Thailand: Clash toll mounts to two dead and 443 injured
| Publisher | IRIN |
| Publication Date | 8 October 2008 |
| Cite as | IRIN, Thailand: Clash toll mounts to two dead and 443 injured, 8 October 2008, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/48ef0a1517.html [accessed 31 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
BANGKOK, 8 October 2008 (IRIN) - The Narenthorn Emergency Centre of the Thai Public Health Ministry reported on 8 October that 443 people had been injured in violent clashes between anti-government protesters led by the Peoples Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and police on 7 October. Of the total, 82, three of them children, remain in hospital; the rest were discharged after receiving treatment.
Most had wounds and burns on their bodies; 17 had to undergo surgery for severe injuries. Four lost limbs and four others had hands or feet amputated after police fired hundreds of tear-gas canisters into the crowd of protesters.
Vachira Hospital director, Chaiwan Charoenchokthavee, said some protesters' wounds were not likely to be the result of police use of tear gas against members of the PAD.
"Judging from the wounds of the victims we saw in the operating room, we believe the wounds were not caused by tear gas," Chaiwan said.
Thousands of anti-government protesters had camped opposite the main gate with the intention of blocking Parliament and Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat from meeting and formally authorising the new government.
Two people were killed in the violence. The first death on 7 October was of a man whose dismembered body was found close to a car that had exploded. The vehicle had been parked in front of Chart Thai, a political party's headquarters near Parliament. Ramathibodi hospital's forensic department identified the victim as a man aged 40 to 50.
The second death involved a 28-year-old woman, identified as Angkhana Radappanyawut. She was pronounced dead at Ramathibodi hospital after sustaining serious chest injuries.
Vichan Peonim, head of the forensic department at the hospital, said her death was caused by "hot and hard material [travelling] at a very fast speed". There were also wounds on her legs and several burns on her body.
Vichan did not directly pinpoint if the serious wounds were caused by explosives or other ordnance. But he said it was possible that explosives could cause damages to tissues and bones in this manner. The police would not comment, saying a full investigation was needed before the causes could be determined.
Than Supattharaphan, the hospital director, said most of the people sent to hospital were treated for tear-gas exposure.
Twenty police officers were injured during the day of violence. Nine of them are still in hospital for injuries sustained in confronting the protesters, according to the Narenthorn Emergency Centre.
Three of the officers sustained gunshot wounds and one was hit in the chest with a pole and remains in a serious condition, according to Wanchai Charoenchoktawee, director of Wachira Hospital, a major emergency medical centre in Bangkok.
Surachet Satitniramai, director of the centre, said 10 teams of emergency medics were on standby at Government House where protesters have occupied the grounds for nearly four months.
at/bj/mw
