The army is once again in control of the streets of the Thai capital Bangkok and Thai state television is currently transmitting patriotic programmes interspersed with government messages. In 21 of the country’s 75 provinces, a curfew is in force and the army has permission to shoot dead anyone guilty of looting, arson or other crimes.

The curfew, which is in force until 06:00 Thursday morning, does not apply to foreign tourists and travellers. They may check in at airports, as long as they produce a passport and a plane ticket. All this comes at the end of a day of violence in the capital.

Fires
Fires broke out in at least 18 locations in Bangkok on Wednesday, among them the stock exchange building and a large shopping centre. There were fears for the lives of 100 people shut up in the burning offices of the television broadcaster Channel 3, because demonstrators initially prevented fire crews from coming to their aid. However, the building has now been cleared. The stock exchange and the shopping centre will remain closed until Friday.

Elsewhere in Thailand, demonstrating ‘Red Shirts’ demanding that the government resign have also set buildings on fire. In the northeast of the country, home to many supporters of the man behind the resistance, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, several government buildings have been set alight.

Clearing the camp
The disturbances follow the violent clearance of the Red Shirts’ camp in the centre of Bangkok. The army smashed its way in at the beginning of the afternoon, using live ammunition.

At least six people died and dozens more were injured in the resulting violence. One of the injured was Radio Netherlands Worldwide journalist Michel Maas. He was shot in the shoulder – a flesh wound – but was otherwise unharmed. An Italian journalist, Fabio Polenghi, did not survive the military’s attack: he was shot and killed when the army stormed the protesters’ camp.

Unclear
The resistance, which is opposed to the administration of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, consists of a loose coalition of parties and organisations. The man they are loyal to, ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, enjoys most of his support among country dwellers and Thailand’s poor. But now, with the surrender of several rebel leaders to the police following the Bangkok crackdown, it is not clear whether the protest movement can continue.