Thai Police Commissioner says violent riot-control was lawful

[webfact]

 

By Sirakij Pornbanggird

   

BANGKOK (NNT) - The Royal Thai Police Commissioner has confirmed the riot control strategy that has been criticized as being too harmful to protesters, was lawful and in accordance with the international standard.

 

Police General Suwat Chaengyodsuk, replied today to criticism of the riot control by the police force, against anti-government protesters. The Police Commissioner claimed that the police always warned the protestors before using more violent yet international-standard methods to stop the rioting.

 

Pol Gen. Suwat also said that each time the protest has been held, it has been hard to prevent conflict. He said that none of the officers wished to see anyone get harmed but they had to maintain peace and order. The police even reminded the protestors about the importance of viral infection prevention.

 

He added that the police are sometimes required to combine with other forces such as the military to work together in riot control. It might however, cause inconvenience for residents in the area of the protest.

 

Meanwhile, for the safety of news media personnel, the police will be more careful and concerned about them. They will be positioned in a safe area where they are not likely to obstruct the riot-control force. However, if members of the media happen to be near the conflict area, they may be accidentally hurt.

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2021-08-16

 

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[Blumpie]

I heard that they will be erecting grand-stands so that the media and viewing public can watch the activities below safely.  

Thumbs will be raised and lowered.  

[sammieuk1]

Sooner or later the protesters will out smart you and that will be a much better watch sleep with one eye open commissioner ????

[RichardColeman]

24 minutes ago, webfact said:

He said that none of the officers wished to see anyone get harmed but they had to maintain peace and order.

Smashing windscreens and pushing people off motorbikes is NOT maintaining law and order

[zzaa09]

31 minutes ago, Blumpie said:

I heard that they will be erecting grand-stands so that the media and viewing public can watch the activities below safely.  

Thumbs will be raised and lowered.  

Ohhh! 

How silawai.

 

????

[Blumpie]

1 hour ago, RichardColeman said:

Smashing windscreens and pushing people off motorbikes is NOT maintaining law and order

Clearly you weren't a fan of the romans.  

[ikke1959]

THe police doesn't even the law as the head of the police declared it a few months ago. The police is to protect the law and the people not to attack them. Besides the army is to protect the country and not be involved in civil problems... except for natural disasters. The police is a violent institution because there is no control of any organization who will check their way of handling cases.. 

Quote

 

 

[mtls2005]

Tough spot for this chap, although with a burgeoning nest-egg (elephant ticket paid off well for him) and a looming retirement he'll be OK.

 

His boss, the RTP report directly to the pm, wants him to deal with this so as to not have to involve the army (directly), as that would look bad on the world stage. Hence the RTP now more closely resemble the RTA in weapons and tactics.

 

But the people are clearly upset, and they need an outlet to express their displeasure with the regime. The calm, peaceful protests early on were met with overly excessive force, and a beat-down with the legal cudgel. So now the people feel like they have no option other than to escalate.

 

Like their COVID response, the regime seems incapable of dealing with pretty much anything.

 

Start some reforms immediately, this includes the palace ceding some ground. Constitutional reforms including an elected Senate. Drop ALL prosecutions re: previous protests. Allow peaceful organized protests. Open dialog with various youth movements. Stop prosecuting any perceived enemies of the state. Allow freedom of the press. 

 

Or...just keep doin' whatcha been doin, that's worked so well.

 

 

For those following at home, it is eight o'clock in Thailand, again, for the umpteenth time.

 

 

Edited August 16, 2021 by mtls2005

[malibukid]

just the begining, they are dying to try out those new toys they bought from the U.S.  

Edited August 16, 2021 by malibukid

[fangless]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

he riot control strategy that has been criticized as being too harmful to protesters, was lawful and in accordance with the international standard.

I wonder which "International Standard" he is referring to?  Could it be the Tiananmen Square version?

[Andycoops]

The RTP wouldn't know an international standard if it hit them in the goolies but what a shocker he said so as if he would admit that they just do what they want without any accountability.

[smutcakes]

46 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

 

Start some reforms immediately, this includes the palace ceding some ground. Constitutional reforms including an elected Senate. Drop ALL prosecutions re: previous protests. Allow peaceful organized protests. Open dialog with various youth movements. Stop prosecuting any perceived enemies of the state. Allow freedom of the press. 

 

 

This is my view to. I cannot understand for the life of me why Palace advisors have not suggested or recommended some light touch reforms to bring the Institution more in line with 21st Century. It should not have even got to this stage, the advisors should have foreseen these kind of issues and started minor reforms years ago.

 

 

[RJRS1301]

It is a pity that the protestors cannot all gather together in central BKK and regional centres, then sit silently chanting and see how the authorities react. Peaceful protests in many areas, and outside significant buildings in the capital

[smedly]

from what I saw in video footage the police were carrying out brutal unprovoked attacks on innocent people and property, all this will do is escalate the situation and promote violence

[mikebell]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

lawful and in accordance with the international standard.

of China, Afghanistan, Somalia & sundry other dictatorships.

[Mr Meeseeks]

7 minutes ago, smedly said:

from what I saw in video footage the police were carrying out brutal unprovoked attacks on innocent people and property, all this will do is escalate the situation and promote violence

Historically the Thai Police use intimidation, threats and violence to protect the rich Thai-Chinese merchant class. 

 

They are not a Police force as we in the West understand, however they keep up a thin pretense so that we believe so. 

 

When it comes to stuff like riot control, investigative techniques etc. it starts to go wrong because like most organisations here it is pay to play and who-you-know rather than education, training, competence and merit.

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The Royal Thai Police Commissioner has confirmed the riot control strategy that has been criticized as being too harmful to protesters, was lawful and in accordance with the international standard.

He'd hardly say the opposite now would he?

[Gottfrid]

They can´t stop this. Gone too far.

[Mr Meeseeks]

4 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

They can´t stop this. Gone too far.

Oh yes. The genie cannot be put back in the bottle this time. If they end the lockdowns the people will come out onto the streets en-masse. Keep the measures in place and dissatisfaction grows. Catch 22. Whatever happens this government is finished along with some of the more unsavoury types that it supports.

 

I think the only way of preventing widespread conflict now is for the government to appoint a competent COVID-19 handling committee to make decisions, announce elections and to step down. Unfortunately this lot don't appear to be going anywhere any time soon. A failure to admit mistakes and take responsibility will be their ultimate downfall.

 

This situation has been inevitable since 2006. With every subsequent machination to subvert the democratic process and keep the good old boys in charge it has compounded on the pressure. Thaksin just exposed it because of his popularity and because he threatened to break the old boys' network in favour of his own.

 

It takes something like the COVID-19 situation to motivate (force) the population into action.

[poskat]

I havent seen VDO of the protests as they begin, so I dont know how aggressive the protesters might be at first, but it seems that the government has now defined these as riots, which can allow them to use more violent means to deal with them.

[DJ54]

News had footage of protesters... .. I don’t think setting things on fire and people with slingshots 

firing shots at police... is peaceful protest with violence escalating each time.. 

[Aussie999]

Be nice to have some UN observers monitoring these protests.

[Aussie999]

2 hours ago, DJ54 said:

News had footage of protesters... .. I don’t think setting things on fire and people with slingshots 

firing shots at police... is peaceful protest with violence escalating each time.. 

I think we need some independent observers, I don't trust what the RTP say, protesters will get violent if met be violence.

[sawadee1947]

6 hours ago, mtls2005 said:

Tough spot for this chap, although with a burgeoning nest-egg (elephant ticket paid off well for him) and a looming retirement he'll be OK.

 

His boss, the RTP report directly to the pm, wants him to deal with this so as to not have to involve the army (directly), as that would look bad on the world stage. Hence the RTP now more closely resemble the RTA in weapons and tactics.

 

But the people are clearly upset, and they need an outlet to express their displeasure with the regime. The calm, peaceful protests early on were met with overly excessive force, and a beat-down with the legal cudgel. So now the people feel like they have no option other than to escalate.

 

Like their COVID response, the regime seems incapable of dealing with pretty much anything.

 

Start some reforms immediately, this includes the palace ceding some ground. Constitutional reforms including an elected Senate. Drop ALL prosecutions re: previous protests. Allow peaceful organized protests. Open dialog with various youth movements. Stop prosecuting any perceived enemies of the state. Allow freedom of the press. 

 

Or...just keep doin' whatcha been doin, that's worked so well.

 

 

For those following at home, it is eight o'clock in Thailand, again, for the umpteenth time.

 

 

You're 100% right now.

However, we in Thailand. And the rulers (police, army, palace) will prevent that. 

[Srikcir]

I recall that the Constitutional Court ruled against PM Yingluck from using violent tactics (firehouse & tear gas) against PDRC (aligned with anti-government yellow shirts) protestors as they attempted to force their way into Parliament House as a violation of free speech. CC viewed the protest as peaceful.

Later PDRC leader Suthep called on the military to take over from its prolong protests to end Yingluck's regime. Following in May 2014 Prayut led the country's 12th successful coup.

[overt2016]

9 hours ago, RJRS1301 said:

It is a pity that the protestors cannot all gather together in central BKK and regional centres, then sit silently chanting and see how the authorities react. Peaceful protests in many areas, and outside significant buildings in the capital

Great idea!!!!!

Action like this,sitting down in a large passive group, and refusing to move

would be more useful than throwing fireworks.