Bangkok - Red shirts protesters on Thursday appealed to the European Union through its its office in Bangkok to send observers to their rally site to prevent "an imminent military crackdown."
The urgent appeal to EU Ambassador David Lipman was written by red shirts leader Veera Muksikapong and delivered by three red shirts supporters.
"As a respected international organisation, we appeal to you to assign representatives to monitor the government's actions," the letter said. "Faced with the threat of tanks and impending bloodshed, we are appealing to your help in averting a human rights catastrophe." Although the protests were initially peaceful, they turned more confrontational in April, prompting the government to put the capital under emergency decree that effectively outlaws large gatherings and grants authorities some immunity in cracking down on the protests.
So far, 27 people have died in protest-related violence with the latest clash occurring Wednesday when troops used barricades and rubber bullets to prevent the protesters from leaving Bangkok for neighbouring Pathum Thani province to stage a demonstration there.
The highway showdown left one soldier dead and 18 civilians wounded.