Thai Anti-government Protesters Wont Budge - NTDTV.com

Jasperserendipity | May 19, 2010

As thick black smoke fills the air, anti government protesters remain entrenched in their encampment in Thailand's capital Bangkok.

On the outskirts of their barricades, small groups of protesters continue to hurl petrol bombs and stones at a checkpoint leading to the business district.

About 5,000 "red shirt" protesters who want the government to dissolve and call new elections remain camped in Bangkok's high end shopping, hotel and diplomatic district, refusing to leave.

The government has vowed to disperse the protesters after negotiations broke down, but some residents have been dismayed by their heavy handed approach.

[Samarn Pornvien, Motorcycle Taxi Driver]:

"I'm horrified that soldiers have done this. It is not right that soldiers come to seal off the areas and shoot people. The people who have just bare hands."

Government forces have been restricting the protesters supply line, but the soldiers themselves had no such problems with the Finance Minister delivering food supplies to the troops.

Thailand's economy, which has been recovering well this year, has been hit by the protests.

Media reports suggest the unrest has cost some 63,000 jobs, mainly in hotel and tourist industries.

Authorities warned the red shirts to leave their encampment by Monday, but the deadline came and went, raising questions about how the crisis will end.

38 people have died in the most recent flare up of violence since May 13, bringing the total death toll to 67 since trouble started in April.
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