by Reinhard Hohler, Chiang Mai (19.05.2010)

While red-shirt protest leaders in Bangkok surrendered in Bangkok after the successful onslaught by the military this morning, the mob runs amok in Chiang Mai. Around 2 pm on May 19, the red-shirt mob had amassed car tyres and set fire to them on Nawarat Bridge right in the middle of town. According to eye-witnesses, black smoke and stench filled the air. At 3.30 pm, out of control, some men dressed in black started pulling a metal barrier across Charoen Muang Road not far from the Thai Military Bank.

It will be a hard time for the red-shirt protesters to admit defeat by the Thai Royal Military and leave the scenes empty-handed after more than two months of campaigning for a House dissolution and new elections.
All businesses have closed up on some hard hit sections of the town, while at 4:10 pm there were helicopters seen overhead in the area of the Prince Royal College. It is not clear, if there will be a curfew from 8 pm to 6am in Chiang Mai same as in Bangkok. Amazing Thailand indeed!