Death toll in Thailand's political conflict since end November now at 16

Thailand's political conflict has resulted in 16 deaths and 695 injured since violence incidents led to first fatality on November 30 last year.

The last death recorded was on February 18 when police trying to clear several protest sites clashed with anti-government protesters who have been camping in the Thai capital for months.

The operation was named Peace for Bangkok Mission but ended up doing the reverse.

The first violent clash on November 30 last year was between pro-government groups and anti-government protesters at Ramkhamhaeng University here.

The figures were provided by Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's Erawan Emergency Medical Services Centre (EMS) today in its update on the violence in Bangkok.

The Centre said 24 people injured were still hospitalised.

The latest violent incident took place about 8.45pm last night at Pratunam intersection here (near a famous wholesale shopping mall area for locals and tourists) in which a small explosion left six people with minor injuries.

Only one of the injured in the incident still hospitalised while the rest checked out on Saturday morning.

However, it was still the most quiet night for Bangkok in terms of violent incidents since February 14 when police began an operation to disperse protesters from a number of sites.

This peace is attributed to the Civil Court ruling on February 19 that the Government had the authority to impose an emergency decree during a critical situation but not to the extent of using it to break up the peaceful and unarmed demonstrations organised by groups led by the People's Democratic Reform

Committee.

This resulted in police halting their operations and causing caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra still unable to get to her official office at the Government House.

Instead, the the protesters have escalated their protests by targeting Yingluck and her family businesses.

The protesters went to look for her at her temporray office at the Office of Permananent Secretary for Defense and also office buildings owned by her family.

The protesters gathered almost in front of Shinawatra Tower 3, and there are reports they have started to boycott companies where the Yingluck family have interests.

Yingluck maintained a low profile throughout last week.