Reuters on the no-news story that Abhisit survived a parliamentary no-confidence vote / ABC on government denials of responsibility for deaths / Simon Roughneen on the parliamentary debate / Thailand’s Troubles on fire as a weapon and “terrorism” /

Posted 3 June: Thailand’s Troubles on red shirt media / WSJ on the no-confidence vote / a NYT brief on sales at Rajaprasong (the rich will think all that killing was worth it) / one of a string of “Thailand’s back” stories and the huge PR effort by the Abhisit government / and an AP report to round out the “recovery” argument for the government /

Posted 4 June: Thailand’s Troubles on the geography of dissent / Reuters on political scenarios / jailed Australian “red shirt” seeks bail / red shirt protest in Sattahip / more on the campaign against foreign media / Newsweek on the end of brand Thailand /

Posted 7 June: World Socialist Web Site on current events in Thailand / a letter to Malaysiakini on recent events / Bloomberg on elections and the need for stability / Thailand’s Troubles on the red diaspora and the symbols of rule and dissent /

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BATTLE FOR BANGKOK I

This is a set of links that readers may find useful on the events of  10 April 2010 when at least 23 were killed and more than 850 injured when the government’s security forces attempted to clear red shirt protesters. We have posted a sample of the international press coverage from 12 to 28 April. Note that over time, some of these links will become dead.

Posted 12 April: Thailand’s Troubles and photos / 436 photos from 10 April and more here / Channel News Asia video report / Prachatai’s iReport photos / The Nation’s State photos / Pantip.com photos from Rajadamnoen / New York Times photos / BBC video report on 10 April and a video and brief report on the red shirt parade of coffins. More on the parade here from AP / A soldier’s story / Thai-language press front pages / The Economist has a viewpoint / Asian Correspondent video / Council on Foreign Relations has a so-called Expert Brief, with a comment on the monarchy / LA Times on a teetering government / Al Jazeera blog /Hiro Muramoto’s last video / The Guardian has a fine little editorial: Colour-coded chaos:  The Thai ruling elite would do well not to underestimate the red-shirted rebels / LA Times editorial on an early election / TODAYonline on rumors of a silent coup / Thailand’s Troubles blog from Rajaprasong and a collection of video from Saturday/

Posted 13 April: For a taste of anti-red shirt blogs, desperately seeking the armed members of that group, see here. It seems that finding a few red shirt shooters somehow outweighs the fire power of a huge and well-armed army / InTheNews.co.uk, Thailand teeters on the brink of political collapse / a longish report in the Sydney Morning Herald, Battle of Bangkok could be lost on playing fields of Eton / Philip Bowring’s op-ed at the IHT / James Hookway at the Wall Street Journal, Thai Protesters Vow to Strengthen Effort, with some related video and some very good images at the slideshow / Seth Mydans at NY Times / Reuters on splits in the military /  Seth Mydans in the New York Times and people power / The Australian, with Peter Alford on “Abhisit Vejjajiva’s embattled Thai government is scrambling for a negotiated settlement…”. / Across the Aisle /

Posted 14 April: 2Bangkok.com‘s take on the situation-background / Reuters, What’s going on in Thailand? / ASEAN concerns / CNN video (with abandoned military vehicles) and story on protests resuming / Frank G. Anderson on recent events and the monarchy / Seth Mydans at the NYT on Kasit’s comments on the monarchy / The Atlantic on recent events / Tyrell Haberkorn on Thailand on openDemocracy/

Posted 15 April: Washington Post editorial / ASEAN offers assistance / AP on troops clearing up after Saturday / Edmonton Journal on the final battle / A right-wing Korean perspective / The Hindu editorial / Tom Plate in the Japan Times / Kevin Hewison in the Herald-Sun / Asia Times Online / Protester savagely beaten:

The Australian on Abhisit’s narrowing options: “Badly damaged by the military response, Abhisit now has no other options than to go to the country or resign, both of which will set Thailand on course for an early election,” says Control Risks, an international consultancy / Seth Mydans in the NYT on the growing red shirt protest / NTTV video on protest / The Epoch Times has the government’s view written by “Puan Khon Thai”, but it sounds like the government itself; perhaps “Rataban Thai”? / But for all of this a buck can still be made / Hannah Beech‘s reflection in TIME / The Economist on 10 April and repercussions / BBC on red shirts at Rajaprasong /

Posted 16 April: Sue Cato on Seeing red in Thailand / Thai share market steeply down / a reader sent this dramatic footage:

The Globe and Mail correspondent Christopher Johnson, making the case for Abhisit while being calm about red shirts / BBC video of Arisman’s escape from the authorities and a story here / Sky News has a story on the “great escape”, video and galleries of pictures / The Times on the military / Asia Times on the military and a coup / Life in the red zone / a solid Al Jazeera report on the background to and current events. Well worth a look. Kraisak Choonhavan, who was once “with the people” accuses Al Jazeera of falling prey to red shirt propaganda, and there is much more / BusinessWeek on army taking control / 2Bangkok.com situation update / Siam Report on Democrat Party financiers / SMH on Thaksin, money and red shirts / The Independent on  Abhisit’s humiliation /

Posted 17 April: AP and TODAYOnline on government strategy / Bloomberg on impacts of recent events / AFP on red shirt rally /

The Irrawaddy on army control / A really worthwhile little AFP report on the injured / Thailand’s Troubles, What’s it all about? / The Nation’s State on live rounds on 10 April / Richard Ehrlich at Asia Sentinel on police and army rebellion /

Posted 18 April: New America Media comment / Asiaone on tourism – not as bad as thought?  TIME disagrees / BBC on PAD / AFP on PAD / AP on military preparations / NYT on military preparations / NYT on PAD / The National op-ed / Bloomberg on possible 2nd clash  / AP on armed troops at Silom / Irish Times on a standoff / Nile on standoff, with pictures of army and police / IPS on the red shirts /

Posted 19 April: Bangkok Pundit and a set of videos about red shirt rallies / Moneyshow on recent events and the monarchy / Vietnam’s ASEAN response on the crisis / Thailand’s Troubles has a great set of photos from within the “red zone” / WSJ on ec/onomy / Fitch drops rating / Grant Peck on soldiers at Silom / Christian Science Monitor on troops deployed / VOA where Ron Corben seems to think “no colors” are not PAD / Australian editorial  and story on Silom occupation / CNN video and story from Korat / Reuters does some definitions / Globe and Mail on color revolutions / Thomas Fuller in NYT on red Khon Kaen /

Posted 20 April: Irish Times on violence/coup / Simon Roughneen at The Irrawaddy on the current standoff / VOA on live rounds / Sky News on the military, Silom, with 50 high-quality pictures / Richard Barrow with photos of Fortress Silom and sniper positions and more of his photos, many reminiscent of the 2006 coup / Asia Sentinel on current situation / AP on red shirts digging in / CNN reports, with video, from  Silom, with police and military on one side and red shirts on the other; look for the policewoman buying a phrai t-shirt at about 1:10 mins / CSM on threatening to shoot protesters / BBC on this also, with video / Reuters on scenarios / More pictures and stories from the red zone / NTDT video on “stern warning” – i.e. to shoot – from army / ABC News on tourists leaving red zone hotels /

Posted 21 April: Simon Roughneen’s photos at the bottom of the story dated 19 April / Al Jazeera on Khon Kaen’s red shirts preventing troops and weapons getting to Bangkok / WSJ on pro-government rallies / Reuters on red shirts / AP on standoff / Vancouver Sun on red shirts / Globe and Mail and soldier’s loyalty / on the AHRC call for no blood / Denis Gray on red shirts / video from red shirt zone and soldiers in the yellow shirt zone / The Vancouver Sun on Khon Kaen / Bloomberg on negotiations / CSM and the aftermath of 10 April / Straits Times on red zone / Nirmal Ghosh on Silom clash / NYT on Thaksin / Gulf News on the need for an election /

Posted 22 April: Centre for Research on Globalization on revolutions / Patrick Winn on Silom skirmish and red zone / CNN on standoff in Bangkok / Washington Post on threats and skirmishing, with several pictures / The Irrawaddy on Khon Kaen and more / BBC report, including audio, on crackdown coming / Economist’s Banyan on 10 April and more / NYT and The Times on Bangkok explosions / UN Secretary-General on crisis in Thailand / Red shirts and class struggle / Shawn Crispin on defending Thai capitalism /

Posted 23 April: CNN backgrounder on the Thai crisis / Reuters backgrounder / Thailand’s Troubles on previous rebellions / Belfast Telegraph on Bangkok’s hostile camps / Malaysian journalist’s account of Silom bombings / AP on aftermath of bombings /video from France 24 / Simon Roughneen on Silom / Xinhua on “multi-colored” rally / SMH on waiting for the next crackdown / Stocks decline after bombs / WSJ, CSM, TODAYonline and The Guardian on chances of compromise / several articles on various countries issuing travel warnings – USA / Thomas Fuller with more on rebellion in Khon Kaen / SMH less sure of negotiated settlement /

Posted 24 April: Simon Roughneen on compromises /Indonesia offers help on political crisis / Abhisit spurns talks with red shirts covered in Reuters, The Independent, Times Online, VOA, AP, CNN, Sky News, BBC / BBC’s Rachel Harvey on red shirts / USA Today on crisis / Al Jazeera on Abhisit rejection, with video / AFP on retaking Rajaprasong / Reuters on the economy /

Posted 25 April: Xinhua thinks Nation TV is leading station / NYT on Abhisit / Radio Free Europe on red shirt rally / BBC on Abhisit warning protesters / Washington Post/AP and the political crisis / Bloomberg on the crisis / WSJ on lasting damage to Thailand / Times Online on definat red shirts / The Telegraph on Abhisit’s rejection of red shirts /

Posted 26 April: CSM on watermelon soldiers / Reuters on updated political scenarios / VOA on provincial protests / ABC on pro-government rallies / one of many “avoid Thailand” stories / BBC on provincial actions by red shirts / Straits Times on red shirts / FT on Abhisit’s hard attitude / Business and crisis /

Posted 27 April: World Socialist Web Site on Thailand’s political crisis / VOA on SE Asian worries / AP on extending demonstrations / FT on Abhisit’s foreign media blitz / CSM and UPI on treason / Foreign Policy on fraying at the top / FT on red shirts / Washington Times on king and crisis / Irish Times on Thailand’s tinderbox / Independent on preparing for battle / NewsTime on the Battle for Bangkok (they took our header!] / Irish Times on skytrain blockade /

Posted 28 April: CTV News on Thailand’s crisis – let’s begin in bars!? – and Eurasia Review – interviewing a journalist / Australian, CSM, CNN, AP, LA Times, BusinessWeek, WSJ and Al Jazeera video on Don Muang clashes / VOA on “more than Thaksin” / Telegraph on travel advice / Al Jazeera video inside “red city” / Jim Glassman interviewed by the CBC. To hear the interview, click here and follow these instructions: On the left side of the screen, under “Latest Interviews on the Early Edition,” look for “Complete shows from the past week,” and  click “Tue.”  The interview comes up at 2:01:54.