Thailand

Bangkok blast kills one, protest planned for Sunday

Article published on the 2008-11-20 Latest update 2008-11-20 14:21 TU

Paramedics transport an injured man to a hospital after the attack
(Photo: Reuters)

A grenade killed one person and wounded 29 when it was fired into an anti-government sit-in in Bangkok on Thursday. Leaders of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), which is leading  the demonstrations, accused the government of being behind the attack and called a protest march for Sunday.

"The PAD will no longer tolerate daily brutal crackdowns by the government and cannot accept any type of Thaksin regime," said a statement by the movement, referring to deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawattra, whose allies run the present government.

This is the first fatal assault on the demonstrators who have been occupying the Government House compound since August.

Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat denied any involvement and promised a rapid police investigation into the incident. Police refused to speculate as to who might be responsible.

"I think it would be quite ludicrous to suggest that the government would be behind it," left-wing analyst Giles Ungpakorn told RFI. "There are plenty of people throughout the country who are very angry with the PAD and some of them might resort to violent measures because, after all, the PAD have been trying to deny the democratic wishes of the majority of the population."

About 300 PAD supporters took the body of the victim, 48-year-old Janekit Kratsakhon, to the Bangkok police headquarters before taking the coffin to a nearby temple.

The six-month political turmoil slacked off during the mourning period for King Bhumibol's sister, Princess Galyani, but the cremation ceremonies ended on Wednesday evening.

The PAD has called a "mass protest" for Sunday afternoon, saying that they will march on parliament in an attempt to oust the government. Army chief Anupong Paochinda said that the army is ready to help the police with security, if necessary.

"I think the longer the protests carry on from the PAD, the more likely we are to see violence," says Ungpakorn.