April 2009 protests Premiership of Abhisit Vejjajiva

in april, udd staged mass protest in bangkok after former prime minister thaksin shinawatra said via video broadcast members of privy council masterminded 2006 military coup, , conspired military ensure abhisit became prime minister. week-long songkran (thai new year) holiday began, protests escalated in bangkok. fighting erupted between anti-government protesters, government supporters, , general population. abhisit declared state of emergency bangkok , surrounding areas due heightened escalation of tension , denounced anti-government protesters national enemies . abhisit issued decree empowered government censor television broadcasts. television journalist reported ordered not show images damaging military or government. thaksin appeared on d-station television broadcast appeal king bhumibol intervene , end violence. legislation authorizing use of emergency decrees pushed through parliament in 2005 thaksin government, provoking charges of authoritarianism @ time democrat party. under state of emergency, gatherings of more 5 people prohibited , press not permitted present news incite worry.

on 12 april, protesters surrounded abhisit s limousine @ interior ministry in bangkok , hurling objects @ windows. abhisit made out safely while 1 of deputies wounded protesters. government spokesman panitan wattanayakorn said abhisit s inner circle viewed attack well-coordinated assassination attempt, claiming security footage of incident showed men masks , guns positioned on perimeter of attack, apparently waiting protesters break through car s bulletproof windows.

in pre-dawn of monday 13 april, army soldiers cleared protesters blocking main roads din daeng intersection near victory monument in central bangkok. @ least 70 people injured. same day, government ordered blocking of d station, satellite news station broadcasting clashes, claiming station calling protesters gather in bangkok. several community radio stations shut down , searched upon suspicion of supporting udd. violent clashes @ numerous locations in bangkok continued while arrest warrants issued thaksin , 13 protest leaders. protest leaders voluntarily gave in police on 14 april 2009. afterward, thai government revoked thaksin s ordinary passport.

according government figures, more 120 people injured in unrest, of them udd demonstrators although military personnel, pro-government supporters, , members of general public injured. @ least 1 udd protester died gunshot wounds sustained during military s attack in din daeng, although army claimed wound not caused standard firearm. udd later claimed @ least 6 demonstrators killed in unrest , bodies hauled away military; however, had no evidence claim. dead bodies of 2 udd protesters found floating in chao phraya river, hands tied behind backs , bodies badly beaten, although police had yet conclude whether murders politically motivated. abhisit aide satit wongnontaey claimed 2 government supporters shot dead red shirt protesters in clashes in din daeng, although had no evidence claim. bangkok metropolitan administration estimated had incurred 10 million baht (approximately us$300,000) in property damages, including 31 damaged , burned buses. standard & poor s lowered thailand s local currency rating a- , although finance minister korn chatikavanij claimed increase government s borrowing cost minimally.