Bangkok: Unknown assailants launched a grenade at anti-government protestors Saturday, killing one and injuring seven others, fanning worries that Thailand was heading for more political street violence this weekend, media reports said.
Witnesses said two young men fired the device from an M-79 grenade launcher at guards for the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) outside Government House, the seat of the Thai government.
One of the eight victims died in in hospital from shrapnel wounds to his body and neck, the Bangkok Post newspaper’s online news service said.
On Thursday, a similar early morning attack on the PAD killed one man and injured 24 other people.
The attacks on the PAD, a loose coalition of groups adamantly opposed to the return to power of exiled former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, have intensified in recent weeks.
The PAD seized Government House on August 26 and have occupied it since, demanding the resignation of the cabinet, which is now led by Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, Thaksin’s brother-in-law, and packed with Thaksin nominees and political allies.
Thaksin, a former billionaire telecommunications tycoon who used his personal fortune and populist policies to dominate Thai politics during his premierships from 2001 to 2006, was toppled by a coup two years ago.
He has been living in self-imposed exile since August, and is a fugitive from Thai justice.
On October 21, the Supreme Court for Political Office Holders found Thaksin guilty of abuse of power for allowing his ex-wife, Pojaman, to successfully bid on a prime plot of Bangkok land at a government auction in 2003. Thaksin was sentenced to two years in jail.
Thaksin criticized the verdict as being politically motivated and last week vowed to return to Thai politics despite his conviction.
The threat, along with recent attacks, has emboldened the PAD, which vowed to stage a mass rally of 100,000 people on Sunday to demand the resignation of the cabinet.
At its last mass protest on October 7, police opened fire with tear-gas canisters, leading to a melee that left two PAD followers dead and hundreds injured.
More than 1,700 police have been assigned to keep the peace at Sunday’s rally. (dpa)
Thai Protestor Killed In Grenade Attack
Bangkok: Unknown assailants launched a grenade at anti-government protestors Saturday, killing one and injuring seven others, fanning worries that Thailand was heading for more political street violence this weekend, media reports said.
Witnesses said two young men fired the device from an M-79 grenade launcher at guards for the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) outside Government House, the seat of the Thai government.
One of the eight victims died in in hospital from shrapnel wounds to his body and neck, the Bangkok Post newspaper’s online news service said.
On Thursday, a similar early morning attack on the PAD killed one man and injured 24 other people.
The attacks on the PAD, a loose coalition of groups adamantly opposed to the return to power of exiled former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, have intensified in recent weeks.
The PAD seized Government House on August 26 and have occupied it since, demanding the resignation of the cabinet, which is now led by Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, Thaksin’s brother-in-law, and packed with Thaksin nominees and political allies.
Thaksin, a former billionaire telecommunications tycoon who used his personal fortune and populist policies to dominate Thai politics during his premierships from 2001 to 2006, was toppled by a coup two years ago.
He has been living in self-imposed exile since August, and is a fugitive from Thai justice.
On October 21, the Supreme Court for Political Office Holders found Thaksin guilty of abuse of power for allowing his ex-wife, Pojaman, to successfully bid on a prime plot of Bangkok land at a government auction in 2003. Thaksin was sentenced to two years in jail.
Thaksin criticized the verdict as being politically motivated and last week vowed to return to Thai politics despite his conviction.
The threat, along with recent attacks, has emboldened the PAD, which vowed to stage a mass rally of 100,000 people on Sunday to demand the resignation of the cabinet.
At its last mass protest on October 7, police opened fire with tear-gas canisters, leading to a melee that left two PAD followers dead and hundreds injured.
More than 1,700 police have been assigned to keep the peace at Sunday’s rally. (dpa)
