Almost 9,000 police officers expected to keep security nationwide for Saturday rallies

[webfact]

Almost 9,000 police officers expected to keep security nationwide for Saturday rallies

By THE NATION

 

 

A news source revealed yesterday (September 16) that the Royal Thai Police Headquarters has ordered Provincial Police Region 1-8 and Border Patrol Police to dispatch thousands of officers to keep law and order at political rallies scheduled across the country on Saturday (September 19).

 

The main rally is led by the United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration group at Thammasat University’s Tha Prachan campus in Bangkok, while it is believed rallies will also be held in several other provinces.

 

The source cited a letter by deputy police chief Pol Lt-General Damrongsak Kittipraphas, which was dispatched to the two provincial police divisions on September 14.

 

The letter said Provincial Police Region 1-8 must contribute 48 companies while the Border Patrol Police will contribute nine, totalling 8,550 officers, to assist the Metropolitan Police Bureau during the rallies. Drafted officers must report for duty tomorrow evening (September 18).

 

Metropolitan Police Bureau deputy commissioner Pol Maj-General Somprasong Yenthuam said earlier that the bureau would draft at least 2,000 police officers to maintain law and order as well as facilitate traffic flow at Saturday’s rally in Bangkok. They have also prepared three companies of crowd-control officers on the university campus, six companies around Sanam Luang and three companies around Government House on September 19 and 20.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30394684

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-09-17

 

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[pegman]

100k protesters expected. 9k BIB added to BKK BIB. This has the makings of a real donnybrook 

[jaiyen]

Why do they need so many cops ? Government has "promised" there will be no violence, but if there are 9000 cops I am sure a few of them will start something.

[mark131v]

I believe it's just a common or garden intimidation tactic as the people making the decisions really are blunt tools....

[GinBoy2]

I wrote off any form of real reform in Thailand years ago.

 

But my wife, who still clings to some hope of change for her homeland pointed me to this.

 

I'm curious, that these young activists are being tolerated by the regime. Could this mean they, the regime, could possibly be re-evaluating their tie to that institution?

 

Not that I believe for a second, if they are, it's for any other reason than for their own self preservation, but interesting all the same

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-54182002

Edited September 17, 2020 by GinBoy2

[tracker1]

Peaceful protest so are they expecting trouble from antagonizers planted there just to cause trouble ?

[Grumpy John]

Will be interesting to see how many cops turn up in riot gear.  And how many turn up in civies to try and blend in....or try and cause trouble.  

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, jaiyen said:

Why do they need so many cops ? Government has "promised" there will be no violence, but if there are 9000 cops I am sure a few of them will start something.

It's a show of force... we are the masters.

[scorecard]

1 hour ago, GinBoy2 said:

I wrote off any form of real reform in Thailand years ago.

 

But my wife, who still clings to some hope of change for her homeland pointed me to this.

 

I'm curious, that these young activists are being tolerated by the regime. Could this mean they, the regime, could possibly be re-evaluating their tie to that institution?

 

Not that I believe for a second, if they are, it's for any other reason than for their own self preservation, but interesting all the same

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-54182002

Agree, and I find it curious that the PM has said several times that the students have a right to speak etc., etc.

 

So why is he so agreeable? Is there another force directing him to display his current attitude?

 

 

[DrTuner]

Let's see if 19th turns into weeks. I have a feeling it might.

[bulmercke]

4 hours ago, jaiyen said:

Why do they need so many cops ? Government has "promised" there will be no violence, but if there are 9000 cops I am sure a few of them will start something.

Massive police presence. A good way of deterring people from wanting to attend. 

[Happyman567]

be 9000 cops and 20.000 army personal lurking in the back ground. You know just in case the cops lose control. Nothing like a bit of machine gun fire to disperse the crowd

[scorecard]

1 hour ago, bulmercke said:

Massive police presence. A good way of deterring people from wanting to attend. 

Sure but don't forget the location is quite close to some very historic buildings, the government will be very careful there's no chance of criticism that they didn't have everything prepared to protect these buildings/locations. 

[steven100]

This is good news but as usual TV farang just complain about everything .....  hahahahaha

[steven100]

21 minutes ago, Happyman567 said:

be 9000 cops and 20.000 army personal lurking in the back ground. You know just in case the cops lose control. Nothing like a bit of machine gun fire to disperse the crowd

are you insinuating your comment and can this be discussed further. Happyman567. 

[zzaa09]

7 hours ago, pegman said:

100k protesters expected. 9k BIB added to BKK BIB. This has the makings of a real donnybrook 

Probably closer to 400k-half a mil. 

I believe we might expect the unexpected - as things have changed from years/decades of past.

 

Peaceful standoff with a few arrests here and there.

In the end, nothing will come of it. 

Same as it ever was.

[steven100]

5 hours ago, jaiyen said:

I am sure a few of them will start something

can you provide further detail please to back up your statement and claim as noted on TV.

[sammieuk1]

Could be a shock if 9,000 officers join the protest do the right thing for a change plod ????????

[anchadian]

Interesting article in today's FT

[rvaviator]

3 hours ago, hotchilli said:

It's a show of force... we are the masters.

Overtime pay ??

[DrTuner]

16 minutes ago, anchadian said:

Interesting article in today's FT

Let's see if usurpers have the balls to start a CCP firewall to block the western media.

Edited September 17, 2020 by DrTuner

[DrTuner]

https://www.thaienquirer.com/18407/six-opposition-parties-announce-support-for-pro-democracy-rally-on-september-19/

Quote

Leaders of six opposition parties have announced on Thursday that they will support the pro-democracy rally at Thammasat University on September 19.

The parties include Pheu Thai, Move Forward, Seri Ruam Thai (Thai Liberal), Prachachart, Pheu Chart (For the Nation) and Thai People Power Party.

Game On. Not just students anymore.

[Dumbastheycome]

3 hours ago, tracker1 said:

Peaceful protest so are they expecting trouble from antagonizers planted there just to cause trouble ?

Given the  debacle of  exactly that that is ongoing in the  country of  source that by  many credible accounts is behind the convenient timing of an upsurge in protest to a  regime that instituted itself on the  basis of enhancing "democracy" in defiance  of a sponsor  country that desires the  total   adoption of it into a controlled interest in outcome... via subversion.

Unfulfilled promises  by a  deposed regime do not/have not altered the objectives  or  commitment of that sponsor  !

The sad  fact is that social anarchy results in the imposition of increased  militant attempt  to control based on " protection  of and in the interests  of  social order" .

Allowing  "Peaceful protest" while at the same  time infiltrating  those events  with  agitators to disrupt that  peace thus providing justification  for militant  intervention is a tactic  well evident  elsewhere!

If generalized populations were to ever comprehend the process the world  would  either  erupt  into total anarchy  or rapidly become isolationist  and tribal.

IMO we are on the path to a different and possibly resurgent distribution  of influence that will  not  achieve any greater genuine social balance, only  move it.

 

 

[ujayujay]

10 hours ago, jaiyen said:

Why do they need so many cops ? Government has "promised" there will be no violence, but if there are 9000 cops I am sure a few of them will start something.

Wuut?????????

[Happyman567]

10 hours ago, steven100 said:

are you insinuating your comment and can this be discussed further. Happyman567. 

If i was  a student i would not go Ok Because like China these rallies turn ugly Once the crowd go into  a frenzy then what happens

[hotchilli]

10 hours ago, rvaviator said:

Overtime pay ??

+ bonus.

[Mr Meeseeks]

Sonthi, the disgraced media lunatic, is out of prison and agitating again, blaming the USA and causing division on TV and social media. 

 

Remember it was he that started all this nonsense because the Thaksin government removed his pal Viroj from KTB. Sonthi of course was using KTB as his own personal piggy bank and was annoyed he wasn't getting his piece of the pie. Rest is history as they say. 

 

Hopefully these protests bring about real change. 

[steven100]

1 hour ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

Sonthi, the disgraced media lunatic, is out of prison and agitating again, blaming the USA and causing division on TV and social media. 

 

Remember it was he that started all this nonsense because the Thaksin government removed his pal Viroj from KTB. Sonthi of course was using KTB as his own personal piggy bank and was annoyed he wasn't getting his piece of the pie. Rest is history as they say. 

 

Hopefully these protests bring about real change. 

you were going real good until the last sentence ....  sadly.

[Boomer6969]

9000 police and successful rainmaking: Bangkok weather .

 

Lucky military authoritarian regime.