Roads, railways, bridges blocked in response to crackdown

Red shirt protesters have blocked major roads, railways and bridges, and surrounded city halls in several provinces in response to the government crackdown on the group.

Red-shirt protesters can be seen my many up-country towns as well as Bangkok.

After police arrested a red shirt leader and the government closed the DStation TV satellite signal, which broadcasts messages to the group's supporters, the red shirts retaliated in many provinces.

United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship leader Arisman Pongruangrong, who led red shirt protesters in the storming of the Asean summit venue in Pattaya on Saturday, was arrested in Bangkok yesterday morning.

Also yesterday, the government cut the satellite signal of DStation, the UDD station which broadcasts ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's video talks and phone-ins.

The two steps prompted an angry reaction by reds in the provinces. DStation resumed broadcast about an hour later.

In Chiang Mai, about 3,000 red shirt protesters led by the Rak Chiang Mai 51 group blocked the main road linking Chiang Mai and Lamphun province.

In Chiang Rai's Muang district, about 500 protesters blocked traffic at Mae Korn intersection, barring vehicles from entering or leaving Chiang Rai.

In Lampang, about 200 protesters blocked the Lampang-Phrae road in front of Lampang city hall, paralysing traffic.

In Phitsanulok, protesters surrounded the province's city hall.

In the northeastern province of Udon Thani, the stronghold of another red shirt leader, Kwanchai Phraiphana, about 2,500 red shirt protesters rallied in front of the province's city hall.

In Lamphun, hundreds of red shirt protesters blocked a railway line forcing the cancellation of train services passing through the northern province.

In Ubon Ratchathani, protesters laid siege to the city hall and blocked Chayangkoon road, the province's main road, as well as other major roads leading to Bangkok.

Six military companies and an anti-riot police company were ordered to stand by to quell possible violence.

In Nakhon Ratchasima, Mittraphap highway, the main highway from Bangkok to the northeastern provinces, was also blocked.

In Nong Khai, traffic on the road leading to the first Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge was blocked by 300 red shirt protesters. They left one lane open for traffic.

About 200 police and volunteers held back the protesters about 50 metres away from the Thai-Lao border checkpoint.

In Mukdahan, where the second Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge is located, 200 protesters blocked the bridge for hours before agreeing to move their rally to Mukdahan city hall.

Police pleaded with them to refrain from causing difficulties to tourists.

In the eastern province of Chanthaburi, 400 red shirt protesters blocked highway 317 linking Chanthaburi and Sa Kaeo province in Pong Namron district.