Red Shirts on the defensive after clumsy hospital storming

Dozens of red-shirted protesters had forced their way into Chulalongkorn Hospital Thursday night, causing panic in the clinic. They withdrew after they couldn't find any soldiers or policemen on the compound.

Tensions have been high in the Thai capital after a clash between the Red Shirts and security forces on Wednesday left one soldier dead. Thousands of Red Shirts, supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, have been occupying parts of central Bangkok for seven weeks now, calling for new elections. But this week rumors of an impending army move against them have intensified, apparently triggering this latest incident.

Chulalongkorn Hospital evacuated most patients on Friday and suspended all but emergency surgery after the protesters had left the hospital removed barricades from the road to allow access to it.

Embarassed leadership

The attack came as an embarassment for protest leaders, who have been trying to attract support from the public in Bangkok, and raised questions about their control over the Red Shirts. "On behalf of all leaders, I apologise to the public and Chulalongkorn Hospital for the incident," Red leader Weng Tojirakarn said. "The situation got out of control."

Many Red Shirts are from the rural areas of northern Thailand and there are indications that more and more Bangkok citizens have become fed up with their week-long agitation. There have been growing numbers of demonstrations against the Red Shirts over the past week.

tb / AFP / dpa / Reuters / AP
Editor: Sarah Berning