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Government turns tough on PAD protesters

Anti-government protesters led by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) demonstrate outside parliament. The government, toughening its position against the protesters, repeatedly fired teargas at protesters with the canisters causing numerous serious Apiradee Treerutkuarkul/IRIN
    BANGKOK

    An estimated 1,500 police mobilised to disperse demonstrators of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) on 7 October, firing tear gas at the protesters, who had laid siege to the Parliament since 6 October.

    The PAD is now in its fourth month of protests against a government it believes to have been fraudulently elected, and has occupied a series of sites, including Government House, and now the Parliament.

    The anti-government crowd under the PAD swelled to thousands after the incident. They brought in a mobile stage, food and medical help and camped opposite the main gate to Parliament, close to the zoo.

    The intention of the PAD supporters was to block Parliament and Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat from meeting and formally authorising the new government.

    However Somchai, brother-in-law of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was appointed premier in mid-September, managed to arrive at Parliament and delivered a policy speech, despite a boycott by the opposition over police handling of the protesters.

    The Public Health Ministry reported an estimated 162 injured, four seriously, after being hit by tear gas canisters. At least two protesters lost limbs and one woman in her 50s had eye and leg injuries. The injured were sent to several hospitals close to the Parliament.

    The situation deteriorated in the afternoon. At around 4pm, a bomb exploded in a jeep parked in front of the headquarters of the Chart Thai Party near Parliament. The blast killed a man whose name is still unknown and tore apart the vehicle, which was believed to belong to an anti-government protester.

    At 5pm, the police fired more tear gas at PAD protesters in front of Parliament in a bid to disperse them and clear the way for members of parliament and senators to leave the compound as they were trapped inside.

    Several senators have called for the government to resign as they held it responsible for using violence against non-violent protesters.

    Somchai declined to answer reporters' questions on the issue of the injured protesters, despite holding a brief conference after escaping from Parliament.

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    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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