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A prolonged series of political protests occurred in Bangkok, Thailand in 2010 from March to May against the Democrat Party-led government. The protests were organised by the National United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) (known as "Red-Shirts"). The UDD called for Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to dissolve parliament and hold elections earlier than the end of term elections scheduled in 2012. The UDD demanded that the government stand down, and negotiations failed to set an election date. The protests escalated into prolonged violent confrontations between the protesters and the military, and attempts to negotiate a ceasefire failed. More than 80 civilians and 6 soldiers were killed, and more than 2,100 injured by the time the military successfully cracked down on the protesters on 19 May. Popular opposition against Abhisit Vejjajiva's government rose throughout 2009, due to the controversial 2008 "judicial coup" that banned the Palang Prachachon Party and "silent coup" that allowed the Democrats to form a coalition government.〔Manager ASTV, (“สนธิ” เปิดใจครั้งแรก เบื้องลึกปมลอบยิง โยงทหารฮั้วการเมืองเก่า ), 1 May 2009〕 In February 2010, Abhisit tightened security in anticipation of the Supreme Court's ruling to seize Thaksin Shinawatra's bank accounts frozen since the 2006 military coup. The UDD did not protest, but announced protests on 14 March in Bangkok to call for new elections. Abhisit further tightened security. Censorship was heightened, and radio, TV stations and Web sites sympathetic to the UDD were closed. Estimates for the number of protestors on 14 March ranged from 50,000 (by the government) to 300,000 (by the UDD).〔http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-Pacific/2010/0314/Thailand-protesters-warn-of-escalating-street-rallies〕 At the beginning, protests were mostly peaceful, and initially centred at Phan Fah bridge. Most protesters came from outside Bangkok. After initial UDD unilateral demands of an early election were unsuccessful, dozens of M79 grenade attacks occurred far from Phan Fah, but there were no injuries and no arrests. In April, protesters shifted to Ratchaprasong intersection. A state of emergency was declared in Bangkok on 8 April, banning political assemblies of more than five people. On 10 April, troops unsuccessfully cracked down at Phan Fah, resulting in 24 deaths, including one Japanese journalist and five soldiers, and more than 800 injuries. The Thai media called the crackdown "Cruel April" ().〔บ้านเมือง, (สะเก็ดการเมือง: หมอพรทิพย์ ลุยสอบเมษาโหด ), 23 เมษายน 2553.〕〔()〕 Further negotiations failed to set an election date. On 22 April, grenade attacks killed suspected to have been launched from Chulalongkorn Hospital killed one and injured 86 others. UDD members illegally entered Chulalongkorn Hospital in an unsuccessful search for the attackers, drawing widespread condemnation from the Thai press, as the protests started to become substantially more siege like, with barricades and armed guards creating a UDD fortress within the area of Ratchaprasong. Forensics expert Pornthip Rojanasunand later indicated that the hospital might or might not have been the source of the grenade attacks. No arrests were made for either the grenade attack or the illegal entry into the hospital.〔PRD, (DSI: Origin of Silom grenade attacks yet to be concluded : National News Bureau of Thailand ), 5 May 2010.〕 A UDD proposal for elections in three months was rejected by Abhisit. On 28 April, the military and protesters clashed in northern Bangkok, wounding at least 16 protesters and killing one soldier. The UDD moved out of Phan Fah and consolidated at Ratchaprasong. On 3 May, Abhisit announced a reconciliatory road map and elections on 14 November. The road map was tentatively accepted by the UDD, but after they included additional conditions, the government cancelled negotiations. By mid-may, the Ratchaprasong protest site camp was surrounded by armoured vehicles and snipers were positioned in case they were needed.〔CSM, (Thai PM preps snipers, police to seal off Red-Shirt protest site ), 13 May 2010〕 On the evening of 13 May, Khattiya Sawasdiphol ("Seh Daeng"), security advisor to the protesters and leader of the armed "Ronin" guards known as the black shirts, was shot in the head by a sniper's bullet while he was giving an interview to press. It is unclear who fired the shot; speculation was it was ordered either by the Army, by Thaksin to keep him quiet, or was simply a stray bullet. Thereafter, the state of emergency was expanded to 17 provinces and the military commenced an extended crackdown, dubbed by the Thai media as "Savage May" (). An additional 41 civilians deaths occurred (including one Italian journalist) and more 250 were injured by 8.30 pm, including soldiers.〔ศูนย์บริการการแพทย์ฉุกเฉิน สำนักการแพทย์ กรุงเทพมหานคร, (รายงานเหตุการณ์การชุมนุมของกลุ่ม นปช. )〕〔กรุงเทพธุรกิจออนไลน์, (พฤษภาอำมหิตกับองค์การนิรโทษกรรมสากล ), 2 มิถุนายน 2010〕 One military death occurred, apparently from accidental friendly fire.〔TNN, (ยิงอากาศโยธินควบวีโก้เข้าสีลมโดนสอยดับ1เจ็บ1 ), 17 May 2010〕 The government claimed all civilians killed were either armed terrorists or civilians shot by terrorists, and noted some civilians were shot by terrorists disguised in Army uniforms.〔(Bangkok Post )〕 The military declared the area a "live fire zone", in which anybody, be they protester, resident, tourist or journalist would be shot on sight, with medics banned from entering.〔The Nation, (Medics banned from entering 'red zones' ), 16 May 2010〕〔''Brisbane Times'', (16 dead, more likely as Thai authorities ramp up protest crack down ), 15 May 2010〕 On 14 May, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon encouraged protesters and the government to return to dialogue.〔United Nations, (Ban calls on opposing sides in Thailand to avert bloodshed, resume talks ), 14 May 2010〕 On 16 May, UDD leaders said again they were ready for talks as long as the military pulled back, but the government demanded the unconditional dispersal of the protesters. A state of emergency was declared in 5 Northeastern provinces on 16 May. The government rejected a Senate call for a ceasefire and Senate-mediated negotiations. On 17 May, Amnesty International called for the military to stop using live ammunition.〔Amnesty International, (THAILAND: MILITARY MUST HALT RECKLESS USE OF LETHAL FORCE ), 17 May 2010〕 Armored vehicles led the final assault into Ratchaprasong in the early morning of 19 May, killing at least five, including an Italian journalist. Soldiers were reported to have fired on medical staff who went to the aid of the shooting victims.〔 By 1.30 pm, UDD leaders surrendered to police and told protesters to give themselves up. Dozens of arson attacks soon broke out nationwide on red-shirt targets including the CentralWorld building, various banks and civic buildings and government buildings. People arrested and charged for arson include a number of Red Shirt supporters. A curfew was declared and troops were authorised to shoot on sight anybody inciting unrest.〔 An undisclosed number of arrests and detentions occurred. 51 protesters remained missing as of 8 June.〔MThai, (มูลนิธิกระจกเงาเผยจลาจลคนหาย74พบ23 ), 30〕 The government claimed the protests cost 150 billion baht (approximately US$5 billion) to organise.〔Bangkok Post, (DSI to deliberate 153 UDD cases ), 14 June 2010〕 ==Background== In 2009, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva faced rising public discontent with his government and near-constant rumours of a military coup. Respected King Bhumibol Adulyadej entered the hospital in September, silencing a unifying force for the country. In December 2009, pro-Abhisit academic Chirmsak Pinthong wrote an influential article in Naew Nah newspaper where he said that the nation was already in a state of civil war, although the slaughter had yet to begin.〔Naew Nah, (เรากำลังอยู่ในยุค "สงครามกลางเมือง"! (เจิมศักดิ์ขอคิดด้วยฅน) ), 28 December 2009〕 Abhisit enacted numerous security measures throughout February and March 2010 to suppress the Red-Shirt protests. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「2010 Thai political protests」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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