Wednesday 19 May 2010

Banks are burning in Bangkok




BANKS, TV stations and shopping malls are ablaze in Bangkok tonight as thousands rise up against the US-backed regime.

After tanks were used to crush the Redshirt rebels' base this morning and their weak-willed 'leaders' surrendered, it was left to the grassroots rebels to react.

And they have done so in some style - a curfew has been imposed and the rebellion has spread to other parts of Thailand.

Reports istockanalyst.com: "In the northeast, protesters burned down two buildings at the Khon Kaen Provincial Hall and set fire to government-operated Channel 11. They then prevented firefighters from approaching the burning TV station.

"Others set fires at provincial offices in Udon Thani, Mukdahan, Ubon Ratchathani and Nakhon Ratchasima provinces.

"They also torched the provincial hall in Nonthaburi Province next to Bangkok.

"In Chiang Mai, protesters hurled Molotov cocktails into the governor's official residence."

An obvious link has also emerged with the uprisings in Athens, with banks being particularly targeted by the rebel movement of the poor.

Reports The Guardian's live blog: "The Nation is keeping a tally of the fires in Bangkok. It reports (via its Facebook group - it's own site is very slow to load) that out of the "27 gutted spots" 19 are banks.

"The redshirt radio station urges followers to torch the banks, according to Ben Doherty (12pm). Time magazine confirms this. "A radio station aligned with the Red Shirt movement urged supporters to unleash "all out arson."

Reports The Hindu: "Rioters set fires at the Thai stock exchange, several banks, the headquarters of the Metropolitan Electricity Authority, the high-end Central World shopping mall and a cinema complex that collapsed.

"The Thai government declared a curfew in Bangkok from 8 pm until 6 am. An announcement signed by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and broadcast on TV banned anyone from leaving home during those times without permission from authorities."