Picspam: a month of anti/pro-govnt unrest in Thailand.
After nearly a month of protests by Thailand's Red Shirt anti-government movement, the situation in Bangkok has escalated. Though most of the past month's protests have been peaceful, Red Shirt protesters briefly stormed and held the parliament building. In response, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva declared a state of emergency, giving broader powers to security forces to quell the protests. When the government shut down an opposition TV channel, protesters seized control of a transmission station in the first violent clash of the recent conflict. The Red Shirts are calling for new elections, and are largely supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a military coup in September 2006.
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Thousands of Red shirt supporters of former PM Thaksin Shinawatra take up the street on their motorcycles during a protest for a fourth day by taking over the streets of the city's main shopping district forcing the closure of the malls April 6, 2010 in Bangkok,Thailand. The anti-government demonstrators takeover of Bangkok's Ratchaprasong business and shopping area has caused a daily economic loss estimated at Bt200-300 million (US$ 6-9 million). Red shirts are still demanding fresh elections.
Athit Perawongmetha | Getty Images
A protester, who supports ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, wipes the face of a Thai soldier as soldiers retreated from a street during an anti-government demonstration Tuesday, April 6, 2010 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Vincent Yu | AP Photo
Anti-government protesters return weapons they snatched from security at Parliament to the police in Bangkok April 7, 2010. "Red shirt" protesters briefly occupied the grounds of Thailand's parliament on Wednesday as they stepped up pressure on the government to call an election. Hundreds of protesters, who have already forced the capital's main shopping district to close since Saturday, pushed through a thin line of riot police, but then left after about 20 minutes and massed outside the building.
Sukree Sukplang | REUTERS
An anti-government demonstrator smiles as he attends a rally Thursday, April 8, 2010, in Bangkok, Thailand. Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has declared a state of emergency to quell weeks of paralyzing protest that are costing the kingdom's businesses tens of millions of dollars. The Red Shirts, however, continue to defy the government and are planning more demonstrations throughout the weekend.
David Longstreath | AP Photo
Police officers stand guard outside a fast food restaurant in downtown Bangkok, Thailand, as anti-government demonstrators flood the streets of the capital after breaking through police and military lines Tuesday, April 6, 2010.
Vincent Yu | AP Photo
Thousands of Red shirt supporters of former PM Thaksin Shinawatra's stand to salute the King as they defy the government for a fourth day by taking over the streets of the city's main shopping district forcing the closure of the malls April 6, 2010 in Bangkok,Thailand.
Paula Bronstein | Getty Images
Protesters and supporters of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra push their way against Thai soldiers guarding the Thaicom satellite station during an anti-government demonstration Friday, April 9, 2010 in Pathum Thani province, Thailand.
Apichart Weerawong | AP Photo
Thailand's Member of Parliament Varong Dejkijvikrom of the Democrat Party, right, holds the ladder for an unidentified woman official as they flee the Parliament before anti-government protesters storm the building Wednesday, April 7, 2010 in Bangkok, Thailand. Emboldened anti-government protesters briefly stormed Thailand's Parliament building Wednesday as lawmakers scaled walls to flee and a Black Hawk helicopter evacuated VIPs trapped by the encircling crowd, officials said.
AP Photo
A Thai army soldier lies on the ground after he was pulled from a vehicle mounted with a water cannon during a fight with anti-government "red shirt" protesters at Thaicom Teleport and DTH Center on the outskirts of Bangkok in Pathum Thani province April 9, 2010.
Sukree Sukplang | REUTERS
Anti-government "red shirt" protesters seize equipment from a police truck at Thaicom Teleport and DTH Center on the outskirts of Bangkok in Pathum Thani province April 9, 2010. Thai protesters stormed a satellite station on Friday, breaching an army cordon and demanding officials lift censorship of their TV channel in the first major confrontation in a three-day state of emergency.
Damir Sagolj | REUTERS
Thai soldiers protect themselves from stones thrown by anti-government protesters in Pathum Thani, north of Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, April 9, 2010.
Wason Waniichakorn | AP Photo
Riot policewomen stand behind their shields after anti-government protesters scuffled with riot police at the Police General Hospital near the site of a rally in central Bangkok on April 9, 2010.
CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT | AFP/Getty Images
Weapons seized from Thai riot policemen by Red Shirt protesters are returned after clashes at Thaicom station in Pathum Thani on the outskirts of Bangkok on April 9, 2010. Thai security forces used tear gas and water cannon against anti-government protesters who stormed a television station on the outskirts of Bangkok, an AFP reporter witnessed.
ROSLAN RAHMAN | AFP/Getty Images
Anti-government demonstrators form a security line outside Police General Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, April 9. 2010. Anti-government demonstrators continue to defy government orders to disperse. The escalating demonstrations are part of a long-running battle between the mostly poor and rural supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, and the ruling elite they say orchestrated the 2006 military coup that removed him from power.
David Longstreath | AP Photo
A Thai government supporter holds a photograph of the Thai King and Queen during a lunch-time protest in the financial district of Bangkok, Thailand on Thursday, April 22, 2010.
David Guttenfelder | AP Photo
Pro-government supporters chant slogans and wave the national flag during a demonstration in Silom Street on April 22, 2010 in Bangkok, Thailand. Red Shirt supporters of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra have dug in at their encampment, protecting themselves with a bamboo barricade during their ongoing protest to oust the government. The army have vowed not to let the protestors move warning that they will use decisive measures to get control of the streets of downtown Bangkok.
Athit Perawongmetha | Getty Images
David Cunningham, a British citizen living in Thailand joins the crowd during a pro-government rally in support of the government's rejection of not agreeing to the anti-government 'Red Shirt' protesters request of dissolving parliament on April 24, 2010 in Bangkok Thailand. Thailand's political crisis plunged back into deadlock Saturday after the government rejected a compromise offer from red-shirted demonstrators who said they were now braced for a crackdown.
Paula Bronstein | Getty Images
Thai pro-government supporters wave national flags and portraits of Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej (R) during a demonstration to counter anti-government "Red Shirt" protests at Royal plazza in Bangkok on April 23, 2010. Thai police sought to push back anti-government "Red Shirts" from a confrontation zone in Bangkok after deadly grenade attacks stoked tensions in the long-running political standoff.
PORNCHAI KITTIWONGSAKUL | AFP/Getty Images
Injured Thais attempt to flee the area after several small explosions occurred near the site of anti-government protests Thursday, April 22, 2010, in Bangkok, Thailand. The cause of the blasts on was not immediately known. Witnesses said the explosions occurred at an elevated train station in the heart of the capital's business district.
Vincent Yu | AP Photo
Thai army soldiers and police officers evacuate a ''Red-Shirt'' anti-government protester (C) as he is beaten up by pro-government protesters (R and L) after a blast was heard on Silom road in the financial district of central Bangkok on April 22, 2010. A series of blasts in Bangkok's business district has wounded at least 45 people, according to three hospitals.
NICOLAS ASFOURI | AFP/Getty Images
A Thai protester hides during running battles with protesters after small explosions went off near the anti- government camp as tensions rise April 22, 2010 in Bangkok, Thailand. At least five grenades exploded Thursday in the center of Bangkok near a massive encampment of anti-government protesters, killing one person and wounding at least 75 as tension rises during Anti-government protests.
Paula Bronstein | Getty Images
Anti-government demonstrators confront police in front of a makeshift barricade Friday morning, April 23, 2010, in Bangkok, Thailand. Security forces and agitated protesters faced off at a major intersection Friday morning after bloody grenade attacks rattled Thailand's chaotic capital, a scene of tense, weekslong confrontations between die-hard demonstrators and a wavering government.
Sakchai Lalit | AP Photo
A Buddhist monk holds a sharpened bamboo stick as he stands with 'Red Shirt' anti-government protesters in their fortified camp during a stand-off with riot police at the Silom road intersection, in central Bangkok's financial district early on April 23, 2010. Thai riot police faced down thousands of anti-government protesters after grenade attacks left one woman dead and scores wounded in the latest bloodshed of the escalating political crisis.
CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT | AFP/Getty Images
'Red Shirt' anti-government protesters surround a police officer after they hugged him during a break in a face off with riot police at the Silom road intersection, in central Bangkok's financial district early on April 23, 2010. Thai riot police faced down thousands of anti-government protesters after grenade attacks left one woman dead and scores wounded in the latest bloodshed of the escalating political crisis.
CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT | AFP/Getty Images
Thai police officer prays as riot policemen stand-off with 'Red Shirt' anti-government protesters entrenched in their fortified camp behind a barricade at the Silom road intersection, in central Bangkok's financial district early on April 23, 2010. Thai riot police faced down thousands of anti-government protesters after grenade attacks left one woman dead and scores wounded in the latest bloodshed of the escalating political crisis.
MANPREET ROMANA | AFP/Getty Images
Red shirt protester holds a sign at the anti- government camp, as the tense standoff continues April 23, 2010 in Bangkok, Thailand. A series of coordinated grenade attacks have reportedly left three dead and about 75 injured overnight as rival protesters demostrated across makeshift barriers. The Thai army has stated that decisive measures to get control of the streets might be used against the anti-government protestors that have been besieging the business sector of the Thai capital for more than six weeks.
Paula Bronstein | Getty Images
An anti-government demonstrator, wearing a cluster of amulets, looks on from an encampment in a business district of downtown Bangkok Saturday, April 24, 2010. Guarded hope rose Saturday that Thailand's political deadlock, punctuated by increasing hostility and bloody street violence, could be settled peacefully after protesters softened their demand for an immediate change in government.
David Longstreath | AP Photo
An anti-government demonstrator, his body covered with tattoos, looks on from an encampment in a business district of downtown Bangkok Saturday, April 24, 2010. Guarded hope rose Saturday that Thailand's political deadlock, punctuated by increasing hostility and bloody street violence, could be settled peacefully after protesters softened their demand for an immediate change in government.
David Longstreath | AP Photo
Thai monks pray inside the red shirt compound trying to bring support to the protesters as the tense standoff continues April 25, 2010 in Bangkok Thailand. Thailand's political crisis plunged back into deadlock after the Prime Minister rejected a compromise offer from red-shirted demonstrators to end weeks of protests if he dissolved parliament within 30 days and held elections. The Redshirts say they were now braced for a crackdown.
Paula Bronstein | Getty Images
Full Galleries:
- "Unrest In Thailand" | The Big Picture
- "Fighting In the Streets" | Pixcetera.com
- "Unrest In Thailand" | Pixcetera.com
- "Thailand Unrest" | Denver Post