Red Shirt 'general' wounded, protester dead

REUTERS - A rogue general leading a militant wing of Thai anti-government protesters was shot in the head and critically wounded on Thursday night as armed troops blockaded the site of a five-week rally in central Bangkok.

Khattiya Sawasdipol, a suspended army specialist in charge of security at an encampment occupied by thousands of demonstrators, was rushed to an intensive care ward, the state Narenthorn Emergency Medical Service said, adding that at least four other people were wounded in the same area.

Understanding the colour-coded crisis

Khattiya, better known as “Seh Daeng” (Commander Red), was dubbed a “terrorist” by Thailand’s government, which accuses him of involvement in dozens of mysterious grenade attacks that have wounded more than 100 people.

In a separate incident a red shirt demonstrator was shot in the head and feared dead when protesters confronted soldiers next to a park in the Silom business district, a Reuters photographer said. Some protesters hurled rocks and troops fired in return.

Several Thai and foreign reporters said Khattiya was shot while being interviewed by them.

“It’s a clear attempt to decapitate the red shirt military leadership,” said Anthony Davies, a security consultant with IHS-Jane’s.

“It’s a smart tactical move that will cause confusion in the red shirts’ military ranks and send a message to the leadership that if they don’t want to negotiate and come out, they can expect extreme consequences.”

When the bullet struck him, Khattiya was inside the barricaded red shirt encampment, facing a road, overpass and a business district with several tall buildings, said the New York Times, which had a reporter interviewing him at the time.

When he was shot Khattiya was answering a question about whether the Thai military

Automatic transcript welcome back to the nation it's time for file cuts -- anti government demonstrators are in the streets of Thailand's capsule buying Coke for fourth consecutive day -- they're known as the Red shots and they're pushing for the government led by Prime Minister Abbas which touch you ought to step down -- the part six two can dissolve twist would demonstrate to hold their own blood at the Gates of the government's headquarters on Tuesday -- the Knicks you minutes we'll look closer at food the protests is off -- and also what their next move may be off to the blood that scene and simple make sacrifice -- now many of the protesters are supporters of the former Prime Minister's talks in Chennai walks -- who was ousted in a military coup in tea thousand six -- his main support base is among the rural population in Northern Thailand -- but as this report shows their ranks also include other pilots of Thai society Tuesday evening in pain -- the second ultimatum issued to the government has just expired -- Richards are getting ready to launch its second offense our latest solo sickened pledged towards sounds and buy the railroad and something is also remains G will be going -- she's a student who supports the Richards movements James Wood eight they and things and we can end it did -- incomes -- it only against I'm I'm and I'm glad that now he says -- do have a lot of things cool while also obvious in Jintao Saturday Sheehan also on Avenue and maligned doesn't and what me up by eighteen point in time we catch up with the pack of demonstrate traffic is blocked leaving no choice but to continue on to it with Steven with the crowds converging towards the headquarters of the Prime Minister's Democratic party -- the atmosphere is firmly we meet all sorts of some F and and I think that thanks that the crowd gets bigger and bigger pensions spreading out over several Columbus -- security forces were everywhere -- we watch don't in this color or a nurse in students -- people donated their call -- the Prime Minister's headquarters pursuing some we months and the suffering of the people of this despite solid sheets in Sydney both sentence support within now people strong I wanted to win -- as night falls on Bangkok of Richard's blood protest is about to begin far from last year's scenes of chaos -- Thailand's Richards may have proven once it now become a full fledged political force of their own -- that could have an influence on the country's future right joining me now for more is Antonio Ferrara from the national University of Singapore -- he's old there of a book on Thai politics cold Thailand on pinched -- also with us today we have our own correspondent Nelson round who's in call can if we start with you Nelson -- if we look at a make up all the protest as you get the impression from the reports that there are people from all walks of life NASA students and businessmen as well -- is the after picture yes it is certainly the movement is not just about taxing -- yes he is the figurehead leader yes the vast majority of the people support taxing -- but the movement has also attracted a large following of people who are genuinely angry at the U turn the Thai politics has taken over the past several years -- they're angry at the military two of two thousand six -- there's people that I genuinely believe that Thai democracy is being undermined by powerful unelected figures -- know at the height of this current protest on Sunday those probably between a hundred and a hundred and fifty thousand red shirt protesters out on the street -- but the movement support base is much much greater than that last year the movement collected three point five million signatures -- in an effort to get a royal pardon for tax and -- some people call it the largest pro democracy forces in Asia -- yes it is pro attacks in -- but they're larger campaign is to really see a change in Thai society -- and bring an end to Thailand's long standing elite -- bureaucratic rule if we go over to Antonio there in Singapore what's your take on this well one of the grievance is all of these protesters with the government why do they want the government to to step down well I think the main problem that everybody can agree with this that at least within the movement is that the current government came to power of through means that are of dubious legitimacy -- so all of them want the current Prime Minister to resign but most of most components of the movement have an agenda that goes way beyond that as your correspondent mentioned -- some people wanna bring back tucks into a position of power he occupied legitimately -- after winning two elections with President of margins -- and other people still want Thailand to embark finally on on a process to genuine democracy action and to finally get these unelected institutions like the military -- and the pretty council out of politics once and for all Antonio from your perspective how long could these protests continue -- we're hearing today the the protest numbers have dwindled to the that this Wednesday -- do you think that this movement is running out of steam I think the demonstrations in their current form -- are not likely to last more than a few more days but whether or not they achieve their short term girl goals -- I think we can expect this movement to continue its struggle for monster com -- if not years if you go over to Nelson by Coke again -- what's next hit for these for these protesters and for this protest movement well organizers planning at this stage well the protest leaders have yet to announce what their next stage will be -- they have insisted throughout these protested that -- as long as the government doesn't meet their demands and step down the table -- that step up their campaign -- but certainly it does appear that the are losing steam -- the numbers are dwindling significantly -- and the worry now is that their numbers dwindle and as they leave scheme perhaps they will be trying more up provocative or daring tactics -- egg and at with the numbers dwindling now it's more of a hard core supporters left so there is concern that perhaps it if they do step it up and try more provocative tactics that they could turn violent Nelson what about the army and how is entering into this equation is so far the army has moved -- the stayed on the sidelines this their arrest perhaps the army could could step into this funding at the moment -- the Prime Minister I do that did you -- he has the strong backing of the military -- and that is essential for his government to survive in at this point -- it appears that the military will keep backing happy said -- and that is again a crucial for his government to survive and as long as the military is backing him -- it is unlikely that he will meet that the demands of the protesters and step down if recall on notes to Antonio in Singapore again -- G think that the army will keep backing Mr. Abbas that gather -- there were some rumors in over the past couple of months that the army might have been considering staging a cool but -- I think under the circumstances -- their continued support for obviously it is to be expected in the sense that Abi it puts a rather benign face too what is for all intents and purposes an authoritarian regime -- and so whether or not he's been as a certain as they would like him to be I think he's their best bet for the time being -- all right thanks very much and Tony for our error joining us that from Singapore also a big thanks to Nelson Bryant -- who is with us for all the time capsule without we're gonna wrap up focus now hit Paul Stein kept stay with us more news coming your way in just a moment FRANCE24 Focus - 'Who are Thailand's Red Shirts?'

would be able to penetrate the area.

Around the same time as the shooting, a loud blast was heard, followed by bursts of automatic gunfire near the heavily guarded business district. Hours later, troops at a nearby park fired into the air as protesters tried to block their movements.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is under enormous pressure to end the violent political crisis that has killed at least 29 people, wounded more than 1,400, paralysed parts of the capital and slowed growth in Southeast Asia’s second-biggest economy.

On Wednesday, he cancelled a proposed Nov. 14 election under his “national reconciliation” plan and called off talks with the red-shirted protesters after they raised new demands.

The 22-member red shirt leadership council has struggled to find common ground on how to end the protests and appeared in disarray on Thursday night. Its chairman and several others have not been seen in days.

Former Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, chairman of the the protesters’ parliamentary wing, the Puea Thai Party, called on the demonstrators to leave the upscale shopping district.

Some hardliners like Khattiya have advocated stepping up the protests to win the fight once and for all. Many face criminal charges for defying an emergency decree and some, like Khattiya, face terrorism charges carrying a maximum penalty of death.

Lockdown on encampment

The military earlier said it was planning a huge lockdown around the fortified encampment of the red shirts, mostly supporters of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra who was ousted in a 2006 coup. The military said it would deploy armoured vehicles around the protesters’ 3 sq-km (1.2 sq-mile) site.

The Cabinet on Thursday approved a state of emergency in 15 northern and northeastern provinces, which are red shirt strongholds, to prevent potential unrest.

The mostly rural and urban poor protesters have adamantly refused to leave their Bangkok encampment and their leaders challenged the government from behind medieval-like walls made from tyres and wooden staves soaked in kerosene and topped by razor wire.

The government estimated the number of people in the encampment at 10,000 but

Exclusive FRANCE 24 footage shows soldiers firing directly at protesters

Reuters witnesses put it at more than twice that number.

“We will send out groups to surround these vehicles to prevent them from advancing,” Jatuporn Prompan, a protest leader, told supporters after the army announced its lockdown measures.

Companies and embassies across the area told employees to leave work early and activated back-up plans for Friday. Public transportation was being diverted from the area.

Protest leaders pleaded over their radio station for people to come and reinforce the encampment and threatened to lay siege to Abhisit’s house and an infantry barracks where he has taken refuge if there was a crackdown.

But an army source close to army chief Anupong Paochinda said an immediate crackdown to disperse the protesters was unlikely.

Consumer confidence falls

The turmoil is shattering consumer confidence, a survey showed on Thursday, suggesting spending in shops and department stores is drying up as the crisis grinds on, a troubling sign for a sector that accounts for half the economy.

The University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce said its consumer confidence index fell by a record 2.6 points in April, the lowest since July 2009. Confidence has fallen for three straight months after rising steadily since the middle of 2009.

The Thai baht fell sharply immediately after the army’s announcement it would try to isolate the encampment. Stocks fell one percent, while other Asian markets were up nearly 3 percent.

Foreign investors have sold $584 million in Thai shares in the past six sessions, cutting their net buying so far this year to $607.6 million as of Wednesday.

“The markets have no idea what to make of the situation,” said Sukit Udomsirikul, an analyst at Siam City Securities.