Red Shirt protestors storm TV station

Thai security forces used tear gas and water cannons in an effort to disperse thousands of Red Shirt protestors who stormed a TV station on Friday. Authorities said about 12,000 demonstrators gathered at the site on the outskirts of Bangkok, a day after People Television (PTV) was shut down under emergency legislation. 

Reuters

Some protestors managed to get inside the Thaicom compound, where thousands of security personnel have been deployed.

PTV, an opposition station, was closed after Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva declared a state of emergency.

Arrest warrants have been issued for 24 leaders of the demonstrations, which began in mid-March. The group, who support former Thai leader Thaksin Shinawatra, want immediate elections and argue the current government is illegitimate.

"The government is not concerned about people's lives but worries that glass at shopping malls may be shattered. That’s why the government has not yet used force to crack down," said Jatuporn Prompan, one of the Red Shirt movement's leaders, who has immunity from arrest because he is a member of parliament.