Emphasis On Security At Prem's Provincial Visit

[webfact]

PREM'S KORAT VISIT

Emphasis on security at Prem's provincial visit

By The Nation

NAKHON RATCHASIMA: -- Privy Council president General Prem Tinsulanonda met with local military and police commanders and the provincial governor yesterday after he arrived in Nakhon Ratchasima.

Prem invited Nakhon Ratchasima Governor Prachak Suwanphakdi, Second Region Army commander Lt General Wiwalit Jonsamrit and Third Region Police commander Lt General Dechawat Ramsomphob for a meeting with him at his official Rai Kangwon residence.

The meeting lasted almost one hour and no details of the discussion were disclosed.

The three senior local officials were among those greeting Prem upon his arrival at the residence, which is located opposite the Second Army Support Command in Muang district of the northeastern province.

Inside the residence's compound, more than 50 police and military officers were assigned to guard duty. Police checkpoints were also set up on roads in the adjacent areas to prevent the red shirts, who have campaigned against Prem, from holding a demonstration at the residence.

At the Third Region Police headquarters in Nakhon Ratchasima yesterday afternoon, some 900 police officers took part in a crowd-control drill. The event was presided over by the province's police chief, Maj-General Chatkanok Khiewsangsong.

The two-day drill, which ends today, involved a mock demonstration and a clash between protesters and police who used shields and water jets from fire engines.

-- The Nation 2010-02-19

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[webfact]

Gunshot Heard at Gen Prem's Korat Residence

Reports suggest that a gunshot was heard from inside General Prem Tinsulanonda's Nakorn Ratchasima residence.

Initial reports say a security official's gun accidentally went off.

-- Tan Network 2010-02-19

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[jdinasia]

wow!

You'd think they would claim fireworks!

[basjke]

Initial reports say a security official's gun accidentally went off.

Probably shot himself in the foot...........................as the whole government is doing for some time already.

[h90]

Initial reports say a security official's gun accidentally went off.

Probably shot himself in the foot...........................as the whole government is doing for some time already.

If you read about the last 70 years of Thailand you'll learn that is an old tradition.....

[jayjayjayjay]

Initial reports say a security official's gun accidentally went off.

Probably shot himself in the foot...........................as the whole government is doing for some time already.

If you read about the last 70 years of Thailand you'll learn that is an old tradition.....

Ummm, this news item could be interesting!

[Credo]

So these people take their weapons out while having a meeting with a Privy Council member?

How many people went into the meeting? How many came out?

[webfact]

UPDATE

Prem returns after just one day of vacation

By THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Privy Council President General Prem Tinsulanonda yesterday returned to Bangkok from Nakhon Ratchasima just a day after travelling to his official residence there for a vacation.

He returned after an incident in which a local Air Force private accidentally shot a man at a golf course about a kilometre from the residence in the northeastern province's Muang district.

Second Region Army commander Lt-General Wiwalit Jonsamrit rejected earlier media reports that there had been a shooting in front of Prem's residence.

"There was no extreme incident outside General Prem's house, as had been reported by certain news stations. I'd like to ask the mass media to report carefully and accurately," Wiwalit said.

Prem, a former commander of the Second Region Army, left the residence at about 10am and returned by van to Bangkok.

He had arrived in Nakhon Ratchasima on Thursday and was welcomed by the local military commander, regional police chief and provincial governor.

His residence was guarded by some 50 heavily armed police and military officers throughout the night.

About an hour before his return, Royal Thai Air Force Private Thawatchai Anthaisong, a security guard at the Tiger Club golf course, accidentally fired his gun at Anek Kaewpaitoon, his friend who works as a caddie there.

Anek was rushed to hospital with a serious facial injury.

Wiwalit said Prem's trip to Nakhon Ratchasima was part of his "normal vacation".

He said the Privy Council chief had asked him about the movement of the red shirts in the region, and he told him that there had been no tendency towards violence.

In a related development, Army chief General Anupong Paochinda yesterday rejected a claim by red-shirt leader Nattawut Saikua that the Army had paid Prem Bt200,000 every month.

"We have never done so. There is no budget set aside for such a payment," he said, adding that he had asked a long-time Army comptroller who insisted there was no such practice.

Prem's aide ACM Pajun Tarmprateep yesterday gave to Army beat reporters copies of the Privy Council chief's written explanation against allegations that Prem was behind the 2006 coup and evaded income tax.

-- The Nation 2010-02-20

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[Credo]

Are people that easily confused by a shot fired a kilometer away? Sounds suspicious.

I hope the victim recovers and I hope if there is a 'factual' explanation, I hope it is forthcoming, but I doubt it.

[Thai at Heart]

I don't know which is more worrying.

Live rounds in chambers at a meeting, or soldiers who don't know what a safety catch is supposed to do.