Solution fired at protesters contained 4 types of tear gas: analysis

By THE NATION

 

 

A sample of the solution police fired at pro-democracy protesters on Tuesday has tested positive for four different chemicals which burn the eyes and skin.

 

Riot police fired the solution from water cannons at Kiak Kai Intersection, during a confrontation with protesters who were seeking to rally outside Parliament on the first day of charter-change deliberations.

 

Protesters and journalists hit by the solution suffered stinging eyes and skin, as well as breathing problems. Many needed hospital treatment.

 

The effects prompted questions over what chemicals police had used in the solution.

 

On Friday, Weerachai Phutdhawong, a Kasetsart University chemistry professor, announced results of his analysis of a sample of the solution used on Tuesday.

 

The results showed five chemicals, as well as a dye that turned the solution purple.

 

The five substances were dimethyl sulfoxide, 2-Chlorobenzaldehyde, 2-Chlorobenzyl alcohol, 2-chlorobenzalmalononitrile, and o-Chlorobenzylmalononitrile.

 

The first in the list was a solvent for the chemical mixture, said Weerachai.

 

The other four all belong to the tear gas group of chemicals, he said.

 

 

The second chemical, 2-Chlorobenzaldehyde, burns the skin and damages the eye, he explained.

 

“When people come into contact with it, it irritates their cornea and conjunctiva, making them cry. It can also cause other effects, such as a runny nose, coughing, or breathing difficulties,” he added.

 

The third chemical, 2-Chlorobenzyl alcohol, causes irritation of the eyes, skin and respiratory system.

 

The fourth, 2-chlorobenzalmalononitrile, is commonly known as CS gas – the defining component of tear gas used in riot control operations. The fifth chemical has the same irritant properties as the others.

 

The professor explained that all the four substances came under the tear-gas chemical group. However, it was enough to use only one of them for crowd-control purposes, he added.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30398313?utm_source=homepage&utm_medium=internal_referral

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-11-22

 

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Over kill on trying to suppress the protestors as usual.  Enough so that a case could be brought against this government on grounds of excessive force in the international community.

Why bother with all them chemicals? Just use the water from the Klongs 

4 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

Why bother with all them chemicals? Just use the water from the Klongs 

Yes, that would work. Nobody wants that stench on them.

Look on the positive side- they weren't using live rounds.

 

 

13 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

Just use the water from the Klongs 

Cannot do that as it might damage the water pumps!

Edited November 22, 20205 yr by fangless

43 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

However, it was enough to use only one of them for crowd-control purposes, he added.

 

Disgraceful, overkill reactions used by the police, using FOUR dangerous chemicals, obviously permitted by the P.M..

Just goes to show how far he will  go to try and keep his unelected position, and if any serious casualties, he will deny any responsibility, as always.

Just shows what a sick twisted bunch Prayut and his cronies are using chemicals against people.

Proves they will do anything possible to keep their fat snouts in the trough.

2 minutes ago, colinneil said:

Just shows what a sick twisted bunch Prayut and his cronies are using chemicals against people.

Proves they will do anything possible to keep their fat snouts in the trough.

what would you suggest?

27 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

Why bother with all them chemicals? Just use the water from the Klongs 

That would be lethal.

 

Thailand is said to be the land of compromise, but how is very aggressive teargas a compromise?  How does avoiding debate create compromise?    Thailand is the land of government lip service and empty gestures.

34 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Look on the positive side- they weren't using live rounds.

 

 

Some body did last week didnt they?

3 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

Some body did last week didnt they?

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-54976112

Some protesters suffered gunshot wounds, though police denied using live rounds or rubber bullets during the operation, according to news agencies AFP and Reuters.

 

Till it is proven the police used live rounds un necessarily I'm not agreeing it was approved by the government. Even the cops are allowed to use lethal force if they think they are in imminent danger.

11 minutes ago, yellowboat said:

That would be lethal.

 

Thailand is said to be the land of compromise, but how is very aggressive teargas a compromise?  How does avoiding debate create compromise?    Thailand is the land of government lip service and empty gestures.

How much Thai history do you know? There is nothing going on IMO that has not happened before.

Nobody lifted a finger when the Yellow Shirts took over the sirports, Government House and almost caused a war with Cambodia over Preah Vihear. 

 

A few students come out and they deploy the tear gas and water cannons almost immediately. 

Just now, Mr Meeseeks said:

Nobody lifted a finger when the Yellow Shirts took over the sirports, Government House and almost caused a war with Cambodia over Preah Vihear. 

 

A few students come out and they deploy the tear gas and water cannons almost immediately. 

It's not a few students though, is it?

While I don't support teargas, I call foul. These chemicals are all the same thing, as the good chemist should know.

 

"The five substances were dimethyl sulfoxide, 2-Chlorobenzaldehyde, 2-Chlorobenzyl alcohol, 2-chlorobenzalmalononitrile, and o-Chlorobenzylmalononitrile."

 

2-chlorobenzalmalononitrile and o-Chlorobenzylmalononitrile are two names for the exact same chemical, which is tear gas.

 

2-Chlorobenzaldehyde, 2-Chlorobenzyl alcohol are precursors to make tear gas. They will show up in a sensitive analysis and are present in small amount anyway.  So they didn't use 4 kinds of tear gas, they used one.

Edited November 22, 20205 yr by rabas

46 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Look on the positive side- they weren't using live rounds.

 

 

Several people were treated in hospital for gunshot wounds.

But of course there is no investigation concerning that, only the pursuit of students trying to rid themselves from the military cretins.

Just now, Andycoops said:

Several people were treated in hospital for gunshot wounds.

But of course there is no investigation concerning that, only the pursuit of students trying to rid themselves from the military cretins.

According to Khaosod, Police arrested a Yellow Shirt with a handgun and he has been charged. 

1 minute ago, rabas said:

While I don't support teargas, I call foul. These chemicals are all the same thing, as the good chemist should know.

 

"The five substances were dimethyl sulfoxide, 2-Chlorobenzaldehyde, 2-Chlorobenzyl alcohol, 2-chlorobenzalmalononitrile, and o-Chlorobenzylmalononitrile."

 

2-chlorobenzalmalononitrile and o-Chlorobenzylmalononitrile are two names for the exact same chemical, which is tear gas.

 

2-Chlorobenzaldehyde, 2-Chlorobenzyl alcohol are precursors to make tear gas. They will show up in sensitive a analysis or are present in small amount anyway.  So they didn't use 4 kinds of tear gas, they used one.

I believe it's called "never let the facts get in the way of a story".

56 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Look on the positive side- they weren't using live rounds.

 

 

Their allies already have. I expect lamp posts to be utilized before long. Where was General Cha Cha in 1976?

1 minute ago, pegman said:

Their allies already have. I expect lamp posts to be utilized before long. Where was General Cha Cha in 1976?

No idea, but it's all happened before and LOS was, after, still beloved of tourists such as I.

I always tried to stay out of Thai politics as it's nothing to do with farangs. I had to bite my tongue with my wife as she was a red shirt supporter.

That's not to say we can't comment on it on here.

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

The second chemical, 2-Chlorobenzaldehyde, burns the skin and damages the eye, he explained.

The following details don't seem to report anything damaging eyes...

13 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

No idea, but it's all happened before and LOS was, after, still beloved of tourists such as I.

I always tried to stay out of Thai politics as it's nothing to do with farangs. I had to bite my tongue with my wife as she was a red shirt supporter.

That's not to say we can't comment on it on here.

Cheers to the wife.

37 minutes ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

According to Khaosod, Police arrested a Yellow Shirt with a handgun and he has been charged. 

Thirty odd years ago on my first day here, a Thai carefully told me, "Always remember, in Thailand what you see is not what you get."

 

Protests? Gunshots? Ah yes, I remember that one. The only question is how many layers do you dig down until you find who is really responsible?

 

Edited November 22, 20205 yr by rabas

Does anyone know what measures they used before Yingluck bought the water cannon trucks?

 

Say in 2014, how did they control crowds then?

28 minutes ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

According to Khaosod, Police arrested a Yellow Shirt with a handgun and he has been charged. 

Probably planted by the protestors is what the rest of the Yellow shirts will say, just like the drugs and paraphernalia in the police van, which could be checked for DNA and finger prints on the items.  At least he was not wearing black but if I remember he was in a pink rain jacket.  Needed to be seen by the police so they recognized him as one of the royalist movement.

18 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

No idea, but it's all happened before and LOS was, after, still beloved of tourists such as I.

I always tried to stay out of Thai politics as it's nothing to do with farangs. I had to bite my tongue with my wife as she was a red shirt supporter.

That's not to say we can't comment on it on here.

Big Buriram family here, but over the years my wife and many others eventually saw through Thaksin's ways. What never wavered though was their unshakable support for the 9th King. The next gen down less so.

These people are being westernized and forgetting their own culture; local fish sauce would have done the job!!

it'll be nerve gas next

Don't say that PM chan o cha doesn't know about this.