Across the city, people were hoarding food and hotels were pleading for guests to leave. -- PHOTO: APBANGKOK - Thailand's government demanded on Monday an end to protests that have killed 37 people in four days of escalating street violence in Bangkok before holding talks with its opponents seeking immediate elections.
The government gave an estimated 5,000 people hunkered down in a sprawling protest encampment in central Bangkok until 3pm (0800 GMT, 4pm Singapore time) to leave, or face criminal charges.
After their plea for a ceasefire and UN moderated talks was dismissed by the government on Sunday, the 'red shirt'protest leaders on Monday offered talks as long as a neutral arbiter took part and troops withdrew. Government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said in response that rioting and violence against troops must end first.
'The government is ready to go forward with negotiations when the situation is defused, when the protest ends, violence ends, attacks on authorities end.' That seemed to leave the talks at a dead end, with both sides demanding the other stops acting violently first.
Across the city, people were hoarding food and hotels were pleading for guests to leave. Schools have been closed and while Monday and Tuesday were declared public holidays, markets and banks remained open.
Fighting near the protest encampment was intense overnight. A rocket hit the 14th floor of the Dusit Thani Hotel, a Reuters photographer said, triggering gunfire from 'all around' in pitch blackness, since power had been cut to the area. Guests at the Dusit were evacuated on Monday morning after spending much of the night cowering in the basement. -- REUTERS
No comments:
Post a Comment