Bangkok, the center of the world largest canned tuna processing industry and also the stage for the TUNA 2010 the World Tuna Trade Conference –the bi-annually event organized by Infofish international- Bangkok has been wired up for danger for days now.Infofish hasannounced the postponement of TUNA 201 to a later date.
Tensions are running very high. A series of explosions is reported to have killed at least three people and injured scores more. The city’s fears were heightened by an army spokesman's warning that "time is running out". The military commander has repeated his commitment to a non-violent solution to the stand-off - if possible. The red-shirts refuse to go away, and refuse to have peace talks.
In this febrile atmosphere, the explosion of at least five grenades could be the trigger for wider violence. As ever throughout this fraught ramping up of pressure on the government, each side could step back. But the record of violence does not bode well for what could be a new and tragic phase in a bitter political conflict.
The explosions followed rising tensions in the stand-off between police and opposition demonstrators in the city.
Television images showed a chaotic scene with ambulances streaming into the area and panicked residents helping to carry the injured to safety. Blood was splattered across pavements and office windows were smashed.
Reports said two foreigners were believed to be among the injured.
The explosions happened near an intersection where troops are facing barricades manned by anti-government red-shirt protesters.
Their base has been fortified in recent days with sharpened bamboo stakes and piles of car tires.
The red-shirts - who are calling for fresh elections - have been camped out in the city for six weeks.
The volatile atmosphere has recently been heightened by pro-government protesters, waving Thai flags and hurling abuse and water bottles at the red-shirts.
BBC reported from the scène that a group of a dozen or so people have walked through police lines and started throwing bottles and stones towards barricades manned by red-shirt protesters.
The reds are firing fireworks into the air and police are watching, doing nothing to stop them, he says.
The government is under pressure to crack down on the protesters.
Thai leaders have said they want a negotiated, peaceful end to the dispute, but observers say a non-violent solution is increasingly unlikely.
