Forum Views () 
Forum Replies ()  
 
 
Read more with google mobile :
Thai protesters vow to hold key Bangkok sites  
 
 
 
 
 
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
 
 
 
Australia
China
India
 Indonesia
Japan
Malaysia
Philippines
Thailand
Vietnam
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Thai protesters vow to hold key Bangkok sites
 
 
  
 
 AP - 1 hour 12 minutes ago
 
 
Send
 
IM Story
 
Print
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
BANGKOK – Thai protesters occupying key areas of Bangkok vowed Sunday to fight until victory following a breakdown of negotiations and a televised appearance by the prime minister that offered no solution to the weekslong, sometimes bloody crisis.
 
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva spoke in a nationally televised interview alongside the army chief Sunday, in an apparent effort to dispel persistent rumors of a rift between Abhisit and the military.
 
The broadcast came a day after Abhisit's rejection of a compromise offer by the so-called Red Shirts _ who say the current government is illegitimate and are demanding new elections _ dashed hopes that a peaceful way could be found to end the standoff.
 
"We won't go home until we win," a protest leader, Khwanchai Praipana, told supporters following Abhisit's appearance.
 
He also urged protesters in provincial areas to confront police and military trying to stop reinforcements from entering Bangkok from provincial areas.
 
Clashes have already killed at least 26 people and wounded nearly 1,000 others since the "Red Shirt" protesters began occupying Bangkok's commercial center more than a month ago, closing down five-star hotels and shopping malls, paralyzing daily life in the city and costing merchants millions of dollars per day.
 
The conflict has been characterized by some as class warfare, pitting the country's vast rural poor against an elite that has traditionally held power.
 
"The solution process is ongoing but may not please everyone. The government, and not only the military, is preparing to be ready for what would lead to the next level," Abhisit said in a short statement to the interviewer.
 
He did not specify whether the "next level" meant that security forces would move to clear out the Red Shirt enclave, but government and military leaders earlier have said that they could not remain in the heart of Bangkok indefinitely.
 
The program went off the air briefly, with the prime minister later blaming the disruption on "ill-intentioned people." Thailand's police force, army and other agencies are believed to be infiltrated by Red Shirt supporters, but it was unclear whether the opposition somehow disrupted the television signal.
 
The prime minister appeared on the broadcast with Thai army chief Gen. Anupong Paochinda beside him.
 
Anupong, saying the crisis must be solved by legal means, also denied there were any significant divisions within military ranks.
 
"Being a huge organization, it's possible but the number isn't significant enough to say that the military is divided. More importantly, everyone strictly follows orders," he said.
 
"We won't use violence but as I've said earlier, the situation has escalated toward violence so the military will have to adjust its measures," the army chief said. "As the PM said, if there is anything needed to bring back peace, we'll do it."
 
While stopping short of accusing the Red Shirts, Abhisit said that rocket-propelled grenades fired in Thursday's violence in the heart of the city's financial district were launched from inside a protest site by "terrorists." At least one person was killed Thursday, and 25 others died April 10 during clashes as soldiers unsuccessfully tried to clear the protesters from one of their camps.
 
Abhisit said that he initially underestimated the protest movement.
 
"I admit, I didn't expect to see such a force ready to go this far," he said.
 
The protesters, who claim the government took power illegitimately, had previously demanded Parliament be dissolved immediately, while the government said it would disband parliament in six months.
 
The Red Shirts softened their stance Friday, offering the government a proposed compromise of 30 days to disband the legislature in a move they said was aimed at preventing further bloodshed. But Abhisit rejected that offer.
 
The demonstrations have transformed some of Bangkok's toniest shopping districts into a protest camp with barricades of tires and bamboo stakes.
 
Many in the capital have grown weary of the confrontation and the disruptions, and thousands of residents gathered at a park Saturday to demand the protests end. "Please stop the mob _ I want a normal life," read one sign.
 
The Red Shirts consist mainly of rural supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and pro-democracy activists who opposed the military coup that ousted him in 2006. They believe Abhisit's government is illegitimate because it came to power under military pressure through a parliamentary vote after disputed court rulings ousted two elected pro-Thaksin governments.
 
Since the beginning of the crisis, Abhisit's government has threatened to curtail the protests but has failed to follow through. Military units from the 200,000-strong army have been routed in several confrontations with the crudely armed demonstrators. The police have often melted away when faced with determined protesters.
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Recommend
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Send
 
IM Story
 
Print
 
 
 
 
 
 
Related Articles
 
 
SKorean minister: Torpedo likely sank warship AP -  20 minutes ago
 
Truck slams in to veteran's day march AP -  30 minutes ago
 
Navigating India's language divides AFP -  51 minutes ago
 
"Butcher of Beijing's" son to get promotion - sources Reuters - 1 hour 7 minutes ago
 
Thai protesters vow to hold key Bangkok sites AP - 1 hour 14 minutes ago
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
News Search
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Top Stories
 
 
 
 
Revolutionary Hubble space telescope turns 20
Pressure mounts for swift Greek bailout
Luxury Mumbai attacks hotel reopens
Emails show Goldman Sachs bet on housing market decline
Furor over French Muslim woman fined for driving veiled
 
 
 
 More Top Stories »
 
 
 
ADVERTISEMENT
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
Most Popular
 
 
 
 
Most Viewed
 
Most Recommended
 
 
 
 
Ex-Bin Laden bodyguard writes against Qaeda
 
Furor over French Muslim woman fined for driving veiled
 
Luxury Mumbai attacks hotel reopens
 
Emails show Goldman Sachs bet on housing market decline
 
Greece pleads for debt aid, Germany sets conditions
 
 
 More Most Viewed »
 
 
 
 
 
Apple engineer loses iPhone prototype
 
Two-million-year-old hominid sheds light on evolution
 
Taiwan's male 'Susan Boyle' a web sensation
 
Furor over French Muslim woman fined for driving veiled
 
Airlines want compensation as Europe's skies reopen
 
 
 More Most Recommended »
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
 
 
 
 
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
 
 
Stars and latest movies
 
 
Best travel destinations
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
More on Yahoo! News
 
 
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
 
Also on Yahoo
 
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
 
Site Highlights
 
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
World Cup 2010
 
 
 
 Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
  
   
 
 
    
   
 
Other News on Sunday, 25 April 2010 Sudan poll count shortcut raises fraud fears  
Ex-Nazi corporal Schaefer dies in Chile prison  
MediaBugs, new website for reporting media errors  
Spain protests against Franco-era immunity
|  
Iran Guards dismiss sanctions drive as "ridiculous"  
Two German hostages freed in Nigeria: German FM  
US-TECH Summary  
Britain's richest see their fortunes soar
|  
Iran hits at "impudent" UAE comment in Gulf dispute  
Emails show Goldman Sachs bet on housing market decline  
Multiplatform app stores reach beyond smart phones  
British PM ups tempo with 'Elvis' in election fight  
Anti-U.S. cleric offers Iraq government help after attacks  
NATO's cyber-brains gaze at the future of war  
U.S. drone attack kills seven in Pakistan
|  
Russia says Polish plane crash probe to build ties
|  
Utah Inmate Prefers Execution By Firing Squad  
Top Brass From CIA, FBI Reflect On Challenges  
U.S. Signs Science, Technology Agreement With Serbia  
Sudan poll count shortcut raises fraud fears
|  
U.S. To Iran: Release American Hikers  
Arizona Law Gets Rap As Obama Defines U.S. As Nation Of Immigrants, Laws  
Armenians mark WWI killings, ties with neighbors fray
|  
Mom Seeks Closure Of Topless Bar That Hired Her Underage Daughter  
Bombs, missiles, bullets leave 29 dead in Pakistan  
Obama Reiterates Wall Street Reform, Promises Stronger Economy  
Dumped body sparks riot in central Nigeria, 5 dead
|  
Japan PM rules out 2006 deal on US base on eve of rally  
'Ten police injured' in Pakistan suicide strike  
Officials: 25 militants killed in NW Pakistan  
Arizona illegals law sparks fury, Obama criticism  
Officials: US strike kills 3 militants in Pakistan  
Utah inmate chooses execution by firing squad  
Hong Kong overpower South Korea in Five Nations  
Suicide attack killed American soldier, US says  
Rodionova and Stosur give Australia commanding lead  
Thai protesters pull out of talks with government  
Violent protests shake Indian Kashmir  
China aware of need to let yuan rise: IMF  
Bangladesh lifts ban on Indian films  
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary  
Despite scary reviews, "Addams Family" lures label  
YouTube fame yields record deal for R&B rookie  
Deftones return after bassist sidelined by injury  
Indie rockers the National confront hype, stardom  
Multiplatform app stores reach beyond smart phones
|  
YouTube at age five a growing player in online films  
LCD Soundsystem raises glass to "Drunk Girls"  
Gospel singer Clark-Sheard on road with new album  
U.K. Restores, Replants Ancient Orchards  
Amnesty International Condemns Torture Of 17 Indians In UAE  
Utah Inmate Prefers Execution By Firing Squad  
Mom Seeks Closure Of Topless Bar That Hired Her Underage Daughter  
Despite scary reviews, Addams Family lures label
|  
Deftones return after bassist sidelined by injury
|  
YouTube fame yields record deal for R&B rookie
|  
Indie rockers the National confront hype, stardom
|  
Qaeda confirms deaths of leaders in Iraq-statement  
Thousands rally for Spanish judge Garzon  
Armenians mark WWI killings, ties with neighbours fray  
Japan firms to standardize mobile software: report  
British PM ups tempo with 'Elvis' in election fight  
Anti-U.S. cleric offers Iraq government help after bombings  
Ethiopia explosion kills at least five
|  
Canada privacy chief criticizes new Facebook changes  
Revolutionary Hubble space telescope turns 20  
South Korea raises warship, finds clues on sinking
|  
At Least 7 Dead, Up To 2 Dozen Dead As Tornadoes Track Through Mississippi  
Pressure mounts for swift Greek bailout  
Butcher of Beijing's son to get promotion: sources
|  
U.S. Assistant Secretary Blake Sets Visits To Nepal, Bhutan, China  
Luxury Mumbai attacks hotel reopens  
Phone tapping row likely to rock India parliament
|  
Hungary centre-right set for historic election win
|  
Bangkok braces for unrest after peace plan rejected
|  
Sandstorm, snow close air link to China quake zone
|  
Qaeda confirms deaths of leaders in Iraq: statement
|  
"Butcher of Beijing's" son to get promotion  
Abbas to meet Obama in May: Palestinian official  
Thai protesters vow to hold key Bangkok sites  
Body near NJ river may be baby thrown from bridge  
Three dead as sandstorms blanket northwest China  
Arizona law raises fears of racial profiling  
Long-hated one-child rule may be eased in China  
10 killed as tornado strikes Miss.; others injured  
Thai PM vows to retake Bangkok protest site  
Officials: Army kills 9 insurgents in NW Pakistan  
Tornadoes kill 10, destroys homes in southern US  
New Zealand Anzac Day memorial marred by crash  
Israel lifts ban on imports of Apple iPad
|  
China's influence grows in global auto market  
S.Korea NPS to buy Berlin Sony Center for $767 mln  
Japan firms to standardize mobile software: report
|  
Torpedo 'one of most likely' causes for sunk S.Korea ship  
Suicide attack kills 3 in southeastern Afghanistan  
Japanese island set for mass rally against US bases  
Bare bottoms, zebras: the art of Sarkozy senior  
Fortunes of UK's super-rich rise by a third: list  
Topalov takes lead against world chess champ Anand  
Tribeca film explores al Qaeda's history and culture  
Surfing gets South Africa's homeless kids off Durban's streets  
Seville's annual fair in full swing  
Tribeca film explores al Qaeda's history and culture
|  
Iran, IAEA meet on nuclear deal  
Iran meets IAEA head, no fuel deal advance
|  
Iran meets IAEA head, no fuel deal advance  
Israel lifts ban on imports of Apple iPad  
UK's LibDems say won't back a 3rd place Labour
|  
Emerging countries to demand bigger say at World Bank  
Afghan suicide attack kills four: officials  
Iran Guards test missiles, warn enemies
|  
U.S. envoy wraps up Mideast visit, back next week  
Malaysian government scrapes by in by-election win
|  
North-south Sudan clashes kill 58, injure 85  
1,000 Barrels Of Oil Per Day Reported Leaking From Sunken Rig Site  
Iran Guards test missiles, warn enemies  
North-south Sudan clashes kill 58, injure 85
|  
Al-Qaeda in Iraq confirms deaths of top two commanders  
Yemen says opposition allied with armed foes of state
|  
Afghan demonstration turns violent: official  
Three dead in Afghan suicide blast: official  
Southeast Braces For Bad Weather After Twisters Kill 10 In Mississippi  
Hamas hopes cartoon will press Israel on prisoners
|  
Liberia weighing trials for war crimes: minister
|  
Thousands of people lose homes in Manila slum fire  
Emirates flight drops suddenly over India; 20 hurt  
80 Afghan schoolgirls sick in week; poison feared  
Iran Holds Massive Naval War Games In Persian Gulf  
India's Catholic bishops consider new abuse rules  
Civil marriage not civil war, say secular Lebanese
|  
Pakistan wants India to hand over Mumbai suspects  
Obama: Miners died in pursuit of American dream  
Thai "red shirts" vow to intensify campaign  
Thai protesters vow to hold key Bangkok sites  
US Coast Guard: oil leaking from sunken rig  
SKorean minister: Torpedo likely sank warship  
Taiwan president and opposition debate China deal  
Al Baraka, Emirates Global Islamic merge Pakistan ops  
US Senate panels releases Goldman Sachs emails  
In Jerusalem, footballs go where people cannot  
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro  
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found  
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever  
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production  
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time  
AMD to Start Production of piledriver  
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs  
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia  
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air  
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch  
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent  
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up  
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform  
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis  
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets  
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights