Matichon also reports that 4 police were shot at and has photos of three of the police.* I am not so sure what Somchai should have done in Parliament, the injury count at that time was still rather low, but there are reports he will be making overseas trips to ASEAN countries soon to introduce himself. That seems like a dumb move. Trying to run the country and appearing in control is one thing, but now is the time to stay at home. Prachatai have a video clip from Channel 9 of someone from the PAD side with a gun - I can only see the still image as MThai video player "hangs" on

Posted by Bangkok Pundit 10/08/2008 10:00:00 AM This is one of the main headlines * in Matichon today. Sondhi L says they will respond and spread out around Bangkok in small groups. BP : At what point do the "protests" become an armed insurrection? *สนธิ"ลั่นวิธีอหิงสาใช้ไม่ได้แล้ว

From Wiki : Contrary to popular belief, gas-expelling grenades are rarely used to disperse large groups, because of the risk of causing generalized panic. Grenades are instead used to create barriers of tear gas in order to direct the movement of large groups of people, or to protect police officers on the verge of being overwhelmed. As an exception, tear gas may be used to disperse a mob surrounding a small centralized group. Similarly, gas-expelling grenades are not often used to force criminals out of cover because of the risk of intoxicating people in enclosed areas, although SWAT teams will occasionally employ CS gas grenades to facilitate the arrest of an armed suspect, especially if there are no bystanders in the area. This kind of deployment is most often used in an area where several suspects have a large amount of cover, since the functioning of other distraction grenades will be hindered. Tear gas grenades are similar to smoke grenades in terms of shape and operation. In tear gas grenades the filler is generally 80 to 120 grams of CS gas combined with a pyrotechnic composition which burns to generate an aerosol of CS-laden smoke. This causes extreme irritation to the eyes and, if inhaled, to the nose and throat. (See also the Branch Davidian siege). Occasionally CR gas is used instead of CS. BP : I wonder what it is. Is it standard Thai government issue

Another of the PAD’s many D-Days passed. Two people killed, over 400 injured, some requiring amputations, with the PAD vigilantes retreating to Government House. Getting ready for further chaos, positioning housewives and children at the battle front. Yesterday’s crime of the government: Trying to open parliament … The PAD have become an end in itself. I’m neither left nor right, just observing. But imagine a PAD succeeding and writing the rules of the game. So far avoiding the due processes of parliament, you’ll always find a paid PAD mob on the streets should the PAD leadership disagree - yes, of a paid yellow mob, as mighty donors are financing the PAD. Promoting violence as the only language understood. Call me a paid Thaksin hack. Then you don’t understand proper English. Scroll the archives. Thaksin is gently pulled to pieces. Fact is: Thailand has reached dangerous crossroads as the establishment openly sides with the PAD. Skeptics are denounced as heretics. A modern-day witch hunt - with the PAD running out of options as the government does what a government has to do: Crowd control measures. The PAD’s remaining options: Asymmetric warfare . Peaceful means? You’re joking. I mentioned it: One’s freedom fighter is another one’s terrorist. A first car bomb in Bangkok? Protesters shooting at police? Wouldn’t any intact government speak of terrorism. One of the many definitions of terrorism being: “Terrorism is the premeditated, deliberate, systematic murder, mayhem and threatening of the innocent to create fear and intimidation in order...

I'm constantly frustrated by inaccurate and misleading reporting by overseas media about the current situation in Bangkok. Take the headline on BBC News this morning: 'Troops on the streets of Bangkok'. That gives the totally wrong picture and ignores the fact that 99% of the city is calm and normal. I'm not making light of what's been happening, and indeed some reports state that as many as 400 people may have been injured in the recent clashes, however the protests are still restricted to a small area of the city around Government House. On the lighter side I didn't see any troops on the streets during my trip to work this morning. What I did see were lions. Chinese lions. Half a dozen of them and their handlers, parading I assume as part of celebrations connected with the end of the current vegetarian festival. Posted by The Bangkok Bugle All Thailand's on fire, all Thais are dead ... I have to say there are some pretty dramatic, almost iconic, images in today's press, but I would bet all were taken within a one square mile area of the city. It's bad, yes, but not throughout the city