Violence in Thailand

In the worst violence Thailand has seen in nearly 20 years, 25 people were killed and more than 800 wounded on April 10 in a failed attempt by government troops to dislodge several thousand “red shirt” (UDD) opposition members who, in the ongoing political protests, had occupied part of the financial district in Bangkok.

During a demonstration in the financial district on April 22, five explosions went off on a walkway of the elevated train system and near the Dusit Thani hotel on Silom Road, killing one and wounding 75. On April 28, a confrontation on a roadway north of the city left one soldier dead and 18 protesters wounded.

At press time, the capital was under a state of emergency, and armed troops were manning checkpoints to prevent protesters from joining those barricaded in the financial district. Many hotels and shopping malls were closed due to concerns over the violence.