Four dead and 64 injured in Phan Fah protest clearance

Four dead and 64 injured in Phan Fah protest clearance

One police officer and three civilians were killed and 64 injured as authorities tried to reclaim the anti-government protest site at Phan Fah Bridge on Ratchadamnoen Avenue, the Erawan Centre confirmed.

A police officer aims a gun while attempting to retake the protest site at Phan Fah Bridge on Tuesday morning. (Photo by Pattarachai Prechapanich)

The centre, operated by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, said a policeman identified as Pol Sen Sgt Maj Pienchai Parawat, 45, from Rayong, was killed by a wound to his chest. Suphot Boonrung, 52, died from a head wound, while Thanusak Rattanakoch, 29, was found unconscious by rescuers at the protest site and never recovered. The identity of a third man killed in the incident is still unknown.

A total of 19 of the injured were sent to Vichira Hospital, 15 to Klang, 14 to Hua Chiew, eight to Ramathibodi, four to Priest, two to Phra Monkutklao and one each to Chulalongkorn and the Police Hospital.

The clash erupted as police tried to take back the protest site at Phan Fah Bridge from anti-government protesters with the Dhamma Army. The authorities took control of most of the area but what sounded like gunshots and explosions were heard shortly before noon and police stepped back.

Police arrested Somkiat Pongpaibul, a co-leader of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), at around 10am, but he was later set free from the paddy wagon by three "unknown men" when the gunshot and explosive noises were heard.

Samdin Lertbut, a leading Dharma Army member, said the gunshots and explosions did not come from the protesters' site. He said he did know where they originated but confirmed that several people from both sides were found to have been injured after firing was heard.

Thai media reported that an M-79 grenade was fired into police lines, injuring many officers and causing them to abandon the operation to retake the protest site. 

The Erawan Centre said that 618 people have been injured and 11 killed in political violence since the clash between pro- and anti-government protesters at Ramkhamhaeng University on Nov 30 last year.

The Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) is meanwhile continuing its attempt to retake rally sites from anti-government protesters across Bangkok.

CMPO chief Chalerm Yubamrung said he wanted to start by reclaiming areas around Government House, which are occupied by the Network of Students and People for the Reform of Thailand (NSPRT). 

The other three rally areas that CMPO said it would target first are the Interior Ministry, where PDRC state enterprise worker networks are camped, Chaeng Watthana Road, controlled by PDRC ally Luang Pu Buddha Issara, and PTT headquarters on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road, occupied by protesters with the People’s Army and Energy Reform Network (PAERN).

The police early Tuesday succeeded in retaking PTT headquarters, which also houses the Energy Ministry.

But PDRC spokesman Akanat Promphan said protesters will definitely not let the authorities retake Government House, the Interior Ministry and their five rally strongholds - Ratchaprasong, Pathumwan, Lumpini, Asok and Chaeng Watthana.

At Chaeng Watthana, Luang Pu Buddha Issara agreed to remove barriers on the road on Tuesday morning, to allow vehicles to enter the government complex. 

Police and Luang Pu earlier negotiated to open the road for the public on the condition that there must be no attempt to disperse protesters.

The attempt to reclaim Pan Fah Bridge. Video by Pattarapong Chatpattarasill.

A gallery of images captured by Bangkok Post photographers

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