Bangkok protests continue: "Just doing our job" say police who warn people about getting involved

[webfact]

Picture: Daily News

 

Protests against the government of Prayuth Chan-ocha and its handling of the pandemic continued in the Thai capital Bangkok on Wednesday with both police and protesters hurt in clashes in the downtown area.

 

Daily News reported that on Tuesday there had been 48 arrests - 45 men and 3 women - and 122 motorcycles had been seized.

 

Thirty three were adults the rest underage youth. Arrests were made outside RTP HQ in Pathumwan, several areas of Din Daeng and in Phayathai district. 

 

Yesterday the trouble continued prompting a press conference at the end of the day attended by two spokesman and the deputy commander of the met.

 

One spokesman warned people about getting involved, spoke of the police having to uphold the law and expressed regret about such scenes on the streets of Bangkok.

 

At the podiums were spokesman Pol Maj-gen Yingyos Thepjamnong, deputy met commander Pol Maj-Gen Piya Tawichai and regular spokesman Pol Col Krissana Pattanacharoen.

 

Piya outlined the events of Wednesday saying that following social media announcements protesters started gathering around Victory Monument about 12.45.

 

There was a fire on the road in the area at 3.45pm and shortly thereafter there were bottles and large firecrackers thrown and some arrests before organisers called a halt.

 

Trouble flared again at 4.30 pm at the three way intersection in Din Daeng where people were warned but still tried to break through police lines. 

 

Atb 5.30 pm several police vehicles were damaged in a fire.

 

Several people were being prosecuted by the Din Daeng police for illegal gathering, assault, arson and criminal damage as well as charges related to the emergency decree and traffic violations, reported Daily News. 

 

Piya said eight policemen were hurt in the exchanges mostly by firecrackers. Two off duty policemen on their way home were also hurt. 

 

Picture: Daily News

 

He referred to a twitter post by "Auto" that claimed a protester had been hurt after a firecracker was forced into their hand by police.

 

The truth was that it went off as the protester was about to hurl it, claimed Piya. He expressed regret about the injury.

 

He spoke of many young people without much knowledge getting involved in politics they didn't understand.

 

Yingyos said that many of those involved in the protests were not innocent people but those bent on causing mayhem and unrest. 

 

He said it was the police's job to uphold the law. He was sorry for such trouble on the streets of Bangkok but advised people it was not safe to get involved and that some of those in custody had tested positive for Covid-19.

 

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[Gottfrid]

24 minutes ago, webfact said:

He said it was the police's job to uphold the law.

Yes, as well as representing the peoples voice in a democratic order.

[ikke1959]

And they want to promote Thailand as a welcoming holiday country, where the police arrest youth and fire bullets , tear gas and water canons on people who express they anger because the Government don't give them food, money, jobs and even worse no protection against Covid 19... There are restrictions on internet and freedom of speech and there are ridiculous laws for alcohol sales of use. Besides that Thailand is helping the neighbour country of Myanmar and is involved in an assassination of an ambassador.  Do they really think that this will attract tourists???

Edited August 12, 2021 by ikke1959

[champers]

Front page headline on this morning's Bangkok Post reports that the police have requested support from the army who are now "on call". This is sinister and scary news if it becomes a reality.

[smedly]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

He said it was the police's job to uphold the law

and that applies to everyone equally including those in government 

[Aussieroaming]

Finally a good news story, 122 scooters that have been seized and therefore won't be ripping up and down the road past my condo and annoying the <deleted> out of me. Now seize the rest of the scooters.

[Golden Triangle]

Such a good idea.........not, bring the heavy handed military into the fray, what are they thinking ? Oh sorry, they don't think. Won't be long before the petrol bombs make an appearance.

[Nojohndoe]

4 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

Yes, as well as representing the peoples voice in a democratic order.

Not sure it would be easy to defend the democratic right to be made the victim of  firebombs, fireworks. The people doing that are undermining the legitimacy of protest.

 

[Tarteso]

Just doing our job….

 

I heard these words at the Cinema movies many times. Usually used in Italian characters (Calabria and Sicilia)

[Forza2002]

I'm surprised that the Army haven't volunteered their services to help with all the demonstrations. It would give them a chance to show off the Stryker APV's that they recently bought for $80M. Assuming that the APV's are still in working order and not gathering dust in some storage facility...

[Andycoops]

But not doing their job in the southern provinces as reported in another article where people are being blown to smithereens by terrorists, shot dead etc, etc 

Such an indictment of Thai priorities.

 

 

 

[DaveE13]

He said many young people getting involved In politics they don't understand. 

What an ignorant thing to say. They understand fully what these dinosaurs have been up to the last 7 years 

Edited August 12, 2021 by DaveE13
Spelling

[Mavideol]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

He said it was the police's job to uphold the law.

wonder which law he was referring to.... police's job is to protect the people and not get involved in politics

[internationalism]

"Two off duty policemen on their way home were also hurt."

he did admit that 2 innocent people, bystanders were injured by police.

There are reports of many beatings and arrests of bystanders and street vendors.

 

Report in English from yesterday protest under title "Protest march dispersed before it began".

Independent photographer hit by a baton into shoulder, camera damage. That was without warning. 

Other photographers were warned by police not to make pix

https://prachatai.com/english/node/9396

 

protest letter from 111 lawyers and law academics condemning police for yesterday's violence 

https://www.matichon.co.th/news-monitor/news_2881130

 

[MrJ2U]

9 hours ago, champers said:

Front page headline on this morning's Bangkok Post reports that the police have requested support from the army who are now "on call". This is sinister and scary news if it becomes a reality.

Awful news.

 

Tanks in the streets.

 

Power to the People!

 

Useless Junta!

 

 

Edited August 12, 2021 by MrJ2U

[brianthainess]

Just doing their job, is that not the same as just following orders, now where did we hear that before. 

[daejung]

On 8/12/2021 at 5:53 AM, webfact said:

He said it was the police's job to uphold the law.

It doesn't apply to people involved in a coup