SUNDAY, MAY 16, 2010
KLMNO
R
The World A13
ATHIT PERAWONGMETHA/GETTY IMAGES
Thai troops take position as violence between protesters and security forces escalates in Bangkok.
Thai leader defends crackdown
Bangkok deaths surge
as army responds to stepped-up protest
by Vijay Joshi
bangkok — Thailand’s leader
on Saturday defended the deadly army crackdown on protesters besieging the heart of the capital, saying that the country’s future is at stake.
“I insist that what we are doing is necessary,” Prime Minister Ab- hisit Vejjajiva said in remarks broadcast on national television. “We cannot retreat, because we are doing things that will benefit the entire country.” On Saturday, the protesters, known as “red shirts,” directed a steady stream of rudimentary missiles at troops, who fired back in several areas around a key commercial district of Bangkok. Army snipers with high-pow- ered rifles were perched atop tall buildings. Below, thick black smoke billowed from tires set ablaze by demonstrators as gun- fire rang out. At least 24 people have been killed and more than 194 wound- ed in Bangkok since Thursday. In
previous violence since the pro- test began in mid-March, 29 peo- ple were killed, and 1,640 were injured. The increasing violence has
raised concerns of sustained, widespread chaos in Thailand, a key U.S. ally and Southeast Asia’s most popular tourist destination. “The situation right now is get- ting closer to a civil war each minute,” Jatuporn Prompan, a protest leader, told reporters. “Please, don’t ask us how we are going to end this situation, be- cause we are the ones being killed.”
Since Thursday, the once-bus- tling commercial and shopping district has become a war zone, with the red shirts firing weap- ons, throwing homemade explo- sives and hurling rocks at troops, who are firing live ammunition and rubber bullets. The outburst of violence ignit-
ed after the army started forming a cordon around the protesters’ encampment and a sniper shot and gravely wounded a rogue general reputed to be the red shirts’ military adviser. Thailand has a history of coups, with 18 since it became a constitutional monarchy in 1932. But the past week’s events consti- tute the most prolonged and
Chamberlain College of Nursing offers quality, accredited nursing degree programs, including our 3-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.* Chamberlain features a student-centered learning environment with state-of-the-art skill labs and diversified, real world learning experiences. Our Arlington campus is now open at 2450 Crystal Drive, on the DeVry University Campus with no current waiting list to enroll. Launch a rewarding career in nursing today.
deadliest bout of political vio- lence the nation has faced in dec- ades.
Within a tire-and-bamboo-
spike barricade, protesters have occupied 1-square-mile zone in one of the capital’s ritziest areas, Rajprasong, for about two months to push their demands for Abhisit to resign, dissolve par- liament and call new elections. The crisis had appeared to be near a resolution last week, but hopes were dashed after red shirt leaders made more demands. The political uncertainty has
spooked foreign investors and damaged the tourism industry, which accounts for 6 percent of the economy, Southeast Asia’s second-largest. Abhisit said the protesters
have “held the people of Bangkok hostage,” and he described them as “armed terrorists” who had at- tacked security forces. “Officers on duty have the right to defend themselves,” he said. The U.S. Embassy said it will
evacuate staff members’ relatives who want to leave Bangkok. Embassy spokeswoman Cyn- thia Brown said the State Depart- ment has also issued a “travel warning advising all citizens to defer travel to Bangkok.”
— Associated Press
Now enrolling for the summer semester - starts July 6th!
Arlington Campus: 2450 Crystal Drive Arlington, VA 22202 I
chamberlain.edu/arlington
Visit the new Arlington (Crystal City) campus.
Open house: June 1st from 5pm - 7pm ET
2450 Crystal Drive
(conveniently located near the Crystal City metro station)
Complimentary parking with ticket validation is available in “Century One & Two Parking” – entrance off of Crystal Drive.
For more information:
chamberlain.edu/arlington or 703.416.7300
Estée Lauder
Free Gift
MAY WE SUGGEST:
Resilience Lift Extreme Radiant Lifting Makeup SPF 15, 1 oz., 36.50 Resilience Lift Extreme Ultra Firming Moisturizer SPF 15, 1.7 oz., $70
• Take It Away Total Makeup Remover
• Time Zone Line and Wrinkle Reducing Creme
• Canvas Tote • Coordinating Companion Bag
Free 7-piece Endless Summer gift with any Estée Lauder Skincare or Foundation purchase of 32.50 or more
FREE 7-PIECE GIFT:
• More Than Mascara in Black • Pure Color Lipstick in Sunstone • Artist’s Eye Pencil in Soft Smudge Brown
Shop online at
lordandtaylor.com Plus, for a limited time, receive free shipping on your online Estée Lauder qualifying purchase of $50 or more. To order, call Lord & Taylor: 1-800-223-7440 any day, any time. At all Lord & Taylor stores. One gift per customer, please; while supplies last.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156 |
Page 157 |
Page 158 |
Page 159 |
Page 160 |
Page 161 |
Page 162 |
Page 163 |
Page 164 |
Page 165 |
Page 166