"It most closely resembles 1992, when there were shootings of students by the military.
This is an extraordinary situation because people here believe that the government is simply not telling the truth in television reports, they are looking out on to the streets themselves.
They do not believe the military's line that it is trying to end the stand-off peacefully.
Killings alleged
A lot of people believe that the military have killed people."
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/2009/04/20094131499900774...
from this and other articles at the news site, it appears many demonstrators are encircled by the army and there is concern that the military will continue to kill those they've entrapped, during the night or the next few days.
my understanding of the situation in Thailand is that the current ruler is making life very difficult for the rural poor, and protesters have sought to have a new election.
when protesters were attacked by military, they tried to defend themselves, using buses parked to block military from shooting at them. all we're hearing on the news in this country that the 'benevolent' ruler of Thailand is responding 'peacefully' to aggressive 'red shirts'.
the spin is unbelievable. media have turned old fears of 'reds' into new demons.
not just in the Thai situation, but in situations around the world.
it seems though that many 'reds' today acknowledge the abuses of 'reds' in the past.
'reds' today cannot be equated with 'reds' of the past.
in fact, many 'reds' today are fighting for the self-determination and relief from dictators, poverty, assault and starvation that 'blues' once fought for.