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Grenade wounds eight Thai protesters in capital

Anti-government protesters evacuate an injured colleague after a grenade attack near Government House in Bangkok yesterday. PHOTO: AFP

A attack on anti-government protesters outside the Thai prime minister’s office wounded eight yesterday, the same day that a demonstration leader vowed to “finish off” the government.

Police Lieutenant-Colonel Samreng Songsiang said he inspected the scene where the eight were wounded, and said the explosion was from an M-79 grenade, which are normally fired from launchers.

The protesters have occupied the Government House compound since August and say they will not leave until Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat resigns or is overthrown.

Their movement has been the focus of several small bomb and grenade attacks, including one last Thursday that killed one person and wounded more than 20.

The latest attack came one day before the protest group that calls itself the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PLD) plans a mass demonstration at Government House in a final push to bring down the government.

One of the key protest leaders, Chamlong Srimuang, said it would start late today and continue into tomorrow and is meant to “finish off” the government.

Speaking to the crowd of about 2,000, he said the protesters would march from Government House, but did not name the destination — although most expect it would be parliament, where the government plans to meet Monday morning.

“It will be the biggest PAD movement to finish off this illegal government,” Chamlong said. “If we cannot drive out this illegal government then we will give up and let them do whatever they want to the country. Everyone in PAD will go back home.”

Yesterday’s explosion occurred shortly after 2am outside the government house compound where guards appointed by the protesters man checkpoints.

No one took responsibility for the blast. Samreng said the grenade was fired from somewhere nearby but could not pinpoint the location or suggest who would have fired it.

Chamlong said the grenade was launched from the headquarters of the Bangkok Metropolitan police about 150m away.

“The grenade was fired from the [police] headquarters. This proves the attackers were government security forces or bad guys who are supported by the government,” Chamlong said from the stage at the protest site.

The military yesterday expressed concern that the demonstration planned for today and tomorrow could turn violent if the PAD marches on parliament.

Army spokesman Colonel Sansern Khaewkamnerd said in a telephone interview that the government was urged to postpone or change the venue of the meeting but refused.

He said there would be more than 2,000 soldiers in the area.

“Police will be responsible for control of the situation but the military will be on call to support police in keeping order,” Sansern said.

Bangkok Police Chief General Jongrak Jutanon told reporters there would be 2,400 police stationed outside parliament.

“I hope the protesters do not obstruct members of parliament from doing their duty,” he said yesterday.
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