布樂司Boolus

BANGKOK, April 9 (TNA) – Red-shirted anti-government protesters of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) on Friday stormed into a satellite ground station compound after a brief clash with police and military assigned as a security force, with water cannon and tear gas used to disperse the crowd for the first time since the government declared a state of emergency on Wednesday.

The red-clad demonstrators led by Jatuporn Prompan and Nattawut Saikua marched from their meeting point at Pratunam to the Thaicom satellite TV ground station in Pratumthani province Friday noon, demanding that the government restore the satellite signal of the Red Shirt’s People Channel (PTV).

PTV is the primary communication channel between the Red Shirt leaders and their supporters in the provinces. The government pulled the plug on the satellite-based station under emergency rule, citing that it aired distorted information which negatively affected national security and incited chaos.

Tensions flared when Mr Jatuporn gave a 15-minute deadline for the authorities to reconnect the signal of PTV. The protesters later broke through security barricades after their demand was not met.

Soldiers and police deployed at the station announced via loudspeaker urging the demonstrators not to invade the compound as it was protected under the State of Emergency, but their request was rejected by the Red Shirts. Security forces decided to fire water cannon, followed by tear gas to the protesters.

The 20-minute clash ended after the Red Shirts successfully occupying the Thaicom station compound. Ten protesters and soldiers were injured in the incident.

Security force later retreated from the area with some seen shaking hands with the protesters. The Red Shirts gave water to soldiers and police.

The protest leaders were reportedly negotiating with concerned officials for the reconnection of PTV signal.

UDD key leader Nuttawut Saikua earlier vowed that the Red Shirts will leave only when their demand for the reconnecting broadcasting signal of PTV is met.

Veera Musikapong and Weng Tojirakan and a number of protesters remain at the rally site in Ratchaprasong intersection to prevent government personnel from dispersing the crowd ,while opposition Puea Thai MPs take charge at the main rally site at Phan Fa bridge.

The Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) earlier issued a statement prohibiting persons or groups of persons likely to incite chaos to affect national security from using or entering the office compound of Thaicom Satellite Station, both in Pathumthani's Lat Lum Kaeo district and Nonthaburi's Ratanathibet Road.